Medical devices for drug administration

Abstract

The present invention relates to a medical device comprising a housing defining a cavity for containing a medicament; a lumen for receiving pressurized gas; and a barrier positioned between the cavity and the lumen, the barrier comprising at least one opening for storing the medicament, wherein rotation of the barrier relative to the lumen establishes fluid communication between the at least one opening and the lumen for delivering the medicament from the at least one opening to the lumen.

Description

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62 / 942,988, filed on December 3, 2019, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Technical Field

[0003] The present disclosure generally relates to medical devices for administering a medicament. More particularly, at least some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a medical device including a system actuatable to administer a dose of a medicament into a lumen. Background Art

[0004] During certain medical procedures, it may be necessary to stop or minimize bleeding inside the body. For example, endoscopic medical procedures may require hemostasis of bleeding tissue within the gastrointestinal tract, such as the esophagus, stomach, or intestines.

[0005] During endoscopic surgery, a user inserts the sheath of an endoscope into a patient's body cavity. The user controls the endoscope using its handle during the procedure. Tools are passed through the endoscope's working channel, for example via a port in the handle, to deliver treatment to a surgical site near the distal end of the endoscope. The surgical site is located remote from the operator.

[0006] To achieve hemostasis at a remote site, a hemostatic agent can be delivered via a device that is inserted into the working channel of an endoscope. For example, drug delivery can be achieved via a mechanical system. However, such systems may require multiple steps or actuations to achieve delivery, which may not achieve the desired rate of drug delivery or the desired dose of the drug, may cause the drug to block certain parts of the delivery device, may result in inconsistent drug doses, or may result in the drug not reaching the treatment site deep within the gastrointestinal tract. The present disclosure may address one or more of these and other issues with the prior art. Summary of the Invention

[0007] According to one example, a medical device may include a housing defining a cavity for containing a medicament; a lumen for receiving a pressurized gas; and a barrier positioned between the cavity and the lumen, the barrier comprising at least one opening for storing the medicament, wherein rotation of the barrier relative to the lumen establishes fluid communication between the at least one opening and the lumen for delivering the medicament from the at least one opening to the lumen. The bottom end of the cavity may include a wall adjacent to the barrier, wherein the wall includes a wall opening, wherein the wall opening is located on an area of ​​the wall such that the wall opening is aligned with the at least one opening upon rotation of the barrier. Alignment of the wall opening with the at least one opening may allow the medicament to enter the at least one opening from the housing. The housing may be rotatable relative to the barrier and / or the lumen. The barrier may be rotatable relative to the housing. The medicament may be retained in the at least one opening until fluid communication between the at least one opening and the lumen is established. The housing may feed the medicament into the at least one opening via gravity. The at least one opening for storing the medicament may feed the medicament into the lumen via gravity when fluid communication between the at least one opening and the lumen is established.

[0008] In another example, the at least one opening for storing the medication may be a plurality of openings arranged radially around the barrier. The plurality of openings may be arranged symmetrically. Each of the plurality of openings may be of a different size. When fluid communication is established between one of the plurality of openings and the lumen, another of the plurality of openings is not in fluid communication with the lumen.

[0009] In another example, the medical device may further include an intermediate barrier, wherein the intermediate barrier is positioned between the barrier and the lumen, and wherein the intermediate barrier includes a central opening positioned to align with one of the plurality of openings upon rotation of the barrier. The intermediate barrier may be rotatable relative to the barrier. The lumen may be a flexible conduit capable of traversing a tortuous body cavity and further including a source of pressurized gas.

[0010] According to one example, a medical device may include a cartridge, a lumen, a channel, and a plunger; the cartridge including a plurality of chambers, each of which stores a pre-filled amount of a medicament; the lumen for receiving pressurized gas; the channel establishing fluid communication between a first end of the cartridge and the lumen for transferring the medicament from the cartridge to the lumen; the plunger coupled to a second end of the cartridge such that the plunger is aligned with one of the plurality of chambers, wherein the plunger is longitudinally advanced into the one chamber, thereby pushing the pre-filled amount of medicament toward the channel, and wherein the cartridge is rotatable relative to the plunger to align the plunger with another of the plurality of chambers. The plunger may be coupled to the cartridge such that the plunger spring is biased to a position outside the one chamber and aligned with the one chamber. The medical device may also include a trigger, the trigger comprising a lever and a connecting rod, the lever coupled to the connecting rod via a first articulated joint, the connecting rod coupled to the plunger via a second articulated joint.

