Dosage device

Abstract

To enhance a sealing property between a medicine powder housing chamber and a lid body without increasing the number of components.SOLUTION: Facing surfaces 3C1, 4C1 of peripheral walls 3C, 4C of capsule housing chambers 3, 4 are provided with an inside seal part 18 and an outside seal part 19 as seal parts extending from a perimeter surrounding the capsule housing chambers 3, 4 to a facing surface 5A of a lid body 5 and serving as a seal part that seals a part between the peripheral walls 3C, 4C and the lid body 5 by elastically contacting the facing surface 5A of the lid body 5.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a drug administering device suitable for use in administering, for example, powdered medicine (medicinal powder) to the lungs or bronchi. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art A therapeutic method for administering a powdered drug (powdered medicine) to the lungs or bronchi involves inhaling the powdered medicine contained in a powdered medicine storage chamber together with air to administer the medicine to the lungs or the like.

[0003] A medicine dispenser used in a treatment method in which medicine powder is inhaled together with air comprises a main body, a medicine powder storage chamber provided on the main body, surrounded by a peripheral wall and having an opening, a lid body rotatably provided on the main body and opened and closed between an open position which opens the opening and a closed position which closes the opening, an air inflow passage provided on the main body for allowing air to flow from the outside into the medicine powder storage chamber, and a medicine powder suction section provided on the main body for inhaling the medicine powder together with the air that has flowed into the medicine powder storage chamber from the air inflow passage (Patent Document 1).

[0004] The procedure for administering powdered medicine using this medicine dispenser is to fill the powdered medicine chamber of the main body with powdered medicine, close the lid, and close the opening of the powdered medicine chamber. In this state, the patient holds the powdered medicine inhaler in their mouth and inhales. This allows the patient to inhale the powdered medicine together with the air that has flowed into the powdered medicine chamber from the air inflow passage, and administer the powdered medicine to the lungs, etc. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2022-90989 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] In the medicine dispenser of Patent Document 1, the opening of the medicine powder storage chamber is simply closed with a lid, so a gap is formed between the peripheral wall of the medicine powder storage chamber and the lid. Therefore, when the medicine powder inhaler is held in the mouth and a breath is taken in, outside air flows into the medicine powder storage chamber through the gap between the peripheral wall and the lid. This causes variation in the air flow rate when the medicine powder is inhaled, and there is a risk that the prescribed amount of medicine powder cannot be stably administered.

[0007] In view of this, it is conceivable to provide a seal member between the peripheral wall of the powder storage chamber and the lid body, but providing a separate seal member would result in increased parts costs and manufacturing costs.

[0008] An object of one embodiment of the present invention is to provide a medicine dispenser that can improve the sealing performance between a medicine powder storage chamber and a lid body without increasing the number of parts. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] One embodiment of the present invention relates to a medicine dispenser comprising a main body, a medicine powder storage chamber provided on the main body, surrounded by a peripheral wall and having an opening, a lid body rotatably provided on the main body and opened and closed between an open position which opens the opening and a closed position which closes the opening, an air inflow passage provided on the main body for allowing air to flow from the outside into the medicine powder storage chamber, and a medicine powder suction section provided on the main body for inhaling medicine powder together with the air that has flowed into the medicine powder storage chamber from the air inflow passage, wherein at least one of the opposing surfaces between the peripheral wall and the lid body is provided with a sealing section that extends from the entire circumference surrounding the medicine powder storage chamber toward the other opposing surface and seals between the peripheral wall and the lid body by elastically contacting the other opposing surface. Effect of the Invention

