Inhalation device and method

• US 9,974,909 B2
• Filed: 10/17/2013
• Issued: 05/22/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MicroDose Therapeutx, Inc. (Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Limited)
• Original Assignee: MicroDose Therapeutx, Inc. (Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Limited)
• Inventors: Akouka, Henri M., Becker, Daniel P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yu, Justine
• Assistant Examiner(s): SUL, DOUGLAS YOUNG
• Application Number:
  US14/056,828
• Publication Number:
  US 20140041659A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,678 Days
• Field of Search: 141325-327
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/001 using ultrasonic means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0021 Mouthpieces therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0043 Non-destructive separation of the package, e.g. peeling
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0045 using multiple prepacked dosages on a same carrier, e.g. blisters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/005 the dosages being arranged on a cylindrical surface
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0051 the dosages being arranged on a tape, e.g. strips
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0055 the used dosages being coiled
• 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 15/0085 using ultrasonics spraying or atomising liquids using ultrasonic vibrations in general B05B17/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0021 with a proportional output signal, e.g. from a thermistor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0266 Nitrogen (N)
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/062 Desiccants
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/064 Powder
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0294 Piezoelectric materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/12 with interchangeable cassettes forming partially or totally the fluid circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2250/00 Specially adapted for animals

Abstract

A method and device for delivering a pharmaceutical to the airway of a human or animal patient, in one aspect, includes a dose drum formed into a cylinder and including a plurality of dose compartments for containing individual doses. In another aspect, the device may include a reservoir containing a pharmaceutical material in bulk form and a metering recess for metering the pharmaceutical material to form a pharmaceutical dose. Another aspect provides an inhaler with a combined reservoir and dosing chamber configured to contain multiple doses of a pharmaceutical material.

Claims

1. An inhaler for delivering a pharmaceutical to the airway of a human or animal patient, comprising:

a dose drum in the form of an elongate cylinder, the dose drum including a plurality of dose compartments located on an outer cylindrical surface of the dose drum for containing individual doses of a pharmaceutical;

a flexible sheath formed of a tape, foil or film surrounding and covering in part the outer cylindrical surface of the dose drum, wherein the sheath is movably slidable on the dose drum to uncover one or more of said dose compartments to the outer cylindrical surface of the dose drum;

a dose chamber; and

a flow channel, through which the individual dose is delivered to the airway of the patient;

wherein the dose chamber includes an opening for receiving said doses of a pharmaceutical, and wherein the dose chamber is a resonance chamber coupled to a vibration device.

2. The inhaler of claim 1, wherein the vibration device is a piezo-electric device.

3. The inhaler of claim 1, wherein the vibration device is connected to a frequency generator for controlling the vibration of the vibration device.

4. The inhaler of claim 1, further comprising a drive for advancing and positioning the dose drum.

5. The inhaler of claim 1, wherein the sheath is removed from a single dose compartment when delivering the individual dose contained in said dose compartment to the dose chamber.

6. A method of delivering a pharmaceutical material to the airway of a patient, human or animal, the method comprising the steps of:

providing the pharmaceutical material in a reservoir connected to a metering device;

metering the pharmaceutical material with the metering device to form a pharmaceutical dose;

moving the pharmaceutical dose into a dose chamber;

deaggregating the pharmaceutical material of the pharmaceutical dose; and

delivering the pharmaceutical dose from the dose chamber to the airway of the patient via a flow channel, wherein the metering device comprises a metering drum in one form of an elongate cylinder which rotates upon its axis, at least one metering recess located on an outer cylindrical surface of the metering drum; and

a flexible sheath formed of a tape, foil or film surrounding and covering in part the outer cylindrical surface of the metering drum, wherein the sheath is movably slidable relative to the metering drum to uncover one or more of said metering recesses to the outer cylindrical surface of the dose drum;

wherein the dose chamber includes an opening for receiving said pharmaceutical material, and wherein said dose chamber is a resonance chamber coupled to a vibration device, and wherein the step of deaggregating the pharmaceutical material involves activating the vibration device to create a synthetic jet thereby delivering the pharmaceutical dose from the dose chamber to the airway of a patient via the flow channel.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of moving the pharmaceutical dose into the dose chamber involves rotating the metering drum.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the pharmaceutical material is in the form of a dry powder.

9. An inhaler for delivering a pharmaceutical material to the airway of a patient, human or animal, comprising:

a reservoir containing a pharmaceutical material;

at least one metering recess metering the pharmaceutical material to form a pharmaceutical dose;

a dose chamber;

a flow channel, connected to the dose chamber, through which the pharmaceutical dose is delivered from the dose chamber to the airway of the patient;

a metering drum configured as an elongate cylinder which rotates upon its axis, the at least one metering recess being located on an outer cylindrical surface of the metering drum; and

a flexible sheath formed of a tape, foil or film surrounding and covering in part the outer cylindrical surface of the metering drum, wherein the sheath is movably slidable relative to the metering drum to uncover one of said metering recesses to the outer cylindrical surface of the dose drum;

wherein the dose chamber includes an opening for receiving said pharmaceutical dose, and wherein the dose chamber is a resonance chamber coupled to a vibration device.

10. The inhaler of claim 9, further comprising a drive for rotating the metering drum.

11. The inhaler of claim 9, wherein the pharmaceutical is in the form of a dry powder.

12. The inhaler of claim 9, wherein the vibration device is connected to a frequency generator for controlling the vibration of the vibration device.