NASAL DELIVERY DEVICES

Abstract

A nasal delivery device for and method of delivering substance to a nasal airway of a subject, the delivery device comprising: a nosepiece (117) for fitting to a nasal cavity of a subject, a mouthpiece (119) into which the subject in use exhales; a delivery unit, which comprises an actuation part which is manually displaceable to actuate the delivery unit to deliver substance from the nosepiece; and a valve assembly (127) which is fluidly connected to the nosepiece and the mouthpiece, wherein the valve assembly comprises a body element (128) and a valve element (131) which is movably disposed to the body element between closed and open configurations by manual displacement of the actuation part of the delivery unit to provide for an air flow through the nosepiece simultaneously with delivery of substance.

Claims

1-49. (canceled)

50. A nasal delivery device for delivering substance to a nasal airway of a subject, comprising: a nosepiece for fitting to a nasal cavity of a subject; a mouthpiece into which the subject in use exhales; a delivery unit, which comprises an actuation part which is manually displaceable to actuate the delivery unit to deliver substance from the nosepiece; and a valve assembly which is fluidly connected to the nosepiece and the mouthpiece, wherein the valve assembly comprises a body element and a valve element which is movably disposed to the body element between closed and open configurations by manual displacement of the actuation part of the delivery unit to provide for an air flow through the nosepiece simultaneously with delivery of substance; wherein the body element includes a valve seat which defines a valve opening, and the valve element comprises a seal, which has a central region and a peripheral region and acts to close the valve opening when the valve element is in the closed configuration, and a support which supports the central region of the seal, whereby the peripheral region of the seal engages the valve seat when the valve element is in the closed configuration and the central region of the seal is deflected, relative to the peripheral region of the seal, when the valve element is moved to the open configuration, thereby allowing for sudden release of the seal.

51. The delivery device of claim 50, wherein the body element includes a pivot, and the valve element comprises an arm having first and second ends, with the first end of the arm being pivoted to the pivot of the body element between the closed and open configurations.

52. The delivery device of claim 51, wherein the arm is at least in part resilient.

53. The delivery device of claim 51, wherein the body element includes a sliding surface, against which the second end of the arm is slideable.

54. The delivery device of claim 50, wherein the valve assembly, on opening of the valve element, provides for a burst of air flow, having a first, initial burst phase followed by a second, extended burst phase, wherein the peak flow rate in the first burst phase has a higher flow rate than the average flow rate in the second burst phase, and the second burst phase is of substantially greater duration than the first burst phase.

55. The delivery device of claim 54, wherein the peak flow rate in the first burst phase is at least 10% greater than that of the average flow rate of the second burst phase in a period corresponding to ten times the duration of the period in which substance is delivered from the delivery unit.

56. The delivery device of claim 54, wherein the peak flow rate in the first burst phase is at least 15% greater than that of the average flow rate of the second burst phase in a period corresponding to ten times the duration of the period in which substance is delivered from the delivery unit.

57. The delivery device of claim 54, wherein the peak flow rate in the first burst phase is at least 20% greater than that of the average flow rate of the second burst phase in a period corresponding to ten times the duration of the period in which substance is delivered from the delivery unit.

58. The delivery device of claim 50, wherein the delivery unit provides for delivery of substance subsequent to opening of the valve element.

59. The delivery device of claim 58, wherein the delivery unit provides for delivery of substance in a period less than about 250 ms from opening of the sealing member.

60. The delivery device of claim 58, wherein the delivery unit provides for delivery of substance in a period less than about 200 ms from opening of the sealing member.

61. The delivery device of claim 58, wherein the delivery unit provides for delivery of substance in a period less than about 150 ms from opening of the sealing member.

62. The delivery device of claim 58, wherein the delivery unit provides for delivery of substance in a period less than about 150 ms from opening of the sealing member.

63. The delivery device of claim 58, wherein the delivery unit provides for delivery of substance in a period less than about 100 ms from opening of the sealing member.

64. The delivery device of claim 50, wherein the delivery unit provides for delivery of substance commencing less than about 150 ms subsequent to opening of the valve element.

65. The delivery device of claim 64, wherein the delivery unit provides for delivery of substance commencing less than about 100 ms subsequent to opening of the valve element.

66. The delivery device of claim 64, wherein the delivery unit provides for delivery of substance commencing less than about 50 ms subsequent to opening of the valve element.

67. The delivery device of claim 64, wherein the delivery unit provides for delivery of substance commencing less than about 25 ms subsequent to opening of the valve element.

68. The delivery device of claim 64, wherein the delivery unit provides for delivery of substance commencing less than about 15 ms subsequent to opening of the valve element.

69. The delivery device of claim 50, wherein the delivery unit comprises a mechanical delivery pump which is actuatable by depression of the actuation part.

