Beneficial agent dispenser

Abstract

A dispensing device for use with a beneficial agent has a dispensing package, a dispenser disposed on an end portion of the dispensing package, and an actuator movably disposed along at least a portion of the package between a pre-dispensing state and a dispensing state. One arrangement also provides a beneficial agent dispenser having a dispensing port, an elongate portion and a plunger that is movably disposed relative to a tubular wall of the elongate portion during a dispensing stroke to partially penetrate a separable barrier and expel the beneficial agent through the dispensing port.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dispensing device for use with a beneficial agent, comprising:
 a dispensing package, comprising:
 an elongate, at least partially flexible member comprising a sealed tubular compartment and at least one separable barrier enclosing one end of said tubular compartment; and 
 one of a beneficial agent or a constituent of a beneficial agent contained in said tubular compartment; 
   a dispenser disposed on a dispensing end portion of said package; and   an actuator movably disposed along at least a portion of said package between a pre-dispensing state and a dispensing state.   
     
     
         2 . A dispensing device according to  claim 1  wherein said separable barrier is formed along said tubular wall by pinching said one end of said tubular compartment and thereafter sealing across said one end. 
     
     
         3 . A dispensing device according to  claim 1  wherein said separable barrier defines a distal end of said tubular compartment. 
     
     
         4 . A dispensing device according to  claim 1  wherein said separable barrier defines a proximal end of said first compartment. 
     
     
         5 . A dispensing device according to  claim 1  wherein said first compartment stores a first constituent of the beneficial agent, and further comprising at least a second compartment storing a second constituent of the beneficial agent, and wherein said separable barrier is located between said first and second compartments. 
     
     
         6 . A dispensing device according to  claim 1  wherein said separable barrier is located between said first compartment and said dispensing end portion. 
     
     
         7 . A dispensing device according to  claim 1  wherein said tubular wall comprises a multi-layer material. 
     
     
         8 . A dispensing device according to  claim 1  where said tubular wall is an extrusion. 
     
     
         9 . A dispensing device according to  claim 8  wherein said tubular wall is made from an extruded sheet rolled and seamed to form a tube. 
     
     
         10 . A dispensing device according to  claim 1  wherein said dispensing end portion includes a dispensing port and said actuator comprises a plunger and a piston joined to said plunger, said tubular wall extending to aseptically enclose at least one of said dispensing port, said plunger, and said piston. 
     
     
         11 . A dispensing device according to  claim 5  further comprising a peelable foil, substantially protecting at least one of said first and second compartments from an ambient environment. 
     
     
         12 . A dispensing device according to  claim 11  wherein said peelable foil is attached to at least one of said first and second separable barriers. 
     
     
         13 . A dispensing device according to  claim 12  wherein said peelable foil extends to provide an aseptic enclosure to one of the group of a dispensing port, a plunger, and a piston. 
     
     
         14 . A dispensing device according to  claim 1  wherein said dispenser is selected from a group consisting of a needle, a micro-needle, an intra-dermal needle, a subcutaneous needle, an intramuscular needle, an IV catheter, a jet injection nozzle, a catheter, a tube, a hose, a topical applicator, a nasal applicator, an auricular dispenser, an ocular dispenser, a dropper, an adapter, or a connector to one of the above. 
     
     
         15 . A dispensing device according to  claim 1  further comprising a housing surrounding at least a portion of said tubular wall. 
     
     
         16 . A dispensing device according to  claim 15  wherein said housing restricts movement of said tubular wall toward a distal end of said housing. 
     
     
         17 . A dispensing device according to  claim 16  wherein said tubular wall is moveable toward a proximal end of said housing to draw said dispenser at least partially into said housing. 
     
     
         18 . A dispensing device according to  claim 1  wherein said actuator comprises a roller operative to collapse said tubular wall resulting in expulsion of said beneficial agent. 
     
     
         19 . A dispensing device according to  claim 1  wherein said actuator comprises at least one compression panel operative to collapse said tubular wall resulting in expulsion of said beneficial agent. 
     
     
         20 . A dispensing device according to  claim 1  wherein said actuator comprises a pressure chamber adapted to receive at least a portion of said tubular wall such that elevated pressure in said pressure chamber results in expulsion of said beneficial agent. 
     
     
         21 . A dispensing device according to  claim 1  wherein said actuator comprises a plunger. 
     
     
         22 . A dispensing device according to  claim 1  wherein said dispenser includes a dispensing port, and wherein at least a portion of said dispenser is moveable toward the proximal end of said tubular wall to conceal at least a portion of said dispensing port. 
     