[0011] According to one example, a method for administering a medicament via a medical device may include positioning a medical device comprising a housing, a barrier, and a lumen such that a distal end of the lumen is adjacent to a target site, wherein the barrier is positioned between the housing and the lumen, the housing containing the medicament, and the barrier comprising at least one opening for storing the medicament; providing pressurized gas to the lumen; and rotating the barrier relative to the lumen to establish fluid communication between the at least one opening and the lumen to deliver the medicament from the at least one opening to the lumen. The method may also include rotating the barrier relative to the lumen such that, after a dose of the medicament is delivered from the at least one opening to the lumen, the at least one opening and the lumen are no longer in fluid communication. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate various exemplary embodiments and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the disclosed embodiments.

[0013] Figure 1A is a side view of a portion of a shaft of an endoscope including a medical device according to one embodiment;

[0014] Figures 1B to 1C for Figure 1A A cross-sectional view of a medical device;

[0015] Figure 2A is a cross-sectional view of a medical device according to another embodiment;

[0016] Figure 2B for Figure 2A a top view of the barrier member;

[0017] Figure 3A is a cross-sectional view of a medical device according to another embodiment;

[0018] Figure 3B for Figure 3A The barrier is Figure 3A A top perspective view of the middle barrier;

[0019] Figure 4A is a side view of a medical device according to another embodiment;

[0020] Figure 4B for Figure 4A Top view of the barrel. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] Reference will now be made in detail to various aspects of the present disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same or similar reference numerals will be used in the drawings to refer to the same or similar parts. When the device is introduced into a subject (e.g., a patient), the term "distal" refers to the portion farthest from the user. In contrast, when the device is placed on the subject, the term "proximal" refers to the portion closest to the user.

[0022] The foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and do not limit the claimed features. As used herein, the terms "comprises," "comprising," "having," "including," or other variations thereof are intended to encompass a non-exclusive inclusion such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that includes a list of elements includes not only those elements but may also include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. In this disclosure, relative terms such as, for example, "about," "substantially," "generally," and "approximately" are used to indicate a possible variation of ±10% of a specified value or characteristic.

[0023] The present disclosure may address one or more limitations in the prior art. However, the scope of the present disclosure is limited by the appended claims and does not address specific problems. The present disclosure relates to a medical device configured to administer a dose of a medicament, such as a therapeutic agent, or the like. The medicament may be in any suitable form, including a powder form that can be delivered to a stream of a propellant / pressurized gas, such as CO2, nitrogen, air, or the like. The medical device allows the medicament to be administered in a metered dose, which allows for greater consistency in the amount of medicament that reaches the target site.

[0024] refer to Figure 1A, shows a medical system 5, such as an endoscope, according to one embodiment. Medical system 5 includes a flexible shaft 50 (e.g., a catheter) and a handle 52 connected to the proximal end of flexible shaft 50. Handle 52, or some other device used to actuate or control medical system 5 and any associated tool or device, includes first and second actuation devices 42, 43 that control the articulation of flexible shaft 50 and / or the articulated joint at the distal end of flexible shaft 50 in multiple directions. Devices 42, 43 may be, for example, rotatable knobs that rotate about their axes to push / pull an actuation element (not shown). The actuation element, such as a cable or wire suitable for medical procedures (e.g., medical-grade plastic or metal), extends distally from the proximal end of medical system 5 and is connected to flexible shaft 50 to control its movement. Alternatively or additionally, the user can operate the actuation element independently of handle 52. The distal ends of the actuation elements can extend through the flexible shaft 50 and terminate at an actuation joint and / or distal tip of the flexible shaft 50. For example, one or more actuation elements can be connected to the articulating joint, and actuation of the actuation elements can control movement of the actuation joint or distal end of the flexible shaft 50 in multiple directions.

