Nebulizer

• US 9,943,654 B2
• Filed: 06/01/2011
• Issued: 04/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2010
• 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: Herrmann, Frank, Krenz, Holger, Endert, Guido, Wergen, Horst
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, (Jackie) Tan-Uyen T
• Assistant Examiner(s): Boecker, Joseph D
• Application Number:
  US13/702,362
• Publication Number:
  US 20130206136A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,512 Days
• Field of Search: 12820014, 12820021, 12820323, 22215302, 22215304, 22215306, 22215307, 22215314
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/02 operated by air or other gas pressure applied to the liquid or other product to be sprayed or atomised sprayers for horticulture A01G, A01H; killing insects A01M; air humidifying by nozzles F24F6/14, F24F6/18; cooling by spraying F28B, F28C
• 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 15/0065 Inhalators with dosage or measuring devices A61M15/0028 takes precedence; dosage devices incorporated in aerosol cans B65D83/52
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0468 non-physiological
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/276 preventing unwanted use
• 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 11/1001 Piston pumps B05B11/1087, B05B11/1088, B05B11/109 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1059 Means for locking a pump or its actuation means in a fixed position B05B11/1091 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/108 Means for counting the number of dispensing strokes

Abstract

A nebulizer (1), in particular inhaler, having a pre-installed container (3) is proposed. The nebulizer comprises a securing member (30) preventing fluidic connection or opening of the container in a delivery state. The securing member can be manually opened, removed, released or destroyed by torsioning, by opening along a pre-determined breaking line and/or by means of an actuator (50). This facilitates handling.

Claims

1. A nebulizer forming an inhaler, comprising:

a first housing part and a second housing part forming a housing, where the first and second housing parts are axially slidable in a longitudinal direction relative to one another between a delivery state and an activated state;

a container, containing a fluid, disposed within the housing such that;

(i) in the delivery state the first and second housing parts are sufficiently axially separated such that the fluid within the container is not accessed, and (ii) in the activated state the first and second housing parts are sufficiently axially proximate such that the fluid within the container is accessed;

a securing member operating to prevent the first housing part and second housing part to move axially from the delivery state to the activated state, the securing member including an actuator for grasping by a user to open, remove, release or destroy the securing member, and the securing member including a body having a pre-determined, weakened breaking line extending in a continuously curved fashion and including at least one of;

(i) a reduction in a thickness of the material of the body, and (ii) a perforation in the material of the body,

wherein the securing member must be manually opened, removed, released or destroyed by tearing the body of the securing member along the breaking line, and thereby permit the first housing part and second housing part to move axially from the delivery state to the activated state, and

wherein the weakened breaking line includes a substantially axially extending section in the longitudinal direction, which transitions to a substantially circumferentially extending section as the weakened breaking line extends in the continuously curved fashion.

2. The nebulizer according to claim 1, wherein the securing member is molded as one integral piece with the actuator.

3. The nebulizer according to claim 1, wherein the actuator is non-detachable from the securing member.

4. The nebulizer according to claim 1, wherein the actuator includes a grasping element, including at least one of a handhold, a grip, a lever, a tag, a flap, a ring, and a clip to facilitate grasping by the user.

5. The nebulizer according to claim 1, wherein the nebulizer comprises an outlet end or mouthpiece, and the actuator is located adjacent to the outlet end or mouthpiece in the delivery state.

6. The nebulizer according to claim 1, wherein the nebulizer comprises a mouthpiece cover, and the actuator is located at least one of:

adjacent to, at least partially below, and at least partially above the mouthpiece cover in the delivery state.

7. The nebulizer according to claim 1, wherein the nebulizer comprises a releasing element operating to permit a dose of the fluid to be nebulized, and the actuator is located at least one of:

adjacent to, above, and around the releasing element in the delivery state.

8. The nebulizer according to claim 4, wherein the nebulizer comprises a releasing element operating to permit a dose of the fluid to be nebulized, and the actuator or the grasping element thereof is located at least one of partially above, and on, the releasing element so that the user tends to actuate the actuator before pressing the releasing element.

9. The nebulizer according to claim 1, further comprising a conveying tube, operating to access the fluid within the container, before or during first use of the nebulizer, when the first and second housing parts are axially located in the activated state by insertion of the conveying element into the container, wherein the conveying tube operates to convey the fluid from the container.

10. The nebulizer according to claim 1, further comprising a latching means having at least one latching lug for securing the first and second housing parts against detachment when in the delivery state and in the activated state, wherein the first and second housing parts may attain a loading rotational position, differing from a rotational position of the delivery state, whereby the first and second housing parts may be detached for inserting the container.

11. The nebulizer according to claim 1, wherein the securing member comprises inner radial protrusions or ribs forming axial stops for preventing the first and second housing parts from moving axially towards one another while in the delivery state.

