Inhalation assist device

Abstract

The present invention aims to provide an inhalation aid that allows patients to easily adjust the timing of inhaling a medicament without relying on a valve structure. The solution provided by the present invention is an inhalation aid 100, which is mounted on the blowout port of a medicament spray inhaler and comprises: a cylindrical main body 10; an inlet 20, which is provided at one end of the main body 10 and is used to introduce the medicament sprayed from the blowout port of the inhaler into the main body 10; a wall portion 30, which is the other end of the main body 10 and is provided at a position facing the inlet 20; and an inhalation port 40, which is provided on the side of the main body 10 and is used to inhale the medicament introduced into the main body 10; wherein the inhalation port 40 extends along the tangent direction of the main body 10.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to an inhalation assisting device, which is arranged at the blowout port of a spray inhaler and is used for assisting the inhalation of atomized sprayed medicine particles. Background Art

[0002] Inhalation therapy is one of the most effective treatments for bronchial asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which are airway diseases. Current inhalation therapy typically uses dry powder inhalers (DPIs) and metered-dose inhalers (MDIs) to deliver particulate medications such as inhaled steroids, long-acting β2-agonists, and long-acting anticholinergics.

[0003] Wherein, metered dose inhaler (MDI) is the inhaler of the type that sprays a certain amount of medicament by the pressure of gas.By patient inhalation the medicament particles that spray out from the medicament inhaler, medicament can be delivered to human body trachea via respiratory organ.But such medicament inhaler must make the spray of medicament cooperate with the opportunity of sucking described medicament, and in the situation that for example patient is to be difficult to grasp the opportunity of medicament spraying such as child or senior citizen, then in order to more surely suck medicament, suction auxiliary device can be installed in the medicament blow-out port of medicament inhaler.As suction auxiliary device (also referred to as suction spacer), for example known invention disclosed in patent documentation 1 and patent documentation 2 is arranged.

[0004] Prior art documents

[0005] Patent Literature

[0006] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-266626

[0007] Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application No. 2008-516658 Summary of the Invention

[0008] Problems to be solved by the invention

[0009] Patent Document 1 discloses a device for evaporating and dispersing droplet aerosols for inhalation therapy. The device comprises: a rotationally symmetrical main body; a tubular member disposed at the front end of one side and protruding a predetermined length into the main body; and an air intake member through which air flowing into the main body passes when the patient inhales the aerosol accumulated in the main body through the other tubular member. This configuration creates two spiral turbulent flows, one on the outside and one on the inside, within the main body. The outer turbulent flow prevents aerosol particles from striking the inner wall of the tube. However, in the device of Patent Document 1, the inlet for the drug particles ejected from the spray inhaler and the inhalation port for inhaling the drug particles are located in a straight line. While the device of Patent Document 1 can stagger the timing of spray inhaler injection and inhalation by the length of the main body, the majority of the drug ejected into the main body through the inlet is directed directly toward the inhalation port. Consequently, the drug must be inhaled immediately after being sprayed into the main body by the spray inhaler, limiting the effectiveness of timing adjustment. Therefore, patients with low inhalation ability may still find it difficult to inhale the medicine.

[0010] Patent Document 2 discloses a spacer device for orally ingesting a volatile medium containing a pharmaceutical agent. The device comprises a chamber with an exhalation port, an exhaust port that is adapted to be inserted into the mouth, and a butterfly valve. By providing a valve structure in the spacer, patients can inhale the pharmaceutical agent ejected from the spray inhaler into the main body at any time, making it relatively easy for even patients with limited inhalation ability to inhale the agent. However, providing a valve structure in the spacer complicates the overall structure of the spacer, making disassembly, cleaning, and assembly difficult in reusable spacers. Furthermore, in disposable spacers, providing a valve structure increases the manufacturing cost of the spacer, thereby increasing the cost burden on patients using the spacer.

[0011] Therefore, a main object of the present invention is to provide an inhalation aid that allows a patient to easily and arbitrarily adjust the timing of inhaling a medicament without relying on a valve structure.