[0010] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the sealing performance between the medicine powder storage chamber and the lid body can be improved without increasing the number of parts. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a medicine dispenser according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the medication dispenser with the lid disposed in an open position. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a main part of the medicine dispenser of FIG. 2. [Figure 4] 4 is a cross-sectional view of the medicine dispenser as seen from the direction of arrows IV-IV in FIG. 3. [Diagram 5] 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a portion indicated by an arrow A in FIG. 4. [Figure 6] 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the state in which the lid is separated from the seal portion in FIG. 5. [Figure 7] 6 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 5, showing a seal according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the state in which the seal portion is separated from the peripheral wall in FIG. 7. [Figure 9] 6 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 5, showing a seal portion according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] 10 is a cross-sectional view showing the state in which the lid is separated from the seal portion in FIG. 9. FIG. [Figure 11] 6 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 5, showing a seal portion according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] 12 is a cross-sectional view showing the state in which the seal portion is separated from the peripheral wall in FIG. 11. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] Hereinafter, a medicine dispenser according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0013] Figures 1 to 6 show a first embodiment of the present invention. In Figures 1 and 2, a medicine dispenser 1 according to this embodiment is for administering, for example, a powdered medicine (powdered medicine) to the lungs or bronchi, and is used for treating asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), viral diseases, and the like. The medicine dispenser 1 is configured as an inhalation type medicine dispenser in which, for example, powdered medicine filled in a capsule 20 is inhaled together with air by inhaling. The medicine dispenser 1 is composed of a first medicine dispenser 1A and a second medicine dispenser 1B that are symmetrically arranged so that powdered medicine can be inhaled continuously from the two capsules 20.

[0014] The medicine dispenser 1 includes a main body 2, capsule storage chambers 3 and 4, a lid 5, air inflow passages 8 and 9, medicine powder inhalation sections 10 and 11, an inner seal section 18, and an outer seal section 19, all of which will be described later.

[0015] The main body 2 is formed of a resin material into a rectangular parallelepiped shape that is flat in the vertical direction. Specifically, the main body 2 has a front portion 2A on the front side (the side facing the patient when inhaling medicine powder), a rear portion 2B on the rear side, a left portion 2C, a right portion 2D, an upper portion 2E, and a lower portion 2F (see FIG. 4). Note that the main body 2 in the embodiment is formed of multiple parts to reduce weight and material costs, but it can also be formed as a single member.

[0016] The front surface 2A of the main body 2 is provided with two powdered medicine suction sections 10, 11 spaced apart in the left-right direction. The left surface 2C is provided with a hole-making member 12, which will be described later, and the right surface 2D is provided with a hole-making member 13. The top surface 2E is provided with a rectangular lid-containing section 2G, which is formed by lowering a wider area by one step than the capsule-containing chambers 3, 4. The top surface 2E is also provided with two capsule-containing chambers 3, 4 spaced apart in the left-right direction. Furthermore, the bottom surface 2F is provided with an air hole (not shown), which takes in outside air into the capsule-containing chambers 3, 4 and forms part of the air inflow passages 8, 9.

[0017] The capsule housing chambers 3 and 4 as powdered medicine housing chambers are provided at a distance from each other in the left-right direction and open upward in the main body 2. The capsule housing chambers 3 and 4 are formed as elliptical recesses extending in the front-rear direction.

[0018] Specifically, as shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, the capsule storage chamber 3 is an elliptical recess slightly larger than the capsule 20, and is composed of a capsule fitting portion 3A located at the back side (bottom side) into which the lower half of the capsule 20 fits, an annular bottom plate 3B having an elliptical ring shape extending horizontally from the upper part of the capsule fitting portion 3A, and an elliptical cylindrical peripheral wall 3C extending upward from the periphery of the annular bottom plate 3B. As a result, the capsule storage chamber 3 has an opening 3D above the peripheral wall 3C for inserting and removing the capsule 20. The peripheral wall 3C is formed of a resin material, similar to the main body 2. The upper end of the peripheral wall 3C forms an opposing surface 3C1 that faces the lid body 5 when the lid body 5 is in the closed position, and an inner seal portion 18 and an outer seal portion 19, which will be described later, are integrally formed on this opposing surface 3C1.

[0019] Furthermore, the capsule accommodating chamber 3 is connected to an air inflow passage 8 (described later) located at the rear side opposite the medicine powder suction portion 10. The capsule accommodating chamber 4 (capsule fitting portion 4A, annular bottom plate 4B, peripheral wall 4C, and opening 4D) have the same configuration, so a description of the capsule accommodating chamber 4 will be omitted.

