A nasal delivery device and a method of delivering substance to a nasal airway of a subject can be used for mass treatment, especially mass vaccination. The delivery device includes an interface unit, as a replaceable unit, having at least one nosepiece unit for fitting to a respective nostril of a subject, a nozzle from which substance is in use delivered, and at least one delivery unit having a substance supply unit for delivering substance to the nozzle of the at least one nosepiece unit. The delivery device also includes an actuation unit for actuating the at least one delivery unit of the interface unit.
1. A nasal delivery device for delivering substance to a nasal airway of a subject, comprising:
a plurality of interface units attached to a support, each interface unit comprising (i) at least one nosepiece unit for fitting to a respective nostril of a subject and comprising a nozzle from which substance is in use delivered, and (ii) at least one delivery unit comprising a substance supply unit for delivering substance to the nozzle of the at least one nosepiece unit; and
an actuation unit to which the interface units are successively attached for actuating the at least one delivery unit of each respective interface unit, the actuation unit comprising an advance mechanism configured to automatically or semi-automatically advance each interface unit in turn to a position with the actuation unit, whereby the at least one delivery unit is in a position to be actuated to deliver substance to the nozzle.
2. The delivery device of claim 1 , wherein each interface unit comprises a disposable unit.
3. The delivery device of claim 1 , wherein each interface unit comprises a single integral unit.
4. The delivery device of claim 1 , wherein each interface unit is packaged in protective packaging.
5. The delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the support comprises a belt.
6. The delivery device of claim 5 , wherein the actuation unit is configured successively to provide the interface units thereto through use of the belt as a guide.
7. The delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the substance supply unit comprises a substance pump unit for delivering substance, the substance pump unit comprising a chamber, which comprises substance and a piston member which is movable in the chamber to deliver a flow of substance from the chamber.
8. The delivery device of claim 7 , wherein the substance comprises a liquid.
9. The delivery device of claim 7 , wherein the substance comprises a powder.
10. The delivery device of claim 1 , wherein each interface unit comprises a mouthpiece into which the subject in use exhales.
11. The delivery device of claim 10 , wherein the mouthpiece is fluidly connected to the at least one nosepiece unit to provide an air flow therethrough on exhalation by the subject into the mouthpiece.
12. The delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one delivery unit comprises a gas supply unit for supplying a gas flow through the at least one nosepiece unit.
13. The delivery device of claim 12 , wherein the gas supply unit comprises a gas pump unit comprising a cylinder and a piston member which is movable in the cylinder to deliver a gas flow through the at least one nosepiece unit.
14. The delivery device of claim 12 , wherein the at least one delivery unit is configured such that the gas supply unit initiates supply of a gas flow prior to actuation of the substance supply unit to deliver substance.
15. The delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the actuation unit comprises a gas supply unit for supplying a gas flow through the at least one nosepiece unit.
16. The delivery device of claim 15 , wherein the actuation unit is configured such that the gas supply unit initiates supply of a gas flow prior to actuation of the substance supply unit to deliver substance.
17. The delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one delivery unit is actuated in response to exhalation by the subject.
18. The delivery device of claim 17 , wherein the actuation unit comprises a detection unit for detecting exhalation by the subject, at least one drive unit for actuating the at least one delivery unit, and a control unit for actuating the at least one drive unit in response to detecting exhalation by the subject.
19. The delivery device of claim 18 , wherein each interface unit comprises a mouthpiece into which the subject in use exhales, the detection unit comprises a pressure sensor for detecting a pressure in the mo configured to actuate the at least one drive unit in response to detection of a predeterrninable pressure by the detection unit.
20. The delivery device of claim 18 , wherein each interface unit comprises a mouthpiece into which the subject in use exhales, the detection unit comprises a flow sensor for detecting a flow rate through the mouthpiece, and the control unit is configured to actuate the at least one drive unit in response to detection of a predeterminable flow rate by the detection unit.
21. The delivery device of claim 17 , wherein each interface unit comprises a mouthpiece into which the subject in use exhales, the actuation unit comprises at least one drive unit for actuating the at least one delivery unit, and a trigger mechanism for actuating the at least one drive unit in response to exhalation by the subject into the mouthpiece.
