EP1315659B1 - Single-dose or double-dose device for dispensing a fluid product - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a product dispensing device fluid and more particularly a fluid dispenser device of the single-dose or bidose type, ie containing one dose or two half-doses of product to be distributed.

In the field of single-dose nasal spray devices or bidose, there are necessities and obligations ergonomic and functional which are different from multi-dose systems. In particular, this is due to the low dimensions of devices which can lead to handling difficulties. Moreover, in the case of a bidose, the dose should be divided into two half-doses to distribute successively in each nostril. It is therefore essential to guarantee that this division of dose occurs notably in a safe and reliable manner.

On the other hand, single-dose or bidose devices are often used to dispense drugs intended to be taken in a single dose, such as vaccines or emergency medicines, and sometimes these devices are not intended for self-administration by the patient but on the contrary to be distributed by a third person to a patient. This implies that a position correct nasal device in the nostril and simple, safe operation and reliable are absolutely necessary.

So far, no real solution has been proposed to simultaneously solve these aspects of security and reliability. To ensure the division of the dose into two half-doses as part of a bidose device in view of a separate distribution in both nostrils, the existing devices are generally formed by two elements, one supporting the reservoir and the other supporting the piston. When compressed axially towards each other, the first half dose is ejected through the dispensing orifice into the nostril. In order to divide the dose, the stroke of the piston is stopped at half its length by a shoulder, and to achieve the second part of the race, ie distribute the second half dose, it is necessary to run manually the piston element with respect to the reservoir. This type of system is safe and accurate but requires relatively complex manipulation, and therefore the use of two hands to get the result and be able to distribute the two half-doses successively in both nostrils.

Other types of solutions also include the stop formed by a shoulder and rotation but the rotation is automatically provided by the system, for example by means of an elastic component such as a spring, as soon as that the pressure on the piston is released, after the distribution of the first half dose. This system is relatively simple to operate but it is not not completely safe since the small relaxation of the piston can occur unintentional way, for example due to trembling hands, indecision, fear of the spray entering the nose, etc. The result is that two half-doses may be distributed in the same nostril.

Regarding the ergonomic problem due to small dimensions of the device, the existing devices do not offer a solution. In fact these devices require pressure exerted axially towards the nostril and this is relatively difficult to achieve because of the relatively weak of this type of device, this being particularly important in the case administration by a third party. Indeed, the axial pressure necessary to operate the device may result in a displacement of the device inside the nostril and cause injury and even a risk poor dose distribution due to a patient reaction, example by a sudden recoil at the moment of distribution. It is so a goal to get a dispensing orifice that is fixed throughout the duration of dose distribution inside the nostril, which can be particularly important, especially with drugs intended to be taken in a single dose such as vaccines, where a wrong dosage can not be corrected for a second take.

US-5,570,821 discloses a pasty product dispenser having a rack associated with the piston, said rack being moved vertically by means of a lateral actuation button.

The present invention aims to provide a dispensing device fluid product that does not reproduce the aforementioned disadvantages.

In particular, the present invention aims to provide a device for fluid dispensing that is ergonomic and easy to use, regardless of its small size, even by a third person.

The present invention also aims to provide a device for distribution of fluid product which ensures in a simple, safe and reliable way the dose divided into two half-doses, in the case of a bidose device, and does not require the use of both hands to distribute the two half-doses in both nostrils.

The present invention also aims to provide a device for fluid dispensing that is simple and economical to manufacture and to assemble.

The subject of the present invention is therefore a device for distributing fluid product comprising a body, a reservoir unit comprising a reservoir containing one dose or two half-doses of product, a distribution organ such as that a piston displaceable axially in the reservoir between a rest position and a dispensing position, and a movable actuating member between a rest position and an actuating position, characterized in that said actuating element is arranged laterally and has a part end section provided with a camming surface cooperating with said distribution or said reservoir unit, the displacement of said element actuation being performed in a different direction, and in particular about perpendicular to the direction of axial displacement of the dispensing member relative to the tank.

According to a first variant embodiment, the actuating element side is slidably mounted in said body and moves in translation.

According to another variant embodiment, said actuating element side is pivotally mounted on said body, and rotates about a pivot axis.

According to a first embodiment of the invention, the reservoir contains a single dose of product, the dispensing organ or the reservoir unit having at least one projection cooperating with said cam surface of said actuating element.

According to a second embodiment of the invention, the reservoir contains two half-doses of product, the device comprising means for dose splitting.

Advantageously, the actuating element comprises means for elastic return that brings him back to his rest position after expulsion from the first half-dose, and the means of fractionation of doses are made of so that the second half-dose is expelled when the element actuation is again moved to its actuating position.

Advantageously, the dispensing member or the reservoir unit comprises at least two axially offset projections, at least one first projection cooperating with the cam surface to expel the first half-dose and at least one second projection cooperating with the cam surface for expel the second half dose.