[0025] In addition, one or more electrical cables (not shown) may extend from the proximal end of the endoscope 5 to the distal end of the flexible shaft 50 and may provide electrical control for imaging, lighting, and / or other electrical devices at the distal end of the flexible shaft 50, and may transmit imaging signals from the distal end of the flexible shaft 50 toward the proximal side for processing and / or display on a display. The handle 52 may also include ports 54, 46 for introducing and / or removing tools, fluids, or other materials from the patient. Port 54 may be used to introduce tools. Port 46 may be connected to the navel for the introduction of fluids, suction, and / or wiring of electronic components. For example, Figure 1A As shown, the port 54 receives a tube 100 that extends from the proximal end to the distal end of the flexible shaft 50 via the working channel 50 a of the shaft 50 .

[0026] like Figure 1A As shown, the tube 100 of the medical device 1 is attached to a pressurized gas source 56, such as CO2, which can be controlled by a user to turn on / off and adjust the rate at which the gas flows into the tube 100. The source 56 can be a gas cylinder or canister, a gas source supplied by a medical facility, or any other suitable source. The medical device 1 also includes a housing 10 and a barrier 11, which is located between the housing 10 and the tube 100. The housing 10 and the barrier 11 are coupled to a proximal portion of the tube 100 and are distal to the connection between the tube 100 and the source 56.

[0027] Figure 1B and Figure 1CShown in more detail Figure 1A An embodiment of a medical device 1, 1' in. As discussed above, the medical device 1 includes a housing 10, a tube (e.g., a catheter or sheath) 100, and a barrier 11; the housing 10 defines a cavity for containing the medicament 100; the tube 100 defines a lumen 100a for receiving pressurized gas (e.g., CO2) from a proximal end; and the barrier 11 is located between the cavity of the housing 10 and the lumen 100a. The shape or size of the housing 10 is not particularly limited and can be any suitable shape or size, including cylindrical. As shown by Figure 1B As indicated by the directional arrow in FIG, the barrier 11 is rotatable relative to the tube 100 and the lumen 100a, for example, about the central axis of the barrier 11. In other embodiments, the barrier 11 may be rotatable relative to both the tube 100 and the housing 10. In some other embodiments, the housing 10 may be rotatable relative to the barrier 11 and / or the tube 100. Rotation of the barrier 11 may be performed by any suitable action, for example, manually, or by mechanical, electrical, or pneumatic action.

[0028] The barrier 11 may be an annular, disc-shaped structure having an opening and a passage therethrough. For example, the barrier 11 includes a first opening 12a on a barrier surface (e.g., an upper surface) adjacent to the cavity of the housing 10 for receiving the medicament 1000 in a passage 14 that extends through the barrier 11. The barrier 11 also includes a second opening 12b on an opposite barrier surface (e.g., a bottom surface) adjacent to the tube 100 and the lumen 100a, from which the medicament 1000 can be dispensed into the lumen 100a. It should be noted that the size and shape of the first opening 12a and the second opening 12b are not particularly limited and may be of any suitable size or shape. The first opening 12a and the second opening 12b are located on opposite ends of the barrier 11, but are connected via a passage 14 that extends across the length and thickness of the barrier 11. Tube 100 also includes an opening 101 that may or may not align with second opening 12b of barrier 11, depending on the rotational position of barrier 11 relative to tube 100 and lumen 100a. Thus, rotation of barrier 11 relative to tube 100 establishes fluid communication between opening 12b and lumen 100a for delivery of medication 1000 from passageway 14 to lumen 100a. Housing 10 feeds medication 1000 toward opening 12a via gravity; and when second opening 12b and lumen opening 101 are aligned, passageway 14, which stores medication 1000, feeds medication 1000 toward lumen 100a via gravity. In other embodiments, medication 1000 may be delivered to opening 12a and / or lumen 100a via other suitable mechanisms. The barrier 11 can also be rotated such that the second opening 12b is misaligned with the opening 101 of the lumen 100a, thereby inhibiting the delivery of the medication 1000 from the passageway 14 to the lumen 100a. In this case, the passageway 14 receives and stores the medication 1000 until fluid communication between the opening 12b of the passageway 14 and the lumen 100a is established. It should be noted that the housing 10 is not in fluid communication with the lumen 100a in any rotational position of the barrier 11. Furthermore, in any embodiment prior to use, the passageway 14 can be empty of medication 1000.

