Dispenser for a liquid

Abstract

A dispenser for a liquid is provided which is particularly, though not exclusively, useful for dispensing liquid medical compositions such as nasal sprays. The dispenser employs at least one, though preferably two, semi-rigid casing halves, defining a liquid reservoir, within which is mounted a bridge member which performs the functions of dip tube, dose metering pump, and outlet orifice. An air inlet may be provided into the reservoir, to allow air to enter as liquid leaves, in which case it may be provided with a liquid-impermeable, and preferably bacteria-impermeable, cover. Other constructions are described in which no such cover need be provided, or in which the need for an air inlet can be avoided altogether.

1 . A dispenser for a respiratory tract treatment composition, comprising: 
 d) a reservoir containing a fluid which is a respiratory tract treatment composition;    e) a pump in fluid communication with the reservoir, the pump comprising a dose chamber and a pump actuator;    f) an outlet orifice in fluid communication with the reservoir and the pump such that actuation of the pump is able to effect delivery of fluid from the dispenser through the outlet orifice; and    wherein the reservoir comprises a laminated container which is adapted to delaminate as fluid is dispensed therefrom.    
     
     
         2 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , further comprising a cover that engages with the body of the dispenser so as to cover and protect at least the outlet orifice from the external environment; wherein the cover comprising a closure element that, when the cover is fitted in the closed position, sealing engages with the outlet orifice and/or with a surface surrounding the outlet orifice.  
     
     
         3 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the outlet defines a fluid delivery axis, and wherein the pump is actuated by a force directly applied to the dispenser at an angle of at least 60° to the fluid delivery axis.  
     
     
         4 . A dispenser for a liquid comprising: 
 a) a reservoir suitable for containing the liquid, the reservoir comprising a laminated container comprising an outer layer which comprises a rigid material and at least one further layer inwardly thereof, which is delaminatable from the outer layer;    b) a pump in fluid communication with the reservoir and with an outlet orifice, the pump comprising an upper pump half comprising a resilient actuator connected to the upper pump half, and a lower pump half; and    wherein depression of the resilient actuator is effective to dispense a dose of fluid via the pump, and wherein the upper and lower pump halves are each formed from unitary mouldings.    
     
     
         5 . The dispenser of  claim 4 , further comprising a cover that engages with the body of the dispenser so as to cover and protect at least the outlet orifice from the external environment, the cover comprising a closure element that, when the cover is fitted in the closed position, sealing engages with the outlet orifice and/or with a surface surrounding the outlet orifice.  
     
     
         6 . The dispenser of  claim 4 , wherein the outlet orifice defines a fluid delivery axis, and wherein the pump is actuated by a force directly applied to the dispenser at an angle of at least 60° to the fluid delivery axis.  
     
     
         7 . The dispenser of  claim 4 , wherein the reservoir contains a liquid in the form of a medicine.  
     
     
         8 . The dispenser of  claim 7 , wherein the medicine is a composition for treatment of the human respiratory tract.  
     
     
         9 . The dispenser of  claim 8 , wherein the composition is adapted for nasal treatment.  
     
     
         10 . The dispenser of claims  4 , wherein the liquid is preservative-free.  
     
     
         11 . A liquid dispenser comprising 
 a) a pump body including two spaced-apart major surfaces having interconnected peripheral edges to define therebetween a substantially closed reservoir to contain a liquid to be dispensed therefrom, the major part of said body being substantially rigid;    b) a pumping chamber having an inlet valve communicating with said reservoir, and an outlet valve communicating with an outlet orifice, the chamber being actuated by a pumping button provided along one of said major surfaces, wherein said pumping button defines a part of one of said major surfaces and serves as a wall of said pumping chamber and depression of the pumping button to its displaced position is adapted to cause liquid contained in said pumping chamber to be expelled via said outlet valve, and return of said button to its first normal position causes liquid to enter said pumping chamber via said inlet valve; and    wherein the dispenser further comprises an air inlet opening, in fluid communication with the reservoir, enabling ambient air to enter the reservoir during return of said button to its first normal position and following dispensing of the fluid, the air inlet opening being occluded by a cover which is gas-permeable, to permit gas to flow into the reservoir, but impermeable to the liquid contained within the reservoir.    
     
