Inhalers containing powder cartridges

Abstract

The inhaler includes a casing including a first end wall, a second end wall formed opposite the first end wall, a side wall formed between the first end wall and the second end wall, a mouthpiece positioned adjacent to the first end wall of the casing, and a cartridge positioned adjacent to the mouthpiece, the cartridge including a rotatable screw.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE The present disclosure relates generally to inhalers, and more particularly to inhalers that include powder cartridges. [Background technology]

[0002] Research has been conducted on inhalers that include reusable cartridges. For example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 10-2021-0117266 discloses a dry powder inhaler.

[0003] The background art described above was held or learned in the process of deriving the present disclosure, and is not necessarily publicly known art that was disclosed to the general public prior to the filing of the present disclosure. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] One aspect of the present disclosure is to deliver a consistent amount of powder to the user per puff.

[0005] One aspect of the present disclosure is to increase usability for the user by allowing for easy replacement of dry powder cartridges. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] Inhalers according to various embodiments include a casing including a first end wall, a second end wall formed opposite the first end wall, a side wall formed between the first end wall and the second end wall, a mouthpiece positioned adjacent the first end wall of the casing, and a cartridge positioned adjacent the mouthpiece and storing a functional substance therein, the cartridge being capable of delivering a determined amount of the functional substance.

[0007] In one embodiment, the cartridge further includes a housing in which dry powder is stored, a rotary screw longitudinally disposed within the housing, a distribution cone formed integrally with the rotary screw and in contact with the mouthpiece, the distribution cone including a plurality of apertures, and a plate disposed between the rotary screw and the distribution cone and including a powder discharge port, wherein the rotary screw is longitudinally disposed within the housing, and when the powder discharge port of the plate corresponds to the apertures, the dry powder stored within the cartridge can be transferred to the mouthpiece.

[0008] In one embodiment, the mouthpiece may include a mouthpiece tip portion protruding outward from the first end wall of the casing, a recess portion connected to the mouthpiece tip portion and formed inside the casing, a plurality of partitions dividing the space of the recess portion, and an elongated cavity extending from the recess portion to one end of the mouthpiece tip portion.

[0009] In one embodiment, the apertures correspond to spaces formed between adjacent partitions of the mouthpiece.

[0010] In one embodiment, when the number of the partitions is n, the rotating screw can rotate by 360 / n degrees.

[0011] In one embodiment, the device further includes a puff sensor, and when the puff sensor detects a puff from the user, the rotary screw can rotate about an axis parallel to the longitudinal direction of the cartridge.

[0012] In one embodiment, the cartridge further includes a switch exposed to the outside of the casing, and when the switch is clicked, the rotation screw can rotate about an axis parallel to the longitudinal direction of the cartridge.

[0013] In one embodiment, the mouthpiece may further include an inhalation delay portion disposed inside the elongated cavity.

[0014] In one embodiment, the suction delay portion may be formed in a spiral shape along the longitudinal direction of the elongated cavity.

[0015] In one embodiment, the cartridge further includes a lead disposed on one side of the housing, the lead being retractable from the housing.

[0016] In one embodiment, the cartridge is reusable. [Effects of the Invention]

[0017] Inhalers according to certain embodiments can deliver a consistent amount of powder to a user per puff. Inhalers according to certain embodiments can increase usability for users by allowing dry powder cartridges to be easily replaced. The effects of inhalers according to certain embodiments are not limited to those mentioned above, and other effects not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description.

[0018] The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of particular embodiments of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dry powder inhaler according to one embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a dry powder inhaler according to one embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a cartridge according to one embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a dry powder inhaler according to one embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mouthpiece according to one embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a mouthpiece according to one embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] The terms used in the embodiments are generally used as widely as possible while taking into consideration the functions in the embodiments, but these may change depending on the intentions of engineers in the field, precedents, the emergence of new technologies, etc. In addition, in certain cases, the applicant may arbitrarily select terms, and in such cases, the meanings thereof will be described in detail in the relevant description of the invention. Therefore, the terms used in the present invention should be defined based on the meanings of the terms and the overall content of the present invention, rather than simply the names of the terms.

[0021] Throughout the specification, when a part is described as "comprising" a component, unless otherwise specified, this does not exclude other components and means that the part may further include other components. Furthermore, the terms "module," "unit," etc. described in this specification refer to a unit that processes at least one function or operation, and may be embodied in hardware or software, or a combination of hardware and software.

[0022] As used herein, when a phrase such as "at least any" precedes an arrangement of components, it modifies the arrangement as a whole, not each individual component of the arrangement. For example, the phrase "at least any of a, b, and c" should be interpreted as including a, b, or c, or a and b, a and b, a and c, b and c, or a, b, and c.

