Blister Folding Mechanism for Dry Powder Inhaler
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dry powder inhalers face challenges in consistently opening blister lids, leading to trapped powder and hindered airflow due to inconsistent piercing, which affects the efficient delivery of medicament.
Innovation Solution
A blister opening device that uses a blister support element and a folding element to create two spaced apart openings along the circumference of the blister bowl, allowing for smooth airflow and minimizing powder retention, without piercing, suitable for multi-dose inhalers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If piercing is used to open the blister lid, then the lid can be opened, but the opening size and configuration are inconsistent and foil flaps trap powder
Solution Approach 1:
The opening mechanism is segmented into two distinct phases: first creating an initial opening, then forming a final enlarged opening. This segmentation allows the system to avoid the problem of inconsistent single-step piercing by breaking the opening process into controlled stages, ensuring reliable and consistent powder release without trapping.
Solution Approach 2:
The piercing element first creates a preliminary opening in the blister lid before the powder is released. This preliminary action prepares the path for airflow and powder ejection, ensuring that the main powder release occurs through a pre-established opening rather than relying on unpredictable foil tearing, thereby preventing powder trapping.
2Productivity
If a large opening is created in the blister lid, then airflow is improved, but foil flaps become larger and trap more powder
Solution Approach 1:
The opening formation is segmented into an initial piercing stage and a final enlargement stage. This ensures that the large opening is created in a controlled manner that minimizes foil flap formation, allowing improved airflow without the harmful side effect of powder trapping by excessive foil flaps.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameters of the opening process by using a two-stage mechanism rather than a single piercing action. This allows optimization of the opening size and shape to maximize airflow while minimizing the creation of large foil flaps that would trap powder, resolving the contradiction between productivity and harmful factors.
3Ease of operation
If piercing is used to open the blister, then the lid can be opened, but powder may be trapped depending on device orientation
Solution Approach 1:
The preliminary piercing creates a reliable initial opening that establishes a consistent powder release path regardless of device orientation. This preliminary action ensures that subsequent powder ejection occurs through a predetermined opening rather than being affected by gravity-dependent foil tearing, thereby improving reliability while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The opening mechanism is designed to be self-regulating and orientation-independent. The two-stage opening process automatically ensures consistent powder release without requiring the user to maintain a specific device orientation, as the mechanism itself controls the opening formation to prevent powder trapping regardless of gravitational direction.
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
Ensures rapid and unhindered powder exit from the blister, improving the emitted dose and reducing powder retention, particularly beneficial for spray dried formulations and biologics.
Implementation Method 1
a blister folding element co-operable with the blister support element, the blister folding element and the blister support element being movable relative to each other between a first position, permitting movement of said blister into or onto the blister support element, and a second, burst, position in which the blister folding element has co-operated with the blister support element, movement from the first position to the second position causing two spaced apart portions of said blister to each fold relative to the remainder of the blister along a respective fold line
Implementation Method 2
when a user inhales through the mouthpiece, an airflow through the blister via the two openings is generated to entrain the dose contained therein and carry it out of the blister and via the mouthpiece into the user's airway
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-dose dry powder inhaler with a blister folding device is provided. The inhaler comprises a housing containing a blister strip, and a blister opening device. The blister strip comprises a plurality of individual blisters, each blister containing a dose of medicament for inhalation by a user. The blister opening device comprising a blister support element for supporting one of said blisters, and a blister folding element co-operable with the blister support element, the blister folding element and the blister support element being movable relative to each other between a first position, permitting movement of said blister into or onto the blister support element, and a second, burst, position in which the blister folding element has co-operated with the blister support element. Movement from the first position to the second position causes two spaced apart portions of said blister to each fold relative to the remainder of the blister to produce two spaced apart openings, each opening extending along the circumference of the blister bowl, beginning and terminating at points located on the fold line No piercing of the blister at any stage is required.