Fluid product dispensing device

Holder (s):

<img file="FR2881118B1_D0001.tif" />

Representative (s):

CAPRI.

<img file="FR2881118B1_D0002.tif" />

The present invention relates to a fluid dispenser device, and more particularly to a dry powder inhaler.

Dry powder inhalers are well known in the state of the art. There are different kinds. A first type of inhaler contains a reservoir receiving a multitude of doses of powder, the inhaler being provided with metering means allowing each actuation to separate a dose of this powder from the reservoir to bring it into an expulsion duct in order to to be distributed to the user. Another type of inhaler consists of packaging the doses of powder in individual pre-dosed reservoirs, then opening one of these reservoirs each time the inhaler is actuated. This implementation ensures better sealing of the powder, since each dose is not opened until the moment of its expulsion. To produce these individual reservoirs, various variants have already been proposed, such as an elongated blister strip or blisters arranged on a rotating circular disc. Inhalers comprising individual reservoirs, such as capsules, which must be loaded into the inhaler just before the latter is used, have also been described in the state of the art. The advantage of these devices is that it is not necessary to store all of the doses inside the device, so that the latter can be of reduced size. On the other hand, of course, the use is more complex, since the user is obliged to load a capsule into the inhaler before each use. All the types of inhalers described above and existing have advantages and disadvantages linked to their structure and their operation. Thus, with certain inhalers, the problem arises of the accuracy and reproducibility of the dosage at each actuation. Likewise, the efficiency of delivery, that is, the part of the dose that actually enters the lungs of the user to have a beneficial therapeutic effect, is also a problem that arises with a number of people. inhalers. One solution to solving this specific problem has been to synchronize the expulsion of the dose with the inhalation of the patient. Again, this could generate drawbacks, namely that generally in this type of device, the dose is loaded into an expulsion duct before inhalation, then the expulsion is synchronized with the inhalation. This means that if the user drops, shakes, or improperly or improperly manipulates the inhaler between the time of changing the dose (either from a multidose reservoir or from an individual reservoir) and when he inhales, he risks losing all or part of this dose, it being able to be distributed inside the device. In this case there may be a great risk of overdose the next time you use the device. The user who realizes that his dose is not complete will load a new dose into the device, and when inhaling this new dose, part of the previous dose lost in the device could then be expelled. at the same time as the new dose, causing an overdose. Depending on the treatments considered, this overdose can be very harmful and the authorities in all countries are increasingly demanding to limit this risk of overdose as much as possible. Regarding the opening of the individual reservoirs, it has been proposed to peel or take off the. closing layer. This has the drawback of difficult control of the forces to be applied in order to guarantee full opening without running the risk of opening the next reservoir, particularly if the opening means have to be actuated by inhalation. As a variant, it has been proposed to pierce the wall or closure layer. This has the drawback that the cut wall parts run the risk of retaining part of the dose inside the reservoir, the precision and reproducibility of the dosage not therefore being guaranteed.

The object of the present invention is to provide a device for dispensing a fluid product, in particular a dry powder inhaler which does not reproduce the aforementioned drawbacks.

In particular, the present invention aims to provide such an inhaler which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and assemble, reliable in use, guaranteeing dosing precision and dosing reproducibility at each actuation, providing optimum yield in terms of the effectiveness of the treatment, by allowing a large part of the dose to be distributed to the areas to be treated, in particular the lungs, avoiding in a safe and effective way the risks of overdoses, of dimensions as small as possible, while guaranteeing a tightness and an absolute integrity of all the doses until their expulsion.

The present invention therefore relates to a fluid dispenser device, comprising at least one individual reservoir containing a single dose of fluid product, such as powder, opening means being provided to open an individual reservoir on each actuation. of the device, the device comprising a distribution chamber for receiving the dose of product contained in a reservoir after its opening, an inhalation nozzle, and an inhalation trigger system which comprises a deformable air chamber cooperating with said distribution chamber, said distribution chamber being movable between a rest position and an inhalation position, so that during inhalation through said inhalation nozzle, said air chamber is deformed, thereby moving said distribution chamber from said rest position to said inhalation position.

Advantageously, said deformable air chamber comprises a deformable membrane, such as a bellows.

Advantageously, said deformable membrane is connected to said inhalation nozzle and to said distribution chamber, in the flow path of the inhalation.

