Disposable inhaler
First Claim
1. A disposable breath-actuated inhaler for delivering a dose of a finely divided powder to a patient comprisinga housing defining a chamber, said chamber having an air inlet,an air outlet in fluid communication with the air inlet, and an air flow path extending between said inlet and said outleta compartment, containing a dose of finely divided powder, located in a region of said chamber intermediate said inlet and said outlet, said compartment defining a volume to hold the dose and having an opening which exposes a surface of said dose to said air flow path, said compartment including a through-hole positioned beneath the finely divided powder, said through hole selectively opened to ambient air to allow ambient air to enter the compartment,a removable cover disposed sealingly over said opening in said compartment and confining the dose of finely divided powder within the compartment prior to delivery, anda constriction means in said air flow path adjacent the powder compartment positioned to induce sufficient turbulence in an air stream produced upon removal of said removable cover and subsequent inhalation to lift the powder out from the compartment and mix the powder into the air stream for delivery through the air outlet.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates to a disposable breath-actuated inhaler comprising a tubular housing forming an air flow path being open at both ends, one end forming an air inlet (4) and one end forming an air outlet (5), the housing comprising a compartment (3) for storing a pharmaceutical powder to be inhaled. The compartment (3) for storing the pharmaceutical powder is located close to the air inlet (4) and is covered by a thin foil (6) sealing the compartment in an airtight way which can be removed from the compartment from outside the housing, the housing being shaped with a constriction (9) adjacent the powder compartment (3) such that a turbulent air stream will be obtained at the constriction upon inhalation which will lift the powder out from the compartment (3) and mix the powder into the air stream.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A disposable breath-actuated inhaler for delivering a dose of a finely divided powder to a patient comprising
a housing defining a chamber, said chamber having an air inlet, an air outlet in fluid communication with the air inlet, and an air flow path extending between said inlet and said outlet a compartment, containing a dose of finely divided powder, located in a region of said chamber intermediate said inlet and said outlet, said compartment defining a volume to hold the dose and having an opening which exposes a surface of said dose to said air flow path, said compartment including a through-hole positioned beneath the finely divided powder, said through hole selectively opened to ambient air to allow ambient air to enter the compartment, a removable cover disposed sealingly over said opening in said compartment and confining the dose of finely divided powder within the compartment prior to delivery, and a constriction means in said air flow path adjacent the powder compartment positioned to induce sufficient turbulence in an air stream produced upon removal of said removable cover and subsequent inhalation to lift the powder out from the compartment and mix the powder into the air stream for delivery through the air outlet.
Specification