Nasal dry powder delivery system for vaccines and other treatment agents

Abstract

A nasal delivery device can include air-receiving section that has a first passageway therethrough to allow air to pass through the air-receiving section, a powder-reservoir receiving section sized to receive a powder reservoir, and a powder-delivery section that has a second passageway therethrough to allow aerosolized powder from the powder reservoir to pass through the powder-delivery section. The first passageway can have a first end and a second end, with the first end being further from the powder-reservoir receiving section and the second end being at or near the powder-reservoir receiving area. The second end of the air-receiving section can include a flattened region so that air exiting the air-receiving section has a generally flattened profile.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method of delivering an aerosolized treatment agent to a subject, the method comprising:
 attaching a powder reservoir containing a treatment agent to a nasal delivery device;   positioning an air inlet end of the device into an air delivery source;   positioning an exit end the device at least partially within a nostril of the subject;   delivering air through a passageway in the air inlet end to the powder reservoir, the passageway comprising a flattened region so that air exiting the flattened region enters the powder reservoir with a generally flattened profile; and   delivering aerosolized treatment agent through the exit end of the device and into the nostril of the subject.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the air delivery source comprises exhaled air and the air inlet end of the device is positioned in the subject's mouth. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the act of attaching the powder reservoir to the device comprises attaching a lip of the powder reservoir to one or more grooves on the device. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the act of attaching the powder reservoir to the device further comprises piercing a frangible cover of the powder reservoir with at least one piercing member that extends from the device. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one piercing member extends into the powder reservoir and pushes the frangible cover towards at least one side wall of the powder reservoir. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing a visual indication when air is delivered through a passageway in the air inlet end to the powder reservoir. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the act of providing a visual indication comprises expanding a region of the air inlet end from a first, flattened configuration to a second, expanded configuration when air passes through the air inlet end. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the act of providing a visual indication comprises changing a shape of an elongate member fastened to the air inlet end when air passes therethrough. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the elongate member unrolls to change shape. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein, before attaching the powder reservoir, the method comprises:
 folding the device about a hinge member; and   attaching opposing surfaces on the device to one another.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the attachment of the opposing surfaces comprises ultrasonic welding of the opposing surfaces. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the attachment of the opposing surfaces comprises applying an adhesive to the opposing surfaces. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the attachment of opposing surfaces comprises snap fitting opposing surfaces together. 
     
     
         14 . A device comprising:
 a reservoir containing a treatment agent and an excipient, the reservoir comprising a pair of opposing sidewalls, the opposing side walls being generally curved toward one another to facilitate air flow across an inside surface of each sidewall;   a sealing member for sealing the treatment agent and the excipient inside the reservoir; and   an attachment member extending from the reservoir to facilitate coupling of the reservoir to a powder-reservoir receiving section of a nasal delivery device.   
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the sealing member comprises a frangible member. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the sealing member is a foil member. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the sealing member comprises a polymer film. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the sealing member comprises one or more alignment markings to facilitate alignment of the powder reservoir when coupling the powder-reservoir receiving section. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the excipient is positioned in the reservoir relative to the treatment agent so that a greater portion of excipient lofts before the treatment agent when exposed to an air flow. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the attachment member comprises a lip member that is sized to be received in a groove on the powder-reservoir receiving section of the nasal delivery device.