Nasal delivery device

Abstract

A delivery device ( 20, 22 ) for and a method of delivering a substance to the nasal airway ( 1 ) of a subject, in particular the posterior region of the nasal airway, the delivery device comprising: a closure unit for causing the closure of the oropharyngeal velum of the subject; and a delivery unit for delivering a gas flow entraining a substance to one of the nostrils of the subject at such a driving pressure as to flow around the posterior margin of the nasal septum and out of the other nostril of the subject wherein the delivery unit comprises a nosepiece ( 30, 40, 58, 82, 102, 132 ) which includes an outlet through which the gas flow is in use delivered to the one nostril and a sealing member for sealing the one nostril to the outlet such as in use to prevent the escape of the gas flow through the one nostril.

1 - 34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . A device for delivering a substance to a nasal airway of a subject, comprising:
 a mouthpiece through which the subject exhales;   a nosepiece for fitting to a nostril of the subject;   a housing comprising an outlet in fluid communication with the nosepiece, an inlet in fluid communication with the mouthpiece;   a compartment configured to contain the substance, the compartment disposed between the mouthpiece and the nosepiece; and   a plurality of baffle plates disposed between the mouthpiece and the compartment.   
     
     
         36 . The device of  claim 35 , wherein exhalation through the mouthpiece causes closure of an oropharyngeal velum of the subject. 
     
     
         37 . The device of  claim 35 , wherein the nosepiece is configured to form a seal with the nostril of the subject. 
     
     
         38 . The device of  claim 35 , further comprising a valve operable between a closed position and an open position. 
     
     
         39 . The device of  claim 35 , wherein the substance is a pharmaceutical. 
     
     
         40 . The device of  claim 35 , wherein the substance is a powder. 
     
     
         41 . The device of  claim 35 , wherein the substance is a steroid. 
     
     
         42 . The device of  claim 35 , wherein the substance is an antimigraine pharmaceutical. 
     
     
         43 . The device of  claim 35 , wherein an exhalation breath of the subject passes first through the mouthpiece, then through the plurality of baffle plates, then through the compartment, and then through the nosepiece. 
     
     
         44 . The device of  claim 35 , wherein an exhalation breath of the subject through the nosepiece acts to close an oropharyngeal velum of the subject and produce an exhalation flow through the nasal airway, the exhalation flow passing into one nasal passage and out of the other nasal passage, thereby achieving a bi-directional exhalation flow to the nasal airway of the subject. 
     
     
         45 . The device of  claim 35 , wherein the plurality of baffles are disposed in a labyrinthine configuration. 
     
     
         46 . A device for delivering an antimigraine substance to a nasal airway of a subject, comprising:
 a mouthpiece through which the subject exhales;   a nosepiece for fitting to a nostril of the subject;   a housing comprising an outlet in fluid communication with the nosepiece, an inlet in fluid communication with the mouthpiece;   a compartment configured to contain the antimigraine substance, the compartment disposed between the mouthpiece and the nosepiece; and   a plurality of baffle plates disposed between the mouthpiece and the compartment.   
     
     
         47 . The device of  claim 46 , wherein exhalation through the mouthpiece causes closure of an oropharyngeal velum of the subject. 
     
     
         48 . The device of  claim 46 , wherein the substance is a powder. 
     
     
         49 . The device of  claim 46 , wherein the compartment contains a metered dose of the substance. 
     
     
         50 . The device of  claim 46 , wherein the nosepiece is configured to form a seal with the nostril of the subject. 
     
     
         51 . The device of  claim 46 , further comprising a valve operable between a closed position and an open position. 
     
     
         52 . The device of  claim 46 , wherein an exhalation breath of the subject passes first through the mouthpiece, then through the plurality of baffle plates, then through the compartment, and then through the nosepiece. 
     
     
         53 . The device of  claim 46 , wherein an exhalation breath of the subject through the nosepiece acts to close an oropharyngeal velum of the subject and produce an exhalation flow through the nasal airway, the exhalation flow passing into one nasal passage and out of the other nasal passage, thereby achieving a bi-directional exhalation flow to the nasal airway of the subject. 
     
     
         54 . The device of  claim 46 , wherein the plurality of baffles are disposed in a labyrinthine configuration.