Dispensing a powdered medicament.

PATENT DESCRIPTION

Additional patent to patent No.__

Reported: March 23, 1971 (P. 147082)

Priority: 25/03/1970 Great Britain

The application was announced on 10.05.1973

Patent description published: 31.01.1977

MKP A61m 15/00

Int. Cl.2

A61M 15/00

Creators of the Invention: Leslie William Birch, Desmond Alfred Dean, Harry Howell

Patent holder: Fisons Limited Felixstowe, Suffolk (United Kingdom)

Inhaler for applying fine-grained medications and

The present invention relates to an inhaler for applying fine-grained medications.

Inhalers for the application of medicaments formed in the form of finely powdered solid materials or crushed liquid applied in cases of throat, bronchitis or asthma are known. Such inhalers equipped with a semi-closed circuit are fed continuously or rhythmically by means of air supplied from the atmosphere.

Known inhalers consist of an expandable flexible pear connected to an elongated tube, terminated with a glass metal or plastic balloon, inside of which two tubes are inserted, one of which is connected to the inlet air hole supplied by means of rhythmic pressure of the pear during when the second one is directed towards the outlet from the balloon. Liquid or powdered medications intended for spraying are placed in a balloon, from which they are supplied to the outlet opening and the patient's mouth by means of a stream of air.

The disadvantage of the known inhalers is that the drugs delivered to the balloon in an open manner can become contaminated due to the fact that the balloon is formed in a form on both sides of the open and connects to the surrounding atmosphere. A further disadvantage of known inhalers is that the remnants of the drug delivered to the balloon after the procedure are difficult to remove and thorough cleaning or flushing of the balloon at home is almost impossible due to the fact that the balloon is formed with cavities where it is difficult access. Also a further disadvantage of the known inhalers is that in the balloons used, the inner tubes, due to the need to create a narrow stream, are made with holes with a very small internal cross-section, which causes their frequent clogging and unsuitability of the balloon and inhaler.

The object of the invention is to remove these disadvantages and make an inhaler with which it is possible to apply fine-grained medicaments in an uncomplicated and even manner, while avoiding contamination or contamination. To achieve this goal, it was decided in accordance with the invention to use an inhaler, consisting of a longitudinal housing having a through passage allowing the passage of air, the passage having the first end adapted to the attachment of the tip which, when using a stream of air passing through the through passage, causes atomization of powdered a medication.

The mounted device includes a through-passage which is adapted to take up fine-grained medicaments from the reservoir, the perforated passage formed inside the reservoir allowing the air passing through the inhaler.

155

155

By creating a reciprocating movement along the axis of the housing, towards the perforated container, the pulverized medical agent is sprayed. The shape of the inhaler housing does not contain sharp edges, but is in a rounded form. The end clamp of the inhaler is designed to be easier to hold when applying a medicinal product. The inhaler housing can be made of steel or a plastic material, for example nylon, hardened polyethylene or polystyrene, or it can contain holes at both ends.

The method of introducing air through the device is carried out using a pear made of rubber or a soft polymer. A pear located at one of the ends of the device allows air to enter it due to the pressure of the pear equipped with a check valve, designed to keep the air sucked inside the pear and to extrude it through the outlet to the maximum amount. The through-end is shaped entirely or attached to the housing in a sliding manner on the nasal tip. The movable nosepiece is mounted on the housing with a thread using one or more helical turns. The screw connection of the movable tip with the tank makes it easy to replace the tank after it has been emptied or completed.

The inhaler has a removable cover on the tip to protect the tip and inner tube from external contamination.

The holder of the wired device is placed in a shaped chamber inside the housing adjacent to the first end of the outlet.

The end of the chamber close to the tip of the outlet, for example the inner end of the sliding element, is intended to connect the recessed section at its inner end to form a part of the chamber intended to contain the medicament tank. The base of the mounted device, e.g. a chamber remote from the end element, includes an opening through which air passes. This hole is placed inside, in the walls of the chamber or it can be in the form of a separated element, for example a ring containing a radial elongated inner curtain, which is in any way connected to the next ring. It is more advantageous if the orifice has a mushroom shape allowing air to pass through the wheels of the air tank wall and through the tank containing the medicaments.

A clearance of 0.25 to 1.25 mm in diameter is created between the medicament tank and the air tank. The clearance allows for a fast flow of air passing around the tank, which facilitates directing the air stream '' onto the fine-grained medicaments in the tank and creating a suction stream.