As a variant, said deformable air chamber comprises a piston sliding in a hollow sleeve.

Advantageously, said distribution chamber contains at least one movable ball.

Advantageously, said distribution chamber is connected to said opening means.

Advantageously, mobile support means adapted to move an individual reservoir against said opening means on each actuation.

Advocatively, said movable support means are movable between a non-dispensing position and a dispensing position, said movable support means being urged towards their dispensing position by elastic means, such as a spring or an elastic blade, and being retained in the non-dispensing position by locking means.

Advantageously, said locking means are released by the user's inhalation.

Advantageously, said distribution chamber, in said inhalation position, is adapted to cooperate with said locking means to release said movable support means, which, once released, urge a reservoir against said opening means.

Advantageously, said locking means comprise a first element movable between a non-actuating position and an actuation position, said first element being integral with said movable support means, and a second element movable between a locking position and a position of unlocking, said second element being moved to its unlocking position during inhalation of the user.

Advantageously, said movable support means support a guide wheel.

Advantageously, the reservoirs are made in the form of an elongated strip comprising several individual reservoirs arranged one after the other.

Advantageously, said opening means comprise drilling and? 'Or cutting means adapted to cut a closing wall of the reservoir so that the cut part (s) does not obstruct the or the opening (s) formed.

Advantageously, the dispensing device comprises a dose indicator to indicate to the user the number of doses dispensed or remaining to be dispensed.

These characteristics and advantages and others of the present invention will emerge more clearly during the following detailed description of several embodiments and variants thereof, made with reference to the accompanying drawings, given by way of non-limiting examples, on which ones,

- Figure 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a dispensing device according to a first embodiment of the invention,

- Figures 2a and 2b are detail views of the inhalation trigger system, according to an advantageous embodiment, respectively without and during inhalation,

- Figure 3 is a schematic view of another embodiment of the inhalation trigger system,

- Figure 4 is a schematic view of yet another embodiment of the inhalation trigger system,

- Figures 5a to 8b show a sequence of use of the device of Figure 1, showing respectively an external view and an internal view of the device for the respective steps of rest (Figures 5a and 5b), loading or opening of the device (Figures 6a and 6b), inhalation (Figures 7a and 7b) and end of use or closure of the device (Figures 8a and 8b),

- Figures 9 and 10 schematically show locking means according to a first variant embodiment,

- Figures 11 and 12 show another alternative embodiment of the locking means,

- Figures 13 to 16 schematically show opening means according to an advantageous embodiment, respectively before opening of a reservoir, after its opening, during the entry of the air flow into the reservoir and during the exit air + powder flow out of the tank,

- Figure 17 shows advantageous drilling and / or cutting means,

- Figure 18 shows an alternative embodiment of the drilling and / or cutting means,

- Figures 19 and 20 show two alternative embodiments of the opening means, the reservoir of Figure 19 being in the open position,

- h Figure 21 shows schematically in detail an advantageous variant of the mobile support means,

- Figure 22 shows schematically in detail the means for receiving used tape,

- Figures 23 and 24 schematically show in detail two variants of dose indication means,

- Figure 25 shows schematically in detail means for flattening empty tanks, and

- Figures 26 and 27 are views similar to Figure 1 and respectively show two other embodiments of the device of the invention.

Referring to Figures 1 to 8b, there is shown a first embodiment of a dry powder inhaler according to the invention. This inhaler comprises a central body 10 on which are slidably mounted two side parts 11, 12 forming a cover when the device is closed and adapted to be separated from each other in order to open the device and thus charge the device as will be described. below. The body 10 may be approximately rounded in shape as shown in the figures, but it could have any other suitable shape. The body 10 comprises a mouthpiece or inhalation 15 through which the user will inhale when the device is actuated. The two side parts 11, 12 forming a cover can be opened by pivoting about a common axis of rotation as shown in the figures, but any other means of opening the device can be envisaged. Furthermore, only one movable cowling element 11 could be provided relative to the body 10, as shown in FIGS. 26 and 27.

