Inhaler kit

Abstract

An inhaler kit is described comprising an inhaler (10) and a sensor unit (40) replaceably attachable to the inhaler (10) for detecting use of the inhaler (10). The inhaler (10) is designed as a powder inhaler and has a housing (12) with a delivery opening (14) designed as a mouth and with a plurality of intake openings (20, 22), in which the powder to be inhaled is stored on the inside of the inhaler (10) prior to discharge, said powder being atomized by means of an air flow resulting from inhalation from the intake openings (20, 22) to the delivery opening (14) and conveyed to the delivery opening (14). The sensor unit (40) is provided for attachment to the inhaler (10), the sensor unit being attachable to the inhaler (10) such that the at least one first air inlet opening (20) is covered by the sensor unit (40) in the attached state and the at least one second air inlet opening (22) is not covered by the sensor unit (40) in the attached state. The sensor unit (40) comprises at least one suction sensor (82) for detecting an air flow through the first air inlet opening (20).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to an inhaler kit comprising an inhaler and a sensor unit, wherein the sensor unit is replaceably attachable to the inhaler and is designed for detecting use of the inhaler. Background Art

[0002] Such inhaler kits are known from various prior art documents, for example from US 2017 / 0246406 A1, US 2016 / 0228657 A1, WO 2016 / 043601 A1 and US 2015 / 0100276 A1. Summary of the invention

[0003] It is an object of the present invention to provide an inhaler kit which allows reliable detection of the inhalation process without causing a deterioration in the inhalation comfort.

[0004] According to the present invention, there is provided an inhaler kit comprising an inhaler and a sensor unit.

[0005] The inhaler is designed as a powder inhaler. The inhaler has a housing with a mouth forming a delivery opening for delivering an air flow containing a dose of the powder. The powder is stored inside the housing before discharge. The dose of powder to be inhaled is atomized by the air flow caused by the user's inhalation and is transferred to the delivery opening.

[0006] The air flow for aerosolizing and transporting the powder is caused by the user's inhalation, wherein a plurality of inlet openings are provided in the housing of the inhaler, through which air enters the inhaler and from which the air is directed past the prepared dose, aerosolizing the dose and delivering it to the delivery opening.

[0007] Provide as the sensor unit of the second part of inhaler kit, for being attached to inhaler.Under attached state, sensor unit covers at least one first air inlet opening, makes the air of the housing that enters inhaler must pass sensor unit before entering inhaler.Therefore, the inhalation sensor of sensor unit can detect the air stream through described first air inlet opening.But not all air inlet openings of inhaler are covered by sensor unit in this way.At least one second air inlet opening is not covered by sensor unit.

[0008] Therefore, the flow resistance that the air has to overcome when passing through the inhaler and partly through the sensor unit is not much higher than when using an inhaler without a sensor unit. However, the part of the air that enters through the at least one opening covered by the sensor unit and is therefore drawn through the sensor unit allows reliable detection and evaluation of the inhalation.

[0009] Preferably, the inhaler provides a powder extraction position from which the powder is transported to the mouth by means of an air flow caused by inhalation. At the extraction position, a powder carrier surface may be provided on which the powder is located. The air flow passing through the extraction position preferably passes through an air passage provided in the surface and carries the powder.

[0010] In particular, the extraction position may be different from the powder reservoir in which the powder is initially stored. A metering mechanism is preferably provided, by means of which the powder can be transferred from the powder reservoir to the extraction position. The metering mechanism provides a defined amount of powder from the reservoir and transfers the amount of powder to the extraction position. Preferably, the metering mechanism has a conveying member, which is movable relative to the powder reservoir between a filling position and an extraction position, in which the powder is transferred from the powder reservoir to the conveying member. Preferably, the powder carrier surface is part of the movable conveying member, on which the powder is located for being transported to the mouth by the air flow. The movable conveying member may be a rotatable member in particular, which can be manually moved by a user using a rotatable actuator. Preferably, the conveying member is unidirectionally rotated using a rotatable actuator. The rotatable actuator moves back and forth between two end positions, thereby moving the conveying member in one rotation direction without moving the conveying member in the opposite rotation direction, so that the conveying member is only moved stepwise in one rotation direction.

[0011] The flow path of the air from both the first air inlet opening and the second air inlet opening can be directed through the extraction position so that the powder is atomized by air from both air inlet openings, the openings covered by the sensor unit and the openings not covered. However, preferably, only the air from the at least one first air inlet opening covered by the sensor unit is used to atomize the powder at the extraction position, while the air from the at least one second air inlet opening that does not pass through the sensor unit is added to the air flow delivered at the mouth downstream of the extraction position.