Advantageously, said at least one second projection is provided on an elastic arm integral with the dispensing member or the reservoir unit, said arm apart when the actuating element co-operates with the at least one a first projection to expel the first half-dose and returning elastically to its initial position when the actuating element is brought back to its rest position by the elastic return means, after expulsion of the first half-dose, so that said at least one second projection cooperates with the cam surface of said element when it is moved back to its position to expel the second half dose.

Advantageously, said cam surface of the actuating element is an inclined plane transforming an approximately radial displacement of the element actuating in an axial displacement of the dispensing member or the unit tank.

Advantageously, said actuating element is made in one piece with said body, a flexible material bridge forming the pivot axis.

According to a first variant embodiment, the reservoir unit is fixed by said body, said actuating element co-operating with said body distribution.

According to a second variant embodiment, the dispensing member is fixed with respect to said body, said actuating element co-operating with said unit tank.

• la figure 1 est une vue schématique en section transversale d'un dispositif de distribution de produit fluide selon un premier mode de réalisation de l'invention,
• la figure 2 est une vue similaire à celle de la figure 1, après l'expulsion d'une première dose,
• les figures 3 et 4 sont des vues schématiques en section horizontale vue de dessus du dispositif des figures 1 et 2,
• la figure 5 est une vue schématique d'un second mode de réalisation de l'invention, en position de repos,
• la figure 6 est une vue similaire à celle de la figure 5, après expulsion d'une dose, et
• la figure 7 est une vue schématique similaire à celle des figures 5 et 6, montrant un mode de réalisation du type bidose.

Other advantages and features of the present invention will appear more clearly in the following detailed description of two embodiments of the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, given by way of non-limiting example, in which:

• FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a fluid dispenser device according to a first embodiment of the invention,
• FIG. 2 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1, after the expulsion of a first dose,
• FIGS. 3 and 4 are diagrammatic views in horizontal section viewed from above of the device of FIGS. 1 and 2,
• FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a second embodiment of the invention, in the rest position,
• FIG. 6 is a view similar to that of FIG. 5, after expulsion of a dose, and
• Figure 7 is a schematic view similar to that of Figures 5 and 6, showing an embodiment of the bidose type.

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, the device comprises a main body 1 which supports a nosepiece 2 incorporating the dispensing orifice. A unit tank 3, comprising a reservoir containing one dose or two half-doses of product, is fixed in said body 1. The body 1 is further provided with a lateral hollow sleeve 4 in which slides an actuating element 5, such than a push button. The actuating element 5 is provided with a surface of cam 6, preferably made in the form of one or more inclined planes. A dispensing member 8, such as a piston, is slidably mounted inside the tank and moves between a rest position shown in Figure 1 and an expulsion position, the displacement being carried axially inside said tank. Advantageously, the cam surface 6 of the element 5, in particular the inclined planes, cooperates with at least one, preferably two projections 7, which are formed on the piston element 8. This pair of projections 7 is inserted and can slide in two grooves 9 which are formed in the wall of the cavity 10 of the body 1 in which the piston 8 slides during its actuation. The actuating element 5 can also be provided with retention means 11 which prevent the actuating element to be accidentally removed from the body, and means to return back elastic, which are not shown in the drawings. In the embodiment represented in FIGS. 1 and 2, which represent a device of the bidose type, the piston 8 also has a second pair of projections 12, which are advantageously formed on two resilient arms 13 which form part of the piston 8. The projections 12 are advantageously provided with thickening 14 in direction of the upper part of the device.

The operation of the device shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 is the next. To distribute the first half-dose, the actuating element 5 is pushed in a direction about perpendicular to the axial direction, and the inclined planes 6 cooperate with the pair of projections 7 to solicit axially the piston 8, sliding it upwards by ejecting the product. During this action, the second pair of projections 12 reaches the underside of the actuating element 5, at the cam surface 6, and by means of thickenings 14 and flexible arms 13, projections 12 slip under the actuating element 5 until they reach the position shown in Figure 2, which corresponds to the end of the distribution of the first half-dose. At this moment, when the pressure on the actuating element is released 5, it is returned to its rest position by means of recall elastic (not shown). While this is happening, the second pair of projection 12 is released and the elastic arms can elastically resume their initial position, in which the projections 12 are located in the same position that the pair of projections 7 before expulsion of the first half-dose. The device is now ready for the distribution of the second half-dose, what is achieved by exerting a radial thrust on the element The advantage of the device is obvious, namely that it is not necessary to perform any rotation of the actuating element 5 between the two half-doses. This implies that the two half-doses can be distributed successively in both nostrils with one hand.

The invention is however not limited to the device of the bidose type, and little also be applied to single-dose devices, in which a only dose should be expelled. In this case, the operation is similar to that described above, with the difference that there is only one projected pair of projections 7 on the piston 8, the projections 12 and the arms 13 being in this case useless, of same as the elastic return means.

