Nasal delivery devices

Abstract

A nasal delivery device for and method of delivering substance to a nasal airway of a subject, the delivery device comprising: a nosepiece (117) for fitting to a nasal cavity of a subject, a mouthpiece (119) into which the subject in use exhales; a delivery unit, which comprises an actuation part which is manually displaceable to actuate the delivery unit to deliver substance from the nosepiece; and a valve assembly (127) which is fluidly connected to the nosepiece and the mouthpiece, wherein the valve assembly comprises a body element (128) and a valve element (131) which is movably disposed to the body element between closed and open configurations by manual displacement of the actuation part of the delivery unit to provide for an air flow through the nosepiece simultaneously with delivery of substance.

1 - 49 . (canceled) 
     
     
         50 . A nasal delivery device for delivering substance to a nasal airway of a subject, comprising:
 a nosepiece for fitting to a nasal cavity of a subject;   a mouthpiece into which the subject in use exhales;   a delivery unit, which comprises an actuation part which is manually displaceable to actuate the delivery unit to deliver substance from the nosepiece; and   a valve assembly which is fluidly connected to the nosepiece and the mouthpiece, wherein the valve assembly comprises a body element and a valve element which is movably disposed to the body element between closed and open configurations by manual displacement of the actuation part of the delivery unit to provide for an air flow through the nosepiece simultaneously with delivery of substance;   wherein the body element includes a valve seat which defines a valve opening, and the valve element comprises a seal, which has a central region and a peripheral region and acts to close the valve opening when the valve element is in the closed configuration, and a support which supports the central region of the seal, whereby the peripheral region of the seal engages the valve seat when the valve element is in the closed configuration and the central region of the seal is deflected, relative to the peripheral region of the seal, when the valve element is moved to the open configuration, thereby allowing for sudden release of the seal.   
     
     
         51 . The delivery device of  claim 50 , wherein the body element includes a pivot, and the valve element comprises an arm having first and second ends, with the first end of the arm being pivoted to the pivot of the body element between the closed and open configurations. 
     
     
         52 . The delivery device of  claim 51 , wherein the arm is at least in part resilient. 
     
     
         53 . The delivery device of  claim 51 , wherein the body element includes a sliding surface, against which the second end of the arm is slideable. 
     
     
         54 . The delivery device of  claim 50 , wherein the valve assembly, on opening of the valve element, provides for a burst of air flow, having a first, initial burst phase followed by a second, extended burst phase, wherein the peak flow rate in the first burst phase has a higher flow rate than the average flow rate in the second burst phase, and the second burst phase is of substantially greater duration than the first burst phase. 
     
     
         55 . The delivery device of  claim 54 , wherein the peak flow rate in the first burst phase is at least 10% greater than that of the average flow rate of the second burst phase in a period corresponding to ten times the duration of the period in which substance is delivered from the delivery unit. 
     
     
         56 . The delivery device of  claim 54 , wherein the peak flow rate in the first burst phase is at least 15% greater than that of the average flow rate of the second burst phase in a period corresponding to ten times the duration of the period in which substance is delivered from the delivery unit. 
     
     
         57 . The delivery device of  claim 54 , wherein the peak flow rate in the first burst phase is at least 20% greater than that of the average flow rate of the second burst phase in a period corresponding to ten times the duration of the period in which substance is delivered from the delivery unit. 
     
     
         58 . The delivery device of  claim 50 , wherein the delivery unit provides for delivery of substance subsequent to opening of the valve element. 
     
     
         59 . The delivery device of  claim 58 , wherein the delivery unit provides for delivery of substance in a period less than about 250 ms from opening of the sealing member. 
     
     
         60 . The delivery device of  claim 58 , wherein the delivery unit provides for delivery of substance in a period less than about 200 ms from opening of the sealing member. 
     
     
         61 . The delivery device of  claim 58 , wherein the delivery unit provides for delivery of substance in a period less than about 150 ms from opening of the sealing member. 
     
     
         62 . The delivery device of  claim 58 , wherein the delivery unit provides for delivery of substance in a period less than about 150 ms from opening of the sealing member. 
     
     
         63 . The delivery device of  claim 58 , wherein the delivery unit provides for delivery of substance in a period less than about 100 ms from opening of the sealing member. 
     
     
         64 . The delivery device of  claim 50 , wherein the delivery unit provides for delivery of substance commencing less than about 150 ms subsequent to opening of the valve element. 
     
     
         65 . The delivery device of  claim 64 , wherein the delivery unit provides for delivery of substance commencing less than about 100 ms subsequent to opening of the valve element. 
     
     
         66 . The delivery device of  claim 64 , wherein the delivery unit provides for delivery of substance commencing less than about 50 ms subsequent to opening of the valve element. 
     
     
         67 . The delivery device of  claim 64 , wherein the delivery unit provides for delivery of substance commencing less than about 25 ms subsequent to opening of the valve element. 
     
     
         68 . The delivery device of  claim 64 , wherein the delivery unit provides for delivery of substance commencing less than about 15 ms subsequent to opening of the valve element. 
     
     
         69 . The delivery device of  claim 50 , wherein the delivery unit comprises a mechanical delivery pump which is actuatable by depression of the actuation part.