[0020] The lid body 5 is provided on the upper surface 2E of the main body 2. The lid body 5 is formed as a rectangular plate that fits into the lid body housing portion 2G with a small gap. The lid body 5 is formed using a resin material. The rear end of the lid body 5 is rotatably attached to the main body 2 by a hinge structure. This allows the lid body 5 to be opened and closed between an open position (position shown in Figs. 2 and 3) that opens the capsule housing chambers 3 and 4 and a closed position (position shown in Fig. 1) that closes the capsule housing chambers 3 and 4.

[0021] The lid body 5 has an opposing surface 5A which faces the opposing surfaces 3C1, 4C1 of the peripheral walls 3C, 4C of the capsule accommodating chambers 3, 4 in the closed position. In a structure in which the rear end of the lid body 5 is rotatably attached to the main body 2, when the opposing surface 5A of the lid body 5 is brought close to the opposing surfaces 3C1, 4C1 of the peripheral walls 3C, 4C, the contact direction of the opposing surface 5A with the inner seal portion 18 and the outer seal portion 19 described below is the up-down direction. In more detail, when the lid body 5 is closed, the opposing surface 5A can elastically deform the inner seal portion 18 and the outer seal portion 19 to come into close contact with them without significant sliding contact.

[0022] The partition members 6, 7 are provided on the opposing surface 5A of the lid body 5 so as to correspond to the capsule storage chambers 3, 4. The partition member 6 on the capsule storage chamber 3 side, i.e., the first medicine dispenser 1A side, divides the capsule storage chamber 3 into an air inflow side and an air outflow side when the lid body 5 is in the closed position. In addition, when the lid body 5 is placed in the closed position, the partition member 6 fits into the body part (middle part in the length direction) of the capsule 20 stored in the capsule storage chamber 3. This allows the partition member 6 to position the capsule 20 at a predetermined position (correct position) in the capsule storage chamber 3. The partition member 7 on the capsule storage chamber 4 side has the same configuration, so a description of the partition member 7 will be omitted.

[0023] The air inflow passage 8 is provided in the main body 2 in communication with the capsule storage chamber 3. The air inflow passage 8 allows air to flow from the outside into the capsule storage chamber 3. The air inflow passage 8 is located at the rear side, which is the air inflow side, of the capsule storage chamber 3, and extends in the left-right direction (horizontal direction). The air inflow passage 8 also serves as a needle insertion hole through which the rear needle of the hole punching member 12, which will be described later, is inserted. The air inflow passage 9 on the capsule storage chamber 4 side has the same configuration, so a description of the air inflow passage 9 will be omitted.

[0024] The medicine powder suction parts 10, 11 are provided independently for the first medicine dispenser 1A and the second medicine dispenser 1B, spaced apart in the left-right direction on the front part 2A of the main body 2. The medicine powder suction parts 10, 11 protrude forward from the front part 2A. The medicine powder suction parts 10, 11 are formed, for example, in an elliptical cylinder shape that is long in the left-right direction so that they can be easily held in the mouth without having to open the mouth widely and can form a large passage area. The inside of the medicine powder suction part 10 is connected to the capsule storage chamber 3, and the inside of the medicine powder suction part 11 is connected to the capsule storage chamber 4.

[0025] The hole punching members 12 and 13 are provided on the main body 2. The hole punching members 12 and 13 punch an inlet hole and an outlet hole in the capsule 20 contained in the capsule storage chamber 3 and 4. The hole punching member 12 on the first medicine dispenser 1A side includes a support part 12A provided on the left side of the main body 2 so as to be movable in the left-right direction, and a rear needle and a front needle (both not shown) whose base ends are attached to the support part 12A and whose sharp tip ends extend toward the capsule storage chamber 3. The rear needle is disposed in the air inflow passage 8. The front needle is disposed in a needle insertion hole (not shown) disposed in the front side of the capsule storage chamber 3. The hole punching member 13 (support part 13A, needle) on the second medicine dispenser 1B side has the same configuration, so a description of the hole punching member 13 will be omitted.

[0026] The hole punching operation by the hole punching member 12 is performed by pushing the support part 12A into the main body 2 with the capsule 20 contained in the capsule containing chamber 3. This causes the needle to penetrate the capsule 20 in the capsule containing chamber 3 in the radial direction, and opens an inlet hole and an outlet hole in the capsule 20. The hole punching member 13 operates in a similar manner, so a description thereof will be omitted.

