Inhalation device

• US 8,439,033 B2
• Filed: 10/06/2008
• Issued: 05/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MicroDose Therapeutx, Inc. (Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Limited)
• Original Assignee: MicroDose Therapeutx, Inc. (Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Limited)
• Inventors: Gumaste, Anand, Akouka, Henri
• Primary Examiner(s): DOUGLAS, STEVEN O
• Application Number:
  US12/246,208
• Publication Number:
  US 20090090361A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,681 Days
• Field of Search: 128/204.21, 128/203.12, 128/204.23, 128/204.26, 128/203.25, 128/203.19
• US Class Current: 128/204.21
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0021 Mouthpieces therefor
• 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 15/0046 characterized by the type of carrier
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0085 using ultrasonics spraying or atomising liquids using ultrasonic vibrations in general B05B17/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0021 with a proportional output signal, e.g. from a thermistor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/064 Powder
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/33 Controlling, regulating or measuring
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/35 Communication
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient

Abstract

A dry inhaler system includes a vibrating mechanism. A supply of a dry powder is operatively coupled to the vibrating mechanism. A power source communicates with the vibrating mechanism. A sensor communicates with the vibrating mechanism. A feedback control communicates with the sensor and the power source. The feedback control controls power delivered to the vibrating mechanism relative to information provided by the sensor about the performance of the vibrating mechanism.

Claims

1. A method of providing feedback control in a dry powder inhaler, the method comprising the steps of:

driving a vibrating mechanism to an approximate steady state using a first power input;

removing the first power input, wherein a vibration of at least a portion of the vibrating mechanism continues;

sensing the vibration of the vibrating mechanism after the voltage input is removed;

repeating the steps of driving, removing, and sensing with a plurality of different power inputs, wherein the plurality of different power inputs differ according to frequency;

determining which of the voltage inputs produced a largest sensed vibration; and

positioning the vibrating mechanism to disaggregate a dry powder.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of positioning precedes the step of removing.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of driving a vibrating mechanism further comprises the step of driving a piezoelectric transducer to vibrate.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of sensing the vibration further comprises detecting an output voltage from the piezoelectric transducer.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of different power inputs differ according to frequency.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of different power inputs differ according to magnitude.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of correlating the plurality of different power inputs with a plurality of different vibrations sensed.

8. A dry powder inhaler, comprising:

a vibrating mechanism;

a supply of a dry powder operativcly coupled to the vibrating mechanism;

a power source in communication with the vibrating mechanism, the power source having an intermittent power supply signal supplied to the vibrating mechanism;

an airflow sensor for sensing when a user is inhaling;

an actuation controller in communication with the airflow sensor for permitting actuating power to be supplied from the power source to the vibrating mechanism;

a vibrating mechanism sensor in communication with the vibrating mechanism, wherein the vibrating mechanism sensor is positioned to measure an instantaneous continued vibration characteristic of vibrating mechanism during a stop interval of the intermittent power supply signal; and

a feedback control in communication with the vibrating mechanism sensor and the power source, whereby the feedback control controls power delivered to the vibrating mechanism.