Inhalation device
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2026-02-03
- Publication Date
- 2026-08-13
Smart Images
Figure EP2026052695_13082026_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] WERRTA GmbH Nozzle and Atomization Technology 4127-32-PCT
[0002] INHALATION DEVICE
[0003] The present invention relates to an inhalation device, in particular a mobile or portable inhalation device.
[0004] A disadvantage of many conventional inhalation devices, especially pressurized inhalers, is the high velocity of the aerosol (spray) formed from the inhalant, which is typically delivered directly from an inhalant nozzle through the mouthpiece towards the mouth. The high velocity of the spray (on the order of 2 to 10 m / s) combined with a short delivery time (on the order of 0.2 s) requires very controlled action from the user. Coordinating the manual operation of the inhalation actuator with the breath becomes a crucial factor for the effectiveness of the physiologically active components contained in the inhalant. Only if the short spray is delivered during a breath, and neither too early nor too late, can a sufficient proportion of the delivered inhalant reach the user's lower airways.Furthermore, inhalant sprayed in a single burst can cause an unpleasant sensation, particularly in the throat but also in the rest of the user's mouth, upon direct contact.
[0005] Furthermore, it has been observed that up to 80% of inhaled medication active ingredients are often undesirably deposited in the oral cavity. This can lead to undesirable absorption of the drug through the oral mucosa, and also results in a lack of drug delivery to the lower respiratory tract, i.e., the bronchi and lungs.
[0006] To mitigate these problems for the user, so-called spacers are used as inhalation aids. These are chambers placed between the inhalation device and the user, in which expelled aerosol can collect. The user then draws this aerosol out of the chamber with their breath. The chamber's effect is based on providing a relatively large volume of air, which, together with the diffuser effect resulting from the spray pattern, slows down the aerosol expelled with the spray. Such spacers are often perceived as unwieldy due to their size and cumbersome to use, as they must first be attached to the mouthpiece of the inhalation device. WERRTA GmbH Nozzle and Atomization Technology 4127-32-PCT
[0007] In WO 2022 / 218695 Al, it is proposed to integrate an aerosol chamber into the inhalation actuator of an inhalation device and to reduce the mean droplet velocity by exposing the inhalant ejected from an inhalant nozzle to free radioactive decay, with the resulting individual droplets being further atomized by an impact element. The use of the impact element allows for a correspondingly compact design of the aerosol chamber, since such an arrangement does not require a large volume of air to decelerate an aerosol stream. The user can then inhale the atomized inhalant from the aerosol chamber. The smaller droplet size resulting from the impact process can ensure greater stability of the aerosol within the chamber, i.e., in particular, less droplet deposition on the inner walls of the chamber and a relatively low tendency for the aerosol droplets to coalesce into larger droplets.
[0008] In connection with nicotine inhalers, the state of the art sometimes suggests the use of vibrating nebulizers, in particular so-called mesh nebulizers or ultrasonic nebulizers, as atomizers, for example in WO 2023 / 130041 A2.
[0009] Such atomizers, by design, produce a low droplet velocity compared to atomization by expelling the inhalant from a nozzle under pressure. In a nicotine inhaler known from US 10,806,868 Bl, there is a small chamber-like space between the vibrating mesh used for atomization and the aerosol outlet. This allows the aerosol to travel in a direct line from the vibrating mesh to the aerosol outlet.
[0010] Surprisingly, users of inhalation devices known from the prior art still experience an unpleasant sensation in the throat / pharynx even when the atomization process produces only low droplet velocities and the resulting aerosol is inhaled from a chamber-like space. With nicotine inhalers, this sensation is often described as a burning feeling. Therefore, a certain degree of undesirable drug deposition in the oral cavity still occurs.