[0012] The sensor unit is attached to the inhaler so that the air entering the inhaler through at least one first air inlet opening is covered by the sensor unit. The sensor unit may comprise an air inlet port, which is directly coupled to the first air opening port when the sensor unit is attached to the inhaler. However, in a preferred design, the sensor unit defines flow path together with the outer contour of the inhaler. The air entering the sensor unit through the air inlet port of the sensor unit is guided into the flow path, and enters the inhaler from there. Preferably, an annular volume around the inhaler part is provided in the sensor unit, and the annular volume is the part of the flow path of the air through the sensor unit.

[0013] In the flow path between at least one air inlet port of sensor and at least one first air inlet opening of inhaler, be provided with the measuring channel for measuring air stream, wherein provide the suction sensor of measuring the air flowing through described measuring channel.In a preferred embodiment, a plurality of air inlet ports are arranged on the sensor unit, only one or some of described a plurality of air inlet ports lead to measuring channel, and at least one other air inlet port bypasses measuring channel and is connected to the first air inlet opening of installed inhaler simultaneously.Even if sensor unit is only provided with an air inlet port, it is also advantageous to provide bypass path in flow path, and air bypasses measuring channel along described bypass path from this single air inlet port of sensor unit and passes the first air inlet opening that arrives inhaler.Preferably, the flow resistance by measuring channel is higher than the flow resistance along bypass path.

[0014] It has been found that it is usually sufficient to measure only a small portion of the air, i.e. only the portion that passes through the sensor unit into the inhaler or even only the portion of the air flow that passes through the sensing unit. This is sufficient not only to detect whether an inhalation has occurred, but also to find whether the inhalation is strong enough.

[0015] The sensor unit is suitable for being attached to the inhaler. There are multiple possibilities for this design to realize this. For example, the inhaler can have an attachment structure on the outer contour of at least one first air inlet opening adjacent to it, and the sensor unit can be suitable for being connected to this attachment structure.

[0016] However, in a preferred embodiment, the sensor unit has a cup-shaped housing defining an inner space into which the inhaler can be inserted from the open side with the bottom of the inhaler end opposing the delivery opening.

[0017] In order to isolate the space between the inner profile of the inhaler bottom and the described sensor unit from the environment, it may be advantageous to set the seal facing inwards on the circumferential sidewall of the cup-shaped housing, after the inhaler is inserted into the sensor unit, the seal is supported against the outside of the inhaler housing. This seal can be made of flexible material, such as rubber or TPE. The use of the cup-shaped sensor unit and the described seal causes the flow path fully isolated. Preferably, the sensor unit is designed as an inseparable sensor unit, and the described sensor unit need not be disassembled for the purpose of inserting the inhaler. This can be realized by the described cup-shaped structure described above.

[0018] Preferably, the seal is sufficiently flexible to allow closing of the open side of the sensor unit by abutting against an outer surface of the inhaler housing and, when the inhaler cover is placed on the inhaler, by abutting against an outer surface of the inhaler cover.

[0019] The bottom end of the inhaler inserted into the cup-shaped housing of the sensor unit is preferably designed as or has an actuator rotatable relative to the housing or at least relative to the mouth of the inhaler. The actuator is preferably arranged to actuate the metering device described above, using which a single dose of powder is extracted from the powder reservoir.

[0020] In order to be able to operate the actuator while covered by the sensor unit, the sensor unit or parts of the sensor unit on one side and the actuator of the inhaler on the other side are preferably designed with coupling geometries for rotationally secure coupling of actuator and sensor unit, such as ribs and grooves.

[0021] Particularly preferably, on the side of the sensor unit, the coupling geometry is arranged on a carrier which is movable and preferably rotatable in a limited manner relative to the outer housing of the sensor unit. Preferably, the carrier and the outer housing are movable relative to each other by less than 30°, particularly preferably less than 10°. Retaining members or retaining surfaces can be arranged on the carrier and the housing for limiting the possible relative movement and providing two relative end positions of the relative movement.

[0022] In order to make the inhaler ready to inhale, the user can grasp the outer shell of the sensor unit and rotate it relative to the housing and / or the mouth of the inhaler. At the beginning, this causes the actuator of whole sensor unit and inhaler to move relative to the housing of the inhaler and particularly relative to its mouth. In case the actuator arrives its end position, this joint movement just ends. The continuation of the rotational movement can cause the relative movement between the outer shell of the sensor unit and the carrier, and the carrier can not move further because it is connected to the actuator that is in its end position relative to the housing of the inhaler.

[0023] The rotational movement of the carrier relative to the outer housing of the sensor unit can be used to detect whether the user has rotated the actuator of the inhaler relative to the mouth and has thus prepared the inhaler for a subsequent inhalation. The sensor will be described below.

