dry powder inhaler

Abstract

A dry powder inhaler comprising a body (110) including a chamber (111) and a receiving sleeve (120), and a container unit removably inserted into the receiving sleeve (120), the container unit containing a dose of dry powder to be inhaled and comprising a container (10) with a lateral outlet opening (11), a closure ring (12), and an actuating member (130) forming a mouthpiece and provided with an outlet opening, the container (10) being arranged in the inhaler in an unloaded state, with the container (10) in the receiving sleeve (120). and a loaded position in which the entire container (10) is contained within the chamber (111), the closure ring (12) is movable relative to the container (10) between a closed position in which the lateral outlet opening (11) is closed and an open position in which the lateral outlet opening (11) is opened, the closure ring (12) being in the closed position when the container (10) is in the unloaded position and in the open position when the container (10) is in the loaded position, and the actuating member (130) moves the container (10) from the unloaded position to the loaded position.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to dry powder inhalers. [Background technology]

[0002] Dry powder inhalers are well known in the art and there are many different types.

[0003] A first type of multi-dose inhaler comprises a container containing multiple doses of powder and is provided with dispensing means which, on each actuation, enable one dose of powder to be separated from the container and fed into an exhaust duct for administration to the user.

[0004] Such devices require complex and expensive dosing means, do not guarantee accurate or reproducible dosage, and there is a risk of contamination of the powder in the container during use of the inhaler.

[0005] Another type of multi-dose inhaler contains multiple individual containers, each containing a single dose of powder, and one of the containers is opened for each actuation of the inhaler, providing a tight seal on the powder, with the dose only exposed to the atmosphere upon expulsion.

[0006] Various variations have already been proposed for producing such sets of individual containers, such as blister strips or discs.

[0007] For opening the individual containers, it is suggested to peel or pull apart the blister closure layer.

[0008] However, that arrangement has the disadvantage that it is difficult to control the force that must be applied to ensure complete opening without risking opening the next container, particularly when the opening means must be actuated by inhalation.

[0009] Another solution is to pierce the closure membrane of the blister with each actuation, but this requires complex and expensive piercing means.

[0010] Furthermore, the multi-dose inhalers described above have the disadvantage that they do not ensure optimal dosing, so that a large proportion of the dose enters the user's lungs and effectively penetrates to provide beneficial therapeutic effects.

[0011] To make the device less complex and less expensive, single dose inhalers have been proposed which include a single individual container such as a blister or capsule which is loaded into the inhaler immediately prior to use.

[0012] The advantage of such single dose devices is that they can be smaller in size since multiple doses do not need to be accommodated within the device, but they can be cumbersome for the user as they must load a blister or capsule into the inhaler before each use.

[0013] Additionally, there are other drawbacks inherent to these single dose inhalers.

[0014] For example, blisters or capsules usually do not allow for large doses exceeding 100 mg. Furthermore, particularly for perforated capsules or blisters, opening requires the use of complex perforation means and also carries the risk of the perforated membrane entering the administered powder. Furthermore, the ejection performance of the powder from the container is not always optimal, as some of the powder may remain in the container during inhalation.

[0015] To overcome these drawbacks, Patent Document 1 proposes a single-dose inhaler in which a cylindrical container with a side opening is placed within a cylindrical chamber of a larger diameter, and during inhalation the container moves in an orbital motion within the chamber to expel the powder.

[0016] This configuration allows the container to be substantially completely emptied, allowing a larger dose to effectively penetrate the lungs and improving the efficacy of the dose.

[0017] However, a drawback of this device is that the side opening of the container needs to be opened before placing it in the device, which runs the risk of losing or contaminating the powder between uses, especially if the device is not used immediately after placing the container.

[0018] Furthermore, when an inhaler is reused with another container, the mouthpiece area, and in particular the protective grid located upstream of the inhaler's outlet, may be contaminated from previous use.

[0019] Other devices in the art are described in US Pat. Nos. 5,629,289, 5,729,410, 5,729,429, 5,729,410 ... [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0020] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 1998 / 026828 [Patent Document 2] International Publication No. 2013 / 008037 [Patent Document 3] International Publication No. 2012 / 163704 [Patent Document 4] International Publication No. 2008 / 001132 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0021] The object of the present invention is to provide a powder inhaler that does not have the above drawbacks.

[0022] In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide an inhaler of a type that can be easily reused with multiple containers without the risk of contamination or tampering with the inhaler.

[0023] Another object of the present invention is to provide an inhaler which limits or avoids the risk of contamination and / or tampering with the powder in the container.

[0024] Another object of the present invention is to provide an inhaler that reduces the complexity of use for the user and ensures greater safety during use.

