Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
1
DISPENSER FOR SPRAYING FLUID
Technical Field
[0001] This invention relates to dispensers for delivering fluids especially
pharmaceuticals
and other medical treatments in liquid, solution or suspension form, as well
as
perfumes and other skin products, to the bodies of people and animals.
Background Art
[0002] Despite improvements in drug delivery systems, there remains an issue
in the
delivery of fluids especially pharmaceuticals and other medical treatments in
liquid,
solution or suspension form, as well as perfumes and other skin products, to
the
bodies of people and animals. Provision of drugs and other medical treatments
has
been usually by injection, pills, and nasal sprays; more recently transdermal
patches
have been used to deliver a measured amount of the drug or other treatment
concerned. In this specification "treatment" includes pre-treatments of
persons to
minimise their risk of reaction if subsequently exposed, for example, to
hazardous
gases.
[0003] There remains an issue in ensuring the accuracy of delivery of the drug
or other
treatment concerned in some circumstances, or in the case of transdermal
treatments
with patches to ensure the patch continues to adhere sufficiently to enable
the drug
or other treatment to cross the skin barrier for a long enough time for the
treatment to
be effective.
[0004] A small number of drugs are available in spray-on formulations, but
these require
significant dexterity to apply and give very inconsistent doses due to
variation in the
accuracy of the user, the distance of the spray from the target and the number
of
times and force with which the plunger was pressed.
Summary of invention
[0005] According to the present invention a dispenser for spraying a fluid
onto a body part
comprises apertures in a hoop, C- or U- structure from which apertures the
fluid may
be sprayed onto a body part placed in the dispenser, and in which the
apertures are
connected to a source of fluid to be dispensed under pressure through a
manifold,
and having one or a plurality of tubes connecting the manifold to the
apertures and in
which the flow rate of the fluid from one aperture is substantially the same
as that
from another aperture located further away from the source of fluid under
pressure.
[0006] In one embodiment, the dispenser further comprises a pump, a container,
and a fluid
connection between the container and the pump connecting the container to the
pump,
the pump connected to one or a plurality of tubes connected to the apertures
in which
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the flow rate of the fluid from one aperture is substantially the same as that
from
another aperture located further away from the pump.
[0007] In another embodiment a dispenser for spraying a fluid onto a body
part comprising a
pair of concentric semi-circular arms, the arms being pivoted together at the
proximal
ends of each arm, apertures from which a fluid may be sprayed onto a body part
within
the hoop, a fluid connection to connect a container containing the fluid to
the inlet of a
pump; the pump connected to one or a plurality of tubes in turn connecting to
the
apertures, and in which the flow rate of the fluid is substantially the same
from one
aperture as from another aperture located further away from the pump.
[0008] In one arrangement the pump is connected to the tube(s) through am
manifold.
[0009] The inner surface of the hoop or surfaces of the arms, in one
arrangement, has
sensors connected to a programmable chip which open and closes access to one
or
more of the tubes from the manifold to the apertures, in response to the
presence and
orientation of a body part inserted in the dispenser.
[0010] In a further embodiment the dispenser is coupled directly to a
container containing
fluid to be dispensed under pressure.
[0011] Other possible features of the invention will be apparent in the
attached exemplary
description and/or as set out in the claims attached.
Brief description of drawings
[0012] In order that the invention may be more fully understood, examples
of the invention
are illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:
[0013] Figures 1 and 2 show perspective views of one example of a dispenser
according to
the invention;
[0014] Figure 3 is a section on the line A-A' of figure 1;
[0015] Figure 4 is a schematic view of the dispenser of figures 1 and 2
partially sectioned on
the line B-B' of figure 1A;
[0016] Figure 5 is similar to figure 4 but illustrates a further
development of the dispenser
shown in figures 1 to 4;
[0017] Figure 6 is a section on the line C-C' of figure 5; and
[0018] Figure 7 shows a dispenser similar to that of figure 5 but with
treatment supplied
directly from a pressurised container.
Description of the examples
[0019] In figures 1 to 4, a dispenser 20 according to the invention for
spraying a fluid onto a
body part comprises a hoop 21 and apertures 28 from which the fluid may be
sprayed
onto a body part within the hoop. A fluid connection 37 connects a container
32
mounted in receiver 55 and containing the fluid through an upstanding nipple
34 to the
inlet 40 of a pump 31. The pump 31 has an outlet 33 which is connected a
manifold 25.
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A pair of tubes 23 extends around internal groves 22 in the hoop 21.and have
apertures
28 directed into the middle of the hoop 21. The apertures 28A, 28B, 28C, 28D
increase
in size as distance from the pump 31 increases so that the flow rate of the
fluid from
each aperture is substantially the same.
