Dispenser

Description of the invention

The present invention relates specifically to, but not limited to, the dispensing of aerosolized or powdered medicaments.

In the earlier international patent application PCT / GB98 / 00770 as amended after entering the regional phase before the European Patent Office, a dispenser for a gaseous, gas-borne or droplet substance is described, which contains:

- body with a mouthpiece with an inhalation / exhalation hole,

- connector in the body for the gas supply or the evaporating fluid constituting or containing the substance to be dispensed,

a patient actuated valve to control the release of gas or fluid, comprising

- valve inlet connected to a connector,

- valve outlet,

the flexible tube extends from the connector between an inlet and an outlet intended to receive a gas or fluid, the flexible tube having a movable portion between a closed position where the tube is bent and the valve is closed and an open position where the tube is unfolded and the valve is open,

- a movable element that displaces the movable part of the tube and controls its bending, is movably mounted in the body and shifted by inhalation from the rest position towards the mouthpiece, or at least in the direction of air flow through the mouthpiece,

- a tube which is bent to block flow when the movable element is in its rest position and which is unbent and releases gas or fluid when the movable element is actuated by inhalation.

Such a dispenser may be classified as an inhalation pinch valve dispenser and will hereinafter be referred to as the "prior design of the inhalation pinch valve dispenser".

The basic embodiment of the prior dispenser with an inhalation pinch valve comprises a piston actuated by a pressure difference produced by an inhalation. The force generated is usually sufficient to actuate the dispenser by drawing the plunger against the dispenser mouthpiece, straightening the tubing and opening the pinch valve. However, some improvements to this solution are possible.

The subject of the invention is a dispenser for the administration of a gaseous substance, carried by gas or in the form of droplets, placed in a reservoir, containing

- body with mouthpiece,

- connector in the body for the container with the substance,

- a breath actuated valve, comprising:

- a flexible tube extending from the inlet of a valve connected to a fitting, the flexible tube having a movable portion between a closed position and an open position where the tube is unbent and the valve is open;

- outlet element movably mounted inside the body, moving during inhalation and deflecting the valve,

- a tube which is bent to block flow when the movable element is in the standby position and which is unbent and releases gas or fluid when the movable outlet element is displaced by inhalation.

The essence of the invention is that the dispenser contains

- a trigger latch to keep the movable outlet member in a ready position to close the tube by folding it prior to inhalation, and

an inhalation-actuated flap movably placed in the body that releases the inhalation trigger, with simultaneous displacement of the movable outlet member and release of gas or fluid.

Preferably, the coupler is movably mounted in the body for limited movement with the cartridge when pressed to release the substance, the body having slots cooperating with projections on the coupler.

Preferably, the dispenser according to includes a spring disposed between the link and the body to resist movement of the link upon depressing the cartridge.

PL 199 009 B1

Preferably, the connector is a receiver integrally formed with the flexible tube and the outlet member, the formed receiver including a movable joint connecting the receiver to the outlet member.

Preferably, the molded receiver has a member resiliently biasing the outlet member towards the unbent state of the flexible tube.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the dispenser further comprises a spring biasing the outlet member towards the unbent state of the flexible tube.

Preferably, the spring is integrally molded with the body.

Preferably, the body further comprises at least one stop member rotating the outlet member due to movement of the link due to depressing the cartridge.

Preferably, the outlet member has an opening or openings through which a finger of the at least one stop member can pass after the outlet member performs a rotational movement caused by the stop member supporting the outlet member, the finger or fingers engaging the opposite side of the outlet member during the return movement of the connector.

Preferably, the breath actuated flap is rotatably mounted in the body.

Preferably, the inspiratory flap includes a resilient member to bias the flap into a position into engagement with the movable outlet member, the flap being positioned to engage a projection on the body wall.

Preferably, the outlet member has respective projections for engagement with a trigger tab on the flap.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the flap is "U" shaped, with the dispensing tube of the cartridge extending through the flap.

Preferably, the springs and the resilient member are in a tensionless condition when the cartridge is not depressed.

One of the improved features of the dispenser of the present invention is a spring to assist in opening a pinch valve.

The subject of the invention in an exemplary embodiment is shown in the drawing, in which fig. 1 shows a side view of the dispenser according to the invention in section, fig. 2 shows a top view in section along the line II-II in fig. 1, fig. 3 shows a front view. a sectional view taken along the line III-III of Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 shows a view similar to Fig. 1 of the dispenser in a state ready for use.

Referring to the drawing, the illustrated inhalation-actuated dispenser has an L-shaped hollow body 1 with a mouthpiece 2. The aerosolized drug cartridge 3 is housed in the body with sufficient clearance to allow an inhalation through the body when placed therein. tray. The cartridge has a dispensing tube 4 that communicates with a molded receiver 5 (in the form of a molded part), the molded receiver 5 being connected to the body via projections 6 arranged in slots 7 and includes a movable outlet element 8 and a pinch valve 9. Individual parts (with except for the gas or liquid container) are made of plastic injection method.