[0024] The carrier of sensor unit preferably also has cup shape structure, so that receive the bottom end of inhaler, particularly the actuator of inhaler.In a preferred embodiment, carrier has the shape that is suitable for the bottom end of inhaler, makes after receiving the bottom end, described bottom end is fixed by friction or by the interlocking elements in the carrier.According to simple design, this is realized by being arranged on the elastically deformable gripping surface on the carrier.When inhaler was inserted in the sensor unit, these gripping surfaces can particularly contact with its actuator clamping with the bottom end of inhaler.

[0025] The sensor unit comprises electronic components for detecting the use of the inhaler. These components comprise a certain energy source (such as a battery), a processor for processing data and at least one sensor for detecting the use of the inhaler (at least for detecting air flow). In the embodiment of the sensor unit with a cup-shaped outer shell and a carrier arranged inside the outer shell, preferably, a receiving space is provided between the base of the outer shell on one side at the downside of the carrier or the intermediate wall below the carrier and the other side. The control device comprising these electronic components is arranged in this receiving space.

[0026] The intake sensor is advantageously a flow sensor, which can be arranged in the receiving space between the bottom of the housing and the carrier. The intake sensor can be designed as a thermal flow sensor. Such a thermal flow sensor comprises at least one heating element and at least one temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the air caused by the heating element. In a preferred design, the flow sensor comprises two temperature sensors and a heating element located between the two sensors. This allows it to sense the temperature difference caused by the heating element. Preferably, the temperature sensor and the heating element are implemented in the form of a prefabricated flow sensor module located in the measuring channel or forming at least part of the measuring channel. The flow sensor module preferably has an inlet connector and an outlet connector, both of which are preferably on the same side of the flow sensor module.

[0027] In addition to the inhalation sensor, at least one further sensor is preferably provided, in particular in the receiving space, for detecting a relative movement of the carrier and the housing of the sensor unit. Such a sensor can detect the relative movement and thus also the direction of movement of the carrier and the housing relative to each other.

[0028] The inhaler kit preferably comprises a cover which covers and protects the mouth when placed on the inhaler housing. In particular, the cover can be the cover of the inhaler itself and therefore can be attached to the inhaler even when the inhaler is not coupled to the sensor unit. Preferably, the cup-shaped sensor unit is sized so that when the cover is in place, the lower end of the cover is surrounded by the sensor unit housing. It is also possible that the cover is coupled to another design of the sensor unit.

[0029] Preferably, the sensor unit comprises a cover sensor for detecting an installed cover. In a preferred version of such a cover sensor, the transmission rod is arranged in the inner edge region of the cup-shaped housing. When the cover is moved, in particular when the installed cover is tilted, the cover acts indirectly on the sensor. In particular, a switch can be provided as a cover sensor for detecting the cover, the switch being switched by placing the cover, wherein in particular the transmission rod acts on the switch for this purpose.

[0030] As mentioned above, the sensor unit of the inhaler kit preferably comprises an actuation sensor for detecting movement of an actuator of the inhaler, thereby detecting whether the inhaler has been primed by a user by actuating a metering device of the inhaler.

[0031] The actuation sensor can be formed by a sensor designed to detect a movement of the carrier of the sensor unit relative to the housing of the external sensor unit and / or a control device which is usually fastened to the outer housing. Preferably, the actuation sensor is designed such that it can detect two relative end positions between the carrier of the sensor unit and the outer housing.

[0032] Preferably, a switch is provided as an actuation sensor. The switch can in particular be a bistable switch with two switch positions depending on the relative position of the carrier and the outer housing. Alternatively, two switches can be provided, each of which is assigned to a switch position, the first switch position being achievable by a rotational movement of the carrier relative to the housing in a first rotational direction and the second switch position being achievable by a rotational movement of the carrier relative to the housing in a second rotational direction.

[0033] The sensor is actuated to allow it to detect readiness for inhalation. This may be used to activate at least one further sensor in response, such as an inhalation sensor.

[0034] The other sensor preferably arranged in the sensor unit of the inhaler kit according to the present invention is a connection sensor, which is used to detect the connection of the sensor unit and the inhaler. Based on this connection sensor, the control device can track the connection and separation. Preferably, the connection sensor is designed as a switch that is activated or deactivated by connection.

[0035] Preferably, the connection sensor is located in the region of the carrier, and the bottom of the inhaler is inserted into the region during the connection. Especially, preferably the connection sensor itself is arranged below the carrier and is therefore arranged between the base of the outer shell and the downside of the carrier. In order to detect the existence of the inhaler, the actuating portion extending through the opening in the carrier of the sensor unit can be provided, and the actuating portion is pressed downwards and pressed on the switch by the inhaler bottom. The actuating portion can be the section of the intermediate housing wall between the base of the outer shell and the carrier, and the part is partially cut off, and therefore can be moved relative to the surrounding part of the intermediate housing wall.

