Powder inhaler

Abstract

The invention relates to a powder inhaler comprising a body (10) for receiving a reservoir (20) having a cavity (21) containing a dose of powder and a closing layer (22) for sealingly closing the cavity (21), the body (10) having a head portion (11) and two bearing portions (12a, 12b), the head portion (11) being connected to each bearing portion (12a, 12b) by at least one joint (13a, 13b), the head portion (11) has a dispensing opening (110) and a perforated element (112) connected to the dispensing opening (110), which perforated element is designed, when actuated, to pierce the closure layer (22) in order to open a reservoir (20) arranged on a first support portion (12a) for receiving a first reservoir containing a first dose, and a second support portion (12b) for receiving a second reservoir containing a second dose, the perforated element (112) being designed, when actuated, to pierce the closure layer (22) in order to open the reservoir (20) arranged on the first support portion (12a, 12b). And a second support portion (12b) for receiving a second reservoir containing a second dose, the body (10) being formed from a single piece.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to powder inhalers.

[0002] Powder inhaler, particularly the powder inhaler of medicine type is well-known in the prior art.There are various types.The first type of inhaler comprises a reservoir for receiving multi-dose powder, and this inhaler is provided with metering device, and this metering device makes it possible to remove the powder of a dose from the reservoir at each actuation, so that the dose is brought into the discharge conduit, so that it is distributed to the user.Another type of inhaler comprises that each powder dose is placed in a separate pre-dose reservoir, and then opens a reservoir in the reservoir when the inhaler is actuated at each time.This implementation seals the powder more effectively, because each dose is only opened when it is about to be discharged.In order to make this separate reservoir, various technologies have been proposed, such as the elongated blister strip or blister that are arranged on the rotating disk.All existing types of inhalers, including those mentioned above, all have advantages and disadvantages associated with their structure and their operation type.Multi-dose inhalers and inhalers that comprise a plurality of independent reservoirs are usually complex devices consisting of a large number of components, and therefore manufacturing and assembly costs are high.

[0003] In order to make the device less complex and therefore less costly, single-dose inhalers have been proposed which include a separate reservoir, such as a capsule or blister, which is loaded into the inhaler before use. Such a device has the advantage that not all doses need to be stored in the device, so that the device can be compact.

[0004] Documents WO2007129127, WO2007129128 and WO2012004485 describe devices of the prior art. These devices have disadvantages, such as the difficulty in assembling a separate reservoir in a single-dose inhaler, which makes it complicated to use, for example, in crisis situations or for disabled persons. Likewise, these devices usually have several components, which makes manufacture and assembly complicated.

[0005] Documents WO2016091386 and WO2007144614 describe other devices of the prior art. Document WO2016091386 describes a clothespin-shaped single-dose device and document WO2007144614 describes an oral inhaler.

[0006] None of these documents describes a dual dose device suitable for dispensing two doses consecutively, for example a first dose in a first nostril and a second dose in a second nostril.

[0007] The object of the present invention is to provide a powder inhaler which does not have the above-mentioned disadvantages.

[0008] In particular, it is an object of the invention to provide such an inhaler which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and assemble and which is reliable in use.

[0009] The object of the present invention is therefore a powder inhaler comprising a body for receiving a reservoir having a cavity containing a dose of powder and a closing layer for sealingly closing said cavity, said body having a head portion and two supporting portions, said head portion being connected to each supporting portion by at least one joint, said head portion having a dispensing opening and a perforating element connected to said dispensing opening, said perforating element being designed to pierce said closing layer when actuated so as to open said reservoir arranged on the supporting portions, a first supporting portion being intended to receive a first reservoir containing a first dose and a second supporting portion being intended to receive a second reservoir containing a second dose, said body being formed from a single piece.

[0010] Advantageously, said dispensing opening is formed at an axial end of the nose-piece for insertion into a nostril during actuation.

[0011] Advantageously, each junction is formed by a bridge formed from foldable material.