     
         12 . The liquid dispenser of  claim 11 , wherein the gas-permeable cover is impervious to microorganisms which might otherwise enter the reservoir.  
     
     
         13 . The liquid dispenser of  claim 11 , further comprising a cover that engages with the body of the dispenser so as to cover and protect at least the outlet orifice from the external environment, the cover comprising a closure element that, when the cover is fitted in the closed position, sealing engages with the outlet orifice and/or with a surface surrounding the outlet orifice.  
     
     
         14 . The liquid dispenser of  claim 11 , wherein the outlet defines a fluid delivery axis, and wherein the pump is actuated by a force directly applied to the dispenser at an angle of at least 60° to the fluid delivery axis.  
     
     
         15 . The liquid dispenser of  claim 11 , wherein said button is fully integral with the major surface of which it is part.  
     
     
         16 . The liquid dispenser of  claim 11 , wherein said button is semi-integral with the major surface of which it is part.  
     
     
         17 . The liquid dispenser of  claim 11 , wherein said button is non-integral with the major surface of which it is part.  
     
     
         18 . The liquid dispenser of  claim 11 , wherein the reservoir contains a liquid in the form of a medicine.  
     
     
         19 . The liquid dispenser of  claim 18 , wherein the medicine is a composition for treatment of the human respiratory tract.  
     
     
         20 . The liquid dispenser of  claim 19 , wherein the composition is adapted for nasal treatment.  
     
     
         21 . The liquid dispenser of claims  11 , wherein the liquid is preservative-free.  
     
     
         22 . A liquid dispenser comprising 
 a) a body including two spaced-apart major surfaces having interconnected peripheral edges to delimit there between a closed reservoir capable of containing a liquid to be dispensed, the major part of said body being substantially rigid;    b) a pump actuated by a pumping button provided along one of said major surfaces, wherein said pumping button is formed as a part of one of said major surfaces; and    wherein the dispenser further comprises a dispensing nozzle in fluid communication with the pump and comprising an outlet orifice for dispensing the fluid, said nozzle being provided with an expulsion channel and with a closure member disposed in fixed manner in the expulsion channel upstream from said outlet orifice, said closure member comprising a fixed portion fixed relative to the outlet orifice and an elastically-deformable portion supporting a closure element which, at rest, closes off the outlet orifice and which, when the elastically-deformable portion deforms, opens the outlet orifice.    
     
     
         23 . The liquid dispenser formed of  claim 22 , further comprising a cover that engages with the body of the dispenser so as to cover and protect at least the outlet orifice from the external environment, wherein the cover comprising a closure element that, when the cover is fitted in the closed position, sealing engages with the outlet orifice and/or with a surface surrounding the outlet orifice.  
     
     
         24 . The liquid dispenser of  claim 22 , wherein said button is fully integral with the major surface of which it is part.  
     
     
         25 . The liquid dispenser of  claim 22 , wherein said button is semi-integral with the major surface of which it is part.  
     
     
         26 . The liquid dispenser of  claim 22 , wherein said button is non-integral with the major surface of which it is part.  
     
     
         27 . The liquid dispenser of  claim 22 , wherein the outlet defines a fluid delivery axis, and wherein the pump is actuated by a force directly applied to the dispenser at an angle of at least 60° to the fluid delivery axis.  
     
     
         28 . The liquid dispenser of  claim 22 , wherein the reservoir contains a liquid in the form of a medicine.  
     
     
         29 . The liquid dispenser of  claim 28 , wherein the medicine is a composition for treatment of the human respiratory tract.  
     
     
         30 . The liquid dispenser of  claim 28 , wherein the composition is adapted for nasal treatment.  
     
