DEVICE HAVING SYRINGE DISPENSERS FOR ADMINISTERING THERAPEUTIC SUBSTANCES USING A HIGH VELOCITY LIQUID-GAS STREAM

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a device for administering a liquid therapeutic substance to tissue, including a housing having a liquid inlet port a gas inlet port connected to a pressurized gas source; at least one therapeutic substance supply assembly mounted onto said housing, each therapeutic substance supply assembly including at least one syringe dispenser connector configured for receiving a syringe dispenser containing a predefined quantity or concentration of the liquid therapeutic substance, each syringe dispenser in fluid flow communication with one of at least one valve projecting from and external to said assembly, said syringe dispenser includes a container configured to store the liquid therapeutic substance and a piston configured to be pulled into the container as the liquid therapeutic substance is removed from said container under suction so as to flow through said at least one valve.

Claims

1. A device for administering a liquid therapeutic substance to tissue, including: a housing having a liquid inlet port; a gas inlet port connected to a pressurized gas source; at least one therapeutic substance supply assembly mounted onto said housing, each therapeutic substance supply assembly including: at least one syringe dispenser connector configured for receiving a syringe dispenser containing a predefined quantity or concentration of the liquid therapeutic substance, each syringe dispenser in fluid flow communication with one of at least one valve projecting from and external to said assembly, each of said at least one valve is associated with a different syringe dispenser and user operable between an open and a closed position, said at least one valve is adapted for control of a continuous flow of said at least one liquid therapeutic substance during operation of said device, said syringe dispenser includes a container configured to store the liquid therapeutic substance and a piston configured to be pulled into the container as the liquid therapeutic substance is removed from said container under suction so as to flow through said at least one valve; and, at least one liquid conduit in liquid communication said liquid inlet port and said at least one syringe dispenser connector; a stream jet delivery nozzle arrangement in fluid flow communication with said gas inlet port and in fluid flow communication with said conduit, operative to deliver the liquid therapeutic substance in an elevated velocity flow of gas discharged from said delivery nozzle arrangement at a predetermined concentration.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said container includes a collapsible bag configured to store the liquid therapeutic substance, said collapsible bag configured to collapse when liquid is removed from said collapsible bag.

3. A device according to claim 1, further including at least one therapeutic substance supply assembly mounted onto said housing, each therapeutic substance supply assembly configured for receiving at least one syringe dispense containing a predefined quantity or concentration of liquid therapeutic substance.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein said liquid therapeutic substance inlet port is in fluid flow communication with said therapeutic substance supply assembly and also in fluid flow communication with said stream jet delivery nozzle arrangement.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein said stream jet delivery nozzle arrangement includes: i) at least one gas discharge nozzle arranged to receive a flow of pressurized gas from said gas inlet port and configured to accelerate the flow of gas so as to discharge it at an elevated velocity; and, ii) at least one liquid discharge nozzle arranged to receive a flow of liquid therapeutic substance from a therapeutic substance supply assembly and operative to discharge the flow of therapeutic substance into the elevated velocity flow of gas, thereby accelerating the velocity of the discharged liquid therapeutic substance as a stream of accelerated therapeutic droplets and to discharge the stream of accelerated therapeutic droplets towards a tissue mass for treatment by the therapeutic substance

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0034] Exemplary embodiments are illustrated in referenced figures. Dimensions of components and features shown in the figures are generally chosen for convenience and clarity of presentation and are not necessarily shown to scale. The figures are listed below.

