Details for Patent: 7,798,368

Title:	Fluid dispensing device
Abstract:	A fluid dispenser (5, 105)is disclosed having a housing (9, 109)and a pump action fluid discharge device (8, 108). The pump action fluid discharge device (8, 108) is arranged to be actuated by a pair of opposing levers (20, 21); (120, 121) which are pivotally connected to part of the housing (9, 109). When the levers (20, 21); (120, 121) are squeezed together the fluid discharge device (8, 108) is urged towards a nozzle (11, 111) causing a single dose of fluid to be dispensed from the nozzle (11, 111).
Inventor(s):	Anderson; Gregor John McLennan (Ware, GB), Davies; Michael Birsha (Ware, GB), Rand; Paul Kenneth (Ware, GB)
Assignee:	Glaxo Group Limited (Greenford, Middlesex, GB)
Filing Date:	May 07, 2003
Application Number:	10/513,200
Claims:	1. A fluid dispensing device for spraying a fluid into a body cavity comprising a housing, a nozzle for insertion into a body cavity, a fluid discharge device moveably housed within the housing, the fluid discharge device comprising a container for storing the fluid to be dispensed and a compression pump having a suction inlet located within the container and a discharge outlet for transferring fluid from the pump to the nozzle and finger operable means to apply a force to the container to move the container towards the nozzle so as to actuate the pump wherein the finger operable means comprises of two opposing levers each of which is pivotally connected to part of the housing and is arranged to act upon the container so as to urge the container towards the nozzle when the two levers are squeezed together by a user; in which the fluid discharge device has a longitudinal axis and at least part of the surface of a base portion of the container is inclined at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the fluid discharge device so as to form an inclined surface, the or each inclined surface being arranged to be acted upon by the levers so as to convert a force applied to the levers substantially transversely to the longitudinal axis of the fluid discharge device into a force along the longitudinal axis of the fluid discharge device. 2. A fluid dispensing device as claimed in claim 1 in which the fluid discharge device has a longitudinal axis and each of the levers has an abutment surface arranged at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the fluid discharge device for abutment against a base portion of the container so as to convert a force applied to the levers substantially transversely to the longitudinal axis of the fluid discharge device into a force along the longitudinal axis of the fluid discharge device. 3. A fluid dispensing device as claimed in claim 2 in which the nozzle has a longitudinal axis and the longitudinal axis of the fluid discharge device is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the nozzle. 4. A fluid dispensing device as claimed in claim 1 in which the inclined surface of the base portion of the container is a conical surface. 5. A fluid dispensing device as claimed in 1 in which the base portion of the container has two inclined surfaces each arranged for co-operation with a respective one of the levers. 6. A fluid dispensing device as claimed in claim 4 in which the container has two or more supports to allow the container to be stood up on the base portion. 7. A fluid dispensing device as claimed in claim 1 in which the housing and the nozzle are made as a single a plastic component. 8. A fluid dispensing device as claimed in claim 7 in which each of the levers is pivotally connected to part of the housing by a respective living hinge. 9. A fluid dispensing device as claimed in claim 7 in which the housing has a front wall, a rear wall and two opposing side walls and each of the levers is pivotally connected to a respective one of the two side walls by a living hinge. 10. A fluid dispensing device as claimed in claim 9 in which at least one of the front wall and the rear wall has an aperture therein to view the level of the fluid in the container. 11. A fluid dispensing device as claimed in 10 in which there are apertures in the front and rear walls to view the level of the fluid in the container. 12. A fluid dispensing device as claimed in claim 7 in which the discharge outlet from the pump is a tubular delivery tube and a tubular guide is formed within the nozzle to align and locate the delivery tube correctly with respect to the nozzle. 13. A fluid dispensing device as claimed in claim 1 in which the housing comprises of a plastic cover member and a plastic body member. 14. A fluid dispensing device as claimed in claim 13 in which the nozzle is formed as an integral part of the body member. 15. A fluid dispensing device as claimed in claim 14 in which the body member is fastened within the cover member so that the nozzle projects from one end of the cover member. 16. A fluid dispensing device as claimed in claim 14 in which each of the levers is pivotally connected to the body member by a living hinge. 17. A fluid dispensing device as claimed in claim 13 in which the discharge outlet from the pump is a tubular delivery tube and a tubular guide is formed within the body member to align and locate the delivery tube correctly with respect to the nozzle. 18. A fluid dispensing device as claimed in claim 13 in which the cover member comprises of two cover shells joined together at one end by an annular ring. 19. A fluid dispensing means as claimed in claim 17 in which the body member is engaged with the annular ring to fasten the cover member to the body member. 20. A fluid dispensing device as claimed in claim 18 in which each of the cover shells has an aperture formed therein from which, in use, a part of a respective one of the levers projects. 21. A fluid dispensing device as claimed in claim 20 in which the part of each lever which projects from the aperture is a ribbed finger grip. 22. A fluid dispensing device as claimed in claim 18 in which at least one longitudinal edge of each cover shell has a recess formed therein and the recesses co-operate to define a window through which the level of the fluid in the container can be checked. 