Nasal Delivery Device Aerosol Interactor for Particle Optimization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing nasal delivery devices for medicaments and vaccines lack an optimized particle size distribution in aerosol sprays, leading to poor deposition in the nasal airway and increased likelihood of particles impacting unwanted surfaces.

Innovation Solution

A nasal delivery device featuring a nozzle unit and an aerosol interactor with a flow director that directs an interacting gas flow to optimize the particle size distribution and decelerate aerosol spray particles, ensuring they are entrained by the air flow for improved targeting within the nasal airway.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If aerosol spray is delivered directly from nozzle to nasal airway, then delivery speed is fast, but particle size distribution is unoptimized leading to poor deposition

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveparticle size distributionVSAvoiddevice structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The aerosol interactor is nested within the nasal delivery device housing, with flow director channels integrated into the device structure. The interacting gas flow path is nested within the device boundaries, allowing particle optimization without adding external complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

An aerosol interactor chamber is introduced as an intermediary component between the nozzle and nasal airway. This chamber contains flow director channels that generate interacting gas flow to optimize particle size distribution before delivery, acting as a mediator that improves deposition without requiring direct modification of the nozzle or nasal cavity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If aerosol spray particles are delivered at high speed, then rapid delivery is achieved, but particles impact unwanted surfaces instead of targeting nasal airway

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedelivery targeting accuracyVSAvoiddelivery time

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The flow director channels pre-condition the aerosol particles by exposing them to interacting gas flow before delivery to the nasal airway. This preliminary action optimizes particle size distribution and reduces particle speed, ensuring accurate targeting before particles enter the nasal cavity, thereby preventing impact on unwanted surfaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The interacting gas flow changes the physical parameters of aerosol particles, specifically reducing particle speed and optimizing particle size distribution. This parameter modification occurs within the aerosol interactor, transforming high-speed particles into optimized particles suitable for precise nasal delivery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If existing nasal delivery devices are used, then device simplicity is maintained, but particle deposition on unwanted surfaces increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeposition accuracyVSAvoiddevice structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The aerosol interactor serves multiple functions within a single integrated component: it generates interacting gas flow, optimizes particle size distribution, decelerates particles, and directs flow toward the nasal airway. This multi-functionality improves deposition accuracy without proportionally increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The device achieves enhanced delivery of medicaments and vaccines by optimizing particle size distribution and reducing deposition on unwanted surfaces, improving the efficacy of nasal administration.

Implementation Method 1

aerosol interactor operable to interact with an aerosol spray as generated by the at least one nozzle... flow director for directing an interacting gas flow at the aerosol spray such as to interact with the same

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGas flow interaction: Convection

Implementation Method 2

nozzle unit including at least one nozzle fluidly connected to the substance supply unit for generating an aerosol spray for delivery to a nasal airway

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAerosol generation: Aerosol

Data Source

PatentUS7854227B2Nasal devices

Publication Date: 2010.12.21 OPTINOSE INC

AI summary

A nasal delivery device and method are provided for delivering substance to a nasal airway of a subject, in particular one of a liquid, as a suspension or solution, or a powder containing a medicament, especially systemic or topical pharmaceuticals, or a vaccine to the nasal airway of a subject. The delivery device is characterized by: a nosepiece for fitting to a nostril of a subject; a delivery unit including a substance supply unit and a nozzle unit including at least one nozzle fluidly connected to the substance supply unit for generating an aerosol spray for delivery to a nasal airway of the subject; and an aerosol interactor operable to interact with an aerosol spray as generated by the at least one nozzle.