[0035] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a prior art device for administering therapeutic substances to tissue;

[0036] FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the prior art device of FIG. 1;

[0037] FIGS. 3 and 4 are enlarged schematic and graphical representations, respectively, of a delivery nozzle arrangement of the prior art device seen in FIGS. 1 and 2;

[0038] FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a flow of stream droplets discharging from the prior art delivery nozzle arrangement as seen in FIG. 4 against a surface to which therapeutic substances are to be administered;

[0039] FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a flow of stream droplets discharging from the prior art delivery nozzle arrangement seen in FIG. 4 into a periodontal pocket;

[0040] FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a prior art nozzle arrangement having multiple gas and liquid discharge nozzles;

[0041] FIGS. 8A-8C are perspective, side and top views, respectively, of a device for administering therapeutic substances to tissue constructed and operative in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0042] FIGS. 8D-8E are perspective and side views, respectively, of another device for administering therapeutic substances to tissue, constructed and operative substantially in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 8A-8C,

[0043] FIG. 8F is a cut away side view of the therapeutic substance supply assembly in FIGS. 8A-8E;

[0044] FIG. 8G is a side view of a second embodiment of the present invention; and,

[0045] FIG. 9 is a schematic view of a device for administering therapeutic substances to tissues having syringe dispensers in accordance with certain embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0046] Disclosed herein is a device for administering therapeutic substances to tissue by directing a liquid-gas stream of droplets containing one or more therapeutic substances, according to certain embodiments.

[0047] Referring now to FIGS. 8A-8C, there is seen, according to an embodiment of the present invention, a perspective, a side and a top view, respectively, of a device 200 configured to provide one or more (in the Figures one or two) therapeutic substances in predefined dosages and/or concentrations to a patient being treated using the present invention. Without intending to limit the invention, therapeutic substances which may be used include saline solutions, medicaments, nutrients, moisturizers or mixtures of any of these. The housing and control elements in FIGS. 8A-8C (as well as those in FIGS. 8D-8G discussed below) are different from the housing and control elements shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0048] Nozzle arrangement 220, discharge nozzles 222 and hand piece housing portion 212 are constructed and configured substantially as described herein above and shown in FIGS. 1-7. Accordingly, description of these elements, their construction and their operation will not necessarily be repeated with respect to the embodiments of the invention presented and discussed in conjunction with FIGS. 8A-8G.

[0049] Two containers 218, such as, but without intending to limit the invention, bottles, vials or ampoules containing predefined dosages and/or concentrations of therapeutic liquid substances that are required in treating a patient, are positioned in container connectors 216. In certain embodiments, these containers 218 may be single-use containers. Container connectors 216 can be removably attachable and can be single-use connectors. Container connectors 216 can be connected by luer locks 214 to liquid conduits 215 that lead to assembly base 210.

[0050] In some embodiments, device 200 can include valves, such as stopcock valves 224, positioned between container connectors 216 and luer locks 214. In other embodiments (not shown), stopcock valves 224 can be positioned between luer locks 214 and liquid conduits 215. It should be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that valves other than stopcock valves may also be used.

[0051] While luer locks 214 generally are disclosed herein, it should readily be understood that other suitable connection fittings known to persons skilled in the art may also be used. In the claims, this element will generally be noted as “connection fittings” or “connection fitting”. Such designation is intended to include inter alia luer locks 214.

[0052] Assembly base 210, luer locks 214, stopcock valves 224, containers 218, container connectors 216, and liquid conduits 215 are typically, but without intending to limit the invention, made of rigid plastic. In certain embodiments, housing portion 212 can be formed of a rigid plastic. The exact plastics to be used for these elements are readily selectable by persons skilled in the art.

[0053] In certain embodiments, a side of assembly base 210 is disposed adjacent to device housing portion 212 and is shaped to conform to the adjacent side of housing portion 212. Assembly base 210 can be ultravioletly or ultrasonically bonded to housing portion 212. Alternatively, other methods of attachment known to persons skilled in the art suitable for use with plastics, such as adhesive gluing, can be used.

[0054] In certain embodiments, assembly base 210, luer lock 214, liquid conduit 215, stopcock valve 224 and container connector 216 can be constructed as an integral unit with handpiece housing portion 212 by using, for example, injection molding.

