Dry Powder Inhaler Indexing Mechanism for Multi-API Dispensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dry powder inhalers face challenges in efficiently co-formulating multiple active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) with different physicochemical properties, leading to complex device designs and increased user effort.
Innovation Solution
The inhaler features a blister strip with a mechanism that indexes and opens two or more blisters on each actuation, allowing for simultaneous dispensing of different formulations and reducing the torque required for operation by distributing the effort across both forward and reverse motions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the blister strip is indexed forward by two blisters on cover opening, then the indexing efficiency is improved, but the torque required to pivot the cover increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The indexing function is segmented between two separate motions: cover opening motion indexes the blister strip forward by one blister, and cover closing motion indexes it forward by an additional blister. This divides the total indexing task into two phases, reducing the torque burden on the opening motion while maintaining overall productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the indexing behavior based on the direction of cover motion. During opening, the mechanism indexes by one position; during closing, it indexes by another position. This dynamic adaptation allows optimization of torque requirements for each phase while achieving cumulative indexing progress.
2Productivity
If the cover pivot angle is increased to 180° to accommodate two-b blister indexing, then the indexing capability is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The indexing function is segmented between two separate motions: cover opening motion indexes the blister strip forward by one blister, and cover closing motion indexes it forward by an additional blister. This divides the total indexing task into two phases, reducing the torque burden on the opening motion while maintaining overall productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the indexing behavior based on the direction of cover motion. During opening, the mechanism indexes by one position; during closing, it indexes by another position. This dynamic adaptation allows optimization of torque requirements for each phase while achieving cumulative indexing progress.
3Device complexity
If multiple APIs are co-formulated in a single powder, then the device complexity is reduced, but the manufacturing precision required increases due to different physicochemical properties
Solution Approach 1:
The pharmaceutical formulation is segmented into separate blisters, each containing a specific API or combination. This allows each blister to be optimized for its specific formulation's aerosolization properties without compromising other APIs. The device maintains simplicity by using a single mechanism to deliver multiple separated formulations.
Solution Approach 2:
Each blister is tailored with local quality optimized for its specific API or formulation combination. The piercing mechanism and airflow path are designed to work optimally with each specific blister formulation, ensuring desired aerosolization properties for each API while maintaining overall device simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides an inhaler comprising a housing which contains a blister strip having a plurality of blisters which contain powdered medicament for inhalation, a mouthpiece mounted to the housing through which the medicament is inhaled by a user, an indexing and opening mechanism for indexing the blister strip and for opening the blisters which is operated by an actuator, wherein the blister strip is indexed by forward motion of the actuator from a first position to a second position, such as by opening a cover, and is also indexed in the same direction by reverse motion of the actuator from the second positon to the first position, such as by closing the cover.