Powder inhaler

Abstract

The invention relates to a powder inhaler comprising a body (10) accommodating a strip (20) of at least two individual reservoirs (20a, 20b, 20c, 20d), each individual reservoir having a cavity (21) containing a dose of powder and a closure layer (22) for sealing the cavity (21), the body (10) comprising a head portion (11) and a support portion (12), the head portion (11) and the support portion (12) being connected by at least one articulation (13) such that the body (10) is deformable and / or movable between an open position and a closed position, wherein the head portion (11) comprises a dispensing port (110) and a perforating element (112) connected to the dispensing port (110) and capable, during actuation, of piercing the closure layer (22) in order to open an individual reservoir (20a, 20b, 20c, 20d), and wherein the head portion (11) comprises at least one axial projection (115) associated with the perforating element (112), and wherein the strip (20) of reservoirs comprises at least one lateral edge provided with cut-outs (24a, 24b, 24c) arranged between the individual reservoirs (20a, 20b, 20c, 20d), which define flaps (25a, 25b, 25c, 25d) for each individual reservoir (20a, 20b, 20c, 20d), and wherein each axial projection (115) folds a respective flap (25a, 25b, 25c, 25d) during actuation.

Description

[0001] Powder inhaler

[0002] The present invention relates to a powder inhaler.

[0003] Powder inhalers, particularly of the pharmaceutical type, are well known in the state of the art. There are different types. A first type of inhaler contains a reservoir receiving a multitude of doses of powder, the inhaler being provided with dosing means allowing each actuation to separate a dose of this powder from the reservoir to bring it into an expulsion duct in order to be distributed to the user. Another type of inhaler consists of placing the doses of powder in individual pre-dosed reservoirs, then opening one of these reservoirs with each actuation of the inhaler. This implementation ensures a better seal of the powder, since each dose is only opened at the moment of its expulsion. To produce these individual reservoirs, various variants have been proposed, such as an elongated strip of blisters or blisters arranged on a rotating circular disc.All the types of inhalers described above and existing ones have advantages and disadvantages related to their structure and operation. Multi-dose inhalers and inhalers containing several individual reservoirs are generally complex devices, consisting of a large number of parts, and therefore expensive to manufacture and assemble.

[0004] Documents WO2023198996, WO2007144614, WO9834664, W09702061 and W02006061637 describe devices of the state of the art.

[0005] The present invention aims to provide a powder inhaler, which does not reproduce the aforementioned drawbacks.

[0006] In particular, the present invention aims to provide such an inhaler which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and assemble, and reliable to use.

[0007] The present invention therefore relates to a powder inhaler, comprising a body receiving a strip of at least two individual reservoirs, each individual reservoir having a cavity containing a dose of powder and a closure layer for sealingly closing said cavity, said body comprising a head portion and a support portion, said head and support portions being connected by at least one articulation, so that said body is deformable and / or movable between an open position and a closed position, said head portion comprising a dispensing orifice and a perforation element connected to said dispensing orifice and adapted upon actuation to pierce said closure layer to open an individual reservoir, said head portion comprising at least one axial projection associated with said perforation element,said strip of tanks comprising at least one lateral edge provided with cutouts arranged between said individual tanks, defining flaps at each individual tank, each axial projection folding a respective flap upon actuation, said strip of tanks being arranged in a housing of said support part, said housing being provided with a shoulder cooperating before actuation with one of said flaps to prevent movement of said strip of tanks relative to said support part.,

[0008] Advantageously, said strip of reservoirs extends beyond the area comprising said individual reservoirs by a narrower strip portion, on which the user pulls to move said strip relative to said support portion.

[0009] Advantageously, said body is made from a single piece.

[0010] According to a first advantageous embodiment, said head part comprises at least one window and said support part comprises at least one projection for cooperating in the closed position of the inhaler with a respective window, in particular by snap-fastening, to lock said closed position.

[0011] According to a second advantageous embodiment, said head portion comprises an elongated opening next to each axial projection, and said support portion comprises at least one vertical projection provided with a boss for cooperating with a respective elongated opening in the actuating position.

[0012] Advantageously, said support part comprises a locking member for locking said head part on said support part in the closed position of said body.

[0013] Advantageously, said head portion comprises a viewing window, which, in the closed position of said body, displays a dose indication, such as a number, present on a narrower portion of said reservoir strip.

[0014] Advantageously, said strip of tanks comprises four individual tanks.