[0027] Next, the configuration and function (effect) of the seal device 14 having the inner seal portion 18 and the outer seal portion 19, which are characteristic parts of this embodiment, will be described.

[0028] The sealing device 14 includes an inner seal portion 18 and an outer seal portion 19 that are integrally formed with the peripheral wall 3C of the capsule accommodating chamber 3. The sealing device 14 forms an inner wall portion 16 and an outer wall portion 17 at the upper portion of the peripheral wall 3C by a recess 15 provided in the upper portion of the peripheral wall 3C.

[0029] As shown in Fig. 4, the recess 15 is provided around the entire circumference of the peripheral wall 3C in the middle in the thickness direction of the peripheral wall 3C. The recess 15 is formed as a deep groove cut downward from the opposing surface 3C1 of the peripheral wall 3C. In addition, by providing the recess 15 on the upper part of the peripheral wall 3C, the inner wall portion 16 and the outer wall portion 17 are arranged as a double cylinder sandwiching the recess 15 therebetween.

[0030] The inner seal portion 18 and the outer seal portion 19 constitute a seal portion provided on the opposing surface 3C1 of the peripheral wall 3C opposing the lid body 5. The inner seal portion 18 and the outer seal portion 19 extend from the entire circumference of the opposing surface 3C1 of the peripheral wall 3C surrounding the capsule accommodating chamber 3 toward the opposing surface 5A of the lid body 5. That is, the inner seal portion 18 and the outer seal portion 19 are integrally molded with the peripheral wall 3C made of an elastic resin material. As a result, the inner seal portion 18 and the outer seal portion 19 can elastically contact the opposing surface 5A of the lid body 5 to provide an airtight seal between the peripheral wall 3C and the lid body 5.

[0031] The inner seal portion 18 is provided at an outer corner 16A in the thickness direction on the recess 15 side of the inner wall portion 16. The inner seal portion 18 in the free state shown in FIG. 6 extends integrally from the outer corner 16A of the inner wall portion 16 toward the upper side, which is the opposing surface 5A side of the lid body 5, so as to be inclined outward. The inner seal portion 18 is formed in a thin plate shape. More specifically, the thickness dimension of the inner seal portion 18 is set to a dimension such that, when the lid body 5 is closed by pressing it from above with a light force, the tip abutting against the opposing surface 5A can be easily bent and can be in close contact with the opposing surface 5A of the lid body 5 with elasticity, as shown in FIG. 5. Specifically, the inner seal portion 18 is provided on the capsule storage chamber 3 side (inner wall portion 16) and is formed to extend toward the lid body 5 side (upward) in the opposite direction of the capsule storage chamber 3 (the gap between the outer wall portion 17 and the lid body 5). Therefore, even if the pressure inside the capsule storage chamber 3 becomes negative when the lid body 5 is closed and the medicine powder inside the capsule storage chamber 3 is inhaled, the air (pressure) flowing in from the outside (the side opposite the capsule storage chamber 3: the gap between the outer wall portion 17 and the lid body 5) acts to bend the inner seal portion 18 toward the lid body 5 (upward), thereby ensuring closer contact between the inner seal portion 18 and the lid body 5 and improving sealing performance.

[0032] The inner seal portion 18 is provided at an outer corner portion 16A of the inner wall portion 16, which is the side opposite to the capsule storage chamber 3. Therefore, the inner seal portion 18 does not get in the way when putting the capsule 20 in and taking it out of the capsule storage chamber 3 or when cleaning the capsule storage chamber 3.

[0033] The outer seal portion 19 is provided at the inner corner 17A in the thickness direction on the recess 15 side of the outer wall portion 17. The outer seal portion 19 in the free state shown in FIG. 6 extends integrally from the inner corner 17A of the outer wall portion 17 toward the upper side, which is the opposing surface 5A side of the lid body 5, so as to be inclined inward. The outer seal portion 19 is formed in a thin plate shape, similar to the inner seal portion 18. More specifically, the thickness dimension of the outer seal portion 19 is set to a dimension such that, as shown in FIG. 5, when the lid body 5 is pressed from above with a light force to close, the tip abutting against the opposing surface 5A can be easily bent and can be in close contact with the opposing surface 5A of the lid body 5 with elastic force, similar to the inner seal portion 18.

