Powderject Research Limited

Powerject Research Limited

Colin David Sheldrake

Brian John Bellhouse

Stuart G Weekes

John Christopher Greenford

David Stuart Potter

Avtar S Nat

Charles David Potter

George Costigan

Fiona Carter

Stuart P Hendry

A method of distributing particles in a flow of gas and a needleless syringe for use in the needleless injection of particles into the skin or mucosa of a vertebrate subject are disclosed. The syringe includes a convergence which reduces pressure of the gas flowing in the gas flow path due to the Venturi effect such that particles initially located outside of the gas flow path are drawn into the gas flow path under the action of the reduced pressure and become entrained in the gas. An exit nozzle accelerates the particles so entrained. In another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of creating a gas flow in a needleless syringe which comprises flowing gas through a first convergence into a chamber to form a transsonic gas jet in the chamber and passing the gas jet from the chamber into a second convergence and along the nozzle.

Needleless syringe

A syringe, for use in the delivery of a dose of a therapeutic agent entrained within a pressurized fluid flow, includes an upstream portion, an intermediate portion, a downstream portion, and an actuator mechanism for initiating a flow of the fluid through the syringe. The upstream portion is interfaced with a source of fluid under pressure. The intermediate portion, which is interposed between the upstream and downstream portions, includes first and second members that are coupled together to provide a closed pocket for containing the dose. One of the first and second members is moveable relative to the other within the syringe to provide an open configuration in which the pocket is opened to expose the dose for entrainment by the fluid as it flows through the intermediate portion and to and through the nozzle. Also provided is a capsule formed from the first and second members.

Syringe and capsule therefor

A needleless syringe device for accelerating particles into a target tissue of a vertebrate subject is provided. The syringe features an elongate, tubular duct having a lumen for delivering the particles towards the target tissue. The duct may have a constant cross-sectional area. The device further features a receptacle holding the particles and a gas discharge chamber upstream of the receptacle. On actuation the gas discharge chamber discharges pressurised gas having a maximum total pressure of about 10 bar or less. Methods of using the device for delivering particles to a target tissue are also provided.

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Oxford, United Kingdom

Colin David Sheldrake