22. The delivery device of claim 21 , wherein the trigger mechanism is configured to actuate the at least one drive unit in response to generation of a predeten 2 ninable pressure in the mouthpiece.
23. The delivery device of claim 21 , wherein the trigger mechanism is configured to actuate the at least one drive unit in response to detection of a predeterminable flow rate through the mouthpiece.
24. The delivery device of claim 1 , wherein each interface unit comprises first and second nosepiece units for fitting to respective nostrils of the subject, and first and second delivery units, each comprising a substance supply unit for delivering substance through the respective nosepiece unit.
25. The delivery device of claim 24 , wherein the actuation unit is configured to actuate the first and second delivery units in succession such that substance is first delivered into one nasal cavity and subsequently into the other nasal cavity.
26. A nasal delivery device for delivering substance to a nasal airway of a subject, comprising:
a plurality of interface units attached to a belt, each interface unit comprising (i) at least one nosepiece unit for fitting to a respective nostril of a subject and comprising a nozzle from which substance is in use delivered, and (ii) at least one delivery unit comprising a substance supply unit for delivering substance to the nozzle of the at least one nosepiece unit; and
an actuation unit to which the interface units are successively positioned for actuating the at least one delivery unit of each respective interface unit, wherein the actuation unit is configured to provide the interface units successively thereto through use of the belt as a guide.
27. A nasal delivery device for delivering substance to a nasal airway of a subject, comprising:
a plurality of interface units attached to a support, each interface unit comprising (i) at least one nosepiece unit for fitting to a respective nostril of a subject and comprising a nozzle from which substance is in use delivered, (ii) at least one delivery unit comprising a substance supply unit for delivering substance to the nozzle of the at least one nosepiece unit, and (iii) a mouthpiece into which the subject in use exhales; and
an actuation unit to which the interface units are successively positioned for actuating the at least one delivery unit of each respective interface unit.
28. The delivery device of claim 27 , wherein the mouthpiece is fluidly connected to the at least one nosepiece unit to provide an air flow therethrough on exhalation by the subject into the mouthpiece.
29. A nasal delivery device for delivering substance to a nasal airway of a subject, comprising:
a plurality of interface units attached to a support, each interface unit comprising (i) at least one nosepiece unit for fitting to a respective nostril of a subject and comprising a nozzle from which substance is in use delivered, and (ii) at least one delivery unit comprising a substance supply unit for delivering substance to the nozzle of the at least one nosepiece unit; and
an actuation unit to which the interface units are successively positioned for actuating the at least one delivery unit of each respective interface unit;
wherein the at least one delivery unit is actuated in response to exhalation by the subject.
30. The delivery device of claim 29 , wherein the actuation unit comprises a detection unit for detecting exhalation by the subject, at least one drive unit for actuating the at least one delivery unit, and a control unit for actuating the at least one drive unit in response to detecting exhalation by the subject.
31. The delivery device of claim 30 , wherein each interface unit comprises a mouthpiece into which the subject in use exhales, the detection unit comprises a pressure sensor for detecting a pressure in the mouthpiece, and the control unit is configured to actuate the at least one drive unit in response to detection of a predeterminable pressure by the detection unit.
32. The delivery device of claim 30 , wherein each interface unit comprises a mouthpiece into which the subject in use exhales, the detection unit comprises a flow sensor for detecting a flow rate through the mouthpiece, and the control unit is configured to actuate the at least one drive unit in response to detection of a predeterminable flow rate by the detection unit.
33. The delivery device of claim 29 , wherein each interface unit comprises a mouthpiece into which the subject in use exhales, the actuation unit comprises at least one drive unit for actuating the at least one delivery unit, and a trigger mechanism for actuating the at least one drive unit in response to exhalation by the subject into the mouthpiece.
34. The delivery device of claim 33 , wherein the trigger mechanism is configured to actuate the at least one drive unit in response to generation of a predeterminable pressure in the mouthpiece.
35. The delivery device of claim 33 , wherein the trigger mechanism is configured to actuate the at least one drive unit in response to detection of a predeterminable flow rate through the mouthpiece.
36. The delivery device of any one of claims 26 , 27 and 29 , wherein each interface unit comprises first and second nosepiece units for fitting to respective nostrils of the subject, and first and second delivery units, each comprising a substance supply unit for delivering substance through the respective nosepiece unit.