Advantageously, the body comprises a window 19 through which the count of the doses emitted or remaining to be emitted can be displayed in a visible manner for the user. Inside the body 10, there is provided a strip 20 of individual reservoirs 21, also called blisters, preferably an elongated strip 20 on which the blisters 21 are arranged one behind the other, in a known manner. These blisters 21 are not shown in the overall views of Figures 1, 5b, 6b, 7b, 8b, 26 and 27, so as not to overload these drawings for the sake of clarity, but they are visible in Figures 13 to 16 and 21 and 23. This blister strip 20 is advantageously made up of a base layer or wall 22 forming the cavities 21 receiving the doses of powder, and of a closing layer or wall 23 which seals off each of said. blisters 21. The blister strip 20 can be wound up inside the body 10 and strip drive means 30 are provided to progressively unwind this blister strip and bring an individual reservoir or respective blister 21 into a dispensing position on each actuation. of the device. When an individual reservoir 21 has been emptied by inhalation, the strip portion 35 comprising said empty reservoirs is advantageously adapted to wind up in another place of said body 10 as will be described in more detail below.

According to a first aspect, reservoir opening means 40 are provided in the body 10, these opening means 40 comprising means for drilling and / or cutting 41 of the closing layer of the blisters. Movable support means 50 are also provided in the device, and are adapted to support a given reservoir, which is intended to be opened during the next inhalation. These mobile support means are adapted to move the reservoir to be emptied against said drilling and / or cutting means 41 of the device during actuation. Advantageously, these mobile support means 50 are biased by an elastic element 51, such as a spring or any other equivalent elastic element, said elastic element 51 being able to be preloaded when the device is opened. Advantageously, the movable support means 50 are movable between a first position and a second position which is the open position of the reservoir, the movement between these first and second positions preferably being carried out along a curved direction. Referring more particularly to the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 8, it can be seen that the movable support element 50 is formed by a rod 50 articulated with respect to said body 10. A guide wheel 30 fixed to said rod 50 receives and guides the blisters. A rotation of this guide wheel 30 advances the blister strip 20 and in a particular angular position, a given reservoir 21 is always in position to be opened by the opening means 40, that is to say the means drilling and / or cutting 4L The guide wheel 30 then forms the belt drive means. Optionally, a complementary wheel 38 could be provided to help guide and / or drive the strip of blisters 20, as shown in FIG. 21. Said rod 50 can be connected to a second rod 55 so as to form a V, the point of the V being formed by the pivot axis of the rod (s). The second rod, which can be fixed or pivoting, can support the elastic element 51, such as a spring, which also cooperates with an active element 57. Figures 5a to 8b show an actuation cycle of the device. Figures 5a and 5b show the device in the rest position, closed. When the device is opened (FIGS. 6a and 6b), the two side parts forming a cover 11 and 12 are separated from each other by pivoting on the body 10 to open the device. The active element 57 is then urged against the second rod 55 to compress and therefore load the spring 51. In this position, the rod 50 supporting the guide wheel 30 cannot pivot as it is retained by appropriate locking means 100 (not shown in the overall views, but visible in FIGS. 9 to 12). It is during inhalation by the user through the mouthpiece 15 (Figures 7a and 7b) that these locking means 100 will be released, which will then cause the pivoting of said rod 50 and therefore of said wheel. guide 30 in the direction of the opening means 40, and therefore the opening of a reservoir 21 by said drilling and / or cutting means 4L The guide wheel 30 being fixed on a rod 50 pivoting about an axis of pivoting, the movement of the reservoir 21 is therefore carried out in a curved direction. This curved direction during opening provides a particular advantage which will be described in more detail below.

In the example shown, when the reservoir 21 moves towards its open position to be opened by the drilling and / or cutting means 41, these drilling and / or cutting means 41 are preferably fixed with respect to the body. However, it is entirely conceivable that these drilling and / or cutting means 41 can also be mobile during the opening phase of the reservoir 21. For example, the cutting and / or piercing means 41 could move in the direction of the reservoir 21 while the reservoir 21 moves in the direction of the piercing and / or cutting means 41. In another variant, it could also be envisaged that the reservoir 21 and the drilling and / or cutting means 41 move in the same direction during the actuation, the reservoir 21 moving more rapidly in this direction so that it comes into contact with said drilling and / or cutting means 41 to be opened.

According to the invention, there is provided a distribution chamber 70 which is intended to receive the dose of powder after opening of a respective reservoir 21. This distribution chamber 70 is therefore connected to the opening means 40 of the reservoir, and in particular to the drilling and / or cutting means 41, and comprises a dispensing orifice 79.

