Inhaler

• US 6,629,524 B1
• Filed: 07/12/2000
• Issued: 10/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Injet Digital Aerosols Limited
• Original Assignee: Ponwell Enterprises Limited
• Inventors: Goodall, Stephen F., Graham, James A. H., Geddes, Robert W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lo, Weilun
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, MITAL B
• Application Number:
  US09/614,196
• Time in Patent Office: 1,182 Days
• Field of Search: 128/200.14, 128/200.16, 128/200.21, 128/200.22, 128/203.23, 128/204.11, 128/204.13, 128/204.14, 128/204.17, 128/203.12, 239/338, 239/102.2
• US Class Current: 128/200.14
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/002 with air flow regulating means
• 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 15/008 Electronic counters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/025 Bubble jet droplet ejection devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0021 with a proportional output signal, e.g. from a thermistor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0039 in the inspiratory circuit

Abstract

An inhaler is disclosed which delivers medicament or other appropriate fluids to a user, typically in droplet form and typically during inhalation. One embodiment of the inhaler includes an inhaler housing, an airflow conduit assembly which at least extends through the inhaler housing, a mouthpiece which is at least fluidly interconnectable with the airflow conduit assembly, a droplet ejection cartridge housing which is at least partially disposed within the airflow conduit assembly, and a droplet ejection cartridge which is removably disposed within the droplet ejection cartridge housing. Dosing of the medicament can be controlled by the measurement of airflow through the device. Droplets of medicament which are discharged by the droplet ejection cartridge are entrained in the flow of air which is drawn through the airflow conduit assembly by the user'"'"'s inhalation and are discharged from the inhaler through the mouthpiece. The airflow conduit assembly may include a plenum into which air is initially drawn into the airflow conduit assembly, and an airflow conduit which is fluidly interconnected with the plenum for delivering inhaled air to the mouthpiece. The mouthpiece is totally removable from the inhaler and may be detachably interconnectable with the inhaler at two spaced locations. One of these locations corresponds with the mouthpiece being fluidly interconnected with the airflow conduit assembly. The other of these locations is for storage of the mouthpiece after the same is disconnected from the airflow conduit passageway and may include a mouthpiece storage bay with an appropriate cover. A cover may also be provided to seal the relevant portions of the droplet ejection cartridge after disconnection of the mouthpiece from the airflow conduit assembly.

Claims

1. An inhaler, comprising:

an inhaler housing which comprises a first droplet ejection cartridge aperture;

at least one airflow passageway which comprises a first air inlet port and which is interconnected with said inhaler housing;

a droplet ejection cartridge housing which is interconnected with said inhaler housing, wherein each said airflow passageway is directed around said droplet ejection cartridge housing, wherein said droplet ejection cartridge housing comprises a second droplet ejection cartridge aperture which is aligned with said first droplet ejection cartridge aperture of said inhaler housing, and wherein said droplet ejection cartridge housing further comprises a droplet ejection aperture;

a droplet ejection cartridge which is removably disposed within said second droplet ejection cartridge aperture of said droplet ejection cartridge housing by passage through said first droplet ejection cartridge aperture of said inhaler housing, wherein said droplet ejection cartridge comprises a medicament reservoir, a plurality of droplet ejection orifices which are at least fluidly interconnectable with said medicament reservoir and which are oriented to direct medicament droplets through said droplet ejection aperture of said droplet ejection cartridge housing, and at least one droplet ejection actuator; and

a mouthpiece which is at least fluidly interconnectable with said at least one airflow passageway and which comprises a first outlet end which may be inserted into a mouth of a user of said inhaler.

2. An inhaler, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a cover for said first droplet ejection cartridge aperture of said inhaler housing.

3. An inhaler, as claimed in claim 2, wherein:

said cover is movably interconnected with said inhaler housing.

4. An inhaler, as claimed in claim 2, wherein:

said cover is totally removable from said inhaler housing.

5. An inhaler, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

an airflow conduit assembly which is interconnected with said inhaler housing, wherein each said airflow passageway extends through said airflow conduit assembly, and wherein an inlet end of said mouthpiece is at least fluidly interconnectable with said airflow conduit assembly.

6. An inhaler, as claimed in claim 5, wherein:

at least part of said droplet ejection cartridge housing is disposed within said airflow conduit assembly, and wherein at least part of said droplet ejection cartridge housing is disposed in spaced relation to said airflow conduit assembly to define part of said at least one airflow passageway.

