Device for dispensing a fluid product

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for dispensing a fluid product, comprising a reservoir (10) suitable for containing at least one dose of fluid product, and a dispensing head (20) attached to said reservoir (10), wherein the dispensing head (20) comprises a cannula (21) provided with a dispensing opening (22) and delimiting an expulsion channel (24), the dispensing opening (22) comprises a spraying tip (25) partially inserted into the expulsion channel (24), the spraying tip (25) comprises a head part arranged outside said cannula (21) and a rod part inserted into said expulsion channel (24), the head part is an extension of the rod part and has a diameter that is greater than the diameter of the rod part in order to define an impact surface downstream of the dispensing opening (22), such that, during actuation, the fluid product flowing under pressure in the expulsion channel (24) strikes the impact surface in order to generate a spray.

Description

[0001] Fluid product dispensing device

[0002] The present invention relates to a device for dispensing a fluid product, in particular intended for administering a pharmaceutical product to small animals, such as, for example, mice.

[0003] State-of-the-art devices used to administer doses of drugs to small animals, such as rodents, particularly mice, are generally single-dose, single-use devices, in which the entire dose of product is dispensed in a single actuation. However, drug testing on animals, particularly rodents such as mice, is generally carried out on around fifteen rodents, which therefore requires around fifteen devices. In addition, the doses are generally not adjustable, so a different device is required for each different dosage.

[0004] Furthermore, these devices generally use a small diameter cannula to distribute the fluid product. However, this results in a dose distribution in the form of a rectilinear jet, whereas it is preferable to be able to achieve this distribution in the form of a spray. Particularly in the context of pre-clinical trials on small animals, a spray with a Dv50 between 15 and 40 pm is desirable.

[0005] The present invention aims to provide a fluid product dispensing device which does not reproduce the aforementioned drawbacks.

[0006] The present invention aims in particular to provide a fluid product dispensing device which makes it possible to dispense several doses in several successive uses.

[0007] The present invention also aims to provide a fluid product dispensing device which allows the dosage to be modified with each use.

[0008] The present invention also aims to provide a fluid product dispensing device which makes it possible to dispense the fluid product at the outlet of a small diameter cannula in the form of a spray. The present invention also aims to provide a fluid product dispensing device which is simple and reliable to use.

[0009] The present invention also aims to provide a fluid product dispensing device which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and assemble.

[0010] The present invention therefore relates to a device for dispensing a fluid product comprising a reservoir adapted to contain at least one dose of fluid product and a dispensing head fixed to said reservoir, said dispensing head comprising a cannula provided with a dispensing orifice and defining an expulsion channel, said dispensing orifice comprising a spray tip partially inserted into said expulsion channel, said spray tip comprising a head portion arranged outside said cannula and a stem portion inserted into said expulsion channel, said head portion extending the stem portion and comprising a diameter greater than the diameter of said stem portion to define an impact surface downstream of said dispensing orifice, so that upon actuation, said fluid product flowing under pressure in said expulsion channel impacts said impact surface to generate a spray,wherein the diameter of said rod portion is less than the diameter of said expulsion channel, said rod portion being centered in said expulsion channel, said rod portion being fixed in said expulsion channel, in particular by wedging at one or more deformation point(s) made on said cannula.,

[0011] Advantageously, the maximum external diameter of said head part is similar, in particular identical, to the external diameter of said cannula.

[0012] According to a first advantageous embodiment, said head part is spherical, so that said impact surface is curved.

[0013] According to a second advantageous embodiment, said head portion is conical at its junction with said stem portion, so that said impact surface is flat and forms a cone flaring outwards.

[0014] Advantageously, said dispensing head is removably connected to said reservoir. Advantageously, said dispensing head comprises a fixing member adapted to be removably fixed to said reservoir, in particular via a Luer-type fixing, said cannula being fixed, in particular welded, to said fixing member.

