Patent ID: 8377009

Claim:
A device for dispensing a predetermined quantity of sterile fluid into a nasal passage of a user, said device comprising: a body, and a dispensing mechanism, the dispensing mechanism comprising: an activation pin extending through an opening in the body; a sliding member contained within the body and connected to the activation pin, wherein the sliding member comprises one or more angled cam members; a firing button comprising a bottom surface forming an angled cam positioned to interact with the one or more angled cams on the sliding member; a plunger end connected to the sliding member; and a chamber containing the piercable dosage form, said dosage form comprising a crushable ampul or blister comprising an internal volume, a piercable membrane and containing the sterile fluid and a piercing mechanism within the internal volume wherein the piercing mechanism comprises an elongated member with one or more inlets in fluid communication with the internal volume, an internal channel and a piercing end forming a discharge nozzle; wherein the sliding member is slidable from a storage position to a ready position to a dispensing position; wherein, when the sliding member is in the storage position, moving the activation pin moves the sliding member from the storage position to the ready position, and causes the sliding member to move toward the nozzle end, positioning the plunger end adjacent the chamber, and forcing a first face of the sliding member cam against an opposing first face of the angled cam on the button, forcing the button into a raised position, and positioning a second face of the angled cam on the sliding member adjacent a second face on the angled cam on the button; and wherein, when the sliding member is in the ready position, pushing the firing button into the body forces the second face of the angled cam on the button to slide relative to the second face of the cam on the sliding member, forcing the plunger end into the chamber with a mechanical advantage relative to the force applied to the button, crushing the dosage form against the piercing mechanism and dispensing the contents of the dosage form.