Inhaler

The present invention relates to the inhaler described in the preamble of claim 1. The present invention relates to an inhaler for administering a powdered inhalation formulation from a blister strip having a plurality of blister pockets (also referred to as blister) containing multiple doses of the inhalation formulation.

British Patent No. 2 407 042 A discloses an inhaler with a roll-up blister strip. The inhaler includes a manual rotatable actuator that drives the conveyor, which moves the blister strip in stages. The actuator supports the drilling means and the associated mouthpiece. By rotating the actuator, the blister strip advances and the blister pockets of the blister strip are sequentially perforated. When the patient inhales, the airflow passes through the pre-drilled blister pocket, which results in the inhaled formulation in the blister pocket being mixed with air and released towards the patient. The inhaler mouthpiece cover must be opened before use. The mouthpiece cover can rotate about an axis extending on a specific surface with respect to the axis of rotation of the actuator.

The reclosure of an opened blister is already known by US 7,069,929 B2 specification. Reclosure prevents unwanted deviation and dispersion of the inhaled formulation within the inhaler.

<p> An object of the present invention is to provide an inhaler having a simple and / or compact configuration and / or having an optimized design, transportation, and / or function.</p>

<p> The above object is achieved by the inhaler according to claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are described in the Dependent Section.</p><p> According to the present invention, preferably, a marking device for marking the blister strip and / or the blister pocket is provided in the inhaler and / or during use of the blister. This allows for optimized marking, especially numbering.</p><p> Further aspects, features, properties, and advantages of the present invention are described in the claims and the subsequent description of preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings.</p>

<figref num="1">FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an inhaler without a mouthpiece cover.</figref><figref num="2">It is the schematic sectional drawing of the inhaler which closed the mouthpiece cover.</figref><figref num="3">It is a partially enlarged view of FIG.</figref><figref num="4">It is a side view of the inhaler.</figref>

The same reference numbers are used for the same or similar parts in the drawings, even if the repetitive description is omitted. In particular, the same or corresponding benefits and properties will result and be achieved.

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the inhaler 1. The inhaler 1 has a function of administering a powdered inhalation preparation from a band-shaped blister strip 2. The blister strip 2 is finite and does not form a circulation or ring closure. The blister strip 2 comprises a large number of blister pockets 3, each of which directly houses an unpackaged inhalation formulation of a dose. The formulation is thus pre-weighed.

The inhaler 1 comprises a containment portion 4 of an unused blister strip 2 having a sealed (sealed) blister pocket 3. The blister strip 3 is rolled up or rolled up in the housing 4. In the present embodiment, the accommodating portion 4 is formed so that the blister strip 2 can be moved to the outside or pulled out from the accommodating portion 4 as easily as possible.

In this embodiment, the blister strip 2 is housed directly in the housing section 4. However, instead, cassettes, containers, drums and the like may be used to load or insert the blister strip 2 into the inhaler 1 or accommodating section 4.

To continuously send the blister pocket 3 to the opening and / or release position 6, where each blister pocket 3 is opened and emptied, the inhaler 1 in each case has only one blister pocket 3 on arrow 5a. It is provided with a conveyor 5 for moving forward stepwise in a direction.

The blister pockets 3 can preferably be opened by the perforation means 7, respectively, which perforate and cut through the lids of the blister pockets 3 aligned at position 6, respectively. The perforation member 7 is hollow and communicates with the adjacent mouthpiece 8 of the inhaler 1.

During inhalation, the patient or user (not shown) places the mouthpiece 8 in his or her mouth and inhales. Each opened blister pocket 3 with the perforated member 7 extending inward is emptied by being sucked by this. The ambient air stream 9 is sucked through the opened blister pocket 3 which forms the unwrapped powder 10 (forms an inhalation formulation and is the currently opened blister pocket 3 below the mouthpiece 8). Only within (schematically shown in FIG. 1) is administered via the mouthpiece 8 with the surrounding air inhaled as an aerosol cloud. This situation is schematically shown in Figure 1.

