Self-puncturing liquid drug cartridges and associated dispenser
Inventors
Stedman, Benjamin • Fink, Jim • Molloy, Lisa
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11285275-B2
Publication Date
2022-03-29
Expiration Date
Abstract
Self-puncturing liquid drug cartridges and an associated inhaler are used to deliver one or more separate doses of an aerosolized liquid drug. A cartridge includes a needle assembly coupled to a drug container. The needle assembly includes a hollow needle and is reconfigurable from a first configuration to a second configuration upon insertion of the cartridge into the inhaler. In the first configuration, the hollow needle does not extend into the container. In the second configuration, the hollow needle extends into the container. The inhaler includes an aerosol generator that includes a vibratable membrane that aerosolizes liquid drug ejected from the cartridge for inhalation by a patient.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a self-puncturing liquid drug cartridge in which a needle assembly is reconfigurable between a first configuration and a second configuration. In the first configuration, the hollow needle does not extend through the septum, and in the second configuration, the hollow needle extends through the septum. A cap is coupled to the first end of the container and the hollow needle is mounted to the guide element, enabling reconfiguration during relative translation within the guide element receptacle.
The needle assembly reconfiguration is achieved by sliding translation of the cap and a portion of the container relative to the guide element in the guide element receptacle. This translation moves the needle assembly from the first configuration to the second configuration, establishing a fluid path through the septum for dispensing the liquid drug. The needle assembly includes structural elements arranged to guide and position the cap and the container portion during the reconfiguration.
In an aerosolization system, the cartridge is combined with an inhaler in which the needle assembly is reconfigured from the first configuration to the second configuration during insertion of the liquid drug cartridge into a housing receptacle. The inhaler includes a vibratable membrane aerosol generator driven by a piezoelectric element, and an actuator configured to reposition a piston relative to the container to dispense a dosage of the liquid drug via the hollow needle to the rear face of the vibratable membrane.
Claims Coverage
The partial content identifies two independent claims: a liquid drug cartridge claim and an aerosolization system claim. Across these claims, the main inventive features include the reconfigurable hollow needle with cap/guide-element sliding translation for self-puncturing through a septum, and the piston/actuator-based selective ejection of a dosage to a vibratable membrane aerosol generator with insertion-triggered needle reconfiguration.
Reconfigurable needle assembly between septum-sealing and septum-puncturing configurations
A needle assembly is reconfigurable between a first configuration in which a hollow needle does not extend through a septum and a second configuration in which the hollow needle extends through the septum.
Cap coupled to the container end and hollow needle mounted to a guide element
A cap is coupled to the first end of a container, and the hollow needle is mounted to a guide element.
Guide element receptacle enabling sliding translation to reconfigure the needle assembly
A guide element defines a guide element receptacle in which the cap and a portion of the container are slidingly disposed in the first configuration for translation relative to the guide element to reconfigure the needle assembly from the first configuration to the second configuration.
Repositionable piston for selective ejection via the hollow needle
A piston is repositionable relative to a container so as to selectively eject a volume of the liquid drug from the container via the hollow needle.
Insertion-triggered needle assembly reconfiguration within an inhaler housing receptacle
A housing receptacle is configured to at least partially receive the liquid drug cartridge and interface with the needle assembly such that the needle assembly is reconfigured from the first configuration to the second configuration during an insertion of the liquid drug cartridge into the housing receptacle.
Vibratable membrane aerosol generator driven by a piezoelectric element
An aerosol generator disposed in the housing comprises a vibratable membrane and a piezoelectric element used to vibrate the vibratable membrane.
Actuator repositioning the piston to dispense a dosage to the rear face of the vibratable membrane
An actuator is configured to reposition the piston relative to the container to dispense a dosage of the liquid drug via the hollow needle to the rear face of the vibratable membrane.
Claim coverage emphasizes a cartridge needle assembly that is moved between configurations relative to a septum using cap/guide-element receptacle sliding translation, and an aerosolization system in which insertion of the cartridge reconfigures the needle and an actuator repositions a piston to dispense a dosage to a vibratable membrane aerosol generator.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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