INHALER

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an inhaler for administering powdered dry substances. State of the art

[0002] Devices for administering powdered dry substances, e.g., pharmaceutical preparations, by inhalation consist, in known designs, of a device, usually about the size of a palm, inside which the active substances are contained, for example, in a wound blister strip made of deep-drawn aluminum foil. This strip is advanced step by step for each application by the relative movement of various housing parts, for example, in the form of protective caps or separate pivoting levers, opening the respective blister cavities containing the substance, thereby releasing the active substances for inhalation.

[0003] Inhalers are also known that use two wound blister strips to administer two different dry substances, for example, pharmaceutical preparations. Such inhalers are described, for example, in WO 03 / 0617 43 A1, WO 2005 / 079727 A2, and WO 2005 / 014089 A1.

[0004] Typically, such blister strips contain 30 or 60 individual doses, covering a patient's monthly needs with one or two inhalations per day. A double-blister strip inhaler delivers two different active ingredients simultaneously.

[0005] The blister cavities are opened, for example, by gradually peeling off a film covering the cavities. Both the cover film and the emptied blister strip must be wound up or stored in the inhaler. This usually requires a rather complex mechanism and, due to the flexible nature of the blister strip, is difficult to assemble automatically.

[0006] Double-blister strip inhalers also require a complex mechanism with numerous parts to administer the active dry substance to the patient. An inhaler sold under the name Ellipta®, for example, consists of 28 parts.

[0007] Furthermore, inhalers are known in which, instead of the blister strip, a generally approximately circular plastic disc with a number of deep-drawn cavities or holes for accommodating the powdered substances is used. After filling, the cavities are sealed by a sealed cover foil. The plastic disc is indexed one step further each time the device is used until all cavities are opened and emptied by inhaling the powder. For inhalation, the cavities in these devices are opened by a dispensing element with a depressed tip, thus releasing the active substance for inhalation. Such an inhaler is known from WO 2013 / 068579 A1.

[0008] However, such inhalers only contain a plastic disc, so they only allow the administration of one substance.

[0009] WO 2011 / 004287 A1 discloses an inhaler with two carrier discs. Each carrier disc is assigned an external air channel, which is located in the direction of a common rotation axis of the carrier discs.

[0010] It is an object of the present invention to provide an inhaler that enables the simultaneous administration of two powdered dry substances and is easier to manufacture than a conventional double-blister strip inhaler. In particular, the inhaler should have fewer parts than a conventional double-blister strip inhaler. Disclosure of the invention

[0011] This task is solved by an inhaler for administering powdered dry substances, which has two substance carrier discs.

[0012] Each substance carrier disc has cavities filled with a powdered dry substance, preferably at least 30 cavities each. The powdered dry substances can in particular be substances with a particle size in the range of 2 µm to 100 µm. The cavities of the first substance carrier disc are in particular filled with a different powdered dry substance than the cavities of the second substance carrier disc. The substance carrier discs are arranged to rotate about a common axis of rotation such that the cavities face each other. The inhaler also has an air channel. The air channel has a piercing nozzle arranged between the substance carrier discs.This arrangement of the air channel, through which a mixture of air and a powdered dry substance can be directed to the mouthpiece of the inhaler, enables a similar spatial distance and geometric position of a dispensing position from a cavity to be pierced to the mouthpiece as is typically provided in an inhaler with a substance carrier disc. This allows the same aerodynamic behavior of the dry substance particles in the air flow to be achieved, allowing similar inhalation parameters to be achieved as in known inhalers with only one substance carrier disc.

[0013] By storing the powdered dry substance in substance carrier discs rather than in blister strips, it is possible to manufacture the inhaler according to the invention simply and using a small number of parts. Since inhaler parts are typically manufactured from thermoplastics using an injection molding process, and a separate injection mold must be made for each part to be manufactured, this leads to significant cost savings in the production of the inhaler according to the invention.

[0014] By rotating the substance carrier discs, the cavities filled with the powdered dry substance can be successively directed toward the piercing nozzle arranged between the substance carrier discs to transport the dry substances into the air duct. To achieve this rotational movement, it is preferred that each substance carrier disc has a grooved curve on its outer surface, into which a respective cam guide pin engages. A movement of the respective cam guide pin can then trigger a rotational movement of a substance carrier disc.

[0015] Preferably, the grooved cams and the cam guide pins are configured to effect not only a rotational movement of the substance carrier discs, but also a simultaneous linear displacement of the substance carrier discs along the rotation axis. This can be achieved by a suitable shape of the grooved cams. A movement of the cam guide pins then enables the substance carrier discs to not only rotate further to the next cavity, but also simultaneously move them toward the piercing nozzle, thus enabling the cavities to be pierced by the piercing nozzle. Thus, two movements can be performed simultaneously.

