Drug delivery device

Abstract

The invention relates to an active ingredient delivery device (1) for releasing gaseous active ingredients, in particular fragrances, into the environment: The active ingredient delivery device (1) comprises a housing (3) and an active ingredient carrier (2) associated with the housing (3). The housing (3) includes a lower housing part (3a) and an upper housing part (3b), wherein the upper housing part (3b) and the lower housing part (3a) are arranged at a distance (a) from each other, forming a gap (17). The active ingredient carrier (2) is at least partially arranged in the gap (17). Furthermore, the invention relates to a housing (2) and an active ingredient carrier (2) with a carrier material (27) for such an active ingredient delivery device (1).

Description

The invention relates to an active ingredient delivery device for releasing gaseous active ingredients, in particular fragrances, into the environment. This active ingredient delivery device comprises a housing and an active ingredient carrier associated with the housing. Furthermore, the invention relates to a corresponding housing and a corresponding active ingredient carrier. Fragrance dispensers of the type mentioned above are known in a wide variety of designs from the prior art. They serve to perfume and / or deodorize the immediate surroundings, for example, the atmosphere in a room. Fragrance dispensers are known in which a liquid fragrance is contained in a bottle whose opening is sealed with a cap. The fragrance dispenser has a wick attached to a wick holder, which extends from the opening into the bottle and, when the fragrance dispenser is in use, is partially immersed in the fragrance and partially protrudes from it. Thus, the liquid fragrance penetrates the wick, rises within it, and evaporates from the wick. The evaporation rate (i.e., how strongly the fragrance dispenser releases the liquid fragrance into the environment) can be adjusted in various ways.In some devices, this is achieved by unscrewing a cap from the bottle to a greater or lesser extent. In other fragrance dispensers, the evaporation rate is adjusted by pulling the wick out of the bottle to a greater or lesser degree. A fragrance dispensing device with a carrier substance is known from DE 297 00 718 U1. The object of the invention is to provide an alternative active ingredient delivery device for the release of gaseous active ingredients, in particular fragrances, into the environment. The problem is solved, firstly, by an active ingredient delivery device according to claim 1 and a housing according to claim 14, and secondly, by an active ingredient carrier according to claim 15. The active ingredient delivery device according to the invention for releasing gaseous active ingredients, in particular fragrances, into the environment, comprises a housing and an active ingredient carrier associated with the housing, which can receive a carrier substance that releases the active ingredients or fragrances. The housing is formed from a lower housing part and an upper housing part. The lower housing part can have a base that enables the active ingredient delivery device to be placed securely on a flat surface, e.g., a table, while the upper housing part can be designed as a kind of cover. The upper and lower housing parts are arranged relative to each other such that they form a gap with a minimum distance, preferably a minimum distance that cannot be further reduced. The active ingredient carrier is arranged at least partially in this gap. The drug delivery device has a simple design and consists of only a few parts. The drug carrier, preferably disc-shaped, is easy to install during assembly of the drug delivery device and can later be easily removed or replaced without tools when its drug supply is exhausted. The dependent claims and the further description contain particularly advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention, wherein in particular the claims of one category may also be further developed analogously to the claims of one of the other categories. A particularly simple design results when the drug carrier is located exclusively in the gap between the upper and lower housing parts. This allows for a particularly easy replacement of the drug carrier. Preferably, the upper and lower housing parts, as well as the drug carrier, are arranged in at least a first position (initial position) such that a housing upper contact surface of the upper housing part adjoins, and is particularly preferably in contact with, a first drug carrier contact surface of the drug carrier. Preferably, a housing lower contact surface of the lower housing part also adjoins, or is particularly preferably in contact with, a second drug carrier contact surface of the drug carrier. Thus, in this first position, the drug delivery device has a sandwich-like structure with a drug carrier arranged between the upper and lower housing parts. The drug delivery device may have an open evaporation port in this first position for the release of gaseous active ingredients