[0029] In some embodiments, the bottom end of the cavity of the housing 10 may include a wall 105 adjacent to the barrier 11. The wall 105 may include an opening 105a that may or may not be aligned with the opening 12a of the barrier 11, depending on the rotational position of the barrier 11 relative to the housing 10. Thus, in such embodiments, the barrier 11 and / or the housing 10 may be rotated to align the opening 105a with the opening 12a of the barrier 11 to deliver the medicament 1000 from the housing 10 through the opening 12a to the passageway 14. This is shown in FIG. Figure 1B In the embodiment, the opening 105a of the wall 105 is aligned with the opening 12a of the barrier 11, thereby allowing the agent 1000 to enter the passage 14 from the housing 10. Figure 1C Shown from its Figure 1B The position of barrier 11 is rotated approximately 180° relative to housing 10; and as a result, opening 105a and opening 12a of wall 105 are misaligned, being located at opposite ends of each other. It should be understood that barrier 11 can be rotated to any degree to achieve alignment with opening 12a. As a result, opening 12a is sealed by wall 105, and medicament 1000 is no longer fed into opening 12a. It should be noted that when second opening 12b is not aligned with opening 101 of tube 100, opening 105a is aligned with opening 12a; and when second opening 12b is aligned with opening 101 of tube 100, opening 105a is not aligned with opening 12a. Therefore, passageway 14 can receive medicament 1000 before it is fed into lumen 100a. This allows the medical device 1 to administer a metered dose of the medicament 1000, i.e., the amount stored in the passageway 14, for each degree of rotation (e.g., 180°) of the barrier 11 and / or housing 10. Furthermore, in some other embodiments, the wall 105 and the tube 100 may each include multiple openings. It is noted that the passageway 14 can connect openings in the wall 105 and tube 100 that are 180° apart. However, this is undesirable; and in such embodiments, no opening in the wall 105 is 180° apart from any opening in the tube 100. Thus, at the same time, there may be no fluid communication between the passageway 14 and the openings in the wall 105 and tube 100. Instead, the fluid communication between the passageway 14 and the openings in the wall 105 and tube 100 is staggered, but not simultaneous. Such an embodiment would allow for continued rotation (clockwise and counterclockwise) of the barrier 11 relative to the housing 10 to cause the passageway 14 to receive the medicament 1000 after a certain number of degrees of rotation and subsequently dispense the medicament 1000 after a further number of degrees of rotation of the barrier 11 .

[0030] refer to Figures 1A to 1C, an example of how the medical device 1 may be used is discussed further below. A user may deliver the distal end of the tube 100 of the medical device 1 into the body of a subject, for example, via a natural orifice (such as the mouth or anus) and through a tortuous natural body cavity (such as the esophagus, stomach, colon, etc.) of the subject. The tube 100 may be delivered in any suitable manner, for example, through the working channel 50a of the endoscope 5 by inserting the distal end of the tube 100 into the orifice 54 of the endoscope 5. The user may direct / position the distal end of the tube 100 to the desired target site for administration of the medicament 1000. The user may then fill the housing 10 with the medicament 1000, if not already filled, and rotate the barrier 11 and / or the housing 10 relative to the tube 100 and lumen 100a so that the opening 105a is aligned with the opening 12a, thereby delivering the medicament 1000 into the passageway 14. As discussed above, when opening 105a is aligned with opening 12a, second opening 12b is not aligned with opening 101 of tube 100. Therefore, the medicament 1000 is received and stored by passageway 14. The user can then rotate barrier 11 to align opening 12b with opening 101 of tube 100, allowing all of the medicament 1000 stored in passageway 14 to be fed from passageway 14 into lumen 100a, thereby administering a metered dose of medicament 1000. At any time before opening 12b is aligned with opening 101, the user can turn on the pressurized gas source and supply pressurized gas until the metered dose of medicament 1000 reaches the target tissue site. Alternatively, after supplying medicament 1000 to lumen 100a, the user can begin supplying pressurized gas.