[0023] In the following embodiments, the term "inhaler" refers to a device that contains a powder or liquid inhalant and delivers the inhalant through the user's mouth. A typical example of an inhaler is a dry powder inhaler (DPI), but the scope of the present specification is not limited thereto.

[0024] In the following embodiments, "upstream" or "upstream direction" means a direction away from the mouth of the user (smoker), and "downstream" or "downstream direction" means a direction towards the mouth of the user. The terms upstream and downstream are used to describe the relative positions of elements making up the aerosol-generating article.

[0025] In the following embodiments, "puff" refers to inhalation by a user, and inhalation refers to a situation in which inhalation is performed through the user's mouth or nose into the user's oral cavity, nasal cavity, or lungs.

[0026] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0027] Figure 1 is a perspective view of an inhaler 10 according to one embodiment, and Figure 2 is an exploded view of the inhaler 10 according to one embodiment.

[0028] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the inhaler 10 includes a casing 11, a mouthpiece 12, a cartridge 13, and a drive unit 14.

[0029] In one embodiment, the casing 11 forms the exterior of the inhaler 10. The casing 11 is formed to cover the components housed inside the casing 11. The casing 11 is made of a strong and rigid material, which can protect the components from external impact, heat, dust, dirt, and the like. The casing 11 includes a first end wall 11a, a second end wall 11b, and a side wall 11c. The first end wall 11a is a wall formed in the direction in which the mouthpiece 12 is disposed. The second end wall 11b is a wall disposed on the opposite side of the first end wall 11a. The side wall 11c is a wall formed between the first end wall 11a and the second end wall 11b. The powder housed inside the inhaler 10 can move in a direction from the second end wall 11b toward the first end wall 11a.

[0030] In one embodiment, the mouthpiece 12 comes into contact with the user's mouth when the user inhales the inhalable substance stored inside the inhaler 10. The mouthpiece 12 is disposed adjacent to the first end wall 11a of the casing 11. The mouthpiece 12 may be formed to protrude from the first end wall 11a. The mouthpiece 12 according to one embodiment will be described in more detail below with reference to Figures 5 and 6.

[0031] In one embodiment, the cartridge 13 may be housed inside the casing 11. The cartridge 13 is disposed adjacent to the mouthpiece 12. The cartridge 13 may contain a functional substance that the user desires to inhale. For example, the functional substance may include at least one of nicotine, theanine, caffeine, taurine, a pharmacological substance, or a mixture thereof. The functional substance may be in the form of fine granules or a dry powder. The functional substance stored inside the cartridge 13 is delivered to the mouthpiece 12, allowing the user to inhale the functional substance. The cartridge 13 according to one embodiment will be described in more detail below with reference to FIG. 3.

[0032] In one embodiment, the drive unit 14 can be disposed adjacent to the cartridge 13. For example, the drive unit 14 may be disposed downstream of the cartridge 13. The drive unit 14 includes a battery (not shown) and a control unit (not shown).

[0033] The battery can supply the power necessary for the operation of the inhaler 10. For example, the rotary screw of the cartridge 13 (e.g., rotary screw 132 in FIG. 3) can be rotated by power supplied from the battery. The controller controls the overall operation of the inhaler 10. In one embodiment, the controller may include at least one processor. The processor may be embodied as an array of multiple logic gates, or as a combination of a general-purpose microprocessor and a memory storing a program executable by the microprocessor. Those skilled in the art will understand that the present invention may also be realized in other forms of hardware.

[0034] Although not shown in FIGS. 1 and / or 2, the inhaler 10 may further include a puff sensor or a switch. In one embodiment, the inhaler 10 including a puff sensor recognizes the user's inhalation and rotates the rotary screw 132 without any additional input. The puff sensor may detect the user's inhalation. When the puff sensor detects the user's inhalation, it transmits a signal to the control unit of the drive unit 14 to rotate the rotary screw (e.g., the rotary screw 132 in FIG. 3). The rotary screw 132 may rotate around an axis parallel to the longitudinal direction of the cartridge. In one embodiment, the inhaler 10 including a switch rotates the rotary screw 132 when the user clicks (inputs) the switch. When the user clicks the switch, it transmits a signal to the control unit of the drive unit 14 to rotate the rotary screw 132.

[0035] Figure 3 is a perspective view of the cartridge 13 according to one embodiment. Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the inhaler 10 according to one embodiment.

[0036] 3 and 4, the internal structure and drive mechanism of the cartridge 13 will be described. The cartridge 13 includes a housing 131, a rotary screw 132, a distribution cone 133, a plate 134, and a reed 135.

