Inhaler Carrier Oscillation via Airflow and Spring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing inhalers face challenges in effectively delivering and atomizing powdered formulations due to inefficient carrier movement and turbulence, leading to suboptimal dispensing and deagglomeration of powders.
Innovation Solution
The inhaler features a carrier that is oscillated by an air flow with a defined movement, amplitude, and frequency, held by a spring section that allows transverse movement while maintaining rigidity in the flow direction, and includes an oblique wing to optimize airflow and minimize turbulence, ensuring effective dispensing and atomization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the carrier is moved or oscillated directly by an air stream for discharge and/or dispersion of the formulation, then the formulation can be delivered and atomized, but the carrier is subjected to flow across its flat side and flutters freely causing undefined movement
Solution Approach 1:
The carrier is designed with asymmetric geometry featuring a flat side for airflow interaction and a curved side for controlled movement. The spring section provides localized flexibility only in specific directions, constraining the carrier to defined oscillation paths while maintaining responsiveness to airflow. This local differentiation of structural properties enables controlled atomization without free fluttering.
Solution Approach 2:
The carrier is connected to the housing via a spring section that allows dynamic, controlled oscillation in response to airflow. The spring provides elastic restoration, creating a damped oscillatory motion rather than uncontrolled fluttering. This dynamic system with inherent damping ensures the carrier moves in a defined manner while maintaining dispensing efficiency.
2Ease of manufacture
If the carrier is designed to be flat, blister-like and/or film-like for containing the formulation, then it can be easily manufactured and disposed, but it flutters freely when subjected to air flow across its flat side
Solution Approach 1:
The carrier is designed with asymmetric geometry where one side is flat for optimized airflow interaction and manufacturing, while the other side is curved to provide aerodynamic stability. This asymmetric design prevents free fluttering by creating a defined airflow pattern that drives controlled oscillation rather than chaotic movement, while maintaining the manufacturing simplicity of flat-sheet processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The carrier is designed to undergo controlled mechanical vibration and oscillation in response to airflow, rather than free fluttering. The spring section and asymmetric geometry work together to convert uncontrolled airflow into defined vibrational motion, enabling stable atomization while maintaining the simple flat-like structure for ease of manufacture.
3Ease of operation
If the carrier is held movably by means of a spring section to allow oscillation, then defined movement with controlled amplitude and frequency is achieved, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The spring section serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides the oscillating motion of the carrier, acts as a damping mechanism to control amplitude, provides a pivot point for rotation, and maintains connection to the housing. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby limiting the increase in structural complexity while achieving precise carrier movement control.
Solution Approach 2:
The carrier connection mechanism is merged with the oscillation control system. The spring section integrates the mounting function with the motion control function, combining what could have been separate components into a single unified element. This merging approach achieves defined carrier movement while minimizing additional structural complexity.
4Device complexity
If the air flow is generated by user inhalation to drive the carrier, then no additional power source is needed, but the frequency and volume flow vary during use
Solution Approach 1:
The system is designed to be sensitive to changes in airflow parameters, with the carrier oscillation frequency and amplitude automatically adapting to the user's inhalation rate. The spring section and asymmetric carrier geometry work together to transform variable inhalation flow into consistent oscillatory motion, maintaining effective atomization across different breathing patterns without requiring additional control mechanisms.
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 enables efficient and uniform dispensing of powdered formulations with improved deagglomeration, allowing for effective delivery of single or multiple doses, either as a disposable or reusable device, with reduced turbulence and enhanced user experience.
Implementation Method 1
The carrier is held movably by means of a spring section (4). The carrier can be moved directly by an air stream to discharge and/or disperse the formulation(s), in particular it can be set into vibration.
Implementation Method 2
The carrier can be moved directly by an air stream to discharge and/or disperse the formulation(s), in particular it can be set into vibration.
Data Source
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AI summary
An inhaler and a method for delivering a formulation for inhalation from a carrier are proposed. The carrier contains the formulation in a receptacle and is vibrated by an airflow. Improved or defined dispensing and atomization of the preferably powdered formulation is achieved by vibrating the carrier in a defined manner, by dispensing the formulation via a cover element with three to five holes, and/or by directing the airflow toward a wing associated with the carrier and passing, at least substantially, only along one flat side of the carrier.