[0011] The present invention aims to make aerosol droplets less noticeable to the user when inhaling from an inhalation device. WERRTA GmbH Nozzle and Atomization Technology 4127-32-PCT
[0012] According to one aspect of the present invention, this problem is solved by providing an inhalation device, in particular designed as a mobile portable device, which comprises: an inhalation medium, for example in the form of a pressure vessel, a tank or a cartridge, an atomizer for atomizing the inhalation medium at an atomization point, an actuator for activating the atomizer, an aerosol chamber having an internal volume for receiving atomized inhalation medium, an aerosol outlet having a local constriction for the outlet of the inhalation medium from the aerosol chamber, and a flow barrier that creates a local constriction of the internal volume spaced apart from the atomization point and arranged longitudinally in the aerosol chamber between the atomization point and the aerosol outlet.The longitudinal direction of the aerosol chamber is defined as the direction orthogonal to the cross-sectional planes of the internal volume located between the atomizer and the aerosol outlet. The atomization point is the location where the particles contained in the resulting aerosol, particularly droplets, form from a continuous phase, a liquid film, or larger primary droplets. Since this point is only approximately point-like in the case of impact atomization of single droplets, the center of gravity of a planar or three-dimensional atomization point replaces it when a positional relationship concerning the atomization point is formulated that requires a unique reference point. For distance specifications between two elements, the smallest distance between the corresponding elements is understood to be the distance between the two points on each of the elements that are closest to each other.
[0013] In a way that is surprising to the person skilled in the art, the inhalation device according to the invention helps to avoid unpleasant sensations in the throat of the user inhaling through the mouth.
[0014] The inhalant can advantageously be a physiologically active liquid, particularly one containing nicotine. The present invention can thus significantly reduce undesirable drug deposition in the oral cavity.
[0015] The actuator can be a device that is known per se from the standpoint, such as a pump actuation, a switch, button, lever, rotary control or WERRTA GmbH Nozzle and Atomization Technology 4127-32-PCT
[0016] Pushbuttons for valve actuation or for switching an electric drive, in particular an electronic vibration drive or the like.
[0017] In an advantageous embodiment, the smallest cross-sectional area through which air can flow is located at the local constriction of the internal volume, larger than the total cross-sectional area through which air can flow is projected in the longitudinal direction of the aerol outlet. In this case, the aerol outlet thus usually represents the smallest aperture on the path of a droplet from the atomization point to the inhaling user.
[0018] According to a preferred embodiment, the centroid of the smallest cross-sectional area accessible to flow at the local constriction of the internal volume is offset in the longitudinal direction relative to the atomization point. Particularly preferably, the flow barrier completely covers the atomization point in the longitudinal direction.
[0019] According to a further preferred embodiment, the centroid of the smallest cross-sectional area accessible to flow through the local constriction of the internal volume is offset relative to the centroid of the total area accessible to flow through the aerosol outlet in the longitudinal direction. Particularly preferably, the flow barrier covers at least half or completely of the total area accessible to flow through the aerosol outlet in the longitudinal direction.
[0020] Preferably, the center of gravity of the total flowable area of the aerosol outlet, and especially preferably the entire flowable area of the aerosol outlet, is offset in projection in the longitudinal direction relative to the atomization point.
[0021] It is also preferable that the smallest cross-sectional area through which the local constriction of the internal volume can flow in the longitudinal direction of the aerosol chamber is located further away from the atomization point than from the aerosol outlet.
[0022] According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the flow barrier interrupts a straight line drawn from the atomization point to the centroid of the total flowable area of the aereolian outlet. WERRTA GmbH Nozzle and Atomization Technology 4127-32-PCT
[0023] According to an advantageous further development, the aerosol outlet is integrated into a cap that closes the aerosol chamber or an insert that penetrates the aerosol chamber.
[0024] Advantageously, the flow barrier can also be integrated into the cap or insert. With the aid of such a cap or insert, a conventional inhalation device can be transformed into an inhalation device according to the invention by placing the cap or insert onto or into the mouthpiece.
[0025] It can be advantageous to design the cap or insert to be reversibly removable and attachable. In particular, the cap or insert can be attached in at least two different orientations, so that, depending on the orientation, the position of the aerosol outlet relative to the flow barrier and / or the position of the aerosol outlet relative to the atomization point and / or the position of the flow barrier relative to the atomization point changes. For this purpose, the cap or insert is advantageously designed asymmetrically, so that rotating the cap or insert about an axis parallel to its longitudinal direction changes the position of the aerosol outlet and / or the flow barrier.
[0026] According to an advantageous embodiment, the inhalation device further comprises a pre-barrier which creates a local pre-narrowing of the internal volume, spaced apart from the atomization point and arranged longitudinally in the aerosol chamber between the atomization point and the flow barrier.
