Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
TN-D860/PCT
_ _ 1 _
DESCRIPTION
Device for Administering Powdery Medicine
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a device for
administering a powdery medicine. More specifically, the
invention relates to a device for administering a powdery
medicine which is convenient to carry, easy to use,
disposable after the use and is sanitary, rigid in
construction, and is relatively cheaply available, the
device holding in a container a trace amount ofa powdery
medicine for one-time administration into body cavities
or to another diseased part by spray- or suction-
administration.
BACKGROUND ART
Patients suffering from nasal allergy, asthma, flat
lichen, wide inflammatory stomatitis and the like
diseases are treated by administering powdery medicines
into the nasal cavities or the oral cavity. The
medicines are administered by using powdery medicine
dispensers or containers. Such dispensers can roughly be
divided into two types depending upon their manner of
containing the powdery medicines.
The device of the first type may be a unit dosage
dispenser or container in which a powdery medicine of an
amount (unit dosage) that will be administered each time
is contained in a suitable container as a unit, and is
administered in an amount of a unit dosage for every
administering operation. The device of the second type
may be a multi-dosage dispenser or container in which a
powdery medicine of an amount (multiple dosages) that
will be administered a plural number of times is
contained in a suitable container, and the powdery
medicine of a unit dosage is correctly taken out from the
container and is administered for every administration
operation. Examples of the former unit dosage dispenser
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further include a simple device or a disposable container
which also works as a disposable device that can be
disposed of after each administration operation.
Unit dosage dispenser containers have been disclosed
in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai)
No. 59-34267 and Japanese Patent Publication (Kokoku)
No. 63-6024. These devices are usually equipped with a
unit dosage container-holding portion held in a capsule
or the like, means for perforating the unit dosage
container, and means for introducing the air stream to
spray the powdery medicine from the perforated container
into the nasal cavities or the like cavities of a
patient. A disposable container has further been
disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication
(Kohyo) No. 2-500172, according to which the powdery
medicine dispenser container comprises a medicine-holding
portion in which a fine powdery medicine is contained and
of which the head portion has an opening for spraying or
sucking the powdery medicine, and means for introducing
the air, the bottom of the medicine-holding portion being
communicated with the means for introducing the air
through an air-permeable membrane but which does not
permit the powdery medicine to pass through.
A multi-dosage dispenser container has been
disclosed in, for example, W094/26338.
According to this specification, the device
comprises a device body, a storage chamber detachably
mounted on said body and capable of storing a powdery
medicine in an amount (multiple dosages) for plural times
of administrations, medicine distribution means having a
container chamber of a capacity (unit dosage) for each
administration operation and is movably mounted on said
body, so that said container chamber at a charging
position is communicated with said storage chamber to
administer the powdery medicine in the container chamber,
means for moving said distribution means between the
charging position and the administering position, and
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pump means for stirring the powdery medicine in the
storage chamber by injecting the air into the storage
chamber through the container chamber at the charging
position, wherein the powdery medicine of a predetermined
amount after stirring is charged into said container
chamber from said storage chamber relying upon the
suction force by said pump means and/or gravity.
As described above, many dispenser devices or
containers have heretofore been devised accompanied,
however, by their respective problems.
That is, the unit dosage dispenser disclosed in
Japanese Unexamined Patent-Publication (Kokai)
No. 59-34267 and Japanese Patent Publication (Kokoku)
No. 63-6024 must be equipped with means for perforating
the medicine container. Therefore, the device becomes
bulky and not suited for being carried. Besides, a
cumbersome operation is required for putting the medicine
container in the device and effecting the perforation for
each administration operation, removing the container
after the administration operation, and washing the
device after it is used for extended periods of time.
The multi-dosage dispenser disclosed in the
specification of W094/26338 is constituted by a medicine
storage unit, a medicine container chamber for each
administration operation, means for measuring the
medicine, and pump means. Therefore, the dispenser is
considerably bulky and is not suited for being carried,
and must be washed after it is used for extended periods
of time.
The disposable container disclosed in Japanese
Unexamined Patent Publication (Kohyo) No. 2-500172 is
free from the problems of the above-mentioned multi-
dosage device or the unit dosage device, but has a
separator wall between the medicine-holding unit and the
air introduction means. Therefore, the device is
fabricated through complex fabrication steps, is likely
to be broken during the pumping provided the separator
_ _ 4 _ ~~i~~~3~
wall is not strongly adhered to theperiphery thereof,
and becomes expensive due to the use of a filter as the
separator wall, and is not economical if it is to be
discarded after being used only once.
That is, none of the conventional powdery medicine
dispensers or administering devices satisfy all of the
requirements for being fabricated in small sizes so as to
be easily carried, operated easily and quickly,
fabricated through simple steps, fabricated using a small
number of parts, and fabricated at low cost. In
particular, when importance is given to portability, easy
use and sanitation, it is strongly desired to provide a
cheap and disposable administering device that can be
fabricated through simple steps.
