Inhaler device and method of administering a medicament

• US 9,295,793 B2
• Filed: 04/07/2006
• Issued: 03/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aventis Pharma Ltd. (Sanofi )
• Original Assignee: Aventis Pharma Ltd. (Sanofi )
• Inventors: Ferris, Christopher, Young, Matthew, Oakley, Jonathan, O'Hara, Wayne
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, Tan-Uyen (Jackie) T
• Assistant Examiner(s): Han, Mark K
• Application Number:
  US11/910,678
• Publication Number:
  US 20090114219A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,644 Days
• Field of Search: 128/203, 128/14, 128/203.15, 128/203.19, 128/200.19, 128/200.22, 128/200.23, 128/203.12, 128/203.21, 12820323-20324, 128/204.18, 12820424-20425, 12820523-20524
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 15/0081 Locking means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0095 Preventing manual activation in absence of inhalation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0021 with a proportional output signal, e.g. from a thermistor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/066 made from a compacted product by abrading

Abstract

An inhaler device (1) contains, or is capable of accepting, a plurality of doses of a medicament to be dispensed from the inhaler (1). To ameliorate the problem of double dosing from the inhaler (1), the device further comprises prevention means (26, 28, 40) for preventing, at least temporarily, the dispensing of a dose of medicament, and detection means (32) for detecting the inhalation of a previously dispensed dose of medicament. When the detection means (32) detects the inhalation of the previously dispensed dose of medicament, it releases the prevention means (26, 28, 40), allowing the device to dispense a further dose of medicament. The detection means (32) may be a pressure sensor, and the prevention means (26, 28, 40) may operate by causing a disengagement of an actuation mechanism.

Claims

1. An inhaler device having, or capable of accepting, a plurality of doses of a medicament to be dispensed by the inhaler device, the inhaler device further comprising:

an actuation mechanism, said actuation mechanism including components comprising an interlocking collar, a cap, a housing and biasing means, which must be operated by a user in order to enable the inhaler device to dispense a dose of medicament;

prevention means for preventing, at least temporarily, the dispensing of the dose of medicament by causing a disengagement of two components of the actuation mechanism brought about by a camming action, in which the two components undergo relative movement and a cam follower on one of the two components is caused to move from a first position, in which the components are engaged, to a second position, in which the components are disengaged, wherein said disengagement involves physical, separation of two components which are required to interact in order for the inhaler device to be actuated;

detection means for detecting the inhalation of a previously dispensed dose of medicament, whereby if the detection means detects the inhalation of the previously dispensed dose of medicament, the detection means releases the prevention means, allowing the inhaler device to dispense a further dose of medicament wherein said interlocking collar comprises stepped, interlocking surfaces with the cap, and one or more projections on the interlocking collar for engagement with one or more recesses on the inner surface of the housing.

2. The inhaler device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the actuation mechanism comprises a manually operable actuation means.

3. The inhaler device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the manually operable actuation means comprises a twist-action mechanism.

4. The inhaler device according to claim 2, wherein the prevention means acts on, and/or is associated with, the actuation mechanism.

5. The inhaler device as claimed in claim 4, wherein an initial operation of the actuation mechanism primes the inhaler device so as to dispense, or enable dispensing, of the plurality of doses of the medicament, but a further movement or operation of the actuation mechanism operates the prevention means, thereby preventing, at least temporarily, the dispensing of the further dose.

6. The inhaler device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the initial operation and further movement of the actuation mechanism represent different extents of movement in the same sense.

7. The inhaler device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the initial operation is movement in a first sense and the further movement is a reciprocal movement in the opposite sense or direction to the initial operation.

8. The inhaler device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the relative movement of the two components is brought about manually by the user of the inhaler device.

9. The inhaler device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the detection means comprises a pressure sensor.

10. The inhaler device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the pressure sensor is a micro electromechanical systems (MEMS) pressure sensor.

11. The inhaler device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the pressure sensor is responsive to a pressure reduction of 40-60 mbar.

12. The inhaler device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the pressure sensor is responsive to the duration of a change in pressure.

13. The inhaler device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the detection means is responsive only to a pressure reduction of a predetermined magnitude which persists for a predetermined length of time.

14. The inhaler device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the predetermined magnitude of the pressure reduction is 40-60 mbar and the predetermined length of time is at least 1 second.

15. The inhaler device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the detection means is positioned in, or in the vicinity of, an outlet or mouthpiece via which the dose of medicament is inhaled by the user.

16. The inhaler device as claimed in claim 1, which comprises one or more signal processing means.

17. The inhaler device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the signal processing means includes one or more of:

a microprocessor, an amplifier for amplifying a signal output from the detection means, and signal filter means.

18. The inhaler device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the actuation mechanism is held in a disengaged state by a purely mechanical means that does not rely on a supply of electrical power.

19. The inhaler device as claimed in claim 18, wherein the mechanical means includes a latch mechanism that engages when components of the actuation mechanism are disengaged and then maintains the components in the disengaged state until the latch mechanism is released.

20. The inhaler device as claimed in claim 19, wherein a component of the actuation mechanism is formed with resilient detents that are adapted to hold that component in a position spaced apart from another component with which the first component is normally engaged, and which can be released to permit reengagement of the two components.

21. The inhaler device as claimed in claim 20, wherein release of the detents is brought about by electromechanical means.

22. The inhaler device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said inhaler device is a dry powder inhaler.

23. A method comprising administering a dose of a medicament to a user using an inhaler device as claimed in claim 1.