[0034] The capsule 20 is formed by closing both ends of a cylindrical body with semispherical portions. A powdered medicine (powdered medicine) is filled inside the capsule 20. In addition, an inlet hole and an outlet hole can be opened in the capsule 20 by using the hole-opening members 12 and 13.

[0035] The medicine dispenser 1 according to this embodiment has the configuration described above. Next, the operation when the powdered medicine filled in the capsule 20 is inhaled will be described.

[0036] Capsules 20 are placed in each of the capsule storage chambers 3 and 4, and the lid body 5 is closed. At this time, since the peripheral wall 3C of the capsule storage chamber 3 is provided with the inner seal portion 18 and the outer seal portion 19 so as to extend from the entire circumference surrounding the capsule storage chamber 3 toward the opposing surface 5A of the lid body 5, the opposing surface 5A of the lid body 5 can be elastically contacted with the inner seal portion 18 and the outer seal portion 19 to provide an airtight seal between the peripheral wall 3C and the lid body 5. Similarly, the peripheral wall 4C of the capsule storage chamber 4 and the lid body 5 can be airtight sealed between them.

[0037] Next, the support portion 12A of the hole punching member 12 is pushed in and the needle is pierced into the capsule 20 in the capsule storage chamber 3, thereby opening an inlet hole and an outlet hole in the capsule 20. Similarly, the support portion 13A of the hole punching member 13 is pushed in and the needle is pierced into the capsule 20 in the capsule storage chamber 4, thereby opening an inlet hole and an outlet hole in the capsule 20.

[0038] Once the inlet and outlet holes have been opened in the capsule 20, the operation proceeds to inhaling the powdered medicine filled in the capsule 20 in the capsule storage chamber 3. In this operation, the medicine powder suction part 10 is held in the mouth and a breath is taken in. At this time, outside air flows into the capsule 20 from the inlet hole through the air inflow passage 8. The air that has flowed into the capsule 20 disperses the powdered medicine inside the capsule 20, and flows out from the outlet hole toward the powdered medicine suction part 10 side with the powdered medicine contained therein.

[0039] As a result, the powdered medicine flowing out of the capsule 20 is inhaled by the patient through the powdered medicine inhalation section 10. Next, by holding the powdered medicine inhalation section 11 in the mouth and breathing in, the powdered medicine filled in the capsule 20 in the capsule storage chamber 4 is also inhaled by the patient.

[0040] Thus, according to this embodiment, the opposing surfaces 3C1, 4C1 of the peripheral walls 3C, 4C of the capsule storage chambers 3, 4 are provided with an inner seal portion 18 and an outer seal portion 19 which extend from the entire circumference surrounding the capsule storage chambers 3, 4 toward the opposing surface 5A of the lid body 5 and serve as seal portions which seal between the peripheral walls 3C, 4C and the lid body 5 by elastically contacting the opposing surface 5A of the lid body 5.

[0041] Therefore, when the user holds the medicine powder inhalation parts 10, 11 in their mouths and inhales, it is possible to reduce the inflow of outside air into the capsule containing chambers 3, 4 through the gap between the peripheral walls 3C, 4C and the lid 5. This makes it possible to keep the flow rate of air constant when inhaling the medicine powder, so that the medicine dispenser 1 can stably administer a prescribed amount of medicine powder.

[0042] In addition, in the medicine dispenser 1 of this embodiment, the inner seal portion 18 is provided by extending from the opposing surface 3C1 of the peripheral wall 3C, and the outer seal portion 19 is provided by extending from the opposing surface 4C1 of the peripheral wall 4C, so that the inner seal portion 18 and the outer seal portion 19 are integrally formed with the peripheral walls 3C, 4C. As a result, in this embodiment, since there is no need to provide a separate seal member, it is possible to improve the sealing performance between the capsule storage chambers 3, 4 and the lid body 5 while suppressing increases in parts costs and manufacturing costs due to an increase in the number of parts.