7. An inhaler, as claimed in claim 5, wherein:

at least part of said droplet ejection cartridge housing is disposed within said airflow conduit assembly, wherein said inhaler further comprises at least one pair of sp aced partitions which extend between an interior surface of said airflow conduit assembly and part of an exterior of said droplet ejection cartridge housing which is disposed within said airflow conduit assembly to define a longitudinal segment of said at least one airflow passageway.

8. An inhaler, as claimed in claim 5, wherein:

said airflow conduit assembly comprises a first section, wherein said first section is divergent when progressing in a direction which is at least generally toward said first air inlet port and away from said mouthpiece when interconnected with said airflow conduit assembly, and wherein said first section terminates at said first air inlet port.

9. An inhaler, as claimed in claim 8, wherein:

a wall of said airflow conduit assembly which defines said first section is at least generally accurately-shaped relative to a reference axis which defines a longitudinal extent of said airflow conduit assembly.

10. An inhaler, as claimed in claim 8, wherein:

said airflow conduit assembly further comprises a plenum, wherein said first air inlet port fluidly interconnects said plenum and said first section, with said first section thereby being disposed between said plenum and said mouthpiece when interconnected with said airflow conduit assembly, and wherein said plenum comprises a second air inlet port through which air may be drawn into said plenum and directed into said first section of said airflow conduit assembly for provision to said mouthpiece when interconnected with said airflow conduit assembly.

11. An inhaler, as claimed in claim 5, wherein:

said airflow conduit assembly comprises a plenum and an airflow conduit, wherein said first air inlet port fluidly interconnects said plenum and said airflow conduit, wherein said mouthpiece is fluidly interconnectable with an end of said airflow conduit which is opposite that which defines said first air inlet port, and wherein said plenum comprises a second air inlet port through which air may be drawn into said plenum and directed into said airflow conduit through said first air inlet port for provision to said mouthpiece when interconnected with said airflow conduit assembly.

12. An inhaler, as claimed in claim 11, wherein:

an interior volume of said plenum is at least about 9,000 mm³.

13. An inhaler, as claimed in claim 11, further comprising:

means for changing a size of said second air inlet port.

14. An inhaler, as claimed in claim 11, wherein:

said first and second air inlet ports are offset.

15. An inhaler, as claimed in claim 5, wherein:

said airflow conduit assembly is defined by a first diameter at a first location, wherein said airflow conduit assembly is defined by a second diameter at a second location which is spaced from said first location at least generally in a direction of said mouthpiece when interconnected with said airflow conduit assembly, wherein said airflow conduit assembly is defined by a third diameter at a third location which is spaced from said second location at least generally in a direction of said mouthpiece when interconnected with said airflow conduit assembly, wherein said first diameter is greater than said second diameter, wherein said third diameter is greater than each of said first and second diameters, wherein said droplet ejection cartridge housing is disposed within a portion of said airflow conduit assembly which is defined by said third diameter, wherein said inlet end of said mouthpiece is disposed opposite said first outlet end of said mouthpiece, wherein said inlet end of said mouthpiece interfaces with said airflow conduit assembly when interconnected with said airflow conduit assembly, and wherein a size of said inlet end of said mouthpiece is greater than a size of said first outlet end of said mouthpiece.

16. An inhaler, as claimed in claim 5, wherein:

said droplet ejection cartridge housing comprises first, second, third, and fourth sides, wherein said first and second sides are disposed opposite of each other, wherein said third and fourth sides are disposed opposite of each other, wherein a first space between said first side of said droplet ejection device housing and an interior surface of said airflow conduit assembly defines a first airflow passageway, and wherein a second space between said second side of said droplet ejection device housing and said airflow conduit assembly defines a second airflow passageway, and wherein said at least one air passageway comprises said first and second air passageways.

17. An inhaler, as claimed in claim 16, wherein:

each said airflow passageway extends past said droplet ejection cartridge housing other than between said third side of said droplet ejection cartridge housing and said airflow conduit assembly and other than between said fourth side of said droplet ejection cartridge housing and said airflow conduit assembly.

18. An inhaler, as claimed in claim 16, further comprising:

a first pair of laterally spaced partitions which extend between said first side of said droplet ejection cartridge housing and said interior surface of said airflow conduit assembly, wherein said first air passageway is defined between said first pair of laterally spaced partitions; and

a second pair of laterally spaced partitions which extend between said second side of said droplet ejection cartridge housing and said interior surface of said airflow conduit assembly, wherein said second air passageway is defined between said second pair of laterally spaced partitions.