[0036] The other sensor that can advantageously be arranged on the sensor unit is an orientation sensor, is used to detect the orientation of the sensor unit, and therefore detects the orientation of the inhaler that is connected to the sensor unit.According to the type of inhaler, keeping the inhaler with correct orientation during the preparation period and during the suction is important for the successful delivery of powder.Usually during the preparation period, the inhaler must be vertically oriented, with the mouth pointing upwards.During the suction period, the horizontal direction is correct normally.The orientation sensor can sense whether the inhaler is correctly kept at the corresponding stage, particularly when using inhaler sensor and / or actuation sensor additionally.

[0037] The sensors described above (i.e. the suction sensor / flow sensor, the lid sensor, the actuation sensor, the coupling sensor and the orientation sensor) or some of these sensors may be part of the control device. The control device preferably has a circuit board arranged parallel to the bottom of the sensor unit. All or most of the sensors are preferably fixed directly on the circuit board.

[0038] The control device processes the sensor data of the available sensors. Preferably, it is adapted to activate and deactivate at least one sensor based on the sensor data of the other sensors. Although not limiting, this refers primarily to the inhalation sensor, which consumes relatively much electrical energy according to its design. It is therefore useful to activate the inhalation sensor only when inhalation is likely to occur, in particular after a metering action sensed by the actuation sensor has occurred and / or after the cover has been removed and the mouth can therefore be accessed.

[0039] In order to illustrate information and / or give instructions to the user, the sensor unit advantageously has a display or at least one optical display element, such as an LED. Preferably, the sensor unit has a display or at least two optical elements, and can therefore illustrate direction information. Therefore, the sensor unit can indicate the direction of rotation that the outer housing of the sensor unit must move relative to the housing of the inhaler according to the suction preparation sequence.

[0040] Preferably, the inhaler kit is not only composed of inhaler and sensor unit, but also comprises external device or the application running on the external device, such as smart phone.External device and control device can preferably be connected to each other via wireless connection based on Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.Therefore, the sensor unit is preferably equipped with corresponding network interface.The application running on the external device is designed to receive data from the sensor unit.This can occur, so that these data are stored on the external device, to monitor the compliance of the user, and remind him of the dosage that needs to be taken when necessary, and / or send these data to a third party, such as a doctor, via the Internet.In addition, the application running on the external device can analyze the use of the inhaler kit, and gives instructions to the user, such as about the general use, actuation, correct orientation and / or correct suction of equipment. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0041] Further advantages and aspects of the invention are described and illustrated in the claims and the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention, which are explained hereinafter with reference to the drawings.

[0042] Figures 1 to 3 An inhaler known from the prior art is shown.

[0043] Figure 4 Shown for use with Figures 1 to 3 The sensor unit is connected to the inhaler.

[0044] Figure 5 and Figure 6 The inhaler and the sensor unit are shown in a coupled state.

[0045] Figure 7 and Figure 8 The sensor unit is shown from different perspectives.

[0046] Fig. 9 A cross-sectional view of a sensor unit is shown.

[0047] Fig.10 An exploded view of the sensor unit is shown, in particular a carrier for coupling to an inhaler.

[0048] Figures 11A to 12C exist Fig.11A , 11B 12A and 12B show another cross-sectional view of the sensor unit, wherein the cutting plane is located directly below the carrier and Fig. 11C and 12C The switching action caused by the carrier movement is shown in FIG.

[0049] Fig.13 The path of air entering and passing through the sensor unit during inhalation is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0050] Figures 1 to 3 A conventional inhaler 10 is shown, which is commonly known by its trade name "Turbohaler". The inhaler 10 is a powder inhaler for inhaling a mixture of powder and air. The inhaler has a powder reservoir 24 inside its housing 12, from which a single dose can be isolated using a movable transfer member 26 for subsequent inhalation.

[0051] The housing 12 of inhaler 10 has a plurality of air inlet openings 20, 22, i.e. lower inlet opening 20 and upper inlet opening 22. The mouth 13 with delivery opening 14 is arranged on an end of housing 12. In order to inhale, the user places the mouth 13 in his mouth and inhales air. When doing so, air enters the inhaler by air inlet openings 20, 22. The air entering by lower inlet opening 20 arrives at the conveying part 26 on which powder 27 doses are placed, causing the atomization of the powder dose and the conveying of the powder dose to delivery opening 14, so that it is inhaled with air and therefore arrives at the upper respiratory tract or the lower respiratory tract of the user. In the downstream of conveying part 26, the additional air entering by upper inlet opening 22 converges with the air flow originating from lower inlet opening 20.

[0052] As from Figure 1 As can be seen, the inhaler 10 has a cover 16 which can be placed over the mouthpiece 13 and the air inlet openings 20 , 22 when the inhaler 10 is not in use.