Description

[0017] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described hereinbelow by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0018] FIGS. 1(a) and (b) illustrate a perspective view of a nasal delivery device in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0019] FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded perspective view of the delivery device of FIG. 1;

[0020] FIG. 3 illustrates a vertical sectional view of the delivery device of FIG. 1, in the at rest, non-actuated configuration;

[0021] FIG. 4 illustrates a vertical sectional view of the delivery device of FIG. 1, in the actuated configuration;

[0022] FIG. 5 illustrates an exploded, fragmentary vertical sectional view of the delivery device of FIG. 1, in the actuated configuration;

[0023] FIGS. 6(a) to (c) illustrate the opening of the sealing member of the valve assembly by operation of the delivery unit of the delivery device of FIG. 1;

[0024] FIG. 7 illustrates plots of the flow rates at the nosepiece and the mouthpiece and the pressure at the mouthpiece for one exemplary device;

[0025] FIGS. 8(a) and (b) illustrate fragmentary vertical sectional views in the at rest, non-actuated and actuated configurations of a nasal delivery device in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] FIGS. 9(a) and (b) illustrate fragmentary vertical sectional views in the at rest, non-actuated and actuated configurations of a nasal delivery device in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention; and

[0027] FIG. 10 schematically illustrates the anatomy of the upper respiratory tract of a human subject.

[0028] FIGS. 1 to 7 illustrate a manually-actuated nasal delivery device in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] The delivery device comprises a housing 115, a nosepiece 117 for fitting in a nasal cavity of a subject, a mouthpiece 119 into which the subject in use exhales, such as to enable delivery of an air flow into and through the nasal airway of the subject on exhalation by the subject through the mouthpiece 119, and a delivery unit 120, which is manually actuatable to deliver substance to the nasal cavity of the subject.

[0030] The housing 115 comprises a body member 121, in this embodiment of substantially elongate, tubular section which includes an aperture 123 at one end thereof, through which projects an actuating part of the delivery unit 120, in this embodiment as defined by the base of a substance-containing chamber 173 of a substance-supply unit 169.

[0031] In this embodiment the body member 121 comprises two body sections 121a, b which are fixed together.

[0032] In this embodiment the body sections 121a, b include inter-engaging lugs 124 and detents 125, here of snap-fit type, and sealing elements 126, which act to close the air flow paths at the junctions of the body sections 121a, b.

[0033] In this embodiment the sealing elements 126 are adhesively bonded, but could alternatively be mechanically bonded, such as by welding.

[0034] In an alternative embodiment the sealing elements 126 could be omitted.

[0035] The housing 115 further comprises a valve assembly 127 which is fluidly connected to the nosepiece 117 and the mouthpiece 119, and operable between closed and open configurations, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, such as to provide for an air flow, in this embodiment in the form of a burst of air, through the nosepiece 117 simultaneously with actuation of the delivery unit 120, as will be described in more detail hereinbelow.

[0036] The valve assembly 127 comprises a main, body element 128 which includes a valve seat 129 defining a valve opening 130, and a valve element 131 which is movably disposed to the body element 128 between closed and open positions, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4.

[0037] As particularly illustrated in FIG. 3, the body element 128 comprises a pivot 135, in this embodiment to one, lower side of the valve seat 129, to which one end 145 of the valve element 131 is pivoted, and a sliding surface 137, in this embodiment to the other, upper side of the valve seat 129, against which the other end 147 of the valve element 131 is slideable.

[0038] The valve element 131 comprises an elongate arm 141, in this embodiment a flexible arm, one end 145, in this embodiment the lower end, of which is pivoted to the pivot 135 of the body element 128, and the other, upper end 147 of which slideably engages the sliding surface 137 of the body element 128, and a valve member 149 which is supported by the arm 141.

[0039] In this embodiment the arm 141 comprises a first, here lower, arm section 151, which is biased, here inwardly, such that, when the valve element 131 is in the closed, rest position, the lower arm section 151 is inclined inwardly relative to the longitudinal axis of the housing 115 and engageable by the substance-supply unit 169 when manually actuated to move the valve element 131 to the open position, as will be described in more detail hereinbelow.

[0040] In this embodiment the arm 141 further comprises a second, here upper, arm section 153, which engages the sliding surface 137 of the body element 128 and acts to bias the valve element 131 to the closed position.

[0041] In this embodiment the valve member 149 comprises a seal 161, in this embodiment a flexible or resilient element, which acts to close the valve opening 130 as defined by the valve seat 129 when the valve element 131 is in the closed position, and a support 163 which supports a central region of the seal 161.

