Inhaler

Abstract

An inhaler according to one embodiment includes a mouthpiece containing a capsule containing a functional substance; a housing having one open end to allow the mouthpiece to be inserted therein; a piercing portion disposed inside the housing and extending from one end to the other end of the housing; a sliding portion to which the mouthpiece is coupled and which slides within the housing; and a stopper attached to one side of the housing to limit the moving distance of the sliding portion, and an air inflow space can be secured between the mouthpiece and the sliding portion.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] An inhaler is disclosed. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventional dry powder inhalers deliver a fixed dose of pharmacological substances into the body in a single dose and are primarily used to treat asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). They use finely dried powder of 5-10 μm or less to ensure efficient absorption of the substance. To deliver a fixed dose, a fixed amount of the drug can be filled into a hard capsule.

[0003] The above-mentioned background art is what the inventors possessed or learned in the process of deriving the present invention, and is not necessarily publicly known art that was disclosed to the general public prior to the filing of the present invention. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2006-0126490 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] It is an object according to one embodiment to provide an inhaler capable of inhaling dry powder and provided with a structure for piercing and coupling of single or multi-dose dry powder inhaler sticks.

[0006] The problems to be solved by the embodiments are not limited to those mentioned above, and other problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] According to one embodiment of the present invention, an inhaler for achieving the above-described object includes: a mouthpiece containing a capsule containing a functional substance; a housing having one end open so that the mouthpiece can be inserted therein; a piercing portion disposed inside the housing and extending from one end to the other end of the housing; a sliding portion to which the mouthpiece is coupled and which slides within the housing; and a stopper attached to one side of the housing and restricting the moving distance of the sliding portion, and an air inflow space can be secured between the mouthpiece and the sliding portion.

[0008] According to one aspect, the sliding portion includes a movable member having a cylindrical body that slides within the housing, and a plurality of mounting members that are spaced apart circumferentially on one surface of the movable member and protrude toward one end of the housing, the mounting members being formed with steps whose protrusion height decreases as they approach the center, and the end of the mouthpiece may be coupled to the mounting members to form the air inflow space.

[0009] According to one aspect, the movable member may further include a plurality of guide grooves formed on the side surfaces of the movable member and disposed between two spaced apart mounting members, and the guide grooves may be coupled to guide rails formed inside the housing.

[0010] According to one aspect, the housing further includes a through hole that penetrates the movable member in the same direction as the moving direction of the movable member, and the piercing portion can pass through the through hole when the movable member slides in a direction from one end of the housing to the other end.

[0011] According to one aspect, the through hole may have a diameter of an opening adjacent to the other end of the housing that is larger than a diameter of an opening adjacent to one end of the housing.

[0012] According to one aspect, the device may further include a spring having one end connected to the sliding portion and the other end connected to the other end of the housing, the spring contracting when the sliding portion is pressurized and moves toward the other end of the housing, and the spring supporting the sliding portion so that the sliding portion is positioned away from the piercing portion toward the one end of the housing when the sliding portion is not pressurized.

[0013] According to one aspect, the stopper can be disposed inside the housing such that one end is located outside the housing and the other end is located further inside than the outer periphery of the sliding portion.

[0014] According to one aspect, the stopper has an air inlet that penetrates the inside of the stopper, and the air inlet can communicate the air inlet space with the outside of the housing. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] The inhaler according to one embodiment allows dry powder to be inhaled and has the advantage that it can be drilled and attached to a single or multi-dose dry powder inhaler stick.

[0016] The effects of the inhaler according to one embodiment are not limited to those mentioned above, and other effects not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description below. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of an inhaler according to one embodiment. FIG. [Figure 2] 1 is a cross-sectional view of an inhaler according to one embodiment. [Figure 3] 1 is a cross-sectional view of an inhaler according to an embodiment in which the capsule is pierced by a piercing portion. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a slide of an inhaler according to one embodiment. [Figure 5] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a slide portion of an inhaler according to one embodiment. [Figure 6] 1 shows an inhaler stopper according to one embodiment; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] The following drawings attached to this specification illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention and, together with the detailed description of the invention, serve to further understand the technical concept of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention should not be interpreted as being limited only to the matters depicted in such drawings.