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the
present inventors have studied the disposable container
disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication
(Kohyo) No. 2-500172. That is, the inventors have
removed the separator wall, contained the powdery
medicine in the powdery medicine-holding portion which
has an air reservoir that is formed together with the
powdery medicine holding portion as a unitary structure,
opened the head portion of the medicine-holding portion
and depressed (pumped) the air reservoir in an attempt to
spray the powdery medicine to the outside through the
opening. In fact, however, though the medicine was
partly sprayed, the medicine near the opening in the
holding portion flew backwards when a negative pressure
was created in the air reservoir, and all the medicine
contained therein could not be sprayed. It was therefore
learned that even when the powdery medicine is contained
in a closed flexible container, the container is partly
opened and is then pumped by being depressed in an
attempt to spray and discharge the powdery medicine
contained therein through the opening, the medicine flew
backwards, and it was very difficult to spray and
discharge all of the medicine.
5
In treating diseases in the nasal cavities,
furthermore, the device for administering the powdery
medicine must be capable of evenly spraying the powdery
medicine into both nasal cavities.
To evenly spray and administer the medicine to both
nasal cavities, there may be used two administering
devices, one for one nasal cavity and another for another
nasal cavity, or there may be used an administering
device having two spray ports so that the medicine can be
simultaneously administered into both nasal cavities. It
can be further contrived to alternatingly spray and
administer the powdery medicine into both nasal cavities
by using a powdery medicine administering device having
only one spray port, in order to evenly administer the
medicine into both nasal cavities.
From the standpoint of portability, easy use and low
cost, however, neither a method of using two
administering devices nor the administering device having
two spray ports is desired. It is desired to evenly
administer the medicine into the nasal cavities by using
only one administering device and by alternatingly
spraying and administering the powdery medicine contained
therein into both nasal cavities.
In order to evenly administer the powdery medicine
into both nasal cavities by using only one powdery
medicine administering device having only one spray port,
the medicine may be administered into the nasal cavities
in the order of, for example, right, left, left,
right, ....
For this purpose, more than 90~ of the medicine
contained therein must by sprayed and discharged through
the first four or six times of spraying, and the total
amount of the powdery medicine sprayed in the first and
fourth times must be equal to the total amount of the
powdery medicine sprayed in the second and third times,
or the total amount of the powdery medicine sprayed in
the first, fourth and fifth times must be equal to the
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total amount of the powdery medicine sprayed in the second,
third and sixth times.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
In view of the problems and assignments inherent in the
above-mentioned prior art, the present invention provides a
device for administering a powdery medicine mentioned below.
This is, in one embodiment, the present provides a
device for administering a powdery medicine satisfying the
requirement of portability, easy and quick operation,
fabrication through simple steps, rigid structure, economy
using decreased number of parts of low cost and/or constant-
quantity spray performance.
The present invention provides, in preferred
embodiments, a device for administering a powdery medicine
which features excellent portability, and easy and quick
operation, enabling a predetermined amount of the powdery
medicine to be evenly administered to two diseased parts
even through one spray port as in the case of treating a
disease in the nasal cavities.
In accordance with one embodiment of the present
invention, there is provided a device for administering a
powdery medicine comprising a medicine-holding portion
having at least a partly flexible wall portion for defining
therein a powdery medicine-container space which also serves
as an air reservoir, and a medicine guide portion through
which the space in said medicine-holding portion is
communicated with the outside, wherein the space in said
medicine-holding portion is communicated with the outside
through said medicine guide portion only, said medicine
guide potion is of a tubular structure having, at one end
thereof, a medicine spray port at a position on the outside
of said medicine-holding portion and having, at the other
end thereof, a medicine suction port at a position in the
space in said medicine-holding portion, the bottom of the
CA 02200880 2004-O1-16
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and just under the medicine suction port of said medicine
guide portion, said medicine suction port is disposed close
to said bottom, and the powdery medicine is sprayed to the
outside through said medicine guide portion upon depressing
and relaxing the flexible wall portion of said medicine-
holding portion.
