Dry powder inhaler

Abstract

There is provided an apparatus (100) for administering a medicament to a patient, comprising: a plurality of elongated medicament carriers, wherein closed pockets of the medicament carriers contain a medicament dose in powder form; and a dispensing mechanism configured to act on the plurality of elongated medicament carriers upon an actuation of an manual actuation lever (402) to dispense at least one of the medicament doses carried by the plurality of elongated medicament carriers. An advantageous example is characterized in that the dispensing mechanism comprises a transport mechanism configured to pull one or a plurality of peeled-off lid foils causing a transport of at least one opened pocket of an associated base foil of the one or a plurality of medicament carriers. An advantageous example is characterized in that the medicament carriers are stacked on top of each other in order to share one set of drive components.

Description

[0001] Dry Powder Inhaler

[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] The invention relates to dry powder inhalers for administering at least one medicament to a patient.

[0004] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0005] US 8,161,968 B2 discloses a medicament dispenser for containing plural elongate form medicament carriers. A dispensing mechanism comprises at least one indexer for individually indexing the distinct medicament dose portions of each of the plural medicament carriers.

[0006] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The problems of the prior art are solved by a dry powder inhaler according to the independent claims and by a manufacturing method according to a further claim.

[0008] An aspect of the description is directed to the following subject matter: An apparatus for administering a medicament to a patient comprising: a plurality of elongated medicament carriers, each medicament carrier comprising a plurality of closed pockets extending along an imaginary curved line, wherein the closed pockets contain a medicament dose in powder form; at least one sealed pocket chamber configured to accommodate free-ended coiled-up portions of the plurality of elongated medicament carriers, the free-ended coiled-up portions comprising the respective plurality of closed pockets, wherein imaginary centre planes spanned by the respective imaginary curved line following the extension of the of the associated free-ended coiled-up portions are spaced apart at least in the area of the at least one sealed pocket chamber; and a dispensing mechanism configured to act on the plurality of elongated medicament carriers upon an actuation of a manual actuation lever to dispense at least one of the medicament doses carried by the plurality of elongated medicament carriers.

[0009] By stacking the plurality of medicament carriers, the construction of the dispensing mechanism offers several advantages. For example, the stacking allows using single parts or mechanisms that are shared between the elongated medicament carriers. In other words, the stacked medicament carriers enable a reduction in parts, thereby reducing the environmental footprint of the apparatus. In other words, the medicament carriers are stacked on top of each other in order to share one set of drive components. Furthermore, manufacturing of the apparatus benefits from the reduced number of parts and the resulting less complex construction.

[0010] A parallel alignment of imaginary centre planes allows stacking the plurality of medicament carriers on each other in a space-saving manner.

[0011] By reducing complexity and number of parts, environmental benefits are achieved. In particular, less polymers, fewer types of polymers and no metal parts are necessary to provide the apparatus.

[0012] An advantageous example is characterized in that separate neighbouring sealed pocket chambers for accommodating a respective one of the free-ended coiled-up portions are separated by a separation wall, wherein the separated sealed pocket chambers are configured to accommodate at least the free-ended coiled-up portion of the respective one of the plurality of elongated medicament carriers.

[0013] By providing a separation wall, the medicament carriers do not interfere with each other when being transported or moved.

[0014] An advantageous example is characterized in that the dispensing mechanism comprises a transport mechanism configured to pull a plurality of peeled-off lid foils causing a transport of at least one opened pocket of an associated base foil of the plurality of medicament carriers. Advantageously, a shared transport mechanism reduces the number of parts. Moreover, additional indexing wheels, further gear constructions going along with advanced material requirements are avoided by pulling the peeled-off lid foil in order to transport the opened pocket.

[0015] An advantageous example is characterized in that the at least one transport mechanism comprises a plurality of transport hubs, each with an attachment portion configured to secure a leading portion of the lid foil, the transport hubs are rotatable about an actuation axis.

[0016] The transport hubs are therefore configured for opening and transporting the opened pockets towards the collector.

[0017] An advantageous example is characterized in that the at least one transport mechanism comprises a transport shaft to which the plurality of transport hubs are attached.

[0018] Advantageously, the shared transport shaft further reduces the necessary number of parts. Furthermore, complex gears are avoided in favour of the common or shared transport shaft.

[0019] An advantageous example is characterized in that the at least one dispensing mechanism comprises the manual actuation lever that is configured to provide a torque to the transport mechanism, especially configured to provide the manual torque to the transport shaft.

[0020] An advantageous example is characterized in that the manual actuation lever is a movable cover configured to be rotatable about the actuation axis and configured to cover a mouthpiece in a first state and to uncover the mouthpiece in a second state.

[0021] An advantageous example is characterized in that the at least one transport mechanism comprises a foil rewind prevention mechanism that is arranged between the manual actuation lever and the remaining part of the transport mechanism, especially between the manual actuation lever and the transport shaft.

[0022] Advantageously, the foil rewind prevention mechanism preserves the actuation direction and the transmission of torque towards the transport hubs only in the actuation direction. Therefore, the foil rewind prevention mechanism ensures that the lid foils are coiled up on the transport hubs. An advantageous example is characterized in that the foil rewind prevention mechanism is configured to transfer the torque in an actuation direction of rotation to the plurality of transport hubs and configured to prevent torque from being transferred to the transport hubs in the opposite direction of the actuation direction of rotation.

[0023] Advantageously, the foil rewind prevention mechanism applies the torque in only one direction of movement, the actuation direction, to the hubs. This simplifies the design of the transport mechanism towards the hubs.

[0024] An advantageous example is characterized in that the foil rewind prevention mechanism comprise: A ratchet wheel with a plurality of teeth, each one with a sliding portion and an engagement portion, the plurality of teeth arranged along an imaginary circle around the actuation axis; and a pawl with at least one arm rotatable about the actuation axis, the at least one flexible arm configured to pass the sliding portion in order to and configured to engage with the engagement portions in order to transfer the torque to the transport shaft.

[0025] The ratchet wheel and the pawl provide a robust and compact solution.

[0026] An advantageous example is characterized in that an actuator rotation limiting mechanism comprises first limiting means configured to delimit a rotational movement of the manual actuation lever to a first angular range; the plurality of teeth configured to delimit a rotational movement of the transport mechanism, especially of the shaft, to a second angular range.

[0027] Advantageously, the adaption of the angular ranges ensures that at least one opened pocket arrives at position with respect to the collector, so that an air-flux can pass the pocket by means of the collector. Moreover, these fixed angular ranges further ensure that the user gets a feedback about what one actuation means, namely a single rotation of the mouthpiece cover towards its opened position.

[0028] An advantageous example is characterized in that the dispensing mechanism comprises: at least one peeling edge configured to peel off the lid foil of a respective one of the plurality of medicament carriers from the base foil of the respective one of the plurality of medicament carriers thereby uncovering an opening of at least one pocket in the respective base foil, the medicament is accommodated in the respective opened pocket. Advantageously, the peeling edge enables the apparatus to peel of the lid foil from the base foil only for that dose that is intended to be applied in a single actuation of the apparatus. The remaining pockets for further actuations remain closed.

[0029] An advantageous example is characterized in that the dispensing mechanism comprises a collector configured to collect the medicament from an opened pocket of the each base foil via an airflow that passes through the respective pocket and configured to deliver the resulting medicament-air mixture towards the mouthpiece.

[0030] Therefore, the shared collector provides to collect medicament doses from two different pockets, thereby enabling the patient to inhale a medicament-air-mixture consisting of two different types of medicaments.

[0031] An advantageous example is characterized in that the collector comprises at least one port section interrupted at least by a plurality of pairs of at least one inlet port and at least one outlet port, wherein the pairs are arranged such that, in use, underpressure on the side of the corresponding outlet port causes air to be sucked through the inlet port, the air passing through the open pocket thereby creating a medicament-air-mixture, and the medicamentair-mixture exiting through the outlet port towards the mouth piece.

[0032] An advantageous example is characterized in that the plurality of pairs, especially the respective inlet and outlet ports, are arranged along a collector axis that is parallel to the actuation axis.

[0033] Advantageously, the common collector axis enables the desired stacked arrangement of the medicament carriers.

[0034] An advantageous example is characterized in that the at least one port section comprises at least one concave or convex surface especially extending parallel to the collector axis.

[0035] Advantageously, the concave or convex guiding surface follows the pre-bent form of the medicament carrier in the sealed pocket chamber. This measure allow a wider tolerance with respect to alignment of pockets to the collector. Therefore, possible wider tolerances are compensated and the quality for the medicament dose delivery is assured.

[0036] When the patient starts inhaling, the resulting underpressure causes the base foil, which surrounds the opening of the pocket, to adhere to the guiding surface of the collector. Therefore, airflow between the base foil and the collector guiding surface is reduced and an airflow from a collector inlet, through the pocket, and exiting the pocket through a collector outlet is increased. Therefore, the increased or wider tolerances in particular with regard to the pocket position are compensated and the quality of the medicament dose delivery is increased.

[0037] In the prior art, the requirement of a precise pocket alignment is often overestimated. Instead, tolerances with respect to the pocket alignment can be accepted up to a certain extent. Furthermore, this description provides several counter-measures like the bent contour of the collector surface surrounding collector inlets and outlets to compensate the accepted wider tolerances.

[0038] An advantageous example is characterized in that the transport mechanism comprises a plurality of base winder sections, each base winder section comprising an attachment portion for securing a leading portion of an associated base foil of the plurality of medicament carriers; the base winder sections are rotatable about a wind-up axis.

