Inhalation actuated device for use with metered dose inhalers (MDIS)

• US 6,357,442 B1
• Filed: 10/27/1998
• Issued: 03/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Zhejiang Hisun Pharmaceutical Company Limited (Hisun Pharmaceutical (Hangzhou) Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Innovative Devices, LLC
• Inventors: Casper, Robert A., Gardner, David L., Leith, Frank A., Lyon, Zachary Wood, Snow, John Medlin
• Primary Examiner(s): Dawson, Glenn K.
• Application Number:
  US09/181,150
• Time in Patent Office: 1,239 Days
• Field of Search: 128/200-4-2, 128/200.24, 128/203.12, 128/203.15, 128/203.23
• US Class Current: 128/200.23
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0068 Indicating or counting the number of dispensed doses or of remaining doses
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/009 using medicine packages with incorporated spraying means, e.g. aerosol cans pocket atomiser of the injector type A61M11/08
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0091 mechanically breath-triggered
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0095 Preventing manual activation in absence of inhalation

Abstract

A device for use with metered dose inhalers includes a housing configured with a void to receive a metered dose inhaler, an actuator assembly which is configured to selectively apply force to the metered dose inhaler to cause the metered dose inhaler to release medicament, and a cocking mechanism for placing the actuator assembly in an armed configuration. The device is configured to actuate the metered dose inhaler as the user inhales, thereby ensuring improved medicament delivery. Additionally, the device is configured to prevent the metered dose inhaler from remaining in a vented position.

Claims

1. A device for use with a metered dose inhaler including an actuator body and a medicament canister movable with respect to the actuator body to release medicament, the device comprising:

a body having a void formed therein configured for selectively holding the actuator body and medicament canister of a metered dose inhaler;

an actuator means disposed in the body adjacent the void for selectively moving the medicament canister with respect to the actuator body so as to actuate the metered dose inhaler when a metered dose inhaler is disposed in the void of the housing, the actuator means having an initial, unloaded position wherein the actuator means is in an unloaded state and a second, loaded position wherein the actuator means is in a loaded state, the actuator means comprising a lever arm and a plunger disposed in communication with the lever arm, the lever arm having an upper position wherein the lever arm holds the plunger in a first position wherein the plunger does not forcefully engage the medicament canister to release medicament in the metered dose inhaler and a lower position wherein the plunger is moved downwardly into a second position wherein the plunger engages the medicament canister of the metered dose inhaler and actuates the metered dose inhaler, and, the actuator means further comprising a biasing means for returning the lever arm to the upper position; and

cocking means disposed in communication with the actuator means for placing the actuator means in the second loaded state wherein inhaling through the device releases the actuator means and actuates the metered dose inhaler.

2. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a first spring means for forcibly moving the lever arm from the upper position to the lower position.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the device further comprises release means for releasing the first spring means and thereby enabling the biasing means to return the lever arm to the upper position.

4. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a catch means disposed in communication with the lever arm for selectively holding the lever arm in the upper position.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the device further comprises a vane means movable by inhalation of the user, the vane means being disposed in communication with the catch means to selectively release the catch means, thereby allowing movement of the lever arm from the upper position to the lower position.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device further comprises a cover means attached to the body and movable between a closed position and an open position, the cover means forming a portion of the cocking means.

7. A device for use with a metered dose inhaler including an actuator body and a medicament canister movable with respect to the actuator body to release medicament, the device comprising:

a body having a void formed therein configured for selectively holding the actuator body and medicament canister of a metered dose inhaler;

an actuator means disposed in the body adjacent the void for selectively moving the medicament canister with respect to the actuator body so as to actuate the metered dose inhaler when a metered dose inhaler is disposed in the void of the housing, the actuator means having an initial, unloaded position wherein the actuator means is in an unloaded state and a second, loaded position wherein the actuator means is in a loaded state, the actuator means comprising a lever arm and a plunger disposed in communication with the lever arm, the lever arm having an upper position wherein the lever arm holds the plunger in a first position wherein the plunger does not forcefully engage the medicament canister to release medicament in the metered dose inhaler and a lower position wherein the plunger is moved downwardly into a second position wherein the plunger engages the medicament canister of the metered dose inhaler and actuates the metered dose inhaler, and further comprising biasing means for returning the lever arm to the upper position; and

cocking means disposed in communication with the actuator means for placing the actuator means in the second loaded state wherein inhaling through the device releases the actuator means and actuates the metered dose inhaler;

wherein the device further comprises a cover means attached to the body and movable between a closed position and an open position, the cover means forming a portion of the cocking means; and

wherein the actuator means comprises spring means disposed in communication with the plunger for forcibly moving the plunger into the second position, the spring means having an unloaded orientation and a loaded orientation, and wherein movement of the cover means into the open position moves the spring means into the loaded position.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the spring means remains in the loaded orientation if the cover means is moved into the closed position without a user inhaling through the device.

9. The device according to claim 8, further comprising means for releasing the spring means from the loaded position after a user inhales through the device and the spring means moves the plunger from the first position to the second position.