[0027] The pre-barrier and the flow barrier are arranged offset from each other in the longitudinal direction. Preferably, in the longitudinal direction, the smallest cross-sectional area accessible through flow of the local pre-constriction of the internal volume and the smallest cross-sectional area accessible through flow of the local constriction of the internal volume overlap by at most half, and particularly preferably not at all.
[0028] The flow barrier then completely covers the smallest cross-sectional area through which the flow can occur in the local pre-narrowing of the internal volume in projection in the longitudinal direction.
[0029] In the further development of the inhalation device featuring a pre-barrier, the centroid of the smallest cross-sectional area through which the air can flow is preferably projected in the longitudinal direction relative to the WERRTA GmbH Nozzle and Atomization Technology 4127-32-PCT
[0030] The atomization point is offset. The pre-barrier preferably completely covers the atomization point in its longitudinal projection.
[0031] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the extent of the flowable area of the aerosol outlet, projected longitudinally, is larger in a first direction than, preferably at least twice as large, and particularly preferably at least four times as large as, in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. That is, the aerosol outlet is asymmetrical, in particular slot-shaped.
[0032] According to a further advantageous development, the aerosol outlet has several outlet openings, for example in the form of a hole pattern.
[0033] According to a further advantageous development, the aerosol outlet on the side facing away from the aerosol chamber transitions into a projection which is advantageously tapered compared to the aerosol chamber, but can also be designed as a mask or the like.
[0034] According to an advantageous embodiment, the atomizer is designed as a vibrating atomizer with at least one vibrating element in contact with the inhalant, for example as a mesh atomizer known per se, in which droplets detach from a vibrating grid-like element (mesh).
[0035] According to an alternative advantageous embodiment, the atomizer has an inhalant feed for supplying inhalant from the inhalant reservoir to an inhalant nozzle and an impact element arranged in the aerosol chamber for impact atomization, onto which inhalant can be sprayed in a straight line from the inhalant nozzle. The inhalation device is designed such that the inhalant exiting the inhalant nozzle as a liquid jet disintegrates into primary droplets by free fragmentation before impacting the impact element, and the point of impact of the primary droplets on the impact element defines the atomization point.
[0036] In this embodiment, an inhalant exiting the inhalant nozzle in the form of a continuous jet breaks up into droplets before impacting the impact element (free jet breakup into droplets, particularly independent of additional gas flows), i.e., the liquid exiting the inhalant nozzle does not strike the impact element as a continuous jet. The jet breakup can be visualized as follows: [WERRTA GmbH Nozzle and Atomization Technology 4127-32-PCT]
[0037] The liquid jet exiting the inhalation nozzle forms a straight chain of droplets from a certain distance away from the nozzle outlet.
[0038] Such an interpretation can be empirically determined through simple interpretive experiments. The expert can use the following relationship as a guide.
[0039]
[0040] for the beam breakup length Z, wherein
[0041]
[0042] We = pU D the Weber number and Oh = — the Ohnesorge number denotes aj Drjp °
[0043] with Z beam breakup length in m
[0044] D narrowest diameter of the nozzle outlet opening in m
[0045] C Initial disturbance of the beam decay in m
[0046] p Density of physiologically effective fluid in kg / m³ 3
[0047] c Surface tension of the physiologically active fluid in N / mr | Viscosity of the physiologically active fluid in Pa s
[0048] The exit velocity of the liquid jet from the inhalation nozzle is determined by the initial disturbance of the jet breakup C, which is generally an unknown. However, for the present invention, it has been shown that the dimensionless factor can be determined by the initial disturbance of the jet breakup C.
[0049]
[0050] A value between 10 and 15, and usually between 12 and 13, can be assumed.
