Auto-reset dose release firing system for inhalers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Breath-actuated inhalers face challenges with mechanical breath-actuation systems requiring precise tolerancing, leading to complexity and the need for careful coordination of inhalation and dose release, with issues of incomplete dose delivery and formulation stability due to delayed valve reset and potential air ingress.
Innovation Solution
An auto-reset dose release firing system that includes a stored energy device and plungers to automatically reset the valve after a predetermined time delay, ensuring full dose release and minimizing the risk of air ingress, using an electronically-triggered breath-actuation system with electronic pressure sensors and logic circuit algorithms to manage inspiratory flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mechanical breath-actuation systems are used to coordinate dose release with inhalation, then the timing coordination between inhalation and dose release is improved, but the device complexity increases due to precise tolerancing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical breath-actuation system with an electronically-triggered system using pressure sensors and logic circuit algorithms. This substitution eliminates the need for precise mechanical tolerancing while maintaining reliable coordination between inhalation detection and dose release timing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically detects inhalation through pressure sensors and triggers dose release without requiring manual coordination by the patient. The electronic system self-regulates the timing coordination, eliminating the complexity of mechanical adjustment while ensuring reliable actuation.
2Reliability
If the valve reset is delayed to ensure complete dose delivery, then the dose delivery completeness is improved, but the risk of air ingress and formulation instability increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-sets a predetermined time delay for valve reset that is optimized to allow complete dose delivery while minimizing air ingress risk. This preliminary timing action ensures that the valve closes at the optimal moment, balancing dose completeness with formulation stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The electronic system monitors the dosing process and uses feedback from pressure sensors to determine the optimal reset timing. This feedback mechanism allows the system to adjust the valve reset timing dynamically, ensuring complete dose delivery while preventing air ingress and maintaining formulation stability.
3Device complexity
If manual coordination of inhalation and dose release is required, then the device simplicity is maintained, but the ease of operation decreases due to coordination challenges
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual coordination requirements with an electronically-triggered breath-actuation system that automatically detects inhalation and triggers dose release. This substitution maintains relative device simplicity while dramatically improving ease of operation by eliminating the need for patient coordination.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs the coordination function automatically through electronic sensors and control logic, serving itself rather than requiring patient intervention. This self-service approach maintains operational simplicity while ensuring accurate timing coordination between inhalation and dose release.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system provides reliable and efficient dose delivery by ensuring the valve returns to its rest position only after full dose release, maintaining formulation stability and preventing air ingress, thus improving the consistency and effectiveness of medicament delivery.
Implementation Method 1
a stored energy device; wherein the second plunger is positioned to be driven by the stored energy device of the firing system from its first position to its second position when the stored energy is released
Implementation Method 2
The evacuable chamber includes a vent which is: dimensioned to provide a reduced air pressure in the evacuable chamber when the first plunger and the second plunger are moved from their respective first positions to their respective second positions
Implementation Method 3
further dimensioned to allow air ingress at a desired rate to move the first plunger from its second position to its third position when the firing system automatically passes from its fired state to its reset state
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
An auto-reset dose release firing system (101) and a method of using same. The system can include an a stored energy device (109); a first plunger (103) movable between first, second, and third positions, the first plunger configured to be operatively coupled to a medicament canister (51); and a second plunger (104) movable between first and second positions; the first and second plunger being movable with respect to one another and shaped to define an evacuable chamber (185) therebetween. The first plunger and the second plunger can move together from their respective first positions to their respective second positions, due to a reduced pressure in the chamber, to cause a dose release valve (54) to fire. After firing, air can be allowed to move into the chamber to allow the first plunger to move with respect to the second plunger to its third position to allow the dose release valve to reset.