[0055] Container connectors 216, luer locks 214, liquid conduits 215, stopcock valves 224 and assembly base 210 collectively define, and will be herein referred to as a therapeutic substance supply assembly 290.

[0056] In some embodiments, such as the one discussed in conjunction with FIGS. 8D-8E below, there may be no need for stopcock valves. In such cases, the term “therapeutic substance supply assembly” 290 is previously defined but without the inclusion of stopcock or other valves.

[0057] In certain embodiments, a therapeutic substance supply assembly 290 is a structure attachable to a housing portion, such as element 212, including container connector 216, configured to receive a container, such as container 218. In certain embodiments, container 218 is in fluid flow communication with liquid discharge nozzles, such as discharge nozzles 222, of nozzle arrangement 220.

[0058] It should be understood that the specific embodiment of the therapeutic substance supply assemblies 290 shown in FIGS. 8A-8C and FIGS. 8D-8G are exemplary only. Other embodiments can be used if they perform the functions of the assembly 290 as discussed herein.

[0059] In certain embodiments, assembly base 210 is constructed and configured to fulfill two functions. First, it is configured to allow mounting of the therapeutic substance supply assembly 290 on housing portion 212. Second, assembly base 210 is formed with a conduit (242 in FIG. 8F), herein often denoted as an “assembly base conduit”, allowing fluid flow communication between therapeutic substance supply assembly 290 and liquid inlet port 209 (discussed below) via flexible tube 230.

[0060] In certain embodiments, container connector 216 can be a separate adaptor-like element screwable into, or otherwise removably positionable, in a conduit so that container 218, when positioned in connector 216, is in fluid flow communication with liquid conduits 215 and assembly base 210.

[0061] The therapeutic substances in containers 218 are conveyed through container connectors 216 either under gravity or as a result of the therapeutic substances in container 218 being provided under pressure. In certain embodiments, a puncturing element 217, as shown in FIG. 8F, can be present in container connector 216. Puncturing element 217 can puncture a cap 219 (FIG. 8F) of container 218, allowing the therapeutic substance to flow out of container 218 and ultimately into hand piece housing portion 212, as described below.

[0062] Stopcock valves 224 can be operated by the user to control flow of the therapeutic substance from containers 218 into housing portion 212. The operator may, by opening or closing stopcock valves 224, allow the therapeutic materials in one or both of therapeutic substance containers 218 to enter housing portion 212 and exit from nozzle arrangement 220 through liquid discharge nozzle(s) 222 (similar to elements 116 and 154 in, for example, FIGS. 4 and 7 respectively) at distal end 206 of device 200. The therapeutic liquid solution is then accelerated by pressurized gas exiting from gas discharge nozzles (similar to elements 114 and 152 in, for example, FIGS. 4 and 7, respectively) as discussed in conjunction with FIGS. 1-7.

[0063] The liquid therapeutic materials from containers 218 enter housing portion 212 through liquid inlet port 209. Liquid conduits 215 and the conduit formed in assembly base 210 (i.e. assembly base conduit—not shown) are in fluid flow communication with liquid inlet port 209. The liquid therapeutic materials flow from the conduit formed in assembly base 210 (i.e. the assembly base conduit 242 in FIG. 8F) through a flexible plastic tube 230 to port 209. From there, the liquid is transported either via flexible plastic tube 230 or liquid communication tube 118 (FIGS. 2 and 3) through housing portion 212 to discharge nozzle(s) 222 of nozzle arrangement 220.

[0064] A gas inlet port 208 and a liquid inlet port 209 are shown at proximal end 204 of device 200. Gas and liquid are introduced into device 200 through these ports from appropriate gas sources (not shown) and liquid sources (such as containers 218) as described above. The gas may be selected from air, oxygen, nitrogen and carbon dioxide but other non-reactive gases may also be used.

