Claims for Patent: 6,682,348

Summary for Patent: 6,682,348

Title:	Dispensing apparatus and cartridge
Abstract:	A device for the treatment of periodontal disease includes a handle that has a configuration familiar to dental professionals, and a cartridge, that is locked into the handle when use, typically delivery of a composition to a periodontal pocket is desired. The cartridge provides for effective delivery of compositions, such as agents, as its tip is deformable, typically from a circular to an oval shape so as to flatten. The deformation may be made, either manually, by the dental professional, or upon contact with teeth or other tissues, whereby this flattened tip can penetrate deeply into periodontal pockets for quick and direct application of the composition, for example, therapeutic agents.
Inventor(s):	Lawter; James R. (Yardley, PA), Lanzilotti; Michael G. (Newtown, PA), Bates; Mark (Westwood, MA), Hunter; Gregory H. (Dover, MA)
Assignee:	OraPharma, Inc. (Warminster, PA)
Application Number:	10/112,450
Patent Claims:	1. An apparatus for dispensing at least one material to a periodontal pocket comprising: a barrel including a body portion and a tube portion, the body portion including flexible flanges for forming a temporary locking engagement with at least a portion of an external force applying member, the tube portion extending from the body portion and including a tip configured for being deformed to at least one geometry different from its initial geometry; a plunger, at least a portion of the plunger slidably housed within the barrel, the plunger configured for contacting a portion of an external force applying member; and a quantity of dry particles, at least a portion of the dry particles within the tip. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the dry particles comprise at least one therapeutic agent. 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the dry particles comprise an effective amount of the at least one therapeutic agent, the therapeutic agent dispersed in a dry matrix comprising a biocompatible and biodegradable polymer. 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyglycolide, poly(l-lactide), poly(dl) lactide, poly (glycolide-co-lactide), poly (glycolide-co-dl lactide), poly (alpha hydroxybutyric acid, poly(orthoesters), poly (p-dioxanone) and mixtures thereof. 5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the polymer comprises a block copolymer of polyglycolide, trimethylene carbonate and polyethylene oxide. 6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the polymer becomes tacky upon contact with water. 7. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the therapeutic agent is selected from the group consisting of an antibacterial, an antibiotic, an anti-inflammatory agent, an immunosuppressive agent, an immunostimulatory agent, a dentinal desensitizer, an odor masking agent, an immune reagent, an anesthetic, an antiseptic, a nutritional agent, an antioxidant, a lipopolysaccharide complexing agent, a peroxide, a tissue growth factor and mixtures thereof. 8. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the therapeutic agent has antibiotic activity. 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the therapeutic agent comprises an antibiotic selected from the group consisting of a tetracycline, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of a tetracycline, hydrates of a tetracycline and hydrates of a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of a tetracycline. 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the therapeutic agent comprises a tetracycline is selected from the group consisting of doxycycline, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of doxycycline, hydrates of doxycycline and hydrates of a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of doxycycline. 11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the therapeutic agent comprises tetracycline is selected from the group consisting of minocycline, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of minocycline, hydrates of minocycline and hydrates of a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of minocycline. 12. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the therapeutic agent comprises from about 0.00001 to about 50 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the particles. 13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the therapeutic agent comprises from about 1 to about 50 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the particles. 14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the therapeutic agent comprises from about 5 to about 40 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the particles. 15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the particles have a diameter of from about 0.1 to about 1000 microns. 16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the particles have a diameter of from about 10 to about 200 microns. 17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the particles have a diameter of from about 30 to about 120 microns. 18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the barrel comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of olefin homopolymers, olefin copolymers and mixtures thereof. 19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the olefin homopolymers or copolymer comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyethylene and polypropylene. 20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plunger comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of olefin homopolymers, olefin copolymers and polycarbonates. 21. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the at least one therapeutic agent includes minocycline Hydrochloride. 22.The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the body portion includes at least one nub for receipt in a correspondingly configured indent in at least a portion of an external force applying member to prevent the barrel from rotating. 23. The apparatus of claim 22, additionally comprising: an external force applying member. 24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the external force applying member includes a handle. 25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the handle includes: a sleeve including an indent for engaging the at least one nub of the barrel; a spring-loaded shaft housed at least partially within the sleeve; the sleeve and the shaft configured to engage a at least a portion of each of the flexible flanges of body potion of the barrel. 26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the spring-loaded shaft includes: a proximal end and a distal end; and a thumb ring at the proximal end. 27. The apparatus of claim 1, additionally comprising: a removable closure confined for covering at least a portion of the tip to maintain the integrity of the dry particles. 28. The apparatus of claim 1, enclosed in a package. 29.The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the package comprises an aluminum-laminate pouch. 30. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the package is resealable. 31. The apparatus of claim 1, enclosed in a sterilizable package. 32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the sterilizable package comprises an aluminum-laminate pouch. 33.The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the barrel and the plunger are formed of radiation sterilizable materials. 34. An apparatus for dispensing material comprising: a barrel including a body portion and a tube portion, the body portion including flexible flanges for forming a temporary locking engagement with at least a portion of an external force applying member the tube portion extending from the body portion and including a tip configured for being deformed to at least one geometry different from its initial geometry; and a plunger, at least a portion of the plunger slideably housed within the barrel, the plunger configured for contacting a portion of an external force applying member. 35. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the body portion includes at least one nub for receipt in a correspondingly configured indent in at least a portion of an external force applying member to prevent the barrel from rotating. 36. The apparatus of claim 35, additionally comprising: an external force applying member. 37. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the external force applying member includes a handle. 38. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the handle includes: a sleeve including an indent for engaging the at least one nub; a spring-loaded shaft housed at least partially within the sleeve; the sleeve and the shaft configured to engage a at least a portion of each of the flexible flanges of body potion of the barrel. 39. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the spring-loaded shaft includes: a proximal end and a distal end; and a thumb ring at the proximal end. 40. A method for treating dental disease comprising: providing an apparatus comprising: a force applying member adapted for receiving a barrel of cartridge; a cartridge comprising: a barrel including a body portion and a tube portion, the tube portion extending from the body portion and including a tip configured for being deformed to at least one geometry different from its initial geometry; a plunger, at least a portion of the plunger slideably housed within the barrel, the plunger configured for contacting a portion of the force applying member; and a quantity of dry particles, at least a portion of the dry particles within the tip; placing the force applying member into operative communication with the cartridge; deforming the tip to a substantially flattened geometry, and moving the deformed tip into at least one periodontal pocket. 41. The method of claim 40, additionally comprising: delivering the particles to the at least one periodontal pocket. 42. The method of claim 41, wherein delivering the particles to the periodontal pocket includes, moving the at least a portion of the force applying member to move the plunger, and releasing the particles from the tip. 43.The method of claim 40, wherein the tip is deformed manually. 44. The method of claim 40, wherein the tip is deformed upon contact with a tooth or other tissue.