12. The nebulizer according to claim 1, wherein the securing member forms at least one of a loop, ring, sleeve and banderole.

13. The nebulizer according to claim 1, wherein the securing member comprises a hinge for opening the securing member.

14. The nebulizer according to claim 1, wherein the actuator is formed by at least one of:

a self-adhesive tap, a self-adhesive tag, a self-adhesive label, a self-adhesive tape, a flexible material, and a foil-like material.

15. The nebulizer according to claim 1, wherein the actuator includes a ring-shaped hold for grasping by the user to facilitate the opening, removing, releasing or destroying of the securing member along the weakened breaking line.

16. The nebulizer according to claim 1, wherein the substantially axially extending section and the substantially circumferentially extending section define a helical path as the weakened breaking line extends in the continuously curved fashion.

17. The nebulizer according to claim 1, wherein the actuator is also continuously curved and complements the continuous curvature of the weakened breaking line.

18. A nebulizer forming an inhaler, comprising:

a first housing part and a second housing part forming a housing, where the first and second housing parts are axially slidable in a longitudinal direction relative to one another between a delivery state and an activated state;

a container, containing a fluid, disposed within the housing such that;

(i) in the delivery state the first and second housing parts are sufficiently axially separated such that the fluid within the container is not accessed, and (ii) in the activated state the first and second housing parts are sufficiently axially proximate such that the fluid within the container is accessed;

a securing member operating to prevent the first housing part and second housing part to move axially from the delivery state to the activated state, the securing member including a body having a pre-determined, weakened breaking line extending in a continuously curved fashion and including at least one of;

(i) a reduction in a thickness of the material of the body, and (ii) a perforation in the material of the body,

wherein the securing member must be manually opened, removed, released or destroyed by tearing the body of the securing member along the breaking line, and thereby permit the first housing part and second housing part to move axially from the delivery state to the activated state, and

wherein the weakened breaking line includes a substantially axially extending section in the longitudinal direction, which transitions to a substantially circumferentially extending section as the weakened breaking line extends in the continuously curved fashion.

19. The nebulizer according to claim 18, wherein the securing member is molded as one integral piece with an actuator.

20. The nebulizer according to claim 18, wherein an actuator is non-detachable from the securing member.

21. The nebulizer according to claim 18, wherein the securing member includes a grasping element, including at least one of a handhold, a grip, a lever, a tag, a flap, a ring, and a clip to facilitate grasping by the user.

22. The nebulizer according to claim 18, wherein the securing member includes an actuator for grasping by the user to open, remove, release or destroy the securing member.

23. The nebulizer according to claim 22, wherein at least one of:

the nebulizer comprises an outlet end or mouthpiece, and the actuator is located adjacent to the outlet end or mouthpiece in the delivery state; and

the nebulizer comprises a mouthpiece cover, and the actuator is located at least one of;

adjacent to, at least partially below, and at least partially above the mouthpiece cover in the delivery state.

24. The nebulizer according to claim 22, wherein the nebulizer comprises a releasing element operating to permit a dose of the fluid to be nebulized, and the actuator is located at least one of:

adjacent to, above, and around the releasing element in the delivery state.

25. The nebulizer according to claim 22, wherein the nebulizer comprises a releasing element operating to permit a dose of the fluid to be nebulized, and the actuator or the grasping element thereof is located at least one of partially above, and on, the releasing element so that the user tend to actuate the actuator before pressing the releasing element.

26. The nebulizer according to claim 18, further comprising a conveying tube, operating to access the fluid within the container, before or during first use of the nebulizer, when the first and second housing parts are axially located in the activated state by insertion of the conveying element into the container, wherein the conveying tube operates to convey the fluid from the container.

27. The nebulizer according to claim 18, further comprising a latching means having at least one latching lug for securing the first and second housing parts against detachment when in the delivery state and in the activated state, wherein the first and second housing parts may attain a loading rotational position, differing from a rotational position of the delivery state, whereby the first and second housing parts may be detached for inserting the container.

28. The nebulizer according to claim 18, wherein the securing member comprises inner radial protrusions or ribs forming axial stops for preventing the first and second housing parts from moving axially towards one another while in the delivery state.

29. The nebulizer according to claim 18, wherein the securing member forms at least one of a loop, ring, sleeve and banderole.

30. The nebulizer according to claim 18, wherein the securing member comprises a hinge for opening the securing member.

31. The nebulizer according to claim 18, further comprising an actuator which is formed by at least one of:

a self-adhesive tap, a self-adhesive tag, a self-adhesive label, a self-adhesive tape, a flexible material, and a foil-like material.

32. The nebulizer according to claim 18, further comprising an actuator which includes a distal portion sized and shaped for the user to grasp and an elongate portion extending from the distal portion, and wherein the elongate portion is at least partially circumscribed by the breaking line.