[0039] Advantageously, the wind-up sections ensure that the waste base foil is safely discharged from the area of the collector. The wind-up sections ensure that the base foils are wound up in a corresponding wind-up chamber, which means that the entire apparatus can be smaller.

[0040] An advantageous example is characterized in that a wind-up shaft provides the plurality of wind-up sections.

[0041] By providing a single wind-up shaft, the number of parts is further reduced.

[0042] An advantageous example is characterized in that the base winder sections and the transport shaft are motion-mechanically connected with each other.

[0043] This ensures that both the base winder sections and the transport shaft act in a synchronized manner in order to safely transport the coiled part of the medicament carrier with closed pockets and to coil the waste part of the base part with the empty pockets.

[0044] An advantageous example is characterized in that at least one gear, especially a single units gear, meshes with a drive gear connected to the transport shaft.

[0045] Advantageously, a simple constructions is provided to pass on torque to the at least one gear. In particular, the single units gear meshes directly with the drive gear and therefore provides a simple solution for informing the user about the already used doses or remaining doses.

[0046] An advantageous example is characterized in that the at least one gear further meshes with a base winder gear connected to the base winder shaft.

[0047] Advantageously, the based winder gear is driven by the at least one gear or only a single gear arranged between the drive gear and the base winder gear. Therefore, a constructional simplification is achieved.

[0048] An advantageous example is characterized in that the at least one gear and the base winder gear comprise a human readable numbering representing the numbers of doses that have been already consumed with the apparatus.

[0049] Advantageously, the gears provide two functions: transmission of a torque to the base winder gear and information provision to the patient about the remaining or used medicament doses.

[0050] An aspect of the description is directed to the following subject matter: An apparatus for administering a medicament to a patient comprising: At least one sealed pocket chamber configured to accommodate at least one elongated medicament carrier; at least one peeling edge configured, together with at least one transport mechanism, to peel off a lid foil of the at least one medicament carrier from a base foil of the at least one medicament carrier thereby uncovering at least one opening of at least one pocket in the base foil, wherein the medicament is accommodated in the at least one opened pocket; the at least one transport mechanism configured to pull the peeled-off lid foil causing a transport of the at least one opened pocket of the base foil to a collector channel; a collector delimiting at least partly the collector channel and configured to collect the medicament from the open pocket via an air flow that passes through the pocket and configured to deliver the resulting medicamentair mixture towards a mouth piece; and the mouth piece in fluid connection with the collector, wherein the mouth piece is configured to allow the patient to inhale the medicament-air mixture.

[0051] Advantageously, the transport mechanism and the collector channel reduce the number of parts while maintaining the desired function of providing a medicament-air-mixture to the lung of the patient. In other words, as the pockets are opened, by peeling the lid foil, they are positioned under the collector. Advantageously, the lid foil transport, for example by winding the lid foil onto a transport hub, is responsible for the pocket to be positioned under the collector.

[0052] By reducing complexity and number of parts, environmental benefits are achieved. In particular, less polymers, less types of polymers and no metal parts are necessary to provide the apparatus.

[0053] An advantageous aspect of the description is directed to an apparatus for administering a medicament to a patient, the apparatus comprising: at least one elongated medicament carrier, wherein the at least one medicament carrier comprises a plurality of closed pockets that extend along the at least one medicament carrier, wherein the closed pockets contain a medicament dose in powder form, wherein the closed pockets are formed by recesses in a base foil, and wherein a lid foil closes the plurality of openings of the recesses in the base foil; a peeling edge configured, together with a manual actuation lever and a transporter hub, to peel off the lid foil of the at least one medicament carrier from the base foil thereby opening one of the plurality of closed pockets in the base foil; the manual actuation lever; the transporter hub that is operated by the manual actuation lever, wherein the transporter hub comprises an attachment portion for securing a leading portion of the lid foil, and wherein the transporter hub is configured, together with the peeling edge, to move the opened pocket of the base foil toward a collector window solely via a tensile force coupled into the lid foil by means of the transporter hub; a foil rewind prevention mechanism configured to prevent an unintended rewind of the lid foil; the collector window, over which the respective opened pocket is moved; and a mouthpiece in fluid connection with the collector window, wherein the mouth piece is configured to allow the patient to inhale a medicament-air mixture that comprises at least partly the medicament dose from the opened pocket arranged at the collector window.

[0054] There is provided a simplification of a strip based inhaler, specifically opening and presenting the pocket to the collector window using the peel of the lid foil only. This approach facilitates the construction of the device using a single polymer or at least a reduced number of materials, allowing for easier reprocessing and potential reuse. Additionally, it enables the use of plant-based polymers, significantly reducing environmental pollution.

[0055] As only the tensile force coupled into the lid foil, the apparatus moves the opened pocket to the collector window while reducing constructional complexity. The mechanical construction reduced in complexity still provides the required powder-air mixture for inhalation. The simplified construction advantageously provides reduced costs in manufacturing and a smaller ecological footprint.

[0056] Moreover, there is provided more space for the pocket to empty. Therefore, the functions of emptying the pockets and providing a medicament-air-mixture are decoupled. Therefore, there are provided further degrees of freedom in construction, resulting in a better adaption of the medicament-air-mixture for the patient. In particular, the patient may inhale differently, that is quickly or slowly for example, but nearly the same amount of drug will arrive in the lungs of the patient. In other words, different underpressures applied to the mouthpiece have a reduced impact on the amount of drug inhaled by the patient.

[0057] An advantageous example is characterized in that a distance between the peeling edge and the associated collector window is smaller than a distance between two neighbouring pockets.

[0058] Advantageously, the distances chosen in this way enable the next dose to remain securely closed after the last dose has been applied, thus protecting it from moisture penetration.

[0059] An advantageous example is characterized in that an attachment position of the transporter hub for the leading portion and a distance along the medicament carrier between the leading portion of the lid foil and the next pocket along the medicament carrier are configured such that the next pocket is aligned with the collector window within at least one or more actuations of the manual actuation lever.

[0060] Advantageously, this configuration contributes to that the position of the respectively opened pocket on the collector window each time the manual actuation lever is operated.

[0061] An advantageous example is characterized in that each inlet port of a plurality of collector windows is arranged towards one side of the apparatus, and wherein each outlet port of the plurality of collector windows is arranged toward the other side of the apparatus.

[0062] Advantageously, the opened pockets of the medicament carriers are emptied in the same direction, therefore providing degrees of freedom for the construction of the pockets and the arrangement of the powder inside the pockets. An advantageous example is characterized in that each of a plurality of collector windows define an imaginary surface, wherein the imaginary surfaces of the plurality of collector windows enclose a smallest angle of less than 10°, especially less than 5°, especially 0°.

[0063] An advantageous example is characterized in that the collector channel has an inner contour that is configured to let the base foil pass in its direction of travel.

[0064] Advantageously, there is no need for further moving parts like an index wheel.

[0065] An advantageous example is characterized in that a further channel connects the collector channel with a wind-up chamber for accommodating waste base foil.

[0066] Advantageously, the waste base foil is led away from the collector channel without causing a jam in the collector channel or elsewhere.

[0067] An advantageous example is characterized in that the collector channel is arranged between the at least one sealed pocket chamber and the collector.

[0068] Advantageously, the collector channel that is arranged between the sealed pocket chamber for accommodating the free-ended coiled-up portion of the medicament carrier and the collector itself provide a compact solution.

[0069] An advantageous example is characterized in that the at least one sealed pocket chamber follows at least partly a cylindrical form, wherein the at least one collector channel follows a circular ring shape in a cross section perpendicular to the actuation axis, wherein said circular ring shape of the at least one collector channel is bent into the same direction as at least one wall arranged between the at least one collector channel and the at least one sealed pocket chamber.

[0070] Advantageously, the at least one pre-bent medicament carrier moves with its pre-bent direction from the at least one sealed pocket chamber towards and through the collector channel without being bent into a different direction. In other words, maintaining the prebent direction of the medicament carrier provides the benefit of a decreased dislocation position of the pockets to the air inlets and outlets of the collector.

[0071] An advantageous example is characterized in that the at least one transport mechanism comprises a transporter hub with an attachment portion for securing a leading portion of the lid foil; the transporter hub is rotatable about the actuation axis. The transport hubs are therefore configured for opening and transporting the opened pockets towards the collector.

[0072] An advantageous example is characterized in that a diameter of the at least one transporter hub and a pitch between neighbouring pockets of the at least one medicament carrier are adapted to each other in such a way that by traversing an actuation angle range on the actuation axis in the actuation direction causes the at least one of the plurality of pockets of the base foil to be opened and causes the at least one opened pocket to arrive at the collector.

[0073] Advantageously, the at least one transport hub and the used medicament carrier are adapted such that the pockets arrive at the desired position.

[0074] An advantageous example is characterized in that the pitch between neighbouring pockets of the at least one medicament carrier increases towards the trailing end of the medicament carrier.

[0075] Advantageously, the increasing pitch towards the finishing end of the medicament carrier compensates the increasing diameter of the transport hub due to the lid foil wound up on the transport hub.

[0076] An advantageous example is characterized in that the at least one transport mechanism comprises a foil rewind prevention mechanism is arranged between the manual actuation lever and the remaining part of the transport mechanism, especially between the manual actuation lever and the transport shaft.

