US 6,013,050 A · Particle delivery

Abstract

A needleless syringe particle delivery system is provided. The needleless syringe comprises an elongate nozzle which is connected at its upstream end to an open ended capsule chamber. The capsule chamber is configured to house and intimately enclose a nonrigid capsule containing particles of a therapeutic agent. An opening means is provided at the upstream end of the capsule chamber, and is used to pierce the upstream end of a capsule in the chamber. After the capsule is opened, an energizing means connected to the upstream end of the capsule chamber applies a gaseous pressure sufficient to force the particles out of the capsule and the open downstream end of the capsule chamber and thus to create through the nozzle a supersonic gas flow in which the particles are entrained.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A needleless syringe for administering particles of a therapeutic agent, said syringe comprising:

(a) an elongate nozzle having an upstream end;
(b) a capsule chamber interfaced with the upstream end of the nozzle to provide a chamber/nozzle interface, said chamber having an open upstream end and an open downstream end and providing a housing for containing a nonrigid capsule;
(c) opening means for mechanically piercing a nonrigid capsule when the capsule is arranged in the capsule chamber housing, said opening means arranged at the upstream end of the capsule chamber;
and
(d) energizing means connected to the upstream end of the capsule chamber, wherein said energizing means comprises a source of pressurized gas and can be actuated to provide a gas flow through the capsule chamber and nozzle.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Particle delivery

Life of this patent

Particle delivery

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16