Unit dose capsules for use in a dry powder inhaler

• US 7,305,986 B1
• Filed: 07/21/2000
• Issued: 12/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mannkind Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mannkind Corporation
• Inventors: Fog, Per B., Steiner, Solomon S., Feldstein, Robert, Poole, Trent
• Primary Examiner(s): YU, JUSTINE ROMANG
• Application Number:
  US09/621,092
• Time in Patent Office: 2,699 Days
• Field of Search: 128/203.15, 128/203.12, 128/203.19, 604/58, 424/453, 424/454, 424/458, 424/467
• US Class Current: 128/203.15
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 13/00 Insufflators for therapeutic or disinfectant purposes , i.e. devices for blowing a gas, powder or vapour into the body hand-held units in which gas flow is produced by muscular energy at the moment of use B05B11/062
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/002 with air flow regulating means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0021 Mouthpieces therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0023 retractable
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0025 with caps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0028 using prepacked dosages, one for each application, e.g. capsules to be perforated or broken-up
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/003 using capsules, e.g. to be perforated or broken-up
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0043 Non-destructive separation of the package, e.g. peeling
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0495 with tongue depressors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0825 with ball-sockets
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/064 Powder
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/43 making noise when used correctly
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/252 the male part having lugs on its periphery penetrating in the corresponding slots provided in the female part

Abstract

Described are capsules to contain a drug for use in an inhaler. The capsules may be two-part capsules where each half has apertures which may correspond to apertures in the other half. The first half fits snugly within the second half and the two halves may be rotated around their longitudinal axes with respect to each other to produce unlocked and locked positions. In the unlocked position, at least one aperture in the first half aligns with at least one aperture in the second half, which permits introduction of a medicament. In the locked position, at least two apertures in the first half align with at least two apertures in the second half, allowing air to pass through the capsule, releasing the medicament contained therein. Each capsule may have a unique key on each half that only fits with a particular inhaler or identifies the medicament contained therein.

Claims

1. A capsule to contain drug for use in an inhaler comprising at least one keying surface on an outside surface of a distal end of the capsule that is adapted to orient the capsule within the inhaler or identifies the drug to be placed in the capsule and

at least one hole allowing air to pass in, through and out of the capsule, wherein the capsule comprises

a first tube and a second tube, wherein:

(a) the first tube comprises a long axis, having an inner and an outer surface radial to the long axis, wherein the tube is open at one end perpendicular to the long axis and closed at one end perpendicular to the long axis; and

wherein the first tube has at least one protrusion on its outer surface; and

(b) the second tube comprises a long axis, having an inner and an outer surface radial to the long axis, wherein the tube is open at one end perpendicular to the long axis and closed at one end perpendicular to the long axis and wherein the second tube has at least one protrusion on its inner surface; and

wherein the outer circumference of the first tube is approximately equal to the inner circumference of the second tube, such that the open end of the first tube can slide snugly into the open end of the second tube; and

wherein a protrusion on the outer surface of the first tube may slide past a protrusion on the inner surface of the second tube, locking the tubes together;

and wherein the first tube and the second tube each have one or more secondary holes other than the openings at the end of each tube, wherein at least one secondary hole in the first tube may be made coincident with at least one secondary hole in the second tube when the first tube is slid onto the second tube in the unlocked position by rotation of the first and second tubes about their long axes, and

wherein when the first tube is locked onto the second tube at least two secondary holes in the first tube may be made coincident with at least two secondary holes in the second tube by rotation of the first and second tubes about their long axes.

2. The capsule of claim 1 wherein the first and second tubes further comprise keying surfaces at the closed ends of the tubes.

3. A capsule to contain drug for use in an inhaler comprising at least one keying surface on an outside surface of a distal end of the capsule that is adapted to orient the capsule within the inhaler or identifies the drug to be placed in the capsule and

at least one hole allowing air to pass in, through and out of the capsule, wherein the keying surface identifies the drug to be placed in the capsule.

4. The capsule of claim 3 further including medicament selected from the group consisting of liquid, powder, and gaseous medicaments.

5. A capsule to contain drug for use in an inhaler comprising at least one keying surface on an outside surface of a distal end of the capsule that is adapted to orient the capsule within the inhaler or identifies the drug to be placed in the capsule and

at least one hole allowing air to pass in, through and out of the capsule,

wherein the capsule comprises a keying surface on the outside of one end which is adapted to orient the capsule within the inhaler and a keying surface on the outside of the other end which identifies the drug to be placed in the capsule.