[0077] Advantageously, the foil rewind prevention mechanism preserves the actuation direction and the transmission of torque towards the transport hubs only in the actuation direction. Therefore, the foil rewind prevention mechanism ensures that the lid foils are coiled up on the transport hubs.

[0078] An advantageous example is characterized in that the foil rewind prevention mechanism is configured to transfer the torque in an actuation direction of rotation to the plurality of transport hubs and configured to prevent torque from being transferred to the transport hubs in the opposite direction of the actuation direction of rotation. Advantageously, the foil rewind prevention mechanism applies the torque in only one direction of movement, the actuation direction, to the hubs. This simplifies the design of the transport mechanism towards the hubs.

[0079] An advantageous example is characterized in that the foil rewind prevention mechanism comprises: A ratchet wheel with a plurality of teeth, each one with a sliding portion and an engagement portion, the plurality of teeth arranged along an imaginary circle around the actuation axis; and a pawl with at least one arm rotatable about the actuation axis, the at least one flexible arm configured to pass the sliding portion in order to and configured to engage with the engagement portions in order to transfer the torque to the transport shaft.

[0080] The ratchet wheel and the pawl provide a robust and compact solution.

[0081] An advantageous example is characterized in that an actuator rotation limiting mechanism comprising first limiting means configured to delimit a rotational movement of the manual actuation lever to a first angular range; the plurality of teeth configured to delimit a rotational movement of the transport mechanism, especially of the shaft, to a second angular range.

[0082] An advantageous example is characterized in that the collector comprises at least one port section interrupted at least by a plurality of pairs of at least one inlet port and at least one outlet port, wherein the pairs are arranged such that, in use, underpressure on the side of the corresponding outlet port causes air to be sucked through the inlet port, the air passing through the open pocket thereby creating a medicament-air-mixture, and the medicament- air-mixture exiting through the outlet port towards the mouth piece.

[0083] An advantageous example is characterized in that the plurality of pairs, especially the respective inlet and outlet ports, are arranged along a collector axis that is parallel to the actuation axis.

[0084] Advantageously, the common collector axis enables the desired stacked arrangement of the medicament carriers.

[0085] An advantageous example is characterized in that the at least one port section comprises at least one concave surface especially extending parallel to the collector axis.

[0086] Advantageously, the concave guiding surface follows the pre-bent form of the medicament carrier in the sealed pocket chamber. An advantageous example is characterized in that the transport mechanism comprises a plurality of base winder sections, each base winder section comprising an attachment portion for securing a leading portion of an associated base foil of the plurality of medicament carriers; the base winder sections are rotatable about a wind-up axis.

[0087] Advantageously, the wind-up sections ensure that the waste base foil is safely discharged from the area of the collector. The wind-up sections ensure that the base foils are wound up in a corresponding wind-up chamber, which means that the entire apparatus can be smaller.

[0088] An advantageous example is characterized in that a wind-up shaft provides the plurality of wind-up sections.

[0089] By providing a single wind-up shaft, the number of parts is further reduced.

[0090] An advantageous example is characterized in that the base winder sections and the transport shaft are motion-mechanically connected with each other.

[0091] This ensures that both the base winder sections and the transport shaft act in a synchronized manner in order to safely uncoil the coiled part of the medicament carrier with closed pockets and to coil the waste part of the base part with the empty pockets.

[0092] An advantageous example is characterized in that at least one gear, especially a single units gear, meshes with a drive gear connected to the transport shaft.

[0093] Advantageously, a simple constructions is provided to pass on torque to the at least one gear. In particular, the single units gear meshes directly with the drive gear and therefore provides a simple solution for informing the user about the already used doses or remaining doses.

[0094] An advantageous example is characterized in that the at least one gear further meshes with a base winder gear connected to the base winder shaft.

[0095] Advantageously, the based winder gear is driven by the at least one gear or only a single gear arranged between the drive gear and the base winder gear. Therefore, a constructional simplification is achieved. An advantageous example is characterized in that the at least one gear and the base winder gear comprise a human readable numbering representing the numbers of doses that have been already consumed with the apparatus.

[0096] Advantageously, the gears provide two functions: transmission of a torque to the base winder gear and information provision to the patient about the remaining or used medicament doses.

[0097] Another aspect of the description is directed to an apparatus for administering a medicament to a patient, the apparatus comprising: a plurality of elongated medicament carriers, each medicament carrier comprising a plurality of closed pockets that extend along an imaginary curved line, wherein the closed pockets contain a medicament dose in powder form, wherein imaginary centre planes spanned by the imaginary curved lines following the extension of the closed pockets of the respective free-ended coiled-up portions are spaced apart at least in the area of the elongated medicament carriers; a dispensing mechanism configured to act on the plurality of elongated medicament carriers upon an actuation of a manual actuation lever to open one closed pocket of each medicament carrier and to move the plurality of opened pockets to a respective collector window; the plurality of collector windows, over which the respective opened pockets are moved, wherein each imaginary plane runs through an associated one of the plurality of collector windows; and the mouthpiece in fluid connection with the plurality of collector windows, wherein the mouth piece is configured to allow the patient to inhale a medicament-air mixture that comprises at least partly the medicament dose from the plurality of opened pockets that have been moved to the respective collector window.

[0098] Advantageously, the position of the plurality of collector windows avoids that powder residing in the opened capsule falls out of the capsule before the patient is able to start inhaling through the mouthpiece.

[0099] An advantageous example is characterized in that the plurality of collector windows are part of at least one port section interrupted at least by a plurality of pairs of at least one inlet port and at least one outlet port, wherein the pairs are arranged such that, in use, underpressure on the side of the corresponding outlet port causes air to be sucked through the inlet port, the air passing through the open pocket thereby creating a medicament-air- mixture, and the medicament-air-mixture exiting through the outlet port towards the mouth piece. An advantageous example is characterized in that the plurality of collector windows define an imaginary collector surface, which, in use of the apparatus, is arranged horizontally.

[0100] In other words, the imaginary collector surface ensures that the collector windows have the same or nearly the same orientation, further avoiding a powder loss before inhalation.

[0101] An advantageous example is characterized in that the plurality of collector windows, especially the plurality of pairs, especially the respective inlet and outlet ports, are arranged along an imaginary collector line, in particular along an imaginary collector axis, wherein the imaginary collector line, in particular the collector axis, passes the respective imaginary centre planes perpendicularly.

[0102] An advantageous example is characterized in that the at least one port section comprises at least one concave surface especially extending parallel to the collector axis.

[0103] A further aspect of the description is directed to an elongated medicament carrier, wherein the at least one medicament carrier comprises a plurality of closed pockets that extend along the at least one medicament carrier, wherein the closed pockets contain a medicament dose in powder form, wherein the closed pockets are formed by recesses in a base foil and a lid foil closing the openings of the recesses, and wherein a pitch between neighbouring pockets of the at least one medicament carrier increased towards the trailing end of the medicament carrier.

[0104] Advantageously, the pitch between the pockets that increase towards the trailing end enables that the transporter hub of the associated apparatus is used as the sole means of transport for the opened pockets. In detail, the pitch compensates for the increasing thickness of the transporter hub winding up the lid foil in several layers.

[0105] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0106] Fig. 1 depicts an apparatus for administering a medicament to a patient in a closed state;

[0107] Fig. 2 depicts the apparatus of figure 1 in an open state;

[0108] Fig. 3 depicts the apparatus in an exploded view;

[0109] Fig. 4 depicts two medicament carriers arranged parallel to each other in a perspective view; Fig. 5 depicts a detail of the apparatus in a perspective view;

[0110] Fig. 6 depicts a collector of the apparatus in a perspective view;

[0111] Fig. 7 depicts another detail of the apparatus in perspective view;

[0112] Fig. 8 depicts a section through the apparatus;

[0113] Fig. 9 depicts a flow diagram for manufacturing the apparatus;

[0114] Figs. lOa-c depict different alignment positions of pockets with respect to the collector; and

[0115] Fig. 11 depicts an airflow through inlets and outlets of collector windows.

[0116] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0117] Figures 1 and 2 depict an apparatus 100 in a perspective view. The apparatus 100 or dry powder inhaler is configured for administering at least one medicament, in particular at least two different medicaments, to a patient. The apparatus 100 comprises a manual actuation lever 402 in form of a mouthpiece cover, the manual actuation lever 402 rotatable attached to a main body 110. A counting mechanism 900 is visible through an opening in the main body 110. The counting mechanism 900 is configured to display the individual doses of the drug that are still available. The manual actuation lever 402 is part of dispensing mechanism 400 that is configured to act on a plurality of elongated medicament carriers arranged inside the apparatus 100. Upon an actuation of the manual actuation lever 402, at least one of a plurality of medicament doses carried by the plurality of elongated medicament carriers is dispensed. The closed position of the apparatus 100 is shown in Figure 1. For dispensing the at least one medicament dose, the manual actuation lever 402 is rotated about an actuation axis A into a direction E of rotation from the closed position to an open position that is shown in figure 2.

[0118] In the open position, the apparatus 100 exposes a mouthpiece 404. At his point in time, the dispensing has internally provided the medicament dose ready to be inhaled by the patient by means of the mouthpiece 404. Additionally, the apparatus 100 uncovers external air inlets 120, through which, upon applied underpressure at the mouthpiece 404, air is drawn in through the air inlets 120, mixed with the powdered drug, and provided at the opening of the mouthpiece 404 as a medicament-air mixture for inhalation. In other words, in figure 2 the apparatus 100 is ready for dose delivery by inhaling via the mouthpiece 404. The main body 110 comprises at least a drive cover 112, a first component 114a, a second component 114b, and a strip cover 116.