[0031] exist Figure 2A , another embodiment of a medical device 1' is shown. As with the embodiments discussed above, the medical device 1' comprises a housing 10', a tube (e.g., a catheter or sheath) 100, and a barrier 21; the housing 10' defines a cavity for containing the medicament 100; the tube 100 defines a lumen 100a for receiving pressurized gas (e.g., CO2) from the proximal end; and the barrier 21 is located between the cavity of the housing 10 and the lumen 100a. The shape or size of the housing 10' is also not particularly limited and may be of any suitable shape or size. As shown by Figure 2A As indicated by the directional arrows in FIG. , barrier 21 is also rotatable relative to tube 100 and lumen 100a. In other embodiments, barrier 21 may be rotatable relative to both tube 100 and housing 10'. In some other embodiments, housing 10' may be rotatable relative to barrier 21 and / or tube 100. Rotation of barrier 21 and housing 10' may also be actuated by any suitable action.

[0032] like Figure 2A and Figure 2BAs shown in both, the barrier 21 includes a plurality of openings of equal or approximately equal size (i.e., width or diameter), i.e., six openings 22a-22f, which are arranged radially symmetrically around the central rotation axis of the barrier 21. It is noted that the number of openings, the size of the openings, the shape of the openings, and the arrangement of the openings on the barrier 21 are not particularly limited and may be any suitable configuration. For example, in other embodiments, the barrier 21 may have four circular openings, each of which has a different diameter from one another. Each of the openings 22a-22f extends through the thickness of the barrier 21 and is configured to receive and store a predetermined or selected amount of the medicament 1000, depending on the size of the opening. Therefore, in some embodiments, the medicament 1000 is fed from the housing 10 into the openings 22a-22f via gravity until the openings are filled. It is noted that Figure 2A Half of the barrier 21 is shown in perspective to illustrate the locations of the openings 21a, 21b, 21c and 21d.

[0033] By rotating the barrier 21 relative to the tube 100 and lumen 100a, one of the openings 22a-22f can be aligned with the opening 101, thereby establishing fluid communication between the opening and the lumen 100a for gravity-assisted delivery of the medication 1000 from one opening to the lumen 100a. In some embodiments, the housing 10' may further include a seal 205; the seal 205 is positioned adjacent to the barrier 21, above the location of one of the openings 22a-22f, and directly above the opening 101 of the tube 100. Thus, as one of the openings 22a-22f is aligned with the opening 101 via rotation of the barrier 21, excess medication 1000 above the one opening is scraped away by the seal 205, and when the opening is aligned with the opening 101 of the tube 100, the one opening is sealed from receiving further medication 1000 from the housing 10'. This allows the medical device 1' to administer a metered dose of the medicament 1000, i.e., the amount stored in the openings 22a-22f, for each degree (e.g., 60°) of rotation of the barrier 21 and / or the housing 10'. Note that, due to this configuration, when fluid communication is established between one of the openings 22a-22f and the lumen 100a, no fluid communication is established between the remaining openings and the lumen 100a because the bottoms of the remaining openings are sealed by the tube 100.

[0034] like Figure 2B As shown, Figure 2BThe top view of the barrier 21 is shown, and the barrier 21 can also be rotated so that none of the openings 22a-22f are aligned with the opening 101 of the tube 100, thereby inhibiting the delivery of the medicament 1000 from any of the openings 22a-22f to the lumen 100a. In this case, a certain amount of medicament 1000 is stored in the openings 22a-22f until fluid communication between the openings and the lumen 100a is established.

