Dry Powder Inhaler Capsule Chamber Oscillation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional dry powder inhalers face issues with inconsistent and inefficient release of medicament from capsules due to random and weak impacts between the capsule and the capsule chamber, leading to poor emptying and lung uptake.
Innovation Solution
The inhaler device features a capsule chamber design with oscillating airflow paths that cause the capsule to move oscillatingly, generating impacts that break down larger particles into smaller ones, combined with a Venturi effect to enhance airflow velocity and pressure drop, ensuring efficient release and dispersion of medicament.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional capsule chamber geometries are used to set the capsule into motion, then the capsule moves during inhalation, but the impacts between the capsule and capsule chamber are random, hardly reproducible and relatively weak, leading to unsatisfactory breakdown of powder particles
Solution Approach 1:
The capsule chamber is designed with a movable bottom wall that can be displaced in the direction of the longitudinal axis upon inhalation. This dynamic element transforms the static chamber into an active system that generates controlled, reproducible impacts between the capsule and the movable bottom wall, resolving the issue of random and weak impacts in conventional designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The inhalation airflow itself is utilized to displace the movable bottom wall, which in turn generates the impacts needed for particle breakdown. The system uses the patient's own inhalation action to drive the mechanism, eliminating the need for external power sources or complex actuation systems while ensuring reproducible and sufficiently strong impacts.
2Manufacturing precision
If stronger impacts are applied to break down larger particles, then particle breakdown improves, but the capsule may become stuck or the powder release may become inconsistent
Solution Approach 1:
The movable bottom wall is designed to oscillate or move back and forth during inhalation, creating periodic impacts on the capsule. This periodic action gradually breaks down large particles into smaller, more uniform particles over time, while the oscillating motion prevents the capsule from becoming stuck and maintains consistent powder release throughout the inhalation process.
Solution Approach 2:
The dynamic movement of the bottom wall allows for controlled variation in impact strength during the inhalation cycle. The system can apply stronger impacts when needed for particle breakdown while transitioning to gentler movements to maintain capsule mobility and consistent release, thereby resolving the contradiction between particle breakdown effectiveness and release consistency.
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
This design improves the consistency and efficiency of medicament release and lung uptake by breaking down particles into breathable sizes, ensuring a more effective delivery of the dry powder medicament.
Implementation Method 1
a capsule having a longitudinal axis and first and second end sections delimiting the capsule on opposing ends located in the capsule chamber performs an oscillating movement in the capsule chamber parallel to the longitudinal axis of the capsule chamber between the first and the second sidewall portions
Implementation Method 2
combined with a Venturi effect to enhance airflow velocity and pressure drop
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to an inhaler device for delivering a dose of medicament in dry powder form from a container to a patient in need thereof. The inhaler comprises first and second airflow paths (80, 85) which are arranged such that during inhalation, a capsule (40) having a longitudinal axis and first and second end sections (90, 95) delimiting the capsule on opposing ends located in a capsule chamber (30) performs an oscillating movement in the capsule chamber parallel to its longitudinal axis between first and second sidewall portions (60, 65) of the capsule chamber.