Inhalation device

• US 6,612,302 B1
• Filed: 03/26/2001
• Issued: 09/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Smithkline Beecham Corporation (Smithkline Beecham PLC)
• Original Assignee: Smithkline Beecham Corporation (Smithkline Beecham PLC)
• Inventors: Rand, Paul Kenneth
• Primary Examiner(s): Lo, Weilun
• Assistant Examiner(s): EREZO, DARWIN P
• Application Number:
  US09/806,195
• Time in Patent Office: 890 Days
• Field of Search: 128/200.23, 128/203.15, 128/203.23, 128/203.12, 128/203.19, 128/200.14, 128/200.17
• US Class Current: 128/200.14
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0023 retractable
• 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 15/0071 having a display or indicator

Abstract

There is provided an inhalation device suitable for dispensing medicament, particularly medicament for use in the treatment of respiratory disorders. The device comprises a body; a medicament carrier, locatable within said body; a mouthpiece, reversibly movable from a storage position wherein said mouthpiece is within the body to an in-use position wherein a portion of the mouthpiece protrudes from the body and wherein the mouthpiece is in communication with the medicament carrier to allow passage of medicament therebetween; and a mouthpiece actuator, rotatable relative to the body, and coupled to the mouthpiece such a first rotation of said mouthpiece actuator moves the mouthpiece towards said storage position and an opposing rotation of the mouthpiece actuator moves the mouthpiece towards said in-use position. The translational path definable by the movement of the mouthpiece from the storage to the in-use position does not bisect the rotational path defined by the rotation of the mouthpiece actuator.

Claims

1. An inhalation device for dispensing medicament comprising

a body;

a medicament carrier;

a mouthpiece, reversibly movable from a storage position wherein said mouthpiece is within said body to an in-use position wherein a portion of the mouthpiece protrudes from the body and wherein the mouthpiece is in communication with said medicament carrier to allow passage of medicament therebetween; and

a mouthpiece actuator, rotatable relative to the body, and coupled to the mouthpiece such a first rotation of said mouthpiece actuator moves the mouthpiece towards said storage position and an opposing rotation of the mouthpiece actuator moves the mouthpiece towards said in-use position,

characterised in that the translational path definable by the movement of the mouthpiece from the storage to the in-use position does not bisect the rotational path defined by the rotation of the mouthpiece actuator.

2. An inhalation device according to claim 1, wherein the mouthpiece actuator and mouthpiece are coupled by a coupling mechanism.

3. An inhalation device according to claim 2, wherein the coupling mechanism comprises a rack and pinion mechanism.

4. An inhalation device according to claim 2, wherein the coupling mechanism comprises a hinged lever mechanism.

5. An inhalation device according to claim 1, wherein the mouthpiece actuator and mouthpiece are directly coupled.

6. An inhalation device according to claim 1, wherein the medicament carrier is within the body.

7. An inhalation device according to claim 1, wherein the mouthpiece is comprised of an elastic material.

8. An inhalation device according to claim 1, wherein the mouthpiece is provided with a cover comprised of an elastic material.

9. An inhalation device according to claim 1, additionally comprising a curtain arrangement contactable by the mouthpiece on movement of the mouthpiece from the storage to the in-use position.

10. An inhalation device according to claim 9, wherein said curtain arrangement comprises a plurality of curtains comprised of an elastomeric material.

11. An inhalation device according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the mouthpiece actuator is shaped for ease of grip by the user.

12. An inhalation device according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the mouthpiece actuator has a friction-enhancing coating.

13. An inhalation device according to claim 1, wherein the medicament container is an aerosol.

14. An inhalation device according to claim 1, wherein the medicament container is a dry-powder container.

15. An inhalation device according to claim 1, actuable by a sliding thumb motion.

16. An inhalation device according to claim 1, wherein the mouthpiece actuator is actuable by one-handed operation.

17. Use of an inhalation device according to claim 1 for dispensing medicament.