[0053] An actuator 30 is arranged opposite to the mouthpiece 13, and the actuator 30 can rotate around the main axis 2 of the inhaler to isolate a single dose of powder using the conveying member 26 during preparation. In order to prepare a single dose, the actuator 30 is manually rotated relative to the housing in a first direction. When doing so, the conveying member 26 does not rotate because the actuator 30 and the conveying member 26 are only coupled to each other in opposite directions using the clamping latch 29 of the actuator 30.

[0054] Subsequently, the actuator 30 rotates together with the conveying member 26 in the opposite second direction so that the powder 27 on the conveying member 26 reaches Figure 3 The extraction position on the left side of the figure, in which the powder dose is atomized by the air flow from the lower inlet opening 20 through the opening of the perforated plate 26 below the conveying member 26. At the same time, a new dose of powder falls from the reservoir 24 onto the next section of the rotatable conveying member 26.

[0055] Figure 4 A sensor unit 40 is shown to be used with an inhaler 10. The sensor unit 40 has an outer housing 42, having a cup shape open at the upper side, for inserting the inhaler 10. An inwardly facing seal 52 is located at the inner side of the outer housing.

[0056] Figure 5 and Figure 6 Both the sensor unit 40 and the inhaler 10 inserted into the sensor unit 40 are shown. Figure 5 In the embodiment, the inhaler 10 is inserted with its cover 16, wherein the lower edge of the cover 16 is inside the sensor unit 40. The seal 52 is sufficiently resilient to allow the cover 16 to be inserted in this manner, while also being able to seal with the housing 12 of the inhaler 10 once the cover is removed, as shown in FIG. Figure 6 Preferably, the seal is made of rubber or TPE.

[0057] As the inhaler 10 is inserted into the sensor unit 40 , the lower air inlet opening 20 is placed inside the sensor unit 40 and is therefore isolated from the surrounding atmosphere by the seal 52 , while the upper air inlet opening 22 is not covered by the sensor unit 40 .

[0058] Figure 7 and Figure 8 The sensor unit is shown from different perspectives. Figure 7 From the perspective of FIG. 4 , it can be seen that the air outlet of the air passage 76 is located on the inner side of the sensor unit 40, which will be described in detail below. Figure 8 From the perspective of FIG. 4 , it can be seen that the on / off button and two arrow-shaped LEDs 44 are located on the outer side of the sensor unit 40. Figure 8 It can be seen that different air inlet openings 92 , 94 are provided on the underside, allowing air to enter the sensor unit 40 .

[0059] Fig. 9 The sensor unit 40 is shown in a cross-sectional view. Fig.10 An exploded view of the sensor unit 40 is shown.

[0060] The outer housing 42 of the sensor unit 40 consists of two main parts, namely a housing base 90 and a substantially cylindrical sleeve-shaped upper part 50 fixed to the housing base 90. The housing base 90 together with the inner intermediate wall 70 defines a receiving space 4 for accommodating an electronic control device 80, which includes a processor and a wireless network interface for monitoring the sensors of the sensor unit 40 and transmitting data to an external device, such as a smartphone. The control device 80 and its sensors 82, 83, 84, 86, 87 will be described in detail below.

[0061] The space 6 above the intermediate wall 70 that is closed laterally by upper housing part 50 is the space that inhaler 10 is inserted into wherein.Carrier 60 is arranged at the bottom of this space 6, and described carrier 60 can rotate relative to the remainder of sensor unit 40 in a limited manner around main axis 2.Described carrier 60 is arranged to be connected with the rotatable actuator 30 of inhaler 10.In order to allow the rotational movement of actuator 30 by rotating carrier 60, carrier 60 is provided with connection geometry 64.In an exemplary embodiment, connection geometry comprises the vertical rib that interacts with the groove on the outer peripheral face of actuator 30.Though the rib of connection geometry is mainly intended to be used for torque is transmitted to actuator 30 from carrier 60, rubber or TPE or relatively elastically deformable material additional gripping surface 63 is provided to prevent inhaler from being accidentally pulled out from sensor unit 40.

[0062] The control device 80 has a plurality of sensors for detecting the use of the inhaler 10. These sensors are described below.

[0063] The sensor unit 40 is capable of detecting the presence of an inserted inhaler 10. For this purpose, a connection sensor 83 in the form of a switch is provided in the center of the circuit board. The intermediate wall 70 is equipped with a deflectable actuation portion 72 having a pin pointing upward through an opening 62 in the carrier 60. If the inhaler 10 is fully inserted into the sensor unit 40, the inhaler deflects the actuation portion 72 downwards by its actuator 30, which deflects the switch of the connection sensor 83 and thus makes the presence of the inhaler detectable for the control device 80.