to ensure a minimum evaporation rate. To increase the evaporation rate as needed, the distance between the upper and lower housing sections can be varied by shifting the upper housing section relative to the lower housing section along a connecting axis that runs between the upper and lower housing sections. This increases the width of the gap along the connecting axis and thus enlarges the evaporation opening. The upper and lower housing sections are therefore connected in such a way that, starting from a first position or initial position, a gap with a minimum width can be enlarged. For this purpose, the lower and upper housing parts can preferably be coupled to each other by a housing guide such that a linear movement of the upper housing part relative to the lower housing part along the connecting axis is possible. This ensures that when the upper housing part is displaced relative to the lower housing part, the gap is increased uniformly at all its positions; that is, the contact surfaces of the housing parts and the drug carrier remain parallel to each other despite the displacement. In an alternative embodiment, the lower and upper housing parts can be coupled to each other such that a movement about a rotational axis is performed; that is, the upper housing part is pivoted relative to the lower housing part about an axis, so that the housing opens similarly to a shell, and due to this pivoting movement, the gap is increased to varying degrees at different points.In this case, the contact surfaces are displaced from their parallel position by the movement. The housing guide can have a stop that prevents a minimum distance from being undercut, for example, by further rotation. If the housing guide is designed such that linear movement of the lower housing part relative to the upper housing part is possible, operation—i.e., changing the position of the upper housing part relative to the lower housing part—is particularly simple if the lower and upper housing parts are coupled in such a way that a rotational movement of the upper and / or lower housing part about the connecting axis is necessarily converted into a linear movement of the upper housing part relative to the lower housing part along the connecting axis. This allows an operator to increase the gap, if desired, by rotating the upper housing part while simultaneously holding the lower housing part. Such a coupling of the lower and upper housing parts also allows for particularly precise adjustment of the desired gap width.The coupling can be designed such that a rotary motion is converted into a continuous linear motion along the connecting axis. For example, the housing guide can be provided with a first threaded section that engages with a second threaded section of the housing guide. In an alternative embodiment, pins or mandrels associated with a housing part can engage in a slotted cam, thus converting a rotary motion into a linear motion. This also allows for a continuous conversion of a rotary motion into a linear motion. It is also possible to achieve a stepped conversion of a rotary motion into a linear motion by designing the slots. Additionally, locking mechanisms can be provided to ensure that the upper housing part is fixed in the desired position. Inserting or replacing a drug carrier in the housing after the gaseous drug has been exhausted is possible by moving the drug carrier relative to the housing perpendicular to the connecting axis. In the simplest case, the drug carrier is moved along an assembly axis that runs perpendicular to the connecting axis of the lower and upper housing parts. This allows for particularly easy insertion or replacement of the drug carrier. Alternatively, it is also possible to completely separate the upper housing part from the lower housing part and insert the drug carrier into the housing by moving it along the connecting axis of the lower and upper housing parts, and then reconnect the lower and upper housing parts. Only one active ingredient carrier can be positioned between the lower and upper housing sections. However, it is also possible to position multiple active ingredient carriers with different gaseous active ingredients, particularly different fragrances, between or within the lower and / or upper housing sections, in order to combine different fragrances as desired. The drug carrier preferably has a cavity to hold the active ingredient. The drug carrier with the cavity can be manufactured by deep drawing of plastic or by injection molding. The active ingredient itself can be contained in a carrier material such as a nonwoven fabric or other suitable fibrous material, or another porous material. The cavity can be sealed, for example, by means of a gas-permeable membrane that allows only a gaseous active ingredient to pass through, while otherwise preventing, for example, the unwanted entry of liquids into the cavity or the escape of an active ingredient carrier liquid from the cavity. Preferably, a gel-like carrier substance is contained within the cavity, which releases the gaseous active