Drug – bio-affecting and body treating compositions – Preparations characterized by special physical form – Capsules
Patent
1995-03-01
1996-10-08
Phelan, D. Gabrielle
Drug, bio-affecting and body treating compositions
Preparations characterized by special physical form
Capsules
12820024, 6048901, A61K 948, A61M 1500
Patent
active
055629180
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to a drug dispensing system which is particularly useful for administering powdered drugs by inhalation. The drug dispensing system comprises a drug dispenser and a drug capsule, each of which is individually included in the invention.
In one aspect, therefore, this invention relates to a drug capsule which is particularly useful for a powdered dose form of medicine which is administered by inhalation. Thus the capsule of the present invention normally would be non-soluble and not intended to be consumed. The capsule is intended for use as a drug cartridge which can be ruptured at such time as administration is required whereby the drug can be readily and efficiently extracted from the capsule.
In known powder dose inhalation devices it is common to use known capsules which comprise a soluble case of gelatin which encloses a dose of medicine. Such capsules are inserted in an inhaler device either as a single dose or in an array for multiple dose usage and, at the appropriate time, when a patient requires the powdered dose to be administered, the capsule is pierced or sheared whereafter the patient inhales to entrain the powder dosage of medicine in a stream of inhaled air.
In one aspect of the invention, there is provided a drug capsule comprising a member which can be ruptured to open the capsule and a member which may be moved relative to the rupturable member to rupture it.
Preferably the movable member is adapted to rupture the rupturable member by at least partially severing it to form a disc of material. The rupturable member suitably comprises an end face of the capsule.
Preferably the movable member comprises a sleeve forming a side wall of the capsule and having first and second ends and the rupturable member comprises a displaceable end cap closing the first end of the sleeve, the end cap having an end face which can be ruptured by the end of the sleeve by urging the end cap against the end of the sleeve. The first end of the sleeve preferably comprises an ellipse the plane of which is at an angle to the plane normal to the axis of the sleeve so as to form a cutting edge which can cut progressively through the end face of the end cap. The end cap is preferably displaceably connected to the sleeve by a rib and groove connection. The end face of the end cap preferably remains hinged to the end cap after being ruptured and displaced along the sleeve.
In some embodiments wherein the movable member comprises a sleeve, the second end of the sleeve is closed by a rupturable and displaceable end cap in like manner to the first end and the sleeve is preferably provided with an outwardly projecting flange or other stop means intermediate its ends, against which the end caps abut when fully displaced along the sleeve from its ends. In other embodiments, the second end of the sleeve is closed by means not displaceable relative to the sleeve in normal use, for example a cross wall integral with the sleeve.
In a second aspect there is provided a drug capsule for a powder inhaler, comprising a tubular side wall having a first, open end and, displaceably connected to the side wall, an end cap closing the first end of the side wall, the end cap having a body portion and an end wall portion at least partially severable from the body portion and the first end of the side wall having a cutting edge partially to sever the end wall portion from the body portion when the end cap is urged against the first end of the side wall to form a disc hinged to the body portion. The end cap is preferably provided with a flange or other abutment means projecting therefrom in a radial direction. In some embodiments, the tubular side wall has a second open end like the first and closed by a displaceable end cap like that closing the first end and the side wall is provided with an outwardly projecting flange or other stop means intermediate its ends against which the end caps abut when fully displaced along the sleeve from its ends.
In other embodiments, the tubular side wall has a second end closed by an integ
REFERENCES:
patent: 2307986 (1943-01-01), Bolte et al.
patent: 2672144 (1954-03-01), Cohen
Bespak plc
Phelan D. Gabrielle
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