[0019] Hereinafter, the embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, specific structural or functional descriptions disclosed in this specification are merely examples for the purpose of describing the embodiments, and the embodiments may be implemented in various different forms, and the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described in this specification. It should be understood that all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives to the embodiments are included in the scope of the claims.

[0020] Furthermore, in describing components of the embodiments, terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), and (b) may be used. These terms are merely used to distinguish the component from other components, and do not limit the nature, order, or sequence of the components. When a component is described as being "coupled," "coupled," or "connected" to another component, it should be understood that the component may be directly coupled or connected to the different component, but additional components may be "coupled," "coupled," or "connected" between each component.

[0021] Components having common functions with components included in one embodiment will be described using the same names in other embodiments. Unless otherwise specified, the description of one embodiment will be applied to other embodiments, and detailed description will be omitted to the extent that they overlap.

[0022] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an inhaler 10 according to one embodiment.

[0023] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an inhaler 10 according to one embodiment.

[0024] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an inhaler 10 according to one embodiment in which a capsule C is pierced by a piercing portion 300. As shown in FIG.

[0025] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a slide 400 of an inhaler 10 according to one embodiment.

[0026] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a slide 400 of an inhaler 10 according to one embodiment.

[0027] FIG. 6 shows a stopper 500 for the inhaler 10 according to one embodiment.

[0028] 1 to 3, an inhaler 10 according to one embodiment includes a mouthpiece 100, a housing 200, a piercing portion 300, a sliding portion 400, and a stopper 500. The components constituting the inhaler 10 according to one embodiment may be made of materials such as PLA, ABS, PC, PP, or other biodegradable (environmentally friendly) materials, or may be made of metals such as aluminum.

[0029] The mouthpiece 100 is formed in a cylindrical shape extending in the longitudinal direction, with an air inlet formed on the side. A capsule C containing a functional substance may be contained within the mouthpiece 100. The functional substance may include, for example, nicotine, nicotine salt, caffeine, taurine, vitamins, or other substances. The functional substance may be contained in the capsule C in the form of, for example, a dry powder. Here, the size of the dry powder is approximately 5 to 10 μm, and may include menthol particles of 20 μm or larger. Alternatively, the size of the dry powder may be 5 μm or smaller. Such dry powder may or may not contain a carrier. Here, the size of the carrier is 20 to 50 μm or larger, and may be approximately 100 μm. A mesh net may be provided at the inhalation end of the mouthpiece 100 that comes into contact with the user. The mesh net may be made of PLA or the same material as the housing 200, or may be made of a chemically stable metal that is not toxic when inhaled, such as stainless steel. Mouthpiece 100 may also be constructed from a composite of other materials such as biodegradable (environmentally friendly) materials, paper, or cellulose acetate tow.

[0030] The housing 200 may have one open end. The housing 200 may be provided in various shapes, such as a circular or rectangular shape, that are easy for a user to hold. The mouthpiece 100 is inserted into the housing 200 through one end. The housing 200 may be separated into an upper housing and a lower housing for work such as maintenance of components arranged inside the housing 200 or removal of contaminants therein. The upper housing and the lower housing may be provided in a structure that allows them to be separated and connected via a screw structure formed on the upper housing.

[0031] The piercing portion 300 may be disposed inside the housing 200. The piercing portion 300 may be disposed at the other end of the housing 200. The piercing portion 300 may extend toward one end. The piercing portion 300 may pierce the capsule C. The piercing portion 300 may also be attached to the other end of the housing 200 in a replaceable structure for separate maintenance. For example, the piercing portion 300 may be a needle. The piercing portion 300 may be a single needle, but preferably, two needles may be arranged in parallel. The two needles may have the same or different lengths, and needles of other lengths may have various diameters. The diameter of the needle may be, for example, 0.5, 0.7, 0.9, or 1.0 mm, and preferably 0.7 mm.

