Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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LIQUID MEDICAMENT DELIVERY SYSTEM
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
The present application is a Continuation-in-Part
Patent Application of Serial No. 10/401,848, filed 31 March 2003
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTrON
The present invention relates to a novel and useful
liquid medicament delivery system.
Medicines delivered to a patient are often in the form
of liquids. For example, eye drops are topically applied to the
eye. Other liquid medicinal solutions are inhaled for use in the
nasal passages, lungs and the like.
In the past, delivery of liquid drugs have involved a
dropper or devices which squirt the liquid to the anatomical
region where it is needed. These liquid solutions are often
wasted, to a large degree, and inaccurately delivered such that
the liquid solution undesirably spreads over the clothing or. skin
of the user. Often the result is that an inadequate amount of
solution is delivered to the anatomy of a patient such as an
eyeball due to inefficient delivery procedures.
The use of an eyecup in the case where a liquid
medicament is delivered to an eyeball does not wholly solve the
problem of delivery of adequate amounts of liquid drugs. It is
desirous that a liquid medicament not only coat the front part of
the eyeball but that the back surface of the eyeball should be
coated as well an eyecup does not achieve this end.
A liquid medicament delivery system which is efficient
and accurate would be a notable advance in the medical field.
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BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention a novel and
useful liquid medicament delivery system is herein provided.
The system of the present invention utilizes a carrier
of a dose of liquid medicament. The carrier may take the form of
a plate having a container with a chamber attached thereto. The
medicament is sealed into the chamber by a membrane which is
penetrable by a probe such as a cannula. The carrier, of course,
would contain an accurate dose of liquid medicament and is
maintained in a protected and sterile environment until used.
A conduit or cannula is also included in the present
invention. The conduit includes an entrance and an exit for the
liquid medicament and is capable of communicating with the chamber
of the carrier to lead the chamber of the carrier to lead the
liquid medicament from the chamber to the exit of the conduit.
The conduit may be mounted on a plate and include a tip which is
capable of penetrating the membrane of the carrier. A source of
propellant is also employed in the present invention to motivate
the movement of the liquid medicament from the carrier t.o the
ultimate user. The source of propellant would be a non-toxic bio-
compatible material which may be in an aerosol form.
A mixing chamber is also utilized in the present
invention to combine the propellant with the liquid medicament
flowing through the conduit. The mixing chamber may also include
a nozzle for generating a stable vortex eddy field. In this
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manner, the propellant and liquid medicament are formed into a
homogenized mixture. 'rhe mixing chamber includes an outflow
aperture which guides the propellant and liquid medicament to the
user-patient. The outflow aperture of the mixing chamber may take
many forms such as one that is oval in cross-sectional
configuration, one that is in the form of an eyecup, and the like.
The outflow aperture may be constructed of elements that are
interchangeable to produce this result.
It may be apparent that a novel and useful liquid
medicament delivery system has been hereinabove described.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to
provide a liquid medicament delivery system which is capable of
delivering medicinal solutions at extremely low velocities in an
aerosol fog to an anatomical portion of the body such as the
surface of an eye.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a
liquid medicament delivery system which is capable of delivering
very accurate masses of liquid medicament to an eye and in
relatively small quantities.
A further object of the present invention is to provide
a liquid medicament delivery system which is comfortable to the
patient and very carefully controls the delivery of liquid
medicament solutions in a focused manner.
A further object of the present invention is to provide
a liquid medicament delivery system which may deliver a total dose
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of a medicinal solution, obviating the need for repeated
applications of the same.
Yet another object of the present invention is to
provide a liquid medicament delivery system which utilizes
propellants that are safe and are only required in minimal
quantities per dose of liquid medicament delivered.
A further object of the present invention is to provide
a liquid medicament delivery system which is capable of producing
an aerosol with a propellant and operates in conjunction with
liquid medicaments possessing large variations of density .and/or
viscosity.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a
liquid medicament delivery system which is efficient in reaching
surfaces of the eye not achieved by prior art devices.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a
liquid medicament delivery system which employs the creation of a
staple vortex eddy field to produce an aerosol fog which uniformly
distributes the liquid medicament for use by a patient.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a
liquid medicament delivery system which is versatile in that
hardware components may be transformed quickly to deliver :Liquid
medicaments to various portions of the anatomy such as thE: eye,
the mouth, and the like.
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A further object of the present invention is to provide
a liquid medicament delivery system which provides sterile drug
loading and delivery and includes disposable portions.
The invention possesses other objects and advantages
S especially as concerns particular characteristics and features
thereof which will become apparent as the specification continues.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL. VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the system of the
present invention.
Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Fig.
1.
Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of an eyecup which
may be used in substitution for the oval aperture article of Fig.
2.
Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the liquid
medicament carrier.
Fig. 5 is a front elevational view of the liquid
medicament carrier.
Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the conduit and holder
used in the present invention.
Fig. 7 is a magnified sectional view of the tip of the
conduit depicted in Figo 6.
Fig. 8 is a bottom plan view of the system of the
present invention depicting the conduit plate in place and in
exploded configuration.
Fig. 9 is a partial right side elevational view of the
system depicted in Fig. 1 showing the guide for the conduit plate.
Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken along line 10~~10 of
Figo 1 depicting the vortex generator.