[0012] Advantageously, the head portion has at least one window and each support portion has at least one projection for engaging with the respective window in the closed position of the inhaler, in particular by snap-fitting, to lock the closed position.

[0013] Advantageously, said locking of the closed position is unlockable to enable the body to be reused with several reservoirs.

[0014] Advantageously, each support portion has a recess suitable for housing said cavity of said reservoir.

[0015] Advantageously, the reservoir has at least one locating opening and each support portion has at least one stud for receiving a corresponding locating opening.

[0016] Advantageously, after positioning the reservoir on the support portion, each stud is deformed, in particular in a snap-fit ​​manner, so as to fix the reservoir on the support portion in an irremovable manner.

[0017] Advantageously, the head portion has at least one blocking tab for blocking the inhaler in an intermediate position in which the perforating element has not pierced the closing layer of the reservoir, so that during actuation the user has to break or deform the at least one blocking tab in order to be able to actuate the inhaler.

[0018] Advantageously, the two support portions are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the head portion.

[0019] These and other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge more clearly during the following detailed description, made with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are given as non-limiting examples and in which:

[0020] Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a single-dose powder inhaler according to a first advantageous embodiment before assembly of the reservoir and in the open position of the inhaler,

[0021] Figure 2 It is suitable for Figure 1 A three-dimensional schematic diagram of a reservoir of an inhaler,

[0022] Figure 3 is in the open position of the inhaler Figure 1 A similar perspective schematic diagram of a reservoir assembled in an inhaler,

[0023] Figure 4 During the time the inhaler is open Figure 3 A view similar to the view of

[0024] Figure 5 is in the closed position of the inhaler Figure 4 A view similar to the view of

[0025] Figure 6 is with Figure 3 A similar view to that of FIG. 1 shows a single-dose powder inhaler according to another advantageous embodiment,

[0026] Figure 7 It is located in the middle of the inhaler. Figure 6 A view similar to the view of

[0027] Figure 8 is a very schematic illustration of a two-dose powder inhaler according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention in an open position of the inhaler before the inhaler is used for the first time,

[0028] Fig. 9 is with Figure 8 A similar view showing the pivoting of the first part of the support to dispense the first dose,

[0029] Fig.10 is with Fig. 9 A similar view of the device showing the device ready to dispense a first dose,

[0030] Fig.11 is with Fig.10A similar view to that of FIG. 1 , which shows the pivoting of the first bearing portion after dispensing the first dose,

[0031] Fig.12 is with Fig.11 A similar view showing the pivoting of the first bearing portion to dispense a first dose,

[0032] Fig.13 is with Fig.12 A similar view of FIG. 1 shows the device ready to dispense a second dose.

[0033] Figures 1 to 7 A first advantageous embodiment is described in connection with a single-dose device. Figures 8 to 13 All features of an embodiment according to the present invention.

[0034] The inhaler has a one-piece body 10 formed from one piece by molding a synthetic material. The body 10 has a head portion 11 and a support portion 12, the portions 11, 12 being connected by at least one joint 13. Thus, the body 10 can be Figure 1 and Figure 3 The open position shown in Figure 5 Preferably, the head portion 11 and the support portion 12 are pivoted about 180° between the open position and the closed position relative to the joint 13. Advantageously, the joint 13 is formed by one or more bridges formed by a foldable material.

[0035] The head portion 11 has a dispensing opening 110, which is preferably formed at the axial end of a nose piece 111, which the user places in their nostril when using the inhaler. The dispensing opening 110 is connected to a perforating element 112. Advantageously, the head portion also has at least one window 113, advantageously two windows 113.

[0036] The support portion 12 is used to receive a single reservoir 20, for example in the form of a blister. Figure 2 An example of such a reservoir 20 is shown in FIG. The reservoir 20 has a cavity 21 containing a dose of powder, and a sealing layer 22 sealingly closing the cavity 21. The sealing layer 22 is advantageously made of a material suitable for protecting the powder contained in the cavity 21, in particular protecting the powder from moisture, for example, the sealing layer 22 is made of a metal such as aluminum or a suitable multilayer structure. The reservoir 20 has at least one positioning opening 23, and the reservoir 20 preferably has two positioning openings 23.