[0043] Furthermore, the inner seal portion 18 and the outer seal portion 19 are configured to come into contact with the opposing surface 5A of the lid body 5 in the opening and closing direction of the lid body 5, i.e., in the up-down direction. Therefore, when the lid body 5 is closed, the opposing surface 5A can elastically deform the inner seal portion 18 and the outer seal portion 19 to come into close contact without significant sliding contact with them as in closing a screw-type cap. As a result, in this embodiment, wear of the inner seal portion 18 and the outer seal portion 19 can be suppressed, improving durability.

[0044] Furthermore, the peripheral walls 3C, 4C of the capsule containing chambers 3, 4 have an inner wall portion 16 and an outer wall portion 17 by a recess 15 at the middle portion in the thickness direction. The inner seal portion 18 is provided at an outer corner portion 16A of the inner wall portion 16 on the recess 15 side, and the outer seal portion 19 is provided at an inner corner portion 17A of the outer wall portion 17 on the recess 15 side. As a result, the inner seal portion 18 and the outer seal portion 19 do not get in the way when putting the capsule 20 in and taking it out of the capsule containing chamber 3, or when cleaning the capsule containing chamber 3 and the surroundings, so that these operations can be easily performed. Moreover, the inner seal portion 18 and the outer seal portion 19 form a double seal structure, so that the sealing property (airtightness) between the capsule containing chambers 3, 4 and the lid body 5 can be further improved.

[0045] Next, Figures 7 and 8 show a second embodiment of the present invention. The feature of this embodiment is that a seal portion is provided on the opposing surface of the lid. In the second embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted. In the second embodiment, the seal device 21 corresponding to the peripheral wall 3C of the capsule storage chamber 3 will be described, and the description of the seal device on the capsule storage chamber 4 side having a similar configuration will be omitted.

[0046] 7, the sealing device 21 according to the second embodiment is composed of an arc-shaped end surface 22 and a seal portion 23, which will be described later. The arc-shaped end surface 22 is formed as an arc surface on the upper part of the peripheral wall 3C of the capsule accommodating chamber 3. Due to its arc shape, the arc-shaped end surface 22 elastically deforms so as to push and spread the seal portion 23, which will be described later and comes into contact with the outer periphery side. The arc-shaped end surface 22 also serves as the opposing surface of the peripheral wall 3C.

[0047] The seal portion 23 is integrally molded on the opposing surface 5A of the lid body 5. The seal portion 23 on the opposing surface 5A extends from the entire circumference surrounding the capsule storage chamber 3 toward the arc-shaped end surface 22, which is the other opposing surface. The seal portion 23 is made of an elastic resin material and has a plate thickness that allows elastic deformation when it abuts against the peripheral wall 3C. As a result, the seal portion 23 can seal between the peripheral wall 3C and the lid body 5 by elastically contacting with the arc-shaped end surface 22. More specifically, the seal portion 23 is formed to abut against the outer periphery of the arc-shaped end surface 22, which is the opposite side of the capsule storage chamber 3. Therefore, even if the capsule storage chamber 3 becomes negative pressure when the lid body 5 is closed and the powdered medicine in the capsule storage chamber 3 is inhaled, the seal portion 23 acts to bend toward the outer periphery of the arc-shaped end surface 22 due to the pressure difference between the capsule storage chamber 3 and the outside, so that the seal portion 23 and the arc-shaped end surface 22 are more closely attached to each other, improving the sealing performance.

[0048] The seal portion 23 is formed in an elongated cylindrical shape slightly smaller than the elongated cylindrical peripheral wall 3C. More specifically, the seal portion 23 is formed such that its inner peripheral surface is smaller than the outer peripheral surface of the peripheral wall 3C by a dimension S in a free state (a state separated from the peripheral wall 3C) shown in FIG. 8. In this case, the dimension S is set to a dimension that allows the seal portion 23 to be easily deflected when the lid body 5 is pressed from above with a light force to close and the seal portion 23 abuts against the arc-shaped end surface 22 as shown in FIG. 7, and allows the seal portion 23 to be in close contact with the arc-shaped end surface 22 by elastic force. The seal portion 23 may be configured to contact the inner peripheral side of the arc-shaped end surface 22.