[0119] Figure 3 depicts the apparatus 100 in an exploded view. Figure 4 depicts the medicament carriers 200a-b in a perspective view in their start positions. The medicament carriers 200a- b are arranged as if they are located in the apparatus 100. In the following reference is made to figure 3 and 4.

[0120] Each medicament carrier 200a-b comprises a plurality of closed pockets 202a#l-n, 202b#l- n along an imaginary curved line La-b of the medicament carrier 200a-b, wherein the closed pockets 202a#l-n, 202b#l-n contain the medicament dose in powder form. Each of the medicament carriers 200a-b are made from a thin lid foil 210a-b and a thicker base foil 220a-b. The pockets 202 formed into the base foil 220a-b contain the drug powder and are closed by the two foils, the lid foil and the base foil, locally attached to each other, for example welded together.

[0121] Inside the apparatus 100 at least one sealed pocket chamber 300a-b is configured to accommodate free-ended coiled-up portions 204a-b of the plurality of elongated medicament carriers 200a-b, wherein imaginary centre planes Ca-b spanned by the respective curved line La-b of the associated free-ended coiled-up portions 204a-b are spaced apart at least in the area of the at least one sealed pocket chamber 300a-b. The respective at least one free-ended coiled-up portion 204a-b comprises at least partly the closed pockets 202a#l-n, 202b#l-n. The curved line La-b extends along the closed pockets 202a#l-n, 202b#l-n of the respective medicament carrier 200a-b.

[0122] The elongated medicament carriers 200a-b are stacked on each other along a stacking axis D that runs perpendicular to the imaginary centre planes Ca-b.

[0123] In the case of several sealed pocket chambers 300a-b these chambers are stacked on each other along the stacking axis D.

[0124] The free-ended coiled-up portion 204a-b comprises the lid foil 210a-b adhered to the base foil 210a-b, thereby closing the pockets 202a-b. The medicament carrier 200a-b comprises the free-ended coiled-up portion 204a-b, the free-ended peeled-off lid foil or free-ended lid foil portion 210a-b, and the free-ended base foil or free-ended base foil portion 220a-b with opened pockets 202a-b. In particular, separate neighbouring sealed pocket chambers 300a-b are provided for accommodating a respective one of the free-ended coiled-up portions 204a-b. The neighbouring sealed pocket chambers 300a-b are separated by a separation wall 302, wherein the separated sealed pocket chambers 300a-b are configured to accommodate at least the free-ended coiled-up portion 204a-b of the respective one of the plurality of elongated medicament carriers 200a-b.

[0125] A dispensing mechanism 400 is configured to act on the plurality of elongated medicament carriers 200a-b upon an actuation of the manual actuation lever 402 to dispense at least one of the medicament doses carried by the plurality of elongated medicament carriers 200a-b.

[0126] The dispensing mechanism 400 comprises a shared transport mechanism 500 that is configured to pull simultaneously a plurality of peeled-off lid foils 210a-b causing a simultaneous transport of at least one opened pocket 202a-b of an associated base foil 220a-b of the plurality of medicament carriers 200a-b.

[0127] At least one peeling edge 410 is configured, together with at least one transport mechanism 500, to peel off a lid foil 210a-b of the at least one medicament carrier 200a-b from a base foil 220a-b of the at least one medicament carrier 200a-b thereby uncovering at least one opening of at least one pocket 202 in the base foil 220a-b, wherein the medicament is accommodated in the at least one opened pocket 202. For example, the peeling edge 420 includes a rounded edge over which the lid foil 210a-b passes. Since the base foil 220a-b is configured to be more rigid than the lid foil 210a-b, the lid foil 210a-b is detached from the base foil 220a-b and the more rigid base foil 220a-b is transported onwards.

[0128] The coiled-up portion 204a-b comprises a distal end 244a-b of the whole medicament carrier 200a-b. A leading end of the lid foil 210a is affixed to a transporter hub 504a.

[0129] Therefore, the at least one transport mechanism 500 is configured to pull the peeled-off lid foil 210a causing a transport of the at least one opened pocket 202 of the base foil 220a-b to a collector channel 340a-b. Pulling the peeled-off lid foil also causes the uncovering of the at least one opening of the at least one pocket. The base foil 220a-b together with the at least one opened pocket is transported into the collector channel 340a-b. The collector channel 340a-b has an inner contour that is configured to let the base foil 220a-b together with its opened pockets 202 pass in its direction of travel. The collector channel 340a-b is arranged between the at least one sealed pocket chamber 300a-b and a collector 420. The collector 420 delimits at least partly the collector channel 340a-b by closing an opening 346a-b of the collector channel 340a-b. The collector 420 is configured to collect the medicament from the open pocket 202 via an airflow that passes through the pocket 202 and configured to deliver the resulting medicament-air mixture towards a mouthpiece 404.

[0130] The mouthpiece 404 is in fluid connection with the collector 420, wherein the mouthpiece 404 is configured to allow the patient to inhale the medicament-air mixture provided via an airflow through the collector 420 and the pockets 202.

[0131] A further channel 342a-b connects the collector channel 340a-b with a wind-up chamber 344a-b for accommodating waste base foil 220a.

[0132] The at least one sealed pocket chamber 300a-b for accommodating a free-ended coiled-up part of the medicament carrier 200a-b is separated from the collector channel 340a-b by a chamber separation wall 304a-b. The distal end of the chamber separation wall 304a-b extends into the at least one associated sealed pocket chamber 300a-b and provides towards its end a slight additional bent 306a towards the centre of the sealed pocket chamber 300a-b.

[0133] The at least one sealed pocket chamber 300a-b follows at least partly a cylindrical form, wherein the at least one collector channel 340a-b follows a circular ring shape in a cross section perpendicular to the actuation axis A. Said circular ring shape of the at least one collector channel 340a-b is bent into the same direction as at least one wall 304a-b arranged between the at least one collector channel 340a-b and the at least one sealed pocket chamber 300a-b.

[0134] A feeder channel 350a-b is arranged between the sealed pocket chamber 300a-b and the collector channel 340a-b. An inlet of the feeder channel 350a-b delimits the respective sealed pocket chamber 300a-b for accommodating the medicament carrier 200a-b. The outlet of the feeder channel 350a-b leading to the collector channel 340a-b is defined at least by the tip of at least one peeling edge 410a-b.

[0135] The at least one transport mechanism 500 comprises the transporter hub 504a-b with an attachment portion 506a-b for securing a leading portion 216a-b of the lid foil 210a-b, wherein the transporter hub 504a-b is rotatable about the actuation axis A. Inside the sealed pocket chamber 300a-b, the medicament carrier 200a-b is constituted by the base foil 220a- b with medicament-filled pockets, and the lid foil 210a-b closing the medicament-filled pockets. Upon rotating the transporter hub 504a-b in a rotational actuation direction R, the lid foil 210a-b is drawn towards the transporter hub 504a-b causing the base foil 220a-b with the lid foil 210a-b adhered to it to move from the sealed pocket chamber 300a-b through the feeder channel 350a-b to the peeling edge 340a-b. After peeling-off the lid-foil 210a-b from the base-foil 220a-b, the base foil 220a-b with the opened pockets moves into the collector channel 340a-b.

[0136] A diameter of the at least one transporter hub 504a-b and a pitch between neighbouring pockets 202 of the at least one medicament carrier 200a-b are adapted to each other in such a way that by traversing an actuation angle range on the actuation axis A in the actuation direction causes the at least one of the plurality of pockets 202 of the base foil 220a-b to be opened and causes the at least one opened pocket 202 to arrive at the collector 420.

[0137] The medicament carrier 200a~b is advanced by means of the lid foil 210a-b being wound onto the transport hub 504a-b, which is turned a set number of degrees with each operation I actuation. The diameter of the transport hub 504a-b increases by twice the lid foil thickness with each complete turn it makes. Therefore, the pitch of the pockets is correspondingly increased to match each complete turn. The pitch between neighbouring pockets 202 of the at least one medicament carrier 200a-b increases towards the trailing end of the medicament carrier 200a-b.

[0138] As the wider tolerances with respect to the alignment of the pockets to the collector are accepted, these increased wider do not interfere with the protection of the next dose sealing. In particular, the distance between neighbouring pockets is adapted such, that the peel point for the next pocket is not reached when previous open pocket is arranged at the collector. Accordingly, the adaption of the distance advantageously protects the next dose from opening.

[0139] Moreover, the increased pitch towards the end of the base foil gives a longer seal towards end of life. This is a benefit in terms of improved moisture protection.

[0140] The at least one transport mechanism 500 comprises a plurality of transport hubs 504a-b, each with an attachment portion 506a-b configured to secure a leading portion 216a-b of the lid foil 216a-b, wherein the transport hubs 504a-b are rotatable about the actuation axis A. The lid foil 210a-b is wound onto the associated one of the transport hubs 504a-b. The transport hubs 504a-b are turned a set amount when the manual actuation lever 402 in form of the mouthpiece cover is opened.

[0141] An initial rotational position of the attachment portion 506a-b of the respective transport hub 504a-b and a length of the respective lid foil 210a-b between the leading portion 216a- b and at least a part of the plurality of pockets 202a-b are matched such that upon the actuation of the manual actuation lever 402 the respective next one of the pockets 202a-b arrives at the collector 420 in order to dispense the medicament dose inside the respective pocket 202a-b.

