Dispensing – With cutter and/or punch – To form dispensing opening in container
Patent
1998-02-19
2000-11-14
Kashnikow, Andres
Dispensing
With cutter and/or punch
To form dispensing opening in container
22215313, B67D 500
Patent
active
061457035
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to spray applicators, particularly for dispensing pharmaceutical substances. One established method of dispensing pharmaceuticals is by spray e.g as a nasal or oral spray. This method has the advantage as compared with sub-cutaneous or intravenal injection that it is easier for a patient with poor co-ordination or muscular weakness to administer the pharmaceutical himself. In the past, containers fitted with a pump or aerosol packaged products have been employed. However, these methods have proved to be unsatisfactory for packaging pharmaceuticals which are sensitive to substances in the atmosphere, such as compounds which degrade by contact with water or oxygen.
It is, therefore, one object of the present invention to provide an applicator for dispensing pharmaceuticals in the form of a spray, which minimises contact with atmospheric components until the product is dispensed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
WO 95/00195 discloses a spray applicator for dispensing a pharmaceutical from a sealed container, said applicator comprising means for holding said sealed container, a manually operable pump for delivering said pharmaceutical as a nasal spray and a hollow needle associated with said pump for penetrating a membrane sealing the container and dispensing the pharmaceutical through the pump. In accordance with the present invention, such a spray applicator is characterised in that the container has a moveable wall or plug which is movable to displace liquid from the container as it is dispensed by the pump. An advantage of the invention is that liquid from within the container can be displaced without the need to introduce air or other gas into the sealed container.
The applicator of the present invention is particularly designed for dispensing pharmaceuticals which are sensitive to oxygen or water. One example of such a compound is apomorphine hydrochloride (or other pharmaceutically acceptable salt) which is widely used in the treatment of Parkinson's disease. For such use, apomorphine is conveniently applied as a nasal spray and is rapidly absorbed through the nasal membrane. The spray applicator may, however, be adapted for other purposes, e.g. for applying a spray to the mouth and for dispensing other pharmaceuticals via the mouth or nose, particularly for treating the mouth, nose and lungs.
The pump component of the applicator may be constructed as a metering pump so that on actuation of the pump, a metered dose of the pharmaceutical is sprayed into the patient's nose or mouth.
Preferably, the applicator includes means for moving the needle towards the membrane automatically on actuation or just prior to actuation of the pump. For example, depression of the pump system may cause the needle to move towards and penetrate a membrane sealing the container in which the pharmaceutical is packaged.
In order to prevent the device from being actuated unintentionally, the applicator may include a removable device such as a clip, ring or tag which prevents the needle penetrating the membrane or prevents, respectively, means carrying the needle and sealed container from coming together until the applicator is intended to be used.
When the needle penetrates the membrane over the end of the vial, the contents remain substantially sealed with respect to the atmosphere so that air cannot enter the vial.
The moveable wall or plug may be urged inwardly by a spring or other mechanical. device so as to assist prig the pump, although the spring is not essential. The container may be constructed as a collapsible container, such as a tube, by making the walls from a flexible material such as a plastics sheet material.
One pharmaceutical application of the spray applicator is for dispensing compounds for controlling Parkinson's Disease. Patients suffering from Parkinson's Disease often have difficulty in manipulating deices for administering their medication. A further feature of the applicator of the invention is to provide a dispensing cap in which the outlet from the pump is
REFERENCES:
patent: 4083428 (1978-04-01), Ness
patent: 4770323 (1988-09-01), Debard
patent: 5307953 (1994-05-01), Regan
patent: 5503302 (1996-04-01), DeJong
patent: 5509578 (1996-04-01), Livingstone
patent: 5518147 (1996-05-01), Peterson et al.
Kashnikow Andres
Nguyen Dinh Q.
Pharmaso Limited
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