[0032] The sliding unit 400 is disposed so as to be slidable within the housing 200. The housing 200 may have an internal uneven structure to prevent the sliding unit 400 from leaving its path. For example, a guide rail to which the sliding unit 400 is movably coupled may be formed within the housing 200. This structure allows the sliding unit 400 to move parallel to the piercing unit 300 when the mouthpiece 100 and the sliding unit 400 are lowered to pierce the capsule C. An end of the mouthpiece 100 may be coupled to the sliding unit 400. When the sliding unit 400 slides, the mouthpiece 100 also moves. In addition, when the mouthpiece 100 and the sliding unit 400 are coupled together, a space for air inflow may be formed between the mouthpiece 100 and the sliding unit 400.

[0033] The stopper 500 can be attached to the side of the housing and can limit the movement distance of the slide portion 400.

[0034] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the inhaler 10 according to one embodiment may further include a spring 600 .

[0035] One end of the spring 600 can be connected to the sliding portion 400, and the other end can be connected to the other end of the housing 200. For example, the piercing portion 300, which is made up of two needles, can be arranged at a distance smaller than the diameter of the spring 600 and surrounded by the spring 600.

[0036] Referring to FIG. 2, when the mouthpiece 100 or the sliding portion 400 is not pressurized by an external force, the spring 600 can support the sliding portion 400 so that it is positioned at a position spaced apart from the piercing portion 300 toward one end of the housing 200.

[0037] 3, when the mouthpiece 100 or the sliding part 400 is pressurized and moves toward the other end of the housing 200, the spring 600 is contracted, and the piercing part 300 penetrates the sliding part 400 and the mouthpiece 100 to pierce the capsule C contained in the mouthpiece 100.

[0038] The capsule C may contain a functional substance in the form of, for example, a dry powder. As described above, the capsule C is pierced by the piercing unit 300, so that the functional substance inside the capsule C becomes available for inhalation by the user. Furthermore, since the user inhales the functional substance while the capsule C is fastened to the mouthpiece 100, the inhalation resistance increases.

[0039] Referring to FIG. 4, the slide part 400 includes a moving member, a mounting member 410 , a guide groove 420 and a through hole 430 .

[0040] The moving member may have a cylindrical body. A mounting member 410 is formed on one side of the moving member, and a protruding member that protrudes cylindrically toward the other end of the housing 200 is formed on the other side. The diameter of the protruding member may be smaller than the diameter of the moving member. One end of the spring 600 is coupled to the protruding member. Therefore, the moving member can efficiently compress the spring 600. Here, the wire diameter of the spring 600 may be between 0.5 and 1.0 mm.

[0041] A plurality of mounting members 410 may be provided and arranged on one surface of the movable member. Here, the plurality of mounting members 410 may be arranged spaced apart from one another in the circumferential direction of the movable member. The mounting members 410 protrude from one surface of the movable member toward one end of the housing 200.

[0042] The mounting member 410 may be formed with, for example, two steps. As shown in FIG. 4, the mounting member 410 may be formed with steps such that the height of the protrusion from one surface of the movable member becomes lower as it approaches the center of the mounting member 410. The end of the mouthpiece 100 is placed on such a mounting member 410. Due to the stepped shape of the mounting member 410, the mouthpiece 100 does not come into contact with the one surface of the movable member, and an air inflow space can be secured between the one surface and the mouthpiece 100. Therefore, the inhaler 10 according to one embodiment allows smooth airflow, and the user can easily inhale the functional substance in the capsule C when the mouthpiece 100 is fastened to the mounting member 410.

[0043] The guide groove 420 may be formed on the side surface of the moving member. A plurality of guide grooves 420 may be provided, and each guide groove 420 may be provided between two spaced apart mounting members 410.

[0044] A guide rail may be formed inside the housing 200 in the vertical direction of the housing 200. The guide rail may be coupled to the guide groove 420 of the sliding part 400. Therefore, the sliding part 400 may move along the guide rail when moving inside the housing 200 and may be prevented from rotating during the movement.

[0045] 4 and 5, the through hole 430 may be formed to penetrate the movable member in the same direction as the moving direction of the movable member. The piercing portion 300 passes through the through hole 430 when the movable member slides from one end of the housing 200 to the other end.

[0046] 5, the through-hole 430 may be formed in a horn shape. For example, the diameter of the opening adjacent to the other end of the housing 200 may be larger than the diameter of the opening adjacent to one end of the housing 200. This shape of the through-hole 430 allows the piercing portion 300 to smoothly pass through the through-hole 430 and reach the capsule C.

