Breath Actuated Inhaler Accessory with Pressure Assist Unit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Breath actuated inhalers require sufficient user inhalation effort to trigger medication delivery, making them unsuitable for populations like pediatrics and seniors who struggle to achieve the necessary airflow, or those using valved holding chambers that allow inhalation over multiple breaths.
Innovation Solution
An accessory with a pressure assist unit and capture system for breath actuated inhalers, featuring an assist chamber and mechanical release system to ensure consistent airflow for triggering medication delivery, allowing users to activate the inhaler without inhalation effort and enabling dose storage for inhalation over multiple breaths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If breath actuation is used to trigger medication delivery, then the device can automatically dispense medication when sufficient flow is achieved, but users who cannot generate sufficient inhalation effort (pediatrics, seniors) cannot use the device
Solution Approach 1:
A flow generator acts as an intermediary component that provides the necessary airflow to trigger the breath actuated inhaler's trigger mechanism. This mediator enables users who cannot generate sufficient inhalation flow on their own to still activate the device and receive medication delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow generator performs preliminary action by pre-generating the required airflow before the user attempts to inhale. This preliminary airflow ensures the trigger mechanism is activated in advance, allowing users with limited inhalation capability to successfully use the device without needing to generate sufficient flow themselves.
2Reliability
If users must coordinate actuation with a single inhalation breath, then the trigger mechanism can be activated reliably, but coordination difficulty prevents proper medication deposition in the airways
Solution Approach 1:
The flow generator serves as a mediator that decouples the triggering action from the user's inhalation action. It provides the airflow needed for trigger activation independently, allowing the user to simply breathe without needing to coordinate the timing and force of their inhalation with the actuation mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the medication delivery process into two independent functions: (1) trigger activation handled by the flow generator providing preliminary airflow, and (2) medication inhalation handled by the user's natural breathing. This segmentation eliminates the need for coordinated action while maintaining reliable trigger activation.
3Ease of operation
If valved holding chambers are used to allow inhalation over multiple breaths, then users can inhale the dose normally, but the breath actuated inhaler cannot be triggered without sufficient single-breath flow
Solution Approach 1:
The flow generator performs preliminary action by generating the required airflow pulse before the user begins multi-breath inhalation through the holding chamber. This preliminary flow activation triggers the breath actuated mechanism in advance, enabling subsequent medication delivery during the user's normal multi-breath inhalation pattern.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow generator acts as an intermediary that bridges the gap between the breath actuated trigger requirement and the user's multi-breath inhalation pattern. It provides the initial airflow stimulus needed for trigger activation while allowing the user to complete medication intake through their preferred multi-breath technique using the holding chamber.
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
Enables reliable and efficient medication delivery for users unable to generate sufficient inhalation flow, facilitating easier operation by allowing dose intake over multiple breaths and reducing medication loss through a one-way valve.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure assist unit for application to the air inlet, comprising an assist chamber for holding a volume of air and a mechanical release system for expelling air from the assist chamber to the air inlet, at a rate sufficient to trigger the trigger mechanism
Data Source
AI summary
An accessory (50,80) adapted to be used with a breath actuated inhaler (10), the breath actuated inhaler (10) comprising an air inlet (19), an outlet (20) for delivering medicament and a trigger mechanism (30) for triggering the delivery of a dose of the medicament in response to a flow (40) between the air inlet (19) and the outlet (20), wherein the accessory comprises: a pressure assist unit (52, 54) for application to the air inlet, comprising an assist chamber (52) for holding a volume of air and a mechanical release system (54, 70) for expelling air from the assist chamber to the air inlet, at a rate sufficient to trigger the trigger mechanism. Hence, it has an assist chamber for holding a volume of air and a mechanical release system for expelling air from the assist chamber to the air inlet, at a rate sufficient to trigger a dose trigger mechanism of the breath actuated inhaler. In this way, a user may use a breath actuated inhaler even if they do not have the ability to generate an inhalation suitable for activating the inhaler.