[0025] Another object of the present invention is to provide an inhaler that is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and assemble. [Means for solving the problem]

[0026] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a dry powder inhaler comprising: a main body including a chamber and a containing sleeve; and a container unit removably inserted into the containing sleeve, the container unit comprising a container containing a dose of dry powder to be inhaled and having a lateral outlet opening; a closure ring; and an actuating member forming a mouthpiece and provided with an outlet, the container being movable within the inhaler between an unloaded position in which the container is in the containing sleeve and a loaded position in which the entire container is within the chamber, the closure ring being movable relative to the container between a closed position that closes the lateral outlet opening and an open position that opens the lateral outlet opening, the closure ring being in the closed position when the container is in the unloaded position and in the open position when the container is in the loaded position, and the actuating member being adapted to move the container from the unloaded position to the loaded position.

[0027] Advantageously, said actuating member comprises a grid upstream of said outlet.

[0028] Advantageously, the chamber is located between the intake air inlet and the receiving sleeve.

[0029] Advantageously, the diameter of the container is smaller than the diameter of the chamber.

[0030] Advantageously, a tangential channel directs the flow of intake air tangentially into the chamber, thereby causing orbital movement of the container within the chamber.

[0031] Advantageously, the container contains a dose of powder of more than 50 mg, in particular more than 100 mg.

[0032] Advantageously, in the loaded position, the volume occupied by said container within said chamber is greater than 50% of the volume of said chamber.

[0033] Advantageously, the radial diameter of the vessel is greater than the axial height of the vessel.

[0034] Advantageously, the receiving sleeve is provided on its outer surface with a visual marking, such as a colored line, that is visible to the user when the container is in the unloaded position, but is invisible when the container is in the loaded position. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0035] The features, advantages and other aspects of the present invention will become more apparent from the detailed description given below, given by way of non-limiting example, and by reference to the accompanying drawings. [Figure 1] 1 is a cross-sectional view of an advantageous embodiment of an inhaler prior to inserting a canister into the inhaler; [Figure 2] 1, showing the container in the unloaded position after assembly; FIG. [Figure 3] 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but shown in the loaded position. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a bottom view of the container in the chamber, showing it in the loading position. [Figure 5] FIG. 1 is a top view of the mouthpiece, showing it in the loaded position. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0036] In the following description, the terms "upper," "lower," and "lateral" refer to the positions of the device shown in Figures 1 to 3 when it is in an upright position. Additionally, the terms "axial direction" and "radial direction" refer to directions relative to the central longitudinal axis A of the device shown in Figure 1.

[0037] In the embodiment shown in the figures, the inhaler comprises a body 110 containing a chamber 111 and a receiving sleeve 120 adapted to receive a removable container unit.

[0038] Preferably, the chamber 111 is positioned between the inhalation air inlet and the receiving sleeve 120 and is arranged in such a manner that air flows through the chamber 111 when the user inhales.

[0039] The container unit comprises a container 10, a closure ring 12 and an actuating member 130 which forms a mouthpiece and is provided with a discharge opening 121.

[0040] The container 10 contains a dose of dry powder to be inhaled and is provided with a lateral outlet opening 11 .

[0041] The container 10 is arranged within the inhaler so as to be axially movable between an unloaded position shown in FIG. 2 and a loaded position shown in FIG.

[0042] In the unloaded position, the container 10 is positioned within the receiving sleeve 120 with at least a portion of the container 10 extending outside the chamber 111 .

[0043] In the loading position, the container 10 is located entirely within the chamber 111 .

[0044] The container 10 is inserted into the closure ring 12, with the lateral outlet opening 11 being closed by the closure ring 12. This insertion is preferably effected by a force fit, so that the container 10 is held in the closure ring 12 by friction.

[0045] The closure ring 12 protects the powder within the container 10 until the powder is expelled by actuating the inhaler. The closure ring 12 is displaceable and / or deformable relative to the container 10 between a closed position that closes the lateral opening 11 and an open position that opens it, and is in the closed position when the container 10 is in the unloaded position and in the open position when the container 10 is in the loaded position.

[0046] The closure ring 12 is axially movably secured to an actuating member 130 which serves to move the container 10 from an unloaded position to a loaded position.

[0047] The actuating member 130 is axially movable relative to the body 110 to push the container 10 from the unloaded position towards the loaded position. Advantageously, the actuating member 130 comprises two coaxial walls 131, 132, between which the closure ring 12 is slidable between a closed position and an open position.

[0048] Advantageously, as shown in Figure 5, the actuating member 130 comprises, upstream of the outlet 121, a grid 125 which is in contact with the container 10, so that before inserting the container unit into the inhaler, the container 10 is placed in the closure ring 12 which is in the closed position.

[0049] When the container unit is inserted into the inhaler, the lower end of the closure ring 12 abuts against the radial projection 113 of the body 110. The container 10 is then in the unloaded position, with the lateral outlet opening 11 still closed by the closure ring 12.

[0050] When the user uses the inhaler, the actuating member 130 moves axially downward relative to the receiving sleeve 112, pushing the container 10 from the unloaded position towards the loaded position.