The inhaler 1 may preferably have such a manually driveable actuator 12 rotatably provided in the housing of the inhaler 1. The perforation member 7 and the mouthpiece 8 are attached to and supported by the actuator 12.

The actuator 12 is operable (rotatable) so that the drilling member 7 penetrates the lid of the blister pocket 3 which is aligned with the position 6 below the mouthpiece 8. As the actuator 12 rotates (here counterclockwise) from the state shown in FIG. 1 to a partially opened state, the perforated member 7 is pulled out of the last perforated blister pocket 3.

The blister strip 2 is advanced by one blister pocket 3 so that the next blister pocket 3 is moved to position 6. This will be described in more detail below.

When the actuator 12 is rotated back to the position shown in FIG. 1, i.e. manually, the next aligned blister pocket 3 of the blister strip 2 is pierced by the drilling member 7 and opened. Then, the next inhalation can be performed, that is, the inhaler 1 is put into an operating state.

The inhaler 1 has a receiving space or device 13 for receiving or storing the used portion of the blister strip 2. The receiving space or device 13 is preferably formed so that the used portion is rolled up. FIG. 1 shows a state in which the storage section 4 is substantially filled and the receiving space 13 is substantially empty.

The conveyor 5 includes a conveyor wheel 14 that engages between the blister pockets 3 and thereby conveys the blister strip 2 in a shape-fixing or shape-fitting manner. This allows for very reliable or accurate movement or sliding of the blister strip 2 as desired or required.

The conveyor 5 or its conveyor wheel 14 is located between the accommodating section 4 and the receiving device 13, specifically between the discharging position 6 and the receiving device 13, behind the portion thus emptying the blister pocket 3. Placed in.

The rotation axis of the actuator 12 is coaxial with the rotation axis of the conveyor wheel 14. In particular, the actuator 12 may be supported by the shaft of the conveyor wheel 14.

The inhaler 1 includes a mouthpiece cover 15. The mouthpiece cover 15 is not shown in FIG. 1 to illustrate the basic principles of the inhaler 1, and is more realistic, but still shown in FIG. 2, which shows a conceptual cross-sectional view of the inhaler 1. .. FIG. 2 shows the inhaler 1 with the mouthpiece cover 15 closed, and the blister strip 2 is partially omitted for illustration purposes.

The mouthpiece cover 15 is shown in FIG. 2 and is rotatable about a cover shaft 16 extending perpendicular to this drawing. The rotation shaft of the actuator 12 extends coaxially with or with the cover shaft 16. The rotating shaft of the conveyor wheel 14 extends coaxially with the rotating shafts of the cover shaft 16 and the actuator 12.

The conveyor 5 or its conveyor wheel 14 is moved by the mouthpiece cover 15, that is, by the rotational movement of the mouthpiece cover 15. In particular, the blister strip 2 advances when the mouthpiece cover 15 is opened. Preferably, the conveyor 5 or the conveyor wheel 14 is driven or operated so that the blister strip 2 moves forward by only a part of the opening operation of the mouthpiece cover 15.

In the first stage of the opening operation, the mouthpiece cover 15 starts from the fully closed state shown in FIG. 2 and opens to the first angle, for example, about 10, 20, or 30 degrees. The blister strip 2 is not moved by each freewheel (not shown) between the 15 and the conveyor wheel 14.

First, the actuator 12 needs to be moved or opened in order to pull the perforated member 7 out of the previously pierced and normally / already emptied blister pocket 3. The opening operation of the actuator 12 can be performed manually. However, it is preferable that the actuator opens automatically with the mouthpiece cover 15 or when the mouthpiece cover 15 reaches the first angle.

While the mouthpiece cover 15 is further opened (second stage), the conveyor 5 or conveyor wheel 14 moves the blister strip 2 to the next blister pocket 3 to be emptied by one blister pocket 3. Or it is operated to slide. This blister movement preferably occurs until the mouthpiece cover 15 is fully opened.