[0015] Advantageously, the diameter of said expulsion channel is less than 1 mm, advantageously less than 0.8 mm, preferably approximately 0.7 mm.

[0016] Advantageously, said cannula is curved or angled.

[0017] Advantageously, said reservoir is a syringe comprising a body and a piston sliding in said body during actuation.

[0018] Advantageously, the generated spray has a Dv50 of less than 40 pm, in particular around 30 pm.

[0019] These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more clearly apparent during the following detailed description, made with reference to the attached drawings, given as non-limiting examples, and in which: Figure 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a fluid product dispensing device according to an advantageous embodiment, Figure 2 is a detailed view of a spray tip according to a first advantageous embodiment, Figure 3 is a view similar to that of Figure 2, showing a spray tip according to a second advantageous embodiment, Figure 4 is a partial schematic perspective view of the spray tip of Figure 3, and Figure 5 is a partial schematic cut-away perspective view of the spray tip of Figures 3 and 4.

[0020] The fluid product dispensing device shown in Figure 1 comprises a reservoir 10 containing one or more doses of fluid product and a dispensing head 20 comprising a cannula 21 having a dispensing orifice 22 provided with a spray tip 25, said cannula 21 being fixed in a fixing member 23 adapted to be removably fixed on the reservoir 10. The cannula 21 forms a hollow tube defining an expulsion channel 24 of small diameter, typically less than 1 mm, advantageously less than 0.8 mm, preferably approximately 0.7 mm. In the example shown, the cannula 21 is bent, but it could be straight or curved, or of any suitable shape. It can be rigid, or alternatively partially or totally flexible. Advantageously, the rear part of the cannula 21 is welded to the fixing member 23, but other fixing means are conceivable, for example a force fitting or gluing.

[0021] The reservoir 10 is advantageously a syringe comprising a body 11 and a piston 12 sliding in said body 11 during actuation. A piston rod 13 can be fixed to the piston 12 to allow the user to actuate the device. The body 11 has an open front end adapted to removably receive said fixing member 23. This fixing member 23 can be fixed to the reservoir 10 for example via a conventional Luer Lock type fixing. Other fixing means are conceivable, for example screwing or snap-fastening.

[0022] The spray tip 25 provided at the dispensing orifice 22 of the cannula 21 makes it possible to dispense the fluid product in the form of a spray.

[0023] This spray tip 25 forms an insert which is partially inserted into the expulsion channel 24 of the cannula and which comprises a head part 26 and a stem part 28.

[0024] The rod portion 28 penetrates into the expulsion channel 24, and therefore has a diameter smaller than the diameter of said expulsion channel 24. The rod portion 28 is centered in the expulsion channel 24, which therefore extends all around said rod portion 28. The rod portion 28 is fixed in the expulsion channel 24 by wedging at one or more deformation point(s) 29 produced on the cannula 21, as visible in FIG. 5.

[0025] The head portion 26 is arranged outside the cannula 21 and extends the stem portion 28. It has a diameter greater than the diameter of the stem portion 28 and defines an inclined impact surface 27 after the outlet 22 of the cannula 21 for the fluid product flowing into the expulsion channel.

[0026] 24.

[0027] Thus, upon actuation, the fluid product flows under pressure into the expulsion channel 24, around the rod portion 28, and impacts the impact surface 27, which breaks up the particles of the fluid product and generates a spray. Depending on the shape of this impact surface 27, the properties of the spray generated can be modified.

[0028] Advantageously, the maximum external diameter of the head portion 26 is similar to the external diameter of the cannula 21, preferably approximately identical. Thus, the presence of the spray tip 25 does not increase the external diameter of the cannula, and does not modify its use.

[0029] A first embodiment is shown in Figure 2, in which the head portion 26 is spherical, so that the impact surface 27 is curved.

[0030] A second embodiment is shown in Figure 3, in which the head portion 26 is tapered at its junction with the shank portion 28, so that the impact surface 27 is planar and forms an outwardly flaring cone.