FIGS. 5 to 7 show a second embodiment of FIG. the invention, in which the actuating element 5 is not slidably mounted at inside the body 1, but is pivotally mounted on said body 1. The operation of the device is relatively similar to that described previously, the cam surface shape 6 being of course adapted to the rotational movement effected by the actuating element 5. FIGS. 6 clearly show the rest position and the actuating position for a device of the single dose type.

Fig. 7 shows the above embodiment for a device of the bidose type, for which the operation is similar to that described previously, namely that a second pair of projections 12 is provided on the piston 8, said projections deviating when the actuating element 5 is actuated to expel the first half dose, and then returning to the position corresponding to the initial position of the first projections 7, for the expulsion of the second half-dose.

Advantageously, as shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the element actuating device is made in one piece with the body 1 and connected thereto by a material bridge which forms the pivot axis 20.

Advantageously, energy storage means can be provided on the actuating element 5 or on the body 1, for example under the form of a lug or the like. The angle of inclination of the inclined plane 6 can also be determined in such a way as to achieve a reduction of the force exerted by the actuating element on the piston or the reservoir.

As an alternative to the embodiments described above, the element Lateral actuation can also cooperate with the tank unit, which incorporates in this case the first and / or second projections. It is then the piston that is fixed relative to the device body and the tank that is moved axially by the lateral actuating element.

The invention thus provides a device of the bidose or single-dose type, which allows to distribute the product inside the nostril by keeping the device axially fixed inside the nostril at the time of expulsion of the product, no axial force being exerted on the device at this time. So, the actuation of the device is very easy for a third person, since there has no risk of hurting the patient. Finally, the device can be operated with one hand, which is a very important benefit, while guaranteeing a safe and reliable operation each time the device is operated.

Claims (12)

1. A fluid dispenser device comprising a body (1), a reservoir unit (3) comprising a reservoir containing one dose or two half-doses of fluid, a dispensing member such as a piston (8) mounted to move axially inside the reservoir (3) between a rest position and a dispensing position, and an actuating element (5) that is mounted to move between a rest position and an actuating position, said fluid dispenser device being characterized in that said actuating element (5) is disposed laterally, and has an end portion provided with a cam surface (6) which co-operates with said dispensing member (8) or said reservoir unit (3), said actuating element (5) being moved in a direction that is different from, and in particular substantially perpendicular to, the axial direction in which the dispensing member (8) moves relative to the reservoir.
2. A device according to claim 1, in which the lateral actuating element (5) is mounted to slide in said body (1) and moves in translation.
3. A device according to claim 1, in which said lateral actuating element (5) is mounted to pivot on said body (1), and moves in rotation about a pivot pin (20).
4. A device according to any preceding claim, in which the reservoir contains a single dose of fluid, the dispensing member (8) or the reservoir unit (3) being provided with at least one projection (7) co-operating with said cam surface (6) of said actuating element (5).
5. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the reservoir (3) contains two half-doses of fluid, the device being provided with dose-splitting means.
6. A device according to claim 5, in which the actuating element (5) is provided with resilient return means which return it to its rest position after the first half-dose has been delivered, and the dose-splitting means are implemented such that the second half-dose is delivered when the actuating element (5) is moved into its actuating position again.
7. A device according to claim 5 or claim 6, in which the dispensing member (8) or the reservoir unit (3) is provided with at least two projections (7, 12) that are offset axially, at least a first projection (7) co-operating with the cam surface (6) to deliver the first half-dose, and at least a second projection (12) co-operating with the cam surface (6) for delivering the second half-dose.
8. A device according to claim 7, in which said at least one second projection (12) is provided on a resilient arm (13) secured to or integral with the dispensing member (8) or the reservoir unit (3), said arm (13) moving out of the way when the actuating element (5) co-operates with said at least one projection (7) for delivering the first half-dose, and returning resiliently to its initial position when the actuating element (5) is returned to its rest position by the resilient return means, after the first half-dose has been delivered, so that said at least one second projection (12) co-operates with the cam surface (6) of said actuating element (5) when said actuating element is moved again into its actuating position for delivering the second half-dose.
9. A device according to any preceding claim, in which said cam surface (6) of the actuating element (5) is a sloping surface transforming the substantially radial movement of the actuating element (5) into an axial movement of the dispensing member (8) or of the reservoir unit (3).
10. A device according to claim 3, in which said actuating element (5) is made integrally with said body (1), a bridge of flexible material (20) forming the pivot pin.
11. A device according to any preceding claim, in which the reservoir unit (3) is fixed relative to said body (1), said actuating element (5) co-operating with said dispensing member (8).
12. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, in which the dispensing member (8) is fixed relative to said body (1), said actuating element (5) co-operating with said reservoir unit (3).

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