GB2203345A

GB2203345A - Dispenser for vaginal creams

Info

Publication number: GB2203345A
Application number: GB08729003A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gaetano Esposito
Original assignee: Aziende Chimiche Riunite Angelini Francesco ACRAF SpA
Current assignee: Angelini Acraf SpA
Priority date: 1987-04-17
Filing date: 1987-12-11
Publication date: 1988-10-19
Anticipated expiration: 2007-12-11
Also published as: ATA223887A; DE8710635U1; GB8729003D0; FR2613940A3; ES1005902Y; IT8721419V0; PT85601A; FR2613940B3; ES1005902U; NL8701818A; BE1002416A4; LU87006A1; IT210212Z2; GB2203345B; CH671160A5

Abstract

A dispenser for vaginal creams, comprising a cannula to contain a single dose of product to be dispensed, said cannula being connected via valve means to a pump to dispense the product, and the cannula being displaceable from a position wherein said valve means prevents communication between the pump and the cannula, to a second position wherein said valve means allows air to pass through the pump to the inside of the cannula in order to eject the product.

Description

Dispenser for Vaginal Creams This invention relates to a dispenser for vaginal creams.

Various devices have hitherto been proposed for dispensing fluids to a particular area by means of a cannula, particularly for applying vaginal creams.

These devices generally include a resilient pump container that also serves as a reservoir for the product to be dispensed. These devices generally provide two functions, i.e. for measuring and dispensing, but these functions cannot be separated. As a result, a greater amount of the product to be dispensed (e.g. a medicament) must be provided, to make up for product that remains inside the container which gets wasted after the resilient portion of the pump has been thoroughly squeezed. Alternatively, successive pumping is effected so as to allow the product to be totally dispensed, but this generally does not allow control of the dispensing operation.

In some cases the device may be accidentally. operated, which may cause either annoyance or incorrect application.

Syringe-like devices are also known that have the advantage of containing and dispensing a correct amount of product. However, they are not very easy to handle, in that when applying the product, the user's position is not consistent with the manual action required to exert proper pressure on the piston, the operation resulting thus very uncomfortable.

We have now found it possible to avoid the above mentioned problems, by providing a dispenser having a special arrangement of its parts, which allows the right proportions of product to be dispensed by natural and comfortable movements of one hand only.

Thus, in one aspect the invention provides a dispenser for vaginal creams, comprising a cannula to contain a single dose of product to be dispensed, said cannula being connected via valve means to a pump to dispense the product, and the cannula being displaceable from a position wherein said valve means prevents communication between the pump and the cannula, to a second position wherein said valve means allows air to pass through the pump to the inside of the cannula in order to eject the product.

In another aspect, the invention provides a dispenser for vaginal creams comprising a cannula to contain a single dose of product to be dispensed and a small piston for ejecting the product, said cannula being mounted on a pump by means of a union that allows the cannula to be shifted along its own axis, there being provided a valve element for closing the cannula, said valve element allowing the product to pass from the pump to the piston in the cannula when the latter is partially removed.

Embodiments of the invention will be hereinafter described by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows an overall view of a complete device according to one embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 shows an exploded view of the different components of the embodiment shown in Figure 1; Figures 3 and 3' show a partial cross-section of the device of Figures 1 and 2, with a valve in the open and closed positions respectively; Figure 4 shows an axial view of a communication valve between a dispensing cannular and piston of a device according to the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 3; Figure 5 shows a section of the same valve, along the line A-A of Figure 4.

The embodiment shown in the figures is a dispenser for vaginal creams according to the invention which comprises a small flask or pump 1 which serves as an air reservoir and ends with a threaded neck 2 engaging with an airtight union 3 having the twofold function of housing a valve 4 and connecting flask 1 with a cannula 5, within which a small piston 6 may freely run. At the opposite end of the cannula 5 there is provided a cap 7 for protecting and retaining the cream to be dispensed (that is contained in the cannula itself) when the device is not being used.

Inside the airtight union 3 there is provided an annular collar 8 that, on screwing the union onto pump 1, engages neck 2 thereof. Inside the collar 8 are placed both valve 4 (from the inside) and cannula 5 (inserted from the outside).

To this end, the inner edge of collar 8 has an annular rim 9 that acts as a locating element for a pair of corresponding annular rims 10, 11 on the cannula.

