Sprayer and method for delivering and atomizing fluid

Abstract

The present application discloses a sprayer for fluid and a method for delivering and atomizing the fluid. The sprayer includes: a container for accommodating multiple doses of the fluid; a delivery mechanism for moving from an initial position to a tensioned position when the sprayer is tensioned to extract a medication dose of the fluid from the container, and for moving from the tensioned position to the initial position when the sprayer is activated to atomize the medication dose of the fluid. The delivery mechanism, during movement from the initial position to the tensioned position, atomizes a preset amount of the fluid through a temporary rebound motion, wherein the medication dose is a single medication dose and the preset amount is smaller than the medication dose.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of sprayers, and in particular to a sprayer for fluid, and a method for conveying and atomizing the fluid. Background Art

[0002] As a medical device, an inhalation nebulizer can also be called a soft mist inhaler, nebulizer, etc. It can be used to treat upper respiratory tract diseases by dispersing the liquid medicine into fine particles / aerosols. The user then inhales the medicine to allow it to enter the respiratory tract and be deposited in the lungs, thereby achieving the purpose of treatment.

[0003] When a nebulizer is used for the first time or after being left for a period of time, on the one hand, air or sediment in its internal delivery mechanism may affect the nebulizer's metering accuracy, which may result in an insufficient dose of medicine inhaled at one time, thereby failing to achieve a good therapeutic effect. On the other hand, bacteria may grow or become contaminated in its fluid pathway, and the drug solution may pass through the fluid pathway and bring bacteria or contaminants to the user, affecting the user's health.

[0004] Therefore, there is an urgent need to provide a sprayer for fluid that can deliver medicine to users more accurately and avoid bringing new unsafe factors to users. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In view of the shortcomings of the above-mentioned related technologies, the purpose of the present application is to provide a sprayer for fluid and a method for conveying and atomizing fluid, so as to overcome the above-mentioned technical problems existing in the above-mentioned related technologies.

[0006] To achieve the above-mentioned and other related objectives, the present application discloses, in a first aspect, a sprayer for fluid, comprising: a container for accommodating multiple doses of the fluid; a delivery mechanism for moving from an initial position to a tensioned position when the sprayer is tensioned to extract a medication dose of the fluid from the container, and for moving from the tensioned position to the initial position when the sprayer is activated to atomize the medication dose of the fluid; wherein, during the movement from the initial position to the tensioned position, the delivery mechanism atomizes a preset amount of the fluid through a temporary rebound motion, the medication dose being a single medication dose, and the preset amount being less than the medication dose.

[0007] In certain embodiments disclosed in the first aspect of the present application, the sprayer further comprises: a sprayer housing for receiving the container; a lower housing, which can open the sprayer to replace or insert the container, and the sprayer is tensioned or put into a ready state through the rotational movement of the lower housing relative to the sprayer housing.

[0008] In certain embodiments disclosed in the first aspect of the present application, the delivery mechanism includes: a motion converter, used to connect the container and drive the container to move axially; a drive spring, linked to the motion converter, which drives the motion converter back to the initial position when the elastic force is released; a transmission structure, which is used to cooperate with the motion converter to convert the rotational motion of the sprayer when it is tensioned into axial movement. During one rotational motion, the axial movement includes a first movement stroke and a second movement stroke, and the temporary rebound motion occurs between the switching from the first movement stroke to the second movement stroke.

[0009] In certain embodiments disclosed in the first aspect of the present application, the one rotational motion is a 180° rotational motion centered on the axis of the sprayer.

[0010] In certain embodiments disclosed in the first aspect of the present application, the transmission structure includes: a first track, including an inclined surface formed on the sprayer housing of the sprayer, the inclined surface contacts the motion converter to achieve the first moving stroke of the axial movement; a second track, which is formed on the motion converter, and after the motion converter disengages from the first track, it contacts a blocking member to achieve the second moving stroke of the axial movement.

[0011] In certain embodiments disclosed in the first aspect of the present application, the blocking member is rotatably disposed on the sprayer housing, and during the rotational movement, the blocking member is pushed and rotated to contact the second track.

[0012] In certain embodiments disclosed in the first aspect of the present application, the sprayer housing of the sprayer includes an upper shell portion and an inner shell portion, the inner shell portion is rotatably supported on the upper shell portion, and a protrusion is provided on the inner shell portion to push the blocking member to rotate during the rotational movement.

[0013] In certain embodiments disclosed in the first aspect of the present application, the blocking member is further configured to be rotated by manual operation to release the motion converter to allow the driving spring to release its elastic force.

[0014] In certain embodiments disclosed in the first aspect of the present application, the transmission structure includes at least two first rails and at least two second rails.

[0015] In certain embodiments disclosed in the first aspect of the present application, a groove is provided at the starting position of the second track. When the motion converter disengages from the first track, the groove allows the driving spring to release part of the elastic force to drive the motion converter to move upward until it is blocked by the blocking member to form the rebound motion.

[0016] In certain embodiments disclosed in the first aspect of the present application, the depth of the groove is positively correlated with the preset amount or the medication dosage.

[0017] In certain embodiments disclosed in the first aspect of the present application, the depth of the groove is configured to be 0.1 to 1.5 mm.

[0018] In certain embodiments disclosed in the first aspect of the present application, the motion converter includes a guide structure, which moves on the first track to achieve the first movement stroke of the axial movement.

[0019] In certain embodiments disclosed in the first aspect of the present application, the preset amount is used to clean the nozzle of the sprayer.

[0020] In certain embodiments disclosed in the first aspect of the present application, the preset amount is between 0.15 and 3 microliters.

[0021] In certain embodiments disclosed in the first aspect of the present application, the preset amount is between 1% and 15% of the dosage.

[0022] In certain embodiments disclosed in the first aspect of the present application, the fluid contains a pharmaceutical component.

[0023] In certain embodiments disclosed in the first aspect of the present application, the pharmaceutical ingredient includes at least one of the following compounds: anticholinergics, beta-receptor agonists, steroids, phosphodiesterase-IV-inhibitors, LTD4-antagonists, EGFR-kinase inhibitors, antiallergic drugs, ergot alkaloid derivatives, triptans, CGRP-antagonists, phosphodiesterase-V-inhibitors.