[0035] refer to Figures 2A to 2B An example of how medical device 1' may be used is discussed further below. Similar to medical device 1, medical device 1' may be delivered into a subject's body and directed to a desired target site for administration of medication 1000 in the same manner. The user may then fill housing 10' with medication 1000, which will fill openings 22a-22f with medication 1000 if not already filled. The user may then rotate barrier 21 relative to tube 100 and lumen 100a so that one of openings 22a-22f is aligned with opening 101. This alignment causes seal 205 to scrape off excess medication 1000 above one opening, sealing the one opening from being fed any more medication 1000 from housing 10', and feeding the medication 1000 stored in that one opening into lumen 100a. As discussed above, when one opening is aligned with opening 101 of tube 100, the remaining openings 22a-22f are not aligned with opening 101 of tube 100. Thus, the medicament 1000 is stored in the remaining openings 22a-22f until each of the remaining openings is subsequently aligned with the opening 101 via rotation of the barrier 21. At any time before or during alignment of one of the openings 22a-22f with the opening 101, the user may turn on the pressurized gas source, such as in conjunction with Figures 1B to 1C In the described embodiment.

[0036] exist Figure 3A, another embodiment of a medical device 1'' is shown. Medical device 1'' is similar to medical device 1' and the differences between the two devices will be emphasized. Device 1'' may include any of the features of device 1' and operate in the same or substantially the same manner. Medical device 1'' includes a housing 10'', a barrier 41, and a lumen 100. In addition, housing 10'' may also include a seal 205, which is located adjacent to barrier 41, above one of the locations of openings 42a-42c, and directly above opening 101 of tube 100. However, unlike medical device 1', lumen 100a of medical device 1'' receives pressurized gas from a second lumen 102, which is connected to tube 100 at a point proximal to opening 101. Alternatively, medical device 1'' may receive pressurized gas from a proximal end of lumen 100a and may not have a second lumen 102. In at least some embodiments, the medical device 1'' further comprises an intermediate barrier 15 comprising an opening 16, the intermediate barrier 15 being located between the barrier 41 and the tube 100. Figure 3A As indicated by the directional arrows in FIG. , barrier 41 is rotatable relative to intermediate barrier 15, tube 100, and lumen 100a. In other embodiments, housing 10'' may also be rotatable relative to barrier 41, intermediate barrier 15, tube 100, and lumen 100a. Rotation of housing 10'' and barrier 41 may be actuated by any suitable action.

[0037] like Figure 3A and Figure 3B As shown in both, the barrier 41 includes three openings (i.e., 42a-42c) of different sizes (i.e., widths or diameters) that are radially arranged about the central axis of rotation of the barrier 41. The barrier 41 is similar to the barrier 21 (see FIG. Figure 2B ). The first opening 42a has the smallest width of the three openings, the second opening 42c has the largest width of the three openings, and the third opening 42b has a width between the first opening 42a and the second opening 42c. Therefore, each of the openings 42a-42c receives and stores a different amount or dose of the medicine 1000.

[0038] To help a user distinguish between the differently sized openings 42a-42c, the housing 10'" and / or barrier 41 may further include markings on its outer surface that indicate the positions of the openings 42a-42c relative to each other and relative to the openings 16 and 101. Thus, a user can rotate the barrier 41 and / or housing 10'" relative to the intermediate barrier 15, the tube 100, and the lumen 100a to select one of the openings 42a-42c based on the desired amount or dose of the medicament 1000.

[0039] like Figure 3Aand Figure 3B As shown in both figures, the intermediate barrier 15 includes an opening 16. The opening 16 can be aligned with the lumen opening 101 and also aligned with the openings 42a-42c, depending on the rotational position of the barrier 41 relative to the intermediate barrier 15. Figure 3B As shown, the width of the opening 16 is at least the same as the width of the largest opening of the barrier 41 (ie, the second opening 42 c ).