[0015] These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more clearly apparent from the following detailed description, made with reference to the accompanying drawings, given by way of non-limiting examples, in which Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a powder inhaler according to a first advantageous embodiment, after assembly and before the first use of the inhaler, Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of a powder inhaler according to a second advantageous embodiment, after assembly and before the first use of the inhaler, Figure 3 is a schematic side view of the inhaler of Figure 2, in the actuated position, Figure 4 is a schematic perspective view similar to that of Figure 2, before final assembly, in the open position of the inhaler, Figure 5 is a partial schematic perspective view cut away, in the position of Figure 2,Figure 6 is a view similar to that of Figure 5, according to another sectional plane, Figure 7 is a detail view similar to that of Figure 5, in an inverted position, Figure 8 is a schematic view from below, in the position of Figure 2, Figure 9 is a view similar to that of Figure 5, in the position of Figure 3, and Figure 10 is a schematic view from below, in the position of Figure 3.,

[0016] The inhaler comprises a body 10, preferably a single-piece body, in particular made from a single piece by molding a synthetic material. The body 10 comprises a head portion 11 and a support portion 12, said portions 11, 12 being connected by at least one articulation 13. Thus, the body 10 is deformable and / or movable, in particular by pivoting, between an open position, shown in Figures 1 and 4, and a closed position, shown in Figures 2 and 3. Preferably, the head portion 11 pivots relative to the support portion 12 at the articulations 13. Advantageously, the articulation(s) 13 is (are) formed by one or more bridge(s) of foldable material.

[0017] The head portion 11 comprises a dispensing orifice 110, preferably formed at the axial end of a nasal nozzle 111 which the user places in a nostril when using the inhaler. The dispensing orifice 110 is connected to a piercing element 112. At least one, preferably two axial projections 115 are arranged around said piercing element 112.

[0018] The support portion 12 is intended to receive at least two individual reservoirs 20a, 20b, produced in the form of blisters. Preferably, the support portion receives more than two individual reservoirs, for example four reservoirs 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d as in the examples of the figures.

[0019] Each individual reservoir 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d comprises a cavity 21 containing a dose of powder, and a closing layer 22 for closing said cavity 21 in a sealed manner. The closing layer 22 is advantageously made of a material suitable for protecting the powder contained in the cavity 21, in particular against humidity, for example a metal such as aluminum or a suitable multilayer structure. The at least two individual reservoirs 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d are made in the form of a strip 20 of reservoirs, arranged in a housing 120 of the support part 12, said housing 120 being provided with a shoulder 125.

[0020] This strip 20 of tanks comprises at the level of the individual tanks 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d at least one lateral edge provided with cutouts 24a, 24b, 24c arranged between the individual tanks 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d, thus defining flaps 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d at the level of each individual tank 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d. In the example shown, the strip 20 comprises two identical lateral edges, with therefore flaps 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d arranged around each individual tank 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d, as visible in Figures 1 and 4.

[0021] The reservoir strip 20 extends beyond the area comprising the individual reservoirs 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d by a narrower strip portion 23, on which the user can pull to move the strip 20 relative to the support portion 12.

[0022] As can be seen in Figures 1 and 7, after assembly of the strip 20 of tanks on the support part 12, and before the first actuation, the first flaps 25a abut against the shoulder 125 of the housing 120, preventing any movement of the strip 20.

[0023] When the user actuates the inhaler to cause the piercing element 112 to penetrate into the cavity 21 of the first individual reservoir 20a, the axial projections 115 deform the first flaps 25a by bending them, as illustrated in FIG. 9. Thus, after inhalation, when the piercing element 112 is removed from the cavity 21 of the first individual reservoir 20a, the user can pull on the strip 20 to bring the second individual reservoir 20b opposite the piercing element 112, with the second flaps 25b abutting against the shoulder 125 of the housing 120.

[0024] The device is then ready for further actuation.

[0025] Figure 1 shows a first embodiment, in which the user must reopen the device between each actuation, to move the strip 20 of reservoirs, and thus position the next individual reservoir 20b facing the perforation element 112.

[0026] After inhalation, the user therefore unlocks the closed position and returns the body 10 to the open position.

[0027] Advantageously, the head part 11 comprises at least one window 113, preferably two, and the support part 12 comprises at least one projection 122, preferably two, to cooperate in the closed position of the inhaler with the window(s) 113, in particular by snap-fastening, to lock the closed position of the body 10.

[0028] Advantageously, each projection 122 comprises a snap-in profile which will snap into a respective window 113 in the closed position. The projections 122 may have any suitable shape, for example with the snap-in profile facing outwards as in the example of FIG. 1.

[0029] This lock is unlockable, allowing the inhaler to be reopened to move the 20 reservoir strip.

[0030] Alternatively, a strip 20 with empty reservoirs can also be replaced with a new strip 20 with full reservoirs, and the inhaler can thus be reused.

[0031] When the user wishes to use the inhaler, he takes the body 10 in the open position and positions a strip 20 of reservoirs on the support part 12, as visible in FIG. 1.

[0032] The user then closes the body 10 by pivoting the head part 11 on the support part 12 around the joints 13, two in number in the examples shown. During this closing movement, the perforation element 112 will pierce the closure layer 22 of the first individual reservoir 20a and penetrate into the cavity 21. In the closed position, the projections 122 of the support part 12 snap into the windows 113 of the head part 11 to lock this closed position during actuation.

[0033] The user then places the nasal nozzle 111 in a nostril and inhales, which dispenses the powder contained in the cavity 21 through the piercing element 112 and the dispensing orifice 110. After inhalation, the user unlocks the snap-fit ​​of the projections 122 in the windows 113, and reopens the body 10, so that the piercing element 112 exits the cavity 21 of the first reservoir 20a.