[0024] The second aspect disclosed in the present application provides a method for delivering and atomizing a fluid, comprising: moving a delivery mechanism from an initial position to a tensioned position to extract a medication dose of fluid from a container; during the process of moving from the initial position to the tensioned position, the delivery mechanism generates a temporary rebound motion to atomize a preset amount of fluid; moving the delivery mechanism from the tensioned position to the initial position to atomize the medication dose of fluid; wherein the medication dose is a single medication dose, and the preset amount is less than the medication dose.

[0025] In certain embodiments disclosed in the second aspect of the present application, the preset amount is used to clean the nozzle of the sprayer.

[0026] In certain embodiments disclosed in the second aspect of the present application, the preset amount is between 0.15 and 3 microliters.

[0027] In certain embodiments disclosed in the second aspect of the present application, the preset amount is between 1% and 15% of the dosage.

[0028] In certain embodiments disclosed in the second aspect of the present application, the fluid contains a pharmaceutical component.

[0029] In certain embodiments disclosed in the second aspect of the present application, the pharmaceutical ingredient includes at least one of the following compounds: anticholinergics, beta-receptor agonists, steroids, phosphodiesterase-IV-inhibitors, LTD4-antagonists, EGFR-kinase inhibitors, antiallergic drugs, ergot alkaloid derivatives, triptans, CGRP-antagonists, and phosphodiesterase-V-inhibitors.

[0030] In summary, the nebulizer for fluid and the method for delivering and atomizing fluid disclosed in the present application deliver and atomize a preset amount of fluid during the process of the nebulizer extracting the fluid for the medication dose, thereby avoiding health risks and misleading information caused by the nebulizer to the patient / user while ensuring the accuracy of the medication dose.

[0031] Those skilled in the art can easily discern other aspects and advantages of the present application from the detailed description below. In the detailed description below, only exemplary embodiments of the present application are shown and described. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the content of this application enables those skilled in the art to modify the disclosed specific embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention to which this application relates. Accordingly, the descriptions in the drawings and specification of this application are merely exemplary and not restrictive. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] The specific features of the invention involved in this application are shown in the appended claims. The features and advantages of the invention involved in this application can be better understood by referring to the exemplary embodiments described in detail below and the accompanying drawings. A brief description of the drawings is as follows:

[0033] Figure 1 Shown is a schematic diagram of the generation stages of a predetermined amount of fluid in one embodiment of the related art.

[0034] Figure 2 Shown is a partial structural schematic diagram of a sprayer in one embodiment of the present application.

[0035] Figure 3 This application is displayed in Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the disassembled structure of the sprayer in the shown embodiment.

[0036] Figure 4 This application is displayed in Figure 3 A schematic cross-sectional view of the sprayer in the illustrated embodiment.

[0037] Figure 5 Shown is a schematic diagram of the generation stages of a predetermined amount of fluid in one embodiment of the present application.

[0038] Figure 6 Shown is a schematic diagram of the disassembled structure of the upper shell part in one embodiment of the present application.

[0039] Figure 7 The figure shows a process diagram of a blocking member being pushed in one embodiment of the present application.

[0040] Figure 8 It is a schematic diagram showing the process of the blocking member releasing the blocking of the delivery mechanism in one embodiment of the present application.

[0041] Figure 9 Shown is a structural schematic diagram of the combination of a suction nozzle and a motion converter in one embodiment of the present application.

[0042] Figure 10 Shown is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of a nozzle in one embodiment of the present application.

[0043] Figure 11 Shown is a schematic three-dimensional structural diagram of a motion converter in one embodiment of the present application.

[0044] Figure 12 Shown is a flow chart of a method for delivering and atomizing a fluid in one embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0045] The following describes the implementation of the present application through specific embodiments. People familiar with this technology can easily understand other advantages and effects of the present application from the contents disclosed in this specification.

[0046] In the following description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which describe several embodiments of the present application. It should be understood that other embodiments may also be used, and that changes in module or unit composition, electrical, and operational aspects may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. The following detailed description should not be considered restrictive, and the scope of the embodiments of the present application is limited only by the claims of the published patents. The terms used herein are only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present application.

[0047] Although in some instances the terms first, second, etc. are used herein to describe various elements or parameters, these elements or parameters should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element or parameter from another element or parameter. For example, a first liquid state can be referred to as a second liquid state, and similarly, a second liquid state can be referred to as a first liquid state without departing from the scope of the various described embodiments. The first liquid state and the second liquid state are both describing a liquid state, but unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, they are not the same liquid state.

[0048] Furthermore, as used herein, the singular forms "a", "an", and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context indicates otherwise. It should be further understood that the terms "comprise", "include" indicate the presence of the described features, steps, operations, elements, components, items, kinds, and / or groups, but do not exclude the presence, occurrence, or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, items, kinds, and / or groups. The terms "or" and "and / or" used herein are interpreted as inclusive, or mean any one or any combination. Thus, "A, B, or C" or "A, B, and / or C" means "any of the following: A; B; C; A and B; A and C; B and C; A, B, and C". Exceptions to this definition occur only when the combination of elements, functions, steps, or operations is inherently mutually exclusive in some way.

[0049] In order to solve the technical problems described in the background technology, that is, when the nebulizer is used for the first time or after being left for a certain period of time, there will be problems such as inaccurate metering accuracy and the patient / user may not be able to take the appropriate amount of medicine, which may lead to health risks. In some embodiments, the nebulizer is designed to atomize a preset amount of fluid to flush the nebulizer before each delivery of the fluid of the dosage. However, in this design, the delivery and atomization of the preset amount of fluid occur after the nebulizer extracts (also known as aspirates) the fluid of the dosage of medicine, that is, the nebulizer needs to continue to extract the preset amount of fluid for atomization after extracting the fluid of the dosage of medicine. Among them, the dosage of medicine refers to the amount of medicine used at one time, which is the amount that can produce a drug therapeutic effect on the patient / user. The preset amount refers to the amount pre-designed according to its use. Those skilled in the art can pre-design it according to its actual use. Usually, the preset amount is smaller than the dosage of medicine.