[0065] It should readily be understood by persons skilled in the art that the flow of a therapeutic substance from a container 218 positioned in a container connector 216 of a therapeutic substance supply assembly 290 to nozzle arrangement 220 can occur using any suitable fluid flow communication configuration.

[0066] According to certain embodiments, a side view schematically illustrated in FIG. 8G, to which reference is now made, shows housing portion 212 can be formed with an aperture 231 on its long tubular side intended for presentation to, and for fluid communication with, assembly base 210 of therapeutic substance supply assembly 290. An assembly base conduit 242 within assembly base 210, shown in FIG. 8G, can be configured to be in fluid flow communication and general registration with aperture 231 situated on housing portion 212.

[0067] A tube 233 equivalent to liquid communication tube 118 (the latter best seen in FIG. 2) of housing portion 212 is configured to be in fluid flow communication with therapeutic substance supply assembly 290 through aperture 231 and the assembly base conduit 242. At least one liquid discharge nozzle 222 substantially equivalent in construction and operation to liquid discharge nozzle 116 of FIGS. 2 and 4, receives the liquid therapeutic substance from the assembly base conduit 242 after it has passed through aperture 231 and liquid communication tube 233. The liquid is then discharged from liquid discharge nozzle(s) 222 in nozzle arrangement 220 (FIGS. 8A-8G).

[0068] In certain embodiments, no transmission tube 230 and no liquid inlet port 209 are required. In to certain embodiments, an adhesive, such as a silicon adhesive, which is used to connect therapeutic substance supply assembly 290 to housing portion 212 may also function as a sealant preventing loss of liquid during its transfer from containers 28 through assembly base 210 into housing portion 212, via aperture 231 and liquid communication tube 233.

[0069] Referring now to, FIGS. 8D and 8E showing a device 200 similar to device 200 in FIGS. 8A-8C but having only a single therapeutic substance supply assembly 290. Elements in 8D-8E are similar to therapeutic substance supplies 290 in FIGS. 8A-8C and are disclosed with the same reference number. All elements in FIGS. 8D-8E are constructed and operated as discussed in conjunction with FIGS. 8A-8C and therefore will not be described again. In FIGS. 8D-8E, no stopcock valve is present. In other embodiments of FIGS. 8D-8E, valves, such as, but not limited to, stopcock valves, may be added.

[0070] It should readily be evident to one skilled in the art that devices, such as device 200, may also be configured to operate with more than two therapeutic substance container connectors 216 and/or more than two therapeutic substance supply assemblies.

[0071] In certain embodiments, device 200 discussed in conjunction with FIGS. 8A-8G can be ergonomic and balanced for easier one-hand use by an operator.

[0072] In certain embodiments, device 200 can be used to apply the therapeutic droplet stream either topically or subcutaneously.

[0073] In certain embodiments, device 200 can be constructed to have a multiple nozzle configuration, similar to, for example, the one shown in and discussed hereinabove in conjunction with FIG. 7.

[0074] Because many therapeutic substances have a reduced shelf life after their original container has been opened, use of throw-away single-use therapeutic solution containers 218 obviates many difficulties readily apparent to persons skilled in the art. Moreover, since containers 218 to be used may be selected from among containers that may contain a wide variety of therapeutic substances each being manufactured at different quantities and/or concentrations, the use of such containers is an advantage. The positioning of therapeutic containers 218 directly on operating devices 200 allows for ease of use of devices 200 by reducing the need for restricting tubing and conduits. Devices 200 therefore are more easily adapted for single hand use by the user.

[0075] In certain embodiments, container 218 can be a collapsible bag, which collapses as the liquid therapeutic substance is sucked into device 200 due to a vacuum created in container 218 resulting from removal of the liquid therapeutic substance from container 218. In certain embodiments, container 218 can include a rigid housing for storing the collapsible bag containing the liquid therapeutic substances to prevent the collapsible bag from tearing.