According to the invention, there is also provided an inhalation triggering system which advantageously comprises a unit 60 which can be moved and / or deformed under the effect of inhalation. This unit 60 advantageously comprises a deformable air chamber 61 cooperating with the distribution chamber 70. This distribution chamber 70 is therefore movable between a rest position and an inhalation position, such that when a user inhales through the mouthpiece 15, causing the deformation of the deformable air chamber 61, the distribution chamber 70 moves from its rest position to its inhalation position. In this inhalation position, the dispensing orifice 79 is placed in said mouthpiece 15, to ensure good distribution of the dose, as visible in FIG. 7a. Furthermore, the unit 60 is thus adapted to release the locking means 100. Advantageously, the air chamber 61 cooperates with said locking means. The inhalation of the user causes the deformation of said deformable air chamber 61, thus making it possible to release said locking means 100 and therefore to unlock the movable support means 50 to allow the movement of the guide wheel 30 and d 'a respective reservoir 21 towards its open position. Advantageously, this air chamber 61 can comprise a deformable membrane, such as a bellows 62, which can be connected on the one hand to the mouthpiece 15 and on the other hand to said locking means 100 in a direct or ίο manner. indirect. Thus, during inhalation, the bellows 62 contracts causing the movement of said locking means 100 into an unlocked position. Any other form of deformable membrane can be envisaged.

In the examples shown in Figures 2a, 2b, 5b to 8b, 26 and 27, the bellows 62 is connected on the one hand to the mouthpiece 15, and on the other hand to the distribution chamber 70, in the path user's inhalation flow. Advantageously, this distribution chamber 70 is provided with at least one ball 75 which moves inside said chamber 70 during inhalation, to improve the distribution of the air and powder mixture after opening of a reservoir 21, in order to increase the efficiency of the device. As shown in the drawings, it is then advantageous that the opening means 40, in particular the drilling and / or cutting means 41, are formed directly on said distribution chamber 70, for example at the end of a channel. 69 leading to said bedroom 70. Likewise, this distribution chamber 70, in its inhalation position, is then adapted to release the locking means 100 which previously held the mobile support means 50 in the initial position, in order to allow these mobile support means 50 to move the reservoir 21 to the open position. The mobile distribution chamber 70 during the inhalation phase is a feature of the inhaler of the present invention, and this feature allows several functions to be fulfilled ensuring reliable and more efficient operation of the inhaler. After inhalation, as can be seen in FIGS. 8a and 8b, when the user closes the device, all the components return to their initial rest position, namely that the distribution chamber 70 returns to its rest position, the means movable support 50 pivot relative to their pivot axis 56 in return to their first initial position away from the reservoir opening means 40, and the active element 57 cooperating with the preloadable spring 51 is also returned to its initial rest position in which the spring 51 is not compressed. The device is then ready for a new cycle of use.

FIG. 3 shows an alternative embodiment of the bellows 62, in which the bellows is not arranged directly between the mouthpiece 15 and the distribution chamber 70, but housed in the main body 10 under the distribution chamber 70. In this variant embodiment, during inhalation, the bellows could even be deformed in order to inflate, and thus cause the displacement of the distribution chamber towards its inhalation position, whereas in the embodiment described above the bellows contracts during inhalation to pull the dispensing chamber toward its inhalation position.

Figure 4 shows another embodiment in which the bellows (or the membrane) is replaced by a piston 67 or the like sliding in a hollow sleeve 68 to deform the air chamber 61. The piston 67, which can be made under the shape of a thin plate may have a hole (not shown) to control resistance to air flow. In the example shown, the piston 67 is integral with the distribution chamber 70 and the sleeve 68 is integral with the mouthpiece 15, but the reverse is also possible.

According to another advantageous aspect of the inhaler, the individual reservoirs or blisters 21 are formed on an elongated strip 20, which is stored in the form of a coil inside the body 10 of the device. Advantageously, this wound blister strip 20 is held by internal walls of said body 10 without its "rear" end (in the direction of movement of the strip of blisters 20) being fixed relative to said body 10, which allows a easier assembly of this reel of blister tape inside the device. The blister strip 20 is moved by the user advantageously by means of the guide wheel 30 which advantageously has at least one, preferably several recesses 31, the shape of which corresponds to that of the blisters. Thus, when this guide wheel 30 rotates, it drives the blister strip 20. No other drive system is necessary to move the blisters 21 during each actuation. Of course as a variant or additionally, one could use other means for advancing the blister strip, for example by providing a profile on the lateral longitudinal edges of the blister strip, said profile being adapted to cooperate with means of appropriate training. Likewise, holes formed along the lateral edges of the blister strip could also be used to advance the blister strip by means of toothed wheels cooperating with said holes.