[0051] In the impact atomization of droplets produced by free radioactive decay in an inhalation device according to the invention, for example, with a nozzle diameter of D = 20 pm and pressures of 15 to 25 bar, the following results are obtained according to experimental data:
[0052] D V 90 ~ 10 to 13 pm
[0053] D V 50 ~ 6 to 8 pm
[0054] Dvio~ 2.5 to 4 pm
[0055] with a nozzle diameter of D = 15 pm and pressures of 15 to 25 bar:
[0056] D V 90 ~ 8 to 10 pm
[0057] D V 50 ~ 5 to 7 pm
[0058] Dvio~ 2.5 to 4 pmWERRTA GmbH Nozzle and Atomization Technology 4127-32-PCT
[0059] The diameter specifications in the examples above should be understood as follows:
[0060] 10% of the liquid volume of the aerosol consists of droplets smaller than D v io D V50% of the liquid volume of the aerosol consists of droplets smaller than D v so D V 90% of the liquid volume of the aerosol consists of droplets smaller than D V 90
[0061] Physically, the process of impact atomization of droplets produced by free radioactive decay can be understood as follows: The atomization mechanism is less like the macroscopic process of a single large droplet striking an obstacle, but is best described by considering two primary droplets striking the same spot successively. An impacting primary droplet forms a film on the impact element, into which a subsequent primary droplet impacts and forms a "crown" from which smaller droplets then detach. A subsequent primary droplet, also produced by free radioactive decay, can then impact the film of residual liquid remaining and form a new crown from which further smaller droplets detach, and so on.
[0062] Figure 8 further illustrates the process of impact atomization of droplets formed by free radioactive decay. The inhalant liquid, supplied to the inhalant nozzle under pressure, exits in a jet. After the jet breakup length Z, the liquid jet breaks up into primary droplets, which successively strike the impact element at (approximately) the same location. The impact element is positioned at a distance s, greater than the jet breakup length Z, from the nozzle opening. Following the process described above, each newly impacting primary droplet causes secondary droplets to detach from the liquid film on the impact element, forming a spray flow. Some of the liquid runs off the impact element.Efficient impact atomization is therefore not achieved by spraying a wide aerosol jet or cone onto a surface, so that only randomly scattered drops hit a spot where a drop has already hit shortly before; rather, the concept of effective impact atomization is based on a stream of closely spaced drops, generated in particular by free radiation decay, hitting (approximately) the same spot.
[0063] According to an advantageous embodiment, the inhalation device further comprises pressurizing means for pressurizing the inhalant. WERRTA GmbH Nozzle and Atomization Technology 4127-32-PCT
[0064] The invention is explained in more detail below by way of example with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings. The drawings are not to scale; in particular, for the sake of clarity, the ratios of the individual dimensions to one another do not always correspond to the dimensional relationships in actual technical implementations. Several preferred embodiments are described, to which, however, the invention is not limited.
[0065] In principle, any variant of the invention described or indicated within the scope of this application may be particularly advantageous, depending on the economic, technical, and, where applicable, medical conditions in each individual case. Unless otherwise stated, or insofar as it is technically feasible, individual features of the described embodiments are interchangeable or combinable with each other and with features known per se from the prior art.
[0066] It shows
[0067] Fig. 1a in longitudinal section an inhalation device according to the invention with single-droplet impact atomization and a flow barrier arranged orthogonally to the longitudinal direction of the aerosol chamber, interrupting the direct path from the impact element to the aerosol exit,
[0068] Fig. 1b in top view shows the side of a cap facing the aerosol chamber, which in Fig. 1a closes off the aerosol chamber and carries the flow barrier,
[0069] Fig. 2a shows the mouthpiece area of an inhalation device similar to Fig. 1a (cut out), wherein the flow barrier integrated into the cap is aligned parallel to the longitudinal direction of the aerosol chamber,
[0070] Fig. 2b shows the top view of the side of the cap facing the aerosol chamber, as shown in Fig.
[0071] 2a closes the aerosol chamber and carries the flow barrier,
[0072] Fig. 3, similar to Fig. 1b, shows the side of a cap facing the aerosol chamber in a top view, where, unlike Fig. 1b, the aerosol outlet is designed in the form of several openings. WERRTA GmbH Nozzle and Atomization Technology 4127-32-PCT
[0073] Fig. 4 shows a longitudinal section of an inhalation device according to the invention similar to Fig. 1a, wherein the impact element of the atomizer is integrated into a first insert, and the flow barrier and the aerosol outlet are integrated into a second insert.
[0074] Fig. 5a shows the mouthpiece area of an inhalation device similar to Fig. 4.
[0075] (broken out), wherein the impact element of the atomizer and the flow barrier are integrated into a common insert, and the aerosol outlet is integrated into a cap,
[0076] Fig. 5b shows the mouthpiece area from 5a, but the cap is rotated by 180 degrees, so that the position of the off-center aerosol outlet relative to the flow barrier is changed.
[0077] Fig. 6a shows a longitudinal section drawing of a nicotine inhaler with a mesh atomizer and an aerosol outlet integrated into a cap tapering to a mouthpiece.
