Inhalation apparatus

• US 8,783,249 B2
• Filed: 04/02/2012
• Issued: 07/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mannkind Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mannkind Corporation
• Inventors: Steiner, Solomon S., Trent, Poole
• Primary Examiner(s): SKORUPA, VALERIE LYNN
• Application Number:
  US13/437,840
• Publication Number:
  US 20120247464A1
• Time in Patent Office: 841 Days
• Field of Search: 128/200.24, 12820312-20414, 12820011-20013, 12820014-20023, 222/153.12, 222/153.09, 222/153.05, 222/167, 222/168, 222519-521
• US Class Current: 128/203.15
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/14 Particulate form, e.g. powders, Processes for size reducing of pure drugs or the resulting products, Pure drug nanoparticles microspheres A61K9/16; microcapsules A61K9/50; nanocapsules, nanoparticles of the matrix type A61K9/51
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0021 Mouthpieces therefor
• 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 15/0093 without arming or cocking, e.g. acting directly on the delivery valve
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/06 Inhaling appliances shaped like cigars, cigarettes or pipes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/064 Powder
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/12 with interchangeable cassettes forming partially or totally the fluid circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2206/16 Rotating swirling helical flow, e.g. by tangential inflows

Abstract

An inhaler is instantly activated upon its removal from a cover or cover unit, and by rotating a cartridge component of the inhaler with respect to a mouthpiece portion, so as to create a flow pathway for ambient air and particles. The cartridge component includes a chamber, whose contents typically include dry powders or the like. Upon creation of the flow pathway, the contents of the chamber are instantly accessible for immediate inhalation by a user through the mouthpiece portion.

Claims

1. An inhaler comprising:

a mouthpiece; and

a cartridge including a single chamber for storing an inhalable substance shaped to create vortices within the chamber;

wherein the mouthpiece and the cartridge are engaged and configured to be rotatable from a first position wherein the chamber is closed to a second position wherein a flow pathway is formed from the ambient environment through the chamber to the mouthpiece; and

wherein the mouthpiece includes detents having edges not allowing a movement back to the first position and wherein the inhaler is a onetime use inhaler.

2. The inhaler of claim 1, additionally comprising a mouthpiece cover.

3. The inhaler of claim 2, wherein the mouthpiece cover and the cartridge include cooperatingly configured structures for retaining the cover in an engagement with the cartridge, once the cover has been placed on the cartridge.

4. The inhaler of claim 1, wherein the inhalable substance is a dry powder.

5. The inhaler of claim 4, wherein the dry powder is a bioactive molecule encapsulated in diketopiperizine microparticles.

6. The inhaler of claim 1, wherein the chamber further comprises at least one protrusion.

7. The inhaler of claim 1, wherein the chamber further comprises two or more grooves.

8. The inhaler of claim 1 further including a removable cover extending over an inlet opening into the cartridge and an opening on the mouthpiece.

9. A method for inhaling a substance, the method comprising:

inhaling the substance from an inhaler comprising;

a mouthpiece; and

a cartridge including a single chamber for storing an inhalable substance shaped to create vortices within the chamber;

wherein the mouthpiece and the cartridge are engaged and rotated from a first position wherein the chamber is closed to the ambient environment to a second position wherein a flow pathway is formed from the ambient environment through the chamber to the mouthpiece; and

wherein the mouthpiece includes detents having edges not allowing a movement back to the first position and wherein the inhaler is a onetime use inhaler.

10. The method of claim 9, additionally comprising a mouthpiece cover.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the mouthpiece cover and the cartridge include cooperatingly configured structures for retaining the cover in an engagement with the cartridge, once the cover has been placed on the cartridge.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the substance is a dry powder.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the dry powder is a bioactive molecule encapsulated in diketopiperizine microparticles.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the chamber further comprises at least one protrusion.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the chamber further comprises two or more grooves.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the inhaler further includes a removable cover extending over an inlet opening into the cartridge and an opening on the mouthpiece.