Rim 10 is so shaped as to allow the cannula to be easily inserted inside the collar, by elastic deformation, and to constitute a reference or stop element when the cannula is taken out to allow the product to be dispensed, as will be illustrated hereinbelow. The annular rim 11 similarly determines how far the cannula may be inserted in collar 8, and constitutes also a stroke end or stop element that engages, at the opposite side, the annular rim 9. Once it has been inserted in a collar 8, the cannula 5 may move, with respect thereto a distance corresponding to that existing between rims 10 and 11.

Valve 4 comprises a cylindrical element whose diameter is substantially equal to the inner diameter of the cannula 5 and has, at one end, a base 12 whose diameter is substantially equal to that of collar 8. On the outer periphery of base 12 there is a series of grooves or indentations 13, for letting air flow towards the inside of collar 8 even when it is pressed against said base 12 of the valve.

The actual valve body comprises a first portion, indicated by 14, having a generally smooth surface, and a second portion that is provided with a series of longitudinal peripheral grooves 15. The length of portion 14 is shorter than the stroke cannula 5 may perform inside collar 8. Assembly of the dispenser according to the invention is very easy; first the end of cannula 5 is inserted from the outside in union 3, then piston 6 and afterwards the body of valve 4 are introduced in the cannula.

The assembled unit is shown as an exploded view in Figure 2. Cannula 5 is shpaed like a cylinder that, filled with a suitable medical cream ointment or the like, can be hermetically sealed with cap 7.

In the use, only one preliminary operation is required, namely taking from package one cannula/dose and screwing this, by means of union 3, onto the threaded part 2 of flask 1. For successive applications, the flask can be attached each time to various cannulae contained in the package.

In order to actually dispense a pre-determined dose, it is sufficient to exert a slight pull between cannula 5 and union 3, pulling out the cannula until the annular rim 10 engages with rim 9 of collar 8. In these circumstances, the end of cannula 5 disengages from the smooth surface portion 14 of the valve, with which it impeded the passage of air, and takes the position illustrated in Figure 3', showing how only a part (extensively grooved) of the end portion of the valve is within the cannula. In this position air contained in pump 1 may pass through indentations 13 and grooves 15 and reach the area above piston 6.

When the valve is open, flask 1, which serves as a small pump, is connected with the cannula which functions as a measurement syringe.

Pressure exerted on the outer walls of the flask will be thus transmitted to piston 6 that can run downward to expel the medical cream held in the cannula; the dispenser device can thus be operated by one hand only, avoiding any unnatural movement.

In accordance with the invention a single-dose vaginal cream dispenser comprising a special valve is provided that makes it possible for the product to: 1) be ejected by squeezing an elastic chamber, (namely flask 1); and 2) be hermetically sealed and contained as a single dose within the dispenser itself, without any handling being necessary.

The dispenser is also handy to use, and avoids an unsanitary procedure when handling a medicament, of using a dispenser more than once, which requires it to be scrupulously washed since it comes into contact with internal organs. It allows moreover packaging to be opened just at the last moment which have been sealed on leaving the factory and to dispose of the articles, after use. Of course, the sizes, as well as the employed materials, could be of any type according to the different requirements of use.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A dispenser for vaginal creams, comprising a cannula to contain a single dose of product to be dispensed, said cannula being connected via valve means to a pump to dispense the product, and the cannula being displaceable from a position wherein said valve means prevents communication between the pump and the cannula, to a second position wherein said valve means allows air to pass through the pump to the inside of the cannula in order to eject the product.

2. A dispenser for vaginal creams comprising a cannula to contain a single dose of product to be dispensed and a piston for ejecting the product, said cannula being mounted on a pump by means of a union that allows the cannula to be shifted along its own axis, there being provided a valve element for closing the cannula, said valve element allowing the product to pass from the pump to the piston in the cannula when the latter is partially removed.

3. A dispenser according to claim 2, wherein the said valve element comprises a substantially cylindrical body inserted in the cannula and having a first portion having a smooth surface and a second portion having a grooved surface, the length of the smooth surface portion being less than the axial displacement the cannula may perform, there being further provided in said valve element, means to engage a fixed locating element to prevent the valve from moving when the cannula is taken out.

4. A dispenser according to any preceding claim wherein a pair of annular rims are provided in the cannula to engage a stroke end element comprising a fixed reference element on the support of said cannula.

5. A dispenser device for vaginal creams substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanging drawings.

6. Each and every novel feature and combination of features substantially as herein disclosed.