[0078] Fig. 6b shows the nicotine inhaler from Fig. 6a, but with the cap rotated by 180 degrees, so that the position of the off-center aerosol outlet relative to the flow barrier is changed.
[0079] Fig. 7 shows the longitudinal section of a nicotine inhaler as in Fig. 6a, wherein a pre-barrier is provided between the atomizer and the flow barrier, and
[0080] Fig. 8 illustrates the process of droplet impact atomization.
[0081] The figures are not exactly to scale. In particular, for the sake of clarity, the ratios of individual dimensions to one another may be exaggerated or understated. Corresponding elements in each figure are marked with the same reference symbols. WERRTA GmbH Nozzle and Atomization Technology 4127-32-PCT
[0082] Fig. 1a shows a longitudinal section of an inhalation device according to the invention. The longitudinal direction is defined as the longitudinal direction of the aerosol chamber 7, i.e., the direction orthogonal to the cross-sectional planes of the inner volume 10 of the aerosol chamber 7 located between the atomizer (formed from the inhalation nozzle 5 and the impact element 11) and the aerosol outlet. In Fig. 1a, the longitudinal direction is therefore the left-right direction in the plane of the drawing.
[0083] The inhalation insert 1 in Fig. 1a contains a pressurized, physiologically active liquid (inhalant) and is inserted into the housing 2. The housing 2 can advantageously be made of a plastic material, for example by injection molding, as is the case with conventional inhalation sprays.
[0084] The inhalant can pass from the outlet nozzle 3 of the inhalation canal 1 through the channel-like inhalant feed 4 integrated into the cam 2 to the inhalation nozzle 5 and be expelled through it. For this purpose, the outlet nozzle 3 is movably mounted and opens the valve 6 of the inhalation canal 1 when it is pressed into the inhalation canal 1 by the user pressing the cam 2 and the inhalation canal 1 against each other. The cam 2 thus serves as an actuator in Fig. 1a.
[0085] The inhalant, ejected from the inhalation nozzle 5 as a liquid jet, breaks down, as shown in Fig. 8, into primary droplets that strike the impact element 11 and are atomized there into smaller droplets according to the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 8. The impact element 11 represents the atomization point, which is located in the aerosol chamber 7 and, like the chamber, is integrated into the housing 2.
[0086] Opposite the atomizer formed by the inhalation nozzle 5 and the impact element 11, the aerosol chamber 7 is closed off by a cap 8, into which the slot-shaped aerosol outlet 9 is integrated. Also integrated into the cap 8 is the flow barrier 12, which locally constricts the internal volume 10 of the aerosol chamber 7. The distance of the local constriction 13 to the aerosol outlet 9 is less than to the impact element 11 (and thus to the atomization point). The flow barrier 12 interrupts a straight line drawn from the atomization point to the centroid of the total flowable area of the aerosol outlet 9, shown as an arrow in Fig. 1a. WERRTA GmbH Nozzle and Atomization Technology 4127-32-PCT
[0087] The aerosol chamber 7 with the cap 8 forms the mouthpiece of the inhalation device. By closing the aerosol chamber 7 with their lips in the area of the cap 8 or slightly behind the cap 8, i.e., slightly to the left of the cap in Fig. 1a, and inhaling through their mouth, the user can inhale the aerosol containing the inhalant from the inner volume 10 of the aerosol chamber 10 through the aerosol outlet 9.
[0088] Fig. 1b shows the side of the cap 8 facing the aerosol chamber 7 in Fig. 1a in a top view, i.e., the viewing direction corresponds to the direction from left to right in Fig. 1a. Also shown in longitudinal projection are the position 14 of the centroid of the flowable area of the local constriction 13, the position 15 of the atomization point, and the position of the centroid 16 of the aerosol outlet 9, which is completely covered by the flow barrier 12.
[0089] The atomization point is also completely covered by the flow barrier 12 in the longitudinal projection. Positions 14, 15, 16 of the atomization point, the centroid of the aerosol outlet 9, and the centroid of the flowable area of the local constriction 13 of the internal volume 10 are offset relative to each other in the longitudinal projection.