The powdery medicine-container space in the medicine-
holding portion contains a powdery medicine in an amount for
one time of administration. The powdery medicine is
accumulated on the bottom in the space, i.e., on a region
close to the medicine suction port of the medicine guide
potion. Upon depressing the flexible wall portion of the
medicine-holding portion; the pressure in the space abruptly
increases and the air contained therein starts flowing out
through the medicine suction port of the medicine guide
portion. At this moment, the powdery medicine is sucked
through the medicine suction port, and is sprayed to the
outside through the medicine spray port and is administered
to the diseased part. Thereafter, the flexible wall portion
of the medicine-holding portion is relaxed and, at this
moment, the powdery medicine staying in the tubular medicine
guide portion is reversely sucked by the space therein and
is stirred together with the powdery medicine staying in the
space therein. Upon repeating the above-mentioned
operation, almost all of the powdery medicine is sprayed and
discharged.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present
invention there is provided a device for administering a
powdery medicine comprising a medicine-holding portion
having at least partly flexible wall portion for defining an
internal space of a shape for storing a predetermined amount
of a powdery medicine in a bottom region, most of other
regions serving as an air reservoir portion, and a medicine
guide portion through which the space in said medicine-
holing portion is communicated with the
. . _ g _
outside, wherein the space in said medicine-holding
portion is communicated with the outside through said
medicine guide portion only, said medicine guide portion
is of a tubular structure having, at one end thereof, a
medicine spray port at a position on the outside of said
medicine-holding portion and having, at the other end
thereof, a medicine suction port at a position in the
space in said medicine-holding portion, the bottom of the
space in said medicine-holding portion is positioned
nearly just under the medicine suction port of said
medicine guide portion, said medicine suction port is
disposed close to said bottom, one or more slits) are
formed in the side surfaces of said medicine guide
portion of said tubular structure, said slits being
continuous to, or close to, said medicine suction port,
and the areas of said slits being not larger than two
times the area of said medicine suction port, the upper_
surface of the powdery medicine is positioned on the
upper side of said medicine suction port but on the lower
side of the upper end of said slits, and the powdery
medicine is sprayed to the outside through-said medicine
guide portion upon repetitively depressing and relaxing
the flexible wall portion of said medicine-holding
portion.
A predetermined amount of the powdery medicine (for
one time of administration) is contained in the powdery
medicine-container space in the medicine-holding portion
as in the first invention. According to the second
invention, however, the upper surface of the powdery
medicine accumulated on the bottom of the space is
positioned on the upper side of the medicine suction port
but on the lower side of the upper end of the slits.
Therefore, in spraying and discharging the powdery
medicine to the outside by repetitively depressing and
relaxing the flexible wall portion of the medicine-
holding portion, the flow passage of the air is
maintained at all times by the slits and, besides, the
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powdery medicine contained therein is involved in the air
stream that is produced and is sprayed and discharged to
the outside. Therefore, the medicine is sprayed in large
amounts in the first time, and almost all the medicine is
sprayed and discharged upon repeating the depression and
relaxing several times. Accordingly, when used for
treating disease in the nasal cavities, the powdery
medicine can be administered to both the right and left
nasal cavities evenly and repetitively as in right, left,
left, right, ....
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
First, described below are the elements common to
the first invention and to the second invention.
The device is used in a state where the medicine
spray-port is located on the upper side and the medicine
suction port is located on the lower side, and the
medicine-holding portion which also serves as the air
reservoir is depressed from the sides and is relaxed, so
that the powdery medicine contained in an amount for one
time of administration is all sprayed and administered.
The wall portion of the medicine-holding portion is
at least partly made of a flexible material.
Here, the wall portion that is at least partly made
of a flexible material means that upon depressing and
relaxing the portion made of the flexible material, the
medicine-holding portion works as the air reservoir
causing the powdery medicine contained in the medicine-
holding portion to be sprayed and sucked. This may
include the case where the whole medicine-holding portion
is made of a flexible material and the case where the
medicine-holding portion is made of a flexible material
but the medicine guide portion, junction portion and the
remaining portions are made of a non-flexible material.
Examples of the flexible material include plastic
materials having plasticity such as polyethylene,
polypropylene, etc., and natural and synthetic rubbers.
Among them, it is desired to use plastic materials such
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as polyethylene, polypropylene, etc.
The size of the medicine-holding portion varies
depending upon the amount of the powdery medicine that is
contained and the sectional area of the medicine guide
portion that will be described later, but should
desirably hold the air in such an amount that the powdery
medicine contained in the medicine-holding portion is
almost all discharged upon depressing and relaxing the
medicine-holding portion plural times. It is further
desired that the medicine-holding portion holds the air
in an amount which is enough for fluidizing and stirring
the powdery medicine remaining in the medicine-holding
portion to a sufficient degree upon one depressing
operation.
From the standpoint of portability, the medicine-
holding portion should not be too large and should
desirably have a volume of not larger than 10 cm3.
The medicine guide portion is of a tubular structure
having a medicine spray port that can be opened or that
is opened at an end on the outside of the medicine-
holding.portion and having a medicine suction port at the
other end on the inside of the medicine-holding portion.
Owing to this structure, the inside and the outside of
the medicine-holding portion can be communicated with
each other. That is, the inside of the medicine-holding
portion is allowed to be communicated with the outside of
the medicine-holding portion through the medicine guide
portion only.
The medicine guide portion has a tubular shape such
as circular shape, elliptic shape or the like shape
'. without, however, any limitation on the cross-sectional
shape thereof. When the medicine guide portion is of a
tubular form having a circular shape in cross section for
easy production, it is desired that the inner radius
thereof is not larger than about 2 mm from such a
standpoint that the amount for one time of dosage can be
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sprayed and administered being divided into plural times,
though there is no particular limitation on the sectional
area. The medicine guide portion may have the form of a
straight pipe or may be curved within a.range which does
not impair the spraying, provided the above-mentioned
conditions are satisfied.