[0050] The following combination Figure 1 The above method of atomizing a preset amount of fluid is described below. Figure 1 The diagram shows the generation phases of a preset amount of fluid in one embodiment of the related art. The horizontal axis represents the timeline of triggering and starting the sprayer. Taking the sprayer as an example of delivering and atomizing fluid through the mechanical force generated by a spring, the vertical axis represents the degree of spring compression or the stored energy of the spring, which can reflect the amount of fluid extracted and released.

[0051] like Figure 1 As shown, the stage from 0 to t1 is the triggering stage of the nebulizer, which includes two processes. The first process is that the nebulizer extracts fluid exceeding the dosage of the drug by tensioning the spring (corresponding to Figure 1 V2 and V1 in the figure correspond to the fluid of the dosage), and the second process is that the spring automatically releases a small amount of compression / energy to deliver and atomize the preset amount of fluid (corresponding to Figure 1After the nebulizer is triggered, it enters a ready state, which means that the nebulizer currently has a fluid stored in a dosage form through a pressure chamber and is waiting to be activated, such as in Figure 1 In the embodiment, the nebulizer is in a ready state from t1 to t2. The nebulizer is started from t2 to t3. For example, at t2, the patient / user manually starts the nebulizer, so that the nebulizer delivers and atomizes the fluid of the medication dose from t2 to t3.

[0052] It should be understood that triggering a nebulizer refers to the process of driving the nebulizer to extract fluid from a container and enter a ready state. Depending on the primary state of the various components during the triggering phase, a trigger nebulizer may also be referred to as a tensioning nebulizer, a stretching nebulizer, a rotary nebulizer, etc. Priming a nebulizer refers to the process of activating the nebulizer to deliver and atomize a dose of fluid. Depending on the primary state of the various components during the nebulizer priming phase, a primed nebulizer may also be referred to as a releasing nebulizer, a reset nebulizer, etc.

[0053] like Figure 1 In the embodiment shown, the process of delivering and atomizing a preset amount of fluid occurs at the end of the triggering nebulizer stage, that is, after the fluid of the medication dose is extracted. This will result in: (1) the release of the preset amount of fluid automatically occurs at the end of the triggering nebulizer stage, and further, automatically occurs after the nebulizer extracts the fluid, which can easily mislead the patient / user into thinking that the nebulizer has begun to release the medication dose. For example, the patient / user needs to twist the nebulizer to extract the fluid, and when the twisting is completed, the preset amount of fluid will automatically be released, and the patient / user will easily think that the nebulizer has been used; (2) the medication dose is obtained indirectly, and the preset amount (i.e., V1) needs to be subtracted from the total extracted amount (i.e., V2). In this way, in order to ensure the accuracy of the medication dose, it is necessary to ensure that the two quantities This poses a challenge to design. Moreover, since the nebulizer is used multiple times, even if the accuracy of the two quantities is guaranteed during the initial design, each stage of delivering and atomizing the preset amount of fluid will cause wear to the various components of the nebulizer. Furthermore, since the process of delivering and atomizing the preset amount of fluid occurs at the end of the nebulizer triggering stage, the nebulizer is usually over-tensioned (i.e., the nebulizer is tensioned to a position where it can extract fluid exceeding the dosage of the medication). This process further aggravates the wear of the components, resulting in less accurate release of the preset amount, which in turn leads to inaccurate medication dosage and failure to achieve a good therapeutic effect.

[0054] In view of this, in some embodiments provided in the present application, a nebulizer for fluid is disclosed. By delivering and atomizing a preset amount of fluid during the process of the nebulizer extracting the fluid for the medication dose, the nebulizer can avoid health risks and misleading information for the user / patient. The nebulizer provided in the present application can also ensure the accuracy of the medication dose for the user / patient.

[0055] See also Figures 2 to 4 , Figure 2 Shown is a partial structural diagram of a sprayer in one embodiment of the present application. Figure 3 This application is displayed in Figure 2 The schematic diagram of the split structure of the sprayer in the embodiment shown is: Figure 4 This application is displayed in Figure 3 The cross-sectional structure diagram of the sprayer in the illustrated embodiment shows that the sprayer 1 includes a sprayer housing 10, a delivery mechanism 11, a container (not shown), and a lower housing (not shown).

[0056] The container is used to contain multiple doses of fluid, and the sprayer housing 10 is used to receive the container, which can be, for example, along Figure 2 The delivery mechanism 11 is inserted into the sprayer housing 10 in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. The delivery mechanism 11 is configured to move from an initial position to a tensioned position when the sprayer is tensioned (also referred to as being triggered, rotated, or stretched) to extract a dose of fluid from the container. The delivery mechanism 11 is also configured to move from a tensioned position to an initial position when the sprayer is activated to deliver and atomize the dose of fluid. During the movement of the delivery mechanism 11 from the initial position to the tensioned position, i.e., while extracting the dose of fluid, a temporary rebound motion occurs to deliver and atomize a preset amount of fluid. The lower housing can be attached to or detached from the sprayer housing 10, thereby closing or opening the sprayer 1. After closing the sprayer 1, the sprayer can be triggered or activated, and opened to replace or insert a container. The temporary rebound motion refers to a temporary rebound motion that is stopped within a short period of time and then resumes the previous compression or tension motion.

[0057] In one embodiment, the preset amount is positively correlated with the medication dosage. For example, when the medication dosage is large, the preset amount is also set to a large amount, and when the medication dosage is small, the preset amount is set to a small amount. Specifically, the preset amount can be set to 1% to 15% of the medication dosage, preferably, 3% to 8% of the medication dosage. For example, the preset amount can be set to approximately 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, 6%, 7%, 8%, 9%, 10%, 11%, 12%, 13%, 14%, or 15% of the medication dosage.

