Inhalation device, inhalation set and use

INHALATION DEVICE, INHALATION SET AND USE

0002The invention relates to an inhalation device with which an inhalable substance present in a capsule can be inhaled. Furthermore, the invention relates to an inhalation set, which consists of inhalation device and capsule, and a use of the inhalation device.

0003Inhalers used with a container containing a single-dose powdered substance in a capsule or blister are known, with capsules offering the advantage of greater loading capacity over blisters consists of two half-shell elements, often of hollow cylindrical shapes with a hemispherical bottom, which are inserted into one another to close the shell, if necessary, the connection of the two half-shells is supported by a rib-groove arrangement or spring-groove arrangement.

0004The inhalation devices which can be used with a capsule usually have a dispersion chamber in which the powder contained in the capsule is released, with at least one air inlet opening and one air outlet opening. The air outlet opening is often shaped so that it can be received in the mouth or nose, so that upon inhalation of the user, an air flow is generated from the air inlets through the dispersion chamber to the air outlet opening. To open a capsule and to release the powder contained in the capsule for inhalation, the capsule is inserted into a capsule receptacle adjacent to the dispersion chamber, which is dimensioned so that one of the capsule halves protrudes into the dispersion chamber and the other capsule half is stuck in the capsule receptacle. The capsule halves are separated,

0005DE 197 42 994 B4 proposes for this purpose an inhaler, the dispersion chamber is formed by a hollow cylindrical body having on a closed base air inlets, a mouthpiece shaped air outlet, and the capsule receptacle, and at its open end by a rotatable in closed sleeve is closed. This sleeve has a stop element which is dimensioned and positioned in such a way that this stop element, upon rotation of the cylinder base, pushes off the capsule half projecting into the dispersion chamber so that these and the powder contained fall into the dispersion chamber. While remaining in the capsule holder Capsule half seals the dispersion chamber, prevents a grid in the mouthpiece that the other half of the capsule, which is loosely present in the dispersion chamber, exits during inhalation. US Pat. No. D514,698S likewise shows a hollow-cylindrical dispersion chamber, on the lateral surface of which a mouthpiece adjoins tangentially. The hollow cylindrical dispersion chamber is rotatably supported in a cylindrical sleeve portion of a housing body. The sleeve portion has a capsule receiving, which is aligned with an opening in the lateral surface of the dispersion chamber when the mouthpiece in a handle portion of the housing body is pivoted present. The capsule receptacle is also dimensioned here so that one capsule half protrudes into the dispersion chamber, while the other capsule half remains in the capsule receptacle. When swinging the mouthpiece from the handle portion and the associated rotation of the dispersion chamber by 90 °, the projecting into the chamber capsule half is separated and thus released the powder contained in the vortex chamber. If the mouthpiece is further swung open, an opening present in the lateral surface of the dispersion chamber is exposed, so that the separated capsule half can be removed from the dispersion chamber.

0006Both inhalation devices have the disadvantage that the capsule half remaining in the capsule holder is cumbersome to remove.

0007The inhaler known from WO 2013/004921 A1 has a device with which the capsule half which is inserted in the capsule receptacle can be pressed into the dispersion chamber. The multi-part inhaler has a substantially cylindrical body which defines a dispersion chamber and has on its lateral surface an air outlet with mouthpiece and tangential air inlets. At a first axial end portion of the cylindrical body, a thumbwheel is rotatably mounted, which has a capsule receptacle. On the side facing the knurling wheel, the cylindrical body has at least one profile structure for opening a capsule inserted into the capsule receptacle when the knurling wheel is rotated relative to the cylindrical body, so that the first capsule half falls into the dispersion chamber and the powder contained is released , The thumbwheel is covered with a lid having a corresponding opening with the capsule receptacle. In order to transfer the capsule half which is inserted in the capsule holder into the dispersion chamber, the lid has a circular arcuate profile facing the knurling wheel and the capsule holder in the knurling wheel has corresponding recesses therewith so that by further rotation of the thumbwheel the capsule half which is inserted in the capsule holder is pressed into the dispersion chamber by the arcuate profile of the lid. In this way, both capsule halves can be removed after inhalation at the second axial end portion of the cylindrical body, which is closed with a removable plug.

