Inhaler Medicament Carrier Inner Structure Stabilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medicament magazines for inhalation devices face challenges in opening mechanisms that prevent powder compaction during storage and use, with existing solutions either being complex, expensive, or inefficient in ensuring reproducible dosing and hygiene.
Innovation Solution
A medicament magazine with a structure comprising two film webs and an internal plastic or thermoformed element that stabilizes the powder chamber, allowing for simple opening without external mechanisms, preventing compaction, and ensuring complete powder release through airflow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a mandrel or nub is integrated in a half-shell to reduce powder compaction, then powder compaction is reduced, but the shell is deformed during squeezing and powder is still compacted between the shell and foil
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the mandrel/nub from the shell structure and places it as a separate element within the medication chamber. This separate transfer element can be ejected without deforming the shell, preventing powder compaction while maintaining reliable opening. The transfer element is pushed through the cover foil by air pressure without requiring shell deformation.
Solution Approach 2:
The opening mechanism is segmented into separate functional elements: the shell maintains structural integrity, the transfer element handles powder transfer, and the cover foil is pierced separately. This segmentation allows each element to perform its function without compromising others, preventing both compaction and reliability issues.
2Ease of operation
If a transfer element is used to tear open the cover film and eject powder, then powder transfer is improved, but a separate removal channel is required for each chamber increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
A single common removal channel serves multiple medication chambers, replacing the need for individual removal channels for each chamber. The transfer element ejects powder through this shared channel, reducing device complexity while maintaining efficient powder transfer. The channel is designed to accommodate powder flow from multiple sources.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple individual removal channels are merged into a single common removal channel that handles powder ejection for all medication chambers. This consolidation simplifies the device structure, reduces manufacturing costs, and maintains effective powder transfer through the unified channel design.
3Ease of operation
If the medicament chamber is opened by pressing on the back of the blister, then opening is simple, but the cover foil tears incompletely and residual powder remains
Solution Approach 1:
The transfer element acts as an intermediary that receives the simple pressing force applied to the blister back and converts it into precise ejection action. The element is pushed through the cover foil by air pressure, ensuring complete opening and full powder transfer without residual powder, while maintaining operational simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The direct mechanical pressing action is replaced by air pressure-driven ejection of the transfer element. This substitution provides more controlled and precise opening, ensuring the cover foil tears completely and all powder is transferred, while requiring only simple user input to initiate the process.
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 provides a compact, cost-effective, and hygienic medicament delivery system that prevents powder compaction and ensures reproducible dosing without the need for external opening mechanisms, allowing for efficient use in multi-dose inhalers.
Implementation Method 1
The inner structure with the powder located therein is then pushed through the punctured foil by means of a pressurized air flow
Implementation Method 2
The inner structure has a cutting edge which, when a force acts on the back of the blister, punctures and cuts the sealing foil
Data Source
Figure 1a~1e
Figure 2a~3c
Figure 4a~5b
AI summary
The invention relates to a medicament carrier comprising at least one medicament compartment for use in a powder inhaler, the carrier being formed by two webs of film that are attached to one another and the at least one medicament compartment being defined between the webs of film. The medicament compartments have in inner structure (3) which in its interior has a volume for accommodating a powdery medicament and which stabilizes said inner volume relative to mechanical influences from the exterior. In an embodiment in which the inner structure preferably also has a stabilizing function, the structure has means for opening one of the webs of film. The medicament compartment also has retaining means which retain the inner structure on the medicament compartment once the medicament compartment has been opened.