Inhaler Priming Member for Accurate Powder Dose Indexing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing inhalation devices face challenges in ensuring reliable, repeatable, and accurate delivery of powder doses, with issues such as miscounting and inconsistent release of medication due to improper use, leading to incomplete or incorrect dosing.
Innovation Solution
The inhaler incorporates a priming member with a cantilever blade that engages the chassis, allowing for precise actuation and indexing mechanisms, including a Geneva wheel and cam system, to ensure accurate dose delivery and prevent counter miscounting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a simple dispensing mechanism is used, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability of dose delivery deteriorates due to miscounting and inconsistent release
Solution Approach 1:
The priming member performs preliminary actions by sequentially engaging the prodger to rupture the blister and advancing the indexer to position the next dose before the user completes inhalation. This ensures proper sequencing of operations and prevents miscounting by preparing the next dose in advance.
Solution Approach 2:
The priming member acts as an intermediary mechanism that coordinates between the user's actuation and the complex indexing system. It translates simple user input into coordinated actions of prodger engagement and indexer advancement, ensuring reliable dose delivery without requiring the user to directly operate complex mechanisms.
2Ease of operation
If the priming lever stroke is not fully completed, then ease of operation is improved by reducing user effort, but manufacturing precision deteriorates as the counter may decrement before dose delivery
Solution Approach 1:
The priming member is designed to complete the indexing action preliminarily during the priming stroke before the user finishes inhalation. This ensures the counter is accurately updated in advance, preventing miscounting even if the user does not complete the full lever stroke.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanism provides mechanical feedback through the priming member's engagement with the indexer, ensuring that the counter only decrements when the priming action is properly completed. This feedback mechanism prevents erroneous counting while maintaining ease of operation.
3Reliability
If a robust indexing mechanism is used, then reliability of counter accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The priming member merges multiple functions into a single component: it engages the prodger to rupture the blister, advances the indexer to position the next dose, and coordinates with the cam mechanism. This integration reduces overall device complexity while maintaining reliable counter accuracy through coordinated action.
Solution Approach 2:
The priming member serves multiple purposes: it acts as the actuating element for dose delivery, the indexing mechanism for counter advancement, and the coordination element between these functions. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate mechanisms, reducing complexity while ensuring accurate counter operation.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present application provides a priming member for an inhaler and a method of loading an inhaler with a carrier for treating a respiratory disease by inhaling a powder from the inhaler. The priming member comprises a cantilever blade configured to engage a chassis of the inhaler, the cantilever blade having a proximal portion, a body and a distal portion, the body being disposed between the proximal portion and the distal portion of the cantilever blade and the cantilever blade having a flexible portion extending with the proximal portion of the cantilever blade to allow movement of the cantilever blade relative to the chassis.