Surgery – Respiratory method or device – Means for mixing treating agent with respiratory gas
Patent
1994-09-02
1996-07-09
Asher, Kimberly L.
Surgery
Respiratory method or device
Means for mixing treating agent with respiratory gas
12820321, A61M 1500, A61M 1600, B05D 714, B65D 8306
Patent
active
055335055
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a breath-actuated disposable inhaler of the kind having a generally tubular shape and having two ends, one end forming an air inlet and one end forming an air outlet, the inhaler containing a pharmaceutical powder comprising particles of a respirable size which are to be inhaled.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Disposable, breath-actuated inhalers of the kind described above are for instance disclosed in WO 89/01348, U.S. Pat. No. 4,265,236 and EP-A-0404454.
EP-A-0404454 discloses a disposable, breath-actuated inhaler comprising a chamber for a pharmaceutical powder, said chamber being provided with an air inlet and with an air outlet. The air inlet and outlet are covered by a common cover. The powder is disposed loosely in the comparatively large chamber which means that the powder will not necessarily be located at that location at which the air flow is most efficient.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,265,236 discloses a tubular disposable, breath-actuated inhaler comprising a flexible tube, the ends of which normally are sealingly inserted into each other. This kind of seal will not necessarily be moisture-proof. There furthermore is a risk that some amount of the powder may fall out of the inhaler when the ends of the tube are pulled apart. WO 89/01348, in the embodiment most of interest here, discloses a tubular, disposable inhaler which is Sealed in both ends by means of twist-off caps. The. pharmaceutical powder is loosely disposed in the inhaler and, as in the other inhalers described above, there is a risk that some powder is lost when the inhaler is opened.
The objects of the invention are to provide a disposable inhaler of the kind described above in which the dose of pharmaceutical powder can be determined accurately and in which the pharmaceutical powder can be stored hermetically sealed and moisture-proof. The dose delivered by different specimens of the same inhaler should generally be constant. The inhaler finally should be easy to prepare for use and easy to use as well as being easy and cheap to manufacture.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE APPENDED DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an inhaler according to the invention,
FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of an inhaler according to FIG. 1 but showing the two main parts of the inhaler in an unassembled state,
FIGS. 3A-3C show different stages in the opening of the powder compartment of the inhaler of FIG. 1,
FIG. 4 shows an end view of the air inlet of the inhaler in FIG. 1,
FIGS. 5-7 show different possible embodiments of the constriction adjacent the powder compartment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
A preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed in FIGS. 1-4. In FIG. 1 the inhaler can be seen in a fully assembled condition and ready for use. As can be seen, the inhaler essentially comprises two elongate main parts, an upper part 1 which is made of a moulded sheet of plastic material and a lower part 2 preferably made of aluminum foil laminated with plastic. The upper part I is U-shaped with a substantially rectangular shape. The width of the upper part is several times the height. The lower part is generally flatland the two parts thus form a tubular housing defining an air conduit or air flow path with an air inlet 4 and an air outlet 5. A part-spherical depression or recess 3 indicated with a dashed line is located close to the air inlet 4. The recess 3 forms a powder compartment and is covered by a tape 6 which preferably is made of aluminum foil, also laminated with plastic. The recess 3 may also be provided with one or several small through-holes 24 in the bottom. The hole or holes 24 should be large enough to allow the entry of air into the recess from the underside of the lower part, but sufficiently small to prevent any part of the powder from falling out through the hole(s).
As indicated, the end of the part of the tape 6 covering the recess 3 is located between the recess 3 and the air inlet 4. The tape is attached to the lower part 2
REFERENCES:
patent: 481780 (1989-04-01), Williams et al.
patent: 2549303 (1949-04-01), Friden
patent: 4265236 (1981-05-01), Pacella
patent: 4811731 (1989-03-01), Newell et al.
patent: 4841964 (1989-06-01), Hurka et al.
patent: 5035237 (1991-07-01), Newell et al.
patent: 5042472 (1991-08-01), Bunin
patent: 5239991 (1993-08-01), Chawla et al.
International Search Report (European Patent Office).
Kallstrand Goran
Nilsson Per-Gunnar
Asher Kimberly L.
Astra Aktiebolag
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