The sectional area of the medicine guide portion
must not be too broad. If it is too broad, a depression
stroke is not obtained to a sufficient degree when the
medicine-holding portion is depressed, and the flowing
velocity of the air stream passing through the medicine
suction port becomes too slow permitting the medicine to
remain in the medicine-holding portion despite the
medicine-holding portion being depressed and relaxed to
spray and discharge the medicine. When the medicine
guide portion is of a tubular form having a circular
shape in cross section for easy production, it is desired
that the outer radius thereof (outer radius at the
portion of the medicine suction port) is not larger than
2 0 about 4 mm .
The medicine guide portion may be made of a flexible
material like the medicine-holding portion or may be made
of another material. Among them, it is desired to use a
flexible material such as polyethylene, polypropylene,
etc. as for the medicine-holding portion.
The medicine guide portion is so disposed that the
medicine suction port is close to the medicine-holding
portion, so that the bottom of the medicine-holding
portion is positioned near and just under the medicine,
suction port of the medicine guide portion. Upon
depressing and relaxing the medicine-holding portion
plural times, therefore, the powdery medicine contained
in the medicine-holding portion is sucked through the
medicine suction port of the medicine guide portion, and
is sprayed or sucked from the inside of the medicine-
holding portion to the outside thereof through the
medicine spray port. Here, the medicine guide portion
~Z0~88~
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must be located close to the medicine-holding portion.
This is because, if the distance is large, the
medicine in the medicine-holding portion is not sucked
through the suction port of the medicine guide portion
despite the medicine-holding portion being repetitively
depressed and relaxed. The closest distance between the
medicine guide portion and the medicine-holding portion
varies depending upon the volume of the medicine-holding
portion, inner diameter of the medicine guide portion,
amount of the powdery medicine contained in the medicine-
holding portion, specific gravity of the medicine, etc.
To spray all of the powdery medicine without leaving
any of it, it is desired that the distance is not larger
than 5 mm from such a standpoint that the size of the'
medicine-holding portion which is convenient for being
carried is not larger than 10 cm3 in terms of the volume,
the powdery medicine which is usually used has an
apparent specific gravity of about 0.1 to 3.0, and the
amount of the powdery medicine that is contained for one
time of administration (equal to the amount sprayed) is
about 5 to 200 mg.
The medicine guide portion is inserted in the
medicine-holding portion through an opening that fits to
the medicine guide portion in cross section and is formed
in the outer part of the medicine-holding portion on the
side opposite to the bottom. The medicine guide portion
is then melt-adhered, forcibly inserted, or is fitted to
a screw that has been threaded in advance. Thus, the
medicine guide portion and the medicine-holding portion
are joined together as a unitary structure. In this
. case, the medicine guide portion may be joined to the
medicine-holding portion in a manner that the medicine
spray port formed at one end of the medicine guide
portion exists flush with the surface of the medicine-
holding portion, or that the medicine spray port
protrudes beyond the outer surface of the medicine-
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13 -
holding portion. When the powdery medicine is to be
sprayed and administered into body cavities of. relatively
limited areas such as nasal cavities, it is desired that
the medicine spray port is outwardly protruded beyond the
medicine-holding portion.
The medicine spray port of the medicine guide
portion is so constituted that an opening is formed upon
wrenching off a knob formed at the head portion thereof.
Otherwise, a closure may be attached by a suitable means
so that the medicine will not leak when it is not in use,
and the closure is removed to communicate the outside
with the inside to use the medicine. Such a closure may
be of the type that is fitted to the medicine spray port,
of the type that is fitted like a plug, or of a screw
type.
To use the thus obtained administering device of the
present invention, the knob formed at the head of the
medicine guide portion is wrenched off to open the
medicine spray port or the closure is removed, the
medicine-holding portion is depressed and relaxed several
times so that the powdery medicine is fluidized and
stirred in the medicine-holding portion and is sprayed
and discharged in almost all amount, and is sprayed and
administered to the diseased part.
Next, described below are matters specific to the
above-mentioned first invention without a slit in the
medicine guide portion.
In order to store a predetermined trace. amount of
the powdery medicine (for one time of administration) on
the bottom region in a concentrated manner, it is desired
that the medicine-holding portion has a bottom which is
not flat but is elliptic extending up and down, oval or
is of the shape of an eggplant, or is of a spherical
shape or of the shape of a pear. However, the bottom may
be flat and the medicine-holding portion may have the
shape of a cylinder or a drum provided the medicine can
be stored in a concentrated manner.
_ - 14 -
When the medicine-holding portion has a cylindrical
shape and when the bottom of the medicine-holding portion
facing the medicine suction port has a flat surface, the
bottom having a wide area permits the medicine to stay in
the medicine-holding portion despite attempts to spray
and discharge the medicine by depressing and relaxing the
medicine-holding portion. Therefore, the area of the
flat bottom of the medicine-holding portion relative to
the medicine suction port is limited to within a range in
which the medicine does not stay. In dealing, for
example, with an ordinary powdery medicine, it is desired
that a relation R < 5r is maintained where r is a radius
of a circle of the medicine suction port in cross section
and R is a radius of a circle of the bottom of the
medicine-holding portion.
