EP1837083A1 - Safety toe-cap and actuator equipped with such a toe-cap - Google Patents

Abstract

The cap (4) has a spraying orifice (7) whose external end includes a tapered shape or tapered shape part e.g. frustoconical part, with point directed towards a direction of a spray. An external envelope of the tapered part has a groove (5) of depth sufficient to constitute an outlet channel for fluid when the cap is inserted in an animal or human physiological channel as an auditory conduit of a mammal.

Description

The present invention relates to a new type of safety tip, in particular ear and a push button provided with a cannula and such a tip.

It is known to distribute many care products or hygiene in spray form. For this purpose, manual vaporizers are frequently used. The product to be administered is often a liquid medium frequently containing an active substance. It is generally present as a solution or suspension that can be pressurized through a spray nozzle installed in a nozzle by user pressure on a control head.

Generally, the spray nozzle is placed on the control head, which is itself mounted on a dispenser.

The spray nozzle usually comprises a spray cap pierced by a single spray orifice. The spray orifice is fed with the product to be administered which passes therethrough to escape under pressure. The spray cap is often a patch, which serves or contributes to the dispersion of the liquid to spray fine droplets. The nozzle is frequently placed at the end of an elongate tube or cannula, especially when a locally accurate administration is desired.

This pressure can be a problem for example when it is desired to administer the product in a physiological conduit such as the auditory canal of the human. If the tip is introduced into the ear canal and is applied against the inner wall of the duct, the pressure can indeed damage the eardrum because the tip closes the duct and trapped air and the injected product or the air moved can not escape.

Evacuation channels have therefore been provided. For this purpose, a cylindrical or slightly conical tip of limited diameter, smaller than that of the auditory canal, was used. A conical piece was installed around it, the outer surface of which was that of a cone with a truncated point and internally provided with channels or grooves. The outer surface of the conical part is plate completely against the inner wall of the ear canal. The evacuation of the air (or excess liquid) was therefore effected between the outer surface of the conical piece and the tip.

Such a complex tip includes the flasks used for packaging products for ear hygiene, such as the one sold under the brand AUDISPRAY ^® , since 1995.

But these tips are easily removable to help their maintenance, which presents the risk that the user removes and uses a push button without protection against the risk of overpressure.

In addition, it is necessary to manufacture on the one hand a push button and on the other hand the end piece and assemble them which represents a loss in terms of cost and time.

In addition, careful washing of the evacuation channels is important. Indeed, in addition to the hygienic aspects, the channels can be closed by organic compounds or the drying of the compounds in suspension or solution, and if one is not careful, a spray could for example cause damage to the eardrum. However, the washing of the evacuation channels requires long and delicate operations since the evacuation channels are relatively thin and installed in the mouthpiece. One solution is to remove the conical piece to clean it more easily and for example access the grooves which, pressed against the cylindrical or slightly conical tip, constitute the evacuation channels but the size of the tip is such that the operation is nevertheless delicate and it is imperative to put the tip in place for a new use.

WO 95/13105 describes an adapter connecting a vial pump to secure the use of sterile products. At its end, the adapter comprises a screwing adjustment end-piece provided at its periphery with ribs enabling the fingers not to slide when it is desired to screw or unscrew the tip to adjust the type of spray. A schematic drawing shows multiple veins and very shallow.

It would therefore be desirable to have ear tips including ear, among others safe, easy to clean, strong and easy and inexpensive to manufacture.

But after long research the plaintiff has developed simple tips and giving satisfaction.

This is why the present application relates to a spray nozzle tip having a spray orifice, characterized in that its outer end has a generally tapered shape or comprises a generally tapered portion, for example truncated conical, whose point is directed towards the direction of the jet, the outer casing of the tapered portion having at least one groove of sufficient depth to form at least one discharge channel for a fluid, when said tip is inserted into a physiological channel animal or human preference as an auditory canal of a mammal.

The tip of the nozzle is usually placed at the end of an elongate tube. Its so-called outer end is the opposite to the elongate tube. The length of the tip is the distance between the elongated tube and its outer end.

In the present application and in what follows, the term "generally tapered shape" designates, for example, a frustoconical shape, possibly frustoconical slightly concave or slightly convex, or barrel-shaped, preferably a frustoconical shape and particularly frustoconical slightly convex.

In preferred conditions of implementation of the invention, the generally tapered shape relates to the entire length of the tip.

In other preferred conditions of implementation of the invention, only the outer end of the tip has the generally tapered shape. In particular, the tip has a cylindrical shape whose outer end is frustoconical.

The outer casing of the tapered portion comprises at least one groove of sufficient depth to form at least one discharge channel for a fluid, when said tip is inserted into a physiological channel of a mammal such as an auditory canal and preferably several grooves. It will advantageously comprise from 2 to 8 grooves, preferably from 3 to 6 grooves, in particular 4 or 5 grooves, in particular 4 grooves.