     
         23 . A dispensing device according to  claim 5  wherein movement of said actuator causes said first and second constituents to mix and thereafter be expelled through said dispenser. 
     
     
         24 . A beneficial agent dispensing device, comprising:
 an elongate portion, comprising:
 a first compartment for storing a first constituent of the beneficial agent, said first compartment comprising a tubular wall; 
 at least a second compartment for storing at least a second constituent of the beneficial agent; and 
 at least a first separable barrier located between said first and second compartments; 
   a dispenser; and   a plunger comprising a plunger portion moveably disposed in said tubular wall between a pre-dispensing position wherein said plunger portion is outside said first compartment, and a dispensing position wherein said plunger portion is at least partially disposed within said second compartment.   
     
     
         25 . A dispensing device according to  claim 24  further comprising a piston attached to said plunger. 
     
     
         26 . A dispensing device according to  claim 24  further comprising a second separable barrier located between said second compartment and said dispenser. 
     
     
         27 . A dispensing device according to  claim 24  further comprising a second separable barrier located between said first compartment and said plunger. 
     
     
         28 . A dispensing device according to  claim 24  wherein said dispenser is selected from a group consisting of a needle, a micro-needle, an intradermal needle, a subcutaneous needle, an intramuscular needle, an IV catheter, a jet injection nozzle, a catheter, a tube, a hose, a topical applicator, a nasal applicator, an auricular dispenser, an ocular dispenser, a dropper, an adapter, or a connector to any of the above. 
     
     
         29 . A dispensing device according to  claim 24  wherein said tubular wall comprises molded plastic. 
     
     
         30 . A dispensing device according to  claim 24  wherein at least one of said first and second compartments comprises a flexible tube. 
     
     
         31 . A dispensing device according to  claim 24  wherein said separable barrier comprises a rupturable foil. 
     
     
         32 . A dispensing device according to  claim 27  wherein at least one said first and second separable barriers comprises a tubular portion that has been crimped and sealed there across. 
     
     
         33 . A dispensing device according to  claim 24  further comprising a second plunger portion operative to couple with said first plunger portion as said second plunger portion moves toward said dispenser. 
     
     
         34 . A beneficial agent dispenser, comprising:
 a dispensing port;   an elongate portion, comprising:
 a first compartment for storing a first constituent of the beneficial agent, said first compartment comprising a tubular wall; and 
 at least a first separable barrier located between said first compartment and said dispensing port; and 
   a plunger comprising a first plunger portion moveably disposed relative to said tubular wall during a dispensing stroke to partially penetrate said first separable barrier and expel the beneficial agent through said dispensing port.   
     
     
         35 . A dispenser according to  claim 34  further comprising a piston attached to said plunger. 
     
     
         36 . A dispenser according to  claim 34  further comprising a second compartment disposed between said first compartment and said dispensing port, said at least a first separable barrier located between said first and second compartments. 
     
     
         37 . A dispenser according to  claim 34  further comprising a second separable barrier located between said first compartment and said plunger portion. 
     
     
         38 . A dispenser according to  claim 34  wherein said dispensing port is part of a dispensing device that is selected from a group consisting of a needle, a micro-needle, an intradermal needle, a subcutaneous needle, an intramuscular needle, an IV catheter, a jet injection nozzle, a catheter, a tube, a hose, an adapter, or a connector to any of the above. 
     
     
         39 . A dispenser according to  claim 34  wherein said tubular first compartment wall comprises molded plastic. 
     
     
         40 . A dispenser according to  claim 36  wherein said second compartment comprises a flexible tube. 
     
     
         41 . A dispenser according to  claim 36  where said first and second compartments comprises first and second flexible tubes, respectively. 
     
     
         42 . A dispenser according to  claim 34  wherein said at least one separable barrier comprises a rupturable foil. 
     
     
         43 . A dispenser according to  claim 37  wherein at least one of the said first and second separable barriers comprises a flexible tube section pinched and welded there across to form seal. 
     
     
         44 . A dispenser according to  claim 34  wherein first plunger portion is moveably disposed in said first tubular compartment, and further comprising at least a second plunger portion adapted to couple with said first plunger portion as it penetrates said first separable barrier. 
     
     
         45 . A beneficial agent dispensing device, comprising:
 a dispensing package comprising at least a first compartment constructed at least partially from a flexible tubular wall, and one of a beneficial agent or a constituent of a beneficial agent contained in said first compartment;   a dispenser disposed on a dispensing end portion of said package; and   an actuator movably disposed along at least a portion of said package between a pre-dispensing state and a dispensing state to expel contents of said at least a first compartment through said dispensing end portion.