     
         31 . The liquid dispenser of  claim 22 , wherein the liquid is preservative-free.  
     
     
         32 . The dispenser of  claim 22 , wherein the pump comprises: 
 a pumping chamber which has an inlet valve and is actuated by said pumping button, which is provided along one of said major surfaces, wherein said pumping button is formed as a part of one of said major surfaces and serves as a wall of said pumping chamber, and depression of the pumping button to its displaced position causes liquid contained in said pumping chamber to be expelled and return of said button to its first normal position causes liquid to enter said pumping chamber via said inlet valve, the dispensing nozzle being in fluid communication with the pumping chamber.    
     
     
         33 . A pump for dispensing a fluid from a reservoir comprising: a pump chamber comprising a bottom plate, inlet and outlet ports, an actuator that forms at least part of at least one of the pump chamber walls, and a deformable resistance device within the pump chamber, interposed between the bottom plate and the actuator, such that the deformable resistance device does not interfere significantly with the initial deformation of the actuator during actuation but resists the final deformation of the actuator, the deformation of the deformable resistance device not occurring until a threshold force is overcome, thereby providing a feedback signal to the user in order to determine complete actuation.  
     
     
         34 . The pump of  claim 33 , wherein the outlet port defines a fluid delivery axis, and wherein the pump is actuated by a force directly applied to the dispenser at an angle of at least 60° to the fluid delivery axis.  
     
     
         35 . A fluid dispenser comprising: a reservoir containing the fluid substance to be dispensed, and an outlet orifice, said reservoir including at least one actuating wall or wall portion that can be deformed by applying a pressing force so as to reduce the internal volume of the reservoir and thus exert pressure on the fluid substance so as to deliver it through the outlet orifice, said at least one actuating wall having a predetermined threshold of resistance to deformation that must be overcome in order to deform it; wherein the predetermined threshold of resistance to deformation of the actuating wall is generated by threshold resistance means positioned immediately under said actuating wall or wall portion, said threshold resistance means exerting substantially no pressure on the fluid contained within the reservoir once the predetermined threshold of resistance to deformation is overcome.  
     
     
         36 . The fluid dispenser of  claim 35 , wherein the outlet defines a fluid delivery axis, and wherein the pump is actuated by a force directly applied to the dispenser at an angle of at least 60° to the fluid delivery axis.  
     
     
         37 . The fluid dispenser of  claim 35 , wherein the reservoir contains a liquid in the form of a medicine.  
     
     
         38 . The fluid dispenser of  claim 37 , wherein the medicine is a composition for treatment of the human respiratory tract.  
     
     
         39 . The fluid dispenser of  claim 38 , wherein the composition is adapted for nasal treatment.  
     
     
         40 . The fluid dispenser of  claim 35 , wherein the liquid is preservative-free.  
     
     
         41 . A fluid dispenser comprising: 
 a) a body comprising an upper half comprising a major surface and a lower half comprising a major surface, the major part of said body being substantially rigid, the two major surfaces being opposite one another and having peripheral edges which are interconnected to define therebetween a substantially closed reservoir for containing a liquid to be dispensed therein, the peripheral edges of the two halves comprising connection means to enable fluid tight sealing of the two halves, wherein the peripheral edges of the two halves define a fluid outlet opening when interconnected; and    b) a bridge piece defining at least part of a fluid inlet channel and interposed between the upper and lower halves, the bridge piece further comprising a fluid outlet channel body that emerges from the fluid dispenser via the fluid outlet opening defined by the upper and lower halves, the fluid outlet channel body comprising sealing means that engages the edges of the fluid outlet opening in a fluid-tight seal.    
     
     
         42 . The fluid dispenser of  claim 41 , wherein the reservoir contains a liquid in the form of a medicine.  
     
     
         42 . The fluid dispenser of  claim 42 , wherein the medicine is a composition for treatment of the human respiratory tract.  
     
     
         43 . The fluid dispenser of  claim 43 , wherein the composition is adapted for nasal treatment.  
     
