EP-4736915-A2 - NASAL SPRAY GUIDE

EP4736915A2EP 4736915 A2EP4736915 A2EP 4736915A2EP-4736915-A2

Abstract

A nasal spray guide may include a collar defining a lumen configured to receive a nasal spray tip, a shoulder surface extending radially outward from the collar, wherein the shoulder surface is angled relative to the lumen; and a cap defining a cavity and configured to engage the shoulder such that the cavity and the lumen are substantially aligned. In some variations, a method of using the nasal spray guide includes positioning at least a portion of a nasal spray device in the lumen such that a distal portion of the nasal spray device is exposed, inserting the distal portion of the nasal spray device in a nostril of a user until the shoulder of the nasal spray guide is seated against a nasal surface of the user; and actuating the nasal spray device while the shoulder of the nasal spray guide is seated.

Inventors

LOKHNAUTH, JOHN K.
DONATO, George J.
NAU, Jeffrey, Alan

Assignees

Oyster Point Pharma, Inc.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260506
Application Date: 20230531

Claims (15)

A nasal spray guide, comprising: a collar defining a lumen configured to receive a nasal spray tip; and a shoulder extending radially outward from the collar, wherein the shoulder comprises a shoulder surface angled relative to the lumen.
The guide of claim 1, further comprising a cap defining a cavity and configured to engage the shoulder such that the cavity and the lumen are substantially aligned.
The guide of claim 1, wherein the shoulder surface is obliquely angled relative to the lumen.
The guide of claim 1, wherein the shoulder surface is angled relative to the lumen at an angle between about 60 degrees and about 80 degrees.
The guide of claim 1, wherein the shoulder surface substantially surrounds the lumen.
The guide of claim 1, wherein the shoulder surface is substantially planar.
The guide of claim 1, wherein the shoulder surface is substantially planar, substantially surrounds the lumen, and is obliquely angled relative to the lumen.
The guide of claim 7, wherein the shoulder surface is obliquely angled relative to the lumen at an angle θ between about 60 degrees and about 80 degrees.
The guide of claim 1, wherein the shoulder surface is substantially elliptical.
The guide of claim 1, wherein an inner diameter of the lumen varies, preferably wherein an inner surface of the collar comprises one or more radially inward projections.
The guide of claim 2, wherein the cap is coupled to at least one of the collar and the shoulder.
The guide of claim 11, wherein the cap is coupled to at least one of the collar and the shoulder by a tether, preferably wherein the tether comprises a flexible member.
The guide of claim 1, further comprising an alignment indicator, preferably wherein the alignment indicator comprises an arrow on the shoulder.
The guide of claim 1, wherein the guide is constructed from a thermoplastic polymer, preferably wherein the thermoplastic polymer comprises an antimicrobial agent.
A nasal spray guide, comprising: a collar defining a lumen configured to receive a nasal spray tip therethrough; and a shoulder extending radially outward from the collar, wherein the shoulder comprises a shoulder surface obliquely angled relative to the lumen.

Description

CROSS-RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims priority to and is a continuation of United States Patent Application No. 17/829,286, filed May 31, 2022, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by this reference. TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates generally to the field of nasal spray devices. BACKGROUND Many substances, such as fluid medications, may be delivered intranasally with a nasal spray device. A typical nasal spray device includes a nasal spray tip and a pump coupled to a container that holds fluid to be delivered via nasal spray. A user may insert the nasal spray tip into his or her nostril, then actuate the pump in order to drive fluid from the container to the nasal spray tip, which delivers the fluid in the form of a fine mist within the nostril. It is often important that the fluid be delivered to a certain intended tissue target (e.g., an area with high vascularization for improved absorption). The location of drug delivery can be affected, for example, by the spray pattern, droplet size distribution, and specific plume geometry of the fluid distributed by the nasal spray tip, and/or influenced by user behavior in positioning the nasal spray device when actuating the pump. While device manufacturers have some degree of control over the spray characteristics through design considerations, they have little to no control in preventing improper operation of the device by a user. For example, when using a conventional nasal spray device, a user may insert the nasal spray tip too far into the nostril, which may result in administered fluid being delivered to the back of the throat (e.g., post-nasal drop) instead of being delivered to desired nasal tissue. As another example, some drugs are intended to be delivered toward one side (e.g., lateral side) of the nostril, but users may incorrectly and/or inconsistently angle the nasal spray tip, which may lead to inaccurate drug administration. Thus, there is a need for additional systems and methods for guiding delivery of a substance via nasal spray. SUMMARY A nasal spray guide may be used in conjunction with a nasal spray device to assist administration of a fluid from the nasal spray device. Generally, in some variations, the nasal spray guide may include a collar defining a lumen configured to receive a nasal spray tip, and a shoulder extending radially outward from the collar, where the shoulder comprises a shoulder surface angled relative to the lumen. In some variations, an inner diameter of the lumen may vary and/or include one or more radially inward projections. In some variations, the shoulder surface may be obliquely angled relative to the lumen, such as at an angle between about 60 degrees and about 80 degrees (e.g., about 75 degrees). The shoulder surface may surround at least a portion of the lumen, and in some variations may substantially surround the lumen. In some variations, the shoulder surface may be substantially planar and elliptical, though the shoulder surface may have any suitable degree of out-of-plane curvature (e.g., concave, convex) and/or shape (e.g., circular, rectangular, etc.). In some variations, the nasal spray guide may further include a cap defining a cavity and configured to engage the shoulder such that the cavity and the lumen are substantially aligned. The cap may, for example, cover and/or enclose a nasal spray tip within the cavity, such as between administrations of fluid from the nasal spray device. In some variations, the cap may be standalone and separate from the collar and shoulder of the nasal spray guide, while in some variations the cap may be coupled to the collar and/or shoulder of the nasal spray guide. For example, in some variations the cap may be coupled to the collar, the shoulder, or both by a tether (e.g., flexible member). Furthermore, in some variations the nasal spray guide may include an alignment indicator configured to indicate a desired predetermined orientation of the nasal spray guide with an anatomical landmark of the user. The alignment indicator may, for example, be located on the shoulder (e.g., shoulder surface) and/or collar of the nasal spray guide. The alignment indicator may have any suitable structure (e.g., a molded feature, a surface-applied label, a color-coded material, etc.) and/or communicate the alignment information in any suitable manner (e.g., graphic, text, color code, etc.). In an example variation, the nasal spray guide may include an alignment indicator in the form of an arrow molded on the shoulder surface, and may be configured to indicate a side of the shoulder that should be closer to a septum of the user, such that the shoulder surface is angled away from the septum. Generally, in some variations, a method of assisting administration of fluid from a nasal spray device may include providing a nasal spray guide comprising a collar defining a lumen, and a shoulder extending radially outward from the collar, positioning at least a portion