[0040] Any of the openings 42a-42c can be aligned with the intermediate opening 16 and the lumen opening 101 via rotation of the barrier 21. This alignment establishes fluid communication between one of the openings 42a-42c and the lumen 100a for gravity-assisted delivery of the medicament 1000 from one of the openings 42a-42c to the lumen 100a. Similar to the medical device 1', since one of the openings 42a-42c is aligned with the opening 16 of the intermediate barrier 15 and the opening 101 via rotation of the barrier 41, excess medicament 1000 above the one opening is scraped off by the seal 205, and the one opening is sealed from further receipt of medicament 1000 from the housing 10'". This allows the medical device 1'' to administer a metered dose of medicament 1000, i.e., the amount stored in the openings 42a-42c, for each degree of rotation of the barrier 41 (e.g., 120°). Due to such a configuration, when fluid communication is established between one of the openings 42a-42c and the lumen 100a, fluid communication is not established between the other remaining openings 42a-42c and the lumen 100a.

[0041] The barrier 41 can also be rotated so that none of the openings 42a-42c are aligned with the central opening 16 and the lumen opening 101, thereby inhibiting the delivery of the medicament 1000 from the housing 10'" to the lumen 100a. In this case, different amounts of the medicament 1000 are stored in the openings 42a-42c until fluid communication between the openings 42a-42c and the lumen 100a is established.

[0042] It is also noted that in some embodiments, the intermediate barrier 15 may also be rotatable relative to the housing 10'", the barrier 41, the tube 100 and the lumen 100a such that the opening 16 is also misaligned with any of the openings of the barrier 41 and / or the opening 101. This may be applicable to embodiments having a barrier having multiple openings. By being able to misalign the opening 16 with the opening 101, the user may select another opening 42a, 42b, 42c, etc. that is not adjacent to the currently aligned opening via rotation of the barrier 41, without having to inadvertently dispense a medicament 1000 stored in an opening adjacent to the currently aligned opening via the necessary degrees of rotation to select the other non-adjacent opening.

[0043] refer to Figures 3A to 3B, one example of how medical device 1'" may be used is discussed further below. Similar to medical devices 1 and 1', medical device 1'" may be delivered into a subject's body and may be directed to a desired target site for administration of medicament 1000 in the same manner. The user may then fill housing 10' with medicament 1000, if not already filled, and rotate barrier 41 relative to intermediate barrier 15, tube 100, and lumen 100a so that one of openings 42a-42c is aligned with openings 16 and 101. Such alignment causes the seal 205 to scrape off excess medication 1000 over one opening, seal the one opening from feeding any more medication 1000 from the housing 10'", and feed the medication 1000 stored in the one opening into the lumen 100a. As discussed above, when one opening is aligned with the opening 16 of the intermediate barrier 15 and the opening 101 of the tube 100, the remaining openings 42a-42c are not aligned with the openings 16 and 101. Thus, medication 1000 is stored within the remaining openings 42a-42c until each of the remaining openings is aligned with the openings 16 and 101 via rotation of the barrier 41. At any time before or during the alignment of one of the openings 42a-42c with the openings 16 and 101, the user can turn on the pressurized gas source, as in the previously described embodiments.

[0044] refer to Figure 4A , shows another embodiment of a medical device 1 ″. The medical device 1 ″ includes a trigger 18, a rotating barrel 31 including a plurality of chambers, a lumen 100 receiving pressurized gas from a proximal end, and a channel 14, which establishes fluid communication between the distal end of the barrel 31 and the lumen 100 for delivering a medicament 1000 from the barrel 31 to the lumen 100. Figure 4B As shown, the cartridge 31 includes a plurality of symmetrically arranged chambers, namely six chambers 32a - 32f of equal or substantially equal size, each chamber storing a pre-filled amount of medicament 1000 .

[0045] The trigger 18 includes a lever 18a and a connecting rod 18c. The lever 18a is coupled to the connecting rod 18c via an articulated joint 18b, and the connecting rod 18c is coupled to a plunger 18e via another articulated joint 18d. The distal portion of the plunger 18e is housed within the proximal portion of the barrel 31 and coupled to the barrel 31 in any suitable manner, such that the distal end of the plunger 18e faces one of the chambers 32a-32f, with which the plunger 18e is aligned. A spring 19 winds upward around the distal portion of the plunger 18e outside the barrel 31 until the stopper 17 is secured to the plunger 18e, thereby spring-biasing the plunger 18e in its aforementioned position facing one of the chambers 32a-32f. The spring 19 is not particularly limited and can be any suitable spring. Similarly, the stopper 17 can be made of any suitable material, such as rubber.

