High-Pressure Inhaler Pumping Unit for Single-Cycle Aerosol Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing inhalation devices struggle to deliver high volumes of medically active liquid in a single dosing cycle efficiently, leading to longer emission times and user-activated repetitive dosing issues, particularly for immediate-effect medications like asthma treatments.
Innovation Solution
An inhalation device utilizing a pumping unit with a hollow cylindrical part and piston, driven by a pressurized gas, amplifies pressure through a plunger mechanism with a larger cross section, enabling high-pressure generation and rapid aerosol delivery of medically active liquids.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If multiple dosing cycles are used to deliver high volumes of aerosolized liquid, then the total amount of liquid delivered increases, but the emission time increases and user convenience deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the delivery function into two independent components: a reusable high-capacity liquid reservoir and a disposable pre-filled cartridge containing a large volume of aerosolized liquid. This allows the disposable cartridge to deliver high volumes in a single actuation, eliminating the need for multiple dosing cycles while maintaining the ability to refill the reusable reservoir.
Solution Approach 2:
The disposable cartridge is pre-filled with a large volume of aerosolized liquid (up to 250 μl or more) before use. This preliminary preparation enables the device to deliver high doses in a single actuation without requiring multiple cycles, thereby reducing emission time and improving user convenience for immediate-acting medications.
2Device complexity
If conventional propellant-driven metered-dose inhalers are used, then device simplicity is maintained, but the volume of liquid delivered per actuation is limited to 50-80 μl
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the advantages of both reservoir-based systems and propellant-driven systems by combining a reusable reservoir with a disposable pre-filled cartridge. The cartridge contains a large volume of aerosolized liquid that can be delivered in a single actuation, achieving high dose volumes (250 μl or more) while maintaining relative device simplicity through the use of off-the-shelf components.
Solution Approach 2:
The disposable cartridge acts as an intermediary component that bridges the gap between simple propellant-driven inhalers and complex reservoir-based systems. It pre-contains large volumes of aerosolized liquid and interfaces with a simple reusable housing, enabling high-volume single-dose delivery without requiring complex internal mechanisms.
3Quantity of substance
If repeated dosing cycles are performed for immediate-acting medications, then sufficient liquid volume can be delivered, but the response time is delayed and treatment effectiveness is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The disposable cartridge is pre-filled with a large volume of aerosolized liquid (250 μl or more) before use, enabling immediate delivery of high doses in a single actuation. This eliminates the delay associated with multiple dosing cycles, providing rapid response for immediate-acting medications such as asthma relievers.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables continuous delivery of aerosolized liquid at high flow rates during a single actuation, maintaining useful action throughout the emission period without interruption for refilling or additional dosing cycles. This continuous delivery ensures rapid and sufficient drug delivery for acute conditions.
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 device achieves high-volume, rapid aerosol emission of medically active liquids, suitable for immediate-effect medications, with a single dosing cycle, overcoming the limitations of existing devices by providing consistent and efficient delivery.
Implementation Method 1
in a filling phase, providing a negative gauge pressure inside the pumping chamber by increasing its volume, and thereby filling the pumping chamber with liquid from the reservoir (2) due to said negative gauge pressure
Implementation Method 2
in an emission phase, providing a positive gauge pressure inside the pressure chamber (6) having said second cross section (A2), and thereby effecting a movement of the plunger (7); transferring said movement mechanically to the piston (3B) or to the cylindrical part (3A), such that the volume of the pumping chamber is reduced, and a positive pressure is generated inside its interior space
Implementation Method 3
inhalation device for generation of an aerosol of a medically active liquid
Implementation Method 4
downstream this reservoir (2) a pumping unit (3) for generation of a pressure connected to a means for the delivery of mechanical energy (4) to said pumping unit (3), and downstream said pumping unit (3) a nozzle (5)
Data Source
AI summary
An inhalation device for providing a particularly high pressure for nebulization. The inhalation device can include a housing, a reservoir, a pumping unit adapted to receive the delivery of mechanical energy to the pumping unit, and a nozzle. The pumping unit can also include a hollow cylindrical part and a piston, the cylindrical part having an interior space with a defined first cross section configured to receive an upstream end portion of the piston, wherein the cylindrical part and the piston are linearly moveable relative to one another such as to form a pumping chamber having a variable volume.