It is desired that the medicine spray port and the
medicine suction port are formed in a number of one,
respectively, since it makes it possible to spray or
suction-administer almost all the powdery medicine
contained in the medicine-holding portion without leaving
any. When the powdery medicine is to be sprayed and
administered into the nasal cavities, however, the
medicine spray port may be formed only at one place or
may be branched into a plurality of ports such as two
ports near the medicine spray port, i.e., a total of two
medicine spray ports may be formed at the ends to meet
the purpose.
Such an administering device of the first invention
is capable of spraying almost all the powdery medicine,
and is suited for administering the medicine into body
cavities and, particularly, into nasal cavities and oral
cavity. The medicine may be the one that acts on the
whole body or on a local part of the body.
Next, described below are matters specific to the
above-mentioned second invention having slits formed in
the medicine guide portion.
In order to store a predetermined trace amount of
15 -
the powdery medicine (for one time of administration) on
the bottom region in a concentrated manner, it is desired
that the medicine-holding portion has a bottom which is
not flat but is elliptic extending up and down, oval or
of the shape of an eggplant, or is of a spherical shape
or of the shape of a pear. However, the bottom may be
flat and the medicine-holding portion may have the shape
of a cylinder or a drum provided the medicine can be
stored-in a concentrated manner.
Slits are formed continuous to, or close to, the
suction port in the side surfaces along the axis of the
medicine guide portion. Even when the upper surface of
the powdery medicine contained in the medicine-holding
portion is higher than the medicine suction port of the
medicine guide portion, therefore, the horizontal surface
of the powdery medicine contained in the medicine-holding
portion is located to be lower than the upper end of the
slits. Upon repetitively depressing and relaxing the
medicine-holding portion, therefore, the air flow passage
is maintained at all times for spraying and discharging
the powdery medicine in the medicine-holding portion to
the outside. Moreover, the powdery medicine contained
therein is involved in the air stream that is created,
and is sprayed and discharged to the outside.
Therefore, the medicine is not sprayed in too large an
amount the first time. Besides, almost all the medicine
that is contained is sprayed and discharged and can be
evenly sprayed and administered to both nasal cavities.
There is no particular limitation in the shape of
the slits. By taking the moldability at the time of
production into consideration, however, it is desired to
form the slits in a rectangular shape or in a triangular
shape in the side surfaces of the medicine guide portion,
the slits being continuous to the suction port in a
direction in parallel with the axis.
The areas of the slits must not be too large. When
the slits have wide areas, the velocity of the air stream
~~~J~~SJ
.i _ _16_
decreases when the medicine-holding portion is
repetitively depressed and relaxed to spray and discharge
the powdery medicine in the medicine-holding portion to
the outside; i.e., the powdery medicine contained therein
is less involved in the air stream and is less sprayed
and discharged to the outside, making it difficult to
spray and discharge the powdery medicine contained in the
medicine-holding portion in all amounts. By taking the
fact that the medicine-holding portion has a volume of
not larger than 10 cm3 into consideration, it is desired
that the slits have areas of not more than two times the
area of the suction port.
The height of the slits must be such that the
horizontal surface of the powdery medicine contained in
the medicine-holding portion is lower than the upper end
of the slits, and is desirably from 2 to 10 mm from such
a standpoint that the powdery medicine that is usually
used has an apparent specific gravity of about 0.1 to 3.0
and the amount of the powdery medicine contained for one
time of administration is about S to 200 mg.
The slits must not-be too wide. It is desired that
the slits that are formed have areas which are not larger
than two times the area of the suction port and have a
height of 2 to 10 mm. Therefore, when the slits are
formed on both sides and have an elongated shape, it is
desired that their width is 0.1 to 1 mm.
The slits may be formed in any number but should
have areas which are not larger than two times the area
of the suction port. It is desired that the slits are
formed at one to four places from the standpoint of
. producing the device with high precision.
To use the thus produced device for administering
the powdery nasal medicine of the second invention, a
knob is wrenched off to open the medicine spray port, and
the medicine-holding portion is depressed and relaxed to
spray and administer the powdery nasal medicine
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alternatingly into both nasal cavities. Thus, the
powdery nasal medicine can be evenly administered to both
nasal cavities.
The slits formed in~the side surfaces along the axis
of the medicine guide portion are not used as other
medicine suction ports. The object of the slits is to
maintain the air-flow passage at all times when the
powdery medicine in the medicine-holding portion is to be
sprayed and discharged to the outside by repetitively
depressing and relaxing the medicine-holding portion, so
that the powdery medicine contained therein is involved
in the air stream that is created and is sprayed and
discharged to the outside.