37. The delivery device of claim 36 , wherein the actuation unit is configured to actuate the first and second delivery units in succession such that substance is first delivered into one nasal cavity and subsequently into the other nasal cavity.
38. A nasal delivery device for delivering substance to a nasal airway of a subject, comprising:
a plurality of interface units attached to a support, each interface unit comprising (i) first and second nosepiece units for fitting to respective nostrils of the subject, each nosepiece unit comprising a nozzle from which substance is in use delivered, and (ii) first and second delivery units, each comprising a substance supply unit for delivering substance through the respective nosepiece unit; and
an actuation unit to which the interface units are successively attached for actuating the first and second delivery units in succession such that substance is first delivered into one nasal cavity and subsequently into the other nasal cavity.
39. The delivery device of any one of claims 26 , 27 , 29 and 38 , wherein each interface unit comprises a disposable unit.
40. The delivery device of any one of claims 26 , 27 , 29 and 38 , wherein each interface unit comprises a single integral unit.
41. The delivery device of any one of claims 26 , 27 , 29 and 38 , wherein the substance supply unit comprises a substance pump unit for delivering substance, the substance pump unit comprising a chamber, which comprises substance and a piston member which is movable in the chamber to deliver a flow of substance from the chamber.
42. The delivery device of claim 41 , wherein the substance comprises a liquid.
43. The delivery device of claim 41 , wherein the substance comprises a powder.
44. The delivery device of any one of claims 26 , 29 and 38 , wherein each interface unit comprises a mouthpiece into which the subject in use exhales.
45. The delivery device of claim 44 , wherein the mouthpiece is fluidly connected to the at least one nosepiece unit to provide an air flow therethrough on exhalation by the subject into the mouthpiece.
46. The delivery device of any one of claims 26 , 27 , 29 and 38 wherein the at least one delivery unit comprises a gas supply unit for supplying a gas flow through the at least one nosepiece unit.
47. The delivery device of claim 46 , wherein the gas supply unit comprises a gas pump unit comprising a cylinder and a piston member which is movable in the cylinder to deliver a gas flow through the at least one nosepiece unit.
48. The delivery device of claim 46 , wherein the at least one delivery unit is configured such that the gas supply unit initiates supply of a gas flow prior to actuation of the substance supply unit to deliver substance.
49. The delivery device of any one of claims 27 , 27 , 29 and 38 , wherein the actuation unit comprises a gas supply unit for supplying a gas flow through the at least one nosepiece unit.
50. The delivery device of claim 49 , wherein the actuation unit is configured such that the gas supply unit initiates supply of a gas flow prior to actuation of the substance supply unit to deliver substance.
51. The delivery device of any one of claims 26 or 38 , wherein the at least one delivery unit is actuated in response to exhalation by the subject.
52. The delivery device of claim 51 , wherein the actuation unit comprises a detection unit for detecting exhalation by the subject, at least one drive unit for actuating the at least one delivery unit, and a control unit for actuating the at least one drive unit in response to detecting exhalation by the subject.
53. The delivery device of claim 52 , wherein each interface unit comprises a mouthpiece into which the subject in use exhales, the detection unit comprises a pressure sensor for detecting a pressure in the mouthpiece, and the control unit is configured to actuate the at least one drive unit in response to detection of a predeterminable pressure by the detection unit.
54. The delivery device of claim 52 , wherein each interface unit comprises a mouthpiece into which the subject in use exhales, the detection unit comprises a flow sensor for detecting a flow rate through the mouthpiece, and the control unit is configured to actuate the at least one drive unit in response to detection of a predeterminable flow rate by the detection unit.
55. The delivery device of claim 51 , wherein each interface unit comprises a mouthpiece into which the subject in use exhales, the actuation unit comprises at least one drive unit for actuating the at least one delivery unit, and a trigger mechanism for actuating the at least one drive unit in response to exhalation by the subject into the mouthpiece.
56. The delivery device of claim 55 , wherein the trigger mechanism is configured to actuate the at least one drive unit in response to generation of a predeterminable pressure in the mouthpiece.
57. The delivery device of claim 55 , wherein the trigger mechanism is configured to actuate the at least one drive unit in response to detection of a predeterminable flow rate through the mouthpiece.