[0042] With this configuration, and referring to FIGS. 6(a) to (c), where the seal 161 is centrally supported, when the valve element 131 is moved to the open position, the support 163 biases the central region of the seal 161, as illustrated in FIG. 6(b), causing the seal 161 to bulge outwardly in this central region and thus provide that the seal 161 engages the valve seat 129 only at the peripheral edge of the seal 161, until the point is reached when the seal 161 is suddenly and explosively released from the valve seat 129, as illustrated in FIG. 6(c).

[0043] This mode of release is believed to be particularly effective in the present application where it is desired to achieve a sudden, initial burst of air flow, in that substantially the entire sealing surface of the seal 161 is released in one instant, which compares to an alternative mode of a peeling-type release, where a smaller section of a sealing surface is released, followed by the remainder of the sealing surface, which tends to provide a smaller initial burst pressure.

[0044] In this embodiment the delivery unit 120 comprises an outlet unit 167 for delivering substance into the nasal airway of the subject, and a substance-supply unit 169 for delivering substance to the outlet unit 167.

[0045] In this embodiment the valve assembly 127 provides for a pre-actuation efficiency of less than 5 L/min when a user is developing an exhalation pressure of 3 kPa, preferably less than 5 L/min when a user is developing an exhalation pressure of 10 kPa, more preferably less than 1 L/min when a user is developing an exhalation pressure of 3 kPa, still more preferably less than 1 L/min when a user is developing an exhalation pressure of 10 kPa, yet more preferably substantially no flow when a user is developing an exhalation pressure of 3 kPa, and still yet more preferably substantially no flow when a user is developing an exhalation pressure of 10 kPa; the pre-actuation efficiency being a measure of the volume of air which escapes from the device prior to actuation as a fraction of the volume of air delivered into the mouthpiece 119.

[0046] In this embodiment the delivery device is configured to provide a post-actuation efficiency of at least 80% at a flow rate of 50 L/min and an exhalation pressure of 3 kPa, preferably at least 85% at a flow rate of 50 L/min and an exhalation pressure of 3 kPa, more preferably at least 88% at a flow rate of 50 L/min and an exhalation pressure of 3 kPa, and yet more preferably at least 90% at a flow rate of 50 L/min and an exhalation pressure of 3 kPa; the post-actuation efficiency being a measure of the volume of air delivered from the nosepiece 117 as a fraction of the volume of air delivered into the mouthpiece 119.

[0047] FIG. 7 illustrates, for one exemplary device, plots of the flow rates at the nosepiece 117 and the mouthpiece 119 and the pressure at the mouthpiece 119.

[0048] In this embodiment the pre-actuation efficiency of 1 L/min at a pre-actuation pressure of 5 kPa.

[0049] In this embodiment the post-actuation efficiency is 88% at a flow rate of 57.1 L/min.

[0050] In this embodiment, the valve element 131 provides for a burst of air flow on opening thereof, having a first, initial burst phase followed by a second, extended burst phase, wherein the peak flow rate in the initial burst phase has a higher flow rate than the average flow rate in the extended burst phase, and the extended burst phase is of substantially greater duration than the initial burst phase.

[0051] In this embodiment the peak flow rate in the initial burst phase is at least 10%, preferably at least 15%, and more preferably at least 20%, greater than that of the average flow rate of the extended burst phase in a period corresponding to ten times the duration of the period in which substance is delivered from the nosepiece 117 by the delivery unit 120.

[0052] In this embodiment the delivery unit 120 provides a spray which commences 54 ms after opening of the sealing member 149 and terminates 134 ms after opening of the sealing member 149.

[0053] In one embodiment the delivery unit 120 provides for delivery of substance subsequent to opening of the sealing member 149.

[0054] In one embodiment the delivery unit 120 provides for delivery of substance in a period less than about 250 ms from opening of the sealing member 149, preferably less than about 200 ms from opening of the sealing member 149, more preferably less than about 150 ms from opening of the sealing member 149, and still more preferably more preferably less than about 100 ms from opening of the sealing member 149.

[0055] In one embodiment the delivery unit 120 provides for delivery of substance commencing less than about 150 ms subsequent to opening of the sealing member 149, preferably less than about 100 ms subsequent to opening of the sealing member 149, still more preferably less than about 50 ms subsequent to opening of the sealing member 149, yet more preferably less than more than about 25 ms subsequent to opening of the sealing member 149, still more preferably less than about 15 ms subsequent to opening of the sealing member 149.

[0056] In this embodiment the outlet unit 167 comprises a nozzle 171 for delivering substance to the nasal airway of the subject. In this embodiment the nozzle 171 is configured to provide an aerosol spray. In an alternative embodiment, for the delivery of a liquid, the nozzle 171 could be configured to deliver a liquid jet as a column of liquid.