The dispersion of the medicaments can be increased by means of a formed channel with a diameter of approximately 0.5 mm located at the end of the chamber close to the tip, the channel being intended for creating a cross flow of air flow around the opening from which the stream of sprayed medicaments flows.

The shape of the medicament reservoir is not precisely defined but it is advantageous if the symmetry axes of the reservoir are set along the longitudinal axis of the inhaler housing. If bellows or similar containers with longitudinal axes are used, it is essential that the axes are parallel to the longitudinal axis of the inhaler.

The inhaler is equipped with a perforating needle element made of corrosion-resistant steel or nickel-plated or chrome-plated. carbon steel protected against corrosion. The needle element produces a hole in the medication tank during vertical travel, designed to remove medication at the produced air flow. The perforated needle element placed inside the inhaler is adapted to slide in the guide sleeve. The base of the needle element is connected to the lower housing of the inhaler in which a ring adapted for placing a check valve is located.

The system of another inhaler according to the invention comprises a protrusion introduced into the sleeve and adapted to hold the needle element in a vertical position. The projection is positioned such that, when extended, the inhaler is held at a slight tension, which contributes to the fact that the needle element is completely retracted after puncturing the medicament tank. When a sleeve guide is used, the outlet is shaped in part of its hole for the pear in order to facilitate the passage of air between the pear and the sleeve. According to the engagement of the pierced elongated member, the disc is spaced from the final passage of the sleeve guide into the reservoir chamber.

The disk only has a central hole due to the sealing of the upper circumference of the annular element, it being more preferred if the annular holes are formed as far from the center of the disk as possible. Accordingly, the annular holes are 0.635 to 1.524 mm in diameter, preferably about 1.016 mm. The shield reduces the introduction of powder into the pear from the reverse of the needle. A large amount of powder sucked back is deposited around the needle element and is then placed back into the chamber when the pear is pressed to blow it out.

The inhaler according to the invention is used to dispense medications for bronchitis, nasal and pulmonary diseases. The inhaler is also used to administer toxic drugs, for example to administer toxic antidotes and soothing gaseous substances that calm the nerves or to provide fast-acting medications used in an emergency. The inhaler made according to the invention is suitable for applying medications using capsules or other similar packaging intended for direct use.

The subject of the invention is shown in the embodiment of the drawing, in which Fig. 1 shows the inhaler in longitudinal section and Fig. 2 another embodiment of the inhaler in longitudinal section.

According to FIGS. 1 and 2, the inhaler consists of a housing containing a removable nozzle with a protective cap 3. The chamber 4 in which the capsule can be placed is housed in the housing 1 and the nozzle 2. In the chamber 4 a hole is created between the walls of the chamber and the capsule with a diameter of 0.254 to 1.270 mm. A groove 5 with a diameter of about 0.508 mm is made at the end of the nozzle of the chamber 4 to supply flowing air around the end of the perforated capsule. Below the hole 6 is placed a sleeve 9, which is indirectly connected to the housing 1. At the end of the chamber, in the sleeve 9 there is a disk 11 provided with annular holes 12 and a central hole in which the needle element 7 positioned in the bracket 8 is located. The purpose of the disc 11 is to minimize back suction of the powder.

In the housing of the inhaler 14 from the bottom side there is a check valve 15 through which air can be supplied only in one direction to the center of the inhaler. On the inside of the valve 15 there is a housing 16 which counteracts blocking of the valve due to pressure on it with a finger.

According to Fig. 1, the bracket 8 is slidably disposed in a sleeve 9 provided with a collar 10 for holding the inhaler with your fingers. The guide sleeve 9 includes window sections 18, allowing free passage of air from the pear 14 to the sleeve 9. The bracket 8 is connected to the valve 15, the bead 17 of the bracket 8 enters the flange part, the sleeve 9 to keep the inhaler 14 under slight tension, in when the needle element 7 is retracted.

According to Fig. 2, the sleeve 20 is connected to the bracket 8 and the sleeve 9. The sleeve 20 comprises slots 21, which is supported by the stop collar 18 of the sleeve 9. During operation of the devices made according to Figs. 1 and 2, the protector 3 is removed and the capsule is introduced into the chamber 4 by means of the nozzle insert 2. The capsule inserted in the chamber is pierced by the pressure of the needle element through the bracket 8, connected to the pear (14).