Dry powder inhalation device having a powder-loaded elongate carrier

• US 5,619,984 A
• Filed: 05/08/1995
• Issued: 04/15/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Adamas Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Supernus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Astra AB (Astrazeneca PLC)
• Inventors: Wass, Anthony C. L., Hodson, Peter D., Smith, David K., Velasquez, David J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Asher, Kimberly L.
• Application Number:
  US08/437,291
• Time in Patent Office: 708 Days
• Field of Search: 128/203.12, 128/203.15, 128/203.21, 604/56
• US Class Current: 128/203.15
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0006 using rotating means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0013 with inhalation check valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0016 located downstream of the dispenser, i.e. traversed by the product
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0025 with caps
• 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 15/0043 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 15/0048 the dosages being arranged in a plane, e.g. on diskettes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0051 the dosages being arranged on a tape, e.g. strips
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0055 the used dosages being coiled
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0066 with means for varying the dose size
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0078 on a strip
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0081 Locking means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0085 using ultrasonics spraying or atomising liquids using ultrasonic vibrations in general B05B17/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0091 mechanically breath-triggered
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0093 without arming or cocking, e.g. acting directly on the delivery valve
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/02 with activated or ionised fluids, e.g. electrohydrodynamic [EHD] or electrostatic devices; Ozone-inhalators with radioactive tagged particles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0024 with an on-off output signal, e.g. from a switch
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/064 Powder
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 11/00 : Drugs for disorders of the respiratory system

Abstract

A dry powder inhalation device comprising a housing defining a chamber in communication with a patient port in the form of a mouthpiece or nasal adaptor, and an elongate carrier bearing a powdered medicament, the device being constructed and arranged such that areas of predetermined size of the elongate carrier may sequentially be exposed within the chamber, the device comprising one or more air inlets such that when a patient inhales through the patient port an air flow is established from the air inlet(s) to the patient port through the chamber such that particles of the powdered medicament of respirable size from said exposed area of the elongate carrier are entrained within the air flow.

Claims

1. A dry powder inhalation device comprising:

a housing defining a chamber, a patient port in communication with said chamber, and one or more air inlets in communication with said chamber so that when a patient inhales through said patient port an air flow is established from the air inlets to the patient port through the chamber;

an elongate carrier disposed within said housing, preloaded with a plurality of doses of medicament, said medicament being in the form of a plurality of finely divided powder particles having a particle size in the range of from 1 to 10 μ

m, said finely divided powder particles being releasably retained directly on a surface of the carrier, without the presence of an adhesive between the carrier and powder particles by an attractive force between said carrier and said powder; and

an advancement mechanism for exposing an area of predetermined size of the elongate carrier within the chamber so that the powder particles in said area are exposed to said air flow during inhalation and can be released from said carrier and entrained into said airflow.

2. The device of claim 1 further comprising a mechanism for applying a force to said carrier to release said powder particles from said carrier.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said mechanism for applying a force is adapted to apply an electrical, piezoelectrical, electromagnetic or mechanical force to the carrier to vibrate the carrier.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein said mechanism for applying a force produces vibrations in the frequency range of from 5 to 50,000 Hz.

5. The device of claim 2 wherein said mechanism for applying a force comprises a member positioned to impact or strike the exposed area of the carrier.

6. The device of claim 2 wherein said mechanism for applying a force releases said powder by applying tension to said carrier.

7. The device of claim 2 wherein said mechanism for applying a force releases said powder by suddenly stopping said carrier while it is being advanced by said advancement mechanism.

8. The device of claim 2 wherein said mechanism for applying a force comprises a member positioned to scrape or brush said exposed portion of said carrier.

9. The device of claim 3 wherein said mechanism for applying a force comprises a source of compressed or liquified gas positioned to direct a flow of said gas against said exposed portion of said carrier.

10. The device of claim 2 wherein said mechanism for applying a force is actuated by inhalation by a patient.

11. The device of claim 10 further comprising a moveable vane positioned to be moved, by air flow during inhalation, from a first position to a second position in which it actuates said mechanism for applying a force.

