Devices and methods for delivering particles

Abstract

Systems, devices, and methods for delivering therapeutic particles are disclosed. In one variation, a device for delivering particles includes a gas supply configured for supplying gas under pressure, a particle cassette comprising the particles, a cassette housing, and a cassette membrane. The cassette housing can comprise an Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA) copolymer of 18% to 28% by weight of Vinyl Acetate (VA). The device can also include a safety interlock to prevent or minimize the risk that the device will be unintentionally activated. The device can also have a silencer.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A device for delivering particles comprising:
 a particle cassette comprising the particles, a cassette housing, and a cassette membrane, wherein the cassette housing comprises an Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA) copolymer of 18% to 28% Vinyl Acetate (VA); and   a gas supply configured to supply gas under pressure to deliver the particles by rupturing the cassette membrane.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the cassette housing has a particle reservoir having an inner diameter from 5.0 mm to 7.0 mm. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the cassette membrane comprises polycarbonate. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the cassette membrane is 10 to 30 microns thick. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device comprises a trigger and a safety interlock configured to impede actuation of the trigger when the safety interlock is engaged. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device comprises a silencer cover and a silencer packing material. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the cassette housing comprises an EVA copolymer of 18% VA. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the cassette housing comprises a male cassette part and a female cassette part and a piece of the cassette membrane covers a first cassette port of the male cassette part and another piece of the cassette membrane covers a second cassette port of the female cassette part. 
     
     
         9 . A device for delivering particles comprising:
 a gas supply configured to supply gas under pressure;   a particle cassette comprising the particles, a cassette housing, and a cassette membrane, wherein the cassette housing comprises an Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA) copolymer of 18% to 28% Vinyl Acetate (VA);   a trigger; and   a disengageable safety interlock configured to impede actuation of the trigger.   
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , further comprising a case, wherein a portion of the case is the disengageable safety interlock. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the cassette membrane is 10 to 30 microns thick and comprises polycarbonate. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the device comprises a silencer cover and a silencer packing material. 
     
     
         13 . A method for delivering particles comprising:
 storing the particles in a particle cassette having a cassette housing and a cassette membrane, wherein the cassette housing comprises an Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA) copolymer of 18% to 28% Vinyl Acetate (VA);   delivering pressurized gas to the exterior of the particle cassette;   rupturing the particle cassette with the pressurized gas; and   accelerating the particles out of the particle cassette with the pressurized gas, wherein greater than 40% of the particles are delivered by the pressurized gas.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein greater than 70% of the particles are delivered by the pressurized gas. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein 40-85% of the particles are delivered by the pressurized gas. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein 60-85% of the particles are delivered by the pressurized gas. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the cassette membrane comprises polycarbonate. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the cassette membrane is 10 to 30 microns thick. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising disengaging a safety interlock. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising accelerating the particles out of the particle cassette with the pressurized gas through a silencer.