The locking means 100 are intended to hold the movable support means 50 in the initial position and prevent the reservoir 21 from moving towards its open position until the user inhales. These locking means 100 must be able to be released in a safe and reliable and easy manner during the inhalation of the user, so that the movement of the reservoir towards the opening means is carried out quickly, reliably and breasts require a too much effort. According to the exemplary embodiments shown in Figures 9 to 12, these locking means 100 may include two elements 101, 102 interconnected one within the other. A rotation according to the arrow B is applied to the second element 102 when an appropriate inhalation threshold is reached, the rotation of this second element 102 then causing the release of the first element 101, this first element 101 being moreover subjected to the load. according to the arrow A movable support means 50, under the effect of the elastic element 51 which had been preloaded when the device was opened. The first element 101 could be mounted to pivot around a pivot point 109 disposed between its two ends, a first end undergoing the load of the mobile support means 50 according to the arrow A, and the other end cooperating with the second element 102 . In this example, shown in Figures 9 and 10, when the second element 102 has turned according to the arrow B following an inhalation, the end of the first element 101 which was blocked by the second element 102 therefore moves in a direction ( arrow C) opposite the load (arrow A). As a variant, shown in Figures 11 and 12, one could also use a rotary rod or bar 102 cooperating with a pin 101 exerting an axial force (arrow A) on said rod 102 when the device is preloaded. This rotary bar 102 advantageously has a suitable shape to allow said loaded rod 101 to move freely in the direction A by the force exerted on it by the movable support means 50 preloaded when said rotary bar 102 has rotated by a certain angle. . For example, as shown in Figure 11, the rotating bar 102 comprises a lower part 107 of greater diameter than the upper part 108, so that after a rotation of 90 °, the shoulder 106 formed between these two parts 107 and 108 pushes the axial rod 101 so as to offset it with respect to the central axis of the rotary bar 102, so that the axial rod 101 will slide along this rotating bar 102 and be able to move downwards in FIGS. 11 and 12 in the direction of arrow A to allow the movement of the movable support means 50 towards the position d opening of the tank. Other variant embodiments are obviously conceivable to achieve the blocking and release this blockage during the inhalation of the user.

According to yet another aspect of the inhaler, means for counting or indicating doses 120 are also provided. These means can either comprise numbers or symbols 125 inscribed directly on the blister strip 20 and visible through an appropriate window 19 in the body 10 of the device. As a variant, it would be possible to envisage using a rotating disc 121 comprising the numbers or symbols 125 inscribed in a spiral shape on this disc. In this case, a sliding element (not shown) with a suitable window could be engaged with a spiral track provided on this disc 121 in order to display the number or symbol 125 relevant to the current dose. Finally, indicators comprising rotating wheels, for example a units wheel and a tens wheel could also be envisaged.

After opening one or more blister (s), the part of the blister strip 35 with the empty reservoirs must be able to be stored easily and not bulky in the device. Advantageously, this used blister strip 35 is automatically wound up on itself to again form a reel. Advantageously, the end of this worn blister strip 35 (the “front” end of the blister strip 20) can be fixed to a rotating element or shaft 150 which accompanies each movement of the blister strip by turning by one. corresponding angle. This promotes winding of the used blister strip 35 on itself. Advantageously, this shaft 150 does not cause any traction or any other driving force on the blister strip 20 but only guides the rotation of its end to wind up the worn strip portion 35.

According to yet another advantageous aspect of the inhaler, means 160 for flattening used blisters can be used to flatten the blisters 21 once the dose which they contained has been emptied. This makes it possible to reduce the storage volume of the used blister strip 35. These flattening means 160 could consist of two cylinders between which the used blister strip 35 passes. These cylinders 160 could be smooth or have an appropriate profile (eg fluted, as seen in Figure 25) on their peripheral surface to provide optimum efficiency while requiring minimal force to achieve this flattening of used or empty blisters.

