DRY POWDER INHALER

• US 20100326438A1
• Filed: 02/02/2009
• Published: 12/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Company Kg (C.H. Boehringer Sohn AG & Co. KG)
• Original Assignee: Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Company Kg (C.H. Boehringer Sohn AG & Co. KG)
• Inventors: Dunne, Stephen T.
• Granted Patent: US 10,112,019 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/203.15
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/02 operated by air or other gas pressure applied to the liquid or other product to be sprayed or atomised sprayers for horticulture A01G, A01H; killing insects A01M; air humidifying by nozzles F24F6/14, F24F6/18; cooling by spraying F28B, F28C
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/002 with air flow regulating means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0028 using prepacked dosages, one for each application, e.g. capsules to be perforated or broken-up
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0035 Piercing means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0043 Non-destructive separation of the package, e.g. peeling
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0045 using multiple prepacked dosages on a same carrier, e.g. blisters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0051 the dosages being arranged on a tape, e.g. strips
• 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 2202/064 Powder

Abstract

An inhaler is proposed which comprises a chamber containing powder. The powder can be discharged by an airflow. The airflow through the chamber is regulated by means of a valve at a desired or required minimum flow rate. The flow rate through the chamber is kept essentially constant.

Claims

1. An inhaler (I) for use with a dry powder pharmaceutical formulation comprising a chamber (3, 13) containing the dry powder formulation (4, 14) and a valve (6, 16) for regulating air flow (8a, 18a) through the chamber (3, 13), for ensuring that air flow (8a, 18a) is at least essentially fixed or kept constant or at a minimum accepted or desired or required flow rate through the chamber (3, 13), for varying the air flow restriction with flow rate, or for keeping the air flow restriction generally constant.

2. The inhaler according to claim 1, characterized in that the inhaler (I) is constructed such that air is drawn via an inlet (1, 11) and delivered via the chamber (3, 13) to an outlet (2, 12).

3. The inhaler according to claim 1, characterized in that the inhaler (I) does not comprise any bypass (5, 15) and that the valve (6) varies the flow restriction with flow rate (8, 18).

4. The inhaler according to claim 1, characterized in that the inhaler (I) comprises a bypass (5, 15) for bypassing the chamber (3, 13) or for splitting the total air flow (8, 18) between a primary flow (8a, 18a) and a bypass flow (8b, 18b).

5. The inhaler according to claim 4, characterized in that the valve (6) is located in the primary flow path, in particular wherein the valve (6) restricts flow or closes with increased total flow.

6. The inhaler according to claim 4, characterized in that the valve (16) is located in the bypass (5, 15), in particular wherein the valve (6) restricts flow or closes with decreased total flow.

7. The inhaler according to claim 4, characterized in that a valve (6) is located in the primary flow path and a valve (16) is located in the bypass (5, 15).

8. The inhaler according to claim 4, characterized in that more air is forced to go via the bypass (5, 15) as the total flow rate increases.

9. The inhaler according to claim 4, characterized in that the pressure drop or restriction across the inhaler (I) is kept generally constant.

10. The inhaler according to claim 1, characterized in that the valve (6, 16) is dimensioned so that at the minimum accepted flow rate, preferably 20 l/min, enough air reaches the chamber (4, 14).

11. The inhaler according to claim 1, characterized in that the valve (6, 16) is located upstream of the chamber (3, 13).

12. The inhaler according to claim 1, characterized in that the valve (6, 16) is a flow regulating valve.

13. The inhaler according to claim 1, characterized in that the inhaler (I) comprises pre-metered doses of the powder (4, 14) in chambers (3, 13), such as capsules or blisters, preferably in a reservoir (R).

14. The inhaler according to claim 1, characterized in that the inhaler (I) is a passive dry powder inhaler.

15. The inhaler according to claim 1, characterized in that the valve (6, 16) comprises a plunger (22) that is biased by means of a spring (25) so that the valve (6, 16) can be closed or restrict flow (25) through the valve (6, 16) when the flow (25) increases the pressure on the plunger (22).