[0142] Advantageously, the provided match of the initial rotational position of the transport hub and the distance between pockets and the leading portion of the lid foil provide the initial pre-set for the correct alignment of each of the pockets with respect to the collector.

[0143] The initial rotational position of the attachment portion 506a-b is provided by a form-fit between an outward clip part 508a-b that engages in its open position with a raised contour 109a-b of the component 114a-b, in particular of the chassis part. After inserting the end of the lid foil into an inward clip part 509a-b, the outward clip part 508a-b is pressed inwardly; releasing itself from the raised contour 109a-b and fixing the end of the lid foil 210a-b to the transporter hub 504a-b. Of course, the initial rotational position of the attachment portion 506a-b can be arrived at by different means during manufacturing, for example, by using a holding mechanism to temporarily fix the hub 504a-b in order to affix the attachment portion 506a-b to the hub 504a-b.

[0144] The at least one transport mechanism 500 comprises a shared transport shaft 510 to which the plurality of transport hubs 504a-b are attached.

[0145] The at least one dispensing mechanism 400 comprises the manual actuation lever 402 that is configured to provide a torque to the transport mechanism 400, especially configured to provide the manual torque to the transport shaft 510.

[0146] The manual actuation lever 402 is a movable cover configured to be rotatable about the actuation axis A and configured to cover a mouthpiece 404 in a first state and to uncover the mouthpiece 404 in a second state. The dispensing mechanism 400 comprises the at least one peeling edge 410a-b configured to peel off the lid foil 210a-b of a respective one of the plurality of medicament carriers 200a-b from the base foil 220a-b of the respective one of the plurality of medicament carriers 200a-b thereby uncovering an opening of at least one pocket 202a#l-n, 202b#l-n in the respective base foil 220a-b, wherein the medicament is accommodated in the respective opened pocket 202a#l-n, 202b#l-n.

[0147] The parts of the apparatus 100, especially part of the dispensing mechanism 400, in particular the transport shaft 510, comprise material with Young's Modulus, is between 0.8 GPa and 2.0 GPa, especially between 1.0 GPa and 1.8 GPa, especially between 1.0 GPa and 1.5 GPa. Advantageously, the selected ranges for Young's Modulus allow the use of Monomaterial Polyolefins or even plant-based polymers like Polyactic Acid, PLA, Polypropylene, PP, High-Density Polyethylene, HDPE, or another Polyolefin. Of course, these materials could be blended with one another or blended with additives like glass fibres.

[0148] Departing from the plant-based approach, some or all components of the apparatus 100 could be made from non-plant based polymers.

[0149] Some or all components of the apparatus 100 can be made of the same polymer for recycling purposes.

[0150] Figure 5 depicts a part of the apparatus 100 in a perspective view; in particular, a foil rewind prevention mechanism 520 is shown.

[0151] The at least one transport mechanism 500 comprises a foil rewind prevention mechanism 520 that is arranged between the manual actuation lever 402 and the remaining part of the transport mechanism 400, especially between the manual actuation lever 402 and the transport shaft 510. The foil rewind prevention mechanism 520 is configured to transfer the torque in an actuation direction R of rotation to the plurality of transport hubs 504a-b and configured to prevent torque from being transferred to the transport hubs 504a-b in the opposite direction of the actuation direction R of rotation.

[0152] According to the shown example, the foil rewind prevention mechanism 520 comprises a ratchet wheel 522 with a plurality of teeth 524#l-7, each one with a sliding portion 526#1- 7 and an engagement portion 528 1-7, the plurality of teeth arranged along an imaginary circle around the actuation axis A, and a pawl 530 with at least one arm 532#l-2 rotatable about the actuation axis A, the at least one flexible arm 532# 1-2 configured to pass the sliding portion 526#l-7 and configured to engage with the engagement portions 528#l-7 in order to transfer the torque to the transport shaft 510.

[0153] An actuator rotation limiting mechanism 540 comprising first limiting means 542#l-4 is configured to delimit a rotational movement of the manual actuation lever 402 to a first angular range. The first limiting means 542# 1-4 are delimiting surfaces of a through-hole of a drive cover 112 and interact with the counter surfaces 544#l-2 of the pawl 530. The plurality of teeth 524#l-7 configured to delimit a rotational movement of the transport mechanism 400, especially of the shaft 510, to a second angular range. The teeth 524#1- 7 define the second angular ranges by the length between neighbouring engagement portions 528#l-7.

[0154] At least one gear 560, especially a single units gear, meshes with a drive gear 562 connected to the transport shaft 510. The at least one gear 560 further meshes with a base winder gear 564 connected to the base winder shaft 552. The at least one gear 560 and the base winder gear 564 comprise a human readable numbering representing the numbers of doses that have been already consumed with the apparatus 100 or are still available. Upon turning hub 504a-b by l / 7th, the gear 560 below is moved l / 10th.

[0155] A decimal disc 570 is connected to the base winder gear 564. The readable numbering on the decimal disc represents the decimal steps of used doses or still available doses. Furthermore, a flag 572 covers at least partly the decimal disc 570 and the at least one gear 560. Towards the end of the available doses, in particular after the last dose, the flag 572 is engaged by corresponding contours of the flag 572 and the decimal disc 570. Therefore, after the last dose, the flag 572 is moved to the visible are. The visible red flag 572 indicates to the patient that he has to order a new device.

[0156] Figure 6 depicts the shared collector 420. The shared collector 420 is configured to collect the medicament from an opened pocket 202 of the each base foil 220a-b via an airflow that passes through the respective pocket 202 and configured to deliver the resulting medicament-air mixture towards the mouthpiece 404.

[0157] The collector 420 comprises at least one port section 422 interrupted at least by a plurality of pairs of at least one inlet port 426a-b and at least one outlet port 424a-b, wherein the pairs are arranged such that, in use, underpressure on the side of the corresponding outlet port 424a-b causes air to be sucked through the inlet port 426a-b, the air passing through the open pocket 202 thereby creating a medicament-air-mixture, and the medicament-air- mixture exiting through the outlet port 424a-b towards the mouth piece 404. The outlet ports 424a-b are in fluid connection with a collector outlet 428 that leads to the opening of the mouthpiece 404.

[0158] The terms "inlet” and "outlet" with regard to the ports 424a-b and 426a-b are to be understood from the perspective of the respective pocket. Seen from the mouth piece, the ports 434a-b and 424a-b are inlet ports, and also the ports 425a-b can be termed inlet ports.

[0159] The plurality of pairs, especially the respective inlet and outlet ports, are arranged along a collector axis C that is parallel to the actuation axis A.

[0160] The at least one port section 422 comprises at least one concave surface especially extending parallel to the collector axis C. The concave surface delimits the collector channel 340a-b and enables that the bent base foil 220a-b may contact the concave surface due to its convex shape seen from the opening of the pocket in the base foil 220a-b.

[0161] Figure 7 depicts the inner construction of the apparatus 100 in a perspective view. Figure 8 depicts the apparatus 100 in a sectional view. In the following, the description refers to figures 7 and 8.

[0162] The transport mechanism 500 comprises a plurality of base winder sections 550a-b, each base winder section 550a-b comprising an attachment portion for securing a leading portion 226a-b of an associated base foil 220a-b of the plurality of medicament carriers 200a-b, wherein the base winder sections 550a-b are rotatable about a wind-up axis W.

[0163] A spare pocket of the base foil 220a-b locates into the associated base winder section to provide engagement. The waste part of the base foil is loosely wound by the base winder sections 550a-b. A shared wind-up shaft 552 provides the plurality of wind-up sections 550a- b. The base winder sections 550a-b and the transport shaft 510 are motion-mechanically connected with each other.

[0164] The apparatus 100 comprises: the at least one elongated medicament carrier 200a-b, wherein the at least one medicament carrier 200a-b comprises the plurality of closed pockets 202a#l-n, 202b#l-n that extend along the at least one medicament carrier 200a- b, wherein the closed pockets 202a#l-n, 202b#l-n contain a medicament dose in powder form, wherein the closed pockets 202a#l-n, 202b#l-n are formed by the recesses in the base foil 220a-b, and wherein the lid foil 216a-b closes the plurality of openings of the recesses in the base foil 220a-b. There is provided the peeling edge 410 configured, together with the manual actuation lever and the transporter hub 504a-b, to peel off the lid foil 210a-b of the at least one medicament carrier 200a-b from the base foil 220a-b thereby opening one of the plurality of closed pockets 202 in the base foil 220a-b. There is provided the transporter hub 504a-b that is operated by the manual actuation lever, wherein the transporter hub 504a-b comprises the attachment portion 506a-b for securing a leading portion 216a-b of the lid foil 210a-b, and wherein the transporter hub 504a-b is configured, together with the peeling edge 410, to move the opened pocket 202a#l-n, 202b#l-n of the base foil 220a-b toward a collector window 425a-b solely via a tensile force coupled into the lid foil 210a-b by means of the transporter hub 504a-b. The foil rewind prevention mechanism 520 is configured to prevent an unintended rewind of the lid foil 210a-b. The apparatus 100 comprises the at least one collector window 425a-b, over which the respective opened pocket 202a#l-n, 202b#l-n is moved. There is provided the mouthpiece 404 in fluid connection with the collector window 425a-b, wherein the mouth piece 404 is configured to allow the patient to inhale a medicament-air mixture that comprises at least partly the medicament dose from the opened pocket 202a#l-n, 202b#l-n arranged at the collector window 425a-b.

