Bead-containing dry powder inhaler

• US 8,651,104 B2
• Filed: 05/11/2012
• Issued: 02/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Respira Therapeutics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Respira Therapeutics, Inc.
• Inventors: Donovan, Martin J., Pappo, Jacques, Smyth, Hugh
• Primary Examiner(s): Thanh, Loan H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Deichl, Jennifer M
• Application Number:
  US13/469,963
• Publication Number:
  US 20120291780A1
• Time in Patent Office: 648 Days
• Field of Search: 128/203.15, 128/203.19, 128/203.21
• US Class Current: 128/203.15
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0003 with means for dispensing more than one drug
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/001 using ultrasonic means
• 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 15/0036 hollow piercing means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0063 Storages for pre-packed dosages
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/127 by Venturi effect, i.e. entrainment mixers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/064 Powder
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/43 making noise when used correctly

Abstract

A dry powder inhaler includes a chamber holding a bead-like actuator to which a powdered medicament is adhered. Air is drawn into the chamber through an inlet flow channel and exits through an outlet flow channel. The bead-like actuator oscillates in response to the air flow, dislodging powdered medicament to be entrained in the air flow and delivered to the patient.

Claims

1. A dry powder inhaler, comprising:

an inlet channel through which air enters the inhaler;

a chamber that receives air from the inlet channel, wherein the chamber has a longitudinal axis, and wherein the inlet channel is generally co-axial with the longitudinal axis;

a single bead-like actuator disposed within the chamber, wherein the bead-like actuator has an outer surface to which a medicament is adhered; and

an outlet channel through which air and the powdered medicament leave the inhaler to be delivered to a patient, wherein the outlet channel is generally co-axial with the longitudinal axis of the chamber;

wherein the geometry of the inhaler is such that a flow profile is generated within the chamber that causes the bead-like actuator to oscillate generally co-axial with the longitudinal axis, thus detaching the medicament from the outer surface of the bead-like actuator to be entrained by the air and delivered to the patient through the outlet channel.

2. The dry powder inhaler of claim 1, wherein the bead-like actuator comprises expanded polystyrene.

3. The dry powder inhaler of claim 1, wherein the bead-like actuator comprises polyolefin.

4. The dry powder inhaler of claim 1, wherein the bead-like actuator has a density between 0.001 and 5.0 g/cm3.

5. The dry powder inhaler of claim 1, wherein the bead-like actuator has a diameter of at least 500 microns.

6. The dry powder inhaler of claim 1, wherein the bead-like actuator has a diameter between about 1,000 and 25,000 microns.

7. The dry powder inhaler of claim 1, wherein a combination of medicaments is adhered to the bead-like actuator.

8. The dry powder inhaler of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of chambers disposed on a rotary element for selectively aligning any of the chambers with the outlet channel.

9. The dry powder inhaler of claim 1, wherein the inhaler includes multiple chambers, and wherein each chamber includes a bead-like actuator with a medicament.

10. The dry powder inhaler of claim 9, wherein a bead-like actuator in a first chamber has a medicament on it that is different from a medicament on a bead-like actuator in a second chamber.

11. The dry powder inhaler of claim 9, wherein at least one of the bead-like actuators includes multiple medicaments thereon.

12. A method, comprising:

obtaining a dry power inhaler that includes an inlet channel, a chamber, and an outlet channel, the chamber holding a single bead-like actuator, wherein one or more powdered medicaments are adhered to an outside surface of the bead-like actuator; and

inhaling through the outlet channel, causing air to flow into the inlet channel, through the chamber, and through the outlet chamber, the flowing air also causing the bead-like actuator to oscillate generally along a longitudinal axis extending between the inlet channel and the outlet channel to dislodge powdered medicament from the surface of the bead-like actuator to be entrained in the flowing air and carried through the outlet channel.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

separating or opening portions of the inhaler comprising the chamber and the outlet channel;

loading the bead-like actuator into the chamber; and

re-engaging or closing the two portions of the inhaler.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein a combination of powdered medicaments is adhered to the bead-like actuator.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the dry powder inhaler includes at least two chambers holding at least one bead-like actuator in each chamber, wherein the bead-like actuators each have medicament adhered to them, and wherein the flowing air causes each bead-like actuator to oscillate to dislodge powdered medicament to be inhaled.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the bead-like actuators each have the same powdered medicament adhered thereto.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the bead-like actuator in each chamber have a powdered medicament adhered thereto that are different from each other.

18. A dry powder inhaler, comprising:

an inlet channel through which air enters the inhaler;

a chamber that receives air from the inlet channel, wherein the chamber has a longitudinal axis;

a single bead-like actuator disposed within the chamber, wherein the bead-like actuator has an outer surface to which at least one medicament is adhered; and

an outlet channel through which air and the powdered medicament leave the inhaler to be delivered to a patient, wherein the inlet chamber and the outlet chamber are aligned with the longitudinal axis;

wherein the geometry of the inlet and the chamber, and the mass of the bead-like actuator, are configured such that the bead-like actuator oscillates at a desired frequency and amplitude within the chamber when fluid flows through the chamber in order to detach the medicament from the outer surface of the bead-like actuator to be delivered to the patient through the outlet channel.