23. A fluid dispensing device as claimed in claim 22 in which both longitudinal edges of each cover shell have a recess formed therein and the recesses co-operate to define two windows on opposite sides of the housing through which the level of the fluid in the container can be checked. 24. A fluid dispensing device as claimed in claim 18 in which a protective end cap for the nozzle is connected to the annular ring. 25. A fluid dispensing device as claimed in claim 24 in which the end cap, the annular ring and the two cover shells are made as a one piece plastic component. 26. A fluid dispensing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said container contains a volume of fluid medicament formulation. 27. A device as claimed in claim 26, wherein said fluid medicament formulation is in the form of a solution formulation. 28. A device as claimed in claim 26, wherein said fluid medicament formulation is in the form of a suspension formulation. 29. A device as claimed in claim 26, wherein the fluid medicament formulation comprises an anti-inflammatory medicament compound. 30. A device as claimed in claim 29, wherein said medicament compound is a glucocorticoid compound. 31. A device as claimed in claim 30, wherein said glucocorticoid compound is selected from the group consisting of 6.alpha., 9.alpha.-Difluoro-17.alpha.-(1-oxopropoxy)-11.beta.-hydroxy-16.alpha.-met- hyl-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.-hydroxy-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.-car- bothioic acid S-fluoromethyl ester. 32. A device as claimed in claim 29, wherein said medicament compound is selected from the group consisting of PDE4 inhibitors, leukotriene antagonists, iNOS inhibitors, tryptase inhibitors, elastase inhibitors, beta-2 integrin antagonists and adenosine 2a agonists. 33. A fluid discharge device for use in a fluid dispensing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the fluid discharging device comprises of a container for storing a fluid to be dispensed and a compression pump attached to one end of the container, the pump having a suction inlet located within the container and a discharge outlet for transferring, in use fluid from the pump to a nozzle wherein the fluid discharge device has a longitudinal axis and the container has a base portion at least part of which is inclined at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the fluid discharge device. 34. A fluid discharge device as claimed in claim 33 in which the inclined surface of the base portion of the container is a conical surface. 35. A fluid discharge device as claimed in claim 33 in which the base portion of the container has two opposing inclined surfaces. 36. A fluid dispensing device as claimed in claim 33 in which the container has two or more supports to allow the container to be stood up on the base portion. 37. A fluid dispensing device comprising a housing assembly for a fluid discharge device, and a fluid discharge device moveably housed within the housing assembly, the housing assembly comprising a housing for moveably supporting the discharge device, a nozzle extending from the housing for insertion into a body cavity and finger operable means to apply, in use, a force to the fluid discharging device wherein the finger operable means comprises of two opposing levers to apply, in use, a force to the fluid discharging device so as to actuate the fluid discharge device and supply fluid to the nozzle; in which the housing comprises of a plastic cover member and a plastic body member and the nozzle is formed as an integral part of the body member; in which each of the levers is pivotally connected to the body member by a living hinge; in which in which the fluid discharge device has a longitudinal axis and a base portion; and at least part of the surface of the base portion of the fluid discharge device is inclined at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the fluid discharge device so as to form an inclined surface, the or each inclined surface being arranged to be acted upon by the levers so as to convert a force applied to the levers substantially transversely to the longitudinal axis of the fluid discharge device into a force along the longitudinal axis of the fluid discharge device. 38. An assembly as claimed in claim 37 in which the body member is fastened within the cover member so that the nozzle projects from one end of the cover member. 39. An assembly as claimed in claim 37 in which a tubular guide is formed within the body member to align and locate, in use, a delivery tube of the fluid discharge device correctly with respect to the nozzle. 40. An assembly as claimed in claim 37 in which the cover member comprises of two cover shells joined together at one end by an annular ring. 41. An assembly as claimed in claim 40 in which the body member is engaged with the annular ring to fasten the cover member to the body member. 42. An assembly as claimed in claim 40 in which each of the cover shells has an aperture formed therein from which, in use, a part of a respective one of the levers projects. 43. An assembly as claimed in claim 42 in which the part of each lever which projects from the aperture is a ribbed finger grip. 44. An assembly as claimed in claim 40 in which at least one longitudinal edge of each cover shell has a recess formed therein and the recesses co-operate to define a window through which the level of the fluid in the container can be checked. 45. An assembly as claimed in claim 44 in which both longitudinal edges of each cover shell have a recess formed therein and the recesses co-operate to define two windows on opposite sides of the housing through which the level of the fluid in the container can be checked. 46. An assembly as claimed in claim 40 in which a protective end cap for the nozzle is connected to the annular ring. 47. An assembly as claimed in claim 46 in which the end cap, the annular ring and the two cover shells are made as a one piece plastic component. 48. An assembly as claimed in claim 37 in which each of the levers has an inclined abutment surface for abutment, in use, against the fluid discharge device so as to convert a force applied to the levers substantially transversely to a longitudinal axis of the fluid discharge device into a force along the longitudinal axis of the fluid discharge device.