[0016] Preferably, the substance carrier discs can only be rotated in one direction at a time. Reverse rotation can be prevented, in particular, by a suitable shape of the grooved curves. This prevents cavities that have already been emptied from being reconnected to the piercing nozzle.

[0017] Furthermore, it is preferred that the grooved cams be configured to limit the number of rotations of their substance carrier discs. This can be achieved, in particular, by providing an interruption in each of the grooved cams. Once all cavities of the substance carrier discs have been emptied, this prevents further attempts to remove a powdered dry substance from a previously emptied cavity by continuing to rotate the substance carrier discs.

[0018] It is preferred that the inhaler has an actuating element that has the curved guide pins. The actuating element enables a user of the inhaler to set the substance carrier discs in motion, thus rotating them further to the next filled cavities and piercing these cavities with the piercing nozzle. By arranging both curved guide pins on the same actuating element, simultaneous actuation of both substance carrier discs is possible.

[0019] Each cam guide pin is preferably arranged at a resilient end of the actuating element. This allows the cam guide pins to spring back to their original position after actuation of the actuating element.

[0020] The cam guide pins are preferably arranged on the actuating element in such a way that, when the actuating element is actuated, they cause a synchronous movement of the two substance carrier discs. If both substance carrier discs rotate simultaneously in the same direction and are moved toward the piercing nozzle at the same speed, this ensures that the dry substances of both substance carrier discs are mixed equally in the air duct.

[0021] The cavities arranged in the substance carrier discs are preferably each sealed with a cover film. To facilitate easy production of the substance carrier discs, each substance carrier disc preferably has a common cover film that simultaneously covers all cavities of the substance carrier disc. In particular, the cover film can be an aluminum foil. When the substance carrier discs are moved toward the piercing nozzle, the nozzle pierces the cover films, thus allowing access to the previously hermetically sealed dry substance.

[0022] The cover film preferably has a thickness in the range of 20 µm to 50 µm to enable easy piercing by means of the piercing nozzle.

[0023] The piercing nozzle is designed to have two hollow nozzles. The hollow nozzles are each preferably at least 2 mm long. Each of the two hollow nozzles faces one of the substance carrier discs. This allows one hollow nozzle to pierce a cavity of one substance carrier disc, while the other hollow nozzle pierces a cavity of the other substance carrier disc. The dry substances from the two cavities are then transported through the two hollow nozzles, mixed in the piercing nozzle, and transported further through the air duct.

[0024] To allow a cover film to easily pass through, the hollow nozzles are preferably designed with sharp edges.

[0025] Furthermore, the piercing nozzle preferably has several, in particular four, piercing elements. Each substance carrier disc is provided with a hollow nozzle and several, in particular two, piercing elements. The piercing elements can pierce or cut additional openings in the cover film to allow air to flow into the cavities during an inhalation process. By using several piercing elements per hollow nozzle, the air can be guided in such a way that uniform and complete emptying of the cavities is ensured.

[0026] The air channel preferably has an outlet nozzle. This can be located at the end of the air channel opposite the outlet nozzle and connected to a mouthpiece of the inhaler. Once the piercing nozzle has pierced a cavity of each of the substance carrier discs, thus establishing a connection to the dry substances stored therein, a user of the inhaler can inhale through the mouthpiece, thereby creating a suction force through the air channel. This suction force completely sucks the dry substances out of their cavities as a powder-air mixture, mixes them in the piercing nozzle, and releases them from the outlet nozzle into the user's airways.

[0027] Cavity marking, particularly in the form of numbering, can be provided on the side of one or both substance carrier discs facing away from the cavities. When rotating the substance carrier discs, the cavity marking then visibly indicates to the user which cavities are facing the piercing nozzle.

[0028] The substance carrier discs can be made, in particular, of a thermoplastic. The air channel and the piercing nozzle can also be made, in particular, of a thermoplastic. Particularly preferably, all parts of the inhaler are made of a thermoplastic. This eliminates the need for metal parts. The plastic parts can be manufactured, for example, using an injection molding process. Short description of the drawings

[0029] An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings and is explained in more detail in the following description. Fig. 1 shows an exploded view of an inhaler according to an embodiment of the invention. Fig. 2 shows a side view of an inhaler according to an embodiment of the invention. Fig. 3 shows an isometric representation of an actuating element of an inhaler according to an embodiment of the invention. Fig. 4 shows in an isometric detailed view how a cam guide pin engages in a groove cam of a substance carrier disc of an inhaler according to an embodiment of the invention. Fig. 5 shows in an isometric detailed view the arrangement of a piercing nozzle relative to cavities in the substance carrier discs of an inhaler according to an embodiment of the invention. Fig. 6shows a side view of a substance carrier disc of an inhaler according to an embodiment of the invention. Fig. 7 shows an isometric sectional view of a substance carrier disc in an inhaler according to an embodiment of the invention, which has a cover film. Embodiments of the invention

[0030] The Fig. 1 and 2show an inhaler according to an embodiment of the invention, which can be manufactured from just ten parts. These can be manufactured from a thermoplastic using an injection molding process. The housing of the inhaler consists of a first housing half 11 and a second housing half 12. When these are assembled, a cover 13 is placed over the two housing halves 11, 12 so that it encloses them. A first lid 14 is placed onto the cover 13 from the side of the first housing half 11. A second lid 15 is placed onto the cover 13 from the side of the second housing half 12. This fixes the cover 13 to the two housing halves 11, 12.