[0064] Furthermore, the sensor unit 40 is able to detect whether the cover 16 is placed on the inhaler 10. To this end, the tiltable lever 66 is arranged in the side region of the space 6 defined by the upper housing part 50 and the intermediate wall 70. Figure 5 As shown in , when the cover 16 is placed on the inhaler 10, its lower edge is located in the space 6, contacts the rod 66 and tilts the upper part of the rod 66 outward. This causes the lower part of the rod 66 to tilt inward and thus press the switch 86 located on the circuit board of the control device 80. This makes the presence of the cover 16 detectable to the control device 80.

[0065] Furthermore, an actuation sensor is provided for detecting the position of the carrier 60 relative to the outer housing 42 of the sensor unit 40 .

[0066] As shown in Figure 11, carrier 60 and intermediate wall 70 are suitable for each other, make they can snap together in two positions via snap mechanism 68,78.When the housing 12 rotation sensor unit 40 of user relative inhaler 10, the carrier 60 of sensor unit 40 and outer shell 42 remain unchanged relative position at first, arrive end position together with the actuator 30 being fixed therein until carrier 60.This end position is limited by the restriction of the movability of the housing 12 of inhaler 10 by actuator 30.In this position, if inhaler is in suitable vertical orientation, powder is transferred to conveying member 26 from reservoir 24.

[0067] Continued manual application of torque causes the carrier 60 to move relative to the outer housing 42, displacing the snap mechanisms 68, 78 from Fig.11A and 11B The first position is pushed to Fig. 12A and 12B in its second position.

[0068] When a subsequent rotation in the opposite direction takes place to complete the metering process by bringing the conveying member 26 into its extraction position, the outer housing 42 of the sensor unit 40 again initially remains in an unchanged relative position until the carrier 60, together with the actuator 30 fixed therein, reaches a second end position relative to the housing 12 of the inhaler 10. Subsequently, continued manual application of torque pushes the snap-fit ​​mechanisms 68, 78 back into the first position.

[0069] In order to ensure that the rotational movement of the outer housing 42 of the sensor unit and the carrier 60 occurs before the relative movement of the carrier 60 relative to the outer housing 42, the torque for changing between the snap positions of the snap mechanisms 68, 78 is greater than the torque required for rotating the actuator 30 relative to the housing 12 until the corresponding end position is reached.

[0070] In order to sense whether the snap mechanism 68, 78 is in its first position or in its second position and thus to assess the preparation process, a system of two switches 84 is provided on the circuit board. Both switches 84 have a movable switch member which faces the corresponding other switch. Between these switches, a protrusion 67 is provided on the underside of the carrier 60. If the snap mechanism 68, 78 is in its first position, one of the two switches 84 is pressed. If the snap mechanism is in its second position, the other of the two switches 84 is pressed. This is Fig. 11C and 12C Shown in.

[0071] The fourth sensor of the sensor unit 40 is a flow sensor 82. The flow sensor is positioned and integrated so that during inhalation, at least part of the air flow from the inlet port 92 of the sensor unit flows through the flow sensor 82, while the air entering the sensor unit 40 through the other two inlet ports 94 can flow directly to the inlet opening 20.

[0072] The exact path of air flowing through the flow sensor 82 is shown in FIGS. 12 to 14 .

[0073] As can be seen from arrow 8A in FIG. 12 , air entering through the air inlet port 92 reaches the first connection piece 82A of the flow sensor 82 , where it enters the measurement passage 74 .

[0074] The flow sensor 82 is designed as a thermal flow sensor including two temperature sensors 82B, 82D and a heating element 82C. As shown by arrow 8B in FIG. 12 , the air flowing through the measurement channel 74 passes through the first temperature sensor 82B, the heating element 82C, and then passes through the second temperature sensor 82D. Before being heated by the heating element 82C, the temperature of the air in the measurement channel 74 is measured by the first temperature sensor 82B. Downstream of the heating element 82C, the temperature of the air is measured again by the second temperature sensor 82D. The more air flows through the measurement channel 74, the lower the temperature rise caused by the same heating power at the heating element 82C. If no air flows through the measurement channel, the temperatures measured by the two temperature sensors 82B, 82D are approximately the same.

[0075] like Fig.13 As shown in FIG. 8 , the air leaves through the second connection 82E of the flow sensor 82 into the subsequent air channel 76 provided by the intermediate wall 70 . Thus, the air is brought into the space between the inside of the upper housing part 50 and the outer contour of the inhaler 10 .

[0076] Only a small portion of the air entering the inhaler 10 through the lower air inlet opening 20 passes through the measurement channel 74, while the main portion of the air entering through the lower air inlet opening 20 enters the sensor unit 40 through the air inlet port 94 and bypasses the measurement channel 74. However, it has been found that this small portion is sufficient for reliably estimating the total amount of air that passes through the sensor unit 40 and enters the inhaler through the lower air inlet opening 20.