ingredient, e.g., fragrances. This allows for particularly easy handling of the active ingredient carrier, since the gel-like carrier substance prevents unintentional leakage of the active ingredient, especially when inserting the active ingredient carrier into the gap of the housing. To enable particularly easy handling and storage of drug carriers without premature release of the active ingredients, the cavity is sealed gas-tight before commissioning, e.g., by means of a gas-tight, removable protective cover. This gas-tight protective cover can be designed as a film, which is attached to the drug carrier, for example, by means of a removable adhesive bond, such that the cavity is gas-tightly sealed. Instead of an adhesive bond, a press-fit or snap-fit ​​connection can also be used, with which, for example, a more rigid sealing cap (compared to a film) closes the cavity. The upper and lower housing sections, as well as the drug carrier, can have any desired external shape. A particularly visually appealing housing design is achieved when both the upper and lower housing sections have a circular outer cross-section adjacent to the gap, perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the connecting axis. These circular outer cross-sections must each have the same diameter. This design of the lower housing section, the upper housing section, and the drug carrier allows for a largely rotationally symmetrical shape, such as a spherical form, without unsightly deviations like steps, even if the gap is enlarged by a rotational movement of the upper housing section relative to the lower housing section. The optimal choice of dimensions for the housing and the drug carrier depends on the intended use and location, the type of drug, the selected drug rate and quantity, as well as the desired aesthetics. Preferably, the housing and the drug carrier are dimensioned such that the diameter of the outer cross-section of the housing parts adjacent to the gap perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the connecting axis, and the outer diameter of the drug carrier, are each between 5 cm and 20 cm, particularly preferably between 7 cm and 12 cm. The thickness (or height) of the disc-shaped drug carrier is preferably between 2 mm and 7 mm, with the fill height in the cavity preferably being between 1 mm and 6 mm. The coupling and design of the housing parts are preferably such that the maximum possible width of the gap, i.e., when the upper housing part is fully extended, is between 5 mm and 25 mm.Preferably, in this position, the opening of the circumferential gap above the inserted drug carrier is up to 20 mm or more. To facilitate the replacement of a new drug carrier after an old one has been exhausted, a drug carrier guide is provided. This guide directs the drug carrier into the slot during insertion and also features a stop to halt this insertion movement. A particularly simple design results when this drug carrier guide and stop interact with the housing guide, which allows for movement of the lower and upper housing sections relative to each other. This means that the housing guide performs a dual function: firstly, it guides the upper housing section relative to the lower housing section along the connecting axis, and secondly, together with the drug carrier guide, it guides the drug carrier along an assembly axis when the drug carrier is inserted into the slot, e.g., perpendicular to the connecting axis. A particularly aesthetically pleasing housing design is achieved when the housing guide, e.g., the connecting axis, is located inside the lower and / or upper housing section. This means that the housing guide is concealed within the housing and therefore invisible to the operator. However, the housing guide can also be located outside the lower and / or upper housing section. A particularly material-saving and lightweight design of the lower and / or upper housing parts can be achieved if they are designed as open hollow bodies. For example, they can be dome-shaped or have the form of hollow hemispheres. This provides an interior space for the housing guide or connecting axis. Furthermore, this allows for particularly simple manufacturing of the lower and upper housing parts from plastic using injection molding. Designing a housing part facing the active ingredient in the drug carrier, particularly the upper part of the housing, as a cavity has the advantage that it can serve as a kind of "mixing chamber" in which the active ingredients can spread and mix with air. Thus, increasing the gap has a relatively quick effect. If the lower housing part is completely separated from the upper housing part, for example, after the individual parts have been manufactured, assembly is particularly simple by joining the lower housing part with the upper housing part and one or more drug carriers, provided the housing guide is designed in two parts, i.e., has a first section and a second section. The first section can, for example, be assigned to the lower housing part and the second section to the upper housing part. The length of