0008US 4,860,740 describes a capsule inhaler comprising a housing of a hollow cylindrical chamber with a mouthpiece tangentially connected thereto. A base of the hollow cylindrical chamber is designed to open the chamber and pivotally articulated to a portion of the lateral surface. In the hollow cylindrical chamber, a cylindrical capsule support member is arranged, in whose lateral surface are recesses which are dimensioned so that they can be penetrated by the capsule half with a smaller diameter and the capsule halves are held with a larger diameter in the radial direction. By rotation of the capsule carrier element, a capsule is in each case transferred to a release position, in which a fork-like gripping section, which is arranged on an extractor element, the outwardly facing capsule half can grip with a smaller diameter. When the extractor is raised, the outwardly facing capsule half is withdrawn to release the contents for inhalation. WO 20/110832 A1 describes an inhaler for capsules, which has two adjacent hollow cylindrical chambers, which are formed side by side in two articulated housing parts. In the housing parts air inlets are formed, which open tangentially into each chamber, and both chambers are connected via a tangential air passage with a mouthpiece shaped air outlet. See two chambers is formed in each housing part a web with a recess which is dimensioned so that a capsule is clamped or clamped. The webs with the recesses are staggered or angled, so that when a capsule is clamped with one half in the one recess, when closing the housing parts, the other capsule half is clamped in the other recess. To open the capsule both housing halves must be moved laterally against each other, wherein the capsule halves are pulled apart. The inhaler is only ready for inhalation when the housing halves are moved back to their basic position. Based on this prior art, it is an object of the present invention to provide a powder inhaler with an improved capsule opening mechanism, which is also inexpensive to manufacture with ease of installation and allows good handling and easy cleaning.

0009This object is achieved by a powder inhalation device with the features of claim 1.

0010Preferred embodiments are set forth in the subclaims.

0011Furthermore, a use of the inhalation device with the features of claim 10 is disclosed.

0012The further object of providing an inhalable set which is easy to use and inexpensive to produce is solved by the inhalation set having the features of independent claim 1.

0013A powder inhalation device according to the invention is intended for use with powder-containing capsules and has a single substantially hollow cylindrical dispersion chamber having on the lateral surface at least one air inlet and at least one air outlet, which opens into a mouthpiece or nosepiece which adjoins the cylindrical dispersion chamber followed. To open a capsule, the powder inhalation device has a capsule receptacle and a structure for opening the capsule received by the capsule receptacle. According to the invention, the hollow cylindrical dispersion chamber is formed by a reversibly openable and closable lateral surface section and a base part. The capsule receptacle is realized by one or more supports, which is present in the base part, while the structure for opening the capsule accommodated by the capsule receptacle is a fork structure which extends away from the lateral surface portion. The fork structure is dimensioned and positioned so that tines of a clevis at the free end of the fork structure in a transfer of the lateral surface portion from an open position to a position closing the base part are engageable with a resting on the support capsule, so that resting on the support Capsule is pressed by the clevis in its two halves, without the capsule shell is destroyed. For this purpose, the fork head of the fork structure has at least two prongs, with a gap formed between two prongs being shaped and which extends away from the lateral surface portion. The fork structure is dimensioned and positioned so that tines of a clevis at the free end of the fork structure in a transfer of the lateral surface portion from an open position to a position closing the base part are engageable with a resting on the support capsule, so that resting on the support Capsule is pressed by the clevis in its two halves, without the capsule shell is destroyed. For this purpose, the fork head of the fork structure has at least two prongs, with a gap formed between two prongs being shaped and which extends away from the lateral surface portion. The fork structure is dimensioned and positioned so that tines of a clevis at the free end of the fork structure in a transfer of the lateral surface portion from an open position to a position closing the base part are engageable with a resting on the support capsule, so that resting on the support Capsule is pressed by the clevis in its two halves, without the capsule shell is destroyed. For this purpose, the fork head of the fork structure has at least two prongs, with a gap formed between two prongs being shaped and that tines of a clevis at the free end of the fork structure in a transfer of the lateral surface portion from an open position to a base part closing position with a resting on the support capsule are engageable, so that resting on the support capsule by the clevis in its two halves is pressed without the capsule shell is destroyed. For this purpose, the fork head of the fork structure has at least two prongs, with a gap formed between two prongs being shaped and that tines of a clevis at the free end of the fork structure in a transfer of the lateral surface portion from an open position to a base part closing position with a resting on the support capsule are engageable, so that resting on the support capsule by the clevis in its two halves is pressed without the capsule shell is destroyed. For this purpose, the fork head of the fork structure has at least two prongs, with a gap formed between two prongs being shaped and is dimensioned so that the tines can enclose a capsule on both sides of its circumference. In this way, the capsule can not escape during the transfer from the open position into the closed arrangement when the corresponding connecting portion of the clevis between the prongs acts on the capsule.