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For a better understanding of the invention reference
is made to the following detailed description of the preferred
embodiments thereof which should be taken in conjunction with the
prior described drawings<
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DETAINED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
Various aspects of the present invention will evolve
from the following detailed description of the preferred
embodiments thereof which should be referenced to the hereinabove
delineated drawings.
A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the
drawings by reference character 10. Delivery system 10 includes
as one of its elements a carrier 12 for liquid medicament.
Turning to Figs. 4 and 5, it may be observed that carrier 12
includes a plate 14 having an upper portion 16 and a lower portion
18. upper portion 16 of plate 14 includes a container 20 for a
particular dose of the liquid medicament to be delivered by system
10. Chamber 22 within container 20 confines such dose of liquid
medicament. A seal strip 24 on side 26 of plate 14 encloses
chamber 22 of container 20. It should be apparent that opening 28
to chamber 22 is depicted in Fig. 5 since seal strip 24 ha~~ been
punctured or penetrated. Lower portion 18 includes indicia 30
identifying the liquid contents of chamber 22. Very precise
quantities of liquid medicament may be stored in chamber 22 of
container 20 and delivered through system 10 by this expedient.
Container 20 extends from side 32 of plate 14 and is visible on
Fig. 1. Directional arrow 34 indicates the movement of carrier 12
into and out of housing 36.
System 10 also is formed with a conduit 38 having a
passageway 40, Figs. 1, 6, and 7. With reference to Fig. 6 in
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particular, conduit 38 is shown in the form of a cannula having a
convergent tip 42. Conduit or cannula 38 is fastened within a
sliding holder 44 and includes an orifice 46 to allow the passage
of liquid medicament from chamber 22 of container 20. Such
movement of liquid medicament occurs when cannula 38 penetrates
seal strip 24 within housing 3b. The movement of sliding holder
44 is either controlled by stop 48 or by the bottoming of 'tip 42
of cannula 48 within container 20. Directional arrow 50, F.ig. 1,
indicates the in and out movement of holder 44 and penetrating
conduit or cannula 38. Directional arrows 52 and 54, Fig. 6, show
the movement of liquid medicament through conduit 38 and from
orifice 46.
Referring to Fig. 9, guide slot 53 of housing 36
directs the movement of sliding holder 44 into its position for
penetration of seal strip 24. Button 55 fractionally engages the
side of holder 44, when pressed, to maintain its position within
housing 36 as depicted in Fig. 1. It should be noted that holder
44 is also shown within housing 36 and apart from 36 in Fig. 8 to
emphasize its movement within guide slot 53.
A source of propellant 56, Fig. 8 is also found i.n the
present invention and may be of conventional origin. Any non-
toxic bio-compatible gas may be employed as source 56. Source 56
is sent into nipple 58 and is formed into a stable vortex eddy
field by vortex generator 60, Fig. 10. That is to say, the liquid
medicament enters the vortex generator converging chamber 62,
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directional arrow 64, and exits the same through end portion 66,
directional arrow 68. Propellant from source 56 enters nipple 58,
directional arrow 70, Fig. 8, and hits the grooved surface 72 of
end portion 66 of generator 60. The eddy field of the vortex then
draws liquid medicament through chamber 62. Directional arrow 68
indicates the movement of liquid medicament and propellant from
vortex generator 60. Directional arrow 74 indicates the movement
of propellant through passageway 76 within housing 34.
Mixing chamber 76 is found within vessel 78 which is
connected to housing 36. Propellant and liquid medicament are
mixed within chamber 76 and indicated as an aerosol 80. Aerosol
80 is relatively slow moving and homogenous. Slits 82 and 84
allow outside air to enter chamber 76 to aid in the smooth
formation of the aerosol 80 in chamber 76.
After being passed through chamber 76 of vessel 78, the
aerosol 80 exits end fitting 86. Referring again to Fig. 1, it
may be observed that the outflow aperture 88 of end fitting 86 is
oval in configuration and may be best suited for oral
administration of liquid medicament. Fig. 3 shows a side view of
an eyecup 90 which may be used instead of end fitting Ei6 to
deliver aerosol 80 to an eye.
In operation, the user loads carrier 12 into housing 36
by sliding the same into the position depicted in Fig. 1.
Container 20 is then aligned with cannula or conduit 38 which
slides within guide 53 to penetrate seal strip 24. Such
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CA 02462353 2004-03-24
penetration releases the liquid medicament within chamber 22 of
container 20. The liquid medicament then flows through conduit 40
and into mixing chamber 76 via converging chamber 62 of vortex
generator 60. Propellant from propellant source 56 passes through
nipple 58 and into the exterior end portion 66 of vortex generator
60 where the grooved surface 66 generates a stable eddy field.
Directional arrow 68 represents the mixture of propellant and
liquid medicament which is passed through vortex generator 60.
The aerosol mixture within mixing chamber 76 of vessel 78 then
passes through end fitting 86 or 90 for use. It has been found
that the system of the present invention is highly efficient and
employs virtually all of the dose of liquid medicament loaded into
chamber 22 of container 20 found on carrier 12.
While in the foregoing, embodiments of the present
invention have been set forth in considerable detail far the
purposes of making a complete disclosure of the invention, :~t may
be apparent to those of skill in the art that numerous changes may
be made in such detail without departing from the spirit and
principles of the invention.
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