Inhalation device

Abstract

This allows you to verify whether the medication was inhaled correctly. [Solution] The inhalation device 10 includes a storage unit 11 that coils up a strip-shaped blister strip 20 in which powdered medicine 22 is sealed in a plurality of blister pockets 21; a drive unit that pulls out the blister strip 20 from the storage unit 11; a unit 13 that opens the pulled-out blister strip 20 so that the medicine 22 can be inhaled from the inhalation unit 18; a blister recovery unit 14 that recovers the opened blister pockets 21 in a coil shape; and a residual medicine recovery unit 15 that recovers any medicine 22 remaining in the blister pockets 21 as the blister pockets 21 pass through the unit 13 and are recovered into the blister recovery unit 14.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an inhalation device.

Background Art

[0002] An inhalation device is disclosed that includes an actuating mechanism having a dispensing system for advancing a blister strip enclosing a drug, an opening system for opening the blister strip, and a common actuator for the dispensing system and the opening system (see Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in the above conventional examples, users, family members, or attending physicians, etc. could not confirm whether the drug was correctly inhaled.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to enable confirmation of whether a drug is correctly inhaled.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] An inhalation device according to the first embodiment includes a storage unit that coils up a strip-shaped blister strip in which powdered medicine is sealed in a plurality of blister pockets; a drive unit that pulls out the blister strip from the storage unit; an opening unit that opens the pulled-out blister strip so that the medicine can be inhaled from the inhalation unit; a blister recovery unit that recovers the opened blister pockets in a coil shape; and a residual medicine recovery unit that recovers the medicine remaining in the blister pockets as the blister pockets pass the opening unit and are recovered in the blister recovery unit.

[0007] In this inhalation device, the blister strip in the containment section is pulled out by the drive unit and opened at the opening unit, allowing the medication to be inhaled from the inhalation unit. Any medication remaining in the blister pocket that is not inhaled is collected in the residual medication collection unit. By checking the presence or absence of medication in the residual medication collection unit, it is possible to confirm whether the medication was inhaled correctly.

[0008] A second embodiment is an inhalation device according to the first embodiment, wherein the drug can be inhaled with the inhalation part facing upward, and the storage part and the blister recovery part are arranged symmetrically on the left and right sides, and the residual drug recovery part is arranged between the left and right blister recovery parts, and the drug remaining in the blister pocket is recovered in the residual drug recovery part.

[0009] This inhaler allows the user to inhale medication from the left and right blister pockets. Any medication remaining in the blister pockets that is not inhaled is collected in the residual medication collection unit. By checking the presence or absence of medication in the residual medication collection unit, it is possible to confirm whether the medication was inhaled correctly.

[0010] The third embodiment is an inhalation device according to the first or second embodiment, wherein the drug collected in the residual drug collection unit is visible from the outside. Furthermore, since the success or failure of the inhalation procedure can be confirmed, anxiety can be alleviated for the user, family, or attending physician.

[0011] In this inhalation device, the medication collected in the residual medication collection unit is visible from the outside, allowing the user, family members, or attending physician to periodically check whether the medication is being inhaled correctly.

[0012] The fourth embodiment is an inhalation device according to any one of the first to third embodiments, wherein the movement of the drive unit and the blister strip can be visually observed from the outside.

[0013] This inhaler allows the movement of the drive unit and blister strip to be visible from the outside, thus eliminating user anxiety about whether the medication was automatically loaded when using the inhaler and whether the medication was actually inhaled after use. This also helps to reduce the decline in adherence (motivation to continue taking medication). [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] According to the present invention, it is possible to confirm whether the drug has been inhaled correctly. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0015] [Figure 1] This is a front view showing the inhalation device according to this embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a front view showing the suction device according to this embodiment with the cover open. [Figure 3] This is an enlarged front view showing how the medication remaining in the blister pocket is collected in the residual medication collection unit. [Figure 4] This is an enlarged front view showing the collected medication in the residual medication collection section as seen from the outside. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0016] The embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Components indicated by the same reference numerals in each drawing are the same or similar components. In the embodiments described below, descriptions and reference numerals that are repeated may be omitted. Furthermore, the drawings used in the following description are all schematic, and the dimensional relationships and ratios of each element shown in the drawings do not necessarily correspond to reality. Also, the dimensional relationships and ratios of each element do not necessarily correspond between multiple drawings.

[0017] In Figures 1 and 2, the inhalation device 10 according to this embodiment includes a storage unit 11, a drive unit 12, an opening unit 13, a blister recovery unit 14, and a remaining drug recovery unit 15. Each of these units is mainly located within a housing 16. The housing 16 is provided with an inhalation unit 18. The inhalation unit 18 is the part that the user puts their mouth to when inhaling the drug. With the inhalation unit 18 facing upwards, the storage unit 11 and the blister recovery unit 14 are arranged symmetrically on the left and right sides. The housing 16 is provided with a cover 19 for opening and closing the inhalation unit 18, but it is not required.