19. An inhaler, as claimed in claim 17, wherein:

said second droplet ejection cartridge aperture extends through said droplet ejection cartridge housing at least substantially perpendicularly to a reference axis associated with a longitudinal extent of said airflow conduit assembly.

20. An inhaler, as claimed in claim 17, wherein:

said droplet ejection cartridge housing comprises a first end which projects at least generally toward said mouthpiece when interconnected with said airflow conduit assembly, wherein said first end comprises a recess, wherein said droplet ejection aperture is disposed on said recess, and wherein a depth of said recess, measured in a direction which is parallel with a central reference axis associated with a longitudinal extent of said airflow conduit assembly, is at least about 0.1 mm.

21. An inhaler, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said droplet ejection cartridge housing comprises a first end which projects at least generally toward said mouthpiece when interconnected with said at least one airflow passageway, wherein said first end comprises a recess, and wherein said droplet ejection aperture is disposed on said recess.

22. An inhaler, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said droplet ejection cartridge housing comprises a first end which projects at least generally toward said mouthpiece when interconnected with said at least one airflow passageway, wherein said inhaler further comprises a pair of spaced apart vanes which are attached to said first end of said droplet ejection cartridge housing, wherein said plurality of droplet ejection orifices are directed to eject medicament droplets between said pair of spaced vanes, and wherein each said airflow passageway passes said pair of spaced vanes on a side of said vanes which is opposite that which interfaces with said medicament droplets ejected through said plurality of droplet ejection orifices.

23. An inhaler, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said mouthpiece is detachably interconnectable with said inhaler at each of first and second locations which are disposed in spaced relation, wherein said mouthpiece is fluidly interconnected with said at least one airflow passageway when said mouthpiece is interconnected with said inhaler at said first location whereby having said mouthpiece interconnected with said inhaler at said first location provides for medicament delivery operations, wherein said mouthpiece is fluidly disconnected from said at least one airflow passageway when said mouthpiece is interconnected with said inhaler at said second location whereby having said mouthpiece interconnected with said inhaler at said second location provides for storage of said mouthpiece between uses of said inhaler for medicament delivery operations.

24. An inhaler, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said mouthpiece is detachably interconnected with said at least one airflow passageway, wherein said mouthpiece may be disconnected from said at least one air passageway, and wherein said inhaler further comprises an airflow passageway cover for said at least one airflow passageway when said mouthpiece is disconnected from said at least one airflow passageway.

25. An inhaler, as claimed in claim 24, wherein:

said airflow passageway cover further comprises a seal which interfaces with a face of said droplet ejection cartridge which has said plurality of droplet ejection orifices and which is disposed about an entirety of a perimeter of said plurality of droplet ejection orifices.

26. An inhaler, as claimed in claim 24, further comprising:

a tether which interconnects said inhaler housing and said airflow passageway cover.

27. An inhaler, comprising:

an inhaler housing;

at least one airflow passageway which comprises a first air inlet port and which is interconnected with said inhaler housing;

a medicament container which is interconnected with said inhaler housing;

a droplet ejection device which is interconnected with said inhaler housing and which is at least fluidly interconnectable with said medicament container;

a mouthpiece which is detachably interconnectable with said inhaler at each of first and second locations which are disposed in spaced relation by a total removal of said mouthpiece from said inhaler, wherein said mouthpiece is fluidly interconnected with said at least one airflow passageway when said mouthpiece is interconnected with said inhaler at said first location whereby having said mouthpiece interconnected with said inhaler at said first location provides for medicament delivery operations, wherein said mouthpiece is fluidly disconnected from said at least one airflow passageway when said mouthpiece is interconnected with said inhaler at said second location whereby having said mouthpiece interconnected with said inhaler at said second location provides for storage of said mouthpiece between adjacent-in-time said medicament delivery operations.

28. An inhaler, as claimed in claim 27, wherein:

said inhaler housing comprises a first droplet ejection cartridge aperture;

said inhaler further comprises a droplet ejection cartridge housing which is interconnected with said inhaler housing, wherein each said airflow passageway is directed around said droplet ejection cartridge housing, wherein said droplet ejection cartridge housing comprises a second droplet ejection cartridge aperture which is aligned with said first droplet ejection cartridge aperture of said inhaler housing, and wherein said droplet ejection cartridge housing further comprises a droplet ejection aperture; and

said droplet ejection device comprises a droplet ejection cartridge which is removably disposed within said second droplet ejection cartridge aperture of said droplet ejection cartridge housing by passage through said first droplet ejection cartridge aperture of said inhaler housing, wherein said droplet ejection cartridge comprises a medicament reservoir, a plurality of droplet ejection orifices which are at least fluidly interconnectable with said medicament reservoir and which are oriented to direct medicament droplets through said droplet ejection aperture of said droplet ejection cartridge housing, and at least one droplet ejection actuator.