[0077] Furthermore, the control device comprises an orientation sensor 87 which is able to measure the current orientation of the sensor unit 40 and thus of the inhaler 10 inserted into the sensor unit 40 .

[0078] Thus, the control device can sense whether the inhaler 10 is inserted into the sensor unit 40, whether the cover 16 has been removed, the orientation of the inhaler 10, the ready stage of the inhaler 10 and whether and how inhalation occurs.

[0079] This information from the sensors 82 , 83 , 84 , 86 , 87 is evaluated by the control device 80 and, if necessary, the information or information derived therefrom can be transmitted via a wireless network interface to an external device, such as a smartphone.

[0080] Particularly, can provide, only when other sensors previously detected certain state, various sensors just are activated.For example, as long as no inhaler 10 is inserted in the sensor unit 40 or as long as its cover 16 is in place, some sensors, particularly orientation sensor 87 and / or flow sensor 82 are just deactivated.

[0081] Since the flow sensor 82 has a relatively high power consumption, it is also useful to activate it only if it is detected by means of the activation sensor 84 (taking into account the orientation sensor 87 ) that a powder dose has been placed in the extraction position when the inhaler 10 is already in a vertical orientation.

[0082] Control device 80 can also be used for providing help to the user via LED, via loud speaker or via external equipment.For example, after removing lid 16, can use orientation sensor 87 to check whether inhaler 10 is in vertical orientation, and indicate the direction that actuator 30 needs to rotate via LED 44 subsequently.Once complete this process by rotating actuator in a first direction and rotating actuator in opposite second direction subsequently, conveying member 26 is provided with powder dosage 27 at extraction position, can start to suck then.For example, can send release sound or support suction by sending signal (for example by flashing green light) via LED 44 when inhaler is in horizontal orientation by detecting orientation.

Claims

1. An inhaler kit having the following features: a. An inhaler kit having an inhaler (10) and a sensor unit (40) which can be replaceably attached to the inhaler (10) for detecting the use of the inhaler (10), and b. The inhaler (10) is designed as a powder inhaler and has a housing (12), the housing (12) having a delivery opening (14) designed as a mouthpiece and having a plurality of air inlet openings (20, 22), and c. the powder to be inhaled is stored inside the inhaler (10) before discharge, the powder being atomized and transferred to the delivery opening (14) by means of the air flow caused by inhalation from the air inlet openings (20, 22) to the delivery opening (14), and d. the sensor unit (40) is arranged to be attached to the inhaler (10), wherein the sensor unit can be attached to the inhaler (10) such that in the attached state at least one first air inlet opening (20) is covered by the sensor unit (40) and in the attached state at least one second air inlet opening (22) is not covered by the sensor unit (40), and e. The sensor unit (40) comprises an intake sensor (82) for detecting air flow through the first air intake opening (20).

2. The inhaler kit according to claim 1, having the following further features: a. The inhaler (10) has a powder extraction position, from which the powder is delivered to the mouth by means of an air flow caused by inhalation; and b. the flow path from the first air inlet opening (20) to the delivery opening (14) passes through the extraction position; and c. the flow path from the second air inlet opening (22) to the delivery opening (14) does not pass through the extraction position, Preferably has the following additional features: d. A surface provided with an air passage is provided at the extraction location, through which surface air flows during inhalation, the air flowing from the first air inlet opening (20) to the delivery opening (14).

3. An inhaler kit according to claim 1 or 2, having the following further features: a. the inhaler (10) having a powder reservoir and a metering mechanism, by means of which powder can be transferred from the powder reservoir to the extraction position, Preferably has the following additional features: b. The metering mechanism has a conveying member (26) which is movable relative to the powder reservoir and is movable between a filling position and an extraction position, in which the powder passes from the powder reservoir (24) onto the conveying member (26).

4. An inhaler kit according to any one of the preceding claims, having the following further features: a. the sensor unit (40) together with the outer contour of the inhaler (10) defines a flow path from the air inlet port (92) of the sensor unit (40) to the first air inlet opening (20) of the inhaler (10), and b. providing a measuring channel (74) in the flow path, wherein the inhalation sensor (82) measures air flowing through the measuring channel (74) for detecting inhalation, and c. providing a bypass path in the flow path, and air passes through the air inlet port (92) of the sensor unit (40) along the bypass path, bypassing the measurement channel (74) and reaching the first air inlet opening (22), Preferably has the following additional features: d. The flow resistance through the measurement channel (74) is higher than the flow resistance along the bypass path.