[0058] In one embodiment, the preset amount is set relative to the surface area of ​​the portion to be cleaned. For example, the preset amount may be set to 5 to 10 times the area of ​​the portion to be cleaned to ensure effective cleaning. For example, the preset amount is used to clean the nozzle in the delivery mechanism of a sprayer, and the preset amount may be set to 5 to 10 times the internal area of ​​the nozzle.

[0059] In one embodiment, the preset amount is set at 0.15 to 3 microliters, preferably, it can be set at 1 to 2 microliters. For example, the preset amount can be set to approximately 0.5 microliters, 1 microliter, 1.5 microliters, 2 microliters, 2.5 microliters, or 3 microliters, etc.

[0060] In one embodiment, the preset amount can be used to flush (also referred to as pre-clean) the delivery mechanism, the delivery assembly of the delivery mechanism, or the nozzle of the delivery mechanism, so as to discharge or separate sediment, crystals, dirt, or contaminants before atomizing the dose of medication. Of course, the preset amount can also be used for other purposes, which are not limited in this application.

[0061] See also Figure 5 , which is a schematic diagram of the generation phase of a preset amount of fluid in one embodiment of the present application. As shown in the figure, the horizontal axis represents the time line of triggering and starting the sprayer, and the vertical axis represents the axial movement stroke of the delivery mechanism or container, which reflects the amount of fluid extracted and released, and wherein V1 corresponds to the dosage of the drug, and ΔV corresponds to the preset amount, as shown in FIG. Figure 5 As shown, the stage from 0 to t1 is the triggering stage of the sprayer, in which the movement of the delivery mechanism 11 is from the initial position to the tensioned position. The compression amount from the initial position to the tensioned position is just enough to enable the delivery mechanism to extract and store the fluid of the dosage. There are three processes in this stage. The first process is to tension the sprayer, and the sprayer extracts the fluid that does not reach the dosage (for example Figure 5 The second process is a temporary rebound movement to atomize a preset amount of fluid △V, and the third process is to continue to tension the nebulizer to the tensioning position and extract the fluid to reach the dosage V1.

[0062] In other words, if Figure 5 As shown, the process of delivering and atomizing a preset amount of fluid occurs during the process of extracting the dosage of medicine. The extraction of the fluid of the dosage of medicine is directly obtained. It is only necessary to ensure that the initial position and the tensioning position can correspond to the dosage of medicine. While ensuring the accuracy of the dosage of medicine, it also greatly improves the tolerance of the accuracy of the preset amount. For example, the preset amount of fluid is mainly used to flush the nozzle. The accuracy requirement of the preset amount is much lower than the dosage of medicine. Even if the design or long-term use is Figure 5 There is a certain deviation in the preset amount △V, which does not affect the final amount of fluid that can be extracted. Figure 5As shown, the release of the preset amount of fluid occurs automatically during the process of the nebulizer extracting the fluid, that is, it occurs while the patient / user is still rotating or twisting the nebulizer, and will not cause misunderstanding to the patient / user.

[0063] The following combination Figures 2 to 11 The working principle and structure of the sprayer are explained.

[0064] In one embodiment, the container is used to store the aerosolized fluid and provide the fluid containing preset dosage units. For example, the container contains 60 dosage units of fluid, which allows the nebulizer 1 to spray 60 dosage units of fluid. The container is a substantially cylindrical or box-shaped rigid structure with a collapsible bag for storing the fluid.

[0065] In one embodiment, the fluid is configured as a liquid containing a pharmaceutical component, which, when atomized, forms an aerosol (also known as a soft mist, aerosol, fine particles, or fine droplets, etc.) that can be breathed or inhaled by the patient / user. Of course, in other embodiments, the fluid may include particles or powder, or may be a cosmetic liquid, suspension, etc.

[0066] In one embodiment, the drug component of the fluid may include at least one of the following compounds: anticholinergics, beta-receptor agonists, steroids, phosphodiesterase-IV inhibitors, LTD4 antagonists, EGFR kinase inhibitors, antiallergic drugs, ergot alkaloid derivatives, triptans, CGRP antagonists, phosphodiesterase-V inhibitors, etc.

[0067] Please continue to see 2 to Figure 4 The nebulizer housing 10 includes an upper housing 100 and an inner housing 101 that is rotatable relative to the upper housing 100. The lower housing (not shown) is further attachable to and detachable from the inner housing 101 and rotatable relative to the upper housing 100. Rotational movement of the lower housing relative to the nebulizer housing 10 (e.g., manual operation by a user / patient) causes the inner housing 101 and the upper housing 100 to rotate relative to each other, thereby triggering the nebulizer or entering a ready state (also referred to as preparing for the next use). The delivery mechanism 11 is associated with the nebulizer housing 10 and the container to further convert the rotational movement of the lower housing relative to the upper housing 100 (or, alternatively, the rotational movement of the inner housing 101 relative to the upper housing 100) into downward axial movement of the container within the nebulizer 1. During this downward axial movement of the container, the delivery mechanism 11 extracts the fluid stored in the container.

[0068] The axial movement refers to the movement along the axis of the sprayer, and the axis of the sprayer is as follows: Figure 2The axial movement can have two directions. The direction toward the sprayer housing 10 can be defined as an upward axial movement, and the direction away from the sprayer housing 10 can be defined as a downward axial movement. The axial movement mentioned above and below can also be understood in this way and will not be repeated here.

[0069] Among them, a single rotational movement of the inner shell 101 relative to the upper shell 100 can trigger the sprayer. The rotation angle of a single rotational movement corresponds to the angle of rotation required to trigger the sprayer, and can also be understood as the angle of rotation required for the sprayer to enter the ready state from an untriggered state. For example, a single rotational movement can be a 180° rotational movement centered on the axis of the sprayer. In this process, the delivery mechanism 11 moves from the initial position to the tensioning position, so that the container moves axially downward to the end in the sprayer 1 to extract the fluid of the dosage from the container. The initial position refers to the position of the delivery mechanism in the sprayer in a natural state when the sprayer is not triggered, which is as shown in the figure. Figure 4 , which is the initial position of the delivery mechanism 11. The tensioned position refers to the position in the nebulizer where the delivery mechanism is tensioned to the point where the dosed fluid can be extracted. The tension generated from the initial position to the tensioned position corresponds to the amount of fluid extracted.