[0018] The containment section 11 is a part that houses a strip-shaped blister strip 20 in a coil shape. The blister strip 20 is a drug carrier in which powdered drug 22 (Figure 3) is sealed in a plurality of blister pockets 21. The blister pockets 21 are arranged in series at predetermined intervals on a sheet-like base 23. The number of blister pockets 21 corresponds to the number of inhalations set for one inhalation device 10. For example, if the number of inhalations is 30, at least 31 blister pockets 21 are provided. If the number of inhalations is 14, at least 15 blister pockets 21 are provided. A sheet 24, which serves as a lid for the blister pockets 21, is attached to the back surface of the base 23. The drug 22 is sealed inside the blister pockets 21 by the sheet 24. The sheet 24 can be peeled off from the blister pockets 21 at the opening section 13. Furthermore, the blister strip 20 may be provided with an empty pocket for one test feeding and peeling off of the sheet 24 in order to check the operation of the inhalation device 10 after assembly. The empty pocket is a blister pocket that does not contain the drug 22.

[0019] The drive unit 12 is a mechanism for pulling out the blister strip 20 from the storage unit 11. The drive unit 12 has a reel 25 for winding up the sheet 24 that has been peeled off from the blister pocket 21. The reel 25 rotates in one direction in the direction of winding up the sheet 24, for example by a gear drive (not shown) accompanying the opening and closing operation of the cover 19. Since the end of the sheet 24 is secured to the reel 25, when the reel 25 rotates, the sheet 24 is wound up and the blister strip 20 is pulled out from the storage unit 11. By means of a ratchet mechanism (not shown), the reel 25 rotates when the cover 19 is opened and does not rotate when the cover 19 is closed.

[0020] The opening part 13 is a part that opens the drawn blister strip 20 and enables the drug 22 to be inhaled from the inhalation part 18. The opening part 13 is located between the reel 25 and the blister collection part 14. The blister pocket 21 from which the sheet 24 has peeled off faces the manifold 26 provided between the left and right reels 25. The manifold 26 communicates with this blister pocket 21 side and also with the inhalation part 18 side.

[0021] The blister collection part 14 is a part that collects the opened blister pockets 21 in a coiled shape. With the inhalation part 18 facing upward, the blister collection part 14 is provided, for example, between the reel 25 and the housing part 11. The blister pocket 21 is guided by the cylindrical guide part 17 and is sent from the opening part 13 to the blister collection part 14.

[0022] The residual drug collection part 15 is a part that collects the drug 22 remaining in the blister pocket 21 during the process in which the blister pocket 21 passes through the opening part 13 and is collected by the blister collection part 14. The residual drug collection part 15 is arranged, for example, between the lower parts of the left and right blister collection parts 14 and collects the drug 22 remaining in the blister pocket 21. The residual drug collection part 15 is, for example, a recess provided in a part of the wall that partitions the blister collection part 14 and the housing part 11. The drug 22 that has not been inhaled falls by gravity with the inhalation part 18 facing upward and is contained in the blister collection part 14.

[0023] A separator 28 is provided between the left and right blister collection parts 14. The blister pocket 21 from which the sheet 24 has been peeled off at the opening part 13 is guided by the separator 28 to a certain position. In a state where the inhalation part 18 is, for example, facing upward, the separator 28 extends downward from the opening part 13 and terminates above the residual drug collection part 15. By making the blister pocket 21 and the base body 23 contact the separator 28 substantially in parallel, the blister pocket 21 can be blocked, and the detachment of the drug 22 remaining in the blister pocket 21 from the blister pocket 21 can be suppressed to a certain extent.

[0024] The medication 22 collected in the medication collection unit 15 may be visible from the outside. For example, the front of the housing 16 may be made entirely transparent or semi-transparent so that the inside of the housing 16, including the medication collection unit 15, is visible from the outside. Alternatively, the front of the housing 16 may be made basically opaque, while a transparent or semi-transparent window 16A is provided on the front part of the medication collection unit 15 so that the medication collection unit 15 is visible from the outside of the housing 16.

[0025] Furthermore, the movement of the drive unit 12 and the blister strip 20 may be made visible from the outside by making the housing 16 transparent in whole or in part.