[0090] Fig. 2a shows a longitudinal section of the mouthpiece area of an inhalation device, which can otherwise be constructed as in Fig. 1a. The flow barrier 12, also integrated into the cap 8, is arranged parallel to the longitudinal direction of the aerosol chamber 10 and narrows it up to just before the aerosol outlet 9.
[0091] The side of the cap 8 of this embodiment facing the aerosol chamber 7 is again shown in top view in Fig. 2b, i.e., the viewing direction corresponds to the left-to-right direction in Fig. 1a. Also shown in longitudinal projection, as in Fig. 1b, are the position 14 of the centroid of the flowable area of the local constriction 13, the position 15 of the atomization point, and the position of the centroid 16 of the aerosol outlet 9. Again, the positions 14, 15, 16 of the atomization point, the centroid of the aerosol outlet 9, and the centroid of the flowable area of the local constriction 13 of the internal volume 10 are offset relative to each other in the longitudinal projection. WERRTA GmbH Nozzle and Atomization Technology 4127-32-PCT
[0092] Fig. 3, like Fig. 1b, shows a top view of the side of a cap 8 facing the aerosol chamber 7. However, unlike Fig. 1b, the aerosol outlet 9 here is designed in the form of several openings.
[0093] The longitudinal projection shows the position 14 of the centroid of the flowable area of the local constriction 13, the position 15 of the atomization point, and the position of the centroid 16 of the aerosol outlet 9, which is completely covered by the flow barrier 12, when the cap 8 of Fig. 3 is placed on the inhalation device in Fig. 1a instead of the cap 8 from Fig. 2a. The atomization point is also completely covered by the flow barrier 12 in the longitudinal projection. The positions 14, 15, and 16 of the atomization point, the centroid of the aerosol outlet 9, and the centroid of the flowable area of the local constriction 13 of the internal volume 10 are offset relative to each other in the longitudinal projection.
[0094] Fig. 4 shows a longitudinal section of an inhalation device similar to Fig. 1a. The inhalation cartridge 1 contains a pressurized, physiologically active liquid (inhalant) and is inserted into the housing 2. The housing 2 can advantageously be made of a plastic material, for example by injection molding, as in conventional inhalation sprays.
[0095] The inhalant can pass from the outlet nozzle 3 of the inhalation canopy 1 through the channel-like inhalant feed 4 integrated into the cam 2 to the inhalation nozzle 5 and be expelled through it. For this purpose, the outlet nozzle 3 is movably mounted and opens the valve 6 of the inhalation canopy 1 when it is pressed into the inhalation canopy 1 by the user pressing the cam 2 and the inhalation canopy 1 against each other. The cam 2 thus serves as an actuator in Fig. 4.
[0096] The inhalant ejected from the inhalation nozzle 5 as a liquid jet breaks down, as shown in Fig. 8, into primary droplets which strike the impact element 11 in the aerosol chamber 7 and are atomized there into smaller droplets according to the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 8.
[0097] In the present embodiment, the impact element 11 is integrated into the first insert 17, which – from the right in Fig. 4 – is inserted into the nozzle 20 integrated into the cam 2. The impact element 10 is held by the struts 18 integrated into the first insert 17. WERRTA GmbH Nozzle and Atomization Technology 4127-32-PCT
[0098] The wall 19 of the first insert 17 is interrupted over a large area (not shown) so that air can flow through it.
[0099] The second insert 21 is also inserted into the mouthpiece 20, the rear wall 22 of which, with the slot-shaped aerosol outlet 9 in it, closes off the aerosol chamber 7.
[0100] Also integrated into the second insert 21 is the flow barrier 12, which locally constricts the internal volume 10 of the aerosol chamber 7. The distance of the local constriction 13 to the aerosol outlet 9 is less than to the impact element 11 (and thus to the atomization point). The flow barrier 12 interrupts a straight line drawn from the atomization point to the centroid of the total flowable area of the aerosol outlet 9, shown as an arrow in Fig. 4.
[0101] In the longitudinal projection, i.e. left-right direction in Fig. 4, the flow barrier 12 completely covers the aerosol outlet 9 and the atomization point.
[0102] The first and second inserts 17, 21 can advantageously be made of a plastic material, for example by injection molding.
[0103] Figures 5a and 5b show the mouthpiece area 20 in longitudinal section of an inhalation device, which can otherwise be constructed as in Figure 4. In contrast to Figure 4, the impact element 11 and the flow barrier 12 are integrated into a common insert 23, which is inserted into the mouthpiece 20 designed as part of the cam 2.