The movement of the blister strip 2 is adjusted by each mechanism (not shown) to hold the next blister pocket 3 in the perforation position 6 only when the mouthpiece cover is fully opened, i.e., when it reaches its final position. Or fixed and / or detached from the movement of the mouthpiece cover. However, if the mouthpiece cover 15 is not fully open and is closed again, the blister strip 2 will move backwards. This facilitates the operation of the inhaler 1, in particular the undesired movement of the blister strip 2 due to imperfect or intentional movement of the mouthpiece cover 15 and the undesired movement of the next blister pocket 3. Prevent opening.

Preferably, the mouthpiece cover 15 is opened only when it is fully opened or counter-rotated to the first angle, or when the last perforated pocket 3 returns to position 6. A lock (not shown) is provided so that the actuator 12 can be closed again. In this way, the blister perforation member 7 cannot be pressed against the area where the blister pocket 3 of the strip 2 is absent or out of the blister pocket 3.

When the mouthpiece cover 15 is fully opened and the next blister pocket moves to position 6, the actuator 12 rotates in the opposite direction, i.e., to drill the already aligned and still closed blister pocket 3. , Can be closed. At this time, the inhaler 1 is ready for inhalation, that is, is in the operating state as described above.

After inhalation, the inhaler 1 can be closed by rotating the mouthpiece cover 15 in the closed state in the reverse direction. To operate the conveyor 5 or conveyor wheel 14 by moving the mouthpiece cover 15 as described above or in any other suitable manner, and / or by the freewheel described above and / or the appropriate transmission, friction clutch or other suitable. The mouthpiece cover 15 is connected to the conveyor 5 and, in particular, to the conveyor wheel 14.

Preferably, the freewheel, transmission, coupling, etc. are integrated into the conveyor wheel 14 or each shaft, or located adjacent to the conveyor wheel 14 or each shaft.

Preferably, the inhaler 1 is marked with blister strip 2 and / or blister pocket 3, preferably numbered, in particular in the inhaler 1 and / or during use of the inhaler 1 blister strip 2 and / or. Alternatively, a suitable marking device 17 for marking the blister pocket 3 (shown in partially enlarged views with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3) is included.

In this embodiment, the inhaler 1 or marking device 17 preferably uses means marked to be permanently fixed to the blister strip 2 for marking the blister strip 2 and / or the blister pocket 3. .. Preferably, the marked means is strip-shaped and / or tape 18, or the like. Hereinafter, the tape 18 as a preferable means will be described with a focus. However, other suitable methods for marking can be used.

This means is preferably permanently fixed and, in particular, adhered onto the blister strip 2. In this embodiment, the means / tape 18 is preferably self-adhesive. Alternatively or additionally, particularly at least partially and / or after opening the blister pocket 3, the blister strip 2 is made self-adhesive, for example by removing the cover foil or the like. You can also. The tape 18 is preferably rolled up on the inhaler 1 before use. In particular, the inhaler 1 or marking device 17 includes a spool 19 for or with tape 18.

In certain embodiments, the inhaler 1 or marking device 17 includes a guide element, particularly a deflector 20 for guiding or pressing the means / tape 18 onto the blister strip 2. In this embodiment, the guide element or deflector is stationary. However, the guide element may be movable or flexible, or may be rotatable, such as a roll.

The advantage of the guide element is that the tilt or contact angle at which the suction or tape 18 is fed to the blister strip 2 is constant regardless of the diameter of the spool 19. It is desirable that no guide element is provided. This facilitates the configuration and operation of the inhaler 1.

The tape 18 preferably has a width comparable to that of the blister strip 2. This facilitates guidance. Preferably, the starting point of the tape 18 is first connected to the free end or front end of the blister strip 2. This ensures that the blister strip 2 and tape 18 move forward together when the conveyor 5 is activated.

