Programmable multi-dose intranasal drug delivery device

An apparatus for the intranasal administration of a plurality of doses of a liquid pharmaceutical composition, the apparatus comprising:

• a) a plurality of sealed vials, each vial having an access orifice and containing a predetermined volume of the pharmaceutical composition;
• b) a vial supporting member having supports for receiving the plurality of sealed vials;
• c) a pump assembly including a liquid delivery channel for conveying the liquid pharmaceutical composition from the interior of the vial to a discharge outlet;
• d) a pump activator cooperating with said pump assembly;
• e) means for sequentially aligning the pump assembly with the access orifice of each of the vials to permit discharge of the liquid pharmaceutical composition from the aligned vial upon actuation of the pump;
• f) an ergonomic intranasal cap affixed to said pump assembly and in communication with said pump assembly discharge outlet;
• g) motive means for moving the vial support member relative to the pump assembly;
• h) release means for restricting the movement of the vial support member relative to the pump assembly;
• and
• i) a programmable control means for controlling the release means, whereby the support member advances a vial containing pharmaceutical composition into alignment with the pump assembly for discharging the pharmaceutical composition upon activation of the pump actuator.

An apparatus for the intranasal administration of a plurality of predetermined unit doses of a liquid pharmaceutical composition, each of said unit doses being contained in a plurality of sealed vials of uniform dimension, said apparatus comprising:

• a) a vial supporting member for receiving the plurality of sealed vials each of said vials having an access orifice;
• b) a pump assembly including a liquid delivery channel for conveying the liquid pharmaceutical composition from the interior of a vial to a discharge outlet;
• c) a pump activator cooperating with said pump assembly
• d) means for aligning the pump assembly and the access orifice of each of the vials to permit discharge of the liquid pharmaceutical composition from the aligned vial upon activation of the pump;
• e) an ergonomic intranasal cap affixed to said pump assembly and in communication with said pump assembly discharge outlet;
• f) motive means for moving the vial support member relative to the pump assembly;
• g) release means for restricting the movement of the vial support member relative to the pump assembly;
• and
• h) a preprogrammed microprocessor for controlling the release means, whereby the support member advances a vial containing pharmaceutical composition into alignment for discharging the pharmaceutical composition upon activation of the pump actuator in response to a signal from the microprocessor.