[0165] The tensile force coupled into the lid foil 210a-b is transmitted into the portion of the medicament carrier 200a-b where the base foil 220a-b and the lid foil 210a-b are still adhered to each other. That is why the base foil 220a-b with its opened pocket is moved toward the collector window 425a-b.

[0166] A distance between the peeling edge 410 and the associated collector window 425a-b is smaller than a distance between two neighbouring pockets 202a#l-n, 202b#l-n.

[0167] An attachment position of the transporter hub 504a-b for the leading portion 216a-b and a distance along the medicament carrier 200a-b between the leading portion 216a-b of the lid foil 210a-b and the next pocket along the medicament carrier 200a-b are configured such that the next pocket is aligned with the collector window 425a-b within at least one or more actuations of the manual actuation lever.

[0168] The peeling edges 410 have a soft radius between 0.15 mm and 0.35, in particular between 0.19 mm and 0.31 mm, in particular between 0.20 mm and 0.30 mm. A pitch between neighbouring pockets increased towards the end of the medicament carrier 200a-b. This pitch pattern guarantees that on each l / 7thturn of the transporter hub 504a-b, one pocket is opened and transported to the associated collector window 425a-b.

[0169] Each turn of transporter hub 504a-b, the thickness of the transporter hub 504a-b increases. By increasing the pitch there is a compensation in order to keep the pockets aligned to the associated collector window 425a-b.

[0170] Figure 9 depicts a schematic flow diagram for manufacturing the apparatus 100 of the previous figures. As can be seen in figure 1, a component 114a of a first sub-assembly 700a provides the first sealed pocket chamber 300 and a second component 114b of a second sub-assembly 700b provides the second sealed pocket chamber 300b. The components 114a-b are at least nearly identical in their form, thereby reducing costs associated with manufacturing. The main body 110 comprises at least the drive cover 112, the first component 114a, the second component 114b, and a strip cover 116.

[0171] Mounting 902 of the first sub-assembly 700a, that comprises a first one of the plurality of sealed pocket chambers 300a, involves an assembly of the drive components with the first component 114a. For example, the drive or transport shaft 510 and the wind-up shaft 552 are passed through the assigned openings of the first component 114a. Moreover, the units gear 560 is mounted in order to connect and mesh with the drive gear 562 and the base winder gear 564. Additionally, the drive cover 112 closes the first sub-assembly 700a on one side. The transporter hub 504a is mounted on the drive or transport shaft 510.

[0172] Inserting 904 the first medicament carrier 200a into the first one of the plurality of sealed pocket chambers 300a comprises inserting the free-ended coiled-up portion of the medicament carrier 200a into the sealed pocket chamber 300a, fixing the leading end of the lid foil 210a to the transporter hub 504a, and fixing the leading end of the base foil 220a to the base winder 552. After both steps 902 and 904, the partly manufactured apparatus 100 comprising the first sub-assembly 700a and the first medicament carrier 200a is shown in figure 7.

[0173] Mounting 906 of the second sub-assembly 700b, which comprises a second one of the plurality of sealed pocket chambers 300b onto the first sub-assembly 700a, comprises Passing of the drive or transport shaft 510 and of the wind-up shaft 552 through assigned openings of the second component 114b, thereby closing the first sealed pocket chamber 300a. The transporter hub 504b is mounted on the drive or transport shaft 510. Inserting 908 the second medicament carrier 200b into the second one of the plurality of sealed pocket chambers 300b comprises inserting the free-ended coiled-up portion of the medicament carrier 200b into the sealed pocket chamber 300b, fixing the leading end of the lid foil 210b to the transporter hub 504b, and fixing the leading end of the base foil 220b to the base winder 552.

[0174] After inserting 908, a third sub-assembly 700c, in particular a strip cover 116, is mounted 910 onto the second sub-assembly 700b.

[0175] In step 912, the collector 420 and the mouthpiece 404 are inserted into the pre-assembled apparatus 100. Moreover, the manual actuation lever 402 is rotatable connected to the apparatus 100.

[0176] The inserting 904, 908 of the respective medicament carrier 200a-b comprises: Temporarily fixing a transport hub 504a-b in a pre-defined position with respect to the associated subassembly 700a-b; and Attaching a leading portion 216a-b of the lid foil of the respective medicament carrier 200a-b to an attachment portion 506a-b of the temporarily fixed transport hub 504a-b. Advantageously, the manufacturing method involves the fixing of the transport hub in order to precisely attach the lid foil, which is responsible for the transport of the pockets, to the transport hub. This precise attachment method of the lid foil defines the individual positions of the pockets with respect to the collector.

[0177] Figures lOa-c depict different alignment positions of pockets of the base foil with respect to the collector 420. For example, figure 10a depicts an open pocket 202b#x of the base foil 200b that is aligned with the collector inlet 426b. According to an example, the alignment involves that the inner walls of the collector inlet 426b are flush with the inner surface of the pocket 202b#x at the opening of the pocket 202b#x. In contrast, figure 10b depicts a retarded pocket 202b#x and figure 10c depicts an advanced pocket 202b#x. Both the retarded and advanced pockets are depicted such that more or less the half of the opening of the pocket 202b#x overlaps with the collector inlet 426b and the corresponding collector outlet (not shown). The alignment situations of the pocket 202b#x with respect to the collector 420 and its outlets and inlets are accepted as the drug dose delivery is guaranteed and variations in dose delivery are reduced. A retarded or advanced pocket has no negative effect on dose delivery.

[0178] The dry powder inhaler or apparatus 100 was evaluated for its performance based on the position of the pocket 202 containing the medication in powder form relative to the inlets and outlets of the collector. The findings are presented in the following table. The table includes columns for the best case scenario, labelled "aligned", which serves as the 100% reference point. Additionally, there are two more columns with measurements for two different positions of the pouch: one labelled "retarded" and another "advanced" according to the situations depicted in Figures 10b and 10c. These values are relative to the ideal alignment or position of the pocket.

[0179] Table 1: Emitted Dose Parameters

[0180] The results indicate good performance for the specified parameters in these positions. Each of the parameters shown in the rows of the table provides different insights into the inhaler's effectiveness and efficiency in delivering the medication from the device to the user under varying conditions of pocket alignment:

[0181] "Total ex-device" refers to the total amount of medication that exits the device, which is a crucial measure of the inhaler's efficiency. Here, the aligned case is the reference for the retarded and advanced cases;

[0182] "ISM" refers to the Impactor-Sized Mass that is the sum of the mass of a particular API (active pharmaceutical ingredient) recovered from the Next Generation Pharmaceutical Impactor NGI;

[0183] "Stages 3-MOC" refers to a fine particle fraction according to the Next Generation Pharmaceutical Impactor;

[0184] "% Recovery" describes the percentage of the initial dose that is successfully delivered through the inhaler. The presence of these parameters demonstrates a thorough evaluation of the inhaler's performance in delivering medication under different conditions, which is vital for ensuring effective treatment for users.

[0185] Tests have demonstrated that the shown retarded or advanced pocket alignment, respecting accepted tolerances, do not change the emitted dose. Therefore, there is no need for small tolerances or complicated mechanism to achieve an exact alignment position of the pockets.

[0186] For example, the pre-bent medicament carriers 200a-b interact, with the bent surface of the port section 422 of the collector 420 in order to provide at least a temporal contact between the bent surface of the collector and the surface of the base foil 200a-b surrounding the active opened pocket. This temporal contact is caused by the underpressure inside the collector when the patient sucks in the air in order to obtain its medicament dose.

[0187] The apparatus 100 further comprises an intermediate air chamber delimited by an air inlet section 432 (shown in Figure 8) of the apparatus 100, the plurality of air inlet ports 426 a- b, and by-pass ports 434a-b. The remaining inner delimiting walls of the intermediate air chamber 430 are sealed with respect to the other components of the apparatus 100.

[0188] Figure 11 depicts an exemplary air flow through the pockets towards the mouthpiece.

[0189] Openings of the inlet and outlet ports 426a-b, 242a-b, in particular of a plurality of collector windows 425a-b, that face to the collector channel, follow the at least one concave surface.

[0190] Each inlet port 426a-b of a plurality of collector windows 425a-b is arranged towards one side of the apparatus 100, wherein each outlet port 424a-b of the plurality of collector windows 425a-b is arranged toward the other side of the apparatus 100.

[0191] In the shown example, the imaginary surfaces of the plurality of collector windows 425a-b coincide.