According to yet another aspect of the inhaler, the opening means 40 of the reservoirs 21 comprise piercing and / or cutting means 41. These piercing and / or cutting means 41 preferably have an appropriate shape such that the cut wall portions 24 of the blister 21 bend towards the inside of the blister without covering the openings 25 formed by these piercing and / or cutting means 41. Figures 13 to 16 show a cycle of opening and expulsion of the dose from a blister pack. Advantageously, these drilling and / or cutting means 41 therefore comprise two opposite drilling ends 42, 43 which are separated from one another by an appropriate distance 44. These piercing and / or cutting means 41 advantageously create a central fold with the cut wall parts 24 allowing the formed openings 25 not to be covered at all by any cut wall part 24. Advantageously, as shown in the figures. 13 to 17, each piercing end 42, 43 is cup-shaped and is formed by a partially cut hollow cylinder portion having sharp edges. Advantageously, the incoming air (arrow E) enters the open blister pack 21 outside said piercing and / or cutting means 41, as visible in FIG. 5. This can for example be obtained by virtue of the fact that the means movable support 50 move towards the open position of the reservoir in a curved line. This curved displacement causes one or more opening (s) 25 slightly larger than the dimensions of the drilling and / or cutting element 41. This therefore allows inhalation air to flow outside of said piercing and / or cutting element 41 to penetrate inside the blister 21. If necessary, specific means for making an opening through the blister pack. the exterior of said element of; drilling and / or cutting 41 could also be provided, such as for example ribs or any other suitable external profile on said drilling and / or cutting element 41. Preferably, the outgoing air flow charged with the powder (arrow S) leaves the reservoir or blister 21 through the hollow interior of said piercing and / or cutting means 41, as shown in FIG. 16. Optionally, as shown in figure 18, both the incoming air flow (arrow E) and the outgoing air flow charged with the powder (arrow S) could pass through respective hollow channels provided therein drilling and / or cutting means 41. The specific shape of the drilling and / or cutting element 41 as shown in the figures provides a "Louvre" type cutout which provides all of the aforementioned advantages, and in particular which prevents the holes 25 created by the drilling. are closed even partially by pierced wall parts 24. This ensures the most complete possible emptying of the blister 21, and therefore provides maximum efficiency for the dispenser. Likewise, the reproducibility of the dosage is optimal, the same quantity of powder being expelled each time thanks to the device of the invention.

Referring to Figure 26, there is shown a second embodiment of the inhaler of the invention. This second embodiment differs mainly from the first embodiment of Figures 1 to 8 by the external shape of the device and by the different shape of the elastic means 51 making it possible to preload the device when it is opened. In this second embodiment, the body 10 has only one cover element 11 which is intended to open in order to charge the device. During this opening, an elastic blade 51 is deformed by said cover element 11 which opens, thus providing the load which was supplied by the spring 51 in the previous example. Again, this elastic blade 51 urges the movable support means 50 towards the open position of the reservoir in which the reservoir 21 is moved against the opening means 40, but suitable locking means 100, such as those previously described or others, are provided to prevent this displacement until the user inhales. The inhalation of the user unlocks said blocking means 100 and therefore allows the opening of the reservoir 21 and the automatic distribution of the dose that it contains thanks to the opening means 40, and its expulsion into the lungs of the user through the distribution chamber 70 provided upstream of the mouthpiece 15. The mobile support means 50 can be made in the form of a deformable plastic part incorporating on the one hand the elastic blade 51, a biasing element 50 cooperating with the guide wheel 30, and one or two extension (s) 52 , 53, adeiptés to cooperate with the body 10 to allow the loading of the elastic blade 51. In the example shown, a first extension 52 cooperates with a toothed wheel 200 which can form a non-return pawl and used blister strip winding system 35. A second extension 53 can cooperate with the distribution chamber 70, or be connected. in any way to the unlocking means 100.

FIG. 27 also shows an embodiment, which differs mainly from that of FIG. 26 by another form of the elastic means 51 for preloading the device during the opening of the device. The shape of the body 10 of the inhaler is also slightly changed even though the difference is smaller than compared to the first embodiment of Figures 1 to 8. The different shape of the elastic means 51 making it possible to preload the device when opening the cover 11 differs slightly from that shown: in the second embodiment, but its function is strictly identical and will therefore not be further described here. In this particular example, the movable support means 50 are integral with an elastic blade 51 deformed during the opening of the device, and a second part 54, elastic or not, can be provided to carry out the winding of the tape. used blisters 35 and / or the unlocking of the locking means 100. It should be noted that these locking means 100 are not shown in FIGS. 26 and 27, and that their actuation can be carried out in any suitable manner.

