Dual Nozzle Intranasal Delivery Device

Abstract

A dual nozzle intranasal delivery device has a housing having a cavity for the reception of a container, an opening for the reception of a syringe nozzle, and a passage connecting said cavity and said opening. A hollow needle is secured in the passage and extends into the cavity, said needle being adapted to penetrate the stopper of the container. A pair of adjacent spray nozzles having substantially parallel axes are in communication with a conduit in the housing which has an opening for the reception of a syringe nozzle.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known to employ a pair of adjacent spray nozzles communicating with a conduit which is adapted to be connected to a syringe to deliver vaccine such as a flu vaccine or a measles vaccine in about equal doses to each nostril. While this operation is simple and effective, it still leaves the patient with a difficult problem in getting the dosage in liquid form in the syringe. This is particularly the case where the biological to be employed is lyophilized. In accordance with this invention a lyophilized medicament can be placed in solution in a syringe under sterile conditions with great ease by an unskilled patient.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A dual nozzle intranasal delivery device has a housing having a cavity for the reception of a container, an opening for the reception of a syringe nozzle, and a passage connecting said cavity and said opening. A hollow needle is secured in the passage and extends into the cavity, said needle being adapted to penetrate the stopper of the container. A pair of adjacent spray nozzles having substantially parallel axes are in communication with a conduit in the housing which has an opening for the reception of a syringe nozzle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of an intranasal delivery device in accordance with the invention together with a container and a syringe;

FIG. 2 is a section through the intranasal device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view of the intranasal device of FIG. 1 taken on the plane indicated by the line 3--3 in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the intranasal device of FIG. 1 shown together with a syringe.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An intranasal device 2 has a housing 4 provided with a cylindrical cavity 6 adapted to receive a container 8 typically containing a tablet 10 of a lyophilized biological. Container 10 is of a type well known to the art and has a pierceable rubber stopper 14 which is held in position by a metal cap 16. Any of the wide variety of containers currently employed with syringes provided with a needle for piercing a container stopper may be employed.

Housing 4 has a passage 18 in which a hollow needle 20 is secured by a pressed fit. Needle 20 extends into cavity 6 and has a sharp chamfered outer end 22. Passage 18 communicates with a tapered opening 26 which is adapted to receive tapered nozzle 28 of a syringe 30. A stopper 32 is provided to close off nozzle 28. A plunger 34 is provided for the discharge of liquid through nozzle 28 and for the intake of liquid through the nozzle. Syringe 30 is well known to the art.

Housing 4 has a tapered opening 40 adapted to receive a syringe nozzle such as the nozzle 28. Opening 40 is in communication with a conduit 44 which has a pair of branches 46 and 48. A pair of spray nozzles 52 and 54 are substantially parallel and spaced apart a distance to permit one spray nozzle to enter each nostril. Each of the spray nozzles has a cap 56 having a discharge passage 58, the passages 58, 58 being substantially parallel. Each cap 56 has an interior opening 60 which is adapted to receive branches 46 and 48 respectively and a bead 62 adapted to snap into grooves 64 and 66 respectively in branches 46 and 48. Branch 46 has a side opening 70 which discharges into cavity 72 in the cap 56 mounted on branch 46. Similarly branch 48 has a side discharge opening 74 which discharges into cavity 76 of the cap 56 mounted on branch 48. The spray nozzles per se are conventional and any spray nozzles conventionally used for spraying liquids into the nose may be employed.

OPERATION

Assuming that a lyophilized biological such as the tablet 10 is to be administered, container 8 is inserted into cavity 6 and thrust home causing needle 20 to pierce the pierceable rubber stopper 14 and extend into the interior of container 8. With nozzle 28 pointing upwardly, cover 32 is removed from nozzle 28 of syringe 30 which contains a suitable reconstituting liquid and the nozzle 28 is inserted into opening 26. Plunger 34 is then advanced to force the reconstituting liquid from syringe 30 into container 8. When the biological tablet 10 has dissolved in the reconstituting liquid, plunger 34 is retracted to draw the thus formed solution into the syringe 30. The syringe 30 is now withdrawn from opening 26 and its nozzle is inserted into opening 40. With the spray nozzles 52 and 54 inserted into the patient's nostrils, plunger 34 is depressed so as to force the contained liquid into conduit 44 and equally through branches 46 and 48 and through spray nozzles 52 and 54.

It will be understood that the foregoing description is illustrative and not limiting.

Claims

I claim:

1. A dual nozzle intranasal delivery device comprising:

a housing,

said housing having a cavity for the reception of a container having a pierceable stopper,

an opening for the reception of a syringe nozzle and a passage connecting said cavity and said opening,

a hollow needle secured in said passage by a pressed fit and extending into the cavity, said needle being adapted to penetrate the stopper of said container,

a pair of adjacent nozzles having substantially parallel axes,

said housing having a conduit communicating with said nozzles and having a second opening for the reception of a syringe nozzle, and a second passage connecting said second opening with said nozzles,

whereby liquid can be introduced into and withdrawn from a container and then discharged through the nozzles.