The outlet element 8 is connected to the main part of the formed receiver 5 through a movable joint 11. The receiver 5 is formed with the outlet element 8 at an angle depending on the configuration of the dispenser and with a linear channel 20 passing through it. The central part 21 of the channel 20 has a small wall thickness so that when the flap 31 is raised, the channel bends and closes. The upper end 22 of the conduit 20 has a larger diameter adapted to receive the dispensing tube 4 of the gas or fluid reservoir 3. The lower end of the conduit 21 forms an outlet nozzle 23 which is positioned at the same angle as the outlet member 8.

Attached to the receiver 5 is the main compression spring element 24. The compressed spring element 24 has two interdependent springs 25,26 which are band springs of a length such that they abut the bottom 27 of the body 1 and hold the receiver 5 in the upper position.

A "U" shaped flap 31 is placed between the gas or fluid cartridge 1 and the formed receiver 5, the dosing tube 4 of the gas cartridge 1 being in the center of the "U", the arms of which are provided with ears 32 with holes. The ears 32 are connected to the protrusions 33 on the body wall. A flap resilient 34, formed integrally with the flap 31, abuts against a projection 35 on the wall of the body 1 opposite the mouthpiece, so that the flap 31 is slightly inclined when the gas or fluid reservoir is vertical. Beyond the ears 32, the U-shaped tab 31 has two protrusions at the ends of its arms that constitute a double trigger catch 36. The tab 31 is positioned such that inhaling through the mouthpiece 2 overcomes the

Due to a slight resistance of an elastic flap 34, and the folding of the flap 31 downward, air flows over the edges of the flap 31.

The outlet element 8 has at the nozzle 23 two projections 28 which engage with the double trigger catch 36. At the opposite end, apart from the movable joint 11, the outlet element has an end 29 eccentric to the main axis, which rests against a spring 37 protruding from the body. 1 below the projection 35. The arrangement is such that when the trigger 36 engages the movable outlet member 8, the spring 37 tightens and pushes the nozzle 23 downwards.

A resilient protrusion 41, usually "Y" shaped, provided with two fingers 42 facing each other extends upward from the bottom of the body 1 inside the mouthpiece 2. The protrusion 41 is positioned transversely in the body with considerable play so as not to impede the flow of air while its ends are resilient and allow the movement of the fingers towards the mouthpiece 2 and away from the mouthpiece 2. The outlet element 8 has protrusions 43 extending along it. Each of the projections 43 has a recess 44 on its underside arranged to receive a finger 42 and abut the bottom edge 45 of the recess 44 when the outlet member 8 is angled downwards. At the other end, a recess 44 is open on the upper surface of the projection and a finger 42 can pass through it.

The dispenser works as follows.

When starting to use the dispenser, the patient presses the container 3 with gas or liquid into the body 1. This operation forces the dispensing tube 4 into the formed receiver 5. The container 3 with gas or liquid moves forward against the resistance of the main springs 25, 26. When pressing reaches the intended level, the dose of substance is released into the central part 21 of the pinch valve 9 tube, which is folded and the dose is retained therein.

Lowering the container 3 causes the movable articulation 11 to move downwards and together with it the pivoted outlet member 8. The outlet element 8 pivots upwards about the movable articulation 11 due to the action of the protrusion 41, in particular its fingers 42. The fingers 42 move upwards along the recess 44 and pass through the opening 46. At the same time, the other end 29 of the outlet element 8 abuts a spring 37 which pushes the end 29 of the outlet element 8 upwards and the nozzle 23 downwards. The angle of the outlet element 8 is limited by the slope 51 on the lower part of the formed receiver 5, and the outlet element 8 is guided so that the projection 28 on the upper side of the nozzle 23 engages with the double trigger catch 36.

Before depressing the gas or liquid cartridge 3, the flap 31 is pushed upward by the resilient member 34. Depressing the cartridge causes the flap 31 to be lowered slightly through the valve of the cartridge body 3 so that the trigger catch 36 engages with the projection 28. W Finally, pressing in the cartridge causes the fingers 42 to pass through the opening 46 and are above the top surface of the outlet member 8. The dispenser is now in standby - the dose is stopped by the pinch valve 9 and the dispenser mechanism is tight.

When the patient breathes in through the mouthpiece 3, the flap 31 is pulled down against the resistance of the elastic element 34. The trigger 36 rises and releases the tabs 28. The outlet member 8 is pushed downwards by the spring 37 to a point downstream of the mouthpiece 2 where the pinch valve 9 opens and the dose is released.

Releasing the cartridge 3 lifts the molded receiver 5. At this stage, the fingers 42 are above the outlet member 8. The fingers 42 stay on the upper surface of the outlet member 8 and keep it angled downward. However, fingers 42 contact and pass through holes 46 with the deflection of protrusion 41. The mechanism is ready for the next cocking and dispensing operation. Note that in this state the springs 25,26,37 and the spring element 34 are unstressed so that the device is not stored with the springs biased, which allows the plastic springs to be used sparingly.