CA2427963C - Drug delivery device - Google Patents

Drug delivery device Download PDF

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Publication number
CA2427963C
CA2427963C CA002427963A CA2427963A CA2427963C CA 2427963 C CA2427963 C CA 2427963C CA 002427963 A CA002427963 A CA 002427963A CA 2427963 A CA2427963 A CA 2427963A CA 2427963 C CA2427963 C CA 2427963C
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CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
drug
tubular wall
passage
plunger
flexible
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Fee Related
Application number
CA002427963A
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French (fr)
Other versions
CA2427963A1 (en
Inventor
Deborah Huang
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Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to CA002427963A priority Critical patent/CA2427963C/en
Publication of CA2427963A1 publication Critical patent/CA2427963A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA2427963C publication Critical patent/CA2427963C/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61FFILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
    • A61F6/00Contraceptive devices; Pessaries; Applicators therefor
    • A61F6/06Contraceptive devices; Pessaries; Applicators therefor for use by females
    • A61F6/08Pessaries, i.e. devices worn in the vagina to support the uterus, remedy a malposition or prevent conception, e.g. combined with devices protecting against contagion
    • A61F6/12Inserters or removers
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61MDEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
    • A61M31/00Devices for introducing or retaining media, e.g. remedies, in cavities of the body
    • A61M31/007Injectors for solid bodies, e.g. suppositories

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  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Biomedical Technology (AREA)
  • Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
  • Vascular Medicine (AREA)
  • Reproductive Health (AREA)
  • Anesthesiology (AREA)
  • Hematology (AREA)
  • Infusion, Injection, And Reservoir Apparatuses (AREA)

Abstract

A drug delivery device includes an insert tube and an elongate plunger. The insert tube has a tubular wall that confines a passage and that has drug entrance and release ends. The drug release end has first and second radial parts, and is provided with a flexible grating that includes sets of first and second flexible strips. The first and second flexible strips extend from the first and second radial parts of the drug release end, respectively. The elongate plunger has a drug pushing end and an operating end, is slidably movable in the passage, and has a length sufficient to enable the drug pushing end to push a drug in the passage to move out of the passage and spread apart the first and second flexible strips for delivering the drug into a body cavity.

Description

~

DRUG DELIVERY DEVICE
Field of the Invention The invention relates to a drug delivery device, more particularly to a drug delivery device that dispenses with the need to insert a finger into a body cavity during the delivery process.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In drawings which illustrate embodiment of the invention, Figure 1 illustrates a conventional way of delivering a drug into a body cavity;

Figure 2 is an exploded schematic view of the preferred embodiment of a drug delivery device according to the present invention;

Figure 3 is an assembled schematic view of the preferred embodiment;

Figure 4 illustrates the preferred embodi_ment in a state of delivering a drug into a body cavity;
Figure 5 illustrates how the drug is hindered by a flexible grating at a drug release end of an insert tube of the preferred embodiment;

Figure 6 is a schematic end vieut-of the insert tube to illustrate the flexible grating;

Figure 7 illustrates how the drug is pushed out of the insert tube by a plunger of the pref_erred embodiment;
and Figure 8 illustrates how a radial. outward flange of
2 the plunger is prevented from extending into the insert tube.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Suppositories are usually used for treating vaginal infections or diseases in the anus. Mainly, the suppository is inserted into the vagina or anus.
Referring to Figure 1, a conventional way of delivering a drug 10 into a body cavity is done by aiming one end 11 of the drug 10 at the opening of the vagina or anus, after which a finger is used to push the drug 1.0 deep into the vagina or anus. However, this conventional way of delivering the drug 10 into the body cavity has the following disadvantages:

1. It is necessary to wash the hands thoroughly or to use sterilized hand gloves during the drug delivery process.

2. The inner wall of the vagina or anus is easily scratched and injured by the fingernail on the inserted finger, thereby resulting in pain.
3. The drug delivery process may induce emotional trauma.
4. Because the drug cannot be delivered to a proper depth and position due to the limited finger length, the effect of the drug is reduced, thereby prolonging the course of treatment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the main object of the present invention is to provide a drug delivery device that dispenses with the need to insert a finger into a body cavity during the delivery process and that is simple to use.