10. An inhalation-actuated device for use with a metered dose inhaler formed by an actuator body and a medicament canister, the device comprising:

a housing having a void formed therein and configured for receiving the actuator body and medicament canister of the metered dose inhaler;

a cap means pivotable with respect to the body between a closed position and an open position for selectively exposing at least a portion of the actuator body when the metered dose inhaler is disposed within the body;

an actuator means disposed in the housing for selectively actuating the metered dose inhaler, the actuator means having a static, unloaded position and a loaded position, the actuator comprising a lever rotatable at one end for movement between an upper position wherein the actuator means does not forcefully engage a medicament canister of a metered dose inhaler when the metered dose inhaler is positioned in the housing, and a lower position, wherein the actuator means forcefully engages the medicament canister to actuate the metered does inhaler; and

wherein the cap means is disposed in communication with the actuator means such that moving the cap means from the closed position to the open position moves the actuator means into the loaded position.

11. An inhalation-actuated device according to claim 10, wherein the actuator means comprises a power spring having a first, non-load position, and a second, loaded position, and wherein pivoting the cap means into the open position moves the power spring into the second, loaded position.

12. An inhalation-actuated device according to claim 11, wherein the actuator means further comprises a plunger, the plunger being disposed adjacent the void such that movement of the lever arm causes the plunger to actuate a metered dose inhaler disposed within the void.

13. An inhalation-actuated device according to claim 12, wherein the power spring is attached to the lever and provides a downward force sufficient to actuate a metered dose inhaler when the power spring is in the second, loaded position.

14. An inhalation-actuated device according to claim 13, wherein the actuator means further comprises a biasing means for biasing the lever-arm in the upper position.

15. An inhalation-actuated device according to claim 13, wherein the actuator means further comprises a catch means configured to selectively hold the lever arm in the upper position.

16. An inhalation-actuated device according to claim 15, wherein the actuator means further comprises a vane configured for movement by inhalation through the device, the vane being moveable between a first position wherein the vane holds the catch means and a second position wherein the vane releases the catch means to thereby enable the lever arm to move into the lower position.

17. An inhalation-actuated device according to claim 16, wherein the actuator means further comprises means for biasing the vane into the first position.

18. An inhalation-actuated device according to claim 13, wherein the power spring is held in the second position by a latch, and wherein movement of the lever into the second position releases the latch.

19. An inhalation-actuated device according to claim 18, further comprising a knock-off disposed functionally between the lever arm and the latch for moving the latch in response to downward movement by the lever arm.

20. An inhalation-actuated device according to claim 10, wherein the lever is configured for movement between a first, upper position and a second lower position, the lever causing actuation of a metered dose inhaler disposed in the void when in the second lower position and wherein the actuator means comprises:

a biasing means for encouraging the lever arm into the first, upper position;

a catch means configured for selectively holding the lever in the first, upper position;

a power spring for selectively applying a downward force on the lever to cause movement of the lever into the second, lower position when the catch means is not holding the lever arm in the first upper position, the power spring having a first, unloaded position wherein power spring does not provide sufficient downward force to move the lever from the first, upper position to the second, lower position, and a second loaded position wherein the power spring places sufficient downward force on the lever to move the lever into the second, lower position; and

means for moving the power spring from the first, unloaded position to the second, loaded position.

21. An inhalation-actuated device for use with a metered dose inhaler formed by an actuator body and a medicament canister, the device comprising:

a housing having a void formed therein and configured for receiving the actuator body and medicament canister of the metered dose inhaler;

a cap means pivotable with respect to the body between a closed position and an open position for selectively exposing at least a portion of the actuator body when the metered dose inhaler is disposed within the body;

an actuator means disposed in the housing for selectively actuating the metered dose inhaler, the actuator means having a static, unloaded position and a loaded position, the actuator comprising a lever arm rotatable at one end for movement between an upper position wherein the actuator means does not forcefully engage a medicament canister of a metered dose inhaler when the metered dose inhaler is positioned in the housing, and a lower position, wherein the actuator means forcefully engages the medicament canister to actuate the metered does inhaler, and wherein the actuator means comprises a power spring having a first, non-load position, and a second, loaded position, and wherein pivoting the cap means into the open position moves the power spring into the second, loaded position;

wherein the cap means is disposed in communication with the actuator means such that moving the cap means from the closed position to the open position moves the actuator means into the loaded position; and

wherein the power spring is attached to a spring plate, wherein the cap means is attached to a pawl, and wherein rotation of the cap means into the open position causes the pawl to engage the spring plate and pull the power spring into the second, loaded position.

22. An inhalation-actuated device for actuating a metered dose inhaler having a medicament canister and an actuator body, the inhalation-actuated device comprising:

a housing having a void configured for receiving the metered dose inhaler, such that the metered dose inhaler can be withdrawn from the housing;

an actuator assembly disposed in communication with said void for moving the medicament canister in the actuator body to thereby cause the release of medicament, the actuator having a first configuration wherein the actuator does not apply a movement force to the medicament canister and a second position wherein the actuator applies a movement force to the medicament canister to cause the release of medicament, the actuator comprising a lever rotatable between an upper position and a lower position, a plunger carried by the lever and configured to forcibly engage a medicament canister of a metered dose inhaler when a metered dose inhaler is disposed in the housing when the lever is in the lower position, but not when the lever is in the upper position, a first biasing element attached to the lever for forcefully drawing the lever from the upper position to the lower position, and a second biasing element engaging the lever for moving the lever from the lower position to the upper position.