| US 7,591,808 B2 | ||
| Vaginal or rectal applicator | ||
| Gerianne Tringali DiPiano, Malvern, Pa. (US); John Andrew Ziemniak, Gwynedd Valley, Pa. (US); and Joel Martin Bartholomew, Danielsville, Pa. (US) | ||
| Assigned to FemmePharma Holding Company, Inc., Wayne, Pa. (US) | ||
| Filed on Jan. 16, 2004, as Appl. No. 10/759,695. | ||
| Claims priority of provisional application 60/441033, filed on Jan. 16, 2003. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2004/0260252 A1, Dec. 23, 2004 | ||
| Int. Cl. A61M 31/00 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 604—275 [604/15; 604/91; 604/181] | 9 Claims |
| 1. A vaginal applicator for transvaginal drug delivery comprising
(a) an applicator barrel, wherein the applicator barrel has a size and shape suitable for insertion into the vagina, preventing
penetration of the vaginal wall or cervix, and delivering a pharmaceutical composition to the upper vaginal vault,
wherein the applicator barrel comprises a medication chamber at the proximal end of the applicator,
wherein the medication chamber has a smaller diameter than the inner diameter of the applicator barrel and defines a cavity
within the applicator barrel having a volume of 1 mL or less, wherein there is a space between the applicator barrel and the
medication chamber, wherein the medication chamber is designed to contain 1 mL or less of the pharmaceutical composition in
a form selected from the group consisting of powder, gel, cream, and lotion, wherein the proximal end of the applicator contains
an opening suitable for filling the medication chamber with the pharmaceutical composition and dispensing the pharmaceutical
composition from the medication chamber, wherein the medication chamber comprises a dispensing end that cannot extend past
the proximal end of the applicator barrel, and wherein the applicator barrel comprises a barrier proximal to the opening;
(b) a plunger, wherein the plunger is insertable in telescoping relation to the applicator barrel until the plunger reaches
the barrier wherein the proximal end of the plunger comprises a plunger tip;
(c) a flange at the distal end of the applicator; and
(d) an applicator cap, wherein the applicator cap is removable from the proximal end of the applicator barrel.
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