Accordingly, a drug delivery device of this invention comprises an insert tube and an elongate plunger. The insert tube has a tubular wall that confines a passage extending in an axial direction for receiving a drug in solid form. The tubular wall has a drug entrance end adapted for admitting the drug into the passage, and a drug release end opposite to the drug entrance end in the axial direction and adapted to be inserted into a body cavity. The drug release end has opposite first and second radial parts. The insert tube is provided with a flexible grating at the drug release end so as to hinder unforced removal of the drug from the passage via the drug release end. The flexible grating includes a set of first flexible strips that extend from the first radial part toward the second radial part, and a set of second flexible strips that extend from the second radial part toward the first radial part. The elongate plunger has a drug pushing end and an operating end opposite to the drug pushing end in the axial direction.
The plunger is slidably extended into the passage via the drug entrance end of the tubular wall such that the drug pushing end is disposed proximate to the drug release end of the tubular wall, and such that the operating end is disposed outwardly of the passage and is adjacent to the drug entrance end of the tubular wall.
The plunger is movable in the passage, and has a length sufficient to enable the drug pushing end to push the drug to move out of the passage at the drug release end and spread apart the first and second flexible strips of the flexible grating for delivering the drug into the body cavity.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to Figures 2 to 8, the preferred embodiment of a drug delivery device according to the present invention is shown to comprise an insert tube 20 and an elongate plunger 30. The insert tube 20 has a tubular wall 22 that confines a passage 21 extending in an axial direction (X) for receiving a drug 40 in solid form.

The tubular wall 22 can be shaped as a circular or oval cylinder, and has a drug entrance end 221 and a drug release end 222. The drug entrance end 221 is adapted for admitting the drug 40 into the passage 21, and is formed with a first radial outward flange 223. The drug release end 222 is opposite to the drug entrance end 221 at a distance (L) in the axial direction (X), and is adapted to be inserted into a body cavity. The drug release end 222 has opposite first and second radial parts 24, 25, and is provided with a flexible grating 26 so as to hinder unforced removal of the drug 40 from the passage 21 via the drug release end 222, as best shown in Figure 3. The flexible grating 26 is made of a flexible material, and includes a set of first flexible curved strips 241 and a set of second flexible curved strips 251 (see Figures 2 and 3) . The first flexible curved strips 241 extend from the first radial part 24
5 toward the second radial part 25. The second flexible curved strips 251 extend from the second radial part 25 toward the first radial part 24.

The elongate plunger 30 has a drug pushing end 31 and an operating end 32 opposite to the drug pushing end 31 in the axial direction (X) , and an intermediate plunger part 33 between the drug pushing end 31 and the operating end 32. The drug pushing end 31 is formed with a plurality of vent holes 311. that extend in the axial direction (X), and has a convex pushing surface. The curved strips 241, 251 complement the pushing surface of the drug pushing end 3l . The drug pushing end 31 further has a diameter smaller than that of the passage 21 in the insert tube 20. The operating end 32 is formed with a second radial outward flange 321 that abuts against the first radial outward flange 223 to prevent the operating end 32 of the plunger 30 from extending into the passage 21, as best shown in Figure 8. The intermediate plunger part 33 includes four axially extending and angularly spaced apart radial wing plates 332 that are in sliding contact with the tubular wall 22. Each of two opposite wing plates 332 is formed with a radial friction rib 331 adjacent to the operating end
6 32 to increase friction between the plunger 30 and the insert tube 20 when the plunger 30 is disposed at a preparation position (P1) relative to the drug release end 222 of the tubular wall 22 in preparation for delivering the drug 40 into the body cavity (see Figure 3) . The drug 40 is confined in the passage 21 at a space bounded by the preparation position (Pl) and a release position (P2) of the plunger 30.