[0104] The aerosol outlet 9 is integrated into a cap 8 that closes off the aerosol chamber 7. Depending on how the cap 8 is placed on the mouthpiece 20, the aerosol outlet 9 is either covered by the flow barrier 12 in the longitudinal projection (Fig. 5a) or not covered (Fig. 5b).
[0105] Similarly, in the inhalation device shown in Figs. 6a and 6b, designed as a nicotine inhaler, the aerosol outlet 9 is either covered (Fig. 6a) or not covered (Fig. 6b) by the flow barrier 12 in the longitudinal projection, depending on how the cap 8 is placed on the base body 2. WERRTA GmbH Nozzle and Atomization Technology 4127-32-PCT
[0106] The essentially tubular base body 2 can be made, for example, of aluminum and / or a plastic material, and encloses the inner volume 10 of the aerosol chamber 7. Longitudinally, the aerosol chamber 7 is closed off on one side by the mesh nebulizer 24 and on the other side by the cap 8. The flow barrier 12, which locally narrows the inner volume 10 of the aerosol chamber 7, is integrated into the base body 2 and is located further away from the vibrating element 25, and thus the atomization point, than from the slot-shaped aerosol outlet 9.
[0107] On the side facing away from the aerosol chamber 7, the aerosol outlet 9 transitions into a protrusion serving as a mouthpiece 20, which is tapered compared to the aerosol chamber 7.
[0108] The battery-operated mesh nebulizer 24 is activated by means of the push button 26, which serves as an actuator, and atomizes nicotine-containing liquid supplied from the replaceable inhalation template cartridge 1 with its vibrating element 25.
[0109] Especially with nicotine inhalers, users often experience an unpleasant sensation, even a burning feeling, in the throat and pharynx, which can be avoided or at least significantly reduced according to the invention.
[0110] The nicotine inhaler in Fig. 7 is designed like the nicotine inhaler in Fig. 6a, but unlike the latter, it additionally has a pre-barrier 28, which is integrated into the base body 2 and arranged longitudinally between the vibrating element 25 of the mesh atomizer and the flow barrier 12. The pre-barrier 28 creates a local pre-constriction 27 of the inner volume 10 of the aerosol chamber 7, spaced apart from the atomization point and arranged longitudinally in the aerosol chamber 7 between the atomization point and the flow barrier 12.
[0111] In the longitudinal projection, the flow barrier 12 completely covers the cross-sectional area through which the flow can pass through the local constriction 27 of the internal volume 10 of the aerosol chamber 7. Likewise, in the longitudinal projection, the pre-barrier 28 completely covers the cross-sectional area through which the flow can pass through the local constriction 13 of the internal volume 10 of the aerosol chamber 7.
Claims
WERRTA GmbH Nozzle and Atomization Technology 4127-32-PCT PATENT CLAIMS E Inhalation device, comprising an inhalation template, an atomizer for atomizing the inhalant at an atomization point, an actuator to activate the atomizer, an aerosol chamber which has an internal volume for receiving atomized inhalant, an aerosol outlet exhibiting a local constriction for the exit of the inhalant from the aerosol chamber, and a flow barrier that creates a local constriction of the internal volume, spaced away from the atomization point and arranged longitudinally in the aerosol chamber between the atomization point and the aerosol outlet, where the longitudinal direction of the aerosol chamber is defined as the direction orthogonal to the cross-sectional planes of the internal volume lying between the atomizer and the aerosol outlet.
2. Inhalation device according to claim 1, where the smallest cross-sectional area through which flow can occur at the local constriction of the internal volume is larger than the total cross-sectional area through which flow can occur at the aereolian outlet in its longitudinal projection.
3. Inhalation device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the center of gravity of the smallest cross-sectional area through which the local constriction of the internal volume can flow is offset in projection in the longitudinal direction relative to the atomization point.
4. Inhalation device according to claim 3, wherein the flow barrier completely covers the atomization point in longitudinal projection.
5. Inhalation device according to one of the preceding claims, WERRTA GmbH Nozzle and Atomization Technology 4127-32-PCT wherein the centroid of the smallest cross-sectional area through which the air can flow is offset in the longitudinal direction relative to the centroid of the total cross-sectional area through which the air can flow.
