Claims for Patent: 8,752,543

Summary for Patent: 8,752,543

Title:	Fluid dispensing device
Abstract:	A fluid dispensing device for dispensing a fluid having a viscosity of from 10 to 2000 mPas at 25.degree. C., the dispensing device having at least one finger-operable lever pivotably moveable into the housing transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the fluid discharge device, to apply a force to an actuating member connected to the neck of a container, the device having a pre-load to prevent pivoting until a pre-determined force is applied, wherein the actuating member and the lever have surfaces which slidingly interact, wherein the pre-load is formed by one of the surfaces of the actuating member or the lever having a dual-gradient profile.
Inventor(s):	Davies; Michael Birsha (Hertfordshire, GB), Hedley; Mark Graham (Hertfordshire, GB), Jones; Margot Jean (Hertfordshire, GB)
Assignee:	Glaxo Group Limited (Brentford, Middlesex, GB)
Application Number:	10/577,977
Patent Claims:	1. A fluid dispensing device for spraying a fluid into a body cavity comprising a housing, a nozzle at an upper end of the device for insertion into a body cavity, a fluid discharge device moveably housed within the housing, the fluid discharge device having a longitudinal axis and comprising a container containing a fluid medicament formulation to be dispensed and a compression pump having a suction inlet located within the container and a discharge tube extending along the longitudinal axis for transferring fluid from the compression pump to the nozzle, and at least one finger-operable lever pivotally supported at a lower end thereof on the housing so as to be pivotable into the housing, transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the fluid discharge device, from a rest position to an actuated position to apply a force to an actuating member connected to a neck of the container to move the container upwards along the longitudinal axis towards the nozzle so as to actuate the compression pump, wherein a pre-load is formed between the at least one finger operable lever and the actuating member to prevent pivoting of the at least one finger-operable lever from the rest position to the actuated position for actuation of the compression pump until a pre-determined force is applied to the at least one finger-operable lever, wherein the actuating member and the at least one finger-operable lever have surfaces which slidingly interact when the at least one finger-operable lever pivots from the rest position to the actuated position to move the container upwards along the longitudinal axis, wherein the pre-load is formed by one of the surfaces having a dual-gradient profile comprising first and second surface portions on which the other surface successively slides as the at least one finger-operable lever pivots from the rest position to the actuated position, wherein the first and second surface portions of the dual-gradient profile are respectively a concave, high gradient surface portion and a convex, low gradient surface portion such that the at least one finger-operable lever is not able to transfer any significant force to the container along the longitudinal axis until the predetermined force is applied to the at least one finger-operable lever, and wherein said fluid medicament formulation has a viscosity of from 10 to 2000 mPas at 25.degree. C. 2. A fluid dispensing device as claimed in claim 1, in which there are two opposing finger-operable levers, each of which is pivotally supported near a lower end of the housing and is arranged to act upon the actuating member so as to urge the container towards the nozzle when the two finger-operable levers are squeezed together by a user. 3. A fluid dispensing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second surface portions both have part-circle forms. 4. A fluid dispensing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said fluid medicament formulation has a viscosity of from 20 to 1000 mPas 25.degree. C. 5. A fluid dispensing device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said fluid medicament formulation is in the form of a solution formulation. 6. A fluid dispensing device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said fluid medicament formulation is in the form of a suspension formulation comprising a suspension of active medicament particles. 7. A fluid dispensing device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the fluid medicament formulation comprises an anti-inflammatory medicament compound. 8. A fluid dispensing device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said medicament compound is a glucocorticoid compound. 9. A fluid dispensing device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said glucocorticoid compound is selected from the group consisting of 6.alpha.,9.alpha.-Difluoro-17.alpha.-(1-oxopropoxy)-11.beta.-hydroxy-16.a- lpha.-methyl-3-oxo-androsta-1,4-diene-17.beta.-carbothioic acid S-fluoromethyl ester; 6.alpha.,9.alpha.-difluoro-17.alpha.-[(2-furanylcarbonyl)oxy]-11.beta.-hy- droxy-16.alpha.-methyl-3-oxo-androsta-1,4-diene-17.beta.-carbothioic acid S-fluoromethyl ester; and 6.alpha.,9.alpha.-Difluoro-11.beta.-hydroxy-16.alpha.-methyl-17.alpha.-[(- 4-methyl-1,3-thiazole-5-carbonyl)oxy]-3-oxo-androsta-1,4-diene-17.beta.-ca- rbothioic acid S-fluoromethyl ester. 10. A fluid dispensing device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said medicament compound is selected from the group consisting of PDE4 inhibitors, leukotriene antagonists, iNOS inhibitors, tryptase and elastase inhibitors, beta-2 integrin antagonists and adenosine 2a agonists. 11. A fluid dispensing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein there is a smooth break point between the first and second surface portions. 12. A fluid dispensing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first surface portion is inclined at a lesser angle to the longitudinal axis than the second surface portion. 13. A fluid dispensing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the actuating member has the dual-gradient profile. 14. A fluid dispensing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one lever has the dual-gradient profile. 15. A fluid dispensing device as claimed in claim 1 configured as a nasal inhaler. 16. A fluid dispensing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one finger-operable lever is repeatedly movable between the rest and actuated positions for repeated actuation of the compression pump. 17. A fluid dispensing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fluid medicament formulation has a viscosity of from 50 to 1000 mPas at 25.degree. C.