     
         44 . The fluid dispenser of  claim 41 , wherein the liquid is preservative-free.  
     
     
         45 . A fluid dispenser comprising: 
 a) a body comprising an upper half comprising a major surface and a lower half comprising a major surface, the major part of said body being substantially rigid, the two major surfaces being opposite one another and having peripheral edges which are interconnected to define therebetween a substantially closed reservoir for containing a liquid to be dispensed therein, the peripheral edges of the two halves comprising connection means to enable fluid tight sealing of the two halves, wherein the peripheral edges of the two halves define a fluid outlet opening when interconnected, wherein one of the said halves is formed from a material which is substantially absorbent to laser radiation of a wavelength capable of welding the two halves together, and the other of the said halves is substantially transmissive to the said radiation; and    b) a bridge piece comprising pumping means and defining at least part of a fluid dispensing channel that sits between the upper and lower halves, the bridge piece further defining a fluid outlet channel body that emerges from the fluid dispenser via the fluid outlet opening defined by the upper and lower halves.    
     
     
         46 . The fluid dispenser of  claim 45 , wherein the reservoir contains a liquid in the form of a medicine.  
     
     
         47 . The fluid dispenser of  claim 46 , wherein the medicine is a composition for treatment of the human respiratory tract.  
     
     
         48 . The fluid dispenser of  claim 47 , wherein the composition is adapted for nasal treatment.  
     
     
         49 . The fluid dispenser of  claim 45 , wherein the liquid is preservative-free.  
     
     
         50 . A fluid dispenser comprising: 
 a) an upper dispenser half comprising a major surface, the major part of said upper dispenser half being substantially rigid, the peripheral edges of said upper half extending in a generally perpendicular direction from the plane of the major surface, said upper half further comprising a pumping button formed as a part of said major surface and serving as a wall of a pumping chamber;    b) a bridge piece comprising a pump chamber bottom plate, said pump chamber bottom plate comprising an inlet port and an outlet port in fluid communication with the pumping chamber, wherein the pump chamber bottom plate sealingly engages with the pumping button of the upper dispenser half so as to form a sealed pumping chamber;    c) an inlet valve in fluid communication with the inlet port;    d) an outlet valve in fluid communication with the outlet port; and    e) a lower dispenser half comprising a flexible material sealingly bonded to the perpendicular peripheral edges of the rigid upper dispenser half so as to define a flexible reservoir wall and such that the return of the pumping button following dispensing causes fluid to be taken up into the pumping chamber via the inlet valve and inlet port generating a reduced pressure in the reservoir resulting in deformation of the flexible lower dispenser half to adapt to the reduced volume therein.    
     
     
         51 . The fluid dispenser of  claim 50 , wherein said button is fully integral with the major surface of which it is part.  
     
     
         52 . The fluid dispenser of  claim 50 , wherein said button is semi-integral with the major surface of which it is part.  
     
     
         53 . The fluid dispenser of  claim 50 , wherein said button is non-integral with the major surface of which it is part.  
     
     
         54 . The fluid dispenser of  claim 50 , wherein the reservoir contains a liquid in the form of a medicine.  
     
     
         55 . The fluid dispenser of  claim 54 , wherein the medicine is a composition for treatment of the human respiratory tract.  
     
     
         56 . The fluid dispenser of  claim 55 , wherein the composition is adapted for nasal treatment.  
     
     
         57 . The fluid dispenser of  claim 50 , wherein the liquid is preservative-free.  
     
     
         58 . A bridge piece for a modular fluid dispenser and pump, said bridge piece being of unitary construction and comprising: 
 a) an inlet channel wall defining at least part of an inlet fluid channel;    b) a pump chamber bottom surface defining at least one wall of a pump chamber;    c) an inlet port communicating the inlet fluid channel with the pump chamber;    d) an outlet port in fluid communication with the pump chamber; and    e) a fluid outlet channel body in fluid communication with the outlet port, said fluid outlet channel body defining a fluid outlet channel therein.