[0049] Thus, in the second embodiment thus configured, it is possible to obtain substantially the same effects as in the first embodiment described above.

[0050] Next, Figures 9 and 10 show a third embodiment of the present invention. The feature of this embodiment is that an arch-shaped seal portion is provided on the opposing surface of the lid. In the third embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted. In the third embodiment, the seal device 31 corresponding to the peripheral wall 3C of the capsule storage chamber 3 will be described, and the description of the seal device on the capsule storage chamber 4 side having a similar configuration will be omitted.

[0051] 9, a sealing device 31 according to the third embodiment includes an arch-shaped sealing portion 35 formed integrally with a peripheral wall 3C of a capsule accommodating chamber 3. The sealing device 31 has a recess 32, an inner wall portion 33, and an outer wall portion 34 formed in an upper portion of the peripheral wall 3C, similar to the sealing device 14 according to the first embodiment.

[0052] The arch-shaped seal portion 35 as a seal portion is provided across the upper portion of the inner wall portion 33 and the upper portion of the outer wall portion 34 so as to straddle the recessed portion 32. In other words, the arch-shaped seal portion 35 integrally extends from the inner wall portion 33 toward the upper side, which is the opposing surface 5A side of the lid body 5, and from the outer wall portion 34 toward the upper side, which is the opposing surface 5A side of the lid body 5, and is connected at the upper portion. As shown in FIG. 10, the arch-shaped seal portion 35 is made of an elastic resin material and is integrally molded with the peripheral wall 3C as a circular arc-shaped thin plate protruding above the opposing surface 3C1 of the peripheral wall 3C (toward the lid body 5). In detail, the thickness dimension of the arch-shaped seal portion 35 is set to a dimension such that when the lid body 5 is closed by pressing it lightly from above, the upper portion abutting against the opposing surface 5A can be easily deflected and can be in close contact with the opposing surface 5A of the lid body 5 with elasticity, as shown in FIG. 9.

[0053] Thus, the third embodiment thus configured can also provide substantially the same effects as those of the first embodiment. In particular, according to the third embodiment, the arch-shaped seal portion 35 does not protrude from the peripheral wall 3C, and therefore does not get in the way when putting the capsule 20 in and out of the capsule storage chamber 3 or cleaning the capsule storage chamber 3. In addition, the arch-shaped seal portion 35 can close the recess 32, and therefore can prevent medicine powder from entering and remaining in the recess 32.

[0054] Next, Figures 11 and 12 show a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The feature of this embodiment is that a seal portion is provided on the opposing surface of the lid body, and a portion that generates an elastic force between the seal portion and the circumferential wall of the capsule storage chamber is provided. In the fourth embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted. In the fourth embodiment, the seal device 41 corresponding to the circumferential wall 3C of the capsule storage chamber 3 will be described, and the description of the seal device on the capsule storage chamber 4 side having a similar configuration will be omitted.

[0055] 11, a sealing device 41 according to the fourth embodiment is composed of an elastic plate 42 and a sealing portion 43, which will be described later. The elastic plate 42 is formed as a cantilevered plate on the upper portion of the peripheral wall 3C of the capsule accommodating chamber 3. The elastic plate 42 has a gap on the lower side opposite the lid body 5, and can be elastically deformed when pressed from above.

[0056] The seal portion 43 is integrally molded on the opposing surface 5A of the lid body 5. The seal portion 43 extends from the entire circumference surrounding the capsule storage chamber 3 toward the opposing surface 3C1 of the peripheral wall 3C, which is the other opposing surface, and is formed as an annular triangular protrusion with a smaller inclination toward the capsule storage chamber 3. The seal portion 43 can seal between the peripheral wall 3C and the lid body 5 by pressing its tip (lower end) against the elastic plate 42 using the elastic force of the elastic plate 42. More specifically, the seal portion 43 extends toward the opposing surface 3C1 of the peripheral wall 3C. In addition, there is a gap below the elastic plate 42. Therefore, when the lid body 5 is closed and the medicine powder in the capsule storage chamber 3 is inhaled and the inside of the capsule storage chamber 3 becomes negative pressure, the elastic plate 42 acts to bend toward the seal portion 43 due to the pressure difference between the capsule storage chamber 3 and the outside, so that the elastic plate 42 and the seal portion 43 are more closely attached to each other, improving the sealing performance.