[0051] Since the closure ring 12 is prevented from moving axially by the radial projections 113, the container 10 is pushed out of the closure ring 12 into the chamber 111 and is in the loading position with the lateral outlet opening 11 open.

[0052] Advantageously, the receiving sleeve 120 may be provided with a visual marking, such as a colored line, on its outer surface that is visible to the user when the container 10 is in the unloaded position, but is not visible when the container 10 is in the loaded position.

[0053] This allows the user to know that the actuating member 130 has been moved correctly. The user knows that as long as the visual marking is visible, the container 10 is not yet in the loading position and should not be inhaled, and that inhalation is permitted only when the visual marking is obscured by the actuating member 130 and is no longer visible.

[0054] The diameter of the container 10 is smaller than the diameter of the chamber 111 so that in the loading position the container 10 can move within the chamber 111 .

[0055] Advantageously, the tangential channels 115a, 115b, 115c direct the flow of intake air tangentially into the chamber 111, thereby causing orbital motion of the container 10 within the chamber 111, with the container 10 rotating around the chamber 111 along the inner wall of the chamber 111 while also rotating itself.

[0056] This movement of the container 10 expels the powder contained therein, which is carried by the inhaled airflow towards the mouthpiece and outlet.

[0057] Advantageously, the container 10 can accommodate powder doses of more than 50 mg, in particular doses of more than 100 mg. Optionally, very large doses, in particular more than 500 mg, may also be envisaged.

[0058] Advantageously, the volume occupied by the container 10 in the chamber 111 in the loading position is greater than 50% of the volume of the chamber 111 .

[0059] Advantageously, the radial diameter of the container 10 is greater than the axial height of the container 10 .

[0060] Advantageously, the container 10 is formed by an upper container part and a lower container part, which are assembled after being filled with a dose of powder.

[0061] Advantageously, the lateral outlet opening 11 is provided in the lower container part.

[0062] An advantage of the container unit is that it is not symmetrical, which provides a key to prevent incorrect insertion of the container 10 into the inhaler body 100 and allows insertion into the body 110 in only one orientation of the container 10.

[0063] This is particularly advantageous when the outer shape of the container 10 is substantially symmetrical, but the lateral outlet opening 11 is not located in the axial center of the container 10. Indeed, in this case, for optimal operation, it is desirable to orient the container 10 correctly in the inhaler, and the asymmetric shape of the container unit makes it possible to fulfill this function.

[0064] The device of the present invention is simple and effective, has few parts, is cheap to manufacture and assemble, and is reliable in use.

[0065] The orbital movement of the container during operation allows for optimal dosing of the powder and ensures the integrity of the powder until it is used.

[0066] It should be noted that the inhaler can be refilled very easily by replacing an empty reservoir unit with a full reservoir unit.

[0067] In this way, the actuating member 130 and grid 125 forming the mouthpiece are replaced together with the container each time the inhaler is used, so that there is no risk of contamination or tampering of the inhaler after previous use. Various modifications can be envisioned by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. 1. A dry powder inhaler comprising: a body (110) including a chamber (111) and a receiving sleeve (120); a container unit removably inserted into the receiving sleeve (120); Equipped with The container unit comprises: a container (10) containing a dose of dry powder to be inhaled and provided with a lateral outlet opening (11); a closure ring (12); an actuating member (130) forming a mouthpiece and provided with an outlet; Equipped with The container (10) is movable within the inhaler between an unloaded position in which the container (10) is within the receiving sleeve (120) and a loaded position in which the container (10) is entirely within the chamber (111); the closure ring (12) is movable relative to the container (10) between a closed position for closing the lateral outlet opening (11) and an open position for opening the lateral outlet opening (11), the closure ring (12) being in the closed position when the container (10) is in the unloaded position and in the open position when the container (10) is in the loaded position; The actuating member (130) moves the container (10) from an unloaded position to a loaded position. A dry powder inhaler characterized by:

2. The actuating member (130) comprises a grid (125) upstream of the outlet (121).

2. The dry powder inhaler of claim 1.

3. The chamber (111) is located between the intake air inlet and the receiving sleeve (120).

3. The dry powder inhaler of claim 1 or 2.

4. The diameter of the container (10) is smaller than the diameter of the chamber (111). The dry powder inhaler according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. Tangential channels (115a, 115b, 115c) direct the flow of intake air tangentially into the chamber (111), thereby creating an orbital motion of the container (10) within the chamber (111). The dry powder inhaler according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. The container (10) contains a powder having a dose of more than 50 mg, in particular more than 100 mg. The dry powder inhaler according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. In the loaded position, the volume occupied by the container (10) in the chamber (111) is greater than 50% of the volume of the chamber (111). The dry powder inhaler according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. The radial diameter of the container (10) is greater than the axial height of the container (10). The dry powder inhaler according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. The receiving sleeve (120) is provided on its outer surface with a visual marking, such as a colored line, that is visible to a user when the container (10) is in the unloaded position, but is invisible when the container (10) is in the loaded position. The dry powder inhaler according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

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