Inhalation device with a pumping unit

Abstract

The invention relates to the field of inhalation devices for liquids. In particular, the invention relates to an inhalation device for delivering a nebulised medically active aerosol for inhalation therapy comprising a pumping unit, said pumping unit comprising a riser pipe (2), a hollow cylindrical part (3) having an interior space configured to receive an upstream end portion (21) of said riserpipe (2), said cylindrical part (3) being moveable on the riser pipe (2), wherein the cylindrical part and the riser pipe form a pumping chamber having a variable volume, wherein a gap (4) is presentbetween a lateral outside surface (22) of the upstream end portion (21) of said riser pipe (2) and a lateral internal surface (31) of said cylindrical part (3), wherein a seal (1) is present between the outside surface (22) of said riser pipe (2) and the internal surface (31) of said cylindrical part (3), thus physically bridging said gap (4), and wherein the seal (1) has a cap-like shape configured to fit around the upstream end portion (21) of the riser pipe (2), having at least one opening (11) for providing a fluid connection between an interior space of said riser pipe (2) and said pumping chamber, and wherein at an interior surface (14) of the seal (1), at least one interior protrusion (16) is present which is configured to be received by at least one respective recess (23) of the riser pipe (2).

Description

technical field [0001] The invention relates to the field of inhalation devices for liquids. In particular, the invention relates to a pumping unit for an inhalation device having a piston that moves relative to a pumping chamber to generate a pumping pressure. Background technique [0002] Nebulizers or other aerosol generators for liquids have been known in the art since a long time ago. Such devices are used in medical science and therapy, among others. Here, they are used as inhalation devices for applying the active ingredient in the form of an aerosol, ie small liquid droplets embedded in a gas. Such an inhalation device is known, for example, from document EP 0627230 B1. The essential parts of the inhalation device are a reservoir in which the liquid to be nebulized is contained, a pumping unit for generating a sufficiently high pressure for nebulization, and the nebulizer in the form of a nozzle. A pumping unit is defined as a unit, device or component capable of...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

However, experience has shown that seals are prone to fatigue and seating problems as they may be exposed to exceptionally high pressures

[0006] As a result, the pumping unit including the piston, pumping chamber and seals is also prone to this failure

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