[0020] For medical purposes, the tubes 23 comprise silicon rubber or like
material suitable
for medical use. Separate tubes 23 extended around the inside of the left hand
side of
the hoop 21 and the right hand side of the hoop 21 as seen in figure 1. The
manifold 25
is mounted in a hollow base 26; the other ends 27 of the tubes are closed. The
apertures
28A, 28B, 28C 28D are in the form of self-sealing slits increasing in size as
one travels
away from the pump 31 and manifold 25. The hoop 21 is mounted on the base 26..
The tubes 23 are held in place at the top and bottom of the hoop 21 by plates
30.
[0021] A container 32 containing a fluid of interest is inserted through
the top of the base 26
into a container receiver 55, with its outlet nozzle connected to the
upstanding nipple
34 on a container mounting 35. The bottom of the base 26 is closed by a base
plate 36.
The container mounting 35 is mounted on the base plate 36. A fluid connection
37 is
provided in the container base to a pump connector 38 also upstanding from the
container mounting 35. A short length of tube 39 of silicon rubber or other
suitable
material connects the pump connector 38 to the pump inlet 40.
[0022] Container 32 is replaceable and may be subdivided to provide two or
more different
treatments.
[0023] The pump 31 is powered from a battery or mains source 41. In most
cases the pump
31 would be triggered by a sensor (for example a sensor 53 as discussed with
reference
to figures 5 and 6 below), although a switch 42 operated through an aperture
43 in the
base plate can be used to turn the dispenser on and off. However, the switch
in some
arrangements may more conveniently be placed on the side of the base or
isolated from
user intervention altogether within the case. Optionally the aperture 43 may
house a
flexible rubber cover which allows the switch or other activation device 42 to
be
operated but which keeps dirt and moisture away from the inside of the base.
If the
switch is not intended for user operation and is inside the case, the aperture
43 would
be omitted altogether. A programmable chip 44 can be set to limit the length
of time
during which the pump s switched on and/or to prevent operation of the pump 31
for a
pre-set period following its previous operation. The programmable chip may
also be
programmed to vary the pump pressure (and thus the density and spread of any
spray
ejected through the apertures 28A, 28B, 28C, 28D).
[0024] In operation, a patient places a part of the body, say, an arm,
wrist, hand, leg, ankle,
foot etc., within the hoop 21. When the pump is activated by turning on the
switch or
operation of some other suitable activation device 42, a treatment contained
in
container 32 is pumped by pump 31 into each of the tubes 23 around the hoop
21. The
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pump pressure in the tubes 23 forces the fluid through the self-sealing slits
28 as a
spray 26 onto the patient's body part being treated.
[0025] Although developed for spraying fluids onto human body parts, there
is no reason in
principle why the apparatus should not be used to spray fluids onto parts of
animals in
a similar way as part of a veterinary treatment.
[0026] In the device of figures 1 to 4, the size of the part to be treated
is limited by the
diameter of the hoop 21.
[0027] The device in figures 5 and 6 overcomes this restriction. In figures
5 and 6, the
dispenser 20 comprises two semi-circular arms 47 and 48 pivoted at pivot 45
together
at their lower proximal ends, and in the closed position butting against one
another at
their distal ends 49. The pivot 45 is mounted in a base 26 which has a slot 50
to enable
the arms 47 and 48 to open and close. Optionally there is a spring 51
associated with
the pivot 45, urging the arms to close together at the distal ends 49. As
shown in
figures 5 and 6, when closed together the two semi-circulars arms 47 and 48
forms a
hoop 21, however the two arms 47 and 48 could take up the form as a C or U
shape
rather than a hoop.
[0028] A fluid connection 37 connects to a container containing a fluid to
be sprayed to the
inlet of a pump 31. The pump 31 has an outlet 33 to which is connected a
manifold 25.
A plurality of tubes, 23A, 23B, 23C, 23D connect the manifold 25 to the
apertures
52A, 52B, 52C 52D distributed around the inside of the arms 47 and 48. The
tubes
23A, 23B 23C and 23D are mounted in grooves 22 in the inner surfaces of the
arms 47
and 48. Each individual tube 23A, 23B, 23C 23D connects an individual aperture
52A,
52B 52C and 52D to the manifold 25. In this arrangement, because the fluid
pressure at
each nozzle is substantially the same, the flow rate of the fluid from one
aperture is
substantially the same as that from another aperture. The ends 27A, 27B, 27C,
27D of
the tubes 23 terminate with nozzles 52A, 52B, 52C, 52D which form the
apertures.
Self-sealing slits could replace the nozzles in this and other examples.
