Methods and apparatus for delivering a therapeutic agent to nasopharyngeal mucosa targets

摘要

A system for delivering a therapeutic agent to a nasopharyngeal mucosa target comprises a foam generating mechanism, a gas, a therapeutic agent in liquid form that inhibits mucus production, and a delivery device. Actuation of the foam generating mechanism entraps gaseous bubbles from the gas in the liquid thereby forming a foam. The therapeutic agent is dispersed in the foam which has an expanded configuration adapted to fill a nasopharyngeal space and deliver the therapeutic agent to the mucosa targets. The delivery device is for delivering the foam to the nasopharyngeal space. The foam may also have a collapsed configuration for removal from the nasopharyngeal space or for concentration of the therapeutic agent onto the mucosa.

主权项

1. A method for delivering a therapeutic agent to a nasopharyngeal mucosa target, said method comprising:
entrapping gaseous bubbles in a liquid thereby forming a liquid foam; dispersing a therapeutic agent in at least one of the liquid or the liquid foam, wherein the therapeutic agent comprises a neurotoxin; delivering the liquid foam to a nasopharyngeal space so that the therapeutic agent is delivered to the mucosa target, wherein the foam has a distribution of entrapped gas bubbles so as to be self-supporting within the nasopharyngeal space; inserting an instrument into the nasopharyngeal space; and removing the liquid foam from the nasopharyngeal space with the instrument before the liquid foam disintegrates completely.