GB2388032A

GB2388032A - Medical Agent Delivery

Info

Publication number: GB2388032A
Application number: GB0210020A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Keith Allman
Original assignee: ROYAL DEVON AND EXETER HEALTHC
Current assignee: ROYAL DEVON AND EXETER HEALTHC
Priority date: 2002-05-01
Filing date: 2002-05-01
Publication date: 2003-11-05
Also published as: GB0210020D0

Abstract

The present invention relates to the field of drug delivery, and in particular relates to the delivery of an agent through the skin of a patient by means of a needle. A problem for hospitals is the administrative and cost burden of providing this application of local anaesthetic. A nurse will have to obtain a fine needle, the syringe body and a vial of anaesthetic. The anaesthetic must be kept in a separate location as it is a drug. Hence providing a dose of local anaesthetic for a cannula insertion requires access to components in at least two distinct locations, as well as the assembly of three components to arrive at an anaesthetic-loaded syringe. It is an object of the present invention to provide a simplified agent delivery system which overcomes the problems outlined above, as well as providing a new agent delivery system which has wide application for the delivery of single doses of agent. According to the present invention there is provided a device for delivering liquid agent through a body surface, comprising a manually squeezable reservoir 11 for the liquid agent, and a hollow needle 12 in fluid communication with the reservoir, whereby on squeezing of the reservoir, agent may be ejected from the reservoir through the needle.

Description

( 2388032

MEDICAL AGENT DELIVERY

The present invention relates to the field of drug delivery, and in particular

relates to the delivery of an agent through the skin of a patient by means of a needle. It is well known to use a syrmge for the delivery of drugs through the skin or a mucosal surface of a patient. A syringe comprises a piston compartment into which may be drawn a hound agent to be delivered. and a hollow needle 10 through which the drug is injected by depressing of the piston.

A patient undergoing medical treatment may be provided with an intravenous drip for the continuous delivery of agents. These may be analgesics' hydration fluids or nutrients as well as drugs for treatment of particular conditions. A 15 drip system typically includes a reservoir of the liquid agent to be delivered, in the form of a bag with a delivery tube leading from a lower end thereof. The bag is hung from a height above the patient in order to provide a gravity feed effect. A distal end of the delivery tube Is attached to a cannula which is inserted through the skin of the patient and into a vein for agent delivery to the 0 bloodstream.

( The cannula is typically of relatively large diameter as compared to needles of hypodermic syringes used tor agent dehvery. Because of this. insertion of the cannula into the vem can be painful for the patient. Hence it is common practice to precede the fitting of a cannula with the administration of a dose of s local anesthetic to the area in which the cannula Is to be inserted. For this purpose a disposable hypodermic syringe Is used along with a suitable dose of anaesthetic. The anaesthetc may be provided from a single dose glass vial having a breakable nib portion. Breaking of the nib allows mserton ot the syringe needle into the vial for uptake ot anaesthetic. The anaesthetc Is then 10 Injected into the desired of the patient e.g. the arm. A fine needle is used to mnmise the pain of introducing the anaesthetic.

A problem for hospitals Is the administrative and cost burden of providing this application of local anaesthetc. A nurse will have to obtain a fine needle the 15 synuge body and a vial of anaesthetic. The anaesthetic must be kept in a separate location as it Is a drug. Hence providing a dose of local anaesthetic for a cannula mserton requires access to components m at least two distinct locations as well as the assembly of three components to arrive at an anaesthetic-loaded syringe.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a simplified agent delivery system which overcomes the problems outlined above. as well as providing a new agent delivery system which has wide application for the delivery of single doses of agent.

s According to the present invention there is provided a device for delivering liquid agent through a body surface composing a manually squeezable reservoir for the liquid agent and a hollow needle m fluid communication with the reservoir' whereby on squeezing of the reservoir agent may be trom the 10 reservoir ejected through the needle.

In use the reservoir must be full or substantially full' of agent in order to ensure that a squeeze of the reservoir ejects liquid.

15 The reservoir may be pre-loaded with agent. In this way the requirement for a separate drug and device locations In the prior art may be avoided. In this case

the whole device may be stored as a drug in a single location.

In a preferred embodiment the agent is a local anaesthetic of sufficient dose to 0 provide pain relief for the insertion of a cannula. However it is within the

scope of the invention for the agent to be any medically acceptable agent or drug. The agent is preferably provided in sufficient quantity for a single dose of the agent.