[0029] In the arrangement of figures 5 and 6, the arms 47 and 48 are opened
and a body part
inserted between their distal ends 49. The body part can be substantially
larger, such a
thigh, chest or shoulder than could be inserted in hoop 21 of figures 1 to 4.
When the
dispenser is ready to operate a container 32 containing a fluid of interest is
inserted
though the top of the base 26, into a container receiver 55, with its outlet
nozzle
connected to the upstanding nipple 34 on a container mounting 35. The bottom
of the
base 26 is closed by a base plate 36. The container mounting 35 is mounted on
the base
plate 36. Fluid connection 37 is provided in the container base to pipe fluid
a pump
connector 38, also upstanding from the container mounting 35. A short length
of tube
39 of silicon rubber or other suitable material connects the pump connector 38
to the
pump inlet 40. The pump 31 has an outlet 33 to which is connected the manifold
25.
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Tubes 23A, 23B, 23C, 23D connect the manifold 25 individually to a nozzle 52A,
52B,
52C, 52D.
[0030] In the example of figures 5 and 6, operation of the pump is
controlled by a pro-
grammable chip 44 connected to a battery and a sensor 53 to detect when a body
part
has been inserted. The chip may be programmed to operate only at particular
times of
day, and/or after a particular time interval has elapsed from a previous
treatment to
prevent an overdose, and/or when a container with a particular bar code, which
is read
by a bar-code reader is mounted on nipple 34. However, in more sophisticated
models,
a series of sensors 53 is distributed around the inner surfaces of the arms 47
and 48
(sensors of this kind can also be distributed around the inside of hoop 21 in
figures 1 to
4). The sensors can detect the presence of a body part and in conjunction with
the pro-
grammable chip 44, operate the pump only when the correct body part is
present,
within the area bounded by arms 47 and 48 and hoop 21. In the configuration of
figures 5 and 6, however, the sensors in combination with the programmable
chip can
identify the orientation of the body part. The chip 44 is connected in this
configuration
to motorised valves 54 controlling entry to tubes 23A, 23B 23C and 23D, in
this way
the direction of spraying can be controlled to ensure only that part of the
body part to
be sprayed is sprayed.
[0031] As before, the pump (and chip 44) is powered from a battery or mains
source 41
through a switch 42. If it is to be available for user operation, the switch
42 can be
operated through an aperture 43 in the base plate. However, the switch in some
ar-
rangements may more conveniently be placed on the side of the base. Optionally
the
aperture 43 may house a flexible rubber cover which allows the switch 42 to be
operated but which keeps dirt and moisture away from the inside of the base.
In other
instances, user operation of the switch 42 is prevents and there is no
external access to
it. For clarity, connections between the sensors 53 and chip 44 are omitted.
The pro-
gramming of chip 44 will follow standard practices in the field of image
recognition.
[0032] The skilled person will be able readily to identify possible
alternative configurations
for the container mounting and/or pump for this invention. The hoops or arms
need not
be circular or semi-circular, and could be square, elliptical or any other
suitable shape.
[0033] The chip 44 not only enables control of the spray, but for medical
purposes
recording, for example, of the times of treatment, to enable medical
professionals to
monitor whether the patient is regularly undertaking the treatments, it could
go further
and set off a reminder or an alarm if a pre-programmed treatment is missed,
for
example. The alarm can be local to the patient, or remote at control centre, a
medical
centre or hospital. The chip can be programed to dispense different amounts of
treatment to different patients or to operate different treatment regimes for
different
patients; the patient being identified by use of different switches, or input
codes or
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other recognition system. An IR lamp and detector, other motion sensor, may be
in-
corporated to prevent the system from operating unless a body part was present
in the
hoop, or between the distal ends of the arms 47 and 48 of figures 5 and 6.
[0034] In the drawings, a battery 41 is used, this could be a long life
conventional battery or
a rechargeable battery such as an Li-ion battery; or the battery replaced by a
mains
supply stepped down to a safe voltage by a transformer, with a rechargeable
battery
back-up ¨ for many domestic applications this may be the preferred option as
it avoids
loss of power as a result of batteries being discharged. For field operations
this would
not be practicable and battery power would be used.
[0035] In the examples, apertures in the form of both nozzles and self-
sealing slits have been
described and these can be interchanged in the examples.
[0036] The multi-tube approach of figures 4 and 5 can be used with the
closed hoop device
of figures 1 to 4.
[0037] In a further arrangement of the examples of figures 1 to 6 the tubes
can be of
different diameters, In still further arrangement, rather than using multiple
tubes, a
single tubes, whose diameter changes as it passes through each arm 47 and 48
in
figures 5 and 6 or each side of the hoop 21 in figures 1 to 4 can be used
instead to
similar effect.