[0037] The support portion 12 has a recess 120 adapted to accommodate the cavity 21 of the reservoir 20. The support portion 12 also has at least one column 121, preferably two columns 121, to receive the positioning opening 23 of the reservoir 20. The support portion 12 also has at least one protrusion 122, preferably two protrusions 122, for engaging with the window 113 of the head portion 11 in the closed position of the inhaler, in particular engaging with the window 113 of the head portion 11 in the closed position of the inhaler by snap-fitting to lock the closed position. Advantageously, each protrusion 122 has a snap-fit ​​profile, which will snap-fit ​​into the corresponding window 113 in the closed position, such as in Figure 5 It can be seen in.

[0038] Advantageously, this locking can be unlocked, which makes it possible to reopen the inhaler to replace the empty reservoir with a new full reservoir and thus reuse the inhaler to dispense several doses. In this case, the protrusion 122 can have a different shape, in which the snap-fit ​​profile is rotated inwards, instead of being like Figures 1 to 7 , as in the example above.

[0039] When the user wishes to use the inhaler, they place the body 10 in the open position and position the reservoir 20 on the support portion 12. The cavity 21 of the reservoir 20 is arranged in the recess 120, and the positioning openings 23 - two in the example shown - are arranged around the posts 121, which are also two. The closing layer 22 is thus rotated upwards, in a position such as Figure 3 The location shown in .

[0040] Thus, the user closes the body 10 by pivoting the head portion 11 about 180° on the support portion 12 about the joints 13, which are two in the example shown. During this closing movement, the perforating element 112 will pierce the closure layer 22 of the reservoir 20 and penetrate into the cavity 21. In the closed position, the protrusion 122 of the support portion 12 snaps into the window 113 of the head portion 11 to lock this closed position during actuation.

[0041] Thus, the user places the nosepiece 111 in the nostril and draws inhalation, which dispenses the powder contained in the cavity 21 through the perforating element 112 and the dispensing opening 110 .

[0042] If the inhaler is disposable, it is discarded. In this case, the locking of the closed position is preferably determined. On the contrary, if the inhaler can be reused, the user unlocks the closed position and returns the body 10 to the open position, in which the empty reservoir can be removed from the support portion 12. Advantageously, the body 10, in particular the head portion 11, can be cleaned or washed before being used again.

[0043] exist Figure 6 and Figure 7 In a variant of the embodiment of the invention, the reservoir 20 can be fixed to the support part 12 in a non-removable manner. For example, after the reservoir 20 is arranged on the support part 12, with the cavity 21 arranged in the recess 120 and the positioning opening 23 arranged around the stud 121, the stud 121 can be deformed, for example by snapping. In this way, the stud 121 widens and blocks the reservoir 20 on the support part. In a variant, it is conceivable to snap-fit ​​the positioning opening 23 on the stud 121, which can thus have an adapted profile.

[0044] This embodiment makes it possible to pre-install the reservoir 20 in the inhaler and deliver the assembly thus pre-assembled. Therefore, the user no longer needs to position the reservoir on the support portion 12 before using the inhaler, but only needs to close the inhaler.

[0045] exist Figure 6 and Figure 7 In the example of , the head portion 11 may also have at least one blocking tab 115, preferably two blocking tabs 115, for blocking the inhaler in an intermediate position in which the perforating element 112 has not yet pierced the closing layer 22 of the reservoir 20. Figure 7 12. In this intermediate position, the end of each blocking lug 115 abuts against the surface of the support portion 12. During actuation, the user must therefore break or deform these blocking lugs 115 in order to be able to actuate the inhaler. In this example, the device can be delivered in an intermediate position, wherein the reservoir 20 is pre-installed, and the user, in order to actuate, therefore only needs to press the body 10 hard enough to break or deform the blocking lug 115, and thus bring the body 10 into a closed position, wherein the perforating element 112 has pierced the closure layer 22 of the reservoir, so that a dose of powder can be inhaled.