The grooves may have a constant width or not, the width being measured transversely on the outer surface of the nozzle. Preferably the grooves have a width decreasing towards the outer end of the tip.

Similarly, the grooves may have a constant depth or not. Preferably the grooves have a decreasing depth towards the outer end of the tip.

Advantageously, the grooves have a depth and a width decreasing toward the outer end of the tip.

In cross section, they may be square, rectangular or preferably round or rounded for reasons of hygiene and manufacturing. Round or round shape, they extend over a sector of about 60 to 120 °, preferably from 75 to 105 °, in particular 90 °. More included in the tip, they are less easy to clean but are not likely to be blocked by surrounding soft tissue during use. More open, they are easier to clean but are better adapted to less soft surrounding tissues, for example when the duct is delimited by a bone or cartilage simply covered with skin and a small thickness of tissue.

The grooves may be of several longitudinal shapes, for example an arcuate shape and in particular a straight shape.

The grooves preferably extend over the entire length of the tip but may also extend between the outer end of the tip and only part of the length, for example the middle of said tip.

Generally the shape of the outer limits of a nozzle according to the invention will be generally circular in cross section. However, given the malleability of the entrance of the physiological ducts as the auditory canal, the shape of the section may for example be oval.

The physiological channel can be for example a physiological channel of a mammal, for example a pet or a farm animal, preferably a human. The physiological channel is for example an anus, preferably an auditory canal. It is advantageously a human auditory canal.

The outer dimensions of a nozzle according to the invention will preferably be such that the tip may be partially introduced into the physiological conduit for which it is intended, but without being able to be fully inserted therein. The depth and shape of the grooves can be adapted to the flexibility of the tissues constituting the physiological channel.

For example, for a tip intended for a human ear canal for example generally conical, of cross section and therefore generally circular, the diameter of the tip may be 5 to 10 mm from the outer side, introduced first into the ear and 10 to 15 mm from the inner side, for a cone length of 5 mm to 20 mm.

In an alternative embodiment, a disk may be installed at the outer end of the nozzle as illustrated below in the figures.

The present application also relates to a method of manufacturing a tip above characterized in that one shapes a plastic material to make a tip above.

The tips object of the present invention have very interesting qualities. Installed on a control head mounted on a liquid product dispenser, they allow in particular the injected liquid, and possibly the air trapped in the ear cavity to escape, when the product is administered via the tip inserted partly into a physiological conduit as the ear canal, while the tip has partially closed the latter. The geometry of the grooves makes it possible to obtain this result.

In addition, the washing of the evacuation channels is very simple since the evacuation channels are accessible outside the mouthpiece. A visual check of cleanliness and hygiene is also easy.

In addition, an insert can be dangerous because it can be removed, thus depriving the push button of its protection against the risks due to pressure.

In addition a patch is useless to form evacuation channels. Its manufacture is simple since the control button and its tip can be made in one piece, being remembered that generally the lid is an insert, inserted into the nozzle. If a control button and its tip can be made in one piece, nothing prevents however to provide a tip according to the invention, hollow to be adapted on a cylindrical end for example and the benefit of external evacuation channels. Such a tip can indeed be autonomous, in that it can be for example fitted at the end of a cannula. But unlike those of the prior art, they can be arranged to be firmly installed, because their easy disassembly is not necessary for their maintenance.

Thus preferred is a tip characterized in that it is integral with a push button is that it is from the same workpiece, or it can be removed from the push button by a simple manual action, or with difficulty .

The possibility of making the tip in one piece allows the realization of deeper evacuation channels and generally allowing a better flow than a tip that would be attached to a cannula to form internal channels and yet solid. On the contrary, in the case of nozzles of the prior art, the realization of internal discharge channels of high flow leads, comparable external dimensions of the tip, to the realization of a cannula too small section so fragile .

These qualities are illustrated below in the experimental part. They justify the use of the tips described above, in the safe injection of fluids, especially liquids, into human or animal physiological conduits, particularly human.

This is why the subject of the present application is also a method for injecting a fluid, in particular a liquid, into a human or animal physiological conduit, particularly human, in which a mini injection device of a mouthpiece is used. -above.

This injection is performed especially for hygiene purposes.

The present application also relates to a push button with a cannula and a tip above. Such a push button is adaptable in particular on dosing pumps or valves for the administration of pharmaceutical products, hygiene or care.

The present application therefore finally relates to a box or box containing a sprayer optionally provided with a dosing pump or not, particularly for the administration of pharmaceutical products, hygiene or care, and a push button with a nozzle above.

The preferred conditions of implementation of the tips described above also apply to the other objects of the invention referred to above, in particular to fluid injection methods and push buttons equipped with a cannula and a tip above.