[0031] A first substance carrier disc 2 and a second substance carrier disc 3 are arranged in the housing. These are rotatably mounted on a common axis of rotation, about which the cover 13 can also pivot. An air duct 4, which has a piercing nozzle 41 and an outlet nozzle 42, is arranged in the housing such that the piercing nozzle 41 is positioned between the cavities of the two substance carrier discs 2, 3. The outlet nozzle 42, which is arranged at the end of the air duct 4 facing away from the piercing nozzle 41, points toward an opening in the housing. A mouthpiece 5 is placed over this opening.

[0032] An actuating element 6 is arranged in the inhaler so that it rests on the two housing halves 11, 12. As in Fig. 3As shown, it is circularly arc-shaped and has two parallel, resilient ends 61, 62 separated from one another by a gap. At each resilient end 61, 62, a cam guide pin 611, 621 is arranged such that it projects into the housing. The first cam guide pin 611 engages in a first grooved curve on the outer surface of the first substance carrier disc 2, and the second cam guide pin 621 engages in a second grooved curve on the outer surface of the second substance carrier disc 3. While the cam guide pins 611, 621 point inwards into the circular segment formed by the actuating element 6, a connecting element 63 points outwards from the circular segment. It engages from the inside in a receptacle provided for this purpose in the cover 13. When a user rotates the cover 13 around the common axis of rotation, he also moves the two cam guide pins 611, 621 around the common axis of rotation.This movement is transferred to the two substance carrier discs 2, 3.

[0033] Fig. 4shows the first grooved curve 21 of the first substance carrier disc 2 and the second grooved curve 31 of the second substance carrier disc 3. It is also shown how the first curve guide pin 611 engages in the first grooved curve 21. The grooves of the first grooved curve 21 are shaped such that the first curve guide pin 611 rests in a groove formed by an undercut in the first grooved curve 21 in a rest position. If the first curve guide pin 611 is now moved along the axis of rotation, it slides along an incline in the first grooved curve 21 and thereby presses the first substance carrier disc 2 along the longitudinal axis towards the piercing nozzle 41. After this incline has been overcome, the curve guide pin is guided further into the next groove in the grooved curve. As soon as it engages in this groove, the first substance carrier disc 2 returns along the axis of rotation to its starting position.If the user now releases the cover 13, the actuating element 6 springs back to its starting position, exerting pressure against the groove in the direction of rotation of the first substance carrier disc 2 and thereby rotating the first substance carrier disc 2 further by one groove. The first grooved curve 21 is designed such that one groove is provided for each cavity in the first substance carrier disc 2. The rotational movement therefore rotates the first substance carrier disc 2 further by one cavity. A symmetrical movement along the axis of rotation and a symmetrical rotation in the same direction of rotation are triggered simultaneously by the second cam guide pin 621 in interaction with the second grooved curve 31 on the second substance carrier disc 3.

[0034] The connection between cover 13 and actuating element 6 is such that the cover 13 covers the mouthpiece 5 in the rest position of the actuating element 6 and thus protects it from contamination.

[0035] Fig. 5 shows how the piercing nozzle 41 is arranged relative to the two substance carrier discs 2, 3. The piercing nozzle 41 has two hollow nozzles 411, 412, which are sharp-edged and are positioned orthogonally on the air channel 4. The first hollow nozzle 411 faces a cavity 22 of the first substance carrier disc 2. The second hollow nozzle 412 is a hollow nozzle shown in the view in Fig. 5facing the non-recognizable cavity of the second substance carrier disc 3. Above the first hollow nozzle, a first piercing element 413 points to the cavity 22 of the first substance carrier disc 2, and below the first hollow nozzle, a second piercing element 414 points to the cavity 22 of the first substance carrier disc 2. Also arranged above and below the second hollow nozzle is a piercing element, each facing the non-recognizable cavity of the second substance carrier disc 3.