Claims

CLAIMS1. An apparatus (100) for administering a medicament to a patient, comprising: at least one elongated medicament carrier (200a-b), wherein the at least one medicament carrier (200a-b) comprises a plurality of closed pockets (202a#l-n, 202b#l-n) that extend along the at least one medicament carrier (200a-b), wherein the closed pockets (202a#l-n, 202b#l-n) contain a medicament dose in powder form, wherein the closed pockets (202a# 1-n, 202b# 1-n) are formed by recesses in a base foil (220a-b), and wherein a lid foil (216a-b) closes the plurality of openings of the recesses in the base foil (220a-b); a peeling edge (410) configured, together with a manual actuation lever and a transporter hub (504a-b), to peel off the lid foil (210a-b) of the at least one medicament carrier (200a-b) from the base foil (220a-b) thereby opening one of the plurality of closed pockets (202) in the base foil (220a-b); the manual actuation lever; the transporter hub (504a-b) that is operated by the manual actuation lever, wherein the transporter hub (504a-b) comprises an attachment portion (506a-b) for securing a leading portion (216a-b) of the lid foil (210a-b), and wherein the transporter hub (504a-b) is configured, together with the peeling edge (410), to move the opened pocket (202a#l-n, 202b#l-n) of the base foil (220a-b) toward a collector window (425a-b) solely via a tensile force coupled into the lid foil (210a-b) by means of the transporter hub (504a-b); a foil rewind prevention mechanism (520) configured to prevent an unintended rewind of the lid foil (210a-b); the collector window (425a-b), over which the respective opened pocket (202a#l-n, 202b#l-n) is moved; and a mouthpiece (404) in fluid connection with the collector window (425a-b), wherein the mouth piece (404) is configured to allow the patient to inhale a medicament-air mixture that comprises at least partly the medicament dose from the opened pocket (202a#l-n, 202b#l-n) arranged at the collector window (425a-b).

2. The apparatus (100) according to claim 1, wherein a distance between the peeling edge (410) and the associated collector window (425a-b) is smaller than a distance between two neighbouring pockets (202a#l-n, 202b#l-n).

3. The apparatus (100) according claim 1 or 2, wherein an attachment position of the transporter hub (504a-b) for the leading portion (216a-b) and a distance along the medicament carrier (200a-b) between the leading portion (216a-b) of the lid foil (210a-b) and the next pocket along the medicament carrier (200a-b) are configured such that the next pocket is aligned with the collector window (425a-b) within at least one or more actuations of the manual actuation lever.

4. The apparatus (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a collector channel (340a-b) delimited partly by the collector window (425a-b) has an inner contour that is configured to let the base foil (220a-b) pass in its direction of travel.

5. The apparatus (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a diameter of the at least one transporter hub (504a-b) and a pitch between neighbouring pockets (202) of the at least one medicament carrier (200a-b) are adapted to each other in such a way that by traversing an actuation angle range on the actuation axis (A) in the actuation direction causes the at least one of the plurality of pockets (202) of the base foil (220a-b) to be opened and causes the at least one opened pocket (202) to move over the collector window (425a-b).

6. The apparatus (100) according to claim 5, wherein the pitch between neighbouring pockets (202) of the at least one medicament carrier (200a-b) increase towards the trailing end of the medicament carrier (200a-b).

7. The apparatus (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the foil rewind prevention mechanism (520) is configured to transfer the torque in an actuation direction (R) of rotation to the at least one transport hub (504a-b) and configured to prevent torque from being transferred to the transport hubs (504a-b) in the opposite direction of the actuation direction (R) of rotation.

8. The apparatus (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the foil rewind prevention mechanism (520) comprises:a ratchet wheel (522) with a plurality of teeth (524#l-7), each one with a sliding portion (526#l-7) and an engagement portion (528#l-7), the plurality of teeth (524#l-7) arranged along an imaginary circle around the actuation axis (A); and a pawl (530) with at least one arm (532#l-2) rotatable about the actuation axis (A), the at least one flexible arm (532# 1-2) configured to pass the sliding portion (526#1- 7) configured to engage with the engagement portions (528#l-7) in order to transfer the torque from the manual actuation lever to the transport shaft (510).

9. The apparatus (100) according to claim 8 comprising: an actuator rotation limiting mechanism (540) comprising first limiting means (542#1- 4; 544#l-2) configured to delimit a rotational movement of the manual actuation lever (402) to a first angular range; wherein the plurality of teeth (524#l-7) configured to delimit a rotational movement of the transport mechanism (400), especially of the shaft (510), to a second angular range, wherein the first angular range is greater than the second angular range and less than twice the second angular range.

10. The apparatus (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the collector window (425a-b) is part of at least one port section (422) interrupted at least by one pair of at least one inlet port (426a-b) and at least one outlet port (424a-b), wherein the pair is arranged such that, in use, underpressure on the side of the corresponding outlet port (424a-b) causes air to be sucked through the inlet port (426a-b), the air passing through the open pocket (202) thereby creating a medicament-air-mixture, and the medicament-air-mixture exiting through the outlet port (426a-b) towards the mouth piece (404).

11. The apparatus (100) according to claim 10, wherein the plurality of pairs, especially the respective inlet and outlet ports, are arranged along a collector axis (C) that is parallel to the actuation axis (A).

12. The apparatus (100) according to the claim 10 or 11, wherein the at least one port section (422) comprises at least one concave surface especially extending parallel to the collector axis (C).

13. The apparatus (100) according to one of the claims 10 to 12, wherein each inlet port (426a-b) of a plurality of collector windows (425a-b) is arranged towards one side of the apparatus (100), and wherein each outlet port (424a-b) of the plurality of collector windows (425a-b) is arranged toward the other side of the apparatus (100).

14. The apparatus (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein each of a plurality of collector windows (425a-b) define an imaginary surface, wherein the imaginary surfaces of the plurality of collector windows (425a-b) enclose a smallest angle of less than 10°, especially less than 5°, especially 0°.

15. The apparatus (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the material of the parts of the apparatus (100), especially the material of the transport shaft (510), is a plant-based polymer like Polyactic Acid, PLA, or Polypropylene, PP.

16. The apparatus (100) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising: a plurality of elongated medicament carriers (200a-b); a plurality of peeling edges (410) associated with a respective one of the plurality of elongated medicament carriers (220a-b); a plurality of transporter hubs (504a-b) being operated by the manual actuation lever; wherein the foil rewind prevention mechanism (520) is configured to prevent an unintended rewind of the plurality of lid foils (210a-b); a plurality of collector windows (425a-b) associated with a respective one of the plurality of elongated medicament carriers (220a-b); wherein the mouthpiece (404) is in fluid connection with the plurality of collector windows (425a-b).

17. An apparatus (100) for administering a medicament to a patient, comprising: a plurality of elongated medicament carriers (200a-b), each medicament carrier (200a-b) comprising a plurality of closed pockets (202a#l-n, 202b#l-n) that extend along an imaginary curved line (La-b), wherein the closed pockets (202a#l-n, 202b#l-n) contain a medicament dose in powder form, wherein imaginary centre planes (Ca-b) spanned by the imaginary curved lines (La-b) following the extension ofthe closed pockets (202a#l-n, 202b#l-n) of the respective free-ended coiled-up portions (204a-b) are spaced apart at least in the area of the elongated medicament carriers (200a-b); a dispensing mechanism (400) configured to act on the plurality of elongated medicament carriers (200a-b) upon an actuation of a manual actuation lever (402) to open one closed pocket (202a#l-n, 202b#l-n) of each medicament carrier (200a-b) and to move the plurality of opened pockets (202a#l-n, 202b#l-n) to a respective collector window (425a-b); the plurality of collector windows (425a-b), over which the respective opened pockets (202a#l-n, 202b#l-n) are moved, wherein each imaginary plane (Ca-b) runs through an associated one of the plurality of collector windows (425a-b); and the mouthpiece (404) in fluid connection with the plurality of collector windows (425a- b), wherein the mouth piece (404) is configured to allow the patient to inhale a medicament-air mixture that comprises at least partly the medicament dose from the plurality of opened pockets (202a#l-n, 202b#l-n) that have been moved to the respective collector window (425a-b).

18. The apparatus (100) according to claim 17, wherein the plurality of collector windows (425a-b) are part of at least one port section (422) interrupted at least by a plurality of pairs of at least one inlet port (426a-b) and at least one outlet port (424a-b), wherein the pairs are arranged such that, in use, underpressure on the side of the corresponding outlet port (424a-b) causes air to be sucked through the inlet port (426a-b), the air passing through the open pocket (202) thereby creating a medicament-air-mixture, and the medicament-air-mixture exiting through the outlet port (424a-b) towards the mouth piece (404).

19. The apparatus (100) according to claim 17 or 18, wherein the plurality of collector windows (425a-b) define an imaginary collector surface, which, in use of the apparatus (100), is arranged horizontally or within a range of -15° to 15° of the smallest angle between the imaginary collector surface and a horizontal plane.

20. The apparatus (100) according to one of the claims 17 to 19, wherein the plurality of collector windows (425a-b), especially the plurality of pairs, especially the respective inlet and outlet ports, are arranged along an imaginary collector line, in particularalong an imaginary collector axis (C), wherein the imaginary collector line, in particular the collector axis (C), passes the respective imaginary centre planes (Ca-b) perpendicularly.

21. The apparatus (100) according to one of the claims 17 to 20, wherein the at least one port section (422) comprises at least one concave surface especially extending parallel to the collector axis (C).

22. An elongated medicament carrier (200a-b), wherein the at least one medicament carrier (200a-b) comprises a plurality of closed pockets (202a#l-n, 202b#l-n) that extend along the at least one medicament carrier (200a-b), wherein the closed pockets (202a#l-n, 202b#l-n) contain a medicament dose in powder form, wherein the closed pockets (202a#l-n, 202b#l-n) are formed by recesses in a base foil (220a-b) and a lid foil (216a-b) closing the openings of the recesses, and wherein a pitch between neighbouring pockets (202) of the at least one medicament carrier (200a-b) increased towards the trailing end of the medicament carrier (200a-b).

