Medicinal device with container

• US 9,757,750 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2012
• Issued: 09/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH (C.H. Boehringer Sohn AG & Co. KG)
• Original Assignee: Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH (C.H. Boehringer Sohn AG & Co. KG)
• Inventors: Holakovsky, Holger, Lange, Lars, Steinzen, Maurice, Weiland, Felix, List, Klaus
• Primary Examiner(s): Yu, Justine
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lyddane, Kathrynn
• Application Number:
  US13/434,950
• Publication Number:
  US 20120325204A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,992 Days
• Field of Search: 12820023, 222 92, 222 93, 222 95, 222105
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/007 Syringe-type or piston-type sprayers or atomisers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0026 Hinged caps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0036 hollow piercing means
• 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: B05B 11/0013 Attachment arrangements comprising means cooperating with the inner surface of the container
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/0054 Cartridges, i.e. containers specially designed for easy attachment to or easy removal from the rest of the sprayer attachment arrangements between pump and container B05B11/1043
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/026 Membranes separating the content remaining in the container from the atmospheric air to compensate underpressure inside the container
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1091 being first hold in a loaded state by locking means or the like, then released B05B11/1092 takes precedence

Abstract

The invention relates to a hand-held medicinal device, particularly a nebulizer, for delivering a liquid medicament preparation from a container having a container cap. The medicament preparation may be based for example on an alcoholic solvent or may contain a similar substance with an increased vapor pressure. The proposed nebulizer with the installed container comprises a sealing system made up of two seals at the junction between the device and container, which prevent loss of liquid, diffusion leaks and exchange of gases with the environment at this point.

Claims

1. A device for administering a liquid medicinal formulation, comprising:

a container (3) having a flange (32a) defining an opening into the container (3) and an insertion point into the container (3);

an insertion funnel (31a) having a first end at the flange (32a) and extending to a second end through the opening and into an internal volume of the container (3) that contains the liquid medicinal formulation, the insertion funnel defining a conically shaped inside surface of wider diameter at the first end than at the second end;

a holder (6) configured to engage the flange of the container (3) and including a centrally located protrusion that extends into the first end of the insertion funnel (31a);

a rigid tube (9) connected to the holder (6);

a first seal in the form of a fitting seal located between the inside surface of the insertion funnel (31a), away from the first end and nearer to the second end, and a portion of the rigid tube (9); and

a second seal (30) having elastomeric properties, and a through-opening through which the rigid tube (9) extends in an axial direction, the second seal (30) being located between the inside surface of the insertion funnel (31a), toward the first end thereof, and another portion of the rigid tube (9), where the second seal is located between the inside surface of the insertion funnel (31a) and the protrusion of the holder (6) such that contact by the protrusion of the holder (6) into the insertion funnel (31a) and biasing against the second seal (30) in the axial direction causes the second seal (30) to elastically deform in a radial direction and seal off a space between the first seal, the container (3) and the rigid tube (9) to prevent the escape of liquids and gases and/or to prevent the ingress of gases,

wherein;

the second seal (3) includes a first surface that engages against the inside surface of the insertion funnel (31a), the first surface is of a conical shape, the second seal (3) includes a second surface that is engaged by the protrusion of the holder, and the second surface is of a concave conical shape,

the first seal includes a first area of contact between the inside surface of the insertion funnel (31a) and a first length of the portion of the rigid tube (9) that extends axially along the rigid tube (9),

the second seal includes a second area of contact;

(i) between the inside surface of the insertion funnel (31a) and an outside surface of the second seal, and (ii) between an inside surface of the second seal and a second length of the another portion of the rigid tube (9) that extends axially along the rigid tube (9),

the first area of contact of the first seal and the second area of contact of the second seal (30) are axially displaced from one another along the rigid tube (9) such that a third length of the rigid tube (9) between the first and second lengths thereof forms no seal, and

the third length of the rigid tube (9) is about a same length as an axial length of the second seal (30) extending along the tube (9).

