Inhalation device
First Claim
1. An inhalation device for use in delivering a powdered substance to a user, the inhalation device comprising:
- a hold-up chamber having a bottom;
a holding portion adapted to hold the substance, said holding portion opening into said bottom of said hold-up chamber in flow communication therewith;
an air entry passageway having an inlet port open to an exterior of said device, an exit port and a cross-sectional flow area, said exit port positioned above and directed downwardly at said holding portion, said exit port opening into said hold-up chamber proximate said holding portion opening into said bottom of said hold-up chamber; and
an air exit passageway having a cross-sectional flow area greater than the cross-sectional flow area of said air entry passageway, said air exit passageway in flow communication with said hold-up chamber at a location spaced apart from said holding portion, said air exit passageway adapted to deliver the substance to the user;
whereby air enters said air entry passageway from said exterior of the device and is directed downwardly through said exit port of said air entry passageway at the holding portion so as to fluidize the substance upon inhalation by the user, and whereby said substance is maintained in a fluidized state in said hold-up chamber during inhalation and thereafter delivered to the user through said air exit passageway.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An inhalation device for use in delivering a powdered substance to a user, the inhalation device comprises a housing including a holding portion for holding the substance; an air entry passageway sized and configured to direct air entering the inhalation device at the portion and to fluidize the substance upon inhalation by the user; a hold-up chamber in flow communication with the holding portion for receiving the fluidized substance and maintaining the substance in a fluidized state during inhalation by the user; and an air exit passageway in flow communication with the hold-up chamber and adapted to deliver the substance to the user.
128 Citations
44 Claims
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1. An inhalation device for use in delivering a powdered substance to a user, the inhalation device comprising:
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a hold-up chamber having a bottom; a holding portion adapted to hold the substance, said holding portion opening into said bottom of said hold-up chamber in flow communication therewith; an air entry passageway having an inlet port open to an exterior of said device, an exit port and a cross-sectional flow area, said exit port positioned above and directed downwardly at said holding portion, said exit port opening into said hold-up chamber proximate said holding portion opening into said bottom of said hold-up chamber; and an air exit passageway having a cross-sectional flow area greater than the cross-sectional flow area of said air entry passageway, said air exit passageway in flow communication with said hold-up chamber at a location spaced apart from said holding portion, said air exit passageway adapted to deliver the substance to the user; whereby air enters said air entry passageway from said exterior of the device and is directed downwardly through said exit port of said air entry passageway at the holding portion so as to fluidize the substance upon inhalation by the user, and whereby said substance is maintained in a fluidized state in said hold-up chamber during inhalation and thereafter delivered to the user through said air exit passageway. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An inhalation device for use in delivering a powdered substance to a user, the inhalation device comprising:
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a hold-up chamber having a longitudinal axis about which the substance is adapted to swirl in a fluidized state; a holding portion adapted to hold the substance and opening into said hold-up chamber in flow communication therewith; at least one air entry passageway in flow communication with said hold-up chamber and open to an exterior of said device, said air entry passageway adapted to introduce air into said hold-up chamber; and an air exit passageway having at least a portion non-parallel to the longitudinal axis of said hold-up chamber, said air exit passageway in flow communication with said hold-up chamber and adapted to deliver the substance to the user. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. An inhalation device for use in delivering a powdered substance to a user, the inhalation device comprising:
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a hold-up chamber having a cross-sectional area and a bottom; a holding portion adapted to hold the substance, said holding portion opening into said bottom of said hold-up chamber so as to be in flow communication therewith; an air entry passageway open to an exterior of said device and having an exit port and a flow cross-sectional area, said exit port positioned above and directed downwardly at said holding portion so as to direct air entering the inhalation device at the holding portion and to fluidize the substance upon inhalation by the user, said exit port opening into said hold-up chamber proximate said holding portion opening into said bottom of said hold-up chamber; and an air exit passageway having a flow cross-sectional area greater than the flow cross-section area of said air entry passageway and less than the cross-section area of said hold-up chamber, said exit passageway in flow communication with the hold-up chamber, said exit passageway adapted to deliver the substance to the user. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. An inhalation device for use in delivering a powdered substance to a user, the inhalation device comprising:
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a hold-up chamber having a longitudinal axis about which the substance is adapted to swirl in a fluidized state and a bottom; a holding portion adapted to hold the substance, said holding portion opening into said bottom of said hold-up chamber so as to be in flow communication therewith; a first air entry passageway open to an exterior of said device and having an exit port and a cross-sectional flow area, said exit port positioned above and directed downwardly at said holding portion so as to direct air entering the inhalation device at the holding portion and to fluidize the substance upon inhalation by the user; a second air entry passageway having an exit port and a cross-sectional flow area, said exit port of said second air entry passageway positioned above said holding portion and directed substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the hold-up chamber at a location spaced from the holding portion; and an air exit passageway having a flow cross-sectional area greater than the combined cross-section flow areas of said first and second air entry passageways, said air exit passageway in flow communication with the hold-up chamber and adapted to deliver the substance to the user.
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35. A method for delivering a powdered substance to a user, said method comprising:
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providing an inhalation device having an exterior and comprising a holding portion with a nominal dosage of said substance disposed thereon, a hold-up chamber in flow communication with said holding portion, said holding portion opening into a bottom of said hold-up chamber, an air entry passageway in flow communication with said hold-up chamber, said air entry passageway comprising an inlet port open to said exterior of said device and an exit port positioned above and directed downwardly at said holding portion, said exit port opening into said hold-up chamber proximate said holding portion opening into said bottom of said hold-up chamber, and an air exit passageway in flow communication with said hold-up chamber at a location spaced from said holding portion; fluidizing said substance by inhaling through said air exit passageway and thereby directing air through said air entry passageway at a first velocity at said holding portion, wherein said air directed through said air entry passageway is generated solely by said inhaling through said air exit passageway; maintaining said substance in a fluidized state in said hold-up chamber by swirling said fluidized substance within said hold-up chamber; delivering an emitted dose of said fluidized substance to said user at a second velocity through said air exit passageway in flow communication with said hold-up chamber, wherein said second velocity is less than said first velocity. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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Specification