the first and / or second section can be chosen such that it extends from the lower and / or upper housing part in the direction of the connecting axis. If, for example, the lower and / or upper housing part is designed as hollow hemispheres, the length of the first and / or second section is greater than the radius of the hemisphere.This protrusion of the first and second sections then simplifies the joining of the lower and upper housing parts and allows for the desired gap between the housing parts. The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying figures and exemplary embodiments. Further details and advantages of the invention will also become apparent from these figures. The figures show: Fig. 1 a perspective view of an active ingredient delivery device according to a first embodiment, Fig. 2 a perspective view of an active ingredient delivery device according to the invention with an enlarged evaporation opening according to the first embodiment, Fig. 3 another perspective view of an active ingredient delivery device according to the invention with an enlarged evaporation opening according to the first embodiment, Fig. 4 a perspective view of an upper housing part of the housing of an active ingredient delivery device according to the first embodiment, Fig. 5 a perspective view of a lower housing part of the housing of the active ingredient delivery device according to the first embodiment.Fig. 6 a perspective view of an active ingredient carrier according to one embodiment, Fig. 7 an exploded view of an active ingredient delivery device according to a second embodiment, Fig. 8 a top and side view of the lower housing part of the housing of the active ingredient delivery device according to the second embodiment, Fig. 9 a top and side view of an upper housing part of the housing of the active ingredient delivery device according to the second embodiment, and Fig. 10 a top and side view of the active ingredient carrier according to Fig. 7. Reference is first made to Fig. 1, Fig. 2 to Fig. 3 and Fig. 7. The drug delivery device 1 consists of a housing 3, which is formed from a lower housing part 3a and an upper housing part 3b. The lower housing part 3a has a base 18, which allows the drug delivery device 1 to be placed on a flat surface, such as a tabletop. The lower housing part 3a and the upper housing part 3b are hemispherical on the outside, so that when joined, the housing 3 has an almost spherical shape except for the flattened area forming the base 18. The upper housing part 3b and the lower housing part 3a are arranged in a starting position I at a distance a from each other, so that a gap 17 is formed between the lower housing part 3a and the upper housing part 3b. A drug carrier 2 is inserted into this gap 17. In the present embodiment, the drug carrier has a gel-like carrier substance 27 (see Fig. 7) which can, for example, release fragrances into the room air. In the initial position I shown in Fig. 1, the gaseous active ingredients can escape from an evaporation opening 19 formed by a recess in the active ingredient carrier 2, which is bounded by sections of the active ingredient carrier 2, the lower housing part 3a and the upper housing part 3b. To increase the evaporation rate, the evaporation opening 19 can be enlarged. For this purpose, the upper housing part 3b is moved to a second position II – shown in Figs. 2 and 3 – with an increased distance a', in which the gap 17 is enlarged and the evaporation opening 19' is now extended by an annular section. To move the upper housing part 3b from the initial position I to position II, the upper housing part 3b is displaced along a connecting axis A (Fig. 1). Both the lower housing part 3a and the upper housing part 3b are designed as hollow bodies or dome-shaped, meaning the interior of the housing 3 is hollow. This allows the active ingredients to spread within the housing 3 and mix with air even in the closed position I. Therefore, if the gaseous active ingredients are fragrances, an especially intense fragrance experience is available very quickly, almost without delay, when the gap 17 is enlarged. At the same time, in this position II, it is possible to change the drug carrier 2 when the supply of gaseous active ingredients has run out. For this purpose, the drug carrier 2 is temporarily moved along a mounting axis B, which runs perpendicular to the connecting axis A. Reference is now also made to Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 to 10. To allow the upper housing part 3b to be moved relative to the lower housing part 3a, the upper housing part 3b and the lower housing part 3a are connected to each other by a housing guide 8. The housing guide 8 is arranged in the interior 14 of the housing 3, i.e., the lower housing part 3a and the upper housing part 3b. It is designed in two parts, i.e., the housing guide 8 has a first section 15, which is associated with the upper housing part 3b, and a second section 16, which is associated with the lower housing part 3a. The two sections 15, 16 are designed as cylindrical, tubular