Breath-Actuated Inhaler Trigger Mechanism with Toggle Vane

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional breath-actuated inhalers face challenges such as high manufacturing costs, complexity, and sensitivity issues due to the need for tightly toleranced mechanical systems, which can lead to inconsistent performance and increased costs, particularly in price-sensitive markets.

Innovation Solution

A breath-responsive inhaler with a trigger mechanism that includes a toggle mechanism with a vane pivoted about a vane pivot, allowing mechanical disengagement of the load path between the medicament source and the vane, reducing frictional forces and improving consistency, and enabling the medicament source to fire at any point after disengagement, thus reducing sensitivity to manufacturing tolerances.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional breath-actuated inhalers use tightly toleranced mechanical systems, then sensitivity and stability are achieved, but manufacturing costs increase and device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensitivity and stabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing costs

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the complex, tightly toleranced mechanical triggering system and replaces it with a simpler breath-actuated mechanism that uses airflow to directly actuate the dose release, eliminating the need for precision mechanical components while maintaining reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical triggering system with a pneumatic/breath-actuated system where patient inhalation directly triggers dose release through airflow sensing, substituting complex mechanical linkages with a simpler breath-responsive mechanism

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If conventional breath-actuated inhalers use tightly toleranced mechanical systems, then sensitivity and stability are achieved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensitivity and stabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the complex mechanical triggering components including precision springs, latches, and linkages, retaining only the essential breath-actuated dose release functionality which significantly reduces device complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent substitutes the mechanical trigger system with a breath-actuated system that uses patient inhalation airflow to directly control dose release, eliminating multiple mechanical components and simplifying the overall device architecture

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If mechanical disengagement of the load path is implemented, then frictional forces are reduced and consistency is improved, but the mechanism requires careful design

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveconsistencyVSAvoidmechanism design

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the load path from the breath-actuated mechanism by directly coupling the breath sensor to the dose release actuator, eliminating intermediate mechanical components that would introduce friction and improve consistency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical load path with a direct breath-actuated coupling where patient inhalation airflow directly triggers the dose release mechanism, eliminating frictional losses through mechanical disengagement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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

The solution reduces the load required to trigger the inhaler, improves consistency, and allows for 'follow-through' travel, preventing incomplete dose delivery, while minimizing inhalatory effort and manufacturing costs, thereby achieving the necessary sensitivity and stability for breath-actuation.

Implementation Method 1

the trigger mechanism is triggered by movement of the vane upon inhalation of the user

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInhalation flow:

Data Source

PatentUS11273272B2Trigger mechanism for an inhaler

Publication Date: 2022.03.15 KINDEVA DRUG DELIVERY LP

AI summary

A breath-responsive inhaler having a trigger mechanism for triggering delivery of a medicament to a user, the trigger mechanism including a medicament source, having a primed position in which the inhaler is primed for use and an actuated position in which the medicament source is actuated to dispense a dose of medicament, a toggle mechanism for selectively permitting movement of the source from its primed position to its actuated position, the toggle mechanism comprising a vane positioned in the air flow path, the vane being pivoted about a vane pivot, and wherein the trigger mechanism is triggered by movement of the vane upon inhalation of the user to move the toggle mechanism between a primed condition in which the medicament source is maintained in its primed position by cooperation with the toggle mechanism and an actuated condition in which the toggle mechanism is disengaged from cooperation with the medicament source.