Endonasal drug delivery device

Abstract

An endonasal drug delivery device, suitable for inhalation, includes a shaped body having a first portion located at a first end of the shaped body, configured to be inserted in a nasal cavity and having an air delivery duct, a second intermediate portion having at least one air supply duct for allowing air to flow from the outside to the inside of the endonasal delivery device, and a third portion located at the opposite end of the first portion and having a mixing chamber, which is in fluid communication with the supply duct, a drug reservoir, and the delivery duct.

Claims

1. An endonasal drug delivery device suitable for inhalation by a patient, comprising: a shaped body having: at least one first portion located at a first end of said shaped body, shaped to be inserted in a nasal cavity and having at least one air delivery duct (7) towards the nasal cavity; at least one second intermediate portion having at least one supply duct to allow air inflow from outside towards an inside of said endonasal drug delivery device; and at least one third portion located at an opposite end in relation to said first portion and comprising at least one mixing chamber, wherein said endonasal drug delivery device has said mixing chamber is in fluid communication with: said at least one supply duct to receive air from the outside; at least one drug reservoir separated from said mixing chamber and in fluid connection with said mixing chamber to allow the drugs to flow into said mixing chamber and to be drawn from the air by disturbance; and said at least one delivery duct for allowing a flow of the drugs mixed with air into the a nasal cavity.

2. The endonasal drug delivery device according to claim 1, wherein said reservoir is incorporated into said third portion.

3. The endonasal drug delivery device according to claim 1, wherein said reservoir has an inlet for introduction of the drugs to be inhaled.

4. The endonasal drug delivery device according to claim 3, wherein said inlet is constituted by an intake duct.

5. The endonasal drug delivery device according to claim 1, wherein said reservoir is arranged externally to said third portion and fluidly coupled to said third portion.

6. The endonasal drug delivery device according to claim 1, wherein said intermediate portion has at least one opening arranged on a lateral surface of said shaped body and communicating with said at least one supply duct.

7. The endonasal drug delivery device according to claim 1, wherein said intermediate portion comprises a plurality of delivery ducts radially arranged in said intermediate portion.

8. The endonasal drug delivery device according to claim 7, wherein there is a plurality of supply ducts, and wherein said intermediate portion has a plurality of openings each corresponding to one of said supply ducts.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0046] Further features and advantages of the invention will be more evident in light of the detailed description of some preferred but not exclusive embodiments of an endonasal drug delivery device according to the invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example with the aid of the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0047] FIG. 1 represents a front view of the endonasal drug delivery device according to the invention;

[0048] FIG. 2 represents the endonasal delivery device of FIG. 1 in sectioned view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0049] With reference to the cited figures, an endonasal drug delivery device 1 according to the invention is described.

[0050] It comprises a shaped body 2 and a reservoir 3 of drugs suitable for being inhaled by a patient.

[0051] According to an aspect of the invention, the shaped body 2 comprises a first portion 5 located at a first end 6 of the same shaped body 2. This first portion 5 is shaped for insertion into the nasal cavity and includes an air delivery duct 7 to deliver air towards the nostril.

[0052] Obviously, such aspect must not be considered limiting for different embodiments of the invention, wherein, e.g., the first portion comprises multiple delivery ducts.

[0053] According to another aspect of the invention, the shaped body 2 also comprises a second intermediate portion 9 which contains a supply duct 10 to allow the flow of air from the external environment towards the inside of the endonasal delivery device 1.

[0054] In the figures, it is observed that the second portion 9 of the endonasal delivery device 1 comprises a plurality of supply ducts 10 arranged radially therein. Obviously, also these aspects must not be considered limiting for different embodiments of the invention wherein, for example, the number and the arrangement of the supply ducts are different and/or, according to other execution variants, such supply ducts are not totally included in the second intermediate portion.

[0055] According to another aspect of the invention, the shaped body 2 comprises a third portion 12 located at the opposite end 13 to the first portion 5 and comprising a mixing chamber 14.

[0056] The latter is in fluid communication with the supply duct 10, contained in the intermediate portion 9 of the endonasal delivery device 1. In this way, advantageously, the air from the external environment has the possibility of flowing to the aforementioned mixing chamber 14.

[0057] Furthermore, the mixing chamber 14 is in fluid communication also with the reservoir 3 which, as can be seen from the figures, is separated from the mixing chamber 14 itself. From the reservoir 3 the drugs can then flow into the chamber 14 and be mixed by perturbation with the air coming from the external environment.

[0058] Finally, the delivery duct 7 is also in fluid communication with the chamber 14. The fluid communication between the supply duct 10, the mixing chamber 14 and the delivery duct 7 creates a channel by which air can flow between the external environment and the nasal cavities allowing normal patient breathing. Advantageously, however, in the case of the present invention, the air that flows to the nasal cavities by means of the delivery duct 7 is that enriched with the drugs in the mixing chamber 14.

[0059] Still advantageously, the drawing by disturbance of the drugs and their consequent inflow into the nasal cavities takes place by means of an air flow generated by the user's natural inspiration. It is therefore not necessary to use special means of forced ventilation such as compressed gases, fans or compressors. This makes the endonasal delivery device 1 of the invention passive, reducing its size compared to the active devices of the state of the art.

[0060] Moreover, still advantageously, the intake of drugs by natural respiration improves the quality of inhalation allowing a more effective directing of the air flow since, among other things, the problems with combining two air flows with different characteristics are avoided (the one forced and that of natural breathing). In particular, the drawing of drugs by disturbance with a natural respiratory flow improves the effectiveness of mixing between the flow itself and the drugs, limiting, if not eliminating, the drugs waste and thus allowing the intake of a precise dosage of drugs.

