Regulated periodontal dispensing apparatus and multiple dose applicator with a semilunar valve

Abstract

The present invention is a hand-held device for dispensing multiple controlled dosage of powered material having a main body, a cavity in the main body constructed and arranged to be operatively associated with an actuator for dispensing a medicament, an actuator constructed and arranged for dispensing said medicament from said cavity through a delivery device, and a tip attached to said second end of said main body, wherein said tip is constructed and arranged at a fixed angle relative to said main body to facilitate periodontal delivery of a medicament.

Claims

1. A hand-held device for dispensing multiple controlled dosage of powdered material comprising: a main body having a first end and a second end; a cavity, said cavity constructed and arranged to be operatively associated with an actuator for dispensing a powder medicament; an actuator constructed and arranged for dispensing said medicament from said cavity through a delivery device; a rotatable ratchet head which positionally rotates a tip assembly relative to the main body and actuator; a tip assembly comprising a blunt tip applicator constructed and arranged at a fixed angle relative to said main body to facilitate delivery of said medicament into a periodontal pocket; wherein said tip is pre-filled with more than one dose of powdered medicament, and each dose is separated from another dose by an inert material.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said device is constructed and arranged to provide delivery of a plurality of doses of said medicament.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said device provides pharmaceutically acceptable precision and uniformity to delivery of said medicament from said device.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the force of delivery is user adjustable.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein said delivery device is formed as a regulated multi-dose applicator in the shape of a hollow thin conical elliptical shape at its apex, wherein said applicator is constructed having an approximately 10-degree to 50-degree angle offset from a longitudinal line through the center of the device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the powder dispenser of the present invention shown hand held in environment of use.

(2) FIG. 2 is as a bottom view of the dispenser of the present invention held in a hand.

(3) FIG. 3 is a side view of the powder dispenser of the present invention.

(4) FIG. 4 is an end view of the present invention.

(5) FIG. 5 is a section view along section lines E-E of the FIG. 4.

(6) FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of the ratchet positioning components shown in the open or rotational position.

(7) FIG. 7 is FIG. 6 enlarged sectional view shown in the closed or locked position.

(8) FIG. 8 is end view of the ratchet item 66 showing the 16 unique positions.

(9) FIG. 9 is an end view of figure element 64 being the nose cone showing a quick disconnect area as element 58.

(10) FIG. 10 is a partial sectional view of from FIG. 9.

(11) FIG. 11 is a sectional view of FIG. 13 showing the applicator tip with connector and single outer shot.

(12) FIG. 12 is a side view of the applicator tip.

(13) FIG. 13 is an end view of the applicator tip.

(14) FIG. 14 is detail area of the applicator tips with different shapes but equal areas.

(15) FIG. 15 is a detail of single powder shot item 70 with typical dimension.

(16) FIG. 16 is a series of views showing the various positions of the powder feed actuating mechanism whereby said mechanism can have a user-controlled tension.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(17) The present invention provides a multi dose hand held oral medicinal powder dispenser. Dispenser 10 is constructed and arranged to deliver oral medicated powder to the interface of teeth and gums as is known in the art and depicted in FIG. 1. This device provides delivery of periodontal medicaments. Dispenser 10 represents numerous significant improvements over prior articles. Dispenser 10 has an actuator 22 which is user adjustable such that a selected amount of pressure will cause dispenser 10 to eject medicament from exit 62 of tip assembly 52. As best seen in FIG. 5 a cross-section of article 10 of the present invention actuator 22 is pivotably attached at actuating arm pivot 20. Actuator 22 raises up pivotably in an angular fashion and down toward body surface 12 of article 10 as shown by directional arrows in FIG. 5 demonstrating movement of actuator 22. Enclosed on a first end of article 10 is rack spring 14 which urges from end cap 15 inward towards the center of the article and in the ultimate direction of exit 62 of tip assembly 52. End cap 15 is removable and provides access to the internal elements of article 10 contained within body 12. The mechanism controls plunger 30 which is operatively associated with tip assembly 50 whereby medical powder 70 is forced through tip assembly 50 and exists the apparatus through exit orifice 62.

(18) In the embodiment shown the distance plunger 30 travels is fixed by interaction with rack 28 and plunger shot feed 30. Rack 28 interacts with pawl 32 and provided for fixed movement of plunger 30 based on the distance and angular pitch between teeth on rack 28. This ensures precision of delivery as would be required in the delivery of medicaments in precise amounts with a pharmaceutically acceptable degree of variation. A pharmaceutically acceptable variation is subject to change due to regulatory considerations but in one embodiment is +/10%. In a preferred embodiment, it is +/8%. In a more preferred embodiment it is +/5%. As contemplated, the delivery is also capable of delivery with precision of +/3%.

(19) The present invention further comprises an improvement whereby a rotatable ratchet head 66 rotate applicator tip assembly 52. Thus when a dentist or other health professional is in need of manipulating the ultimate position of applicator tip 52 rather than rotating the entire body, which will also require rotating the actuator 22 in a position that could be in a sub-optimal orientation, rotation of ratchet head 66 will ultimately rotate applicator 52 into a desired position while actuator 22 remains in an optimal position for use. Simply put, the tip rotates along with the tip assembly and the remainder of the device does not require rotation. A preferred embodiment provides a fixed angle of the termination of applicator tip 52 at exit 62. As best seen in FIG. 12, tip assembly 52 is formed with a permanent angle designated by dimension AQ which ranges from 10-50 degrees. In preferred embodiments, angle AQ is 15-45 degrees. In another preferred embodiment is 25-45 degrees. In another preferred embodiment is 30-45 degrees. In another preferred embodiment is 35-45 degrees. In another preferred embodiment is 40-45 degrees.

(20) Ratchet head 62 is constructed and arranged such that it rotates in a fixed number of incremental rotations such that the user can adjust the rotation of applicator tip 52 in a plurality of desired rotational positions. In one embodiment an applicator ratchet assembly 56 is incorporated in applicator assembly 50 and the ratchet mechanism regulates the control and desired rotation whereby the rotation is in fixed increments about the circumference of the circle. The rotation of the assembly is depicted by directional lines F and G of FIG. 7. In a preferred embodiment, applicant assembly 50 is connected to main body 12 of article 10 using a quick disconnect 58 whereby a connect/disconnect arrangement is possible with applicator tip 52 and main body 12.

(21) Although the FIG. 11A shows a single medicament dosage 70a within applicator tip 52 the present invention contemplates a plurality of doses contained therein. In one embodiment, shown in FIG. 11B, a precise first dose 70a is separated by a layer of a medically inert material 80 in order to avoid contact with of moisture with subsequent dose 70a.

(22) As seen in FIGS. 14 and 15, the inner geometry whereby medicament travels for delivers can be altered without changing the cavity volume and adversely effect delivery precision. FIG. 14 demonstrates an oval configuration and FIG. 15 a generally circular configuration.

(23) As best seen in FIG. 17, each of illustrated dimensions W, X, Y, and Z, represent a user adjustable distance whereby a conventional dose can be given at 100% dose amount represented by distance Z, or upon user adjustment, a precise percentage of a single dose is delivered. The delivery of an adjusted amount containing less than a 100% dose is delivered by adjusting the starting position of plunger 30 along rack 28 which interacts with pawl 32 and provides for fixed movement of plunger 30.

(24) While the invention has been described in its preferred form or embodiment with some degree of particularity, it is understood that this description has been given only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction, fabrication, and use, including the combination and arrangement of parts, may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.