[0046] The trigger 18 is configured such that when the lever 18a is pulled proximally, the connecting rod 18c also pivots proximally relative to the plunger 18e via the hinge joint 18d. Such movement of the lever 18a and the connecting rod 18c causes the plunger 18e to be advanced longitudinally toward the cartridge 31 and into one of the chambers 32a-32f, thereby pushing the pre-filled amount of the medicament 1000 toward and through the passage 14, which extends downwardly to the tube 100, thereby feeding the medicament 1000 into the tube 100 via gravity. The longitudinal advancement of the plunger 18e can be actuated by any suitable mechanism, including but not limited to mechanical, electrical, or pneumatic mechanisms. The plunger 18e advances within the cartridge 31 and pushes one of the chambers 32a-32f upward until the spring 19 is fully compressed, thereby inhibiting any further advancement of the plunger 18e toward the cartridge 31. Once the lever 18 is released, the spring biased plunger 18e automatically returns to its initial position outside of and facing one of the chambers 32a-32f.

[0047] The cartridge 31 is rotatable relative to the plunger 18e so that any one of the chambers 32a-32f is aligned with the plunger 18e. In some embodiments, the cartridge 31 can be configured to automatically rotate or revolve after one of the chambers 32a-32f is emptied by the plunger 18e so that an adjacent chamber 32a-32f storing a pre-filled amount of the medicament 1000 is aligned with the plunger 18e.

[0048] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations may be made to the disclosed apparatus without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Other embodiments of the present disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. The specification and examples should be considered as exemplary only, with the true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the claims.

Claims

1. A medical device comprising: a housing defining a cavity for containing a medicament; a lumen for receiving pressurized gas; and a barrier positioned between the cavity and the lumen, the barrier including a passage extending therethrough for storing a drug, the barrier including a first opening and a second opening on opposite ends thereof, the first opening being connected to the second opening via the passage, the barrier establishing fluid communication between the first opening and the housing for delivering the drug from the housing to the passage, wherein rotation of the barrier relative to the lumen establishes fluid communication between the second opening and the lumen for delivering the drug from the passage to the lumen, the housing not being in fluid communication with the lumen at any rotational position of the barrier.

2. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the bottom end of the cavity comprises a wall adjacent to the barrier, wherein the wall comprises a wall opening, wherein the wall opening is aligned with the first opening via rotation of the barrier.

3. The medical device of claim 2, wherein alignment of the wall opening with the first opening allows a medicament to enter the passageway from the housing.

4. The medical device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the housing is rotatable relative to the barrier and / or the lumen.

5. The medical device of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the barrier is rotatable relative to the housing along an axis of rotation parallel to a central longitudinal axis of the housing.

6. The medical device of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the medicament is retained in the passageway until fluid communication between the passageway and the lumen is established.

7. The medical device of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the housing feeds the medication into the passageway via gravity.

8. The medical device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the passage for storing a drug feeds the drug into the lumen via gravity when fluid communication between the passage and the lumen is established.

9. The medical device of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first opening and the second opening are radially arranged around the barrier.

10. The medical device of claim 9, wherein the first opening and the second opening are symmetrically arranged. The medical device of claim 9 , wherein the first opening and the second opening are of different sizes.

12. The medical device of claim 10 , further comprising an intermediate barrier, wherein the intermediate barrier is located between the barrier and the lumen, and wherein the intermediate barrier comprises an intermediate opening positioned to align with one of the first opening and the second opening via rotation of the barrier.

13. The medical device of claim 12, wherein the intermediate barrier is rotatable relative to the barrier.

14. The medical device of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the lumen is a flexible conduit capable of traversing a tortuous body lumen and further comprising a source of pressurized gas.

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