[0031] Tests of these two embodiments have made it possible to establish:

[0032] - the invention makes it possible to generate a correct spray, based on the one hand on the geometry and velocity of the spray, and on the other hand on the granulometry of the spray drops (DSD: "Drop Size Distribution"); thus, the two embodiments described above make it possible to obtain a Dv50 of less than 50 pm;

[0033] - the second embodiment has improved spray properties, with an average Dv50 at 30 pm, while the first embodiment gives an average Dv50 at 40 pm.

[0034] A preferred operation of the device shown in Figure 1 will now be described.

[0035] Before the first use, the reservoir 10 may be empty and separated from the dispensing head 20. It is then preferably closed by a cap (not shown), in a known manner. The user who wishes to use the device removes the cap from the reservoir 10 and fills it with fluid product. For example, in the case of a syringe, he draws fluid product from a reserve of fluid product, by pulling the piston 12 away from the front end of the body 11. The reservoir 10 can be filled with a dose of chosen volume, or alternatively with two or more doses.

[0036] The device is then ready for its first active use, to dispense a dose of fluid product.

[0037] When the user presses the piston rod 13, it moves the piston 12 relative to the body 11. Fluid contained in the reservoir 10 is then expelled into the cannula 21 and then sprayed by the spray tip 25. Advantageously, all of the fluid contained in the reservoir 10 is dispensed in a single actuation. Alternatively, the contents of the reservoir may be dispensed in two or more successive actuations.

[0038] When the reservoir 10 is empty, the user can remove the dispensing head 20, and refill the reservoir 10 in a known manner for the next use of the device.

[0039] Please note that the spray tip described above could also be used with a pre-filled tank and / or a single-use device that can be thrown away after use.

[0040] Although the present invention has been described with reference to advantageous embodiments, it is understood that those skilled in the art may make various modifications thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

Claims A fluid product dispensing device comprising a reservoir (10) adapted to hold at least one dose of fluid product and a dispensing head (20) fixed to said reservoir (10), said dispensing head (20) comprising a cannula (21) having a dispensing orifice (22) and defining an expulsion channel (24), characterized in that said dispensing orifice (22) comprises a spray nozzle (25) partially inserted into said expulsion channel (24), said spray nozzle (25) comprising a head portion (26) disposed outside said cannula (21) and a stem portion (28) inserted into said expulsion channel (24), said head portion (26) extending from the stem portion (28) and having a diameter greater than the diameter of said stem portion (28) to define an impact surface (27) downstream of said dispensing orifice (22), such that upon actuation,The fluid product flowing under pressure in the expulsion channel (24) impacts the impact surface (27) to generate a spray, wherein the diameter of the stem portion (28) is smaller than the diameter of the expulsion channel (24), the stem portion (28) being centered in the expulsion channel (24), and the stem portion (28) being fixed in the expulsion channel (24) by wedging at one or more deformation points (29) formed on the cannula (21). A device according to claim 1, wherein the maximum external diameter of the head portion (26) is similar, in particular identical, to the external diameter of the cannula (21). A device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the head portion (26) is spherical, such that the impact surface (27) is curved. Device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said head part (26) is conical at its junction with said stem part (28), so that said impact surface (27) is flat and forms a cone flaring outwards.

5. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said distribution head (20) is removably connected to said reservoir (10).

6. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said distribution head (20) comprises a fixing member (23) adapted to be removably fixed to said reservoir (10), in particular via a Luer type fixing, said nozzle (21) being fixed, in particular welded, to said fixing member (23).

7. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the diameter of said expulsion channel (24) is less than 1 mm, advantageously less than 0.8 mm, preferably about 0.7 mm.

8. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said cannula (21) is curved or bent.

9. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said reservoir (10) is a syringe comprising a body (11) and a piston (12) sliding in said body (11) during actuation.

10. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said device is adapted to generate a spray having a Dv50 of less than 40 pm, in particular about 30 pm. * * *

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