[0057] In a preferred embodiment the distal end of the outlet unit 167 is configured to extend at least about 2 cm, preferably at least about 3 cm, and more preferably from about 2 cm to about 3 cm, into the nasal cavity of the subject.

[0058] In this embodiment the substance supply unit 169 is a pump unit, which comprises a substance-containing chamber 173 which contains substance and extends from the aperture 123 in the housing 115 as the actuating part of the substance-supply unit 169, and a mechanical delivery pump 175 which is actuatable, here by depression of the substance-containing chamber 173, typically by a finger or thumb of the subject, to deliver a metered dose of substance from the substance-containing chamber 173 to the outlet unit 167 and from the nozzle 171 thereof, here as an aerosol spray.

[0059] In this embodiment the substance-containing chamber 173, when depressed to actuate the substance supply unit 169, engages the lower arm section 151 of the arm 141 of the valve element 131, such as simultaneously to provide for actuation of the substance-supply unit 169 and opening of the seal 161 of the valve element 131, whereby substance, here in the form of a spray, and an air flow, here as a burst of air, are simultaneously delivered to the nasal cavity of the subject.

[0060] In this embodiment the mechanical delivery pump 175 is a liquid delivery pump for delivering a metered dose of substance, but in an alternative embodiment the mechanical delivery pump 175 could be a powder delivery pump, which delivers metered doses of a powdered substance on actuation thereof.

[0061] In this embodiment the substance-supply unit 169 is a multi-dose unit for delivering a plurality of metered doses of substance in successive delivery operations.

[0062] In an alternative embodiment the substance-supply unit 169 could be a single-dose unit for delivering a single metered dose of substance or a duo-dose unit for delivering two metered doses of substance in two successive delivery operations.

[0063] In another alternative embodiment the substance-supply unit 169 could comprise a dry powder delivery unit which delivers metered doses of a substance, as a dry powder, on actuation thereof.

[0064] In yet another alternative embodiment the substance-supply unit 169 could comprise a nebulizer which delivers metered doses of a substance, as an aerosol spray, on actuation thereof.

[0065] In still another alternative embodiment the substance-supply unit 169 could comprise an aerosol canister for delivering metered volumes of a propellant, preferably a hydrofluoroalkane (HFA) propellant or the like, containing substance, either as a suspension or solution.

[0066] In this embodiment the housing 115 further comprises a scaling member 181, here an annular seal, in the form of an O-ring, which slideably receives the substance-containing chamber 173 of the substance-supply unit 169, such as to prevent the escape of the delivered air flow from the aperture 123 in the housing 115.

[0067] In one embodiment the sealing member 181 could be omitted.

[0068] FIGS. 8(a) and (b) illustrate a nasal delivery device in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0069] The delivery device of this embodiment is substantially the same as the delivery device of the first-described embodiment, and thus, in order to avoid unnecessary duplication of description, only the differences will be described in detail, with like parts being designated by like reference signs.

[0070] The delivery device of this embodiment differs from that of the first-described embodiment principally in that the valve member 149 is configured such that the support 163 extends across substantially the entire width of the valve opening 130. In this way, the seal 161 is not able to bulge in the manner of the above-described embodiment, and is instead opened by a peeling action. FIG. 8(a) illustrates the valve assembly 127 in the at rest, non-actuated configuration. FIG. 8(b) illustrates the valve assembly 127 in the actuated configuration.

[0071] FIGS. 9(a) and (b) illustrate a nasal delivery device in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention.

[0072] The delivery device of this embodiment is very similar to the delivery device of the first-described embodiment, and thus, in order to avoid unnecessary duplication of description, only the differences will be described in detail, with like parts being designated by like reference signs.

[0073] The delivery device of this embodiment differs from that of the first-described embodiment principally in that the seal 161 is not supported by the arm 141, but is instead a separate element, which is displaced by movement of the arm 141, as caused by manual actuation of the substance-supply unit 169. FIG. 9(a) illustrates the valve assembly 127 in the at rest, non-actuated configuration. FIG. 9(b) illustrates the valve assembly 127 in the actuated configuration.

[0074] In this embodiment the seal 161 comprises a flexible element, here in the form of a flap, and in one embodiment a resilient element, which is engaged by an engagement element 185 on the arm 141.

[0075] In this embodiment the engagement element 185 comprises a projection which acts to cause the seal 161 to bulge in the manner of the first-described embodiment.

[0076] In an alternative embodiment the engagement element 185 could extend across substantially the width of the valve opening 130, causing the seal 161 to be moved from the valve seat 129 with a peeling action in a similar manner to the second-described embodiment.

[0077] Finally, it will be understood that the present invention has been described in its preferred embodiments and can be modified in many different ways without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.