Active walls

• US 6,722,365 B2
• Filed: 01/07/2003
• Issued: 04/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mederio AG (Pfizer Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Microdrug AG
• Inventors: Nilsson, Thomas, Nilsson, Lars-Gunnar
• Primary Examiner(s): Dawson, Glenn K.
• Application Number:
  US10/337,398
• Publication Number:
  US 20030094176A1
• Time in Patent Office: 469 Days
• Field of Search: 128/200.24, 128/203.12, 128/203.15, 128/204.18, 128/207-4-2, 604/57, 604/58, 961/56, 962/16, 962/96, 222/148, 222/635, 210/702, 210/703, 210/718, 210/787, 210/188, 210/721.2, 210/512.1, 210/746, 210/900, 209/724, 239/22, 239/104, 239/650, 239/106, 239/654, 261/76, 261/77
• US Class Current: 128/203.15
• 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 2202/064 Powder
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0233 Conductive materials, e.g. antistatic coatings for spark prevention
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 17/06 by giving articles subject to fouling a special shape or arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 53/521 means for preventing the accumulation or for removal of deposits preventing accumulation in pipes in general F16L55/24

Abstract

A powder distribution device for transporting and mixing a fine powder with a gas is disclosed. The device presents a distribution member forming a connection between a source of fine powder and a discharge opening. The distribution member has a first inlet portion (10) and an outlet portion (12) for a stream of a first gas (1) mixed with the fine powder. The main body of the distribution member constitutes a porous body portion (16) being surrounded by a second gas (2). If a pressure gradient is created between the second gas (2) and the first gas (1), i.e. the first gas (1) being at a slightly lower pressure, the second gas (2) will leak trough the porous body (16) and thereby preventing powder, in the mix of the first gas and fine powder, from sticking or clogging within the distribution member, which thereby forms an active non-sticking wall relative to of the fine powder.

Claims

1. A powder distribution device for transporting and mixing of powder with a gas comprising

a distribution member body forming a connection between a source of fine powder and a discharge opening, whereby the distribution member body comprises a porous body having a first inlet portion and an outlet portion for a stream of a first gas mixed with the fine powder, the porous body being surrounded by a second gas, which when creating a positive pressure gradient between outer and inner regions of said distribution member body the surrounding second gas will leak through the porous body of the distribution member body, thereby preventing powder particles from sticking to the inside of the distribution member.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein said porous body of the powder distribution device is made from sintered porous plastic or a porous sintered metallic material.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein said porous body is conductive or electrostatic dissipative and connected to a device ground to prevent electrostatic charging.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein said first gas and said second gas both constitute air.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein a pressure difference between said first gas and said second gas is obtained by creating an under-pressure in said first gas by a suction of the first gas from said outlet portion.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the powder distribution device further constitutes an outer wall portion encircling the inner porous body and said outer wall portion further being provided with a second inlet portion for an inlet of said second gas at a higher pressure compared to said first gas to have the second gas leak through said inner porous body portion thereby preventing powder from sticking or clogging at inner walls of the distribution member.

7. The device according to claim 5, wherein a pressure difference between said first gas and said second gas is obtained by adjusting the pressure of said second gas fed at said second inlet portion.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the powder distribution member at its first inlet portion also constitutes a source of powder to thereby form an inhaler arrangement connected to a mouthpiece for inhaling the powder, whereby due to active inner walls of the device powder will not stick to inner walls of the inhaler.