12. The device of claim 11 wherein said moveable vane comprises a one-way valve positioned to allow passage of air from the chamber to the patient port while blocking air flow from the patient port to the chamber.

13. The device of claim 1 further comprising a tensioning element for holding said exposed portion of said carrier taut.

14. The device of claim 1 wherein said elongate carrier is provided in the form of a tape or web which is wound on a first spool and said advancement mechanism comprises a rotatable take-up spool which receives an end of said carrier and which is positioned so that rotation of the take-up spool causes a portion of the carrier to be unwound from the first spool and wound onto the take-up spool.

15. The device of claim 1 further comprising an actuator adapted to actuate the advancement mechanism after inhalation by a patient.

16. A dry powder inhalation device comprising:

a housing defining a chamber, a patient port in communication with said chamber, and one or more air inlets in communication with said chamber so that when a patient inhales through said patient port an air flow is established from the air inlets to the patient port through the chamber;

an elongate carrier disposed within said housing, having a planar surface comprising a plurality of microdepressions extending below said planar surface, said elongate carrier being preloaded with a plurality of doses of medicament, said medicament being in the form of a plurality of finely divided powder particles having a particle size in the range of from 1 to 10 μ

m, said finely divided powder particles being releasably retained within said microdepressions; and

an advancement mechanism for exposing an area of predetermined size of the elongate carrier within the chamber so that the powder particles in said area are exposed to said air flow during inhalation and can be released from said carrier and entrained into said airflow.

17. The dry powder inhalation device of claim 16 wherein said microdepressions are selected from the group consisting of microgrooves and microdimples.

18. The dry powder inhaler of claim 16 further comprising an impactor positioned to strike a surface of said elongate carrier opposite said planar surface to cause said carrier to release said powder particles in said exposed area.

19. A dry powder inhalation device comprising:

a housing defining a chamber, a patient port in communication with said chamber, and one or more air inlets in communication with said chamber so that when a patient inhales through said patient port an air flow is established from the air inlets to the patient port through the chamber;

an elongate carrier disposed within said housing, said elongate carrier being preloaded with a plurality of doses of medicament, said medicament being in the form of a plurality of finely divided powder particles having a particle size in the range of from 1 to 10 μ

m, said finely divided powder particles being releasably retained directly on a powder-carrying surface of said elongate carrier without a protective capsule or coating surrounding the particles;

an advancement mechanism for exposing an area of predetermined size of the elongate carrier within the chamber so that the powder particles in said area are exposed to said air flow during inhalation and can be released from said carrier and entrained into said airflow; and

a release mechanism for releasing said powder particles from said elongate carrier by applying a force to said elongate carrier, said release mechanism being positioned to avoid direct contact with said powder-carrying surface and said powder particles.

20. The dry powder inhalation device of claim 19 wherein said release mechanism comprises an impactor positioned to impact a surface of said elongate carrier opposite said powder-carrying surface.

21. A dry powder inhalation device comprising:

a housing defining a chamber, a patient port in communication with said chamber, and one or more air inlets in communication with said chamber so that when a patient inhales through said patient port an air flow is established from the air inlets to the patient port through the chamber;

an elongate carrier disposed within said housing, said elongate carrier being preloaded with a plurality of doses of medicament, said medicament being in the form of a plurality of finely divided powder particles having a particle size in the range of from 1 to 10 μ

m, said finely divided powder particles being releasably retained on a powder-carrying surface of said elongate carrier;

an advancement mechanism for exposing an area of predetermined size of the elongate carrier within the chamber so that the powder particles in said area are exposed to said air flow during inhalation and can be released from said carrier and entrained into said airflow; and

a release mechanism for releasing said powder particles from said elongate carrier by applying a force to said elongate carrier, said release mechanism comprising an impactor positioned to strike a surface opposite said powder-carrying surface to avoid direct contact with said powder-carrying surface and said powder particles.