[0038] As a further development rather than using separate tubes 23, 23A,
23B, 23C, 23D,
the tubes can be moulded as part of a moulding for the hoop 21 of figures 1 to
4 or the
arms 47 and 48 in in the devices of figures 5 and 6.
[0039] Examples of applications of the device include spray treatments of
arthritis, burns,
venous ulcers, chronic wounds/ infections, eczema and other exfoliating
conditions,
and in trauma, eradication of MRSA from patients and ward staff/visitors, and
dis-
infection. It can also be used for spray on wound sealing and dressings. A
particular
use is in treatment or applying temporary spray on dressings to patients in
emergency
evacuations.
[0040] The range of products that may be applied using the device includes,
disinfectant/
cleaning agents (such as iodine), medicinal agents (e.g. coagulants, repair
stimulants,
antibiotics, analgesics, anti-inflammatory agents), protective layers (to
protect wound
from air/infection/abrasion, to prevent loss of body fluids and loss of
drugs), Immo-
bilisers (e.g. plaster or polymer).
[0041] The device of the invention can also be used for non-medical
purposes such as
treatments applying perfumes, sun tan lotions, soaps and the like to parts of
the body.
[0042] In the configuration of figures 1 to 4 the dispenser may comprise a
plurality of hoops
e.g. hand and finger sized, with sensors to determine which one to activate.
[0043] The sensors 53 could be IR, ultrasonic or other, some of which could
give distance
and/or orientation information. For example, if a hand is inserted off-centre,
the device
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could adjust the sprays accordingly.
[0044] It is possible, if the pressurised containers are used a container
outlet is coupled
directly to manifold 25 and the pump 31 and its control systems omitted.
[0045] Such an arrangement is shown in figure 7.
[0046] In figure 7, a dispenser 20 comprises two semi-circular arms 47 and
48 (as in figures
and 6) pivoted at pivot 45 together at their lower proximal ends, and in the
closed
position butting against one another at their distal ends 49. Optionally there
is a spring
51 associated with the pivot 45, urging the arms to close together at the
distal ends 49.
As shown in figure 7, when closed together the two semi-circular arms 47 and
48 form
a hoop 21, however the two arms 47 and 48 could take up the form as a C or U
shape
rather than a hoop.
[0047] A plurality of tubes, 23A, 23B, 23C, 23D, connect a manifold 25 at
the proximal
ends of the arms 47 and 48 to nozzles 52A, 52B, 52C 52D distributed around the
inside of the arms 47 and 48 and located at the ends 27A, 27B, 27C, 27D of the
tubes
23A, 23B, 23C, 23D. Self-sealing slits could replace the nozzles 52A, 52B, 52C
and
52D. The tubes 23A, 23B 23C and 23D are mounted in grooves 22 in the inner
surfaces of the arms 47 and 48. Each individual tube 23A, 23B, 23C 23D
connects an
individual a nozzle 52A, 52B, 52C and 52D to the manifold 25 as in figure 5.
In this
way, the fluid pressure at each nozzle is substantially the same; the flow
rate of the
fluid from one aperture is substantially the same as that from another
aperture.
[0048] As In the arrangement of figures 5 and 6, the arms 47 and 48 can be
opened and a
body part inserted between their distal ends 49. The orifice 61 of a container
60
containing the treatment and gas under pressure is connected to the manifold
25, an 0-
ring 62 sealing between the manifold and the orifice. The container 60 is of
con-
ventional design for a pressurised fluid dispensing container. When the
dispenser 20
and patient are ready, the actuator 63 is depressed against a plug 68 and
spring 65
opening an aperture 64 releasing the treatment rising up dip tube 66 from near
the
bottom of the container under pressure through the manifold 25, into tubes
23A, 23B,
23C and 23D and our of nozzles 52A, 52B 52C and 52D, spraying onto a body part
contained within the dispenser.
[0049] Once treatment is complete, downward pressure on the dispenser 20 is
released;
spring 65 urges plug 68 upwards (as seen in the drawing) against a gasket 69
at the top
of the container 60 closing the aperture 64, and thus stopping the flow of
treatment.
[0050] In figure 7, the pivoted arms 47 and 48 can be replaced with a fixed
hoop as il-
lustrated in figures 1 to 4. Likewise the four tubes 23A, 23B 23C 23D can be
replaced
with single tubes 23 in each side of hoop as shown in figures 1 to 4.
[0051] There may be some drop in the pressure as the container is depleted
in the tubes 23
or 23A, 23B, 23C, 23D, but this may not be critical in all cases. If the drop
is critical
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then a pump arrangement as in figures 1 to 6 should be retained or the
container
replaced.
