INHALER

• US 20100326436A1
• Filed: 04/30/2009
• Published: 12/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Kaneko, Hideki
• Application Number:
  US12/920,836
• Publication Number:
  US 20100326436A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/203.12
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/007 Syringe-type or piston-type sprayers or atomisers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0003 with means for dispensing more than one drug
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0016 located downstream of the dispenser, i.e. traversed by the product
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0065 Inhalators with dosage or measuring devices A61M15/0028 takes precedence; dosage devices incorporated in aerosol cans B65D83/52
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0085 using ultrasonics spraying or atomising liquids using ultrasonic vibrations in general B05B17/06
• 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 15/025 Bubble jet droplet ejection devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0027 pressure meter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0039 in the inspiratory circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0468 non-physiological
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/064 Powder
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/123 with incorporated reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3569 sublocal, e.g. between console and disposable
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/502 User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/587 Lighting arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6072 Bar codes

Abstract

There is provided an inhaler capable of allowing a medicine to effectively reach a target site even when a plurality of types of medicines having different target sites is used in the same inhaler. In a control unit (CPU) of a housing, a medicine identification portion identifies the type of medicine stored in a medicine storing portion of a cartridge. A determination portion determines an air inhalation volume when the medicine is inhaled based on the type of medicine identified by the medicine identification portion. A medicine ejection portion is arranged in an air flow path. The medicine ejected from the medicine ejection portion is inhaled by a user from a suction port. A display portion of the housing informs the user of the inhalation volume determined by the determination portion.

Claims

1. An inhaler comprising:

a medicine storing portion for storing a medicine;

a medicine ejection portion for ejecting the medicine;

a suction portion for allowing a user to inhale air including the ejected medicine;

a medicine identification unit for identifying a type of medicine stored in the medicine storing portion; and

a determination unit for determining an inhalation volume to be inhaled by a user according to the type of medicine identified by the medicine identification unit.

2. The inhaler according to claim 1, further comprising an inhalation volume sensor for measuring an inhalation volume inhaled by a user.

3. The inhaler according to claim 1, further comprising an informing unit for informing a user of the inhalation volume determined by the determination unit.

4. The inhaler according to claim 3, wherein the informing unit informs a user of information indicating a relation between the inhalation volume measured by the inhalation volume sensor and the inhalation volume determined by the determination unit.

5. The inhaler according to claim 4, wherein the informing unit provides information about a percentage of inhalation in relation to the inhalation volume determined by the determination unit to a user during inhalation.

6. The inhaler according to claim 3, wherein when the inhalation volume measured by the inhalation volume sensor reaches the inhalation volume determined by the determination unit, the informing unit informs a user that the inhalation volume measured by the inhalation volume sensor reaches the inhalation volume determined by the determination unit.

7. The inhaler according to claim 2, further comprising a prohibition unit for prohibiting inhalation by a user when the inhalation volume measured by the inhalation volume sensor reaches the inhalation volume determined by the determination unit.