29. An inhaler, as claimed in claim 27, further comprising:

an airflow conduit assembly which is interconnected with said inhaler housing, wherein each said airflow passageway extends through said airflow conduit assembly, and wherein an inlet end of said mouthpiece is fluidly interconnectable with said airflow conduit assembly.

30. An inhaler, as claimed in claim 29, wherein:

said airflow conduit assembly comprises a first section, wherein said first section is divergent when progressing in a direction which is at least generally toward said first air inlet port and away from said mouthpiece when interconnected with said airflow conduit assembly, and wherein said first section terminates at said first air inlet port.

31. An inhaler, as claimed in claim 30, wherein:

a wall of said airflow conduit assembly which defines said first section is at least generally accurately-shaped relative to a reference axis which defines a longitudinal extent of said airflow conduit assembly.

32. An inhaler, as claimed in claim 30, wherein:

said airflow conduit assembly further comprises a plenum, wherein said first air inlet port fluidly interconnects said plenum and said first section, with said first section thereby being disposed between said plenum and said mouthpiece when interconnected with said airflow conduit assembly, and wherein said plenum comprises a second air inlet port through which air may be drawn into said plenum and directed into said first section of said conduit assembly for provision to said mouthpiece when interconnected with said airflow conduit assembly.

33. An inhaler, as claimed in claim 29, wherein:

said airflow conduit assembly comprises a plenum and an airflow conduit, wherein said first air inlet port fluidly interconnects said plenum and said airflow conduit, wherein said mouthpiece is fluidly interconnectable with an end of said airflow conduit which is opposite that which defines said first air inlet port, and wherein said plenum comprises a second air inlet port through which air may be drawn into said plenum and directed into said airflow conduit through said first air inlet port for provision to said mouthpiece when interconnected with said airflow conduit assembly.

34. An inhaler, as claimed in claim 33, wherein:

an interior volume of said plenum is at least about 9,000 mm³.

35. An inhaler, as claimed in claim 33, further comprising:

means for changing a size of said second air inlet port.

36. An inhaler, as claimed in claim 33, wherein:

said first and second air inlet ports are offset.

37. An inhaler, as claimed in claim 29, wherein:

said airflow conduit assembly is defined by a first diameter at a first location, wherein said airflow conduit assembly is defined by a second diameter at a second location which is spaced from said first location at least generally in a direction of said mouthpiece when interconnected with said airflow conduit assembly, wherein said airflow conduit assembly is defined by a third diameter at a third location which is spaced from said second location at least generally in a direction of said mouthpiece when interconnected with said airflow conduit assembly, wherein said first diameter is greater than said second diameter, and wherein said third diameter is greater than each of said first and second diameters.

38. An inhaler, as claimed in claim 37, wherein:

said inlet end of said mouthpiece is disposed opposite an outlet end of said mouthpiece, and wherein a size of said inlet end of said mouthpiece is greater than a size of said outlet end of said mouthpiece.

39. An inhaler, as claimed in claim 27, further comprising:

an airflow passageway cover for said at least one airflow passageway when said mouthpiece is disconnected from said at least one airflow passageway.

40. An inhaler, as claimed in claim 39, further comprising:

a tether which interconnects said inhaler housing and said airflow passageway cover.

41. An inhaler, comprising:

a plenum which comprises a first air inlet port, wherein an interior volume of said plenum is at least about 9,000 mm³;

an airflow conduit which is fluidly interconnected with said plenum and which comprises first and second longitudinally spaced ends, wherein said first end interfaces with said plenum, and wherein said first end of said airflow conduit is offset from said first air inlet port;

a droplet ejection device which is at least fluidly interconnectable with said airflow conduit, wherein said droplet ejection device comprises a medicament reservoir, a plurality of droplet ejection orifices which are at least fluidly interconnectable with said medicament reservoir, and at least one droplet ejection actuator; and

mouthpiece which is at least interconnectable with said second end of said airflow conduit.