The plunger 30 is slidably extended into the passage 21 via the drug entrance end 221 of the tubular wall 22 such that the drug pushing end 31 is disposed proximate to the drug release end 222 of the tubular wall 22, and such that the operating end 32 is disposed outwardly of the passage 21 and is adjacent to the drug entrance end 221 of the tubular wall 22. The plunger 30 is movable in the passage 21 in the axial direction (X), and has a length sufficient to enable the drug pushing end 31 to push the drug 40 to move out of the passage 21 at the drug release end 222 and spread apart the first and second flexible strips 241, 251 of the flexible grating 26 for delivering the drug 40 into the body cavity.

During use, after the drug 40 is disposed in the passage 21 via the drug entrance end 221 of the insert tube 20, the plunger 30 is inserted into the insert tube 20 such that the wing plates 332 are in sliding contact with the tubular wall 22. The drug 40 is pushed by the plunger 30 to the space between the preparation position
7 (Pi) and the release position (P2), and is confined therebetween. At this time, the friction ribs 331 of the wing plates 332 abut against the drug entrance end 221 of the tubular wall 22.

Referring back to Figure 4, the insert tube 20 is then inserted into a proper depth of the vagina or anus.

The friction ribs 331 come into contact with the tubular wall 22 as the operating end 32 of the plunger 30 is pushed. The plunger 30 is pushed continuously until the second radial outward flange 321 abuts against the first radial outward flange 223, and the drug pushing end 31 of the plunger 30 reaches the drug release end 222 of the insert tube 20, thereby pushing the drug 40 to move out of the flexible grating 26 at the drug release end 222 and into the body cavity. Thus, the drug is conveniently delivered into a proper depth and position of the body cavity.

It should be noted that, when the drug delivery device of the present invention is in use, the hands need not come into contact with the drug 40 during the actual delivery process so that sanitation can be maintained.
Furthermore, the drug delivery device of the present inventionis simple and easy to operate. Moreover,'inj ury to the body cavity can be minimized due to the cylindrical shape of the insert tube 20 and the flexibility of the flexible grating 26, thereby enhancing comfort during use.
8 While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the br_oadest interpretationso asto encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.

Claims (11)

I CLAIM:
1. A drug delivery device, comprising:
an insert tube having a tubular wall that confines a passage extending in an axial direction for receiving a drug in solid form, said tubular wall having a drug entrance end adapted for admitting a drug into said passage, and a drug release end opposite to said drug entrance end in the axial direction and adapted to be inserted into a body cavity, said drug release end having opposite first and second radial parts, said insert tube being provided with a flexible grating at said drug release end to hinder unforced removal of the drug from said passage via said drug release end, said flexible grating including a set of first flexible strips that extend from said first radial part toward said second radial part, and a set of second flexible strips that extend from said second radial part toward said first radial part, said first and second flexible strips being in one of the form of: i) flexible thin rods and ii) flexible wires, and having ends overlapping each other; and an elongate plunger having a drug pushing end and an operating end opposite to said drug pushing end in the axial direction, said plunger being slidably extended into said passage via said drug entrance end of said tubular wall such that said drug pushing end is disposed proximate to said drug release end of said tubular wall, and such that said operating end is disposed outwardly of said passage and is adjacent to said drug entrance end of said tubular wall, said plunger being movable in said passage and having a length sufficient to enable said drug pushing end to push the drug to move out of said passage at said drug release end and spread apart said first and second flexible strips of said flexible grating for delivering the drug into the body cavity;
wherein said drug entrance end of said tubular wall is formed with a first radial outward flange; and wherein said operating end of said plunger is formed with a second radial outward flange that abuts against said first radial outward flange to prevent said operating end of said plunger from extending into said passage.
2. A drug delivery device, comprising:
an insert tube having a tubular wall that confines a passage extending in an axial direction for receiving a drug in solid form, said tubular wall having a drug entrance end adapted for admitting a drug into said passage, and a drug release end opposite to said drug entrance end in the axial direction and adapted to be inserted into a body cavity, said drug release end having opposite first and second radial parts, said insert tube being provided with a flexible grating at said drug release end to hinder unforced removal of the drug from said passage via said drug release end, said flexible grating including a set of first flexible strips that extend from said first radial part toward said second radial part, and a set of second flexible strips that extend from said second radial part toward said first radial part, said first and second flexible strips being in one of the form of: i) flexible thin rods and ii) flexible wires, and having ends overlapping each other; and an elongate plunger having a drug pushing end and an operating end opposite to said drug pushing end in the axial direction, said plunger being slidably extended into said passage via said drug entrance end of said tubular wall such that said drug pushing end is disposed proximate to said drug release end of said tubular wall, and such that said operating end is disposed outwardly of said passage and is adjacent to said drug entrance end of said tubular wall, said plunger being movable in said passage and having a length sufficient to enable said drug pushing end to push the drug to move out of said passage at said drug release end and spread apart said first and second flexible strips of said flexible grating for delivering the drug into the body cavity;
wherein said plunger further has an intermediate plunger part between said drug pushing end and said operating end, said intermediate plunger part including a plurality of axially extending and angularly spaced apart radial wing plates that are in sliding contact with said tubular wall.
3. The drug delivery device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said intermediate plunger part is formed with a radial friction rib adjacent to said operating end to increase friction between said plunger and said insert tube when said plunger is disposed at a preparation position relative to said drug release end of said tubular wall in preparation for delivering the drug into the body cavity.
4. The drug delivery device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said drug pushing end of said plunger is formed with a plurality of vent holes that extend in the axial direction.
5. A drug delivery device, comprising:

an insert tube having a tubular wall that confines a passage extending in an axial direction for receiving a drug in solid form, said tubular wall having a drug entrance end adapted for admitting a drug into said passage, and a drug release end opposite to said drug entrance end in the axial direction and adapted to be inserted into a body cavity, said drug release end having opposite first and second radial parts, said insert tube being provided with a flexible grating at said drug release end to hinder unforced removal of the drug from said passage via said drug release end, said flexible grating including a set of first flexible strips that extend from said first radial part toward said second radial part, and a set of second flexible strips that extend from said second radial part toward said first radial part, said first and second flexible strips being in one of the form of: i) flexible thin rods and ii) flexible wires, and having ends overlapping each other; and an elongate plunger having a drug pushing end and an operating end opposite to said drug pushing end in the axial direction, said plunger being slidably extended into said passage via said drug entrance end of said tubular wall such that said drug pushing end is disposed proximate to said drug release end of said tubular wall, and such that said operating end is disposed outwardly of said passage and is adjacent to said drug entrance end of said tubular wall, said plunger being movable in said passage and having a length sufficient to enable said drug pushing end to push the drug to move out of said passage at said drug release end and spread apart said first and second flexible strips of said flexible grating for delivering the drug into the body cavity;

wherein said drug pushing end of said plunger has a convex pushing surface, and said first and second flexible strips are curved strips that complement said pushing surface of said drug pushing end.
6. ~The drug delivery device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said tubular wall of said insert tube is shaped as a circular cylinder.
7. ~The drug deliver device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said tubular wall of said insert tube is shaped as an oval cylinder.
8. ~The drug delivery device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said tubular wall of said insert tube is shaped as a circular cylinder.
9. ~The drug deliver device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said tubular wall of said insert tube is shaped as an oval cylinder.
10. ~The drug delivery device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said tubular wall of said insert tube is shaped as a circular cylinder.
11. ~The drug delivery device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said tubular wall of said insert tube is shaped as an oval cylinder
CA002427963A 2003-05-06 2003-05-06 Drug delivery device Expired - Fee Related CA2427963C (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA002427963A CA2427963C (en) 2003-05-06 2003-05-06 Drug delivery device

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA002427963A CA2427963C (en) 2003-05-06 2003-05-06 Drug delivery device

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2427963A1 CA2427963A1 (en) 2004-11-06
CA2427963C true CA2427963C (en) 2008-07-22

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA002427963A Expired - Fee Related CA2427963C (en) 2003-05-06 2003-05-06 Drug delivery device

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CA (1) CA2427963C (en)

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CA2427963A1 (en) 2004-11-06

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Effective date: 20220301

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Effective date: 20200831