Powder dispersion methods and devices
Inventors
Curtis, Robert M. • Deaton, Dan • Hannon, James • SMYTH, HUGH • Xu, Zhen • Donovan, Martin • Gibbons, Aileen
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10525216-B2
Publication Date
2020-01-07
Expiration Date
Abstract
A dry powder inhaler includes a powder storage element configured to hold a powdered medicament and an inlet channel receives powdered medicament from the powder storage element that is entrained in an airflow. The inlet channel has a first diameter and defines an opening. The inhaler includes a dispersion chamber that receives the airflow and the powdered medicament from the opening. The dispersion chamber has a second diameter. The inhaler includes an actuator housed within the dispersion chamber. The actuator oscillates within the dispersion chamber when exposed to the airflow to deaggregate the powdered medicament entrained by the airflow passing through the dispersion chamber. A ratio between the first diameter and the second diameter is between about 0.40 and 0.60 such that an audible sound is produced as the actuator oscillates. The inhaler includes an outlet channel through which the airflow and powdered medicament exit the inhaler.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a compact dry powder inhaler in which powdered medicament from a powder storage element is received by an airflow-driven inlet channel and delivered to a dispersion chamber for deaggregation. An actuator housed within the dispersion chamber oscillates when exposed to the airflow so that the powdered medicament entrained in the airflow passing through the dispersion chamber is deaggregated. The inlet channel defines an opening and includes a portion with a first diameter, while the dispersion chamber has a second diameter and an outlet channel for delivery to a patient.
Audible sound is produced as the actuator oscillates by selecting a ratio between the first diameter and the second diameter between about 0.40 and 0.60. In an embodiment using a bead as the actuator, the dispersion chamber length is between about 2 and 3.5 times larger than the diameter of the bead such that audible sound is produced as the bead oscillates, and the bead rarely contacts the first end or the second end while oscillating due to the airflow. The airflow is caused by an inhalation of the patient.
The dispersion chamber is adapted to receive chase air separate from the airflow entering through the inlet channel, and the dispersion chamber defines at least one aperture configured to receive chase air. Geometry and air management features are used to minimize powder buildup, including rounded or curved surfaces and air management via chamber/aperture/corner air. In another embodiment, the powder is contained within a capsule that is punctured by a piercing member, and the powder storage element is configured to rotate the punctured capsule when exposed to the airflow to empty the powdered medicament from the punctured capsule.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims define three closely related dry powder inhaler architectures that share a powder storage element feeding an airflow-entrained inlet channel into a dispersion chamber containing an airflow-oscillatable deaggregation actuator, with audible sound produced by specific dimensional ratios. Across the independent claims, there are 3 main inventive feature groupings: (i) diameter-ratio-based audible-sound deaggregation in the dispersion chamber, (ii) bead-length-to-bead-diameter relationships including rare end contact during oscillation, and (iii) capsule puncture and rotation to empty powder in an airflow-driven deaggregation inhaler.
Airflow-entrained deaggregation with inlet-to-dispersion diameter ratio producing audible sound
A dry powder inhaler with a powder storage element holding a powdered medicament, an inlet channel receiving powdered medicament entrained in an airflow and defining an opening, and a dispersion chamber adapted to receive the airflow and powdered medicament from the opening, the dispersion chamber defining at least one aperture configured to receive chase air separate from the airflow entering through the inlet channel; an actuator housed within the dispersion chamber configured to oscillate within the dispersion chamber when exposed to the airflow to deaggregate the powdered medicament entrained in the airflow passing through the dispersion chamber, wherein a ratio between the first diameter and the second diameter is between about 0.40 and 0.60 such that an audible sound is produced as the actuator oscillates; and an outlet channel through which the airflow and powdered medicament exit the inhaler for delivery to a patient.
Bead oscillation governed by chamber length-to-bead diameter ratio with rare end contact
A dry powder inhaler with a powder storage element holding a powdered medicament, an inlet channel receiving powdered medicament entrained in an airflow, and a dispersion chamber adapted to receive the airflow and the powdered medicament from the opening of the inlet channel; a bead housed within the dispersion chamber configured to oscillate within the dispersion chamber when exposed to the airflow so as to deaggregate the powdered medicament entrained by the airflow passing through the dispersion chamber, the bead having a diameter, wherein the length of the dispersion chamber is between about 2 and 3.5 times larger than the diameter of the bead such that an audible sound is produced as the bead oscillates, and the bead rarely contacts the first end or the second end while oscillating due to the airflow; wherein the airflow is caused by an inhalation of the patient; and an outlet channel through which the airflow and powdered medicament exit the inhaler for delivery to a patient.
Capsule puncture and rotation combined with bead deaggregation and audible sound ratios
A dry powder inhaler with a powder storage element configured to hold a powdered medicament contained within a capsule, and a piercing member configured to puncture the capsule; an inlet channel configured to receive powdered medicament from the powder storage element that is entrained in an airflow, the inlet channel having a portion with a first diameter and defining an opening; a dispersion chamber adapted to receive the airflow and the powdered medicament from the opening of the inlet channel, the dispersion chamber having a second diameter and a length; a bead housed within the dispersion chamber configured to oscillate within the dispersion chamber when exposed to the airflow to deaggregate the powdered medicament entrained by the airflow passing through the dispersion chamber, the bead having a third diameter, wherein a ratio between the first diameter and the second diameter is between about 0.40 and 0.66 and the length is between about 2 and 3.5 times larger than the third diameter such that an audible sound is produced as the bead oscillates; and an outlet channel through which the airflow and powdered medicament exit the inhaler for delivery to a patient, wherein the powder storage element is configured to rotate the punctured capsule when exposed to the airflow to empty the powdered medicament from the punctured capsule.
Across the independent claims, the inventive coverage centers on airflow-driven oscillating deaggregation in a dispersion chamber with audible sound produced by defined inlet-to-dispersion diameter ratios and, for bead embodiments, dispersion chamber length-to-bead diameter ratios, optionally using separate chase air via apertures. A further independent-claim embodiment combines these structural and dimensional relationships with a capsule-puncturing member and rotation of a punctured capsule to empty powdered medicament under airflow exposure.
Stated Advantages
Produces an audible sound as the actuator or bead oscillates.
Improves deep-lung aerosol performance while maintaining efficient operation, and minimizes powder buildup.
Reduces sensitivity of drug deposition to increased flow (as documented in the embodiment described in the partial content).
Achieves a fine particle fraction greater than 70% (as documented in the embodiment described in the partial content).
Documented Applications
A compact breath-actuated dry powder inhaler for delivery of powdered medicament to a patient, using a chase-air dispersion chamber with an oscillating actuator/bead.
An embodiment integrated with a capsule-piercing system (Plastiape RS01) using vardenafil (HCl) and lactose blend for inhalation delivery, including evaluation of fine particle fraction and drug deposition versus flow rate (as documented in the partial content).
Forced-dosing via an external air source (as mentioned in the partial content).
Multi-chamber series/parallel configurations (as mentioned in the partial content).
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