Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
  • A61M15/00—Inhalators
  • A61M15/0028—Inhalators using prepacked dosages, one for each application, e.g. capsules to be perforated or broken-up
  • A61M15/0045—Inhalators using prepacked dosages, one for each application, e.g. capsules to be perforated or broken-up using multiple prepacked dosages on a same carrier, e.g. blisters
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
  • A61M15/00—Inhalators
  • A61M15/0028—Inhalators using prepacked dosages, one for each application, e.g. capsules to be perforated or broken-up
  • A61M15/0045—Inhalators using prepacked dosages, one for each application, e.g. capsules to be perforated or broken-up using multiple prepacked dosages on a same carrier, e.g. blisters
  • A61M15/0046—Inhalators using prepacked dosages, one for each application, e.g. capsules to be perforated or broken-up using multiple prepacked dosages on a same carrier, e.g. blisters characterized by the type of carrier
  • A61M15/0048—Inhalators using prepacked dosages, one for each application, e.g. capsules to be perforated or broken-up using multiple prepacked dosages on a same carrier, e.g. blisters characterized by the type of carrier the dosages being arranged in a plane, e.g. on diskettes
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
  • A61M2202/00—Special media to be introduced, removed or treated
  • A61M2202/06—Solids
  • A61M2202/064—Powder
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
  • A61M2205/00—General characteristics of the apparatus
  • A61M2205/21—General characteristics of the apparatus insensitive to tilting or inclination, e.g. spill-over prevention
  • A61M2205/215—Tilt detection, e.g. for warning or shut-off