[0012] Technical solutions to problems

[0013] The present invention relates to an inhalation aid 100, which is installed at the blowout port of a spray inhaler for medicine. The inhalation aid 100 of the present invention can be applied to a general metered dose inhaler (MDI). The inhalation aid 100 of the present invention comprises: a main body 10, an inlet 20, a wall portion 30 and an inhalation port 40. The main body 10 is cylindrical, and medicine particles are ejected from the spray inhaler into its internal space. The main body 10 is preferably cylindrical, but can also be triangular, square, pentagonal, or other polygonal shapes. The inlet 20 is an opening for introducing the medicine sprayed from the blowout port of the inhaler into the main body 10, and is provided at one end of the main body 10. The wall portion 30 is the other end of the main body 10, and is provided at a position facing the inlet 20. Therefore, the main body 10 becomes a bottomed cylindrical structure with the inlet 20 provided at one end and the wall portion 30 provided at the other end. The inlet 20 and the wall portion 30 are provided in a straight line. The inlet 40 is an opening for inhaling medicine introduced into the main body 10 and is provided on the side surface 11 of the main body 10 .

[0014] As described above, the wall portion 30 is positioned facing the medication introduction port 20, while the inhalation port 40 is positioned off-axis with the inhalation port 20. This configuration prevents the medication particles introduced from the inhalation port 20 from directly reaching the inhalation port 40 due to the collision of the atomized airflow. This allows the patient to easily adjust the timing of medication inhalation without requiring a valve mechanism like in conventional spacers. Furthermore, for patients who have difficulty inhaling the entire dose at once, the medication introduced into the main body 10 can be divided into multiple inhalations. More specifically, among the medication particles atomized into the main body 10, those that collide with the side surfaces 11 or wall portion 30 of the main body 10 and are not captured or settled remain within the main body 10 for a short time after atomization. The dispersed medication particles remaining in this atomized airflow are then inhaled multiple times through the mouth and delivered to the human trachea via the respiratory organs through the inhalation port 40, located on the side perpendicular to the central axis of the inhalation port 20. As described above, the present invention utilizes a medication inhalation structure that differs from conventional techniques, thereby eliminating factors such as impact, sedimentation, and capture on the inner surface of the main body 10 during mist discharge. In other words, while conventional techniques vary the sedimentation / capture rate due to impact depending on inhalation conditions (such as the number of breaths or the ventilation volume), the present invention eliminates the significant impact of inhalation conditions on the medication inhalation rate, even during normal breathing.

[0015] In particular, in the inhalation aid 100 of the present invention, the inhalation port 40 preferably extends along the tangential direction of the main body 10. That is, when the main body 10 is formed into a cylindrical shape, when viewed from the wall portion 30 side (or the inlet 20 side) of the inhalation aid 100, the inhalation port 40 does not extend along the radial direction of the main body 10, but extends along the tangential direction of the cylindrical main body 10. In this way, by forming the inhalation port 40 at a position that is biased to one side relative to the radial direction of the main body 10, when the medicinal particles in the main body 10 are inhaled through this inhalation port 40, a spiral airflow can be generated in this main body 10 (see Figure 3 ). This structure can improve the inhalation efficiency of the drug particles dispersed in the main body 10.

[0016] In the inhalation aid 100 of the present invention, the inhalation port 40 is preferably located substantially on an extension line of the wall surface portion 30. In the present invention, the inhalation port 40 can be located between the introduction port 20 and the wall surface portion 30 on the side surface 11 of the main body portion 10, but is particularly preferably located near the wall surface portion 30, particularly on an extension line of the wall surface portion 30. With such a configuration, the medicament particles sprayed in a mist from the introduction port 20 toward the wall surface portion 30 can be efficiently inhaled.

