Inhaler Guide Gear Pocket for Powder Residue Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inhaler devices for dry powder administration face issues with jamming and mechanical failure due to powder residue accumulation, leading to inefficient operation and size constraints, which hinder user convenience and compliance with treatment plans.
Innovation Solution
A novel gearing mechanism with a guide gear featuring a pocket on its upper surface to collect and remove powder residues, preventing jamming and allowing for a minimized device size while ensuring smooth operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the device size is minimized, then portability and user convenience are improved, but powder residue accumulates more easily between the gears and body, causing jamming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful powder residue from the critical gear areas by introducing a pocket structure that collects and stores the residue, preventing it from accumulating between the gears and body. This extraction mechanism allows the device to maintain a compact size while eliminating the jamming problem caused by residue accumulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The pocket acts as an intermediary element between the gear system and the powder residue. Instead of allowing residue to directly accumulate in the gear gaps, the pocket serves as a mediator that captures and stores the residue, preventing it from interfering with the gear operation while maintaining compact device dimensions.
2Reliability
If multiple gears and actuator members are used to advance the blister, then the mechanism reliability is improved, but the device size and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of multiple gear members into a single integrated guide gear structure. The guide gear combines the functions of guiding the blister, advancing it through the mouthpiece, and preventing residue accumulation, thereby reducing the overall number of components while maintaining reliable blister advancement.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide gear is designed with multi-functionality, serving as both a guiding element and a residue collection mechanism through the integrated pocket structure. This universal component performs multiple functions that would traditionally require separate parts, reducing device complexity while maintaining reliability.
3Volume of moving object
If the distance between gear members and body is minimized, then device compactness is improved, but powder drug residues accumulate more readily, jamming the mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The pocket structure extracts and collects powder residue from the critical gap between the gear and body, allowing the device to maintain minimal dimensions without suffering from residue accumulation. By actively removing residue from the operation zone, the mechanism can operate smoothly despite the reduced clearance.
Solution Approach 2:
The pocket performs preliminary action by capturing and storing residue before it can accumulate in the gear gap and cause jamming. This preventive measure allows the device to maintain compact dimensions while ensuring smooth operation by eliminating residue buildup in advance.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a dry powder inhaler device (6) comprising an outer body (1), an advancement mechanism housed in an inner part of the outer body, and a guide gear (5) in this mechanism, said guide gear having a body provided with grooves (2) into which blister (3) cavities (4) filled with a powder drug are placed, characterized in that said guide gear comprises at least one pocket (8) formed on an upper surface (7) thereof, said pocket enabling to release or remove any powder drug accumulated therein.