Inhaler

• US 8,528,544 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2008
• Issued: 09/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Kobayashi, Masaya
• Primary Examiner(s): Thanh, Loan
• Assistant Examiner(s): JALALZADEH ABYAN, SHILA
• Application Number:
  US12/125,579
• Publication Number:
  US 20080295827A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,937 Days
• Field of Search: 128/200.19, 128/200.11, 128/200.14, 261/78, 604/94.01, 604/212, 604/264
• US Class Current: 128/200.19
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/005 using ultrasonics spraying or atomising liquids using ultrasonic vibrations in general B05B17/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/041 using heaters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/042 electrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0003 with means for dispensing more than one drug
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0021 Mouthpieces therefor
• 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 15/02 with activated or ionised fluids, e.g. electrohydrodynamic [EHD] or electrostatic devices; Ozone-inhalators with radioactive tagged particles
• 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 2016/0027 pressure meter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/502 User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated

Abstract

The present invention prevents liquid droplets from colliding with each other and prevents changes in the liquid droplet size, and prevents degeneration of medicinal solutions from occurring in the center portion where the flow rate of the airflow is maximum inside the airflow path. Inside an inhalation flow path of a flow path mouthpiece unit having a mouthpiece at one end, a cylindrical structure is disposed, and the cross-section of the inhalation flow path is made ring-shaped. The surface of the structure is provided with medicine ejection portions, and the medicinal liquids are supplied from a reservoir provided inside the structure. Even when the medicine ejection portions are simultaneously driven, this structure prevents the liquid droplets from colliding with each other to change the liquid droplet size and the like.

Claims

1. An inhaler for ejecting a medicine to allow a user to inhale the same, comprising:

a suction port for the user to inhale the medicine;

an airflow path with length L whose first end is connected to said suction port and whose second end has an air inlet, said airflow path guiding the medicine to said suction port by an airflow generated by inhalation by the user;

a plurality of medicine ejection portions configured to eject the medicine to said airflow path; and

a structure inside said airflow path, and having an end portion,

wherein said end portion of said structure is positioned less than L/5 from said first end of said airflow path, and

wherein said plurality of medicine ejection portions are positioned by more than L/5 apart from said second end of said airflow path and from said end portion of said structure.

2. The inhaler according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of reservoirs and wherein a medicinal solution is supplied to each of said plurality of medicine ejection portions from said plurality of reservoirs.

3. The inhaler according to claim 2, wherein different medicinal solutions are stored in respective ones of said reservoirs.

4. The inhaler according to claim 1, wherein said airflow path has an annular cross-section in which said structure is disposed.

5. The inhaler according to claim 1, further comprising a reservoir storing the medicine and disposed inside said structure, and wherein said plurality of medicine ejection portions is disposed on a surface of said structure.

6. The inhaler according to claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of medicine ejection portions has an ejection head for ejecting the medicine by supplying thermal energy or vibration energy.

7. The inhaler according to claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of medicine ejection portions is disposed on an outer wall of said airflow path.

8. The inhaler according to claim 1, wherein said structure extends from a position at which said plurality of medicine ejection portions is disposed toward said suction port.

9. The inhaler according to claim 1, wherein said structure has such shape that the maxima of an air flow rate does not gather at one point, but is dispersed inside of said airflow path.

10. The inhaler according to claim 1, wherein said end portion of said structure is cone-shaped.