[0017] In the inhalation aid 100 of the present invention, the inner surface of the inner side of the main body 10 in the wall portion 30 can be formed into a concave shape. Like this, by forming the inner surface of the wall portion 30 into a concave shape (particularly a curved surface), the flow of the medicinal particles that impact the wall portion 30 can be focused in the central axis direction. Through this structure, the medicinal particles can become difficult to be captured or deposited on the inner surface of the main body 10, and as a result, the inhalation rate of the medicine can be improved. That is to say, from the spray inhaler, the medicinal particles are sprayed into the main body 10 of the inhalation aid 100 in a radial, straight and intermittent mist form. In the main body 10, the medicinal particles can impact the side 11 or the wall portion 30 and at least a part of them is precipitated or captured. However, in the present invention, a method for reducing the precipitation or capture of medicinal particles like this has been proposed.

[0018] In the inhalation aid 100 of the present invention, the inner surface of the inner side of the main body 10 in the wall portion 30 can be formed with one or more protrusions or depressions. The protrusions or depressions include point-shaped or linear ones. (Linear protrusions or depressions are also called ridge-shaped or trough-shaped.) The medicinal particles sprayed into the main body 10 of the inhalation aid 100 in a mist form will rebound, collide, or precipitate or be captured in the boundary layer between the side 11 and the wall portion 30 after being sprayed in a mist form. However, in particular, the medicinal particle flow after rebounding on the wall portion 30 and the subsequent medicinal particle flow sprayed in a mist form collide and merge, resulting in the formation of complex turbulence in the main body 10. In view of this point, a mesh structure, for example, is formed on the inner surface of the wall portion 30 by a plurality of protrusions or depressions, and the medicinal particle flow can be rectified by this structure. In order to suppress the turbulence of the drug particles, it is preferred to form multiple protrusions or depressions on the inner surface of the wall portion 30 to rectify the flow, and at the same time make the inner surface of the wall portion 30 concave as described above to focus the flow of the drug particles toward the central axis.

[0019] In the inhalation aid 100 of the present invention, the side surface 11 of the main body 10 (particularly the inner surface of the side surface 11) is preferably at least partially formed into a tapered shape that expands in diameter from one end toward the other. While the medicinal particles sprayed into the main body 10 diffuse radially within the main body 10, the tapered shape of the side surface 11 of the main body 10 reduces the amount of medicinal particles sprayed toward the main body 20, thereby preventing the medicinal particles from adhering to or being trapped on the side surface 11.

[0020] Effects of the Invention

[0021] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an inhalation aid that allows a patient to easily and arbitrarily adjust the timing of inhaling a medicament without relying on a valve structure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] [ Figure 1 ] Figure 1 It is a perspective view showing one embodiment of an inhalation aid.

[0023] [ Figure 2 ] Figure 2 It is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a longitudinal section of an inhalation aid.

[0024] [ Figure 3 ] Figure 3 It is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a transverse cross-section of the inhalation aid.

[0025] [ Figure 4 ] Figure 4 This is an example showing the flow-rectifying structure of the inner surface of the wall portion.

[0026] [ Figure 5 ] Figure 5This is an example showing the focused structure of the inner surface of the wall. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] Hereinafter, the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described below, but also includes embodiments that can be appropriately modified from the embodiment within a range that is obvious to those skilled in the art.

[0028] exist Figures 1 to 3 , shows an embodiment of the inhalation aid 100 of the present invention. Figure 1 1 is a perspective view showing the overall structure of the inhalation aid 100. Figure 2 It is a longitudinal cross-section. Figure 3 It is a cross-sectional view. As shown in these drawings, the inhalation assist device 100 is that the introduction port 20 is located at one end of the cylindrical main body 10, and the wall portion 30 is located at the other end side of the main body 10, and is configured as a bottomed cylindrical shape. The main body 10 is formed with a side 11 spanning from one end to the other end, and the side 11 near the wall portion 30 is provided with a mouthpiece 50 having an inhalation port 40. Again, the internal space of the main body 10 is connected from the introduction port 20 until the inhalation port 40 of the mouthpiece 50. Therefore, the patient can inhale the medicament particles imported into the main body 10 from the introduction port 20 by biting the mouthpiece 50.

