Modular Dry Powder Inhaler with Reusable Air Source
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional dry powder medicament delivery devices are cumbersome, complex, and costly, with challenges in accurate metering and controlled release of low doses, particularly for nasal and intranasal applications, and they generate waste due to single-use components.
Innovation Solution
A multi-unit dose dry powder medicament delivery device with a reusable air source and single-use nozzle, featuring a replaceable pre-dosed cartridge with a foil cover for indication of use and a burst valve for efficient deagglomeration, allowing for different dose quantities and reducing waste through modular design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional dry powder medicament delivery devices are used, then medicament delivery is achieved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into distinct modular components: a reusable main body containing the air source and valve mechanism, and replaceable cartridges containing the dry powder medicament. This segmentation allows the complex air delivery system to be reused while only the simpler cartridge needs replacement, reducing overall device complexity and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The reusable main body is designed to accommodate multiple different cartridges, making the air source and valve mechanism universal. This multi-functionality allows a single complex component to serve multiple purposes with different medicaments, reducing the need for multiple complex devices.
2Reliability
If conventional dry powder medicament delivery devices are used, then medicament delivery is achieved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the device into expensive reusable components and inexpensive disposable cartridges, the manufacturing cost is reduced. The complex air delivery system is manufactured once and reused, while the simple cartridges can be mass-produced at low cost using straightforward packaging techniques.
Solution Approach 2:
The cartridge is designed as a cheap, disposable component that contains the dry powder medicament in a simple sealed container. This eliminates the need for expensive manufacturing and quality control of the entire device, as only the low-cost cartridge needs to be perfectly sealed for each use.
3Reliability
If single-use components are used, then waste is generated, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device separates the reusable air delivery system from the disposable cartridge, so that only the cartridge containing the medicament is discarded. This minimizes waste by preserving the expensive air source and valve mechanism for multiple uses while still ensuring controlled release through the single-use cartridge.
Solution Approach 2:
The design allows discarding of only the used cartridge while recovering and reusing the main body containing the air source and valve. This selective discarding approach reduces waste compared to completely disposable devices while maintaining the reliability of controlled medicament release.
4Measurement precision
If accurate metering of very low dosages is implemented, then dosing precision improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The required dosing precision is achieved in advance during cartridge manufacturing, where the dry powder is pre-measured and sealed into precise doses. This preliminary action eliminates the need for complex metering mechanisms in the device itself, as the dosing is already completed before the device is used.
Solution Approach 2:
The complex task of accurate dosing is extracted from the device operation and transferred to the cartridge manufacturing process. The device simply delivers the pre-dosed cartridge contents without needing to perform the complex measurement and metering functions.
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 device provides a simpler, cost-effective, and efficient means of delivering dry powder medicaments, ensuring accurate dosing and reducing waste, while maintaining stability and efficacy, particularly suitable for nasal and intranasal administration.
Implementation Method 1
a burst valve for efficient deagglomeration
Data Source
AI summary
There is described a multi-unit dose dry powder medicament delivery device (1) comprising: a first element (2) comprising a single use nozzle (3) located in a body (4) which is at least partially lined with an inner member, an inner sleeve (6) comprising an airway (5) and a cartridge seat (11); and a second element (20) adapted to be releasably attached to the first element (2), said second element (20) comprising an actuator provided with an air source (23) and a valve (22); wherein the medicament cartridge comprises a replaceable cartridge, e.g. a replaceable pre-dosed cartridge.