sections, with the section 16 associated with the lower housing part 3a having a larger diameter than the section 15 associated with the upper housing part 3b, so that together they form a telescopic guide for moving the upper housing part 3b relative to the lower housing part 3a.A sealing plug 20 is provided to close the lower opening of the tubular section 16. The design of section 16 as a continuous hollow tube facilitates demolding after injection molding of the lower housing part 3a. In order to make adjustment of the upper housing part 3b in relation to the lower housing part 3a particularly easy, the housing guide 8 is designed such that a rotational movement D about the connecting axis A causes a widening of the gap 17. In a first embodiment (see Fig. 4 and Fig. 5), the section 15 associated with the upper housing part 3b is provided with an external thread 9 which engages in an internal thread (not shown) of the section 16 of the lower housing part 3a and thus ensures that by performing a rotational movement D of the upper housing part 3b relative to the lower housing part 3a, a movement of the upper housing part 3b from the initial position I to the second position II is possible. In a second embodiment (see Fig. 7, Fig. 8 and Fig. 9), the section 16 associated with the lower housing part 3a is provided with two pins 22 which can be engaged with slots 21 serving as guide guides for the pins 22. These slots 21 are provided in the tubular section 15 associated with the upper housing part 3b. By arranging the slots 21 accordingly, e.g., at an angle of 45° to the connecting axis A, a rotational movement D of the upper housing part 3b relative to the lower housing part 3a is converted into a linear movement along the connecting axis A, resulting in an increase in the gap 17. The active ingredient carrier 2 itself (see Fig. 6) has a cavity 10 in which a carrier substance 27, e.g. in gel form, is contained, which releases a gaseous fragrance as the active ingredient. Alternatively, a textile or nonwoven fabric for containing a corresponding, also liquid, active ingredient can be arranged in the cavity 10. The drug carrier 2 has a circular border 26 interrupted by a recess 25, opening, or cutout, the radius of which is equal to the maximum radius of the lower housing part 3a and the upper housing part 3b. The recess 25 extends radially into the drug carrier 2 beyond its center point and is U-shaped, with the base of the U having a radius adapted to the outer radius of the second section 16 of the telescopic connecting axis or housing guide 8. The drug carrier 2 has a drug carrier contact surface 6, which in the first position I is in contact with a housing upper contact surface 5 of the housing upper part 3b. Furthermore, the drug carrier 2 has a second drug carrier contact surface 7, which is in contact with a housing lower contact surface 4 of the housing lower part 3a. The housing contact surfaces 4 and 5 are annular, while the drug carrier contact surfaces 6 and 7 are formed as ring segments. To fix the drug carrier 2 in the housing 3, the lower housing part 3a has a circumferential retaining ring 23 which engages in a corresponding groove 24 of the drug carrier 2 (see Fig. 10) and thus fixes the drug carrier 2 in its position in relation to the lower housing part 3a. In the area of ​​the recess 25 of the drug carrier 2, two boundary surfaces running parallel to a radius of the drug carrier 2 and parallel to each other are formed as drug carrier guides 12. The distance between the drug carrier guides 12 is selected such that it fits with minimal play over the outer diameter of the tubular spacer 16 of the lower housing part 3a. Furthermore, the drug carrier 2 has an arcuate stop 13 – the aforementioned U-shaped base – the radius of which, as mentioned, is adapted to the radius of the tubular section 16 of the lower housing part 3a. Thus, the drug carrier 2 is guided by the drug carrier guide 12 and blocked by the stop 13. To activate the active ingredient delivery device 1, the evaporation opening 19 is opened in one variant, e.g., by removing a self-adhesive seal from the evaporation opening 19. Because the housing 3, with its lower housing part 3a and upper housing part 3b, is hollow, a gas mixture containing the active ingredients to be released can form even before the seal on the evaporation opening 19 is removed. This mixture then escapes immediately, providing the user with a particularly intense olfactory experience at the start of operation, especially in the case of fragrances. In a preferred alternative variant, a gas-impermeable protective film (not shown) is located over the cavity 10 of the drug carrier 2 in the delivery state. This film is, for example, bonded to the upper surface of the rim 26 of the drug carrier 2. The consumer can then remove the drug carrier 2 from the housing 3 as described later, peel off the protective film, and reinsert the drug carrier 2 into the housing 3. The release of the active ingredients, i.e., the evaporation rate, can subsequently be regulated by performing a rotational