[0029] The inhalation aid 100 can be equipped with a known metered dose inhaler (MDI) outlet at the inlet 20. Examples of currently known MDIs include Adoair (registered trademark) aerosol and Flutiform (registered trademark), but the MDIs to which the present invention is applicable are not limited to these.

[0030] The inhalation aid 100 can be either a reusable type or a disposable type. The material constituting the inhalation aid 100 is not particularly limited, but in the case of the reusable type, it can be made of plastic, carbon or metal, and in the case of the disposable type, it can be made of paper or wood. The inhalation aid 100 of the present invention is simple in structure, so it is easy to clean and has good maintainability. In addition, its manufacturing cost can be suppressed at a low price, so both the reusable type and the disposable type can be well utilized.

[0031] like Figure 1 and Figure 2As shown, the main body 10 can be divided into an inlet-side parallel portion 12, a tapered portion 13, and a wall-side parallel portion 14. Specifically, in the inlet-side parallel portion 12 and the wall-side parallel portion 14, the inner surface of the side surface 11 of the main body 10 is parallel in cross-section, while the tapered portion 13 is located between these parallel portions 12 and 14. However, if the inner diameter a (diameter) of the inlet-side parallel portion 12 is compared with the inner diameter b (diameter) of the wall-side parallel portion 14, the portion with inner diameter b is larger (a < b). Therefore, the tapered portion 13 located between these parallel portions 12 and 14 is formed with a predetermined length l, such that the inner diameter of the side surface 11 gradually increases from the inlet-side parallel portion 12 toward the wall-side parallel portion 14.

[0032] exist Figure 2 In the figure, the symbol θ represents the inclination of the inner surface of the side surface 11 constituting the tapered portion 13. Incidentally, the inclination θ referred to here is half the value of the taper angle. The inclination θ of the side surface 11 constituting the tapered portion 13 in [%] can be calculated by the mathematical formula (b-a) / l×0.5. Specifically, the inner diameter a of the inlet-side parallel portion 12 is preferably 30 to 35 mm to enable proper assembly in the blow-out port of the MDI. Furthermore, the inner diameter b of the wall-side parallel portion 14 is preferably 45 to 50 mm to ensure a space large enough for efficient diffusion of the pharmaceutical particles. Furthermore, the length l of the tapered portion 13 is preferably 80 to 180 mm to ensure sufficient time and length for diffusion of the pharmaceutical particles introduced from the inlet 20. As a result, the inclination θ [degrees] of the inner surface of the side surface 11 constituting the tapered portion 13 is preferably in the range of 5 to 15 degrees.

[0033] like Figure 2 As shown, the inhalation aid 100 is provided with a wall portion 30 at a position facing the introduction port 20 of the medicine. Figure 2 The figure shows a centerline C extending along the longitudinal direction of the main body 10 through the center of the inlet 20. The wall portion 30 is disposed at a position intersecting this centerline C. In particular, the wall portion 30 is preferably perpendicular to the centerline C of the inlet 20. With this configuration, it is believed that at least a portion of the pharmaceutical particles ejected from the inlet 20 toward the main body 10 will collide with the wall portion 30 and be reflected toward the interior space of the main body 10. Furthermore, if the main body 10 is cylindrical, the wall portion 30 will be circular. In particular, the main body 10 and the wall portion 30 will be concentric.