[0061] Still advantageously, the intake of drugs by means of an air flow generated by natural respiration, without the need to resort to forced ventilation means, allows to reach the olfactory nerve and the terminal part of the trigeminal in order to carry out a dispensation beyond the blood-brain barrier.

[0062] The drawing of the drug by disturbance allows, still advantageously, to make the endonasal delivery device 1 of the invention particularly suitable for the administration of drugs in powder form.

[0063] Also the production costs of the endonasal delivery device 1 of the invention are evidently reduced compared to the active devices just mentioned.

[0064] Still advantageously, the compactness of the endonasal delivery device 1 of the invention makes it easily and comfortably transportable and usable anywhere.

[0065] Furthermore, the presence of a reservoir 3 and a mixing chamber 14 placed in fluid communication but independent one to the other advantageously allows greater control over the correct dosage of the administered drugs.

[0066] According to the embodiment of the invention which is described, the intermediate portion 9 also includes openings 16 along the lateral surface 17. In particular, the openings 16 are each arranged at a respective supply duct 10, defining a connection between the external environment and the interior of the endonasal delivery device 1.

[0067] Advantageously, the openings 16 connect the fluid communication channel created between the supply ducts 10, the mixing chamber 14 and the delivery channel 7 with the outside, allowing the air flow to draw the drugs by disturbance and reach the nasal cavities.

[0068] Obviously, these aspects should not be considered limitative for different embodiments of the invention, wherein, e.g., the opening to the outside is unique and consists of a circumferential groove to the shaped body and communicating with the plurality of supply ducts. Furthermore, according to other embodiments, the openings are made in the third portion as well as a part of the supply ducts.

[0069] As regards the reservoir 3, according to the embodiment which is described it is contained within the third portion 12.

[0070] Advantageously, the insertion of the reservoir 3 inside the shaped body 2 allows to further reduce the dimensions of the endonasal delivery device 1, thereby increasing its compactness and the ease of transport.

[0071] Obviously, also this aspect must not be considered limiting for different embodiments of the invention, wherein, for example, the reservoir is placed outside the shaped body or inside one of the other portions of the body itself.

[0072] In particular, according to a different embodiment of the invention, the reservoir is inserted in disposable capsules separated from the shaped body. These capsules are shaped to be removably attached to the endonasal delivery device typically outside the third portion of the shaped body. They are also placed in fluid communication with the mixing chamber so as to allow the drawing of the drug by disturbance.

[0073] According to this variant, the capsules contain the correct dosage of drug to be inhaled allowing the perfect dosage. They also advantageously allow the same shaped body to be used for the inhalation of different drugs.

[0074] Returning to the embodiment of the invention represented in the figures, the reservoir 3 is equipped with an inlet 20. In more detail, such inlet 20 preferably, but not necessarily, consists of an intake duct 21 through which it is possible to introduce the drug to be taken into the reservoir 3.

[0075] Advantageously, following the administering of the drugs and the consequent emptying of the reservoir 3, through the opening 20 the patient can deposit a new drugs dose and reuse the endonasal delivery device 1 with the same effectiveness as the first treatment.

[0076] Still advantageously, in this way it is possible to control the exact quantity of drug to be taken avoiding incorrect dosages.

[0077] Operatively, the patient prepares the endonasal delivery device 1 by inserting the predetermined dose of drug into the reservoir 3 through the inlet 20. Then he inserts the first portion 5 of the endonasal delivery device 1 into the nasal cavity and proceeds to the drug intake simply by breathing.

[0078] The air flow, inspired by the patient, enters the endonasal delivery device 1 through the openings 16 placed on the lateral surface 17 of the shaped body 2. Subsequently, the air flows through the supply ducts 10 and flows into the mixing chamber 14. Inside the latter, the air mixes by disturbance with the drugs that have flowed from the reservoir 3. Then, the air enriched with the drugs travels through the delivery duct 7 until pouring into the nasal cavity of the patient. The administration of the pre-established dose of drugs requires several breathing cycles. At the end of the intake, the patient removes the endonasal delivery device 1 from the nasal cavity.

[0079] Subsequently, at the time of a new drug intake, the patient reuses the same endonasal delivery device 1 and, similarly to what was previously done, he fills the reservoir 3 again with the predetermined drug dosage.

[0080] In light of the foregoing, it is understood that the endonasal drug delivery device of the invention achieves all the prefixed purposes.

[0081] In particular, it is compact enough to make it easily and comfortably transportable and usable anywhere.

[0082] On closer inspection, however, the flow of air is generated by the user's natural inspiration, without the need to resort to special means of forced ventilation such as compressed gases, fans or compressors, improving the directing of the air flow and the quality of inhalation.

[0083] Furthermore, the drugs intake by means of an air flow generated by natural respiration allows to reach the olfactory nerve and the terminal part of the trigeminal to carry out a dispensation beyond the blood-brain barrier.

[0084] It is also noted that the drawing of drugs by disturbance allows to improve the mixing between the air flow and the drugs, allowing to limit, if not cancel, the drugs waste during the intake, thus allowing to take precise dosages of drugs.

[0085] In addition, the removal of the drug due to disturbance allows the administration of powdered drugs.

[0086] In addition, the reservoir is equipped with an inlet for the introduction of drugs, thus allowing the reuse of the endonasal delivery device and the correct dosage of drug to be taken.

[0087] Finally, as far as has been said so far, it is clear that the production costs are reduced compared to the active devices belonging to the state of the art.

[0088] The invention might be subject to many changes and variants, which are all included in the appended claims. Moreover, all the details may furthermore be replaced by other technically equivalent elements, and the materials may be different depending on the needs, without departing from the protection scope of the invention defined by the appended claims.