movement D of the upper housing part 3b in relation to the lower housing part 3a, whereby the housing guide 8 converts this rotational movement D about the connecting axis A into a linear movement along the axis A of the upper housing part 3b in relation to the lower housing part 3a, with the result that the size of the gap 19 is increased and the evaporation opening 19' is widened in an annular shape, so that active ingredients can now escape at a higher rate. The dimensions of the housing 3 and the drug carrier 2 in the illustrated preferred embodiments are as follows: The diameter of the outer cross-section of the housing 3 and the drug carrier 2, perpendicular to the connecting axis A, is between 7.5 cm and 8 cm, depending on the embodiment. The height of the housing 3, in the case of a spherical shape due to the flattening to form the base 18, is approximately 7.2 cm. The thickness (or height) of the disc-shaped drug carrier 2 is selected to ensure a filling height of approximately 4 mm in the cavity. The width of the gap is adjustable between a minimum of approximately 5 mm and a maximum of approximately 10 mm to approximately 15 mm. When the supply of fragrance in the fragrance carrier 2 is exhausted, the fragrance carrier 2 can be replaced by lifting it in the direction of the connecting axis A until the retaining ring 23 no longer engages in the groove 24 of the fragrance carrier 2. Then, by a second movement in a direction perpendicular to the connecting axis A, i.e., along the mounting axis B, the fragrance carrier can be pushed out of the gap 17. This movement is guided by the interaction of the fragrance guide 12 and the two sections 15, 16 of the housing guide 8. After removing the used fragrance carrier 2, a new, unused fragrance carrier 2 can be inserted. This drug carrier 2 again has a cavity 10 in which a carrier material 27 is also arranged. As explained above, the cavity 10 is sealed gas-tight with a film, thus preventing any unwanted leakage of active ingredients before commissioning. Before inserting the new drug carrier 2 into the drug delivery device 1, this cover film is removed from the cavity 10. The new drug carrier 2 is then inserted into the gap 17 of the drug delivery device 1. For this purpose, the drug carrier 2 is moved along the mounting axis B, which runs perpendicular to the connecting axis A, such that the first or second section 15, 16 of the housing guide 8 passes through the opening 25 of the drug carrier 2 and comes into contact with the guide 12 of the drug carrier 2. The drug carrier 2 is moved further until the first or second section 15, 16 of the housing guide 8 comes into contact with the stop 13 of the drug carrier 2. It is then moved in the direction of the connecting axis A towards the lower housing part 3a to engage the retaining ring 23 of the lower housing part 3a with the groove 24 of the drug carrier 2.Finally, the release of the active ingredient can again be regulated by rotating the upper housing part 3b in relation to the lower housing part 3a in order to adjust the width of the gap 17 according to the desired evaporation rate. Alternatively, the replacement of an active ingredient carrier and the insertion of a new one can be accomplished by completely removing the upper housing part 3b from the lower housing part 3a. This is advantageous when using an active ingredient carrier that has a suitable central hole (not shown) instead of the U-shaped recess 25. Accordingly, the active ingredient carrier can be removed by a simple movement along the connecting axis A, and a new active ingredient carrier 2 can be inserted. Furthermore, it is possible to insert several active ingredient carriers 2 into a housing 3 instead of just one, releasing different active ingredients, e.g., active ingredients with different fragrances. For this purpose, the active ingredient carriers 2 can be stacked on top of each other along the connecting axis A. To securely fix the active ingredient carriers 2, they can, for example, be provided with a retaining ring on their upper side and with a corresponding groove 24 on their lower side. To enable the simultaneous release of the different active ingredients, these active ingredient carriers 2 can also be provided with several corresponding openings, recesses, or cutouts. Alternatively, an arrangement of several active ingredient carriers 2 relative to each other is conceivable, in which the recesses 25 are arranged at an angular offset from each other with respect to the connecting axis A, in order to provide triangular or pie-shaped release surfaces for the active ingredients. In summary, an active ingredient delivery device for the release of gaseous substances, in particular fragrances, is provided, which allows for simple regulation of the release rate of the active ingredients and at the same time allows for a particularly simple replacement of an active ingredient carrier after exhaustion. Finally, it should be noted once again that the drug delivery devices, housings, and drug carriers shown in the figures are merely exemplary embodiments