Breath actuated dry powder inhaler and tape dose strip

• US 7,322,353 B2
• Filed: 11/10/2004
• Issued: 01/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Aptar France S.A.S (AptarGroup Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Valois SAS (Mestdagh Family)
• Inventors: Kay, Stuart, Young, Matthew, Harrison, Neil, Darby, Ian, Rogerson, Cheryl Vanessa, Crew, Peter, Powell, Anne
• Primary Examiner(s): Yu; Justine R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ali; Shumaya B.
• Application Number:
  US10/984,869
• Publication Number:
  US 20050087188A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,175 Days
• Field of Search: 128/203.15, 128/203.21, 128/203.12, 604/290, 604/294, 604/295, 604/296, 604/297, 222/94, 222/103, 222/544, 206/221, 206/484
• US Class Current: 128/203.15
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0008 rotating by airflow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0031 by bursting or breaking the package, i.e. without cutting or piercing
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0043 Non-destructive separation of the package, e.g. peeling
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0045 using multiple prepacked dosages on a same carrier, e.g. blisters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0048 the dosages being arranged in a plane, e.g. on diskettes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0051 the dosages being arranged on a tape, e.g. strips
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/006 the used dosages being discarded out of the inhaler's housing
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0086 Inhalation chambers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0091 mechanically breath-triggered
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0096 Hindering inhalation before activation of the dispenser
• 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 2206/16 Rotating swirling helical flow, e.g. by tangential inflows
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/327 and forming several compartments

Abstract

A dry powder inhaler, including a housing having an airflow path leading from an inlet, past a powder release location, to a mouthpiece; a drive spool engaged with a capstan adjacent to the powder release location; a spring biasing a ratchet into engagement with the drive spool; and a breath trigger in the airflow path. The breath trigger is moveable from a first position, wherein the breath trigger holds the ratchet, to a second position, wherein the breath trigger releases the ratchet to allow the ratchet to turn the drive spool.

Claims

1. A dry powder inhaler comprising:

a housing having an airflow path leading from an inlet, past a powder release location, to a mouthpiece;

a drive spool engaged with a capstan adjacent to the powder release location;

a spring biasing a ratchet into engagement with the drive spool;

a breath trigger in the airflow path, with the breath trigger moveable from a first position, wherein the breath trigger holds the ratchet, to a second position, wherein the breath trigger releases the ratchet to allow the ratchet to turn the drive spool, and

a blister strip supporting a plurality of sealed blisters, each containing a dose of powder, said blister strip being engaged with the drive spool,

wherein one blister is opened each time the breath trigger is moved to the second position.

2. A dry inhaler according to claim 1, wherein the breath trigger comprises a breath flap assembly pivotably mounted on said housing.

3. A dry inhaler according to claim 2, wherein the ratchet comprises a trigger arm co-operating with said breath flap assembly, such that inhalation through the mouthpiece causes the breath flap assembly to pivot, which moves said trigger arm, allowing said ratchet to turn the drive spool.

4. A dry powder inhaler comprising:

a housing having an airflow path from an inlet, past a powder release location, to a mouthpiece;

a capstan comprising a first gear;

a drive spool comprising a second gear meshing with the first gear and located to receive between the first and second gears a tape having individually sealed blisters, each blister comprising a dose of powder;

a ratchet engaged with the drive spool, the ratchet advancing the drive spool in at least one rotational direction upon rotation of the ratchet;

a spring that, when tensioned, biases the ratchet in a direction that advances the drive spool;

a trigger comprising a rotatable flap in the airflow path, wherein the trigger is engaged with the ratchet to prevent movement of the ratchet until the trigger is actuated, and wherein the trigger is actuated by applying suction to the mouthpiece to cause air within the airflow path to force rotation of the flap.

5. The dry powder inhaler according to claim 4, further comprising a dustcap that covers the mouthpiece when the dustcap is closed, and wherein opening or closing the dustcap tensions the spring.