Capsule Dry Powder Inhaler With Longitudinal Side-Piercing Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing capsule-based dry powder inhalers with elastic actuation mechanisms face operational challenges due to the requirement for coordinated lateral actuation, excessive force application, and wide horizontal width, which are difficult for patients with reduced hand strength and increase complexity.
Innovation Solution
A dry powder inhaler design featuring a piercing base with straight needles that undergo lateral or longitudinal movements via a drive structure, including inclined tracks or linkage structures, allowing for easier operation and reduced horizontal width.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a lateral elastic actuation mechanism is used to drive piercing needles, then the piercing function is achieved, but the device width increases and operational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the elastic actuation mechanism from the traditional lateral configuration and removes it entirely, replacing it with a direct longitudinal piercing structure. The piercing needles are now driven directly by the longitudinal movement of the upper structure relative to the lower structure, eliminating the need for separate elastic actuators and reducing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a lateral elastic mechanism to drive longitudinal piercing needles, the patent inverts the approach by using longitudinal structural movement to directly drive lateral piercing needles through piercing channels. The actuation direction is inverted from lateral elastic deformation to longitudinal linear movement.
2Ease of operation
If a lateral elastic actuation mechanism is used, then piercing needles can be driven, but excessive force is required and coordination between fingers is needed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical elastic actuation system with a simplified longitudinal movement system. Instead of relying on elastic deformation and mechanical leverage, the piercing action is achieved through direct longitudinal translation of the upper structure, which naturally converts user pressure into piercing force without requiring excessive manual effort or coordination.
3Ease of operation
If the piercing structure is positioned on the bottom side, then capsule piercing is achieved, but the horizontal width of the device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the dimensional arrangement by positioning piercing channels and needles in the longitudinal dimension rather than the lateral dimension. The piercing needles extend through the longitudinal axis of the device, allowing the piercing function to be achieved without increasing the horizontal width of the device body.
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 new design simplifies the actuation process, reduces operational force requirements, and enhances user accessibility for patients with reduced hand strength, while maintaining effective drug delivery.
Implementation Method 1
The drive structure includes an inclined track arranged within the lower structure for a tilting movement of the piercing base, the inclined track being tilted in a direction gradually inclined from a position at an upper edge of the lower structure to a lower portion of the lower structure and toward the capsule chamber
Implementation Method 2
The piercing structure comprises a lateral elastic actuation mechanism connected to piercing needles. The piercing needles are driven by the elastic actuation mechanism to pierce the capsule
Data Source
AI summary
A dry powder inhaler is provided, including an upper structure, a lower structure, and a piercing base. The upper structure undergoes a longitudinal linear movement relative to the lower structure, the upper structure is formed with a capsule chamber and a piercing channel arranged laterally outside of the capsule chamber, one or more piercing needles undergo a lateral piercing movement along the piercing channel, a drive structure is provided among the upper structure, the lower structure, and the piercing structure. When the upper structure undergoes a longitudinal linear movement relative to the lower structure, the drive structure drives the piercing needles to move laterally along the piercing channel, thereby piercing a capsule positioned in the capsule chamber. The dry powder inhaler enables the capsule to be pierced from the side along the piercing channel by pressing the lower structure and the upper structure.