which can be varied in many respects by a person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. In particular, a wide variety of combinations of the components of the drug delivery device shown are possible. It should also be noted for the sake of completeness that the use of the indefinite article "a" or "an" does not preclude the possibility that the features in question may be present multiple times. Reference symbol list 1 Drug delivery device 2 Drug carrier 3 Housing 3a Lower housing part 3b Upper housing part 4 Lower housing part contact surface 5 Upper housing part contact surface 6 Drug carrier contact surface 7 Drug carrier contact surface 8 Housing guide 9 External thread 10 Cavity 12 Drug carrier guide 13 Stop 14 Housing interior 15 First section 16 Second section 17 Gap 18 Base surface 19 Evaporation opening 19' Enlarged evaporation opening 20 Sealing plug 21 Slot 22 Mandrel 23 Retaining ring 24 Groove 25 Opening 26 Rim 27 Carrier material a Distance a' Enlarged distance A Connecting axis B Mounting axis D Rotational movement

Claims

Active ingredient delivery device (1) for releasing gaseous active ingredients, in particular fragrances, into the environment, comprising a housing (3) and an active ingredient carrier (2) associated with the housing (3), wherein the housing (3) comprises a housing lower part (3a) and a housing upper part (3b), and wherein the housing upper part (3b) and the housing lower part (3a) are arranged at a distance (a) from each other forming a gap (17), and the active ingredient carrier (2) is arranged at least partially in the gap (17). Drug delivery device (1) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the housing upper part (3b) has a housing upper contact surface (5) which adjoins a first drug carrier contact surface (6) of the drug carrier (2), and the housing lower part (3a) has at least one housing upper contact surface (4) which adjoins a second drug carrier contact surface of the drug carrier (2). Drug delivery device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the distance (a, a') from the upper housing part (3b) to the lower housing part (3a) can be varied by moving the upper housing part (3b) relative to the lower housing part (3a) along a connecting axis (A). Drug delivery device (1) according to claim 3 , characterized by a housing guide (8) by which the lower housing part (3a) and the upper housing part (3b) are coupled in such a way that a linear movement of the upper housing part (3b) relative to the lower housing part (3a) along the connecting axis (A) is possible for relocation. Drug delivery device (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the lower housing part (3a) and the upper housing part (3b) are coupled in such a way that a rotational movement (D) of the upper housing part (3b) and / or lower housing part (3a) about the connecting axis (A) is converted into a linear movement along the connecting axis (A). Drug delivery device (1) according to one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the drug carrier (2) can be moved into or out of the gap (17) by displacing the drug carrier (2) relative to the housing (3) transversely to the connecting axis (A). Drug delivery device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the drug carrier (2) has a cavity (10) for receiving a carrier material (27) containing the drug. Active ingredient delivery device (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that a gel-like carrier material (27) for the active ingredient is located in the cavity (10). Drug delivery device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the lower housing part (3a) and the upper housing part (3b) each have a circular outer cross-section adjacent to the gap (17) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the connecting axis (A). Drug delivery device (1) according to one of claims 4 to 9, characterized in that the drug carrier (2) has a drug carrier guide (12) to guide the drug carrier (2) when inserted into the gap (17), and the drug carrier (2) has at least one stop (13) to limit movement into the gap (17), wherein the drug carrier guide (12) and / or the stop (13) interact with the housing guide (8) of the housing (3). Drug delivery device (1) according to one of claims 4 to 10, characterized in that the housing guide (8) is arranged inside (14) the housing (3). Drug delivery device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the lower housing part (3a) and / or the upper housing part (3b) are designed as hollow bodies open towards the gap (17). Drug delivery device (1) according to claims 4 to 12, characterized in that the housing guide (8) comprises a first section (15) and a second section (16), wherein the first and / or second section (15, 16) extend in the direction of the connecting axis (A) from the lower housing part (3a) and / or upper housing part (3b). Housing (3) for an active ingredient delivery device (1) according to one of claims 1 or 13. Drug carrier (2) for a drug delivery device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 13.

Images