Dry Powder Inhaler Swirl Chamber Deagglomeration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional dry powder inhalers face challenges in achieving consistent and efficient release and lung uptake of medicament particles due to large agglomerates, which are not effectively broken down during inhalation, leading to poor absorption.
Innovation Solution
The inhaler device incorporates a capsule chamber with airflow paths and a swirl chamber that generates a tangential airflow, causing agglomerates to break down through collisions with the chamber walls, and a mesh to filter out larger particles, ensuring efficient deagglomeration and delivery of fine particles to the lungs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the capsule is set into motion to cause impacts between the capsule and capsule chamber for breaking down big agglomerates, then the breakdown of powder particles is improved, but the device complexity increases due to the need for oscillating mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The capsule chamber is designed to enable the capsule to perform oscillating movement automatically during inhalation through the airflow paths, without requiring external oscillating mechanisms. The capsule's own motion and impacts with the chamber walls achieve the breakdown of agglomerates
Solution Approach 2:
The inhalation airflow generated through the airflow paths drives the capsule's oscillating movement and causes the impacts between the capsule and capsule chamber walls, using pneumatic forces to achieve particle breakdown without mechanical oscillating components
2Productivity
If stronger impacts are applied to break down big agglomerates into smaller particles, then the lung uptake efficiency is improved, but the release of medicament from the capsule may be compromised due to capsule damage
Solution Approach 1:
The capsule chamber has specific wall portions positioned at locations where capsule impacts occur during oscillation. These localized impact zones are designed to break down agglomerates effectively while the overall capsule structure remains intact and functional for medicament release
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple airflow paths are used to generate oscillating movement and improve particle breakdown, then the deagglomeration efficiency is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The multiple airflow paths serve dual functions: they generate the inhalation airflow for medicament delivery and simultaneously create the oscillating movement of the capsule for particle breakdown. The same airflow structure achieves both particle deagglomeration and medicament delivery without requiring separate mechanisms
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
This design enhances the deagglomeration of medicament particles, improving their release and lung uptake, ensuring more efficient delivery of the medicament in a breathable form, thereby enhancing the therapeutic efficacy.
Implementation Method 1
The at least first and second outlet ducts extend, upon exit from the capsule chamber, towards a swirl chamber such that upon inhalation a flow is introduced into the swirl chamber which has a component of velocity in a tangential direction to the swirl chamber such that a swirl arises in the swirl chamber.
Implementation Method 2
causing agglomerates to break down through collisions with the chamber walls
Implementation Method 3
The inhaler device further comprises a mesh arranged in the mouthpiece portion to filter out larger particles from the inhalation airflow
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to an inhaler device for delivering a dose of medicament in dry powder form from a container to a patient in need thereof. The inhaler comprises a swirl chamber in which particles of the medicament entrained in an airflow swirl upon inhalation thereby breaking up the agglomerates into finest dispersed powder.