23. A method for manufacturing the apparatus (100) according to one of the preceding claims, the method comprising: mounting (902) of a first sub-assembly (700a) comprising a first one of the plurality of sealed pocket chambers (300a); inserting (904) the first medicament carrier (200a) into the first one of the plurality of sealed pocket chambers (300a); mounting (906) of a second sub-assembly (700b) comprising a second one of the plurality of sealed pocket chambers (300b) onto the first sub-assembly (700a); inserting (908) of the second medicament carrier (200b) into the second one of the plurality of sealed pocket chambers (300b).

24. The method according to claim 23, further comprising: mounting (910) of a third sub-assembly (700c), in particular of a strip cover (116) onto the second sub-assembly (700b).

25. The method according to claim 23 or 24, wherein a component (114a) of the first subassembly (700a) providing the first sealed pocket chamber (300a) and a secondcomponent (114b) of the second sub-assembly (700b) providing the second sealed pocket chamber (300b) are at least nearly identical in their form.

26. The method according to one of the claims 23 to 25, wherein the inserting (904, 908) of the respective medicament carrier (200a-b) comprises: temporarily fixing a transport hub (504a-b) in a pre-defined position with respect to the associated sub-assembly (700a-b) attaching a leading portion (216a-b) of the lid foil of the respective medicament carrier (200a-b) to an attachment portion (506a-b) of the temporarily fixed transport hub (504a-b).

27. An apparatus (100) for administering a medicament to a patient, comprising: a plurality of elongated medicament carriers (200a-b), each medicament carrier (200a-b) comprising a plurality of closed pockets (202a#l-n, 202b#l-n) that extend along an imaginary curved line (La-b), wherein the closed pockets (202a#l-n, 202b#l-n) contain a medicament dose in powder form; at least one sealed pocket chamber (300a-b) configured to accommodate free-ended coiled-up portions (204a-b) of the plurality of elongated medicament carriers (200a- b), the free-ended coiled-up portions (204a-b) comprising the respective plurality of closed pockets (202a#l-n, 202b#l-n), wherein imaginary centre planes (Ca-b) spanned by the imaginary curved lines (La-b) following the extension of the closed pockets (202a#l-n, 202b#l-n) of the respective free-ended coiled-up portions (204a-b) are spaced apart at least in the area of the at least one sealed pocket chamber (300a-b); and a dispensing mechanism (400) configured to act on the plurality of elongated medicament carriers (200a-b) upon an actuation of a manual actuation lever (402) to dispense at least one of the medicament doses carried by the plurality of elongated medicament carriers (200a-b).

28. The apparatus (100) according to claim 27, wherein separate neighbouring sealed pocket chambers (300a-b) for accommodating a respective one of the free-ended coiled-up portions (204a-b) are separated by a separation wall (302), wherein theseparated sealed pocket chambers (300a-b) are configured to accommodate at least the free-ended coiled-up portion (204a-b) of the respective one of the plurality of elongated medicament carriers (200a-b).

29. The apparatus (100) according to claim 27 or 28, the dispensing mechanism (400) comprising: a transport mechanism (500) configured to pull a plurality of peeled-off lid foils (210a- b) causing a transport of at least one opened pocket (202a-b) of an associated base foil (220a-b) of the plurality of medicament carriers (200a-b).

30. The apparatus (100) according to claim 29, wherein the at least one transport mechanism (500) comprises: a plurality of transport hubs (504a-b), each with an attachment portion (506a-b) configured to secure a leading portion (216a-b) of the lid foil (216a-b), wherein the transport hubs (504a-b) are rotatable about an actuation axis (A).

31. The apparatus (100) according to claim 30, wherein an initial rotational position of the attachment portion (506a-b) of the respective transport hub (504a-b) and a length of the respective lid foil (210a-b) between the leading portion (216a-b) and at least a part of the plurality of pockets (202a-b) are matched such that upon the actuation of the manual actuation lever (402) the respective next one of the pockets (202a-b) arrives at the collector (420) in order to dispense the medicament dose inside the respective pocket (202a-b).

32. The apparatus (100) according to one of claims 29 to 31, wherein the at least one transport mechanism (500) comprises: a transport shaft (510) to which the plurality of transport hubs (504a-b) are attached.

33. The apparatus (100) according to one of the claims 27 to 32, wherein the at least one dispensing mechanism (400) comprises the manual actuation lever (402) that is configured to provide a torque to the transport mechanism (400), especially configured to provide the manual torque to the transport shaft (510).

34. The apparatus (100) according to one of the claims 27 to 33, wherein the manual actuation lever (402) is a movable cover configured to be rotatable about theactuation axis (A) and configured to cover a mouthpiece (404) in a first state and to uncover the mouthpiece (404) in a second state.

35. The apparatus (100) according to one of the claims 27 to 34, the at least one transport mechanism (500) comprises: a foil rewind prevention mechanism (520) being arranged between the manual actuation lever (402) and the remaining part of the transport mechanism (400), especially between the manual actuation lever (402) and the transport shaft (510).

36. The apparatus (100) according to the preceding claim, wherein the foil rewind prevention mechanism (520) is configured to transfer the torque in an actuation direction (R) of rotation to the plurality of transport hubs (504a-b) and configured to prevent torque from being transferred to the transport hubs (504a-b) in the opposite direction of the actuation direction (R) of rotation.

37. The apparatus (100) according to claim 35 or 36, wherein the foil rewind prevention mechanism (520) comprises: a ratchet wheel (522) with a plurality of teeth (524#l-7), each one with a sliding portion (526#l-7) and an engagement portion (528#l-7), the plurality of teeth arranged along an imaginary circle around the actuation axis (A); a pawl (530) with at least one arm (532#l-2) rotatable about the actuation axis (A), the at least one flexible arm (532#l-2) configured to pass the sliding portion (526#1- 7) in order to and configured to engage with the engagement portions (528#l-7) in order to transfer the torque to the transport shaft (510).

38. The apparatus (100) according to claim 37 comprising: an actuator rotation limiting mechanism (540) comprising first limiting means (542#1- 4) configured to delimit a rotational movement of the manual actuation lever (402) to a first angular range; and the plurality of teeth (524#l-7) configured to delimit a rotational movement of the transport mechanism (400), especially of the shaft (510), to a second angular range.

39. The apparatus (100) according to one of the claims 27 to 38, wherein the dispensing mechanism (400) comprises:at least one peeling edge (410) configured to peel off the lid foil (210a-b) of a respective one of the plurality of medicament carriers (200a-b) from the base foil (220a-b) of the respective one of the plurality of medicament carriers (200a-b) thereby uncovering an opening of at least one pocket (202a#l-n, 202b#l-n) in the respective base foil (220a-b), wherein the medicament is accommodated in the respective opened pocket (202a#l-n, 202b#l-n).

40. The apparatus (100) according to one of the claims 27 to 38, wherein the dispensing mechanism (400) comprises: a collector (420) configured to collect the medicament from an opened pocket (202) of the each base foil (220a-b) via an airflow that passes through the respective pocket (202) and configured to deliver the resulting medicament-air mixture towards the mouthpiece (404).

41. The apparatus (100) according to the preceding claim, wherein the collector (420) comprises at least one port section (422) interrupted at least by a plurality of pairs of at least one inlet port (426a-b) and at least one outlet port (424a-b), wherein the pairs are arranged such that, in use, underpressure on the side of the corresponding outlet port (424a-b) causes air to be sucked through the inlet port (426a-b), the air passing through the open pocket (202) thereby creating a medicament-air-mixture, and the medicament-air-mixture exiting through the outlet port (424a-b) towards the mouth piece (404).

42. The apparatus (100) according to the preceding claim, wherein the plurality of pairs, especially the respective inlet and outlet ports, are arranged along a collector axis (C) that is parallel to the actuation axis (A).

43. The apparatus (100) according to the claim 41 or 42, wherein the at least one port section (422) comprises at least one concave surface especially extending parallel to the collector axis (C).

44. The apparatus (100) according to one of the claims 27 to 43, the transport mechanism (500) comprising: a plurality of base winder sections (550a-b), each base winder section (550a-b) comprising an attachment portion for securing a leading portion (226a-b) of anassociated base foil (220a-b) of the plurality of medicament carriers (200a-b), wherein the base winder sections (550a-b) are rotatable about an wind-up axis (W).

45. The apparatus (100) according to claim 44, wherein a wind-up shaft (552) provides the plurality of wind-up sections (550a-b).

46. The apparatus (100) according to one of the claims 27 to 45, wherein the base winder sections (550a-b) and the transport shaft (510) are motion-mechanically connected with each other.

47. The apparatus (100) according to one of the claims 27 to 46, wherein at least one gear (560), especially a single units gear, meshes with a drive gear (562) connected to the transport shaft (510).

48. The apparatus (100) according to one of the claims 27 to 47, wherein the at least one gear (560) further meshes with a base winder gear (564) connected to the base winder shaft (552).

49. The apparatus (100) according to the two preceding claims, wherein the at least one gear (560) and the base winder gear (564) comprise a human readable numbering representing the numbers of doses that have been already consumed with the apparatus (100).

50. The apparatus (100) according to one of the claims 27 to 49, wherein Young's Modulus of the material of parts of the apparatus (100), especially of the material of the transport shaft (510), is between 0.8 GPa and 2.0 GPa, especially between 1.0 GPa and 1.8 GPa, especially between 1.0 GPa and 1.5 GPa.

51. The apparatus (100) according to one of the claims 27 to 50, wherein the material of parts of the apparatus (100), especially the material of the transport shaft (510), is a plant-based polymer like Polyactic Acid, PLA, or Polypropylene, PP.

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