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Publication Number
US-10835694-B2
Publication Date
2020-11-17
Expiration Date
Abstract
A dry powder medicament inhaler for metering an inhalation of dry powdered medicament may include at least one inlet and at least one outlet, wherein a communication between said inlet and outlet at least includes a mixing and deaggregation chamber and at least two dosage communications between the inlet and the chamber. The inhaler may also include a dosage mechanism for arranging at least one dose of a medicament between the inlet and the chamber, such that said at least one dose may be delivered upon inhalation at said outlet through said communications. The inhaler may further include a locking mechanism, wherein on moving the dosage mechanism from a dose collecting position to a dose administering position the locking mechanism may be moved from an unlocked to a locked position preventing the metering of any further doses prior to resetting of the locking mechanism. Instead of a locking mechanism, the inhaler may include a dosage indicator or a counterweight mechanism. The inhaler may also include combinations of a locking mechanism, a dosage indicator, and a counterweight mechanism.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a dry powder medicament inhaler for metering an inhalation of dry powdered medicament, including at least one inlet and at least one outlet. A communication between the inlet and the outlet includes a mixing and deaggregation chamber and at least two dosage communications between the inlet and the chamber. A dosage mechanism arranges at least one dose between the inlet and the chamber so that the dose may be delivered upon inhalation at the outlet through the communications.
A locking mechanism is provided to prevent metering any further doses prior to resetting when the dosage mechanism is moved from a dose collecting position to a dose administering position. The locking mechanism includes a locking disc and a latch, where a projection from the latch in a locked position extends through a plane of the locking disc and abuts at least one member of the locking disc. Resetting is achieved by the inhalation-induced pressure differential such that inhalation forms a low pressure region inside the inhaler compared to outside of the inhaler, creating a force at an air inlet.
The invention further provides incorrect-dose prevention options, including a dosage indicator with two states and an incorrect dose prevention mechanism activated on moving the dosage mechanism to the dose administering position. The dosage indicator includes a visual indicator arranged to have an indicating state and a non-indicating state, moved by association with a rotating disc driven by a dose disc and a twister. In addition, an incorrect dose prevention mechanism includes a pivotable counterweight associated with the incorrect dose prevention mechanism to inhibit activation, where the mechanism includes a sliding component arranged in association with a rotating disc such that rotation causes the sliding component to move outwardly.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims cover three main inventive approaches: a locking mechanism with a locking disc and latch that prevents further metering until resetting, a dosage indicator with two-state visual indication tied to dose-ready status and inhalation-based reversal, and an incorrect dose prevention mechanism with a sliding component driven by a rotating disc, inhibited from activation by a pivotable counterweight. Across the claims, the core inventive features combine dose metering and delivery through a mixing and deaggregation chamber with structurally defined incorrect-dose prevention and reset behavior.
Locking mechanism preventing further metering until resetting
A locking mechanism wherein on moving the dosage mechanism from a dose collecting position to a dose administering position the locking mechanism is moved from an unlocked to a locked position preventing the metering of any further doses prior to resetting of the locking mechanism, wherein the locking mechanism includes a locking disc and a latch with a projection from the latch extending through a plane of the locking disc in a locked position and abutting at least one member of the locking disc.
Dosage indicator with two-state visual indicating and inhalation-based pressure differential reset
A dosage indicator wherein on moving the dosage mechanism from a dose collecting position to a dose administering position the dosage indicator indicates that a dose is ready to be inhaled; wherein the dosage indicator further includes a visual indicator arranged to have two states including an indicating state and a non-indicating state; wherein the visual indicator is arranged in association with a rotating disc associated with a dose disc and a twister so that rotation causes movement of the visual indicator from a non-indicating position to an indicating position; and wherein inhalation at the air outlet forms a low pressure region inside the inhaler compared to outside of the inhaler so that the pressure differential can create a force on the visual indicator at the air inlet causing the visual indicator to be moved from the indicating position to the non-indicating position.
Incorrect dose prevention mechanism with sliding component activated by rotating disc inhibited by pivotable counterweight
An incorrect dose prevention mechanism arranged in cooperation with the dosage mechanism such that on moving the dosage mechanism from a dose collecting position to a dose administering position the incorrect dose prevention mechanism is activated; a pivotable counterweight associated with the incorrect dose prevention mechanism such that the pivotable counterweight inhibits the activation; wherein the incorrect dose prevention mechanism includes a sliding component arranged in association with a rotating disc, and wherein the rotating disc is associated with a dose disc and twister such that rotation of the dose disc or twister causes rotation of the rotating disc and thereby the sliding component is activated and moved outwardly.
The claims define dry powder medicament inhalers that deliver a metered dose through communications including a mixing and deaggregation chamber upon inhalation, combined with incorrect-dose prevention that is activated during movement toward dose administering and then reset using inhalation-related low pressure and pressure differential or inhibited activation using a pivotable counterweight.
Stated Advantages
Prevents the metering of any further doses prior to resetting of the locking mechanism.
Indicates when a dose is ready to be inhaled and provides a non-indicating state when no dose is ready to be inhaled.
Provides incorrect dose prevention activated on moving the dosage mechanism to a dose administering position while a pivotable counterweight inhibits activation.
Documented Applications
Dry powder medicament inhaler architecture for metering and delivering dry powdered medicament upon inhalation using a mixing and deaggregation chamber.
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