0014The support could be arranged centrally, so that the capsule rests centrally with free ends, and the prongs (pairs) of the clevis are spaced apart so that they both sides of the free capsule ends next to the support engage and press down when closing the powder inhaler, until the capsule disintegrates into halves.

0015More advantageous, however, is an embodiment of the powder inhalation device in which the capsule receptacle in the base part is formed by at least two mutually spaced supports and the fork structure is dimensioned and positioned so that the fork head of the fork structure in the transfer of the lateral surface portion from the open position in the closed arrangement with the base part passes between the two spaced-apart supports.

0016The distance between the two spaced-apart supports depends on the length of the capsule to be inserted, which rests with its two ends on the supports, while the clevis acts on the center of the capsule to separate the capsule halves from each other. Not only does this opening mechanism allow the capsule shells to remain as such during the opening, but there is also no destructive crushing of the capsule, which could lead to splitting or deformation of the capsule shells, which could result in debris of the capsule sheath upon inhalation inhaled or powder remains in the deformed capsule halves.

0017In order to be able to open different capsule sizes in a powder inhalation device, it is also possible to provide a plurality of bearing pairs, wherein the most widely spaced bearing pair is arranged proximal to the fork structure, that is, furthest up in the base part. Narrowly spaced bearing pairs for smaller capsules may be located further down. If necessary, it may be provided that the fork structure on the lateral surface portion or the entire lateral surface portion with the fork structure is interchangeable, so that different shaped and dimensioned fork structures can be used, depending on the type and size of the capsule is that with the powder inhaler should be used. The air inlet or a plurality of air inlets of the powder inhalation device can be present on the lateral surface section or the jacket wall of the base part adjacent to the lateral surface section. Preferably, however, both the lateral surface section and the lateral wall of the base part have a plurality of air inlets, which preferably extend slot-like over the substantially entire width of the lateral surface. In order to achieve an advantageous air guidance in the dispersion chamber in order to optimally disperse the powder, the cross section of the air inlets may taper from the outside in, the narrowest cross-sectional position being defined by an air inlet edge protruding into the dispersion chamber, whereby not only the flow rate of air drawn through the air intakes when inhaled at the mouthpiece;

0018For this purpose, the air inlets can open into the dispersion chamber at an entry angle in the range of 45 ° to 85 ° with respect to the radius of the hollow cylindrical dispersion chamber. In this case, the largest possible entrance angles over 60 °, preferably over 75 °, ie, approximately tangential entry angles are preferred in order to achieve optimum vortex formation in the dispersion chamber. In this case, an inclination direction of the inlet angle of the air inlets with respect to the radius is selected so that there is at least one direction reversal of the air flow generated in the dispersion chamber. This increases the "residence time" and turbulence of the air flow in the dispersion chamber and prevents short circuit flows directly from the air inlets to the air outlet.