[0034] The first flaps 25a having been folded by the axial projections 115 during the first actuation, they no longer block the movement of the strip 20 of reservoirs, and the user can pull on the narrower strip portion 23 to advance the strip 20 and position the second individual reservoir 20b facing the perforation element 112.

[0035] This actuation cycle can then be repeated for the remaining doses.

[0036] Figures 2 to 10 show a second embodiment, in which the body 10 does not need to be reopened to move the reservoir strip 20 after each inhalation.

[0037] Advantageously, the support part 12 comprises a locking member 129 for locking the head part 11 on the support part 12 in the closed position of the body 10.

[0038] Advantageously, the head portion 11 comprises a viewing window 119, which, in the closed position of the body 10, displays a dose indication, such as a number, present on the narrower portion 23 of the strip 20 of reservoirs.

[0039] In this second embodiment, the head portion 11 comprises an elongated opening 116 next to each axial projection 115, therefore two elongated openings in this example.

[0040] Correspondingly, the support part 12 comprises two vertical projections 126 each provided with a boss 127.

[0041] When the body 10 is closed, after assembly of the strip 20 of reservoirs on the support part 12, each vertical projection 126 passes through a corresponding elongated opening 116, and the head part 11 can be locked on the support part 12 via the locking member 129.

[0042] In this closed position of the body 10, the piercing element 112 is not disposed in a reservoir, as seen in Figures 5 to 7. To actuate the inhaler, the user must press on the upper surface of the head portion 11 to move the piercing element 112 into the cavity 21 of the first reservoir 20a, as illustrated by the arrows in Figure 3. Upon this actuation, each elongated opening 116 snaps under the boss 127 of the respective vertical projection 126, to lock the actuation position, as seen in Figure 9.

[0043] After inhalation, the user presses the vertical projections 126 to release the latching of the elongated openings 116 under the bosses 127, and thus return the body to the closed position, with the piercing element 112 disposed outside the reservoir.

[0044] The first flaps 25a having been folded by the axial projections 115 during the first actuation, they no longer block the movement of the strip 20 of reservoirs, and the user can pull on the narrower strip portion 23 to advance the strip 20 and position the second individual reservoir 20b facing the perforation element 112.

[0045] This actuation cycle can then be repeated for the remaining doses.

[0046] Various modifications are also possible for a person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

Claims 1. Powder inhaler, comprising a body (10) receiving a strip (20) of at least two individual reservoirs (20a, 20b, 20c, 20d), each individual reservoir having a cavity (21) containing a dose of powder and a closing layer (22) for closing said cavity (21) in a sealed manner, said body (10) comprising a head portion (11) and a support portion (12), said head (11) and support (12) portions being connected by at least one articulation (13), so that said body (10) is deformable and / or movable between an open position and a closed position, said head portion (11) comprising a dispensing orifice (110) and a perforation element (112) connected to said dispensing orifice (110) and adapted upon actuation to pierce said closure layer (22) to open an individual reservoir (20a, 20b, 20c, 20d), characterized in that said head portion (11) comprises at least one axial projection (115) associated with said perforation element (112), said strip (20) of reservoirs comprising at least one lateral edge provided with cutouts (24a, 24b, 24c) arranged between said individual tanks (20a, 20b, 20c, 20d), defining flaps (25a, 25b, 25c,25d) at each individual reservoir (20a, 20b, 20c, 20d), each axial projection (115) folding a respective flap (25a, 25b, 25c, 25d) upon actuation, said strip (20) of reservoirs being arranged in a housing (120) of said support portion (12), said housing (120) being provided with a shoulder (125) cooperating before actuation with one of said flaps (25a, 25b, 25c, 25d) to prevent movement of said strip (20) of reservoirs relative to said support portion (12)., 2. Inhaler according to claim 1, wherein said strip (20) of reservoirs extends beyond the area comprising said individual reservoirs (20a, 20b, 20c, 20d) by a strip portion narrower (23), on which the user pulls to move said strip (20) relative to said support part (12).

3. Inhaler according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said body (10) is made from a single piece.

4. Inhaler according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said head part (11) comprises at least one window (113) and said support part (12) comprises at least one projection (122) for cooperating in the closed position of the inhaler with a respective window (113), in particular by snap-fastening, to lock said closed position.

5. An inhaler according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said head portion (11) comprises an elongated opening (116) adjacent each axial projection (115), and said support portion (12) comprises at least one vertical projection (126) provided with a boss (127) for cooperating with a respective elongated opening (116) in the actuating position.

6. An inhaler according to claim 5, wherein said support portion (12) comprises a locking member (129) for locking said head portion (11) to said support portion (12) in the closed position of said body (10).

7. Inhaler according to claim 5 or 6, wherein said head portion (11) comprises a viewing window (119), which, in the closed position of said body (10), displays a dose indication, such as a number, present on a narrower portion (23) of said reservoir strip (20). he 8. An inhaler according to any preceding claim, wherein said reservoir strip (20) comprises four individual reservoirs (20a, 20b, 20c, 20d).

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