Dry-Powder Inhaler Dispenser With Puncture Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dry-powder inhalers face challenges with particle agglomeration and inconsistent dosing due to high surface energy and hygroscopic nature of drugs, requiring complex mesh and film sealing, which is costly and prone to operational errors.
Innovation Solution
A dry-powder inhalation device with a puncturable blister-type cover and internal pin-like structures that puncture upon inhalation, eliminating the need for mesh and film, ensuring consistent dosing and simplified assembly and operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mesh and film sealing are used to prevent particle loss and agglomeration, then drug delivery reliability is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the mesh and film components from the inhaler device, extracting the sealing function and replacing it with a simplified powder reservoir design that maintains drug containment without requiring additional sealing layers. This eliminates the complexity associated with mesh-film assemblies while preserving reliable drug delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs a disposable powder reservoir that is pre-filled and sealed, eliminating the need for reusable mesh and film components. The entire reservoir is discarded after use, simplifying the device structure and reducing manufacturing costs associated with durable sealing components.
2Manufacturing precision
If mesh and film sealing are used to prevent particle agglomeration, then dosing consistency is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements pre-filled and pre-sealed powder reservoirs that are prepared in advance during manufacturing. This preliminary action ensures consistent dosing without requiring complex assembly of mesh and film components at the point of use, thereby maintaining dosing precision while reducing overall manufacturing complexity and cost.
3Ease of operation
If film is pulled from over the cavity before use, then drug access is enabled, but the thin elongated assembly twists and disrupts rotating operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the film component entirely from the design, eliminating the problematic interaction between film removal and assembly rotation. Drug access is achieved through alternative mechanisms that do not involve pulling films, thereby preventing twisting and maintaining the stability of the rotating elongated assembly.
4Reliability
If removable sealing system is developed and assembled as integrated part, then drug containment is improved, but assembly complexity and operational instructions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the powder reservoir and sealing function into a single integrated pre-filled cartridge. This merging eliminates the need for separate removable sealing components and complex assembly procedures, maintaining reliable drug containment while simplifying both assembly and operational instructions for the end user.
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 solution reduces production and operational costs, ensures consistent drug delivery, and prevents twisting or pulling of inhaler components during use, providing a cost-effective and reliable method for delivering dry-powder medications.
Implementation Method 1
whereby inhalation of air by the user causes airflow through the device that punctures the puncturable covering of the dry-powder compartment and releases the dry-powder from the compartment into the airflow
Data Source
AI summary
A dispenser for dispensing one or more dry-powder inhaler devices, having at least one compartment configured to hold at least one dry-powder inhaler device, the at least one dry-powder inhaler device comprising a casing enclosing at least one compartment containing an inhalable medicament covered by a cover, and at least one puncture mechanism comprising at least one pin structure operably aligned with the at least one compartment, and at least one obstruction internally located within the dispenser and adjacent to an opening, wherein, upon a dry-powder inhaler device being pulled from a dispenser, the at least one obstruction is configured to actuate the at least one puncture mechanism to extend the at least one pin structure into the casing, thereby puncturing the cover of the at least one compartment.