[0070] It should be understood that the initial position and the tensioned position are used to reflect the relative shapes of the delivery mechanism in the sprayer when it is not triggered and after being triggered, respectively, and do not represent an absolute position. Since the delivery mechanism includes multiple components, parts or structures, when in the initial position or the tensioned position, the various components of the delivery mechanism are not necessarily or need not be in the same position or present the same shape. When describing a specific component of the delivery mechanism 11 later, its initial position and tensioned position should also be understood in this way, and no further details will be given later.

[0071] In one embodiment, if Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, an annular protrusion 1000 is provided on the inner wall of the upper shell 100, and the outer wall of the inner shell 101 is provided with a structure that matches the annular protrusion 1000, so that the inner shell 101 can be connected to the upper shell 100 and can rotate relative to the upper shell 100. Of course, Figure 3 and Figure 4 This is only an example and should not be understood as a limitation on the structures of the upper shell 100 and the inner shell 101. Those skilled in the art only need to design the structures of the two so that they can rotate relative to each other.

[0072] In one embodiment, see Figure 6, which shows a schematic diagram of the disassembled structure of the upper housing in one embodiment of the present application. As shown in the figure, the upper housing 100 includes a base 1001 and a mouthpiece 1002. The base 1001 is used to support the inner housing 101. For example, an annular protrusion 1000 is further provided on the base 1001 to support the inner housing 101. The mouthpiece 1002 is connected to the base 1001, for example, by screws. The patient / user can breathe / inhale the aerosol through the mouthpiece 1002.

[0073] In one embodiment, if Figure 4 and Figure 6 As shown, a supply channel 1003 is formed on the suction nozzle 1002, and the supply channel 1003 can be used to accommodate / configure / form some components or structures of the delivery mechanism, for example, the microfluidic structure, pressure chamber, quantitative cavity, etc. of the delivery mechanism. The structure of the delivery mechanism will be described in detail later.

[0074] In order to facilitate the protection of the suction nozzle 1002, in some embodiments, the suction nozzle 1002 may be provided with an openable or closable cover, which is not shown in the figure. The cover may be a transparent structure or partially transparent so that the patient / user can monitor the discharge of a preset amount of fluid. Of course, it can also be set to be non-transparent so that the patient / user does not notice the discharge of the preset amount of fluid.

[0075] In one embodiment, if Figure 2 and Figure 6 As shown, the sprayer housing 100 is further provided with a rotatable blocking member 12, for example, the blocking member 12 is rotatably provided on the suction nozzle 1002 of the sprayer housing 100. In some examples, the blocking member 12 includes a blocking portion 120 and a shaft 121, wherein the shaft 121 is fixed to the suction nozzle 1002, and the blocking portion 120 is connected to the shaft 121 and can rotate around the shaft 121.

[0076] During the aforementioned rotational movement of the inner housing 101 relative to the upper housing 100, the blocking member 12 is pushed and rotated so that the blocking portion 120 of the blocking member 12 partially enters the internal space of the inner housing 101 and is further located on the movement path of the delivery mechanism 11, so that after a rotational movement contact or after the nebulizer is triggered, the blocking member 12 can block the delivery mechanism 11 to put the nebulizer in a ready state, thereby preventing the nebulizer from automatically delivering and atomizing a dose of fluid without the patient / user's activation.

[0077] See also Figure 7 and combined Figures 3 to 7 , Figure 7 The diagram shows a process diagram of the blocking member being pushed in one embodiment of the present application. Figures 3 to 7As shown, a protrusion 1010 is provided on the inner housing 101. During the rotational movement of the inner housing 101 relative to the upper housing 100, the protrusion 1010 also rotates relative to the upper housing 100. During the rotation, the protrusion 1010 contacts the blocking member 12 located on the upper housing 100 and drives the blocking member 12 to rotate. Specifically, the protrusion 1010 of the inner housing 101 has a sloped surface that is consistent with the direction of its rotational movement (the sloped surface may have a certain curvature according to the shape of the inner housing 101). During the rotation, the sloped surface of the protrusion 1010 contacts the blocking portion 120 of the blocking member 12 to form a motion track for the blocking portion 120, thereby causing the blocking member 120 to rotate about the axis 121.

[0078] The blocking member 12 is also used to be rotated manually to release the blocking of the delivery mechanism 11 to start the nebulizer. After the blocking member 12 releases the blocking of the delivery mechanism 11, the delivery mechanism 11 moves from the tensioned position to the initial position (simultaneously causing the container to move axially upward at the end inside the nebulizer to the initial position) to deliver and atomize the fluid of the dosage. Figure 8 and combined Figures 3 to 5 , Figure 8 The figure shows a process diagram of the blocking member releasing the blocking of the delivery mechanism in one embodiment of the present application. As shown in the figure, when the patient / user needs to start the sprayer, the blocking member 12 can be actuated by manual operation (for example, pressing) so that the blocking member 12 is released. Figure 6 The rotation in the opposite direction when pushed as shown makes the blocking member 12 move away from the moving path of the delivery mechanism 11 and no longer block the delivery mechanism 11, that is, the delivery mechanism 11 is released, so that the fluid of the dosage drawn in the triggering nebulizer stage can be delivered and atomized.

[0079] In one embodiment, if Figure 3 and Figure 4As shown, the delivery mechanism 11 includes a motion converter 110, a drive spring 111, and a transmission structure 112. The motion converter 110 is used to connect the container, thereby securing the fully inserted container in the sprayer and driving the container to move axially. The drive spring 111 is linked to the motion converter 110. The transmission structure 112 is used to cooperate with the motion converter 110 to convert the rotational motion when the sprayer is triggered into axial movement. For example, the drive spring 111 may be supported by the inner shell 101 in the sprayer housing 10, the motion converter 110 is inserted into and abuts against the drive spring 111, and the transmission structure 112 cooperates with the motion converter 110 when the inner shell 101 rotates relative to the upper shell 100 (which may also be referred to as triggering the sprayer), so that the motion converter 110 compresses (also referred to as tensioning) the drive spring 111 downward to the tensioned position, the motion converter 110 is blocked by the blocking member 12, and the drive spring 111 remains in the tensioned position. After the patient / user manually operates the blocking member 12 to release the blockage of the motion converter 110, the drive spring 111 releases its elastic force to drive the motion converter 110 to move upward to the initial position.