2. The device according to claim 1 characterised in that the first seal is substantially leaktight against the liquid components of the medicinal formulation in the container (3) and the second seal (30) is substantially leaktight against gases.

3. The device according to claim 1, characterised in that the second seal (30) radially surrounds the rigid tube (9).

4. The device according to claim 1, characterised in that the second seal (30) is mounted at the device end on the tube or on the holder (6) that forms a container receptacle for the container (3).

5. The device according to claim 1, characterised in that the second seal (30) is axially compressed by the protrusion.

6. The device according to claim 1, characterised in that the second seal (30) is radially compressed perpendicularly to the rigid tube or perpendicularly to an inner guide (6d) on the holder (6).

7. The device according to claim 1, characterised in that the insertion point on the container (3) is facilitated by the insertion funnel (31a).

8. The device according to claim 1, characterised in that the second seal (30) is shaped so as to include a support region which abuts in the axial direction on the holder (6).

9. The device according to claim 1, characterised in that the holder (6) surrounds the tube and has an inner guide (6d) that is narrower by comparison with the holder'"'"'s overall diameter and abuts on the tube, wherein the inner guide (6d) comprises a lower edge which is lower than the flange (32a) of the container (3) and projects somewhat into the insertion funnel (31a) when the container (3) has been inserted into the holder (6).

10. The device according to claim 1, characterised in that the rigid tube (9) is a hollow piston inserted in the container (3) or is a capillary or a cannula.

11. The device according to claim 1, characterised in that the rigid tube (9) forms a piston of a high pressure pump.

12. The device according to claim 1, characterised in that the liquid medicinal formulation that is to be administered contains a substance with a high vapour pressure or an alcoholic compound.

13. The device according to claim 1, characterised in that the second seal (30) is formed from a material that is softer than that of the holder (6).

14. The device according to claim 3, characterised in that the second seal (30) is spaced apart from the rigid tube (9) by an inner guide (6d) on the holder (6).

15. A device for administering a liquid medicinal formulation, comprising:

a container (3) having a flange (32a) defining an opening into the container (3) and an insertion point into the container (3);

an insertion funnel (31a) having a first end at the flange (32a) and extending to a second end through the opening and into an internal volume of the container (3) that contains the liquid medicinal formulation, the insertion funnel defining a conically shaped inside surface of wider diameter at the first end than at the second end;

a holder (6) configured to engage the flange of the container (3) and including a centrally located protrusion that extends into the first end of the insertion funnel (31a);

a rigid tube (9) connected to the holder (6);

a first seal in the form of a fitting seal located between the inside surface of the insertion funnel (31a), away from the first end and nearer to the second end, and a portion of the rigid tube (9); and

a second seal (30) having elastomeric properties, and a through-opening through which the rigid tube (9) extends in an axial direction, the second seal (30) being located between the inside surface of the insertion funnel (31a), toward the first end thereof, and another portion of the rigid tube (9), where the second seal is located between the inside surface of the insertion funnel (31a) and the protrusion of the holder (6) such that contact by the protrusion of the holder (6) into the insertion funnel (31a) and biasing against the second seal (30) in the axial direction causes the second seal (30) to elastically deform in a radial direction and seal off a space between the first seal, the container (3) and the rigid tube (9) to prevent the escape of liquids and gases and/or to prevent the ingress of gases, wherein;

the first seal includes a first area of contact between the inside surface of the insertion funnel (31a) and a first length of the portion of the rigid tube (9) that extends axially along the rigid tube (9);

the second seal includes a second area of contact;

(i) between the inside surface of the insertion funnel (31a) and an outside surface of the second seal, and (ii) between an inside surface of the second seal and a second length of the another portion of the rigid tube (9) that extends axially along the rigid tube (9);

the first area of contact of the first seal and the second area of contact of the second seal (30) are axially displaced from one another along the rigid tube (9) such that a third length of the rigid tube (9) between the first and second lengths thereof forms no seal; and

the third length of the rigid tube (9) is about a same length as an axial length of the second seal (30) extending along the tube (9).