6. Inhalation device according to claim 5, wherein the flow barrier covers at least half of the total flowable area of the aerosol outlet in projection in the longitudinal direction.
7. Inhalation device according to claim 6, wherein the flow barrier completely covers the total flowable area of the aerosol outlet in projection in the longitudinal direction.
8. Inhalation device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the center of gravity of the total flowable area of the aerosol outlet is offset in projection in the longitudinal direction relative to the atomization point.
9. Inhalation device according to claim 8, where the entire flowable area of the aerosol outlet is offset in projection in the longitudinal direction relative to the atomization point.
10. Inhalation device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the smallest cross-sectional area permeable to flow of the local constriction of the internal volume in the longitudinal direction of the aerosol chamber is further away from the atomization point than from the aerosol outlet.
11. Inhalation device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the flow barrier interrupts a straight line drawn from the atomization point to the centroid of the total flowable area of the aereol outlet.
12. Inhalation device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the aerosol outlet is integrated into a cap closing the aerosol chamber or an insert engaging in the aerosol chamber. WERRTA GmbH Nozzle and Atomization Technology 4127-32-PCT 13. Inhalation device according to claim 12, wherein the flow barrier is integrated into the cap or insert.
14. Inhalation device according to claim 12 or claim 13, wherein the cap or insert is reversibly removable and attachable.
15. Inhalation device according to claim 14, wherein the cap or insert can be attached in at least two different orientations, and depending on the orientation, the position of the aerosol outlet relative to the flow barrier and / or the position of the aerosol outlet relative to the atomization point and / or the position of the flow barrier relative to the atomization point changes.
16. Inhalation device according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising a pre-barrier which creates a local pre-narrowing of the internal volume spaced apart from the atomization point and arranged in the longitudinal direction of the aerosol chamber between the atomization point and the flow barrier, where, in projection in the longitudinal direction, the pre-barrier and the flow barrier are arranged offset from each other.
17. Inhalation device according to claim 16, wherein, in projection in the longitudinal direction, the smallest cross-sectional area through which flow can pass, of the local pre-narrowing of the internal volume and the smallest cross-sectional area through which flow can pass, of the local narrowing of the internal volume, overlap by at most half.
18. Inhalation device according to claim 17, wherein, in projection in the longitudinal direction, the flow barrier completely covers the smallest cross-sectional area permeable to flow of the local pre-narrowing of the internal volume.
19. Inhalation device according to one of claims 16-18, wherein the centroid of the smallest cross-sectional area through which air can flow is displaced in projection in the longitudinal direction relative to the atomization point. WERRTA GmbH Nozzle and Atomization Technology 4127-32-PCT 20. Inhalation device according to claim 19, wherein the pre-barrier completely covers the atomization point in the longitudinal direction.
21. Inhalation device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the extent of the flowable area of the aerosol outlet in its longitudinal projection is greater in a first direction than in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction.
22. Inhalation device according to claim 21, wherein the aerosol outlet is slot-shaped.
23. Inhalation device according to one of claims 1-21, wherein the aerosol outlet has multiple outlet openings.
24. Inhalation device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the aerosol outlet transitions into a projection on the side facing away from the aerosol chamber.
25. Inhalation device according to claim 24, wherein the extension is tapered towards the aerosol chamber.
26. Inhalation device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the atomizer is a vibrating atomizer with at least one vibrating element in contact with the inhalant, and the wetted area from which the inhalant droplets detach defines the atomization site.
27. Inhalation device according to one of claims 1-25, wherein the atomizer has an inhalation feed for supplying inhalation from the inhalation reservoir to an inhalation nozzle and an impact element arranged in the aerosol chamber for impact atomization, onto which inhalant from the inhalant nozzle can be sprayed in a straight line, exhibits,WERRTA GmbH Nozzle and Atomization Technology 4127-32-PCT wherein the inhalation device is designed such that the inhalant exiting the inhalant nozzle as a liquid jet breaks down into primary droplets in free disintegration before striking the impact element, and the point where the primary droplets hit the impact element defines the atomization point.
28. Inhalation device according to one of the preceding claims, which further comprises pressurizing means for pressurizing the inhalant.
29. Inhalation device according to one of the preceding claims, which is designed as a mobile portable device.
30. Inhalation device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the inhalant is a physiologically active liquid, in particular containing nicotine.