[0080] In one embodiment, the delivery mechanism 11 may further include a delivery assembly (not shown), which may include, for example, a delivery pipe, a check valve, a pressure chamber, and a nozzle. The nozzle may include a microfluidic structure capable of dispersing the fluid into an aerosol. The various components of the delivery assembly cooperate with each other to extract, deliver, and atomize the fluid. The delivery pipe is disposed on the motion converter 110. When the container is inserted into the sprayer housing 10, the delivery pipe penetrates the container to connect the fluid within the container. When the atomizer is triggered and the drive spring 111 is tensioned, the motion converter 110, along with the container and delivery pipe, moves downward, and the fluid within the container is drawn out of the container through the check valve and into the pressure chamber. After manually operating the stopper 12, the drive spring 111 releases its elastic force, causing the delivery pipe, along with its now-closed check valve, to move toward the pressure chamber. The fluid in the pressure chamber is then placed under pressure, forcing the fluid in the pressure chamber to be atomized and discharged through the nozzle.

[0081] The transmission structure 112 as described above can convert the rotational motion when the sprayer is triggered into axial movement, wherein, during one rotational motion of the triggered sprayer (i.e., one rotational motion of the inner shell 101 relative to the upper shell 100), the axial movement includes a first movement stroke and a second movement stroke, and the temporary rebound movement generated by the aforementioned delivery mechanism during the movement from the initial position to the tensioning position occurs between the switching from the first movement stroke to the second movement stroke.

[0082] Please combine Figure 5As described above, by rotating the sprayer by the patient / user, during the period from 0 to t1, the inner shell 101 will generate a rotational motion relative to the upper shell 100, and the rotational motion will be converted into an axial movement of the motion converter 110 or the container, that is, a tensioning motion of the drive spring 111. The first movement stroke of the axial movement corresponds to Figure 5 In Figure 5 In the stage from 0 to V0 of the middle vertical coordinate, the first movement stroke enables the sprayer to extract the fluid that has not reached the dosage, and the second movement stroke included in the axial movement corresponds to Figure 5 In Figure 5 In the middle vertical coordinate V0-△V to V1 stage, the second movement stroke allows the nebulizer to continue to extract fluid until the dosage V1 is reached. The temporary rebound movement corresponds to the V0 to V0-△V stage, which occurs between the first movement stroke and the second movement stroke.

[0083] See also Figures 9 to 11 and combined Figures 3 and 4 , Figure 9 Shown is a schematic diagram of the structure of the combination of the nozzle and the motion converter in one embodiment of the present application. Figure 10 Shown is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the nozzle in one embodiment of the present application. Figure 11 1 is a schematic diagram of a three-dimensional structure of a motion converter according to an embodiment of the present application. The transmission structure 112 includes a first track 1120 and a second track 1121 .

[0084] In one embodiment, the first track 1120 comprises an inclined surface (or sloped surface) formed on the sprayer housing 10. Furthermore, the inclined surface is formed on the nozzle 1002 of the upper shell 100. The inclined surface of the first track 1120 contacts the motion converter 110 to achieve the first axial movement stroke. The motion converter 110 is provided with a guide structure 1100, which can move on the first track 1120 to achieve the first axial movement stroke. Specifically, during the rotational movement of the trigger sprayer, that is, the inner shell 101 rotates relative to the upper shell 100, driving the motion converter 110 to rotate relative to the upper shell 100, so that the guide structure 1100 on the motion converter 110 travels on the inclined surface of the first track 1120. Since the inclined surface has a slope, it will cause the motion converter 110 to move axially downward during travel. Therefore, the movement of the guide structure 1100 on the first track 1120 can be converted into the first movement stroke.

[0085] In one embodiment, the second track 1121 is formed on the motion converter 110, and after the motion converter 110 is separated from the first track 1120, it contacts the blocking member 12 to achieve the second movement stroke of the axial movement. Figure 11 As shown, a groove 1122 is provided at the starting position of the second track 1121. When the motion converter 110 is separated from the first track 1120, the groove 1122 allows the driving spring 111 to release part of the elastic force to drive the motion converter 110 to move axially upward until it is blocked by the blocking member, thereby forming the rebound motion. Specifically, the inner shell 101 rotates relative to the upper shell 100 to cause the guide structure 1100 on the motion converter 110 to move on the first track 1120. Figure 7 and is rotated in the manner shown in its description. When the inner shell 101 rotates relative to the upper shell 100 until the guide structure 1100 on the motion converter 110 moves to the end point of the first track 120, it will fall off the first track 1120. Since the distance between the blocking member 12 and the second track 1121 is the depth d of the groove 1122, the drive spring 111 can automatically release part of the elastic force, prompting the motion converter 110 to move axially upward by a distance d to contact the blocking member 12. During this process, the sprayer outputs and atomizes a preset amount of fluid. At this time, the relative rotational movement of the inner shell 101 relative to the upper shell 100 has not yet reached the tensioning position. The rotational movement will cause the blocking member 12 to move relative to the second track 1121. Since the blocking member 12 moves relative to the sloped surface of the second track 1121, it will prompt the motion converter 110 to move further downward axially. Therefore, the second movement stroke can be achieved by the blocking member 12 contacting and moving relative to the second track 1121.