[0034] like Figures 1 to 3As shown, a mouthpiece 50 is formed on the side 11 of the main body 10, and the mouthpiece 50 has an inlet 40. The mouthpiece 50 is preferably made into an ellipse, a perfect circle, or other shapes that are easy to be bitten by the mouth. The mouthpiece 50 is preferably provided on the wall side parallel portion 14 of the main body 10, and is particularly preferably provided along the extension line of the wall portion 30. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. Figure 2 As shown, it is preferred that no steps are formed in the internal space between the wall portion 30 and the mouthpiece 50. With this structure, the flow of pharmaceutical particles near the wall portion 30 will smoothly reach the outlet of the suction port 40 during inhalation. If a step is formed in the internal space within the main body 10, there will be concerns that pharmaceutical particles will be retained or blocked in this part, so it is best not to set such a step as much as possible. However, it should be noted that even if a step is generated in the internal space between the wall portion 30 and the mouthpiece 50, there will be no problem as long as the flow of pharmaceutical particles is toward the suction port 40. For example, a step of 5 to 15 mm in size is permissible.

[0035] Furthermore, the suction port 40 of the mouthpiece 50 is preferably perpendicular to the internal space of the main body 10. Figure 2 , represents the center line O extending along the blowing nozzle 50 through the center of the suction port 40, and the center line O of the suction port 40 is preferably perpendicular to the center line C of the inlet 20. Furthermore, the center line O of the suction port 40 is preferably extended parallel to the wall surface 30. Incidentally, for the present invention, it is not necessary for the center line O of the suction port 40 to be perpendicular to the center line C of the inlet 20, and the design can be any angle. For example, the angle formed by these center lines O and C is preferably set to 60 to 120 degrees, and particularly preferably set to 80 to 100 degrees. Furthermore, in the case where the center lines O and C are not perpendicular, it is not necessary to make the center line C perpendicular to the wall surface 30. In this case, it is preferred to maintain the parallel relationship between the center line O and the wall surface 30, and the angle formed by the center line C and the wall surface 30 can be set to the range of 80 to 100 degrees.

[0036] Again, such as Figure 3 As shown, the suction port 40 of the mouthpiece 50 preferably extends along the tangent direction of the body 10. Figure 3 The symbol R represents the radial direction of the inner circumference of the cylindrical main body 10, but the center line O of the suction port 40 of the mouthpiece 50 is not aligned with the radial direction R of the main body 10. Incidentally, the center line O of the suction port 40 is parallel to a straight line extending in the radial direction R of the main body 10, but the center line O of the suction port 40 does not overlap with the straight line extending in the radial direction R, but is biased to one side. On the other hand, Figure 3The symbol T represents the tangent direction of the inner circumference of the cylindrical main body 10. The tangent line T of the inner circumference refers to a straight line that is parallel to the straight line R extending in a certain radial direction along the inner circumference. Incidentally, the tangent line T of the inner circumference does not overlap with the straight line R extending in the radial direction, and the two straight lines must be a certain distance apart. In this case, the center line O of the suction port 40 of the mouthpiece 50 extends parallel to the tangent direction T of the main body 10. In this way, by deviating the suction port 40 to one side, a feeling like Figure 3 As a result, the efficiency of drug inhalation is improved.

[0037] Figure 4 An example of a flow-rectifying structure of the inner surface 31 of the wall portion 30 is shown. In this flow-rectifying structure, a plurality of linear or dot-shaped protrusions or depressions are provided on the inner surface 31 of the wall portion 30. Figure 4 In the example shown in (a), a plurality of linear protrusions (ridge-like) or depressions (grooves) are formed into a grid-like (mesh-like) pattern. Figure 4 The lattice pattern shown in (a) is formed with a plurality of linear protrusions or depressions extending in one direction and a plurality of linear protrusions or depressions extending in a direction intersecting the direction. Figure 4 In the example shown in (b), a plurality of linear protrusions or depressions are formed in a stripe shape. Figure 4 In the stripe pattern shown in (b), a plurality of linear protrusions or depressions extend parallel to only one direction. Figure 4 In the example shown in (c), a plurality of point-shaped protrusions or depressions are arranged at predetermined intervals. Incidentally, the size of each protrusion or depression, the interval (pitch) between the protrusions or depressions can be appropriately adjusted according to the characteristics of the mist-like airflow, the particle size of the drug particles introduced into the main body 10, etc. The inhalation aid 100 of the present invention is provided with a wall portion 30 at a position facing the inlet 20, and the inner surface 31 of the wall portion 30 can be applied as follows. Figure 4 The rectifying structure shown is also one of the characteristics of the present invention.