5. An inhaler kit according to any one of the preceding claims, having the following additional features: a. the sensor unit (40) has a cup-shaped housing (42) defining an internal space into which the inhaler (10) can be inserted from the opening side, with the bottom end facing the delivery opening (14), Preferably, it has at least one of the following additional features: b. the inhaler (10) having at its bottom end a rotatable actuator (30) for actuating the metering device, the sensor unit (40) being designed with a coupling geometry (64) for rotationally fixed coupling with the actuator (30), in particular, the coupling geometry (64) being arranged on the carrier (60) which is movable relative to the housing (42) of the sensor unit (40), and / or c. the sensor unit (40) has an inwardly facing seal (52) on the circumferential side wall of the cup-shaped housing, the seal being supported against the outside of the inhaler (10) after the inhaler (10) has been inserted into the sensor unit (40), and / or d. The sensor unit (40) is designed as a non-detachable sensor unit (40), which does not need to be disassembled for the purpose of inserting the inhaler (10).

6. An inhaler kit according to claim 5, having the following additional features: a. the carrier (60) is disposed in the housing (42) of the sensor unit (40) for receiving the bottom end of the inhaler (10), Preferably, it has at least one of the following additional features: b. The carrier (60) has a cup shape, and / or c. an elastically deformable gripping surface (63) disposed on the carrier (60) for clamping contact with the inhaler (10), d. a receiving space for a control device (80) is arranged in the intermediate space between the carrier (60) and the housing base (90), and / or e. The carrier (60) is rotatable within a limited range relative to the housing (42) of the sensor unit (40), and at least one retaining element is provided, which fixes the carrier (60) and the housing (42) at two opposite end positions.

7. An inhaler kit according to any one of the preceding claims, having the following additional features: a. The inhalation sensor (82) is designed as a flow sensor, Preferably has the following additional features: b. The suction sensor (82) is designed as a thermal flow sensor and has two temperature sensors and a heating element arranged between them.

8. An inhaler kit according to any one of the preceding claims, having the following further features: a. the inhaler (10) having a removable cover (16) which, when in position, covers the delivery opening (14), and b. the sensor unit (40) comprises a cover sensor (86) for detecting an installed cover (16), Preferably, it has at least one of the following additional features: c. a transmission rod (66) is arranged in the edge region of the cup-shaped housing (42), the transmission rod being pivoted by putting on the cover (16), and / or d. A switch (86) is provided as a cover sensor for detecting the cover (16), the switch being switched by putting on the cover (16), wherein in particular the transmission rod (66) acts on the switch (86) for this purpose.

9. An inhaler kit according to any one of the preceding claims, having the following additional features: a. the sensor unit (40) comprises an actuation sensor (84) for detecting movement of an actuator (30) of the inhaler (10), the actuator (30) being arranged for actuating a metering device of the inhaler (10), Preferably, it has at least one of the following additional features: b. the actuation sensor (84) for detecting the movement of the actuator (30) is formed by a sensor designed to detect the movement of the carrier (60) of the sensor unit (40) relative to the housing (42) of the sensor unit, and / or c. The actuation sensor is formed by at least one switch, in particular by a bistable switch having at least two switch positions or by two switches, each of the switches being assigned to a switch position, the first switch position being particularly preferably achieved by a rotational movement of the carrier (60) relative to the housing (42) in a first rotational direction, and the second switch position being particularly preferably achieved by a rotational movement of the carrier (60) relative to the housing (42) in a second rotational direction.

10. An inhaler kit according to any one of the preceding claims, having the following additional features: a. the sensor unit (40) comprises a connection sensor (83) for detecting the connection between the sensor unit (40) and the inhaler (10), Preferably, it has at least one of the following additional features: b. The connection sensor (83) for detecting the connection between the sensor unit and the inhaler is designed in the form of a switch, and / or c. Providing an actuation portion (72), preferably extending through an opening in the carrier (60) of the sensor unit (40), the actuation portion (72) depressing the switch when the inhaler (10) is inserted.

11. An inhaler kit according to any preceding claim, having the following additional features: a. The sensor unit (40) comprises an orientation sensor for detecting the orientation of the inhaler (10).

12. An inhaler kit according to any preceding claim, having the following additional features: a. The sensor unit (40) comprises a control device (80), and b. The control device (80) is adapted to activate and deactivate the inhalation sensor (82).

13. An inhaler kit according to any one of the preceding claims, having the following additional features: a. The sensor unit (40) has a display and / or at least two optical display elements, and b. The sensor unit (40) is designed to indicate, by means of the display or display element, the rotational direction in which the housing (42) of the sensor module (40) must be moved relative to the housing (12) of the inhaler (10) according to an inhalation preparation sequence.

14. An inhaler kit according to claim 13, having the following additional features: a. The control device (80) is adapted to activate or deactivate the inhalation sensor (82) as a function of the lid sensor and / or the actuation sensor (84).

15. An inhaler kit according to any one of the preceding claims, having the following additional features: a. The inhaler kit comprises a mobile device, in particular a smartphone, which can be wirelessly connected to the sensor unit (40).

Images