Inhalation device

Details Inhalation device Inhalation device

1999-10-13

2001-05-15

Dawson, Glenn K. (Department: 3737)

Surgery

Liquid medicament atomizer or sprayer

Gas stream aspirating medicament from reservoir

C128S200140, C128S200180, C128S200230, C128S203120, C128S203230

Reexamination Certificate

active

06230704

ABSTRACT:

This invention relates to an inhalation device for use in enabling material in aerosol form to be dispensed from a container and inhaled by a user.
Inhalers are well-known in medicine for the treatment or alleviation of the symptoms of respiratory complaints such as asthma. One type of conventional inhaler comprises a housing which receives a container of medicament and a spacer member into which the medicament is dispensed and from which it is inhaled by the user through a mouthpiece opening. The medicament enters the spacer member via a nozzle so that it is dispersed into a fine spray before being inhaled. Such a device has an inoperative condition in which the housing enclosing the container is received within the spacer member and an operative condition in which the housing is withdrawn from the spacer member and is pivoted so as to be positioned at an angle to it, typically in the region of 90°. Examples of such devices are described in WO92/20391-A1, EP 0 009 667 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,994,421.
Existing spacer inhalers of this type are relatively complex constructions. For example, in order to achieve the range of movement between the operative and inoperative positions, conventional inhalers comprise an extra part known as the saddle which is slidably received within the spacer member and to which the housing is pivotally attached.
The present invention aims to provide a simplified design which is easier and cheaper to produce whilst providing improved operation.
In one aspect of the present invention there is provided an inhalation device for use with an aerosol container, the device comprising a housing for receiving an aerosol container and a spacer member defining an outlet through which a user can inhale, the housing and the spacer member being attached together so as to be movable with respect to each other between an inoperative position in which the housing is received within the spacer member and an operative position in which the housing is withdrawn from the spacer member and oriented at a substantial angle thereto, the device further comprising a dispensing member for receiving material to be dispensed from said aerosol container and delivering said material into the spacer member, wherein the dispensing member is located in said housing and is supported spaced from the walls thereof by a plurality of spaced ribs.
This configuration provides improved support for the dispensing member whilst allowing air flow through the housing and into the spacer member, which improves operation as the user inhales. Manufacture of the
Preferably, the ribs which support the dispensing member are not equally spaced.
In a preferred embodiment, four ribs are present which may be arranged symmetrically in two pairs.
In a second aspect of the present invention there is provided an inhalation device for use with an aerosol container, the device comprising a housing for receiving an aerosol container and a spacer member defining an outlet through which a user can inhale, the housing and spacer member being attached together so as to be movable with respect to each other between an inoperative position which the housing is received within the spacer member and an operative position in which the housing is withdrawn from the spacer member and oriented at a substantial angle thereto, the device further comprising a dispensing member for receiving material to be dispensed from said aerosol container and delivering it into said spacer member, wherein said spacer member further comprises a forwardly extending mouth piece member defining the outlet and the housing further comprises a forwardly extending projection, shaped so as to be received by said mouthpiece member in the inoperative position in order to close the outlet.
In this way, a separate cap member as used in conventional spacer inhalers to close the outlet in the inoperative position is not required.
Conveniently, the forwardly extending projection and the spacer member are adapted to co-operate with one another in the operative condition in order to retain the housing at a predetermined angle relative to the spacer member.
Preferably, this is achieved by providing the projection and the spacer member with co-operating surfaces which are brought into frictional engagement as the device is moved from the inoperative to the operative condition.


REFERENCES:
patent: 3191867 (1965-06-01), Helms
patent: 3994421 (1976-11-01), Hansen
patent: 5505194 (1996-04-01), Adjei et al.
patent: 0 009 667 (1980-04-01), None
patent: WO 92 20391 (1992-11-01), None

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