Dry Powder Inhaler Actuator with Angled Perforation Needle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dry powder inhalers are complex and costly to manufacture, have limited dosage capacity, and often present high inhalation resistance, making them inefficient for delivering high dosages of dry powder required for treatments such as cystic fibrosis and asthma.
Innovation Solution
A dry powder inhaler design featuring a housing with a capsule receptacle and actuator buttons connected via a ball joint snap-on connection, allowing for easy capsule perforation and efficient powder dispersion, with a capsule receptacle angled to minimize powder obstruction and an intermediate air chamber to reduce inhalation resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional perforation techniques are used in known dry powder inhalers, then capsule piercing is achieved, but the device becomes complicated to manufacture and requires many moving parts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the actuator button and perforation needle into a single integrated component. The button itself forms the needle, eliminating the need for separate moving parts. This integration resolves the contradiction by maintaining reliable capsule piercing while dramatically reducing device complexity and the number of moving parts.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuator button serves multiple functions: it acts as both the actuating mechanism and the perforation needle. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate components, reducing device complexity while maintaining the essential piercing capability.
2Reliability
If needles pierce the capsule directly at hemispherical ends, then perforation is achieved, but the dosage of dry powder is limited due to obstruction from cut-out portions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the piercing location from the hemispherical ends to the cylindrical portion of the capsule, and specifically positions the needle at an angle relative to the capsule axis. This local quality change ensures that the cut-out portions do not obstruct powder flow, thereby increasing the effective dosage while maintaining reliable perforation.
Solution Approach 2:
The needle is arranged at an angle (e.g., 45 degrees) relative to the capsule's longitudinal axis rather than perpendicular to the end surface. This angular arrangement in another dimension prevents the cut-out portions from blocking the powder discharge path, allowing higher dosages to be delivered effectively.
3Quantity of substance
If high dosage of dry powder is required for treatments, then dosage capacity must be increased, but inhalation resistance becomes too high for patients with limited pulmonary capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the piercing operation - specifically the angle of the needle relative to the capsule axis and the position along the capsule body. These parameter changes optimize the powder discharge characteristics, allowing high dosages to be delivered with reduced inhalation resistance by improving powder flow dynamics.
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 design provides a cost-effective, efficient delivery of high dosages with reduced inhalation resistance, suitable for treatments requiring 25 to 200 mg of dry powder, while maintaining ease of assembly and operation.
Implementation Method 1
the perforation needle is moved along a circular line
Implementation Method 2
the capsule is lifted from the capsule receptacle into a capsule chamber and rotates in the capsule chamber. Upon rotation of the capsule, dry powder contained in the capsule is dispersed by centrifugal forces during rotation
Data Source
AI summary
A dry powder inhaler for a capsule containing dry powder, the inhaler comprising a housing having a capsule receptacle, two actuator buttons arranged on opposing sides of the housing and two perforation needles, each needle being fixedly connected to an actuator button and movable relative to the housing towards each other from a normal position to a perforation position along an actuation direction to perforate a capsule arranged in the capsule receptacle, wherein a first end of each actuator button is connected to the housing at a lower portion of the housing and in that a second free end of each actuator button is movable into the perforation position such that the perforation needle is moved along a circular line.