[0026] (action) This embodiment is configured as described above, and its operation will be explained below. In Figures 1 to 4, in the inhalation device 10 according to this embodiment, the drive unit 12 is activated by opening and closing the cover 19, and the blister strip 20 in the storage unit 11 is pulled out one pitch at a time from the blister pocket 21. This blister strip 20 is opened by the opening unit 13. Specifically, the sheet 24 of the blister strip 20 is peeled off from the blister pocket 21 at the opening unit 13 and wound onto the reel 25, thereby pulling the blister strip 20 out from the storage unit 11. The blister pocket 21 from which the sheet 24 has been peeled off is positioned to face the manifold 26. As a result, when the user puts their mouth to the inhalation unit 18 and inhales, the drug 22 in the blister pocket 21 is drawn into the manifold 26. At this time, the drug 22 passes through the manifold 26 and is inhaled into the user's body through the inhalation unit 18. In this way, one or more types of drugs 22 can be inhaled from the inhalation unit 18.

[0027] At this time, if inhalation is not performed properly, or if the cover 19 is operated before inhalation, the blister pocket 21 from which the sheet 24 has been removed may be advanced further towards the blister recovery unit 14 than the manifold 26. In this case, the drug 22 remaining in the left and right blister pockets 21 that were not inhaled is recovered in the remaining drug recovery unit 15. Specifically, the blister pocket 21 from which the sheet 24 has been removed at the opening unit 13 is guided to the separator 28 to a certain position. During this time, the blister pocket 21 and the base 23 come into contact with the separator 28 in roughly parallel manner, thereby sealing the blister pocket 21 and suppressing to some extent the detachment of the drug 22 remaining in the blister pocket 21 from the blister pocket 21.

[0028] The blister pocket 21 eventually separates from the separator 28 and coils into the blister recovery section 14. At this time, the blister pocket 21 separates from the separator 28 and opens up, facing downwards, causing the remaining drug 22 to detach from the blister pocket 21 due to gravity and fall into the residual drug recovery section 15. Since the residual drug recovery section 15 is a recess provided in part of the wall separating the blister recovery section 14 and the storage section 11, even if the drug 22 separates from the residual drug recovery section 15 when the inhalation device 10 is carried, the drug 22 will not enter the storage section 11, and by lightly tapping the housing 16 with the inhalation section 18 facing upwards, the drug 22 will be returned to the residual drug recovery section 15.

[0029] By checking the presence or absence of the medication 22 in the remaining medication collection unit 15, it is possible to confirm whether the medication 22 was inhaled correctly. If the medication 22 collected in the remaining medication collection unit 15 is visible from the outside, the user of the inhalation device 10, their family, or their doctor can easily confirm whether the medication 22 was inhaled correctly. This also makes it possible to provide guidance on the proper use of the inhalation device 10. For the user, it becomes easier to take medication correctly. Furthermore, because the success or failure of the inhalation procedure can be confirmed, it can alleviate anxiety for the user, their family, or their doctor.

[0030] Furthermore, during the inhalation procedure, opening the cover 19 of the inhalation device 10 eliminates user anxiety about whether the medication 22 was automatically set, and whether the inhalation was successful afterward. This also helps to reduce the decline in adherence (motivation to continue taking medication).

[0031] [Other embodiments] Although an example of an embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to those described above, and it goes without saying that various modifications can be made and implemented without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0032] Even if the drug 22 collected in the drug recovery unit 15 is not visible from the outside, it may be possible to confirm the presence or absence of the drug 22 in the drug recovery unit 15 through some simple operation, such as the removal of a part. [Explanation of symbols]

[0033] 10 Inhaler 11. Storage Unit 12 Drive unit 13 Opening part 14. Blister Pack Recovery Section 15. Leftover medication collection department 18 Suction part 20 blister strips 21 Blister Pockets 22. Medications

Claims

1. A storage section that coils up a strip-shaped blister strip in which powdered drug is sealed in multiple blister pockets, A drive unit for pulling out the blister strip from the storage unit, An opening section is provided to open the pulled-out blister strip, allowing the drug to be inhaled from the inhalation section. A blister recovery unit that recovers the opened blister pocket in a coil shape, During the process in which the blister pocket passes the opening section and is collected in the blister collection section, the remaining drug collection section collects the drug remaining in the blister pocket, An inhalation device having a

2. With the intake portion facing upward, the storage portion and the blister recovery portion are arranged symmetrically on the left and right sides, allowing the drug to be inhaled. The inhalation device according to claim 1, wherein the residual drug recovery unit is located between the left and right blister recovery units, and the drug remaining in the blister pocket is recovered by the residual drug recovery unit.

3. The inhalation device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the drug collected in the residual drug collection section is visible from the outside.

4. The suction device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the movement of the drive unit and the blister strip can be visually observed from the outside.

Images