42. An inhaler, as claimed in claim 41, further comprising:

an inhaler housing which comprises a first droplet ejection cartridge aperture; and

a droplet ejection cartridge housing which is interconnected with said inhaler housing, wherein said airflow conduit comprises at least one airflow passageway, wherein each said airflow passageway is directed around said droplet ejection cartridge housing, wherein said droplet election cartridge housing comprises a second droplet ejection cartridge aperture which is aligned with said first droplet election cartridge aperture of said inhaler housing, wherein said droplet ejection cartridge housing further comprises a droplet ejection aperture, and wherein said droplet ejection device comprises a droplet ejection cartridge which is removably disposed within said second droplet ejection cartridge aperture of said droplet ejection cartridge housing by passage through said first droplet ejection cartridge aperture of said inhaler housing.

43. An inhaler, as claimed in claim 41, wherein:

said airflow conduit comprises a first section, wherein said first section is divergent when progressing in a direction which is at least generally toward said first air inlet port and away from said mouthpiece when interconnected with said airflow conduit, and wherein said first section terminates at said first end.

44. An inhaler, as claimed in claim 43, wherein:

a wall of said airflow conduit which defines said first section is at least generally accurately-shaped relative to a reference axis which defines a longitudinal extent of said airflow conduit.

45. An inhaler, as claimed in claim 41, wherein:

first air inlet port is located on a surface of said plenum that projects toward said airflow conduit.

46. An inhaler, as claimed in claim 41, further comprising:

means for changing a size of said first air inlet port.

47. An inhaler, as claimed in claim 41, wherein:

said airflow conduit is defined by a first diameter at a first location, wherein said airflow conduit is defined by a second diameter at a second location which is spaced from said first location at least generally in a direction of said mouthpiece when interconnected with said airflow conduit, wherein said airflow conduit is defined by a third diameter at a third location which is spaced from said second location at least generally in a direction of said mouthpiece when interconnected with said airflow conduit, wherein said first diameter is greater than said second diameter, and wherein said third diameter is greater than each of said first and second diameters.

48. An inhaler, as claimed in claim 41, wherein:

said mouthpiece comprises an inlet end and an outlet end which may be inserted into a mouth of a user of said inhaler, wherein said inlet end of said mouthpiece interfaces with said airflow conduit when said mouthpiece is interconnected with said airflow conduit, and wherein a size of said inlet end of said mouthpiece is greater than a size of said outlet end of said mouthpiece.

49. An inhaler, as claimed in claim 41, wherein:

said mouthpiece is detachably interconnectable with said inhaler at each of first and second locations which are disposed in spaced relation, wherein said mouthpiece is fluidly interconnected with said airflow conduit when said mouthpiece is interconnected with said inhaler at said first location whereby having said mouthpiece interconnected with said inhaler at said first location provides for medicament delivery operations, and wherein said mouthpiece is fluidly disconnected from said airflow conduit when said mouthpiece is interconnected with said inhaler at said second location whereby having said mouthpiece interconnected with said inhaler at said second location provides for storage of said mouthpiece between uses of said inhaler for medicament delivery operations.

50. An inhaler, as claimed in claim 49, further comprising:

an airflow passageway cover for said at least one airflow passageway when said mouthpiece is disconnected from said airflow conduit.

51. An inhaler, as claimed in claim 50, further comprising:

a tether which interconnects said inhaler housing and said airflow passageway cover.

52. An inhaler, comprising:

an airflow conduit assembly which comprises a first air inlet and a first air outlet and at least one airflow passageway which extends between said first air inlet and said first air outlet;

a droplet ejection cartridge housing which comprises first, second, third, and fourth sides, wherein said first and second sides are disposed opposite of each other, wherein said third and fourth sides are disposed opposite of each other, wherein at least part of said droplet ejection cartridge housing is disposed within said airflow conduit assembly, wherein a first space between said first side of said droplet ejection device housing and an interior surface of said airflow conduit assembly defines a first airflow passageway, wherein a second space between said second side of said droplet ejection device housing and said interior surface of said airflow conduit assembly defines a second airflow passageway, wherein said at least one airflow passageway comprises said first and second airflow passageways, and wherein each said airflow passageway extends past said droplet ejection cartridge housing other than between said third side of said droplet ejection cartridge housing and said interior surface of said airflow conduit assembly and other than between said fourth side of said droplet ejection cartridge housing and said interior surface of said airflow conduit assembly;

a droplet ejection cartridge disposed within said droplet ejection cartridge housing, wherein said droplet ejection cartridge comprises a medicament reservoir, a plurality of droplet ejection orifices which are at least fluidly interconnectable with said medicament reservoir, and at least one droplet ejection actuator; and

a mouthpiece which is at least fluidly interconnectable with said first outlet port of said airflow conduit assembly.