[0086] In one embodiment, the transmission structure 112 includes at least two first tracks 1120 and at least two second tracks 1121. The at least two first tracks 1120 are rotationally symmetrical, and the at least two second tracks 1121 are also rotationally symmetrical. It should be understood that the specific number of the first tracks 1120 and the second tracks 1121 can be selected according to the rotation angle of a rotational motion of the sprayer. One first track 1120 and one second track 1121 can realize the conversion of one or more rotational motions into axial motions. For example, Figures 3 to 11 As shown, the rotation angle of one or one rotational motion of the sprayer is 180°. In its embodiment, two first tracks 1120 are provided, and two second tracks 1121 are provided. One of the first tracks 1120 and one of the second tracks 1121 cooperate to realize the conversion of one rotational motion into axial motion, so that the sprayer enters a ready state. After the sprayer delivers and atomizes the fluid of the dosage of medicine, the next time the sprayer continues to rotate, the other first track 1120 and the other second track 1121 will cooperate to realize the conversion of the rotational motion into axial motion.

[0087] Of course, those skilled in the art can also set the first track 1120 and the second track 1121 to be one respectively according to the inspiration of this application and in combination with actual needs. In this way, the rotation angle of one or a rotational movement also needs to be set to 360° accordingly, and the patient / user needs to rotate 360° to complete the work of triggering the sprayer.

[0088] In some embodiments, the atomization of the preset amount of fluid as described above can occur at any time when the delivery mechanism moves from the initial position to the tensioned position, that is, it can occur at any time during the process of extracting the fluid of the dosage. Figures 8 and 9 The stroke length provided by the first track 1120 to the guide structure 1100 on the motion converter 110 and the stroke length provided by the second track 1121 to the blocking member 12 as shown in the description can be set according to the timing of atomization of a preset amount of fluid. Those skilled in the art can also change the timing of atomization of a preset amount of fluid by changing the stroke length provided by the first track 1120 to the guide structure 1100 on the motion converter 110 and the stroke length provided by the second track 1121 to the blocking member 12.

[0089] In one embodiment, the depth d of the groove 1122 provided on the second track 1121 is positively correlated with the preset amount. Specifically, when the preset amount is set to a larger value, the depth d should be correspondingly larger, and when the preset amount is set to a smaller value, the depth d should be correspondingly smaller. Given that the volume of the preset amount is positively correlated with the volume of the medication dose, the depth d of the groove 1122 can also be described as being positively correlated with the medication dose. Those skilled in the art may adjust the depth d of the groove 1122 as needed.

[0090] In one embodiment, the depth d of the groove 1122 is configured to be 0.1 to 1.5 mm, preferably 0.4 to 0.8 mm. For example, the depth d of the groove 1122 can be configured to be approximately 0.1 mm, 0.2 mm, 0.3 mm, 0.4 mm, 0.5 mm, 0.6 mm, 0.7 mm, 0.8 mm, 0.9 mm, 1 mm, 1.1 mm, 1.2 mm, 1.3 mm, 1.4 mm, or 1.5 mm.

[0091] In some embodiments, the nebulizer may further include other components, such as a counting device for counting the actuations of the nebulizer by detecting the rotation of the inner housing 101 relative to the upper housing 100. The counting device may also be used to detect the number of inserted containers. Furthermore, the counting device may be associated with a locking element to prevent further use of the nebulizer, for example, preventing the rotation of the inner housing 101 relative to the upper housing 100 when a specific number of actuations, operations, or doses of medication has been reached or exceeded.

[0092] In summary, the nebulizer for fluid disclosed in the present application delivers and atomizes a preset amount of fluid during the process of extracting the fluid for the medication dose by the nebulizer, thereby avoiding health risks and misleading information to the patient / user while ensuring the accuracy of the medication dose.

[0093] On the other hand, the present application also discloses a method for conveying and atomizing fluid, which is applied to the above-mentioned sprayer for fluid. The sprayer can be used as follows: Figures 1 to 11 and any embodiment thereof. Figure 12 , which is a flow chart of a method for delivering and atomizing fluid in one embodiment of the present application. As shown in the figure, the method for delivering and atomizing fluid includes step S10 and step S11.

[0094] In step S10 , the delivery mechanism is moved from an initial position to a tensioned position to extract a dosage of fluid from the container.

[0095] See the Figures 2 to 8 Instructions for use of the sprayer Figures 2 to 8 The structure described in any embodiment of the present invention is used to perform step S10. For details of the structure and the detailed process of step S10, please refer to the Figures 2 to 8 The description will not be repeated here.

[0096] In step S10, during the movement from the initial position to the tensioned position, the delivery mechanism generates a temporary rebound motion to atomize a preset amount of fluid. Figures 9 to 11 and combined Figures 2 to 8 Instructions for use of the sprayer Figures 2 to 11 The structure described in any embodiment of the present invention is used to generate the rebound motion and atomize a preset amount of fluid. The detailed process can be found in the embodiment of the present invention. Figures 2 to 11 The description will not be repeated here.

[0097] The dosage refers to the amount of medication taken at one time, which is the amount that can produce a therapeutic effect on the patient / user. The preset amount refers to the amount pre-designed based on its intended use. Those skilled in the art can pre-design it based on its actual use. The preset amount is usually less than the dosage.

[0098] In one embodiment, the preset amount is positively correlated with the medication dosage. For example, when the medication dosage is large, the preset amount is also set to a large amount, and when the medication dosage is small, the preset amount is set to a small amount. Specifically, the preset amount can be set to 1% to 15% of the medication dosage, preferably, 3% to 8% of the medication dosage. For example, the preset amount can be set to approximately 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, 6%, 7%, 8%, 9%, 10%, 11%, 12%, 13%, 14%, or 15% of the medication dosage.

[0099] In one embodiment, the preset amount is set relative to the area of ​​the portion to be cleaned. For example, the preset amount may be set to 5 to 10 times the area of ​​the portion to be cleaned to ensure effective cleaning. For example, the preset amount is used to clean the nozzle in the delivery mechanism of a sprayer, and the preset amount may be set to 5 to 10 times the internal area of ​​the nozzle.

[0100] In one embodiment, the preset amount is set at 0.15 to 3 microliters, preferably, it can be set at 1 to 2 microliters. For example, the preset amount can be set to approximately 0.5 microliters, 1 microliter, 1.5 microliters, 2 microliters, 2.5 microliters, or 3 microliters, etc.