• la figure 1 représente une vue de profil d'un bouton poussoir muni d'un embout selon l'invention.
• la figure 2 représente une vue analogue, mais éclatée au niveau de l'embout.
• les figures 3 et 4 représentent une vue en coupe d'un embout selon l'invention.
• les figures 5 et 6 représentent des vues de profil d'un embout selon l'invention.
• la figure 7 représente une vue en perspective d'un embout selon l'invention.
• la figure 8 représente une vue en coupe transversale d'un embout selon l'invention et
• les figures 9 et 10 représentent une vue latérale en élévation d'un bouton poussoir muni d'un embout selon l'invention, vu de profil et vu de face.

The invention will be better understood with reference to the accompanying drawings in which

• Figure 1 shows a side view of a push button with a nozzle according to the invention.
• Figure 2 shows a similar view, but exploded at the tip.
• Figures 3 and 4 show a sectional view of a nozzle according to the invention.
• Figures 5 and 6 show side views of a tip according to the invention.
• Figure 7 shows a perspective view of a nozzle according to the invention.
• FIG. 8 represents a cross-sectional view of a mouthpiece according to the invention and
• Figures 9 and 10 show a side elevational view of a push button provided with a nozzle according to the invention, seen in profile and seen from the front.

In FIG. 1, there is a pushbutton 1 comprising a cylindrical sleeve 2, upwards of which is installed a cannula 3 traversed by an axial channel, at the external end (that is to say the end opposite the sleeve) of which a tip 4 is installed.

This tip 4 has a generally frustoconical shape (cylindroconic), the tip is directed outwards.

In the outer surface of the truncated cone, grooves 5 are formed longitudinally, which makes them directly accessible to a washing operation.

As best seen in Figure 2, the tip 4 is in the version shown here a hollow insert, installed at the swollen cylindrical end 3E of the cannula 3.

In FIGS. 3 and 4, elements similar to those observed in FIG. 2 can be observed.

The frustoconical shape of the tip 4 has however been modified. Thus, the tip of Figure 3 is in the form of ogive while that of Figure 4 has a barrel shape.

In FIG. 5, one can observe on the one hand the ogival shape of a tip model according to the invention, and on the other hand the longitudinal shape of the channels. These channels are narrow (about 0.5 mm wide) and have a constant width from the outer end to the inner end of the tip. In Figure 6, the grooves are not longitudinal but arcuate.

In Figure 7, one can observe a frustoconical tip with arcuate grooves, the outer end of which was installed a ring.

The tips shown in Figures 1 to 7 were reported tips.

FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 illustrate one-piece endpieces made in one piece, in particular with the cannula 3 but also the sleeve 2.

In FIG. 8, it is possible to observe the slightly convex, frustoconical, ogival shape of the illustrated nozzle model and the axial channel passing through the cannula 3. The spray nozzle here comprises an insert 6 installed in a spray chamber. The end of the nozzle comprises a spray orifice 7. In contrast to the tip, the axial channel runs at right angles and can be fitted on the stem of a valve or pump.

In Figures 9 and especially 10, we can see the broad four longitudinal grooves 5 serving as evacuation channels. The bottom of the grooves 5 is parallel to the axis of the cannula 3 as seen in Figure 9, but given the ogival shape of the tip 1, the depth of the grooves 5 increases when one is heading to the sleeve 2. Similarly, they widen. Such a configuration allows the excess fluid not to jet while spraying.

As can be seen in Figure 10, the outer surface of the tip 1 is about a circle in any plane perpendicular to its axis, which is also the axis of the cannula 3. In transverse view, the four grooves 5 are rounded, arcuate. They each extend over a sector of about 90 ° of arc.

Such a tip is extremely easy to clean, low cost and remarkable simplicity.

Claims (11)

A spraying nozzle tip (4) having a spray orifice (7), characterized in that its outer end has a generally tapered shape or comprises a generally tapered shape, for example a truncated conical portion, whose tip is directed towards the direction of the jet, the outer casing of the tapered portion having at least one groove (5) of sufficient depth to form a discharge channel for a fluid, when said tip is inserted into a physiological channel animal or human as a conduit auditory of a mammal. A mouthpiece according to claim 1, characterized in that it has a generally tapered shape. A mouthpiece according to claim 2, characterized in that the generally tapered shape relates to the entire length of the tip (4). An end piece according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises from 2 to 8 grooves (5). A nozzle according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the grooves (5) have a decreasing width towards the outer end of the tip (4). A tip according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the grooves (5) have a decreasing depth towards the outer end of the tip (4). A nozzle according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that , in cross section, the grooves (5) extend over a sector of 75 to 105 °. A mouthpiece according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it has a generally conical shape with a diameter of 5 to 10 mm on the outer side, and 10 to 15 mm on the inner side, for a length of the cone of 5 mm to 20 mm. A nozzle according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the groove or grooves (5) extends (ent) over the entire length of the nozzle (4). A pushbutton provided with a cannula (3) and a nozzle (4) as defined in one of claims 1 to 9. A push button according to claim 1, characterized in that it is monobloc, that is to say that the tip (4) is from the same piece of manufacture as said push button (1).

Images