Spray nozzle chip and a medicament delivery device comprising the same
Inventors
Roxhed, Niclas • Last, Torben • Stemme, Göran
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12343467-B2
Publication Date
2025-07-01
Expiration Date
Abstract
A spray nozzle chip comprising: a first layer provided with a first layer orifice, and a mechanically flexible nozzle layer provided with a nozzle orifice, wherein the first layer has a valve seat arranged aligned with the nozzle orifice, wherein the spray nozzle chip has a valve functionality obtained by movement of the nozzle layer relative to the valve seat due to pressure changes, and wherein the nozzle layer is arranged at a distance from the valve seat when the nozzle layer is in a default non-pressurised state, whereby a gap with a gap length (L) is formed between the nozzle layer and the valve seat, wherein the gap length (L) is smaller than a dimension of a specific bacterial type, to thereby seal against bacterial ingrowth through the nozzle orifice of the specific bacterial type.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a microjet spray nozzle chip having a first layer with a first layer orifice and a mechanically flexible nozzle layer with a nozzle orifice, where the first layer has a valve seat arranged to be aligned with the nozzle orifice. Valve functionality is obtained by movement of the nozzle layer relative to the valve seat due to pressure changes, while the nozzle layer is arranged at a distance from the valve seat in a default non-pressurised state. In this default non-pressurised state a gap with a gap length (L) is formed between the nozzle layer and the valve seat.
The gap length (L) is configured such that sealing is provided against bacterial ingrowth through the nozzle orifice by forming the nanoscale gap in the default non-pressurised state. Embodiments include a valve seat intermediate layer between the nozzle layer and the valve seat and an intermediate layer connecting the first layer and the nozzle layer, wherein the valve seat intermediate layer is thicker than the intermediate layer. The valve seat intermediate layer comprises a bonding layer, with the bonding layer comprising Parylene and being configured to rupture when a liquid product is pressurised for a first delivery of an aerosol through the spray nozzle chip.
Further embodiments include optional intermediate/spacer layers and conformal coatings to tune the gap length (L), including a valve-seat intermediate layer and raised surfaces and/or rupture a hermetic bond upon first differential-pressure actuation. The nozzle layer can include a plurality of nozzle orifices positioned along a length of the nozzle layer. The microjet spray nozzle chip is described as integrated into a medicament delivery device, including an inhaler and an eye dispenser, for delivering an aerosol.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim is directed to a spray nozzle chip with valve functionality obtained by pressure-driven relative movement, in which a default non-pressurised nanoscale gap (L) is formed between a nozzle layer and an aligned valve seat to seal against bacterial ingrowth, and in which an intermediate valve-seat layer with a Parylene/Parylene-C bonding layer ruptures upon first pressurised delivery of an aerosol. Dependent claims further refine materials, geometry, and multi-orifice configurations and expand use into a medicament delivery device context.
Pressure-driven nozzle-layer valve functionality with default non-pressurised gap
A spray nozzle chip in which the valve seat is arranged to be aligned with the nozzle orifice, the spray nozzle chip has a valve functionality obtained by movement of the nozzle layer relative to the valve seat due to pressure changes, and the nozzle layer is arranged at a distance from the valve seat in a default non-pressurised state to form a gap with a gap length (L) between the nozzle layer and the valve seat.
Valve seat intermediate layer and thicker intermediate connection with rupture of Parylene bonding layer
The spray nozzle chip includes a valve seat intermediate layer between the nozzle layer and the valve seat, an intermediate layer connecting the first layer and the nozzle layer such that the valve seat intermediate layer is thicker than the intermediate layer, and where the valve seat intermediate layer comprises a bonding layer configured to rupture when a liquid product is pressurised for a first delivery of an aerosol through the spray nozzle chip.
Parylene or Parylene-C bonding layer
The bonding layer of the valve seat intermediate layer is configured to comprise Parylene, including embodiments where the bonding layer comprises Parylene C.
Nanoscale gap length configured for sealing against bacterial ingrowth
The gap with gap length (L) is configured such that sealing against bacterial ingrowth is provided through the nozzle orifice, with an explicit gap-length range of 0.5 nm to 300 nm described in a dependent claim.
Nozzle-layer operability dependent only on width (w) with defined outer-wall distances
A spray nozzle chip having short and long side outer walls with a valve seat between them, where the nozzle layer width (w) is set by the distance between the long side outer walls and nozzle-layer length is set by the distance between the short side outer walls, and operability depends only on the width (w).
Multiple nozzle orifices along nozzle-layer length
A spray nozzle chip in which the nozzle layer includes a plurality of nozzle orifices positioned along a length of the nozzle layer.
Integration into a medicament delivery device
A medicament delivery device including the spray nozzle chip as defined in the independent claim.
Across the independent claim and key dependent refinements, the inventive coverage centers on aligning a valve seat with a nozzle orifice, using pressure changes to move a mechanically flexible nozzle layer, maintaining a default non-pressurised nanoscale gap (L) to seal against bacterial ingrowth, and using a valve seat intermediate layer with a Parylene/Parylene-C bonding layer that ruptures upon first pressurised delivery of an aerosol. Additional claim coverage specifies a bonding-layer material, a nanoscale gap-length range, geometry/operability dependence on width (w), multi-orifice nozzle layers, and integration into a medicament delivery device.
Stated Advantages
Sealing against bacterial ingrowth through the nozzle orifice in the default non-pressurised state.
Enables first delivery of an aerosol through the spray nozzle chip by rupturing a bonding layer when a liquid product is pressurised.
Documented Applications
A medicament delivery device, including an inhaler.
A medicament delivery device, including an eye dispenser.
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