Specifically, the tape 18 is moved or pulled out of the spool 19 by the movement of the blister strip or, in turn, by the corresponding drive by the direct conveyor 5. However, the tape 18 can also be moved or pulled out of the spool 19 by a separate device. In particular, the spool 19 may be driven.

The marking device 17 or guide element is preferably located after the open and / or release position 6, or the drilling member 7, and / or preferably in front of the conveyor 5 or conveyor wheel 14. ..

In this embodiment, the means / tape 18 is preferably an integrally molded product. However, it can also be composed of a plurality of parts or members, or it can be divided into a plurality of parts or members, in particular, the plurality of parts or parts are each one blister pocket 3 or blister pocket 3 It can also be associated with a set of.

The inhaler 1 preferably includes a display device 21 for displaying a mark or number 22 associated with the blister pocket. In particular, the display device 21 indicates or counts the number of blister pockets 3 already used or still available, along with the dosage of the formulation.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the display device 21 can mark the blister strip and / or the blister pocket 3 with the number 22. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, in a preferred embodiment, the number 22 is preferably displayed or seen through the window 23 of the display device 21 in the housing 24 of the inhaler 1.

Preferably, the marking device 17 includes a display device 21 and / or tape 18 can be used for marking or numbering the blister strips 2 and / or the blister pockets 3.

Preferably, the tape 18 is connected only in part and / or at its free end to the free end or starting point of the blister strip 2, or any other suitable portion. This not only facilitates the bonding or simultaneous operation of the blister strip 2 and the tape 18, but also ensures the correct positioning of the blister pocket 3 or the initialization of the number 22, whereby the number 22 is passed through the window 23 one after another. And / or accurately correspond to the blister pocket 3.

In this embodiment, the number 22 is preferably printed on the tape 18. However, the number 22 can be placed on the tape 18 or directly on the blister strip 2, in particular on the opened blister pocket 3, in any other suitable form or method.

According to a further aspect of the invention, although independently feasible, the number 22 or other mark may be formed additionally or in its place, or the number 22 or mark may be touched by a blind person. Protrusions, ridges, etc. may be included for recognition. At this time, the inhaler 1 is flexible and / or an opening in the opening window 23 or other suitable inhaler 1 housing 24 so that the above-mentioned marks, numbers, bumps and other desired sensing are possible. Includes housing part. Preferably, the window 23 or opening is sealed, but in particular, the window 23 or opening is transparent, flexible and / or flexible so that the blind can perceive ridges, protrusions, etc. It is covered with a film, foil, member, etc.

According to other aspects of the invention, although independently feasible, the mark or number 22 is preferably the back or flat surface of the blister strip 2 and / or the surface on the side where the blister strip 2 is opened. In particular, the area where the blister pocket 3 is opened and / or the foil or the like is placed or formed in the area where the blister pocket 3 is closed.

The blister pocket 3 is provided with a relatively large number 22 (in particular, the entire area of the opened surface of the blister pocket 3 and / or the available full width of the blister strip 2 can be used).

Preferably, number 22 indicates the remaining number of blister pockets 3 that are still available, i.e. the total number of remaining blister pockets that can be used or inhaled, or the total number of blister pockets 3 that have already been used.

Preferably, the inhaler 1 is portable, operates only mechanically, and / or is handheld. Preferably, "blister strips" and "blister pockets" must be understood in a very broad sense, including other types of storage means, as well as drug storage or empty containment.

1 inhaler 2 blister strip 3 blister pocket 4 containment 5 conveyor 5a Move forward 6 Opening and / or release position 7 Drilling member 8 mouthpiece 9 Airflow 10 powder 11 Aerosol Cloud 12 Actuator 13 Receiving device 14 conveyor wheel 15 Mouthpiece cover 16 Cover shaft 17 Marking device 18 tape 19 spool 20 guide elements 21 Display device 22 number 23 windows 24 housing