[0036] As in Fig. 6As shown, the second substance carrier disc 3 has a cavity marking 7 on its outer side, which faces away from its cavities. This begins with a start cavity marking 71, which identifies a first empty cavity. The first empty cavity can be used as a test cavity to test the functionality of the inhaler upon first actuation of the actuating element 6 after manufacture. This is followed by active ingredient cavity markings 72, numbered from 30 to 1, for cavities that each contain an active ingredient in the form of a powdered dry substance. The last active ingredient cavity marking 72, marked with the number 1, is followed by an end cavity marking 73. This also identifies an empty last cavity of the second substance carrier disc 3.The second grooved curve 31 has an interruption between the cavity with the start cavity marking 71 and the cavity with the end cavity marking 73, so that further rotation of the second substance carrier disc 3 is not possible. Through an opening in the second housing half 12, a user of the inhaler can identify the active ingredient cavity marking of the current cavity.

[0037] The cavities are in the Fig. 1 , 4 and 5 For better understanding, they are shown without a cover. In fact, however, they each have a cover foil. Fig. 7The cover film 23 of the cavities 22 of the first substance carrier disc is shown. This is an aluminum foil. This ensures that the powdered dry substances inside the cavities 22 are hermetically sealed. When the two substance carrier discs 2, 3 are moved toward the piercing nozzle 41, the two hollow nozzles 411, 412 cut through the cover film 23 of the first substance carrier disc and the cover film of the second substance carrier disc with their sharp edges, thus opening a connection between the respective cavities and the piercing nozzle 41. In addition, the piercing elements 413, 414 cut further openings in the cover film, thus allowing air to flow into the cavities. This allows a user inhaling through the mouthpiece 5 to inhale the powdered dry substances from the cavities through the piercing nozzle 41, the air channel 4 and the outlet nozzle 42, whereby these are finely atomized.Air flows into the cavities above and below the hollow nozzles 411, 412 so that the cavities can be emptied evenly and completely. List of reference symbols

[0038] 11:First housing half 12:Second housing half 13:Cover 14:First lid 15:Second lid 2:First substance carrier disc 21:First grooved curve 22:Cavity 23:Cover foil 3:Second substance carrier disc 31:Second grooved curve 4:Air channel 41:Puncture nozzle 411:First hollow nozzle 412:Second hollow nozzle 413:First piercing element 414:Second piercing element 42:Outlet nozzle 5:Mouthpiece 6:Actuating element 61:First spring-loaded end 611:First cam guide pin 62:Second spring-loaded end 621:Second cam guide pin 63:Connecting element 7:Cavity marking 71:Start cavity marking 72:Test cavity marking 73: Active ingredient cavity labeling

Claims

1. Inhaler for administering powdery dry substances, having two substance carrier discs (2, 3), which each have cavities (22) filled with a powdery dry substance, wherein the substance carrier discs (2, 3) are arranged rotatably about a common axis of rotation such that the cavities (22) lie opposite each other, wherein the inhaler has an air duct (4), which has a piercing nozzle (41), characterized in that the piercing nozzle is arranged between the substance carrier discs (2, 3), and in that the piercing nozzle (41) has two hollow nozzles (411, 412), wherein each hollow nozzle (411, 412) faces one of the substance carrier discs (2, 3), so that one hollow nozzle (411) can pierce a cavity (22) of the one substance carrier disc (2) while the other hollow nozzle (412) pierces a cavity (22) of the other substance carrier disc (3) and the dry substances can be transported from the two cavities (22) through the two hollow nozzles (411, 412), can be mixed in the piercing nozzle (41) and can be transported further through the air duct (4).

2. Inhaler according to Claim 1, characterized in that each substance carrier disc (2, 3) has, on its circumferential surface, a cam groove (21, 31) in which a respective cam guide pin (611, 621) engages.

3. Inhaler according to Claim 2, characterized in that the cam grooves (21, 31) and the cam guide pins (611, 621) are configured to cause a linear displacement of the substance carrier discs (2, 3) along the axis of rotation and a rotational movement of the substance carrier discs (2, 3).

4. Inhaler according to Claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the cam grooves (21, 31) are configured to limit a number of rotations of their substance carrier discs (2, 3).

5. Inhaler according to any one of Claims 2 to 4, characterized in that it has an actuation element (6), which has the cam guide pins (611, 621).

6. Inhaler according to Claim 5, characterized in that each cam guide pin (611, 621) is arranged at a springloaded end (61, 62) of the actuation element (6).

7. Inhaler according to Claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the cam guide pins (611, 621) are arranged on the actuation element (6) in such a way that they cause a synchronous movement of the two substance carrier discs (2, 3) when the actuation element (6) is actuated.

8. Inhaler according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the cavities (22) arranged in the substance carrier discs (2, 3) are each sealed with a cover film (23).

9. Inhaler according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the piercing nozzle (41) has a plurality of piercing elements (413, 414), wherein a hollow nozzle (411, 412) and a plurality of piercing elements (413, 414) face each substance carrier disc (2, 3).

10. Inhaler according to any one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the air duct (4) has an outlet nozzle (42), which is connected to a mouthpiece (5) of the inhaler.