0019It can further be provided that air guide grooves are introduced into an outer surface of the outer surface portion and / or the jacket wall of the base part perpendicular to the slot-like air inlets. These air guide grooves can be arranged offset on adjacent air inlets over the width of the lateral surface. An alternative arrangement of air guide grooves may provide that at least one air guide groove is present at the air inlets of the base part or at the air inlets of the lateral surface portion, while at the two other air inlets - the lateral surface portion or the base part - at least two air guide grooves arranged offset thereto.

0020By the number of preferably slot-like air inlets, the airway resistance of the powder inhaler can be set or adjusted as desired. Due to the width of the gap, the flow velocity can be influenced and optimized. Due to the sophisticated air guidance, the separated capsule halves are set in motion during inhalation and the contained powder is released from the capsule halves. The turbulence of the air flow ensures a uniform distribution of the powder and the capsule halves swirling in the dispersion chamber grind up any powder agglomerates and thus act as predisagglomerators before the powder aerosol leaves the dispersion chamber and is inhaled by the user through the mouthpiece or nosepiece.

0021In a preferred embodiment, the powder inhalation device may be constructed so that the base part has the mouth or nose piece. In this case, the dispersion chamber is limited in the base part to the mouth or nose piece through a support wall in which there is at least one air outlet, which is fluidly connected to an outlet channel in the mouth or nose piece. The outlet channel may have cross-sectional changes with at least one constriction for air flow acceleration to prevent deposition of the transported powder, and at least one expansion that provides for a reduction in the flow rate and thus a spacer effect, whereby the active ingredient particles are evenly distributed in the air flow. In addition, or

0022In order to enable optimum opening of the capsule, the two spaced-apart supports of the capsule receptacle are formed by mutually aligned U-profile sections whose opening faces upwards to the opening formed by the apparent lateral surface section, so that a capsule is easy when the lateral surface section is open can be inserted. The opening of the U-profile sections is dimensioned to accommodate the ends of a capsule, possibly with a slight oversize, so that the capsule is indeed defined and immovable, but is not trapped. The opening of the U-profile sections can also, but need not, be formed semicircular according to the capsule ends.

0023Alternatively or additionally, each of the at least two mutually spaced supports have at least one support edge as defined support points of the capsule, which are matched to the points of application of the fork structure, in order to allow the capsule to be opened without any possible crimping. Depending on the configuration of the two mutually spaced supports, the supports for centering an inserted capsule can each be assigned to a side wall of the dispersion chamber spacers, which are aligned with a symmetry longitudinal axis of an inserted capsule.

0024For example, the U-profile sections preferably used as a support can be arranged on each side wall adjacent to the support wall.

0025In a preferred embodiment of the fork structure of a powder inhalation device according to the invention, the fork neck has a bend corresponding to a curvature of the support wall. For an improved opening action to open the capsule resting on the support advantageous crimp-free, the fork head four tines, so two pairs of tines, which form a near the support wall pair of tines and a remote tine pair, so that the clevis, the capsule on both sides of the connec - Formation level of their capsule halves encompasses almost half the circumference. These are a shape course, defines the Kapselumgriff and a distance between the near-wall pair of tines and the remote tine pair and a defined on both sides of the connection plane shape shape and distance of the two prongs of each pair according to the dimensions and materials of a einzulegenden capsule pre-determined. In other words, different fork structures may be provided for different capsule sizes and materials. For this purpose, differently designed powder inhalation devices can be provided. However, a powder inhalation device according to the invention can also be formed with an exchangeable fork structure or an exchangeable lateral surface section which comprises the fork structure. Different fork structures may be provided for different capsule sizes and materials. For this purpose, differently designed powder inhalation devices can be provided. However, a powder inhalation device according to the invention can also be formed with an exchangeable fork structure or an exchangeable lateral surface section which comprises the fork structure. Different fork structures may be provided for different capsule sizes and materials. For this purpose, differently designed powder inhalation devices can be provided. However, a powder inhalation device according to the invention can also be formed with an exchangeable fork structure or an exchangeable lateral surface section which comprises the fork structure.