[0101] In one embodiment, the preset amount can be used to flush (also referred to as pre-clean) the delivery mechanism, the delivery assembly of the delivery mechanism, or the nozzle of the delivery mechanism, so as to discharge or separate sediment, crystals, dirt, or contaminants before atomizing the dose of medication. Of course, the preset amount can also be used for other purposes, which are not limited in this application.

[0102] In one embodiment, the fluid is configured as a liquid containing a pharmaceutical component, which, when atomized, forms an aerosol (also known as a soft mist, aerosol, fine particles, or fine droplets, etc.) that can be breathed or inhaled by the patient / user. Of course, in other embodiments, the fluid may include particles or powder, or may be a cosmetic liquid, suspension, etc.

[0103] In one embodiment, the drug component of the fluid may include at least one of the following compounds: anticholinergics, beta-receptor agonists, steroids, phosphodiesterase-IV inhibitors, LTD4 antagonists, EGFR kinase inhibitors, antiallergic drugs, ergot alkaloid derivatives, triptans, CGRP antagonists, phosphodiesterase-V inhibitors.

[0104] In step S11 , the delivery mechanism is moved from the tensioned position to the initial position to atomize the fluid of the dosage amount.

[0105] See the Figures 2 to 11 Instructions for use of the sprayer Figures 2 to 11The structure described in any embodiment of the present invention is used to perform step S11. For details of the structure and the detailed process of step S10, please refer to the Figures 2 to 11 The description will not be repeated here.

[0106] In summary, the present application discloses a method for delivering and atomizing a fluid, which delivers and atomizes a preset amount of fluid during the process of extracting a dose of fluid from a nebulizer, thereby avoiding health risks and misleading information from the nebulizer to the patient / user while ensuring accurate medication dosage.

[0107] The above embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and effects of this application and are not intended to limit this application. Anyone skilled in the art may modify or alter the above embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of this application. Therefore, all equivalent modifications or alterations made by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and technical concepts disclosed in this application shall be covered by the claims of this application.

Claims

1. A sprayer for a fluid, characterized in that include: a container containing multiple doses of the fluid; a delivery mechanism for moving from an initial position to a tensioned position when the nebulizer is tensioned to draw a dose of fluid from the container, and for moving from the tensioned position to an initial position to atomize the dose of fluid when the nebulizer is activated; In the process of moving from the initial position to the tensioned position, the delivery mechanism atomizes a preset amount of fluid through a temporary rebound movement, the dosage is a single dosage, and the preset amount is smaller than the dosage.

2. The sprayer according to claim 1, characterized in that The sprayer also includes: a sprayer housing for receiving the container; The lower housing can be opened to replace or insert the container, and the nebulizer can be tensioned or put into a ready state by rotating the lower housing relative to the nebulizer housing.

3. The sprayer according to claim 1, wherein The delivery mechanism includes: A motion converter, used for connecting to the container and driving the container to move axially; a driving spring, linked to the motion converter, and driving the motion converter back to the initial position when releasing the elastic force; A transmission structure is used to cooperate with the motion converter to convert the rotational motion of the sprayer when it is tensioned into axial movement. During one rotational motion, the axial movement includes a first movement stroke and a second movement stroke, and the temporary rebound movement occurs between the switching from the first movement stroke to the second movement stroke.

4. The sprayer according to claim 3, characterized in that The one rotational motion is a 180° rotational motion centered on the axis of the sprayer.

5. The sprayer according to claim 3, characterized in that The transmission structure includes: a first track comprising an inclined surface formed on a sprayer housing of the sprayer, the inclined surface being in contact with the motion converter to achieve a first movement stroke of the axial movement; The second track is formed on the motion converter, and contacts a blocking member after the motion converter is separated from the first track to achieve the second movement stroke of the axial movement.

6. The sprayer according to claim 5, characterized in that The blocking member is rotatably disposed on the sprayer housing, and during the rotational movement, the blocking member is pushed and rotated to contact the second track.

7. The sprayer according to claim 6, characterized in that The sprayer housing of the sprayer comprises an upper shell portion and an inner shell portion, wherein the inner shell portion is rotatably supported on the upper shell portion, and a protrusion is provided on the inner shell portion to push the blocking member to rotate during the rotational movement.

8. The sprayer according to claim 5, characterized in that The blocking member is further configured to be rotated by manual operation to release the motion converter, thereby allowing the driving spring to release its elastic force.

9. The sprayer according to claim 5, characterized in that The transmission structure includes at least two first rails and at least two second rails.

10. The sprayer according to claim 5, characterized in that A groove is provided at the starting position of the second track. When the motion converter leaves the first track, the groove allows the driving spring to release part of its elastic force to drive the motion converter to move upward until it is blocked by the blocking member, thereby forming the rebound motion.

11. The sprayer according to claim 10, characterized in that The depth of the groove is positively correlated with the preset amount or the medication dosage.

12. The sprayer according to claim 10, characterized in that The depth of the groove is configured to be 0.1 to 1.5 mm.

13. The sprayer according to claim 5, characterized in that The motion converter includes a guide structure, and the guide structure moves on the first track to achieve the first movement stroke of the axial movement.

14. The sprayer according to claim 1, wherein The preset amount is used for cleaning the nozzle of the sprayer.

15. The sprayer according to claim 1, wherein The preset amount is between 0.15 and 3 μl.

16. The sprayer according to claim 1, wherein The preset amount is between 1% and 15% of the dosage.

17. The sprayer according to claim 1, wherein The fluid contains a pharmaceutical composition.

18. The sprayer according to claim 17, wherein The pharmaceutical ingredients include at least one of the following compounds: anticholinergics, beta-receptor agonists, steroids, phosphodiesterase-IV-inhibitors, LTD4-antagonists, EGFR-kinase inhibitors, antiallergic drugs, ergot alkaloid derivatives, triptans, CGRP-antagonists, phosphodiesterase-V-inhibitors.

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