When another smallmedicine suction port of a
circular shape or the like shape is formed in the side
surface along the axis of the medicine guide portion, the
discharge resistance becomes so small that the powdery
medicine contained therein is not involved in the air
stream that is created and is not sprayed and discharged
to the outside.
That is, the slits so work that the powdery medicine
is involved in the air stream, which is different from
the effect of when the medicine suction ports are formed
simply in an increased number.
Such an administering device of the second invention
is capable of spraying almost all the powdery medicine
into both nasal cavities nearly evenly, and is suited for
administering the medicine into nasal cavities. The
medicine may particularly be the one that acts on a local
part of the body but may also be the one that acts on the
whole body.
Here, attention should be given so that even when a
liquid medicine in an amount of one time of
administration is contained in the administering devices
of the first and second inventions, the liquid medicine
is scarcely sprayed and discharged.
That is, even when the liquid medicine of an amount
. _ _ 18 _
of one time of administration such as an aqueous
preparation of an amount of about 0.1 ml is contained and
the medicine-holding portion is repetitively depressed
and relaxed, the aqueous preparation scatters onto the
surfaces of the medicine-holding portion due to the air
that flows reversely and adheres to the scattered
portions. Despite repeated depression and relaxing, the
aqueous preparation does not fall on a portion near the
medicine suction port of the guide portion, and about
0.05 ml of the aqueous preparation remains in the
container without being sprayed and discharged. A liquid
medicine administering device has been known containing a
liquid medicine in an amount of many times of
administration in the medicine-holding portion. Even
when the liquid medicine of an amount of one time of
administration is contained in such a known liquid
medicine administering device, however, the device for
administering the medicine at one time is not realized.
As described above, the administering devices of the
first and second inventions are convenient to carry, easy
to operate, can be quickly discarded after the use, have
a rigid structure, and can be produced relatively
cheaply. In particular, the devices are suited for
containing a powdery medicine in a small amount for one
time of use.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
The devices for administering a powdery medicine
according to the first and second inventions will now be
described by way of embodiments with reference to the
accompanying drawings, therein:
Fig. 1 is a sectional view illustrating the
constitution of an administering device (without slit)
according to an embodiment 1;
Fig. 2 is a sectional view illustrating the
constitution of an administering device (without slit)
according to an embodiment 2;
Figs. 3(a) to 3(c) are diagrams illustrating the
-
_ 19
constitution of an administering device (with slits)
according to an embodiment 3, wherein the diagram (a)
illustrates a main body or a medicine-holding portion,
the diagram (b) illustrates a medicine guide portion, and
the diagram (c) illustrates a suction port on an enlarged
scale;
Fig. 4 is a diagram illustrating the distribution of
the amounts sprayed of when the administering device
having nearly the same shape as that of the embodiment 3,
but without a slit, is used;
Figs. 5(a) to 5(c) are diagrams illustrating the
constitution of an administering device (with slits)
according to an embodiment 4, wherein the diagram (a)
illustrates the whole constitution, the diagram (b)
illustrates the medicine guide portion, and the diagram
(c) illustrates the suction port on an enlarged scale;
Fig. 6 is a diagram illustrating the administering
device of the embodiment 3 where the width and length of
the slits are specified; and
Fig. 7 is a diagram illustrating the distribution of
the amounts sprayed when slits are formed as shown in
Fig. 6.
EMBODIMENTS
Fig. 1 is a sectional view illustrating the whole
constitution of an administering device in which the
medicine-holding portion is in the shape of an eggplant
according to an embodiment 1. The medicine-holding
portion 1 in the shape of an eggplant of a circular shape
of a radius of 2 mm having an opening formed at one
place, is obtained by molding polyethylene. A powdery
medicine 7 of an amount of 20 mg for one time
administration is charged into the medicine-holding
portion 1 through the opening by using a trace-amount-of-
powder charging machine. Then, a straight tubular
medicine guide portion 3 made of a polyethylene is
inserted in the opening of the medicine-holding portion.
The medicine guide portion has a circular shape in cross
_ - 20 -
section, the inner radius being 1 mm and the outer radius
being 2 mm. The distance a from the medicine suction
port 5 in the medicine guide portion to the bottom 2 of
the medicine-holding portion is 3 mm. The medicine guide
S portion and the opening of the medicine-holding portion
are joined together by heating and melting small areas
where they are in contact with each other. Then, a cap 6
is intimately fitted to a medicine spray port 4 of the
medicine guide portion to obtain the administering device
of the embodiment 1.
Fig. 2 illustrates an administering device of an
embodiment 2 in which the bottom of the medicine-holding
portion 1 is of a circular flat plane of a radius R. The
medicine-holding portion 1 of the type of an eggplant is
obtained by molding polyethylene, the medicine-holding
portion having an opening of a circular shape of a radius
of 2 mm and having the bottom of a flat shape. A powdery
medicine 7 of an amount of 20 mg for one time of
administration is charged into the medicine-holding
portion 1 through the opening by using a trace-amount-of-
powder charging machine. Then, a straight tubular
medicine guide portion 3 made of a polyethylene is
inserted in the opening of the medicine-holding portion.