[0057] Thus, in the fourth embodiment configured as above, it is possible to obtain substantially the same effects as in the first embodiment described above.

[0058] In the first embodiment, the medicine dispenser 1 is illustrated as being configured by a first medicine dispenser 1A and a second medicine dispenser 1B arranged symmetrically. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be configured to be applied to one medicine dispenser. The same applies to other embodiments.

[0059] As a medicine administering device based on the embodiment described above, for example, the following aspects are considered.

[0060] In a first aspect of the medicine dispenser, the medicine dispenser includes a main body, a medicine powder storage chamber surrounded by a peripheral wall and having an opening, a lid rotatably mounted on the main body and opened and closed between an open position that opens the opening and a closed position that closes the opening, an air inflow path that is mounted on the main body and allows air to flow from the outside into the medicine powder storage chamber, and a medicine powder suction unit that is mounted on the main body and sucks in the medicine powder together with the air that has flowed into the medicine powder storage chamber from the air inflow path. In this medicine dispenser, at least one of the opposing surfaces between the peripheral wall and the lid is provided with a seal portion that extends from the entire circumference surrounding the medicine powder storage chamber toward the other opposing surface and elastically contacts with the other opposing surface to seal between the peripheral wall and the lid. This makes it possible to improve the sealing performance between the medicine powder storage chamber and the lid without increasing the number of parts.

[0061] In a second aspect of the medicine dispenser, the seal portion contacts the other opposing surface in the opening and closing direction of the lid body in the first aspect, thereby suppressing wear of the seal portion when the lid body is closed and improving durability.

[0062] The third aspect of the medicine dispenser is characterized in that, in the first aspect, the peripheral wall has an inner wall and an outer wall by a recess in the middle in the thickness direction, and the seal portion is provided at at least one of the outer corner of the recess side of the inner wall and the inner corner of the recess side of the outer wall. This makes it easy to put powder in and take it out of the powder storage chamber, or to clean the powder storage chamber and the surroundings. In addition, when a double seal structure is used, the sealability (airtightness) between the powder storage chamber and the lid can be further improved. [Explanation of symbols]

[0063] 1 Medication dispenser 2 Main unit 3,4 Capsule storage room (powder storage room) 3C,4C Peripheral wall 3C1,4C1 Opposite surface 5 Lid 5A Opposite Surface 8,9 Air inlet 10,11 Medicine powder inhaler 15,32 Recess 16,33 Inner wall 16A Outer corner 17,34 Outer wall 17A Inner corner 18 Inner seal part (seal part) 19 Outer seal part (seal part) 22 Circular end surface (opposing surface) 23,43 Seal part 35 Arch-shaped seal part (seal part)

Claims

1. The main body, A powder storage chamber provided in the main body, surrounded by a peripheral wall, and having an opening; a cover provided rotatably on the main body and adapted to be opened and closed between an open position that opens the opening and a closed position that closes the opening; An air inlet passage provided in the main body for allowing air to flow from the outside into the powder storage chamber; a medicine powder suction section provided in the main body and configured to suck in medicine powder together with air flowing into the medicine powder storage chamber from the air inflow passage; In a medicine dispenser comprising: A medicine dispenser characterized in that at least one of the opposing surfaces between the peripheral wall and the lid body is provided with a sealing portion extending from the entire circumference surrounding the medicine powder storage chamber toward the other opposing surface, and sealing between the peripheral wall and the lid body by elastically contacting the other opposing surface.

2. 2. The drug dispenser of claim 1, The medicine dispenser, wherein the sealing portion contacts the other opposing surface in the opening and closing direction of the lid body.

3. 2. The drug dispenser of claim 1, The peripheral wall has an inner wall portion and an outer wall portion defined by a recess in a middle portion in a thickness direction, The medicine dispenser is characterized in that the sealing portion is provided at at least one of an outer corner portion on the recess side of the inner wall portion and an inner corner portion on the recess side of the outer wall portion.

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