0026In the present case, a fork head with four tines between tine pairs and forks are distinguished. A pair of tines consists of each of the near-wall or far away tines, while a fork consists of a near-wall and a distant tine prong. The tines of a pair of tines thus come on the same side of a capsule for engagement, while the tines of a fork enclose the capsule on both sides.

0027Depending on the size and material of the capsule, the opening effect can be improved by this fork structure is offset laterally with two pairs of tines from a central longitudinal plane of the Pulverinhalationsvorrichtung, so that a first fork from a near-wall and far wall prong closer to one of the side walls and a second fork from a wall - near and far away tine is arranged more spaced to the other side wall. The second fork can then be arranged, for example, near the central longitudinal plane.

0028A particularly good opening effect is achieved by a further preferred embodiment. Here, the shape of the curve, which is defined between the near-wall and far wall prong of one of the forks, to a certain lead portion longer than the shape curve, which is defined between the prongs of the other fork. In the embodiment with the offset from the central longitudinal plane fork structure then has the first, ie the side wall near the fork on the defined flow section. Optionally, not only the shape curve, but also the tines of the pairs may differ in their length.

0029The length of the flow section may be dependent on the capsule diameter and is usually less than 1 mm, preferably less than 0.5 mm, for example 0.3 mm, for common capsule sizes. With such a fork structure, the "leading" first fork earlier engages one of the capsule halves when the powder inhaler is closed before the second fork engages the other half of the capsule, thereby providing a bend line that allows the capsule halves to disperse reliably and non-destructively Capsule is squeezed and held by the first fork on a capsule half by a defined amount and nondestructive, before the second fork pushes the other capsule half away.

0030Alternatively or preferably in addition to assisting this effect, the support adjacent to the first fork may be raised about a shoulder which may correspond to the lead-in section opposite the support adjacent to the second fork. to the defined bruising of a capsule half in a rounded, z. B. elliptical cross-section, through which the separation of the other capsule half is facilitated with the second fork. Depending on the embodiment of the support, the support surface or, if present, the support edge, can be offset from the other support in accordance with the height of the lead-in section.

0031A capsule stored in a powder inhalation device according to the invention is not severed as in the prior art, but the two capsule halves are virtually pulled apart by the clevis at the connection plane. It only comes to a certain, not the capsule wall destructive crushing of the capsule, whereby the separation of the capsule halves is still supported. For reversibly opening and closing the powder inhalation device, the lateral surface section can be connected in an articulated manner to the base part. To facilitate opening and closing, the lateral surface portion may be a portion of a lid portion that also has a lever portion that joins the lateral surface portion distal to the hinged connection with the base portion. This lever section comes in the closed arrangement on the mouth or nose piece to the plant. In order to be able to better grip it for opening, the lever section at the distal end can have a recessed grip on its side facing the mouth or nosepiece.

0032Furthermore, the cover part can have guide elements and / or latching means, the guide elements being designed to guide the contact of the cover part on the base part during the transfer of the cover part with the lateral surface section from the open position into the closed arrangement with the base part. The latching means of the cover part can engage the cover part on the base part in the closed arrangement with corresponding counter-locking means, which are provided on the base part, so that a complete closing of the dispersion chamber is ensured and accidental opening of the dispersion chamber during use is reliably prevented. However, the holding force of the Rastmittelpaars is designed so

0033A powder inhalation device according to the invention may essentially have a whistle shape, the dispersion chamber corresponding to the resonance chamber. The powder inhalation device can be manufactured from plastics in a simple and economical three-part injection-molded manner, wherein a first part has the apparent lateral surface section - ie, it can only be the lateral surface section or preferably a cover part with lateral surface section. The base part is divided into two parts by separation along a longitudinal plane, wherein the two halves of the base part releasably, for. B. by means of Ras- elements, or insoluble, z. B. by gluing or welding, are interconnected. Unlike a conventional whistle shape, a powder inhalation device according to the invention may have a handle to prevent that a user accidentally obscures air intake openings while holding the inhalation device. The handle may, for example, extend from the base part adjacent to the dispersion chamber and optionally also be used as a capsule storage depot. In addition, the handle can be used to ensure that the whistle-sized powder inhaler, which equal to conventional powder inhalers is relatively small, can not be accidentally swallowed.