[0047] 2 and 3, the stopper 500 may be inserted laterally into the side of the housing 200. The stopper 500 is inserted such that one end is located outside the housing 200 and the other end is located inside the housing 200 of the sliding portion 400. Here, the other end of the stopper 500 may be inserted into the housing 200 so as to be located further inside than the outer periphery of the moving member, as shown in FIGS.

[0048] 6, the stopper 500 has an air inlet 510 formed therethrough. The air inlet 510 may connect the air inlet space between the mouthpiece 100 and the sliding portion 400 to the outside of the housing 200. Therefore, the inhaler 10 according to one embodiment allows smooth airflow from the outside to the air inlet space, allowing the user to easily inhale the functional substance in the capsule C. A plurality of stoppers 500 may be provided to facilitate smooth air inflow into the inhaler 10. For example, the plurality of stoppers 500 may be arranged symmetrically about the origin. The stoppers 500 may be attached to the inhaler 10 by force fitting or the like.

[0049] As described above, in one embodiment of the inhaler 10, the end of the mouthpiece 100 is fixed to the mounting member 410 of the sliding portion 400 to ensure an air inflow space between the mouthpiece 100 and the sliding portion 400, thereby enabling smooth air inflow at all ends and sides of the mouthpiece 100.

[0050] In addition, in one embodiment, the inhaler 10 can be inhaled with the housing 200 and the mouthpiece 100 fastened together to ensure similarity in inhalation resistance, and the level of inhalation resistance when the mouthpiece 100 is fastened may be 30 to 50 mmH2O.

[0051] As described above, the present invention has been described with reference to embodiments and drawings that are limited to specific features, such as specific components, but these are provided to facilitate a more comprehensive understanding of the present invention. The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications and variations can be made from these embodiments. For example, the described techniques may be performed in a different order than described, and / or the described components, such as structures and devices, may be combined or combined in a different manner than described, or may be substituted or replaced with other components or equivalents, and still achieve suitable results. Therefore, the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the described embodiments, but should encompass not only the following claims, but also all equivalent or similar modifications within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. a mouthpiece including a capsule containing a functional substance; a housing having an open end so that the mouthpiece can be inserted therein; a piercing portion disposed inside the housing and extending from the other end of the housing toward the one end; a slide portion to which the mouthpiece is coupled and which slides inside the housing; a stopper attached to one side of the housing to limit the movement distance of the slide portion; Including, An inhaler in which an air inflow space is secured between the mouthpiece and the sliding portion.

2. The slide portion is a moving member that slides and moves inside the housing and has a cylindrical body; a plurality of mounting members each disposed on one surface of the movable member at intervals in the circumferential direction and projecting toward one end of the housing; Including, 2. The inhaler of claim 1, wherein the mounting member is formed with a step such that the protrusion height decreases toward the center, and an end of the mouthpiece is coupled to the mounting member to form the air inflow space.

3. The moving member further includes a plurality of guide grooves formed on a side surface thereof and disposed between the two spaced apart mounting members, The inhaler according to claim 2 , wherein the guide groove is coupled to a guide rail formed inside the housing.

4. The moving member further includes a through hole that penetrates the moving member in the same direction as the moving direction of the moving member, The inhaler according to claim 2, wherein the piercing portion passes through the through-hole when the moving member slides in a direction from one end of the housing to the other end.

5. 5. The inhaler according to claim 4, wherein the through-hole has a diameter at an opening adjacent to the other end of the housing that is larger than a diameter at an opening adjacent to one end of the housing.

6. a spring having one end coupled to the slide portion and the other end coupled to the other end of the housing; the spring contracts when the slide is pressed and moves toward the other end of the housing; The inhaler according to claim 1, wherein the spring supports the sliding portion so that the sliding portion is positioned away from the piercing portion toward one end of the housing when the sliding portion is not pressurized.

7. The inhaler according to claim 1, wherein the stopper is positioned inside the housing so that one end is located outside the housing and the other end is located inside the housing further inside than the outer periphery of the sliding portion.

8. The stopper has an air inlet formed therein that penetrates the inside of the stopper, The inhaler according to claim 7 , wherein the air inlet connects the air inlet space with the outside of the housing.

Images