[0046] Figures 8 to 13 An advantageous embodiment of the invention in connection with a two-dose device is described very schematically. This embodiment corresponds to a two-dose version of the device described in the first embodiment and within the scope of this first embodiment is referred to as Figures 1 to 7 All features and modifications described apply to this embodiment.

[0047] According to the invention, the body 10 has two bearing portions 12a, 12b, each connected to the head portion 11 by at least one joint 13a, 13b. Preferably, these two bearing portions 12a, 12b are symmetrically arranged on either side of the head portion and they are advantageously identical.

[0048] The first supporting portion 12a receives a first reservoir containing a first dose and the second supporting portion 12b receives a second reservoir containing a second dose.

[0049] To dispense a first dose, the user pivots the first support portion 12a with its corresponding reservoir by approximately 180°. Fig. 9 As illustrated by arrow F1 , a first dose is dispensed.

[0050] After dispensing the first dose, the user returns the first support portion 12a to its initial position, such as Fig.11 As shown by arrow F2, the second support portion 12b with the corresponding reservoir is then pivoted approximately 180°, as shown in FIG. Fig.12 As indicated by arrow F3, a second dose is dispensed.

[0051] Various modifications will be possible to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention, such as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A powder inhaler comprising a body (10) for receiving a reservoir (20), the reservoir (20) having a cavity (21) containing a dose of powder and a sealing layer (22) sealingly closing the cavity (21), characterized in that The body (10) comprises a head portion (11) and two support portions (12a, 12b), the head portion (11) being connected to each support portion (12a, 12b) by at least one joint (13a, 13b), the head portion (11) having a dispensing opening (110) and a perforating element (112) connected to the dispensing opening (110), the perforating element being designed to pierce the closure layer (22) when actuated to open the reservoir (20) arranged on the support portions (12a, 12b), the first support portion (12a) being used to receive a first reservoir containing a first dose, and the second support portion (12b) being used to receive a second reservoir containing a second dose, the body (10) being formed from a single piece.

2. The inhaler according to claim 1, wherein The dispensing opening (110) is formed at an axial end of the nose piece (111) for insertion into a nostril during actuation.

3. The inhaler according to claim 1 or 2, wherein Each junction (13a, 13b) is formed by a bridge formed of foldable material.

4. An inhaler according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein The head portion (11) has at least one window (113), and each support portion (12a, 12b) has at least one protrusion (122) for engaging with the corresponding window (113) in the closed position of the inhaler, in particular engaging with the corresponding window (113) in the closed position of the inhaler by snap fit, so as to lock the closed position.

5. The inhaler according to claim 4, wherein The locking of the closed position is unlockable to enable the body to be reused with several reservoirs (20).

6. An inhaler according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein Each support portion (12a, 12b) has a recess (120) adapted to accommodate the cavity (21) of the reservoir (20).

7. An inhaler according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein The reservoir (20) has at least one positioning opening (23), and each support portion (12) has at least one post (121) for receiving the corresponding positioning opening (23).

8. The inhaler according to claim 7, wherein After positioning the reservoir (20) on the support part (12a, 12b), each upright (121) is deformed, in particular in a snap-fit ​​manner, to fix the reservoir (20) on the support part (12a, 12b) in an irremovable manner.

9. An inhaler according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein The head portion (11) has at least one blocking tab (115) for locking the inhaler in an intermediate position in which the perforating element (112) does not pierce the closing layer (22) of the reservoir (20), so that during actuation, the user must break or deform the at least one blocking tab (115) in order to be able to actuate the inhaler.

10. An inhaler according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein The two supporting parts (12a, 12b) are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the head part (11).

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