Powder delivery device

1. A device for the topical dispensing of a powder comprising:

a powder receptacle storing the powder;

a gasflow generator adapted, in use, to cause gas to flow through the device, the gasflow generator being external to the device and comprising a connector which is adapted to be coupled to the gasflow generator;

an actuator;

a trumpet valve; and

an agitator configured to mechanically vibrate the powder receptacle to release powder from the powder receptacle,

the gasflow generator, the actuator, the valve and the agitator being operably linked such that actuation of the actuator causes the valve to open, permitting gas to flow through the device, actuating the agitator to cause the receptacle to be mechanically vibrated to release the powder and to entrain the powder that has been released from the powder receptacle in the gas flow, thereby to dispense powder from the device, wherein the agitator is driven by the gasflow, such that the agitator operates for as long as the valve is open and the gas flows and is disengaged when the flow of gas is halted, and wherein the agitator includes a moveable agitator element that is positioned within a path of the gasflow,

wherein the powder is a haemostatic composition and the device is configured to dispense powder through a gas flow outlet to internal tissues exposed during surgical procedures or after traumatic injury, the powder being dispensed from the powder receptacle until the actuator is selectively unactuated by a user.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the moveable agitator element is mounted such that its movement generates mechanical disturbances or vibrations within the device without contacting the powder, leading to physical agitation of the powder contained within the powder receptacle.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the path of the gas flow includes a loop within which the movable agitator element is caused to rotate.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the loop is a circular track and the movable agitator element is a ball that is driven around the track by the gas flow.

5. A device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the powder receptacle is a vial integrally engaged with the device, such that the device is supplied with a quantity of powder contained within the vial.

6. A device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the powder receptacle is a separate component that is coupled to the device prior to use.

7. A device as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the device and the receptacle are formed with cooperating formations that enable them to be coupled together.

8. A device as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the device is formed with an upstand or spigot that is received within or about a neck of the powder receptacle.

9. A device as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the powder receptacle is supplied in the form of a sealed vial that contains a bulk quantity of powder.

10. A device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the external gasflow generator is a source of compressed gas.

11. A device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the gasflow generator comprises a compressible bulb or bellows that can be manually compressed by the user.

12. A device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the gasflow generator is a canister of a compressed gas or a liquefied propellant.

13. A device as claimed in claim 1 , which includes an outer housing that facilitates operation of the device.

14. A device as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the outer housing is configured such that the device can be readily held and operated by the user in one hand.

15. A method of delivering the haemostatic composition to the internal tissue exposed during surgical procedures or after traumatic injury, which method comprises providing a device as claimed in claim 1 , which device is charged with a quantity of the haemostatic composition in dry powder form, and dispensing said haemostatic composition from said device onto said exposed internal tissue.

16. A method as claimed in claim 15 , wherein said haemostatic composition comprises fibrinogen and thrombin.

17. A device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the gas flows along a first gas path configured to receive gas from a gas supply at one end of the first gas path and to exhaust the gas supply to atmosphere at another end of the first gas path, the gasflow in the first gas path driving the agitator, and wherein a portion of the gas in the first gas path is directed into a second gas path configured such that the gas in the second gas path entrains a quantity of powder from the powder receptacle.

18. A device for the topical dispensing of a powder comprising:

a body;

a powder receptacle storing the powder in fluid communication with the body;

an agitator configured to vibrate the powder receptacle in response to a gas flow;

a gas flow generator configured to generate the gas flow through:

a first gas path entering the body configured to receive gas from a gas supply at one end of the first gas path to mechanically agitate the agitator and to exhaust the gas supply to atmosphere at another end of the first gas path; and

a second gas path configured to direct a portion of the gas in the first gas path proximate the powder receptacle to entrain a quantity of powder released into the second gas path due to mechanical agitation by the agitator, the second gas path further configured to deliver the powder to a desired location;

a valve; and

an actuator, which is operably linked to the gasflow generator via the valve, and to the agitator, wherein the powder is dispensed to the desired location until the actuator is selectively unactuated by a user.

19. A device as claimed in claim 18 , wherein the gas flow generator is an external gas flow generator, the device further comprising a connector which is adapted to be coupled to the external gas flow generator.