Medicament storage and delivery devices

Abstract

A multiple dose delivery device for delivering a medicament into an oral cavity of a patient is provided. The device includes a sachet pack including a plurality of unit doses of a medicament enclosed between a first strip and a second strip. The device further includes a sachet advance mechanism and a mouthpiece. Upon actuation by a user, the sachet advance mechanism, which is engaged with the sachet pack, separates the first strip from the second strip to release one of the plurality of the unit doses from the sachet pack. The mouthpiece includes an opening, and each released unit dose passes through the opening.

Description

[0001] This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Nos. 60 / 362,307 filed on Mar. 07, 2002 and No. 60 / 366,710 filed Mar. 22, 2002, the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The most prominent mode of delivery of therapeutic agents is by the oral route by means of solid dosage forms such as tablets and capsules. Oral administration of solid dosage forms is more convenient and accepted than other modes of administration, e.g. parenteral administration. However, the manufacture, dispensing and administration of solid dosage forms are not without associated problems and drawbacks. [0003] With the manufacture of solid dosage forms, in addition to the active agent, it is necessary to combine other ingredients in the formulations for various reasons, such as to enhance physical appearance, to provide necessary bulk for tableting or capsuling, to improve stability, to improve compressibility or to aid in dis...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

However, the manufacture, dispensing and administration of solid dosage forms are not without associated problems and drawbacks.

However, these added excipients have been shown to adversely influence the release, stability and bioavailability of the active ingredient.

The added excipients are a particular problem with drugs that require a high dose in order to provide a therapeutic effect, e.g., biphosphonate drugs.

The inclusion of the additional excipient can make the final tablet extremely large, which could result in esophogeal damage if the dosage form is not swallowed properly.

Further, the tableting of certain drugs has many associated production problems.

In particular, many drugs, e.g., acetaminophen, have poor compressibility and cannot be directly compressible into solid dosage forms.

Consequently, such drugs must either be wet granulated or manufactured in a special grade in order to be tableted which increases manufacturing steps and production costs.

Even strict adherence to these practices still is not a guarantee that acceptable variation will occur.

With the high cost of industrial scale production and governmental approval of solid dosage forms, such formulations are often available in a limited number of strengths, which only meet the needs of the largest sectors of the population.

Unfortunately, this practice leaves many patients without acceptable means of treatment and physicians in a quandary with respect to individualizing dosages to meet the clinical needs of their patients.

The dispensing of oral solid dosage forms also makes the formulations susceptible to degradation and contamination due to repackaging, improper storage and manual handling.

There are also many patients who are unable or unwilling to take conventional orally administered dosage forms.

For some patients, the perception of unacceptable taste or mouth feel of a dose of medicine leads to a gag reflex action that makes swallowing difficult or impossible.

Other patients, e.g., pediatric and geriatric patients, find it difficult to ingest typical solid oral dosage forms, e.g., due to tablet size.

Other patients, particularly elderly patients, have conditions such as achlorhydria, which hinders the successful use of oral solid dosage forms.

While liquid formulations are more easily administered to the problem patient, liquid / suspension formulations are not without their own significant problems and restrictions.

The liquid dose amount is not as easily controlled compared with tablet and capsule forms and many therapeutic agents are not sufficiently stable in solution / suspension form.

Indeed, most suspension type formulations are typically reconstituted by the pharmacist and then have a limited shelf life even under refrigerated conditions.

Another problem with liquid formulations, which is not as much a factor with tablets and capsules, is the taste of the active agent.

The taste of some therapeutic agents is so unacceptable that liquid formulations are not a viable option.

Further, solution / suspension type formulations are typically not acceptable where the active agent must be provided with a protective coating, e.g. a taste masking coating or an enteric coating to protect the active agent from the strongly acidic conditions of the stomach.

However, such formulations also have drawbacks such as decreased bioavailability of the drug due to improper administration by the patient.

For example, if a patient's breathing is not coordinated with the activation of the device, the active agent will not reach its intended site of action which will lead to a decrease in therapeutic benefit.

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