The medicine guide portion has a circular shape in cross
section, the inner radius being 1 mm and the outer radius
being 2 mm. The distance a from the medicine suction
port 5 in the medicine guide portion to the bottom 2 of
the medicine-holding portion is 3 mm. The medicine guide
portion and the opening of the medicine-holding portion
are joined together by heating and melting small areas
where they are in contact with each other. Then, a cap 6
is intimately fitted to a medicine spray port 4 of the
medicine guide portion to obtain the administering device
of the embodiment 2.
Fig. 3 illustrates an administering device of an
embodiment 3 in which the medicine-holding portion has an
elliptic shape extending up and down. Fig. 3(a) shows a
2~~~~~~
- 21 -
medicine-holding portion 1 obtained by molding
polyethylene and having a volume of about 10 cm3 and
having a neck of a length of 8 mm with a circular opening
of a radius of 3 mm formed in an upper portion thereof,
the medicine-holding portion 1 being of an elliptic shape
or a shape of a Rugby ball which is elongated up and
down. The medicine-holding portion 1 has a thickness of
about 0.5 mm in the main body thereof and about 1 mm in
the neck thereof. The main body can be easily depressed
by hand due to its resiliency and relaxes to assume its
initial state owing to a resilient restoring force. Fig.
3(b) shows a straight tubular medicine guide portion 3
obtained by molding polypropylene and having a knob 7
that can be wrenched off at the head portion thereof and
a medicine discharge passage of an inner diameter of 2.3
m~-n extending from a medicine spray port 4 to a suction
port 5. As shown in Fig. 3(c), slit-s 8 continuous to the
suction port 5 are formed on both sides of the suction
port 5 of the medicine guide portion 3. 30 Milligrams of
Rhinocort (trade name) which is a powdery medicine before
being encapsulated is charged into the medicine-holding
portion 1 through the opening thereof, and the medicine
guide portion 3 is forcibly inserted in the opening of
the medicine-holding portion 1 to obtain the
administering device of the embodiment 3. The device has
sizes as shown, and the gap between the intake port 5 and
the inner bottom 2 is about 2 mm.
Fig. 4 illustrates the measurement of the amounts
sprayed of when the administering device having nearly
the same shape as that of the embodiment 3 but without a
slit is used. Four kinds of the devices are prepared
having gaps of 1 mm, 2 mm, 3 mm and 4 mm between the
suction port 5 of the medicine guide portion 3 and the
inner bottom of the medicine-holding portion 1. 30
Milligrams of Rhinocort (trade name) which is a powdery
medicine of before being encapsulated is charged into
- 22 -
each of the devices. The height of the powdery medicine
from the inner bottom is 3.5 mm. Each device is
depressed and relaxed repetitively ten times. Each time,
the bottom of the device is slightly struck onto the
table to collect the powdery medicine in the lower
portion of the medicine-holding portion 1. The abscissa
represents the number of times of depression and
relaxation, and the ordinate represents the amount of the
. powdery medicine sprayed each time. It is learned that
when the gap between the suction port 5 and the inner
bottom 2 is 4 mm, the medicine is not all sprayed even
after the depression and relaxation are repeated 10
times. When the gap is 1 to 3 mm, about two-thirds of
the medicine is sprayed the first time.
By using the administering devices without a slit 8
as described above, the medicine is sprayed in large
amounts the first time, i.e., more than one-half of the
medicine contained therein is sprayed the first time. By
using a portable and disposable medicine administering
device having only one spray port for treating disease in
the nasal cavities, therefore, it is not possible to
evenly administer the medicine into both nasal cavities.
By using the administering device having slits 8 as
described below, on the other hand, the medicine is
sprayed in a reduced amount the first time, and almost .
all is sprayed after it is depressed and relaxed several
times, making it possible to uniformly administer the
medicine into both nasal cavities.
Figs. 5(a) to 5(b) illustrate an administering
device of an embodiment 4 prepared to examine a change in
the amount of spraying the medicine of when the slits 8
are formed in various sizes, wherein Fig. 5(a)
illustrates a state where the medicine guide portion 3 is
forcibly inserted in the medicine-holding unit 1 having
the size and shape same as those of the embodiment 3 and
obtained by molding polyethylene. Fig. 5(b) illustrates
a straight tubular medicine guide portion 3 obtained by
~~~~~3~U
_ _ 23 _
molding polypropylene and having a medicine discharge
passage of an inner diameter of 2.5 mm from the spray
port 4 to the intake port 5 and further having at the
head portion thereof a knob 7 that can be wrenched away
to form a spray port 4. Referring to Fig. 5(c), the
slits 8 formed on both sides of the suction port 5 of the
medicine guide portion 3 have triangular shapes, the
bottom side or the width (W) being 1 mm and 2 mm, and the
height (h) being 2 mm, 3 mm, 4 mm and 5 mm. 30
Milligrams of Rhinocort (trade name), which is a powdery
medicine before being encapsulated, is charged into the
devices to execute the spray testing. Furthermore, the
gap between the intake port 5 and the inner bottom 2 is
selected to be 1 mm and 2 mm. Each time after the
medicine is sprayed, the bottom of the device is slightly
struck to the table to collect the powdery medicine in
the lower portion of the medicine-holding portion 1. In
the fifth, sixth and seventh times and in the eighth,
ninth and tenth times, however, the medicine is
continually sprayed to make sure whether the powdery
medicine is sprayed in all amount or not. The following
tables show the results of when the medicine is sprayed
10 times using these devices.
