Nasal delivery devices

Abstract

A nasal delivery device for and a method of delivering substance to a nasal airway of a subject, the nasal delivery device comprising: a mouthpiece ( 519 ) through which the subject in use exhales to cause closure of the oropharyngeal velum of the subject; a nosepiece ( 517 ) for fitting to a nostril of a subject, the nosepiece including a nozzle ( 549 ) through which substance is in use delivered to the nasal airway; and a manually-actuatable substance supply unit ( 520 ) for delivering substance through the nozzle of the nosepiece.

1 - 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . A method of treating nasal inflammation in a subject by administering a substance containing a steroid to a nasal airway of the subject, comprising:
 fitting a nosepiece of a delivery device to a nostril of the subject, wherein the delivery device also comprises a nozzle through which the substance is delivered to the subject, a mouthpiece, and a manually-actuatable pump containing the substance and configured to, upon actuation, deliver the substance through the nozzle;   and   manually actuating the pump so as to deliver the substance to the nasal airway of the subject while the subject exhales through the mouthpiece so as to close the oropharyngeal velum of the subject and deliver a flow of exhalation breath through the nosepiece.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the nosepiece is fitted so as to be in sealing engagement with the nostril of the subject. 
     
     
         28 - 29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the delivery device further comprises a valve assembly which is fluidly connected to the mouthpiece and the nosepiece, and operable between a closed configuration in which there is no fluid communication path between the mouthpiece and the nosepiece and an open configuration on actuation of the pump, whereby the exhalation air flow is delivered through the nosepiece on actuation of the pump. 
     
     
         31 - 38 . (canceled) 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the nozzle is disposed co-axially in a delivery channel of the nosepiece. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the nozzle is configured to provide an aerosol spray. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the subject actuates the pump by depressing an actuating member of the pump using a thumb or finger. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the pump is configured on actuation to deliver a metered dose of the substance. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the substance is a liquid substance. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the nasal inflammation comprises sinus inflammation. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the nasal inflammation comprises sinus disease.