Blister Track Inhaler With Nested Take-Up Reel
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional inhaler devices with blister strips are cumbersome, inconvenient for multiple dose administration, and pose operational challenges, especially for older or frailer users, due to large size, complex shape, and the need for manual handling and disposal of used blisters.
Innovation Solution
An inhaler device with a housing, a withdrawing assembly, a blister track, an advancing mechanism, and an engaging element that allows for sequential and easy access to medicament blisters, minimizing device size and providing consistent resistance and torque requirements, enabling easy operation by users of varying strengths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single dose inhaler with a single blister cavity is used, then the device is simple in structure, but the patient must carry additional blisters for multiple doses and manually handle each blister separately
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple blisters into a single blister strip that can be loaded once into the inhaler device. The strip contains multiple sealed blisters arranged linearly, allowing the patient to load one strip for multiple doses rather than carrying separate blisters, thereby simplifying operation without increasing device complexity
2Productivity
If a blister strip with multiple blisters is used, then multiple doses can be administered from a single loading, but the device becomes unacceptably large and cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The patent nests the blister strip within a compact housing that contains a take-up reel mechanism. The used blister strip is wound onto the reel inside the device, allowing the strip to be stored efficiently within the device volume. This nesting approach enables multiple doses to be carried in a single compact unit without significantly increasing the external dimensions of the inhaler
3Object-generated harmful factors
If the blister strip is coiled on a take-up reel, then used blisters are contained within the device, but the device must be larger to house the reel and coiled strip
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a flexible blister strip with a thin, pliable structure that can be wound tightly onto a take-up reel. The flexibility of the strip allows it to be coiled efficiently within the device housing, maximizing space utilization. The thin film structure minimizes the volume required for storage while maintaining the integrity of the sealed blisters during winding and storage
4Ease of operation
If the advancing mechanism provides consistent torque throughout the blister strip, then operation is uniform for all users, but the mechanism becomes more complex to achieve equal resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a progressive resistance mechanism where the advancing mechanism is designed to provide varying torque compensation at different positions along the blister strip. The mechanism senses the position of the strip and adjusts the advancing force locally to compensate for changes in friction and mechanical resistance, ensuring uniform operational feel throughout the strip without requiring a completely complex system
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of an inhaler device include a housing, a withdrawing assembly disposed within the housing for facilitating withdrawal of medicament from a target blister of a blister strip, the withdrawing assembly including an opening element adapted for opening the target blister of the blister strip while the target blister is positioned in the withdrawing assembly, and a dispensing element adapted for directing the withdrawn medicament toward the exterior of the inhaler device. A blister track is disposed within the housing for guiding each blister of the blister strip to the withdrawing assembly in succession, an advancing mechanism for advancing the blister strip by a predetermined distance each time the advancing mechanism is engaged, and an engaging element for engaging the advancing mechanism to advance the blister strip. The blister track includes a primary coil structure, a secondary coil structure, and a tertiary coil structure.