Respiration-Triggered Inhaler Chamber for Coordinated Aerosol Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing inhalers, particularly Soft Mist Inhalers (SMIs), face challenges in coordinating the triggering of pharmaceutical agent spraying with inhalation, making them unsuitable for individuals with coordination issues and animals due to the long spraying time per dose and high speed of aerosol dispersion, leading to deposition on the throat and inefficient lung uptake.
Innovation Solution
An inhaler design with a respiration indicator integrated into the chamber wall, which indicates respiratory activity through deformation and movement, eliminating the need for additional air intake and ensuring a robust, joint-free mechanism that operates without turbulence or active ingredient loss, and featuring a spring-powered pressure generator for controlled aerosol delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the spraying time per dose is made longer to improve coordination with inhalation, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional coordination mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The inhaler uses the user's own respiratory action to automatically trigger the spraying mechanism. The respiration indicator detects inhalation and activates the pump, eliminating the need for separate coordination actions. This self-service approach improves ease of operation while avoiding additional complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The respiration indicator provides visual feedback to the user about their breathing pattern and triggers the aerosol delivery in response to detected inhalation. This feedback loop ensures proper coordination between inhalation and spraying without requiring complex manual coordination mechanisms.
2Productivity
If the aerosol is dispensed at high speed to improve productivity, then the productivity is improved, but the harmful factors increase due to deposition on the throat
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the aerosol delivery parameters based on real-time detection of user inhalation. The pump activates only when inhalation is detected, and the respiration indicator provides visual feedback, creating a dynamic coordination that prevents throat deposition while maintaining efficient delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces high-speed mechanical aerosol generation with a controlled pump system that delivers aerosol at lower speeds synchronized with inhalation. This substitution of the delivery mechanism eliminates throat deposition while maintaining productivity through inhalation-triggered activation.
3Measurement precision
If additional air intake is added to improve respiration indication, then the measurement precision is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The chamber wall serves multiple functions: it contains the aerosol, provides structural support, and acts as the respiration indicator. By making the chamber wall itself the indicator through deformation, the system eliminates the need for separate air intake structures while maintaining precise respiration detection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The respiration indicator is merged with the chamber wall structure. The chamber wall's deformation during respiration directly indicates breathing activity, combining the containment function with the indication function in a single structure, thereby avoiding additional complexity from separate air intake components.
4Strength
If the chamber wall is made rigid to improve structural strength, then the strength is improved, but the respiration indication capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The chamber wall has different properties in different regions: the majority of the wall remains rigid to maintain structural strength, while a specific local area is designed to be deformable to serve as the respiration indicator. This local quality differentiation allows the wall to simultaneously provide structural support and respiratory indication.
Solution Approach 2:
The chamber wall is segmented into functional zones: a rigid portion for structural integrity and a deformable portion for respiration indication. This segmentation allows each zone to perform its specific function optimally without compromising the other, maintaining both strength and indication capability.
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 inhaler reliably indicates respiratory activity under adverse conditions, ensuring complete aerosol uptake without turbulence or deposition, and provides a sturdy, efficient delivery system for pharmaceutical agents, suitable for various users including animals.
Implementation Method 1
a spring-powered pressure generator for controlled aerosol delivery
Implementation Method 2
a wall section of the chamber wall or is formed thereby, whereby the wall section is configured to indicate respiratory activity by deformation and/or movement
Data Source
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AI summary
This invention relates to an inhaler with a respiration indicator, whereby the inhaler has a chamber wall forming a chamber and a dispensing device for fluidic connection of the chamber to a bodily opening, preferably a nostril, whereby the respiration indicator has a wall section of the chamber wall or is formed in this way, whereby the wall section is designed to indicate a respiratory activity by deformation and/or movement.