In all of the embodiments described above, the blister strip is formed by a strip having two ends. Alternatively, one could use a continuous strip. Other modifications are also possible without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The present invention therefore makes it possible to provide a dry powder inhaler which provides in particular the following functions:

a plurality of individual doses of powder stored in sealed individual reservoirs, for example 60 doses stored on a strip wound into a reel;

the powder released by means of a piercing actuated by the inhalation of the user, this piercing of the blister pack being carried out by means of an inhalation detection system coupled to a preloaded release system;

drive means of appropriate shape engaged with the blisters to effect the displacement of the blister strip on each actuation, and to bring a new reservoir into a position in which it is intended to be opened by the appropriate opening means;

a dose indicator mechanically linked to the movement of the blister strip.

Other functions are also provided by the device of the invention as has been described previously. It should be noted that the different functions, even if they have been shown as provided simultaneously on the different embodiments of the inhaler, could be implemented separately from each other. In particular, the inhalation trigger mechanism could be used regardless of the type of reservoir opening means, regardless of the use of a dose indicator, regardless of how the individual reservoirs are arranged relative to each other. others, etc.

The inhaler of the invention, incorporating all or parts of the functions described, proves to provide performance superior to those of existing devices. In particular, the inhaler of the invention provides a reservoir emptying rate of at least 90% on each actuation. Advantageously, this emptying rate, corresponding to the percentage of the fluid product expelled from an open reservoir when the device is actuated, is greater than 95%, preferably even greater than 97%. This high emptying rate guarantees maximum efficiency of the device of the invention. Coupled with the opening triggered by inhalation, this high emptying rate guarantees optimal distribution of the fluid product, in this case the powder, in the user's lungs. The table below illustrates measurements performed with a 1.17% by weight budesonide / lactose mixture, with various flow rates corresponding to typical inhalation flow rates. Thus, three measurements were carried out with respective flow rates of approximately 7.5 1 / min, 10 1 / min and 15 1 / min. The measurements consisted in measuring the quantity of powder remaining in the blister after emptying by the air flow, and therefore, by comparing with the quantity of powder introduced into the blister, the emptying rate of the latter. These measurements demonstrate the very high efficiency of the device of the invention, the emptying rate in this example systematically being at least equal to 97%.

<td>Flow (1 / min)</td><td>Powder introduced into blister (mg)</td><td>Powder remaining in blister ^ "'(mg)</td><td>P</td><td>Number of . &gt; ûdre emitted from the blister pack (mg)</td><td colspan="2">^r'i'% ded &lt;»^ éXè ^^</td>

<td> 7,5</td><td> 10,63</td><td> 0,00</td><td colspan="2"> 10,63</td><td> 1,00</td><td></td>

<td> 7,5</td><td> 10,18</td><td> 0,13</td><td colspan="2"> 10,05</td><td> 0,99</td><td> 0,98</td>

<td> 7,4</td><td> 9,78</td><td> 0,32</td><td colspan="2"> 9,46</td><td> 0,97</td><td></td>

<td> 10,0</td><td> 9,86</td><td> 0,31</td><td colspan="2"> 9,55</td><td> 0,97</td><td></td>

<td> 10,0</td><td> 10,38</td><td> 0,00</td><td colspan="2"> 10,38</td><td> 1,00</td><td> 0,99</td>

<td> 9,9</td><td> 9,77</td><td> 0,00</td><td colspan="2"> 9,77</td><td> 1,00</td><td></td>

<td> 15,0</td><td> 10,01</td><td> 0,00</td><td colspan="2"> 10,01</td><td> 1,00</td><td></td>

<td> 14,5</td><td> 9,76</td><td> 0,04</td><td colspan="2"> 9,72</td><td> 1,00</td><td> 1,00</td>

<td> 14,5</td><td> 10,04</td><td> 0,02</td><td colspan="2"> 10,02</td><td> 1,00</td><td></td>

Furthermore, the invention also provides better regularity of emptying the reservoirs during successive actuations. Thus, referring for example to 10 reservoirs of a strip of blisters, it turns out that the emptying rate varies by less than 15%, advantageously less than 10%, preferably less than 5%. one tank to another. This better regularity guarantees better reproducibility of the dose and therefore also better efficiency of the device of the invention.

Various modifications are also possible for a person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.