[0037] In one embodiment, the housing 131 forms the exterior of the cartridge 13. The housing 131 may have a shape corresponding to the internal space of the casing 11 of an inhaler (e.g., the inhaler 10 of FIG. 1). For example, the housing 131 may have a cylindrical shape. The housing 131 may house a functional substance (e.g., dry powder, etc.) contained inside the housing 131. The housing 131 is made of a material with high strength and rigidity, thereby protecting the components from externally transmitted impact, heat, dust, dirt, etc.

[0038] In one embodiment, the rotary screw 132 may include a thread formed based on an axis formed in the longitudinal direction of the cartridge 13. As the rotary screw 132 rotates, the thread of the rotary screw 132 advances. The corner of the thread of the rotary screw 132 contacts the inner surface of the housing 131. When the corner of the thread contacts the inner surface of the housing 131, transmission efficiency can be maximized when the rotary screw 132 rotates to push the functional material toward the distribution cone 133. The rotary screw 132 may be formed from one end to the other end in the longitudinal direction of the cartridge 13.

[0039] In one embodiment, the distribution cone 133 may be disposed at one end of the cartridge 13. The distribution cone 133 contacts the mouthpiece 12. For example, the distribution cone 133 may contact a partition wall (e.g., partition wall 123 in FIGS. 5 and 6) of the mouthpiece 12. The distribution cone 133 may be formed integrally with the rotating screw 132 (see FIG. 4). The distribution cone 133 is formed integrally with the rotating screw 132, so that the distribution cone 133 rotates together with the rotating screw 132. The distribution cone 133 includes an aperture 133a. The distribution cone 133 may have a plurality of apertures 133a. The aperture 133a may be formed to communicate the internal space with the external space of the cartridge 13. The apertures 133a are formed adjacent to the end of the distribution cone 133, spaced apart by a certain angle. For example, if the distribution cone 133 includes four apertures 133a, the apertures 133a may be arranged at 90-degree intervals. For example, if the distribution cone 133 includes three apertures 133a, the apertures 133a may be spaced 120 degrees apart.

[0040] In one embodiment, the plate 134 may be disposed between the rotary screw 132 and the distribution cone 133. That is, the plate 134 may include a large hole formed in the center, or the rotary screw 132 and the distribution cone 133 may be connected via the hole to form a single unit. The plate 134 may also be formed separately from the rotary screw 132 and the distribution cone 133. The plate 134 may be fixed to the housing 131 even when the rotary screw 132 rotates. The plate 134 includes a powder discharge port 134h. The powder discharge port 134h may be formed to penetrate the cartridge 13 in the longitudinal direction. The diameter of the powder discharge port 134h is larger than the diameter of the aperture 133a of the distribution cone 133. When the powder discharge port 134h corresponds to one of the apertures 133a of the distribution cone 133 as the rotary screw 132 rotates, the dry powder stored inside the cartridge 13 can move to the mouthpiece 12 (see the arrow in FIG. 4 ).

[0041] In one embodiment, the lead 135 may be formed on one side of the housing 131 of the cartridge 13. The lead 135 is separated (opened and closed) from the housing 131. Since the cartridge 13 is configured to be openable and closable via the lead 135, when the functional material stored inside the cartridge 13 is depleted, the lead 135 can be opened and refilled. Therefore, the cartridge 13 according to one embodiment is reusable.

[0042] Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a mouthpiece 12 according to one embodiment. Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a mouthpiece 12 according to one embodiment.

[0043] 5 and 6, the mouthpiece 12 includes a mouthpiece tip 121, a recess 122, a partition 123, an elongated cavity 124, and an inhalation delay portion 125.

[0044] In one embodiment, mouthpiece tip portion 121 corresponds to the portion that comes into direct contact with the user's mouth. Mouthpiece tip portion 121 may be formed to protrude outward from a first end wall (e.g., first end wall 11a in FIG. 1) of a casing (e.g., casing 11 in FIG. 1). Mouthpiece tip portion 121 is formed so that its thickness decreases as it moves from the upstream side to the downstream side. Mouthpiece tip portion 121 may be formed flat in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. Mouthpiece tip portion 121 includes an elongated cavity 124 formed inside in the longitudinal direction.

[0045] In one embodiment, the recess 122 may be formed on the opposite side of the mouthpiece tip portion 121. The recess 122 may be formed integrally with the mouthpiece tip portion 121. The recess 122 includes a space formed inside a casing (e.g., the casing 11 in FIG. 4). The recess 122 may temporarily store a functional substance (e.g., dry powder) that has passed through the powder discharge port 134h of the plate 134 and the aperture 133a of the distribution cone 133 (see FIG. 4). The recess 122 may communicate with an elongated cavity 124 formed longitudinally inside the mouthpiece tip portion 121.

