Circumferential aerosol device

Abstract

The present application discloses devices and methods for delivering a therapeutic compound to the olfactory epithelium of an animal or human. The device having one or more channels for imparting a circumferential and axial velocity to the discharged fluid, and an outlet that discharges an aerosol spray having a circumferential and axial velocity as it enters the nasal cavity of a user. The device is designed to displace the air in the upper nasal cavity in order to specifically deposit a therapeutic agent on the olfactory epithelium while minimizing pressure and discomfort experienced by the user.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
         1 . An olfactory drug delivery device comprising:
 a reservoir containing a therapeutic compound;   a container containing a pressurized propellant fluid;   a delivery device comprising:
 an opening at a proximal end of the delivery device; 
 a first channel having a proximal end coupled to the reservoir and a distal end in fluid communication with the opening; 
 a second channel having a proximal end coupled to the container and a distal end in fluid communication with the opening; and 
   wherein the pressurized propellant fluid exiting the container travels through the second channel and comes into contact near the opening with the therapeutic compound exiting the reservoir through the first channel, the propellant and the therapeutic compound creating a plume,   wherein at least 15% of the plume is delivered to the olfactory region.   
     
     
         2 . The olfactory drug delivery device of  claim 1 , further comprising a metering device for selectively discharging the pressurized propellant fluid from the container into the second channel. 
     
     
         3 . The olfactory drug delivery device of  claim 1 , wherein the container is a metered dose inhaler. 
     
     
         4 . The olfactory drug delivery device of  claim 1 , wherein the second channel induces a circumferential helical flow in the propellant fluid when the propellant fluid exits the container into the second channel. 
     
     
         5 . The olfactory drug delivery device of  claim 4 , wherein the plume has a circumferential velocity. 
     
     
         6 . The olfactory drug delivery device of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of outlets at the distal end of the second channel for discharging the pressurized propellant fluid. 
     
     
         7 . The olfactory drug delivery device of  claim 1 , wherein at least 40% of the plume are delivered to the olfactory region. 
     
     
         8 . The olfactory drug delivery device of  claim 1 , wherein a pressure of the container is between 3 psi and 5 psi. 
     
     
         9 . The olfactory drug delivery device of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the first channel and a portion of the second channel are substantially parallel. 
     
     
         10 . The olfactory drug delivery device of  claim 1 , further comprising a sealing mechanism configured to seal the first channel. 
     
     
         11 . An olfactory drug delivery device comprising:
 a container comprising a mixture of a pressurized fluid and a therapeutic compound;   a delivery device in fluid communication with the container and defining a longitudinal axis, the delivery device having a plurality of helical channels, each helical channel comprising an inlet and an outlet disposed at a nasal proximal end of the device, wherein the outlets are radially disposed around the longitudinal axis; and   a metering device for selectively discharging the mixture of the pressurized fluid and the therapeutic compound through the helical channels, such that the outlets produce a plurality of spray discharges that converge into a single spray plume having a circumferential velocity.   
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the cross-sectional area of the channel interior decreases from the inlet to the outlet. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the outlets are symmetrically located around the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein each outlet is configured to produce an aerosol spray from the mixture of the pressurized fluid and the therapeutic compound having an axial velocity and a circumferential velocity. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein each outlet is disposed at an oblique angle relative to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein each outlet is directed radially inwardly. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the mixture of the pressurized fluid and the therapeutic compound becomes an aerosol spray when exiting the plurality of outlets. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the container comprises a metered dose inhaler. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the device produces a plurality of particles having an average diameter selected from the group consisting of about 1 to about 100 micrometers, about 5 to about 50 micrometers, about 5 to about 30 micrometers, about 5 to about 25 micrometers, about 5 to about 20 micrometers, about 5 to about 15 micrometers, and about 10 to about 15 micrometers. 
     
     
         20 . An olfactory drug delivery device comprising:
 a container having an outlet and comprising a mixture of a pressurized fluid and a therapeutic compound;   a delivery device defining a longitudinal axis and in fluid communication with the container, the delivery device having:
 an exit opening at a proximal end, 
 a cylindrical channel connected to the outlet of the container and extending to the exit opening, and 
 a plurality of discharge outlets radially disposed around the longitudinal axis, wherein each discharge outlet is oriented to discharge the mixture of the pressurized fluid and the therapeutic compound in an axial direction and a circumferential direction; and 
   a metering device for selectively discharging the mixture of the pressurized fluid and the therapeutic compound through the plurality of discharge outlets, such that the plurality of discharge outlets produce a plurality of discharges that converge into a single spray plume having a circumferential velocity.   
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 20 , wherein the cylindrical channel defines a plurality of helical channels, wherein each helical channel has a discharge outlet oriented to discharge the pressurized fluid mixture in an axial and circumferential direction. 
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 20 , wherein the container comprises a metered dose inhaler.