Inhaler Valve Flap Mechanism for Automatic Spray Triggering

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing hand-held devices for metered dispensing of inhaler medicaments require manual triggering, which can be problematic for patients, and often involve complex sealing that may lead to leaks and affect functional safety.

Innovation Solution

A hand-held device design where a valve flap is arranged underneath a first air-permeable housing base, mechanically blocking the cartridge's displacement into the dispensing position, which can be released by negative pressure or a release part, allowing for reliable and leak-free operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual triggering is used to activate the spray process, then the device can be operated without complex sensing mechanisms, but it becomes problematic for patients who have difficulty performing manual actions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of activationVSAvoidcomplexity of triggering mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the manual mechanical triggering system with an automatic sensing system that detects the user's inhalation action and automatically activates the spray mechanism, eliminating the need for manual button pressing or cartridge actuation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The device automatically detects and responds to the user's inhalation action without requiring additional manual intervention, making the system self-activating based on the user's natural breathing motion

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If complex sealing mechanisms are used to prevent leaks, then the device can maintain pressure and prevent substance loss, but it increases the risk of leaks and affects functional safety

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing reliabilityVSAvoidcomplexity of sealing mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes complex sealing mechanisms entirely from the design, replacing them with a simpler system that achieves leak prevention through alternative means such as pressure equalization or simplified sealing surfaces

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The device is divided into separate functional modules (cartridge, housing, mouthpiece) that can be independently sealed or pressurized, reducing the complexity of the overall sealing system while maintaining reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If the cartridge is pre-tensioned with a spring into the ready-to-dispense position, then the spray can be triggered by simple negative pressure application, but the spring is hindered by counterforce requiring additional mechanisms to release

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of spray triggeringVSAvoidcomplexity of release mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical spring-counterforce system with a direct negative pressure actuation system where user inhalation directly drives the spray mechanism without intermediate spring tensioning or counterforce release mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The device uses pneumatic pressure differentials created by user inhalation to directly actuate the spray mechanism, eliminating the need for mechanical spring systems and counterforce release mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

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

Ensures reliable and safe dispensing without the need for complex sealing, allowing for easy release and analysis of the spray pattern without applying negative pressure through the mouthpiece.

Implementation Method 1

the displacement of the cartridge into the ready-to-dispense position can be executed by tensioning a spring supported on the housing and acting on the cartridge

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSpring: Spring

Implementation Method 2

the application of a negative pressure through the mouthpiece of the hand-held device, wherein a valve flap is moved by the negative pressure

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectNegative pressure: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentUS12083269B2Hand-held device for dispensing sprayable substances in a portioned manner

Publication Date: 2024.09.10 VON SCHUCKMANN ALFRED

AI summary

A hand-held device for metered dispensing of sprayable substances, in particular inhaler medicaments, includes a housing and a cartridge which can be displaced into a dispensing position by a pressure application relative to the housing, wherein the housing has a mouthpiece, wherein the cartridge can be displaced initially into a ready-to-dispense position and a dispensing spray process can be triggered by sucking in, wherein the displacement of the cartridge can be executed by tensioning a spring supported on the housing and acting on the cartridge. The spring is displaced into the position to perform a spraying process, but is hindered by a counterforce that can be deactivated by application of a negative pressure through the mouthpiece of the hand-held device A valve flap is moved by the negative pressure and cancels a mechanical block of the movement of the cartridge.