Propellant-Driven Nasal Drug Delivery for Reliable Self-Administration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing nasal drug delivery devices require manual dexterity and strength for effective self-administration, leading to inconsistent or incomplete drug delivery due to insufficient force in triggering the drug release mechanism, particularly in users with limited dexterity or strength.
Innovation Solution
A drug delivery device utilizing a propellant chamber and actuator to propel a stopper towards a drug chamber, expelling the drug through a nasal tip, with optional chemical reactions to enhance propulsion, ensuring complete drug delivery without manual force requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual triggering mechanism is used for drug delivery, then device structure remains simple, but drug delivery reliability deteriorates due to insufficient user dexterity and strength
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical triggering mechanism with a propellant-driven delivery system. The propellant chamber contains a propellant that automatically propels the stopper to expel the drug through the tip, eliminating the need for users to manually push triggers, buttons, or plungers. This substitution of mechanical user action with an automated propellant system directly resolves the contradiction by improving delivery reliability without requiring complex mechanical actuation mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The device employs a self-actuating mechanism where the propellant automatically provides the force needed to expel the drug. The propellant chamber, stopper, and drug chamber are configured so that the propellant's expansion or reaction automatically drives the stopper to deliver the drug without requiring user intervention for force application. This self-service approach ensures consistent and reliable drug delivery while maintaining relatively simple device structure.
2Ease of operation
If propellant system is added to deliver drug automatically, then ease of operation improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes a propellant system based on pneumatic or chemical expansion principles. The propellant chamber contains a propellant that expands or reacts to generate pressure, automatically propelling the stopper to deliver the drug. This pneumatic/hydraulic mechanism dramatically improves ease of operation by eliminating the need for users to generate sufficient force manually, while the added complexity is limited to the propellant chamber and associated components rather than complex mechanical actuation systems.
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
Ensures predictable and complete drug delivery to both nostrils with minimal user effort, addressing the limitations of existing devices by using a propellant system that provides consistent force for drug expulsion.
Implementation Method 1
an actuator configured to be actuated to cause the propellant to propel movement of the stopper in a direction toward the drug chamber and thereby propel the drug out of the opening
Implementation Method 2
with optional chemical reactions to enhance propulsion
Data Source
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AI summary
Various exemplary drug delivery devices with propellant, drug products utilizing the same, and methods of using drug delivery devices with propellant are provided. In general, a nasal drug delivery device is configured to expel a drug into a nose of a patient and to drive delivery of the drug using a propellant. The propellant includes a gas, e.g., air, carbon dioxide, etc., and/or at least one material substance configured to produce energy that causes movement of the drug out of an opening of the drug delivery device.