INHALATION DEVICE FOR POWDERED DRUGS

• US 20150000657A1
• Filed: 01/17/2013
• Published: 01/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Astrazeneca AB (Astrazeneca PLC)
• Original Assignee: Almirall, S.A. (Grupo Corporativo Landon SL)
• Inventors: Herder, Martin, Ludanek, Gerhard, Mett, Ingo, Schmidt, Joachim
• Granted Patent: US 10,434,268 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/203.15
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0016 located downstream of the dispenser, i.e. traversed by the product
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0026 Hinged caps
• 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 15/0066 with means for varying the dose size
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0073 on a ring
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0081 Locking means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0091 mechanically breath-triggered
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0095 Preventing manual activation in absence of inhalation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0096 Hindering inhalation before activation of the dispenser
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/064 Powder
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/584 having a color code
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2206/16 Rotating swirling helical flow, e.g. by tangential inflows
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 2270/0421 Controlled or regulated

Abstract

The invention relates to an inhalation device for powdered drugs to be received by a patient by an inhalation-caused air stream, comprising at least one powder reservoir, metering means for repeatedly metering a powder dose from the reservoir, a transportation mechanism for moving said metering means from a filling position for receiving a powder dose into an emptying position for releasing said powder dose into a powder channel, at least one activating device for manual operation by the patient, said activating device being operatively connected to said transportation mechanism such that upon operation a single powder dose is being metered, said activating device comprising a dosage key (5) acting on said transportation mechanism when pressed by the patient. Said dosage key (5) while being pressed is only temporarily engaged with said transportation mechanism such that a metering cycle while be completed and the transportation mechanism and/or the metering means will be reset even if said dosage key (5) will be held in depressed condition.

Claims

1. Inhalation device for powdered drugs to be received by a patient by an inhalation-caused air stream, comprising at least one powder reservoir, metering means for repeatedly metering a powder dose from the reservoir, a transportation mechanism for moving said metering means from a filling position for receiving a powder dose into an emptying position for releasing said powder dose into a powder channel, at least one activating device for manual operation by the patient, said activating device being operatively connected to said transportation mechanism such that upon operation a single powder dose is being metered, said activating device comprising a dosage key acting on said transportation mechanism when pressed by the patient, characterized in that said dosage key while being pressed is only temporarily engaged with said transportation mechanism such that a metering cycle will be completed and the transportation mechanism and/or the metering means will be reset even if said dosage key will be held in depressed condition.

2. Inhalation device according to claim 1, characterized in that said dosage key includes a deflectable element temporarily engaging a dosage lever of the transportation mechanism, the deflectable element being flexible and being disengaged with the dosage lever in a first non-deflected position and being engaged with the dosage lever in a second deflected position.

3. Inhalation device according to claim 2, characterized in that said deflectable element is in the form of an actuator blade.

4. Inhalation device according to claim 2, characterized by a relative to the dosage key stationary deflection profile urging the deflectable element into the second deflected position during movement of the dosage key from a non-depressed into a depressed position and then releasing the deflectable element into the first non-deflected position during further movement of the dosage key into a fully depressed position.

5. Inhalation device according to claim 4, characterized in that a deflection profile is provided by a beveled edge or a beveled profile of a fixed part of the inhaler.

6. Inhalation device according to claim 1, characterized in that the dosage key (5) is being held spring-biased in its non-operated position.

7. Inhalation device according to claim 1, characterized in that the transportation mechanism includes a dosage lever acting on said metering means, said dosage lever being locked in the inhalation position of said metering means after the dosage key has been depressed and in that said dosage lever is releaseable by inhalation regardless whether the dosage key has been released or not.

8. Inhalation device according to claim 7, characterized by an inhalation-operated valve in an air duct communicating with said powder channel, said valve being operatively connected to that dosage lever such that the dosage lever is releasable by the action of the valve.

9. Inhalation device according to claim 8, characterized in that said dosage lever may assume a first and a second locked position subsequently and in that said dosage lever is releasable by inhalation only after it has been locked in the second locked position.

10. Inhalation device according to claim 9, characterized in that said dosage lever assumes said second locked position when said dosage key will be depressed until said deflectable element will be released on further depression of the dosage key.

11. Inhalation device according to claim 1, characterized in that said deflectable element is formed integrally with said dosage key.