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Assignees
Member
Kindeva Drug DeliveryKindeva Drug Delivery is a contract development and manufacturing organization specializing in advanced drug delivery systems including pulmonary, nasal, injectable, transdermal, and intradermal therapies. Services range from formulation and analytical development to commercial-scale, Annex 1-compliant GMP manufacturing across global facilities. The company brings integrated expertise in regulatory strategy, device engineering, process and technology transfer, and quality assurance, with a focus on sustainable solutions such as low-GWP propellants and microneedle patch platforms. Kindeva supports complex, patient-centric, and environmentally optimized therapies from product conception through commercialization.
Kindeva Drug Delivery is a contract development and manufacturing organization specializing in advanced drug delivery systems including pulmonary, nasal, injectable, transdermal, and intradermal therapies. Services range from formulation and analytical development to commercial-scale, Annex 1-compliant GMP manufacturing across global facilities. The company brings integrated expertise in regulatory strategy, device engineering, process and technology transfer, and quality assurance, with a focus on sustainable solutions such as low-GWP propellants and microneedle patch platforms. Kindeva supports complex, patient-centric, and environmentally optimized therapies from product conception through commercialization.
Publication Number
US-11298478-B2
Publication Date
2022-04-12
Expiration Date
Abstract
A valved-container inhaler (150) has a mechanical return assembly with a spring (214) and a transfer (212) configured to transfer stored potential energy from the spring to a canister (51) and a clutch (208, 210) in a load path of the force between the spring and the transfer, the clutch being rotatable between a first condition in which load is transferred from the spring to the transfer, and a second condition in which the spring and the transfer can move relative to one another to interrupt the load path and thereby allow the canister to resile after actuation.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a mechanical return assembly for a valved-container inhaler in which a resilient structure stores potential energy and a transfer transfers that stored potential energy to a resilient, valved container in the form of a force to thereby release a medicament therefrom. The assembly provides a load path of the force between the resilient structure and the transfer.
A clutch is arranged in the load path of the force between the resilient structure and the transfer. The clutch has a first part and a second part, and rotation of the second part relative to the first part moves the clutch between a first condition in which load is transferred from the resilient structure to the transfer and a second condition in which the resilient structure and the transfer can move relative to one another to interrupt the load path and disconnect the valved canister from the force, thereby allowing the valved container to resile after actuation.
In disclosed embodiments, the clutch disengagement is produced via tapered teeth abutments and/or ramp surfaces, and a damper is provided by a piston/cylinder with a tapered air leak hole or by a sealed low-pressure cavity to control return timing. The disclosed operation includes rest, primed, fired, auto-release/can reset, and return to rest operating conditions, including priming via a user-actuated mouthpiece cover, and multiple embodiment variants with different component layouts including tension spring and compression spring options.
Claims Coverage
The provided independent claim defines one core inventive concept: a mechanical return assembly that stores potential energy and delivers it through a force/transfer load path, then uses a clutch to interrupt that load path so the valved canister resiles after actuation. Additional dependent claim features refine clutch transition mechanics, add damping, and specify resilient structure types, with further refinements extending the concept into a valved-container inhaler having defined rest/primed/fired conditions tied to firing-mechanism release.
Mechanical return assembly with force transfer and load-path clutch
A mechanical return assembly includes a resilient structure, a transfer configured to transfer stored potential energy from the resilient structure to a resilient, valved container as a force to release a medicament, and a clutch in a load path between the resilient structure and the transfer. The clutch has first and second parts, and rotation of the second part relative to the first part moves the clutch between a first condition transferring load and a second condition allowing relative movement to interrupt the load path, disconnect the valved canister from the force, and thereby allow the valved container to resile after actuation.
Clutch rotation by linear force on a ramped surface
In a mechanical return assembly for a valved-container inhaler, relative rotation between clutch parts is produced by applying a linear force to a ramped surface.
Clutch state based on aligned and misaligned abutments
A mechanical return assembly for a valved-container inhaler includes a clutch having a first abutment and a second abutment in which the abutments are aligned and in contact in a first clutch condition and are misaligned in a second clutch condition.
Damper for damping relative movement during clutch change
A mechanical return assembly for a valved-container inhaler uses a damper to damp relative movement between the transfer and the resilient structure when the clutch moves to a second condition.
Resilient structure including a tension spring
The resilient structure of a mechanical return assembly for a valved-container inhaler includes a tension spring.
Valved-container inhaler with firing mechanism and defined condition states
A valved-container inhaler includes a firing mechanism and a return assembly with rest, stable primed, and fired conditions, where the firing mechanism releases the resilient structure and thereby ties the transition of force transfer to the clutch being in a second condition.
Across the provided claim set, the inventive coverage centers on a mechanical return assembly that transfers stored potential energy through a clutch-controlled load path, where clutch transition to a second condition interrupts the load path so the valved canister resiles after actuation, with dependent claims refining clutch transition mechanics, adding damping, specifying spring type, and defining inhaler operating condition states linked to firing-mechanism release.
Stated Advantages
Allows the valved container to resile after actuation by interrupting the load path and disconnecting the valved canister from the force.
Enables timed valve reset/controlled return timing by providing damping for motion during the clutch transition.
Documented Applications
Reset mechanisms for breath-actuated valved-container inhalers using a mechanical return assembly, including priming via a mouthpiece cover and operating conditions from rest through primed, fired, can reset/auto-release, and return to rest.
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