Nasal spray medicament training device
In at least one embodiment, there is provided a nasal drug delivery training device for training a subject to deliver medicament to a nasal airway, including a pre-use position and a post-use position, a housing comprising a cavity, a proximal end, and a distal end, and a nasal interfacing portion near the proximal end. The device includes a plunger movable relative to the housing, said plunger having a retracted position, and an extended position, and a plunger biasing member associated with the plunger for resetting the plunger to the extended position post use, wherein movement of the plunger toward the proximal end of the housing simulates delivery of medicament to a nasal airway with a nasal drug delivery device.
1 . A nasal drug delivery training device for training a subject to deliver medicament to a nasal airway, the device having a pre-use position and a post-use position, the device comprising:
a housing comprising a cavity, a proximal end, and a distal end, and a nasal interfacing portion near the proximal end;
a plunger moveable relative to the housing, said plunger having a retracted position, and an extended position, said plunger comprising a plunger protrusion;
a plunger biasing member associated with the plunger for resetting the plunger to the extended position post use;
a locking member for locking the plunger in the retracted position following a simulation, the locking member rotatable in a first direction and a second direction, wherein the plunger protrusion is configured to interface with the locking member during actuation and reset of the device, and
a torsion spring, wherein rotation of the locking member in the first direction energizes the torsion spring, and wherein the torsion spring causes rotation of the locking member in the second direction;
wherein movement of the plunger toward the proximal end of the housing simulates delivery of medicament to a nasal airway with a nasal drug delivery device, and wherein, optionally, (i) the nasal interfacing portion comprises a nasal protrusion for interfacing with a nostril of a subject, (ii) the nasal interfacing portion further comprises an aperture providing fluid communication between the cavity and a nostril of the subject, (iii) the biasing member biases the plunger toward the distal end of the housing, (iv) the housing further comprises a shoulder portion, (vi) the nasal interfacing portion is removable, and optionally, is replaceable and/or (vii) the protrusion is removable, and optionally, is replaceable.
2 . The nasal drug delivery training device of claim 1 , wherein, optionally, (i) the locking member interfaces with the plunger to lock the plunger in the retracted, locked position, (ii) the locking member is rotatable relative to the housing to selectively lock and unlock the plunger, (iii) the plunger is resettable from a locked, retracted position, to an unlocked position by unlocking the locking member, (iv) unlocking and/or reset of the device occurs by rotating a portion of the plunger, (v) the nasal interfacing portion is rotatable, and unlocking and/or reset of the device occurs by rotating the nasal interfacing portion and (vi) unlocking and/or reset of the device occurs by rotating a portion of the locking member.
3 . The nasal drug delivery training device of claim 1 , wherein the shoulder portion further comprises a gripping surface.
4 . The nasal drug delivery training device of claim 1 , wherein to simulate a drug delivery, during actuation of the device and retraction of the plunger to a first retracted position, the plunger protrusion interfaces with a ramped portion of the locking member, wherein movement of the plunger toward the retracted position causes the plunger protrusion to interface with the ramped portion, rotating the locking member in a first direction to allow the plunger to bypass the locking member as the plunger reaches its first retracted position, simulating a first breakout force of the device.
5 . The nasal drug delivery training device of claim 4 , wherein once the plunger protrusion bypasses the locking member, the locking member rotates in a second direction, and the plunger is maintained in the retracted position as the plunger protrusion interfaces with a plunger abutting ledge of the locking member.
6 . The nasal drug delivery training device of claim 1 , wherein the plunger is rotatable relative to the housing.
7 . The nasal drug delivery training device of claim 1 , wherein the locking member comprises a tab for interfacing with a rail, and optionally, (i) wherein the tab comprises a tab first surface for interfacing with the rail to lock the plunger in a retracted position, (ii) wherein the tab comprises a tab second surface for interfacing with the rail during movement of the plunger from an extended position to a retracted position, and (iii) wherein actuation of the plunger causes the rail to interface with the tab of the locking member, such that the locking member rotates in a first direction, or the plunger rotates in a second direction, or both, allowing the plunger to traverse the locking member and advance toward an extended position.
8 . The nasal drug delivery training device of claim 7 , wherein upon movement of the plunger to its retracted position, the rail traverses the locking member, and the locking member rotates in a second direction, or the plunger rotates in a first direction, or both, wherein, optionally, (i) upon rotation of the locking member in the second direction, or the plunger in the first direction, or both, the locking member interfaces with the plunger to lock the plunger in a retracted position, and (ii) wherein the tab of the locking member interfaces with the plunger to maintain the plunger in the retracted, locked position until reset.
9 . The nasal drug delivery training device of claim 8 , wherein the plunger is reset by rotation of the plunger, removing the interaction between the tab and the rail, and extending the plunger.
10 . The nasal drug delivery training device of claim 9 , wherein (i) the plunger biasing member causes extension of the plunger, and (ii) the plunger is rotated in the first direction to initiate reset of the device.
11 . The nasal drug delivery training device of claim 2 , further comprising a reset member for interfacing with the nasal drug delivery device to unlock the device.
12 . The nasal drug delivery training device of claim 11 , wherein the reset member comprises a proximal end and a distal end, wherein a gripping portion is positioned at the distal end, and an elongated portion extends therefrom, toward the proximal end of the reset member.
13 . The nasal drug delivery training device of claim 12 , wherein the proximal end of the reset member comprises a plunger interfacing tip for interfacing with the plunger via the cavity in the device, such that movement of the distal end of the reset member inside the aperture against the plunger resets the plunger.
14 . The nasal drug delivery training device of claim 2 , further comprising a reset button disposed on a portion of the housing, wherein the plunger is reset to an extended position by actuation of the reset button.
15 . The nasal drug delivery training device of claim 11 , wherein the reset member comprises a receiving device for receiving at least a portion of the nasal drug delivery training device, wherein upon receipt of a portion of the nasal drug delivery training device within the reset member, the nasal drug delivery training device is reset from a post use position to a pre-use position, wherein, optionally, (i) in a post use position, the plunger is in the retracted position, and in a pre-use position, the plunger is in an extended position, (ii) the receiving device comprises a receiving device housing defining a vesicle for receiving the portion of the nasal drug delivery training device, (iii) the portion of the nasal drug delivery training device to be received within the receiving device comprises the nasal interfacing portion, and (iv) the portion of the nasal drug delivery training device to be received within the receiving device comprises the distal portion of the device.
16 . The nasal drug delivery training device of claim 5 , wherein the housing further comprises a retainer member, wherein, optionally, (i) the retainer member comprises a retainer member opening for receiving the plunger, (ii) the retainer member is configured to receive at least a portion of the torsion spring, and (iii) the retainer member comprises a ramp portion configured to interface with the plunger rail during extension of the plunger.
17 . The nasal drug delivery training device of claim 7 , wherein the plunger further comprises a flange, said flange interfaces with the locking member when the plunger is in the extended position.
18 . The nasal drug delivery training device of claim 17 , wherein the locking member tab first surface abuts the flange when the plunger is in the extended position.
19 . The nasal drug delivery training device of claim 7 , wherein the tab second surface comprises an angled surface, wherein, optionally, the angled surface comprising an angle of less than 20 degrees.
20 . The nasal drug delivery training device of claim 7 , wherein the interface between the rail and the tab second surface simulates a nasal drug delivery device break-out force as the plunger moves from an extended position following actuation of the device.
21 . The nasal drug delivery training device of claim 20 , wherein the break-out force comprises a force between 0.001 Newtons and 46 Newtons.