(1) Distance from the bottom: 1 mm
Width of slit: 1 mm
Length of slit 1 mm 2 mm 3 mm 4 mm
Are a o f s 1 i t 1 mmz 2 mmz 3 mmZ 4 mmz
Amount charged (mg) 30.20 30.30 30.32 30.32
Amount sprayed (mg) 28.46 28.56 28.04 26.36
' 30 Spraying factor (~) 94.24 94.26 92.48 86.94
(2) Distance from the bottom: 1 mm
Width of slit: 2 mm
- 24 -
Length of slit 1 mm 2 mm 3 mm 4 mm
Area of slit 2 mmz 4 mmz 6 mmz 8 mmz
Amount charged (mg) 30.50 30.38 30.20 30.48
Amount sprayed (mg) 28.38 26.62 23.66 19.82
Spraying factor (~) 93.05 87.62 78.34 65.03
As will be obvious from the above results, the
medicine can be sprayed in a totalamount of not smaller
than 85~ when the area of the slits 8 (total area of the
two slits) is equal to, or smaller than, the area of the
medicine suction port (having an inner diameter of 2.5 mm
and an area of about 4 cmz). As described above, not all
the powdery medicine is sprayed when the slits 8 have too
large an area.
Fig. 6 shows an administering device of the
embodiment 3 but in which the slits 8 formed on both
sides of the suction port 5 of the medicine guide portion
3 have a rectangular shape, are continuous from the
suction port 5 and have a width of 0.5 mm and a height of
4 mm. The medicine guide portion 3 has an inner diameter
of 1.3 mm at the spray port 4 and 2.5 mm at the suction
port 5. Furthermore, the medicine discharge passage has
an inner diameter of 2.5 mm. About 30 milligrams of
Rhinocort (trade name), which is a powder medicine before
being encapsulated, is charged to execute the spray
testing. The gap between the suction port 5 and the
inner bottom 2 is 1 mm. After each spraying is executed
ten times, the bottom of the administering device is
slightly struck to the table to collect the powdery
medicine in the bottom portion of the medicine-holding
portion. The measured results of the amounts sprayed are
as tabulated below.
- - - 25 -
Amount 30.18 0.15
charged
(mg)
Sprayed amount, 1st time 9.98 1.81
Sprayed amount, 2nd time 8.30 0.73
Sprayed amount, 3rd time 6.66 0.49
Sprayed amount, fourth time 3.36 1.64
Sprayed amount, fifth time 0.64 0.63
Sprayed amount, sixth time 0.36 0.22
Sprayed amount, seventh time 0.24 0.11
Sprayed amount, eighth time 0.14 0.19
Sprayed amount, ninth time 0.12 0.13
Sprayed amount, tenth time 0.04 0.05
Total 29.84 0.44
Spraying 98.90%
factor
Total amount sprayed after tenth time -- 29.84mg (98.9%
-
of the charged
amount)
Total amount sprayed after 1st, 4-th,
5-th, 8-th and 9-th ------------ -- 14.24mg (47.2%
times -
of the charged
amount)
Total amount sprayed after 2nd, 3rd,
6-th, 7-th and 10-th times ------------ -- 15.60mg (51.7%
of the charged
amount)
Total amount sprayed-after sixth time -- 29.30mg (97.1%
-
of the charged
amount)
Total amount sprayed after 1st, 4-th,
and 5-th ------------------ -- 13.98mg (46.3%
times
------
of the charged
amount)
Total amount sprayed after 2nd, 3rd,
and 6-th ------------------ -- 15.32mg (50.8%
times
------
of the charged
amount)
Total amount sprayed after fourth time -- 28.30mg (93.8%
of the charged
amount)
Total amount sprayed after 1st and
- 26 _
4-th times ------------------------------ 13.34 mg (44.2%
of the charged
amount)
Total amount sprayed after 2nd and
3rd times ------------------------------- 14.96 mg (49.6%
of the charged
amount)
As will be obvious from the above results, formation
of the slits 8 makes it possible to suppress the amount
of the medicine sprayed in the first time to be about 30%
of the total amount, and almost all the medicine is
sprayed after several times of spraying. When applied
to, for example, nasal catarrh, the medicine can be
repetitively administered into the right and left nasal
cavities like right, left, left, right, right, left, ...
so that the medicine can be evenly administered into both
nasal cavities.
