Medicinal inhalers
Inventors
COTTENDEN, DAVID J. • Blatchford, Christopher G. • Richardson, William T. • Guion, Romain U. G. • McDerment, Iain G. • Groombridge, Christopher B. J. • CALCUTT, SIMON L.
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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-12357776-B2
Publication Date
2025-07-15
Expiration Date
Abstract
A medicinal inhaler. The inhaler can include a housing, and an air flow path defined by at least partially the housing and including an air inlet and an air outlet. The inhaler can further include a flow governor and a breath-actuated dose release firing system. The flow governor can be positioned in the air flow path between the air inlet and the air outlet to govern air flow in the air flow path to a governing volumetric flow rate. The breath-actuated dose release firing system can be located in the housing and can be configured to release a dose of medicament at a firing volumetric flow rate less than the governing volumetric flow rate.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a medicinal inhaler that combines a flow governor with a breath-actuated dose release firing system. The flow governor is positioned in the air flow path between an air inlet and an air outlet to govern air flow to a governing volumetric flow rate, and the firing system releases a dose of medicament at a firing volumetric flow rate less than the governing volumetric flow rate.
The inhaler further includes an inspiratory air flow detection system configured to detect an inspiratory air flow rate in the air flow path and to send an electrical signal to the firing system to fire when the inspiratory air flow rate is equal to at least the firing volumetric flow rate. The inspiratory air flow detection system comprises a pressure sensor located in the air flow path upstream of the flow governor and downstream of the air inlet, and a controller connected to the pressure sensor and the breath-actuated dose release firing system.
The disclosed flow governor structures include a flexible tubular element with an internal rigid support that maintains a predetermined cross-sectional area. Variable resistance is provided by a partial collapse mechanism that maintains residual flow channels while changing resistance, including static resistance and dynamic resistance behavior.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim recites a medicinal inhaler having three coordinated features: a flow governor, a breath-actuated dose release firing system, and an inspiratory air flow detection system with a pressure sensor and controller.
Medicinal inhaler with governed air-flow rate
A medicinal inhaler comprises a housing defining an air flow path with an air inlet and an air outlet, and a flow governor positioned in the air flow path between the air inlet and the air outlet to govern air flow to a governing volumetric flow rate.
Breath-actuated firing at a firing rate less than the governed rate
A breath-actuated dose release firing system located in the housing is configured to release a dose of medicament at a firing volumetric flow rate less than the governing volumetric flow rate.
Upstream/downstream pressure-sensor inspiratory detection with controller firing signal
An inspiratory air flow detection system detects an inspiratory air flow rate in the air flow path and sends an electrical signal to the firing system to fire when the inspiratory air flow rate is equal to at least the firing volumetric flow rate, where the detection system comprises a pressure sensor located upstream of the flow governor and downstream of the air inlet, and a controller connected to the pressure sensor and the breath-actuated dose release firing system.
Overall, the claim coverage centers on coordinating a flow governor with a breath-actuated medicament firing system and an inspiratory flow detection system using a pressure sensor upstream of the flow governor to trigger firing via a controller when inspiratory flow reaches at least the firing volumetric flow rate.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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