[0046] In one embodiment, the partition 123 may be formed at an end of the recess 122 to protrude toward the center. A plurality of partitions 123 may be formed. The partitions 123 may not contact each other and may extend to the point where the elongated cavity 124 begins. The partitions 123 divide the interior space of the recess 122. The spaces formed between adjacent partitions 123 correspond to the apertures 133a formed in the dispensing cone 133 of the cartridge 13. The functional substance transferred to the mouthpiece 12 through the apertures 133a is temporarily stored in the spaces formed between the partitions 123 of the mouthpiece 12 and then transferred to the user's mouth through the elongated cavity 124. The partitions 123 may be formed at regular angular intervals in the recess 122. For example, if the recess 122 includes four partitions 123, the partitions 123 may be arranged at 90-degree intervals. For example, if recess 122 includes three partitions 123, the partitions 123 may be spaced at 120-degree intervals. That is, if the number of partitions 123 formed in recess 122 is n, the number of apertures (e.g., apertures 133a in FIG. 3) formed in a dispensing cone (e.g., dispensing cone 133 in FIG. 3) of cartridge 13 is preferably also n, and the rotating screw (e.g., rotating screw 132 in FIG. 3) can rotate 360 / n degrees per puff or switch click by the user.

[0047] In one embodiment, the elongated cavity 124 extends from the center of the recess 122 to one end of the mouthpiece tip 121 and is in fluid communication with the outside of the inhaler 10. The functional substance temporarily stored in the recess 122 can be transported to the user's mouth via the elongated cavity 124.

[0048] In one embodiment, an inhalation delay portion 125 may be formed inside the elongated cavity 124. The inhalation delay portion 125 prevents a large amount of functional material from being transferred to the mouth by a single puff from the user. The inhalation delay portion 125 may have a structure with a complex shape formed inside the elongated cavity 124, which is formed in the longitudinal direction. For example, the inhalation delay portion 125 may have a spiral structure that rotates about an axis parallel to the longitudinal direction of the elongated cavity 124. The complex shape of the inhalation delay portion 125 lengthens the flow path, preventing a large amount of functional material (e.g., dry powder) from being inhaled at once, which may cause the user to cough.

[0049] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above with reference to the drawings, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and a person skilled in the art may apply various technical modifications and variations based on the above. For example, the described techniques may be performed in an order different from that described, and / or the components of the described systems, structures, devices, circuits, etc. may be combined or combined in a form different from that described, or may be substituted or replaced by other components or equivalents, and still achieve appropriate results.

[0050] Therefore, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but is defined by the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. a casing including a first end wall, a second end wall formed opposite the first end wall, and a side wall formed between the first end wall and the second end wall; a mouthpiece disposed adjacent the first end wall of the casing; a cartridge disposed adjacent to the mouthpiece and containing a functional substance; Including, The cartridge delivers a determined amount of the functional substance toward the mouthpiece.

2. The cartridge comprises: a housing in which the dry powder is stored; a rotary screw disposed inside the housing in a longitudinal direction of the cartridge; a distribution cone formed integrally with the rotatable screw and in contact with the mouthpiece, the distribution cone including a plurality of apertures; a plate disposed between the rotating screw and the distribution cone and including a powder discharge port; further comprising the rotary screw is disposed inside the housing in the longitudinal direction of the cartridge; 2. The inhaler of claim 1, wherein dry powder stored inside the housing moves to the mouthpiece when the powder outlet of the plate and the aperture correspond to each other.

3. The mouthpiece comprises: a mouthpiece tip portion projecting outward from the first end wall of the casing; a recess portion formed inside the casing and connected to the tip portion of the mouthpiece; a plurality of partition walls that divide the space of the recessed portion; an elongated cavity extending from the recess to one end of the tip of the mouthpiece; 3. The inhaler of claim 2, comprising:

4. 4. The inhaler of claim 3, wherein the aperture corresponds to a space formed between adjacent partitions of the mouthpiece.

5. 5. The inhaler of claim 4, wherein when the number of partitions is n, the rotating screw rotates by 360 / n degrees.

6. further including a puff sensor; 3. The inhaler of claim 2, wherein the rotating screw rotates about an axis parallel to the longitudinal direction of the cartridge when the puff sensor detects a puff from the user.

7. The switch further includes a switch exposed to the outside of the casing.

3. The inhaler of claim 2, wherein when the switch is clicked, the rotary screw rotates about an axis parallel to the longitudinal direction of the cartridge.

8. The inhaler of claim 3 , wherein the mouthpiece further comprises an inhalation delay portion disposed inside the elongated cavity.

9. The inhaler according to claim 8, wherein the inhalation delay portion is formed in a spiral shape along the longitudinal direction of the elongated cavity.

10. The cartridge further includes a lead disposed on one side of the housing; 3. The inhaler of claim 2, wherein the reed is retracted from the housing.

11. The inhaler of claim 1 , wherein the cartridge is reusable.

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