×

Dry powder inhaler with aeroelastic dispersion mechanism

  • US 20070209661A1
  • Filed: 03/02/2007
  • Published: 09/13/2007
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2006
  • Status: Abandoned Application
0
Associated Cases
0
Associated Defendants
0
Product Citations
0
Petitions
35
Forward Citations
2
Assignments
First Claim
Patent Images

1. A dry powder inhaler apparatus for delivering pharmaceuticals to a patient, comprising:

  • a. a casing, comprising an outer surface and two inner walls, the inner walls forming an open center chamber through which air can flow within the casing and two enclosed chambers, a right chamber located to the right of the open center chamber and a left chamber located to the left of the open center chamber, the center chamber, further comprising a front end, a back end, a left wall, a right wall and a center dispensing region, the back end of the center chamber further comprising airflow modifiers anterior to the airflow inlets, the airflow modifiers further comprising multiple triangular rods extending from the left wall to the right wall, resulting in vortices which allow air to pass above and below the triangular rodsb. multiple airflow inlets extending from the back of the center chamber through the outer surface of the casing;

    c. an aeroelastic element spanning the center dispensing region, comprising;

    i. an aeroelastic membrane with a powder dose, the membrane having a used end and an unused end, the membrane being wound between two spools, a first spool and a second spool, the first spool comprising the unused end being located in the left chamber and the second spool attaching to the used end being located in the right chamber, resulting in the aeroelastic membrane running through the slot in the left wall across the center dispensing region and through the slot in the right wall onto the second spool;

    ii. two axles running through the center of the spools, the axle for the second spool comprising a concentric spring, resulting in the aeroelastic membrane being transferred from the first spool to the second spool as the spring-loaded axle is activated; and

    iii. a roller engaging the aeroelastic membrane immediately adjacent to the first spool, resulting in additional tension in the aeroelastic membrane;

    d. two base clamps fixedly attached to the floor of the chambers, one in the right chamber and one in the left chamber, upon which the aeroelastic element rests, the clamps being located between the spools and the left and right walls;

    e. two upper clamps located above the base clamps, the upper clamps descending atop the base clamps to hold the aeroelastic element in place across the center dispensing region;

    f. a crank movably attached to the two upper clamps, said crank causing the upper clamps to raise when the advancing means is activated and the crank moves;

    g. two tensioner rods located between the upper clamps and the left and right walls and movably attached to a crank, the tensioner rods descending to a pre-determined level to further tension the aeroelastic element, releasing when the advancing means is activated and the crank moves;

    h. a powder dose applicator located between the first spool and the base clamp in the left chamber, the powder dose applicator comprising;

    i. a dispensing chute filled with at least one dose of powder, the dispensing chute comprising a top end and a bottom end;

    ii. a wheel at the bottom end of the dispensing chute, the wheel comprising a multitude of notches around its circumference, the notches filling with powder from the dispensing chute and emptying onto the aeroelastic membrane as the wheel turns; and

    iii. two flattening rollers, one above and one below the aeroelastic membrane between the dispensing chute and the base clamp, the rollers turning as the aeroelastic membrane moves from the first spool to the second spool, fully engaging the powder with the aeroelastic membrane and breaking up clumps in the powder;

    i. a turbulent airflow nozzle, comprising an inner end and an outer end, the inner end engaging the front of the chamber, extending through the outer surface of the casing and the outer end extending through the mouth piece, the nozzle further comprising at least one tube through which air and powder can be inhaled, extending from the inner end to the outer end in a helical fashion, thereby increasing the turbulence in the air that flows through the nozzle;

    j. a mouthpiece affixed to the outer wall of the casing, comprising a cylindrical opening that engages the outer end of the nozzle, allowing the air and powder to leave the dry powder inhaler and enter the patient'"'"'s respiratory system upon inhalation, and having an appropriate shape for pursing the patient'"'"'s lips over the mouthpiece and creating a seal between the lips and the mouthpiece;

    k. a dose counter on the outer wall engaged to an advancement means in such a way that the dose counter changes numbers by one when the advancement means is activated; and

    l. an advancement means capable of turning the crank to release the upper clamps and tensioner rods, advancing the dose counter, turning the wheel in the dispensing chute, advancing the spring-loaded axle in the second spool by one position to advance the aeroelastic element a predetermined distance from the first spool to the second spool, and moving a powder dose into the center dispensing region.

View all claims
  • 2 Assignments
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×