Apparatuses and methods for delivering powdered agents

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11766546-B2
Application number	US-201916259024-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 28, 2019
Priority date	Jan 31, 2018
Publication date	Sep 26, 2023
Grant date	Sep 26, 2023

Abstract

An apparatus for delivering a powdered agent into a subject's body may include a first passage for receiving a pressurized gas. The apparatus also may include a container housing a powdered agent. The container may be in fluid connection with the first passage. At least a portion of the pressurized gas is introduced into the powdered agent in the container to fluidize the powdered agent. The apparatus also may include a second passage for receiving the powdered agent from the container. In a first configuration of the apparatus, the second passage may not be in fluid connection with the container. In a second configuration of the apparatus, the second passage may be in fluid connection with the container. The apparatus may be configured to transition between the first configuration and the second configuration.

First claim

We claim:

1. An apparatus for delivering a powdered agent into a subject's body, the apparatus comprising:
a first passage for receiving a pressurized gas;
a container housing a powdered agent, wherein the container is in fluid connection with the first passage, and wherein at least a portion of the pressurized gas is introduced into the powdered agent in the container to mix the powdered agent; and
a second passage including an opening for receiving the powdered agent from the container, the second passage is configured to move between a closed position and an open position when the container is coupled to the apparatus;
wherein in a first configuration of the apparatus with the container coupled to the apparatus, the second passage is in the closed position and the opening is in a closed state, to restrict the powdered agent from exiting the container and entering the second passage, such that the second passage is not in fluid connection with the container;
wherein in a second configuration of the apparatus with the container coupled to the apparatus, the second passage is in the open position and the opening is in an open state, to allow the powdered agent to exit the container and enter the second passage, such that the second passage is in fluid connection with the container; and
wherein, while the container remains coupled to the apparatus, the apparatus is configured to transition between the first configuration and the second configuration by relative rotation between the container and the second passage, thereby moving the second passage between the closed position and the open position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the container has a longitudinal axis, wherein the second passage has a longitudinal axis, and wherein the longitudinal axis of the second passage is parallel to or coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the container.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the longitudinal axes of the container and the second passage are coaxial.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second passage extends into the container.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
at least one helical groove; and
at least one protrusion movably disposed within the at least one helical groove,
wherein the at least one protrusion moves in the at least one helical groove during a transition between the first configuration and the second configuration.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus further comprises a protrusion, wherein the protrusion is configured to prevent the passage of the powdered agent from the container to the second passage when the apparatus is in the first configuration.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein at least a portion of the protrusion is inside the opening when the apparatus is in the first configuration.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the protrusion extends from a top wall of the container.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the container comprises a movable cap, and wherein the apparatus transitions from the first configuration to the second configuration upon twisting of the cap.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one interior wall of the container includes a curved surface that is configured to funnel the powdered agent towards a central longitudinal axis of the container to facilitate flow of the powdered agent and the pressurized gas into the opening of the second passage.

11. An apparatus for delivering a powdered agent, comprising:
a first passage in fluid communication with a pressurized gas;
a second passage having an inlet opening and an outlet opening, the outlet opening is in fluid communication with a catheter of the apparatus, the second passage is configured to move between a closed position and an open position; and
a container housing the powdered agent, wherein the second passage is configured to selectively couple the catheter to the container in response to transitioning between the closed position and the open position by relative rotation between the container and the second passage while the container is coupled to the apparatus;
wherein, when in the closed position of the second passage and with the container coupled to the apparatus, each of the inlet opening and the outlet opening is not in fluid communication with the container such that the powdered agent is inhibited from moving through the second passage and to the catheter; and
wherein, when in the open position of the second passage and with the container coupled to the apparatus, each of the inlet opening and the outlet opening is in fluid communication with the container such that the powdered agent is permitted to move through the second passage and to the catheter.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein at least a portion of the pressurized gas is introduced into the container via the first passage to mix with the powdered agent within the container.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the second passage is configured to deliver the powdered agent and the pressurized gas to the catheter when the second passage is in the open position.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein, when the second passage is in the open position, a longitudinal axis of the second passage is coaxial with a longitudinal axis of the container.

15. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein at least a portion of the apparatus is configured to move relative to the container to transition the second passage from the closed position to the open position.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the portion of the apparatus includes an impediment that is configured to close the inlet opening of the second passage when in the closed position.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the impediment is configured to move and open the inlet opening when the second passage is in the open position to fluidly couple the container to the second passage.

18. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the second passage is transitioned from the closed position to the open position in response to the portion of the apparatus rotating relative to the container.

19. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the first passage is in fluid communication with the second passage at least when the second passage is in the open position.

20. An apparatus for delivering a powdered agent, comprising:
a first passage fluidly coupled to a fluid source;
a second passage fluidly coupled to a catheter of the apparatus; and
a container housing the powdered agent, the container is selectively fluidly coupled to the catheter via the second passage, in response to relative rotation between the container and the second passage as the container is coupled to the apparatus;
wherein the second passage is configured to fluidly decouple the container from the catheter when the container is coupled to the apparatus and an opening of the second passage is closed, thereby inhibiting the catheter from receiving the powdered agent from the container and fluid from the fluid source; and
wherein the second passage is configured to fluidly couple the container to the catheter when the container remains coupled to the apparatus and the opening of the second passage is open, upon relative rotation between the container and the second passage, thereby permitting the catheter to receive the powdered agent from the container and the fluid from the fluid source through the second passage.

Assignees

• Boston Scient Scimed Inc

Inventors

• Pic Andrew
• Laplaca Matthew
• Bean Jeffrey V

Classifications

• A61M31/00 Primary

  Devices for introducing or retaining media, e.g. remedies, in cavities of the body (A61M25/00 takes precedence {; introducing or retaining ophthalmic products into the ocular cavities A61F9/0008}) · CPC title

• A61B17/12181

  formed by fluidized, gelatinous or cellular remodelable materials, e.g. embolic liquids, foams or extracellular matrices · CPC title

• A61M13/00 Primary

  Insufflators for therapeutic or disinfectant purposes {, i.e. devices for blowing a gas, powder or vapour into the body (hand-held units in which gas flow is produced by muscular energy at the moment of use B05B11/062)} · CPC title

• A61M25/0043

  characterised by structural features · CPC title

• A61L2400/04

  Materials for stopping bleeding · CPC title