[0076] Referring now to FIG. 9 there is seen, according to an embodiment of the present invention, a view, of a device 300 configured to provide one or more therapeutic substances in predefined dosages and/or concentrations to a patient being treated using the present invention. Without intending to limit the invention, therapeutic substances which may be used include saline solutions, medicaments, nutrients, moisturizers or mixtures of any of these. The housing and control elements in FIG. 9 are different from the housing and control elements shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0077] Nozzle arrangement 320, discharge nozzles 322 and hand piece housing portion 312 are constructed and configured substantially as described herein above and shown in FIGS. 1-7. Accordingly, description of these elements, their construction and their operation will not necessarily be repeated with respect to the embodiments of the invention presented and discussed in conjunction with FIG. 9.

[0078] A syringe dispenser 318 includes a container 303 configure to store predefined dosages and/or concentrations of therapeutic liquid substances that are required in treating a patient, are positioned in dispenser connectors 316. Syringe dispensers 318 can be single-use dispensers or multi-use dispensers. Dispenser connectors 3316 can be removably attachable and can be single-use connectors. Dispenser connectors 316 can be connected by luer locks 314 to liquid conduits 315 that lead to assembly base 310.

[0079] The therapeutic materials in syringe dispenser 318 enters housing portion 312 and exits from nozzle arrangement 320 through liquid discharge nozzle(s) 322 (similar to elements 116 and 154 in, for example, FIGS. 4 and 7 respectively) at distal end 306 of device 300. The therapeutic liquid solution is then accelerated by pressurized gas exiting from gas discharge nozzles (similar to elements 114 and 152 in, for example, FIGS. 4 and 7, respectively) as discussed previously in conjunction with FIGS. 1-7.

[0080] The liquid therapeutic materials from syringe dispense 318 enter housing portion 312 of device 300 through liquid inlet port 309. Liquid conduits 315 and the conduit formed in assembly base 310 (i.e. assembly base conduit—not shown) are in fluid flow communication with liquid inlet port 309. The liquid materials flow from the conduit formed in assembly base 310 through a flexible plastic tube 330 to inlet port 309. From there, the liquid therapeutic material is transported either via flexible plastic tube 330 or liquid communication tube 118 (FIGS. 2 and 3) through housing portion 312 to discharge nozzle(s) 322 of nozzle arrangement 320.

[0081] A gas inlet port 308 and liquid inlet port 309 are shown at the proximal end 304 of device 300. Gas and liquid are introduced into device 300 through these ports from appropriate gas sources (not shown) and liquid sources (such as syringe dispenser 318) as described above. The gas may be selected from air, oxygen, nitrogen and carbon dioxide but other non-reactive gases may also be used.

[0082] It should readily be understood by persons skilled in the art that the flow of a therapeutic substance from a syringe dispenser 318 positioned in a dispenser connector 316 of a therapeutic substance supply assembly 390 to nozzle arrangement 320 can occur using any suitable fluid flow communication.

[0083] Syringe dispenser 318 includes a piston 317 connected to container 303 enabling piston 317 to ingress and egress into container 303 to reduce the space within container 303. Piston 317 is configured to be pulled into container 303 as the therapeutic liquid substance is removed under suction from container 303. More specifically, as the therapeutic liquid substance flows out of container 303, a vacuum is generated within container 303, which pulls piston 317 into container to reduce the space within container 303 and prevents gas from entering container 303, which may contaminate the remaining therapeutic liquid substances.

[0084] In certain embodiments, an empty container 303 of syringe dispenser 318 can be replaced with a full container. For example, piston 317 can be disconnected from syringe dispenser 318 to enable quick replacement of an empty container and a new full container without disconnecting syringe dispenser 318 from dispenser connector 316.

[0085] The descriptions of the various embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration, but are not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the described embodiments. The terminology used herein was chosen to best explain the principles of the embodiments, the practical application or technical improvement over technologies found in the marketplace, or to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the embodiments disclosed herein.