POWDER DISPERSION DEVICES AND METHODS

• US 20130340747A1
• Filed: 02/25/2013
• Published: 12/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Respira Therapeutics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Respira Therapeutics, Inc.
• Inventors: Donovan, Martin J.
• Granted Patent: US 10,441,733 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/200.23
• 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 15/0033 Details of the piercing or cutting means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0045 using multiple prepacked dosages on a same carrier, e.g. blisters
• 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 15/0086 Inhalation chambers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/064 Powder
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/07 having air pumping means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2206/14 Static flow deviators in tubes disturbing laminar flow in tubes, e.g. archimedes screws

Abstract

A dry powder inhaler may include a powder storage, an inlet channel, a dispersion chamber, and an outlet channel. A geometry of the inhaler may be such that a flow profile is generated within the dispersion chamber that causes an actuator to oscillate, enabling the actuator when oscillating to deaggregate powdered medicament within the dispersion chamber to be aerosolized and entrained by the air and delivered to a patient through the outlet channel.

Claims

1. A dry powder inhaler, comprising:

a first chamber that is adapted to receive an aerosolized powdered medicament from an inlet channel, wherein volume of the first chamber is greater than volume of the inlet channel;

a dispersion chamber that is adapted to receive at least a portion of the aerosolized powdered medicament from the first chamber, the dispersion chamber holding an actuator that is movable within the dispersion chamber along a longitudinal axis; and

an outlet channel through which air and powdered medicament exit the inhaler to be delivered to a patient;

wherein the geometry of the inhaler is such that a flow profile is generated within the dispersion chamber that causes the actuator to oscillate along the longitudinal axis, thus enabling the oscillating actuator to effectively disperse powdered medicament received in the dispersion chamber for delivery to the patient through the outlet channel.

2. The dry powder inhaler of claim 1, wherein a cross-sectional area of a flow path through the inhaler undergoes a step increase at the entrance to the dispersion chamber.

3. The dry powder inhaler of claim 1, wherein a ratio of the diameter of the dispersion chamber to that of the inlet channel is within a range of about greater than 1.0 to about 3.0.

4. The dry powder inhaler of claim 1, wherein the inlet channel comprises a tube.

5. The dry powder inhaler of claim 1, wherein the inlet channel comprises a tube with a cross-section that varies along the length of the tube.

6. The dry powder inhaler of claim 1, wherein the outlet channel comprises a tube with a cross-section that varies along the length of the tube.

7. The dry powder inhaler of claim 1, wherein the outlet channel is integral to a mouthpiece adapted to be placed within the mouth of the patient.

8. The dry powder inhaler of claim 1, wherein the outlet channel is integral to a nasal adapter adapted to conform to at least one nostril of the patient.

9. The dry powder inhaler of claim 1, further comprising one or more bypass channels that receive supplemental air from external the inhaler, and deliver the supplemental air to the patient without the supplemental air having passed through at least one of a powder storage chamber and the dispersion chamber.

10. The dry powder inhaler of claim 1, further comprising a coupling that connects the dispersion chamber to the first chamber.

11. The dry powder inhaler of claim 1, further comprising a coupling that connects the dispersion chamber to the first chamber, wherein the coupling is selected from one of:

a snap-fit coupling;

a pressure-fit coupling; and

a twist-to-fit coupling.

12. The dry powder inhaler of claim 1, further comprising a coupling that connects the dispersion chamber to the first chamber, wherein the coupling is integrally formed with dispersion chamber and removably coupled to the first chamber.

13. A dry powder inhaler system, comprising:

a receptacle containing an amount of powdered medicament;

an inlet channel that is adapted to receive air and powdered medicament from the receptacle;

a first chamber that is adapted to receive air and powdered medicament from the inlet channel, wherein volume of the first chamber is greater than volume of the inlet channel;

a dispersion chamber that is adapted to receive air and powdered medicament from the first chamber, the dispersion chamber holding an actuator that is movable within the dispersion chamber along a longitudinal axis; and

an outlet channel through which air and powdered medicament exit the dispersion chamber to be delivered to a patient;

wherein the geometry of the system is such that a flow profile is generated within the system that causes the actuator to oscillate along the longitudinal axis, thus enabling the oscillating actuator to effectively disperse powdered medicament received in the dispersion chamber for delivery to the patient through the outlet channel.

14. The dry powder inhaler system of claim 13, further comprising a piercing member configured to perforate the receptacle to transfer air and powdered medicament to the inlet channel.

15. The dry powder inhaler system of claim 13, wherein the receptacle is selected from one of:

a capsule;

a blister; and

a powder reservoir.

16. The dry powder inhaler system of claim 13, wherein the actuator comprises a second powdered medicament adhered thereto, and wherein the geometry of the system is such that a flow profile is generated within the system that causes the actuator to oscillate along the longitudinal axis, thus enabling the oscillating actuator to effectively disperse the second powdered medicament received in the dispersion chamber for delivery to the patient through the outlet channel.

17. The dry powder inhaler system of claim 13, further comprising a first actuator in the first chamber, wherein the actuator in the dispersion chamber is a second actuator, wherein the geometry of the system is such that a flow profile is generated within the system that causes the first actuator to oscillate substantially along the longitudinal axis, thus enabling the oscillating first actuator to effectively disperse powdered medicament passing through the first chamber to be entrained by the air and delivered to dispersion chamber.

18. A method for aerosolizing a powdered medicament, comprising:

providing an inhaler comprising a first chamber, and a dispersion chamber, the dispersion chamber containing an actuator that is movable within the dispersion chamber along a longitudinal axis, and an outlet channel; and

inducing air flow through the outlet channel to cause air and powdered medicament to enter into the first chamber through the inlet channel into the dispersion chamber, and to cause the actuator to oscillate within the dispersion chamber to effectively disperse powdered medicament passing through the first chamber and the dispersion chamber to be entrained by the air and delivered to the patient through the outlet channel.

19. A method as in claim 18, wherein the powdered medicament is stored within a storage compartment, and wherein the powdered medicament is transferred from the storage compartment through the inlet channel and into the first chamber and dispersion chamber as flow is induced through the first chamber and dispersion chamber.

20. A method as in claim 18, further comprising inhaling from a mouthpiece to induce the flow through the first chamber and dispersion chamber.