5 The squeezable reservoir may comprise a chamber formed from resilient material. The chamber may be formed with a needle-engaging exit aperture, and the needle is provided with a corresponding chamber engaging collar portion. 10 Preferably the resilient material is a clear plastics matenal, so that the liquid content is visible.

In a preferred configuration, the chamber has the general t'orrn of a frusto-cone pinched at a wide end thereof to form an elongate seam which defines a join 15 between two side walls of the chamber.

Typically the device is provided hermetically sealed in packaging.

In another aspect of the mventon the device Is provided in a single package in 90 disassembled form, with the needle detached from the reservoir.

In yet another aspect of the invention the device is provided packaged and pre-assembled and loaded with agent so as to function as a unitary disposable single-use device.

5 Following is a description by way of example only and with reference to the

figure of the drawings of one method of putting the invention into effect.

In the drawings: lo Figure 1 is a side view of a device according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a top view of the device.

Figure 3 is a side view of a protective cap for the needle of the device.

A device according to the Invention is shown generally as 10 in figure 1. The device comprises an agent reservoir 11 and a hypodermic needle 12. The reservoir comprises a chamber having the general form of frusto-cone, pinched at a wide end thereof to form an elongate seam 13. The seam defines top and 20 bottom side walls 14,15 of the device. The chamber shape and dimensions are

known and readily available as "moms" used in the delivery of eye anaesthetic (with no suggestion however of the use of an associated needle).

The chamber is formed from a resilient clear plastics polymer material, such as polyethylene terephthalate or the like.

The needle has a conventional tubular form with an oblique slice at one end 16 to form a skin piercing sharp powt. The other end of the needle is provided with an annular collar 17. The collar Is formed from plastics material and provides a recess which accommodates a narrow end 18 of the reservoir 10 chamber 11. The narrow end is formed as a tubular spigot (not shown) which engages with the interior of the annular collar to join the needle and chamber.

The engagement may for example be a simple friction tit, a screw threaded fit, an adhesive Join or a snap engagement. The tubular spigot provides fluid communication with the bore of the needle for delivery of agent.

The chamber is loaded with a liquid agent (not shown). In the present embodiment the agent is a local anaesthetc. The liquid substantially fills the chamber so that on manual squeezing of top and bottom side walls, between the thumb and index finger of the healthcare worker, agent is forced out of the 20 reservoir and through the needle. In use the needle is revealed by removal of

the tubular end cap 20 shown in figure 3. The needle is first inserted into the skin of the patient and then the chamber squeezed to inject fluid. The device may be discarded after use, preferable with the end cap 20 re-attached for safe disposal.

Claims

Claims

1. A device for delivering liquid agent through a body surface. comprising a manually squeezable reservoir for the liquid agent, and a hollow needle in fluid 5 communication with the reservoir, whereby on squeezing of the reservoir, agent may be ejected from the reservoir through the needle.

2. A device as claimed m claim 1 wherein the reservoir is pre-loaded with agent. 3. A device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the agent is a local anaesthetic.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3 wherem the dose is sufficient to provide pain relief for the insertion of an intravenous cannula m the human body.

5. A device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the squeezable reservoir comprises a chamber formed from resilient material.

6. A device as claimed in claim 5 wherein the chamber is formed with a 20 needle-engaging exit aperture, and the needle is provided with a corresponding

chamber engaging collar portion.

7. A device as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6 wherem the resilient material is a clear plastics material.

s 8. A device as claimed in any of claims 5 to 7 wherein the chamber has the general form of a frusto-cone pinched at a wide end thereof to form an elongate seam which defines a join between two side walls of the chamber.

10 9. A device as claimed in any preceding claim and hermetically sealed in packaging. 10. A package composing a device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the device is provided in disassembled form. with the needle detached from the 15 reservoir.

11. A package comprising a device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 9 wherein the reservoir is loaded with a liquid agent.

20 12. A package as claimed in claim 11 wherein the agent is a local anaesthetic.

13. A package comprising a device as claimed m any of claims I to 9 wherein the device is assembled and loaded with agent to provide a unitary disposable single-use liquid agent delivery device.

5 14. A device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the figures of the drawings.