Flow governor assemblies for use in medicinal inhalers
Inventors
Blatchford, Christopher G. • Guion, Romain U. G. • Groombridge, Christopher B. J. • CALCUTT, SIMON L.
Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
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-11376379-B2
Publication Date
2022-07-05
Expiration Date
Abstract
A flow governor assembly for use with a medicinal inhaler. The assembly can include a housing that defines an air flow path; a flow governor positioned in the air flow path to govern air flow in the air flow path to a target governing volumetric flow rate; and a constriction in the air flow path. The flow governor can be configured to provide a variable, or dynamic, resistance to air flow in the air flow path as a function of air pressure drop between an inlet and an outlet of the flow governor. The constriction can be configured to provide a fixed, or static, resistance to air flow in the air flow path.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a flow governor assembly for use with a medicinal inhaler. The assembly includes a housing that defines an air flow path with an air inlet and an air outlet, and a flow governor positioned between the air inlet and the air outlet to govern air flow to a target governing volumetric flow rate. The flow governor provides a dynamic resistance to air flow as a function of air pressure drop between an inlet and an outlet of the flow governor.
A constriction is provided in the air flow path between the air inlet and the air outlet, where the constriction comprises a venturi section that provides a static resistance to air flow. The venturi section is positioned upstream of the flow governor and adjacent a first pressure sensor to sense the pressure through the venturi section, while a second pressure sensor is located downstream the flow governor.
In described embodiments, the venturi and static resistance are selected together with the dynamic resistance so that governing behavior is achieved around the target governing volumetric flow rate. Example flow governor structures include a flexible tubular element with an internal rigid support that preserves a residual cross-sectional area during inward collapse, including bistable open/collapsed behavior, and inhaler integration including airflow paths and sealing to prevent bypass.
Claims Coverage
The partial content provides one independent claim for the flow governor assembly for a medicinal inhaler, with further dependent claims refining sensor placement, static and dynamic resistance constraints, and flow governor construction.
Dynamic resistance flow governor for target volumetric flow rate
A flow governor positioned in the air flow path between the air inlet and the air outlet to govern air flow to a target governing volumetric flow rate, configured to provide a dynamic resistance to air flow as a function of air pressure drop between an inlet and an outlet of the flow governor.
Venturi-based static resistance upstream and adjacent upstream pressure sensing
A constriction in the air flow path between the air inlet and the air outlet comprising a venturi section that provides a static resistance to air flow, wherein the venturi section is positioned upstream of the flow governor and adjacent the first pressure sensor to sense the pressure through the venturi section, with a second pressure sensor located downstream the flow governor.
Across the available independent claim, the core inventive coverage is an inhaler-integrated flow governor assembly combining dynamic resistance governed by pressure drop to achieve a target governing volumetric flow rate with a venturi section providing static resistance, together with pressure sensing upstream adjacent the venturi and downstream of the flow governor.
Stated Advantages
Reduce inter- and intra-patient inhalation variability.
Improve drug deposition consistency.
Documented Applications
Medicinal inhaler use with a flow governor assembly for governing inhalation flow to a target governing volumetric flow rate.
Breath-actuated triggering and optional dose/inhalation-profile recording using upstream/downstream pressure sensing to detect inspiratory flow rate and direction.
Interested in licensing this patent?