Definitions

• inhaler devices for inhaling medication, for instance for asthma patients, are very common nowadays.
• multi-dose inhalers wherein one powdered (or liquid) dose at a time is transported from a reservoir to a mixing space, whereafter, after suction, the medication reaches the bronchial tubes of the user via the mouth.
• Inhaler devices further exist wherein one or more doses arranged in a blister pack are placed in a device, whereafter the medication can be inhaled after piercing of the blister pack. It is also known to inhale from an inhaler device the content of a capsule which must first be pierced or divided.
• an inhaler device wherein a disc-shaped blister pack is rotated each time and perforated by a pin which can be operated by a coil spring.
• This construction is relatively complicated and expensive and is not suitable as disposable inhaler device; only the blister pack is discarded.
• the present invention has for its object to provide a disposable inhaler device which can be manufactured in large numbers at relatively low cost price; the dimensions thereof can remain extremely small, so that the user can readily take along one or more of such inhaler devices and throw them away after use.
• the present invention provides a device for inhaling medication, comprising:
• a first housing part provided with one or more cavities in which a dose of a pre-determined quantity of medication can be arranged;
• first and second housing parts are movable relative to one another between a first position wherein the cavities with powdered medication are closed and a second position in which the interior of one of the cavities is placed in connection with an air path and the medication can be inhaled.
• the movable part is rotatable, wherein a number of cavities for the medication for dispensing is accommodated in the rotatable part. It is however also conceivable for the first and second housing parts to be mutually slidable.
• the rotatable part is preferably rotatable in one direction and a clear click is audible and can be clearly felt as soon as a dose is rotated to the dispensing position. If the rotatable part is accidentally revolved too far without a dose being inhaled, this dose is again closed off from the environment with further rotation. Since in the preferred embodiment the device is blocked after the last dose has been rotated into the air path, a dose which has been revolved too far further remains inaccessible .
• the device is enclosed by a liquid-tight and/or airtight packaging in order to prevent the medication becoming moist (and possibly lumpy) and/or losing its activity over a longer period of time.
• a liquid-tight and/or airtight packaging in order to prevent the medication becoming moist (and possibly lumpy) and/or losing its activity over a longer period of time.
• this outer wrapper can be further arranged information relevant to the product and it also serves as guarantee for the user that the device is definitely safe and has not been used before.
• a number of devices according to the present invention can also be arranged in a blister-type packaging.
• the number of doses can amount to one, for instance in the case of morphine, but can also amount to four or more, for instance sufficient for use in one week.
• closing means are for instance provided herein for closing off a dose of medication so that it cannot fall out of the device without being inhaled when this latter is upside down, and/or blocking means for blocking the mutual rotation movement in upside down position of the device.
• fig.l shows an isometric bottom view of a preferred embodiment of a device according to the present invention
• fig. 2 shows an isometric top view of the preferred embodiment shown in fig. 1
• fig. 3 is a top view of a component of the preferred embodiment shown in fig. 1 and 2
• fig. 4 shows a disassembled view of the device shown in fig. 1 and 2, wherein the component of fig. 3 is filled with medication
• fig. 5 is a view in cross-section along the line V-V of fig. 2 ; fig.
• FIG. 6 shows a partly broken-away perspective view of a further preferred embodiment of the device according to the present invention
• fig. 7A and 7B show respective partly broken- away views of a further preferred embodiment of a device according to the present invention in a first respectively second position
• fig. 8 is a partly broken-away perspective view of a further preferred embodiment of a device according to the present invention
• fig. 9 shows a partly broken-away perspective view of a further preferred embodiment according to the present invention
• fig. 10 is a partly broken-away perspective view of a further preferred embodiment according to the present invention
• fig. 11 is a partly broken-away perspective view of a further preferred embodiment according to the present invention
• a device 1 (fig. 1-5) is preferably packed in a packaging 2 which is in any case (water-) vapour-tight but preferably also airtight, such as a blister pack, a foil 3 of which can be pulled off a short time before use.
• Device 1 further comprises a mouthpiece 4 which is provided on the top side with a raised edge 5 in order to ensure that the device is inserted to the correct distance, but not too far, into the mouth.
• the device can be arranged in a blister-type packaging in which for instance four or six devices are included, of which one at a time can then be pressed through the blister pack.
• Mouthpiece 4 is preferably formed integrally with a housing part 10 (see in particular fig. 4) and comprises a central bush 6 with a slightly flexible wall part 7 which is separated from wall part 7 via gaps 32, one of which is visible. Situated on the top side is a suction opening 9 with ribs 11 extending thereover. When the air is sucked in for instance at a minimum quantity of 20 litres per minute, the air moving over the cavity is drawn in and the powder from the cavity is carried along by the airflow. In the shown preferred embodiment the air resistance is moderate, i.e. a user with low sucking power can also draw the powder from the cavity.
• the component 10 is preferably further provided with markings (4, 3, 2 respectively 1) indicating the number of doses still to be inhaled.
• a suction opening can also be arranged in the bottom in order to further reduce the air resistance and to prevent the air resistance becoming too great if the user should accidentally place a finger on one of the two suction openings .
• the part 12 is provided with a protrusion 14 for the counting mechanism, while it is further provided with cavities 16, 17, 18 and 19 for receiving powdered medication preferably poured therein.
• cavities 16-19 recesses 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25 are arranged for strengthening the structure, saving plastic material and preventing moisture from entering cavities 16-19.
• a gap 32 is shown in fig. 4 adjacently of flexible wall part 7.
• housing part 10 is locked in snapping manner on lower housing part 12 such that in practice the device cannot be opened by the user.
• the device is situated in the neutral position or starting position shown in fig. 2, wherein protrusion 14 indicates that four doses are still available.
• the lower housing part 12 is rotated, wherein flexible wall part 7 rotates along the protruding wall part 26 and falls between wall parts 26 and 27 with a clicking sound which can also be felt.
• an air path is left clear over the relevant cavity and the powder is carried out of the cavity into the mouthpiece by the underpressure generated by the airflow.
• Fig. 5 further shows clearly that the upper part has a substantially conical surface, which connects onto a conical surface on the lower part situated beneath a snap edge .
• a minimal distance (d) is left clear so as to avoid problems in respect of the tolerances in the applied injection moulding technique; use is preferably made of a high-grade, injection-mouldable plastic which can for instance be re-used for other purposes.
• the flexible wall part arrives in the end position between the standing end portions of edge parts 29 and 31, in which position the device is blocked against further rotation, the user knows that the inhaler can be discarded, which is indicated by the counting mechanism which no longer points to a number of still available doses.
• a dosage of medication for some medicines with addition of carrier material (such as lactose) is preferable dispensed in the cavities such that the user feels in mouth and throat cavities that inhalation has taken place.
• component 44 is provided for the purpose of strengthening the ratchet mechanism with two pawls 47 and 48, of which pawl 48 is partly broken away in fig. 6 and which both fall into the recesses between inclining protrusions 45, 46, four of which are arranged on component 42 in this embodiment with four dosages.
• the blocking or end stop after inhaling of the final dose then preferably takes place by means of protrusion 49, which also indicates the number of doses still to be used and, after the final dose, falls in a manner not shown into a recess on the outside of component 42 or clamps against the mouthpiece of component 44.
• a blocking element 51 is arranged in a recess 50 in component 42, which element, in the case of reversal as according to arrow A, will drop due to its own weight into a respective recess 52 in component 44 which has a smaller depth than recess 50 such that rotation is then blocked.
• the number of recesses in component 44 will correspond to the number of cavities in which medicinal powder is received. It will be apparent that it is possible to suffice with one cavity when the blocking element is centrally arranged in the point of rotation.
• a valve 61 blocking the airflow is arranged pivotally on a shaft 62, while in the position of valve 61 shown in fig. 7A, wherein the airflow is blocked, the dose of medicine is covered using a slidable valve element 64.
• valve 61 pivots on shaft 62 and slide valve 64 is displaced in the direction of arrow D, so that dose d is released and can be inhaled.
• Slide valve 64 displaces for instance under the influence of a spring element, the force of which in the direction of arrow D is checked in closed position of valve 61, for instance using a finger.
• disc 63 is rotated to the following dose, slide 64 is moved back to the position closing off the following dose .

Priority Applications (3)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=19766347

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (6)

Cited By (22)

Citations (8)

Family Cites Families (1)

• 1998
  • 1998-01-15 NL NL1008031A patent/NL1008031C2/nl not_active IP Right Cessation
• 1999
  • 1999-01-15 ZA ZA9900283A patent/ZA99283B/xx unknown
  • 1999-01-15 AU AU19860/99A patent/AU1986099A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1999-01-15 IL IL13718699A patent/IL137186A0/xx unknown
  • 1999-01-15 WO PCT/NL1999/000028 patent/WO1999036116A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1999-01-15 EP EP99900714A patent/EP1047468A1/de not_active Withdrawn

Patent Citations (8)

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