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Inhalers

a technology of inhaler and inhalation chamber, which is applied in the field of inhalers, can solve the problems of inability to accurately measure the effect of inhalation, so as to reduce the amount of deposition, and increase the effective viscosity of the air

Inactive Publication Date: 2007-11-01
HARMER QUENTIN J +2
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

This configuration ensures a repeatable and efficient delivery of fine particles to the lungs, minimizing wastage and side effects by maintaining the aerosol within the chamber until inhalation, thereby improving the systemic delivery of potent drugs.

Problems solved by technology

However, for a medicament in solid form, such as crystals, the provision of an inhalable aerosol is more difficult, because it is necessary to achieve a large repeatable dose of fine particles.
If the particles are larger than 5 μm they may not be transported by the inhaled airflow deep into the lung, because they are likely to be trapped in the respiratory passages before reaching the deep lung.
Such variation may be acceptable in the case of asthma drugs and the like, but when the medicament is a more potent drug such as insulin, growth hormone or morphine, this amount of variability in the dosing is unacceptable.
The relatively low respirable dose also represents a significant wastage of what may be an expensive drug.
Furthermore, there may be side effects if the proportion of the emitted dose which is not respired is swallowed.
Large volume spacers are used where the patient is unable to inhale at the same time as operating the metered dose inhaler due to a lack of coordination.
Small volume spacers are used to trap large particles which would stick to the back of the throat and may cause undesirable side-effects.

Method used

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Examples

Experimental program
Comparison scheme
Effect test

first embodiment

[0046]FIG. 2 shows the invention. According to this embodiment a cyclone 1 is connected to a chamber 11 having a mouthpiece 13. The chamber has a volume of around 300 ml. The cyclone 1 is located at an end of the chamber 11 opposite the mouthpiece 13, and the outlet 7 of the cyclone 1 is arranged to eject the aerosol of medicament into the chamber 11 towards the mouthpiece 13, as indicated by arrows B.

[0047] A drug dosing device 15 is connected to the inlet 9 of the cyclone 1 and is arranged such that, as a flow of air passes through the dosing device 15, a controlled dose of medicament is entrained in the airfiow.

[0048] The airfiow to the drug dosing device 15 is provided by a pump 17, which comprises a plunger 19 received in a pump cylinder 21 and biased towards an outlet 23 of the pump 17 by a spring 25. A breath-actuated mechanism 24 used to retain the plunger 19 in a retracted position against the biasing force of the spring 25 until the medicament is to be delivered.

[0049] I...

second embodiment

[0050]FIG. 3 shows the invention. In this embodiment, the arrangement of the pump 171 dosing device 15 and cyclone 1 corresponds substantially to that of the embodiment of FIG. 2. However, in this case the chamber 11 is larger than that shown in FIG. 2 and the mouthpiece 13 is offset from the axis of the chamber 11 and of the cyclone 1. The mouthpiece 13 is provided with a cap 27 which closes off the mouthpiece, sealing the chamber 11 from the atmosphere. The cap 27 also closes off an air intake passage 29 which is provided in the chamber 11 to allow air to enter the chamber 11 when the user inhales through the mouthpiece 13. The chamber 11 connects to the outlet 23 of the pump 17 via an air passage 31 and a first non-return valve 33. A second non-return valve 35 is provided between the outlet 23 of the pump 17 and the drug dosing device 15.

[0051] In operation of this embodiment, the plunger 19 of the pump 17 is withdrawn (as in the embodiment of FIG. 2) which causes air to be drawn...

third embodiment

[0052]FIG. 4 shows the invention. According to this embodiment, there is no pump 171 but a plunger 19 is provided within the chamber 11 so that the chamber itself acts as a pump cylinder. Thus, as the plunger 19 is driven in the direction of the arrow C, air is forced out of the chamber 11 through the air passage 31 and into the drug dosing device 15. As the air passes through the drug dosing device 15 it entrains a measured dose of medicament which passes into the cyclone 1 and is aerosolized and expelled into the chamber 11, as indicated by the arrows B. The user inhales the aerosol of medicament by removing the cap 27 and inhaling through the mouthpiece 13.

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PUM

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Abstract

An inhaler comprises a pump 17, a drug dosing device 15 and a cyclone 1 which delivers an aerosol of powdered medicament from the drug dosing device 15 into a chamber 11 when the pump 17 is activated. The aerosol is inhaled by the user through a mouthpiece 13.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 018,768 filed Dec. 17, 2001, which application is the U.S. National Phase application of International Application No. PCT / EPO0105831 filed Jun. 23, 2000, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to inhalers and in particular inhalers for the delivery of a medicament to the lung, more particularly a medicament in powder form. [0003] In recent times, there has been a growing interest in the systemic delivery of pharmaceutically-active medicaments via the lung. Such a method of delivery is generally more attractive to the patient than methods such as injection, because it does not involve a needle and can be carried out discreetly in public. [0004] In the case of medicaments in liquid form, the provision of an inhalable aerosol of the medicament can be achieved with a nebulizer or the like...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): A61M15/00A61M13/00
CPCA61M15/0086A61M2202/064A61M15/0088A61M2205/073A61M2206/16A61M2205/0233
Inventor HARMER, QUENTIN J.EASON, STEPHEN W.SARKAR, MATTHEW N.
Owner HARMER QUENTIN J