Inhaler

• US 20050016528A1
• Filed: 08/23/2004
• Published: 01/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SHL Group AB
• Original Assignee: SHL Medical AB (SHL Group AB)
• Inventors: Blomqvist, Nikolaus, Blomqvist, Nils, Brunnberg, Lennart, Aslin, Goran, Alexandersson, Oscar
• Granted Patent: US 7,347,202 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/200.230
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0023 retractable
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0071 having a display or indicator
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0081 Locking means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0083 Timers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/009 using medicine packages with incorporated spraying means, e.g. aerosol cans pocket atomiser of the injector type A61M11/08
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0091 mechanically breath-triggered
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0093 without arming or cocking, e.g. acting directly on the delivery valve
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0096 Hindering inhalation before activation of the dispenser

Abstract

Device for use with an inhaler, the inhaler having a body, an aerosol canister arranged in the body containing medicament, including a metered dose chamber and able to dispense a metered dose of the medicament, a nozzle in fluid communication with the canister, an opening for dispensing of the medicament in fluid communication with the nozzle. The device includes elements for activating the canister to open and dispense the medicament in response to an airflow in the inhaler caused by inhalation of a user through the opening, return elements for deactivating the canister to close it, characterized in that the return elements deactivate the canister when the airflow drops below a certain threshold value.

Claims

1. Device for use with an inhaler, the inhaler comprising a body, an aerosol canister arranged in said body containing medicament, comprising a metered dose chamber and able to dispense a metered dose of said medicament, a nozzle in fluid communication with said canister, an opening for dispensing of said medicament in fluid communication with said nozzle, said device comprising:

an activator (34,36,42,44,46,50,52) for activating said canister to open and dispense said medicament in response to an airflow in the inhaler caused by inhalation of a user through said opening, and

a return controller (42,46,56,58,60) for deactivating said canister to close said opening, wherein, said return controller deactivates said canister when the airflow drops below a certain threshold value.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said return controller deactivates said canister in response to ending and/or termination of inhalation.

3. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said activator comprises pressure spring means, for moving the canister relative the housing to vent the metered dose chamber and that said return controller comprises return spring means, for moving the canister relative the housing to an unvented position against the force of the pressure spring means.

4. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the activator and return controller of the device are operated when the canister is positioned with its outlet facing downwards in the inhaler.

5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the metered dose chamber is refilled/recharged during deactivation of the canister.

6. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that said return spring means of the return controller is activated by the user.

7. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that said activator comprises a pressure means (34,36,38) in contact with the bottom of the canister, that the pressure spring means are arranged between the pressure means and the housing of the inhaler, holding means (46,52) for holding said pressure means, thereby preventing said pressure spring means and pressure means to depress the canister, support means (50) for supporting said holding means in holding said pressure means, and release/return mechanism (46,58,60) which is activated in response to an airflow due to inhalation, whereby, upon activation, the support means releases a spacer means which in turn releases said pressure means and the canister is depressed.

8. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that the return spring means of the return controller is arranged against said support means, whereby upon termination of inhalation, said release/return mechanism activates said second spring means to urge said support means in supporting contact with said spacer means, whereby said spacer means urges the pressure means to a position where the canister is no longer depressed.

9. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the device further comprises detecting/monitoring means for detecting/monitoring the time between activation and deactivation of the canister.

10. Device for an inhaler (300), according to claim 1, further comprising an inhalation opening, the container containing medicament, an actuating means capable of delivering a dose of medicament from the container, a movement means (326) connected to the actuating means and arranged, in the inhaler, such that the movement means is moved by inhalation through the inhalation opening, characterized in that the movement means comprises at least one pivotably arranged member (326), whereby the at least one member is balanced such around its pivoting point (328) that forces acting on the at least one member during movement of the inhaler, causing acceleration/retardation, do not affect the at least one member.

11. Device according to claim 10, characterized in that the movement means comprises a balancing means (332,362) arranged to the at least one member such that the forces acting on the at least one member during said movement of the inhaler are balanced out by the balancing means.

12. Device according to claim 10, characterized in that the moment of the balancing means is substantially the same as the moment of the at least one member.

13. Device for an inhaler according to claim 1, further comprising the container (410) with medicament and means for activating said container (412,416,418,424,426,429) for delivery of a dose of medicament, characterized in an adjusting means (440) arranged and designed such as to automatically adjust the contact point between said container and said activating means to accommodate for differences in container size.

14. Device according to claim 13, characterized in that the said differences comprise tolerance width variations of the canister and a certain type of canister as well as different canister sizes.

15. Device according to claim 13, characterized in that said activating means comprises spring means for moving said container upon delivery of dose, and that said adjusting means is able of adjusting said spring means into contact with said container.

16. Device according to claim 13, characterized in that said activating means comprises lever means.

17. Device according to claim 13, characterized in that said activating means comprises motor means.

18. Device according to claim 14, characterized in that said container is an aerosol-driven canister arranged with a dispensing device activated upon depression of said canister, that said activating means comprises pressure means pivotally arranged in said inhaler and acting on said canister, and that said adjustment means is able of moving said pivoting point in correspondence to the size of said canister.

19. Device according to claim 18, characterized in that said adjustment means locks said pivoting point upon activation of said pressure means to depress said canister.

20. Device for an inhaler according to claim 1, further comprising an air passage inside the inhaler, an opening (512,544) intended for inhalation of medicament in fluid connection with said air passage, means for delivering a dose of medicament (514,516,522,548,550,560) into said air passage, means for activating said dose delivering means (526,528,530,552,554,556), wherein said activating means is activated by an air flow through said air passage, characterized in that the device comprises user operated safety means (534, 580) arranged and positioned such that the safety means prevents activation of said activating means when the safety means is in a non-operated state.