[0038] Figure 5 An example of a focused structure of the inner surface 31 of the wall surface 30 is shown. Figure 5 As shown, the inner surface 31 of the wall portion 30 can be made into a concave surface. In the case where the main body 10 is cylindrical, the wall portion 30 is formed into a circular shape, and the inner surface 31 of the wall portion 30 can also be made into a hemispherical concave surface. Figure 5As shown, the deepest portion of the concave surface of the wall portion 30 is preferably located on an extension of the centerline C of the introduction port 20. By making the inner surface 31 of the wall portion 30 concave in this manner, pharmaceutical particles that strike the wall portion 30 are reflected toward the center of the main body 10. As previously described, when pharmaceutical particles are introduced into the main body 10, they diffuse radially while traveling toward the wall portion 30. However, even if the wall portion 30 remains flat, the pharmaceutical particles reflected from the wall portion 30 will be redispersed in a direction in which they strike the side surface 11 of the main body 10. Furthermore, by making the wall portion 30 concave and focusing the pharmaceutical particle flow, it is possible to prevent pharmaceutical particles reflected from the wall portion 30 from being trapped on the inner surface of the side surface 11.

[0039] Also, can be used together Figure 4 The rectified structure shown is similar to Figure 5 That is, the inner surface 31 of the wall portion 30 can be formed into a concave surface (particularly a curved surface), and a plurality of protrusions or depressions can be formed on the concave surface.

[0040] Incidentally, the inner surface 31 of the wall portion 30 can also be aligned with the inner surface 31 of the wall portion 30. Figure 5 In the example shown, the surface is convex. In this case, since the drug particles reflected by the inner surface 31 of the wall portion 30 are more likely to collide with the side surface 11 of the main body 10, this is not preferable. However, if the convex surface has some significance, such a structure can be adopted.

[0041] In the above description of the present application, the contents of the present invention are presented with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 While the embodiments of the present invention have been described, it should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, but also includes obvious changes or improvements made by those skilled in the art based on the matters described in this specification.

[0042] Description of Reference Numerals

[0043] 10: Body part

[0044] 11: Side

[0045] 12: Parallel part on the lead-in side

[0046] 13: Tapered part

[0047] 14: Parallel part on the wall side

[0048] 20: Import port

[0049] 30: Wall face

[0050] 31: Inside

[0051] 40: Suction port

[0052] 50: Mouthpiece

[0053] 100: Spacer

Claims

1. An inhalation aid, which is installed at the blowout port of a medicament spray inhaler, characterized in that: have: The cylindrical body part; an introduction port, which is provided at one end side of the main body and is used to introduce the medicine sprayed in a mist form from the blowout port of the inhaler into the main body; a wall portion which is the other end side of the main body portion and is provided at a position facing the introduction port; a side surface formed across the main body from one end to the other end, and having at least a portion formed in a tapered shape with a diameter increasing from the one end side toward the other end side; as well as an inhalation port, which is provided on the side and is used for inhaling the medicine introduced into the main body; The suction port extends along the tangent direction of the main body. The center line of the inlet is parallel to a straight line extending in the radial direction of the main body, but the center line of the inlet does not overlap with the straight line extending in the radial direction, but is biased to one side, so that when the medicinal particles in the main body are inhaled through the inlet, a spiral airflow can be generated in the main body.

2. The inhalation aid according to claim 1, characterized in that The suction port is provided on an extension line of the wall surface portion.

3. The inhalation aid according to claim 1, characterized in that An inner surface of the wall surface portion, which is located inside the main body portion, is formed in a concave shape.

4. The inhalation aid according to claim 1, characterized in that One or more protrusions or recesses are formed on an inner surface of the wall surface portion inside the main body portion.

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