0034An inventive powder inhaler can be easily and inexpensively manufactured for all common capsule types and sizes. The three components are easy to assemble. For the user, the powder inhalation device is characterized by easy handling when inserting and opening a capsule and good cleaning after use - the empty capsule halves can be easily tipped out after opening the dispersion chamber, if necessary the dispersion chamber can also be filled with water or a cleaning agent. / Disinfect disinfectant solution.

0035Another embodiment of a powder inhaler according to the invention is designed for non-destructive opening of the capsule receptacle received by the capsule by a defined section. For this purpose, the tines of the fork head of the fork structure have a cutting blade or are designed as cutting blades. In this way, in particular capsules can be opened, the nested capsule halves are not held by a rib-groove arrangement or tongue and groove arrangement, but are welded or glued together. According to the invention, a powder inhalation device described above can be used either for non-destructive opening of a capsule with an inhalable substance by pulling the capsule halves apart or for defined non-destructive opening by cutting the capsule, so that the substance is provided for inhalation. Here, the capsule is placed after opening the lateral surface portion on at least one support in the base part and with the closing of the lateral surface portion, the fork structure, which extends from the lateral surface portion, engages with the resting on the support capsule, whereby the capsule is opened by separating the capsule halves by pulling apart or cutting apart, so that the substance contained in the capsule is provided for inhalation. Both the insertion of the capsule and its opening by closing the lateral surface portion and the removal of the capsule halves after use are very simple: The capsule halves can be easily dumped after reopening the lateral surface portion.

0036An inhalation set according to the invention consists of a powder inhalation device according to the invention and at least one capsule with an inhalable substance. Other embodiments as well as some of the advantages associated with these and other embodiments will become apparent and better understood by the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings. Items or parts thereof that are substantially the same or similar may be provided with the same reference numerals. The figures are merely a schematic representation of an embodiment of the invention.

0037Showing:

00381 shows a perspective view of an inhalation device according to the invention, FIG. 2 shows a further perspective view of the inhalation device from FIG. 1, here with the cover part open,

00393 is a side sectional view through the inhalation device of FIG. 2,

00404 is a side sectional view corresponding to FIG. 3, wherein the cover part is folded up to the engagement position of the fork structure, FIG.

00415 is a side sectional view corresponding to FIG. 3 with fully folded lid part,

00426 is a cross-sectional view of the base according to section line AA in Fig. 3,

00437 is a front view of the inhalation device of FIG. 1,

0044Fig. 8 rear view and side view of a lid part with a first variant of

0045Fork structure,

00469 rear view and side view of a cover part with a second variant of

0047Fork structure and

0048Fig. 10 rear view and side view of a lid part with a third variant of

0049Fork structure,

005011 is a cross-sectional view of the powder inhalation device along section line BB in FIG

00514,

0052Fig. 12 is a detail side view of a fork structure, the tines are designed as cutting blades, and

0053Fig. 13 is a detail side view of a fork structure having a cutting blade between the tines.

0054The device according to the invention relates to a powder inhaler which is designed to open a powder-containing capsule and to inhale the capsule contents. The inventions Powder inhalation device 1 according to the invention, as represented by an exemplary embodiment in FIGS. 1 to 7, not only facilitates simplified handling during insertion and opening of the capsule K (shown in dashed lines in FIG. 6) and during removal of the capsule halves and improved cleaning, but also has an improved air handling concept for optimal dispersion of the powder and thus improved inhalation of the powder. In addition, the powder inhalation device 1 is characterized by simple and cost-effective manufacturability and assembly.

0055The exemplified Pulverinhalationsvorrichtung 1 has a whistle form with a substantially hollow cylindrical dispersion chamber 2, when the lid member 20 is closed and abuts the base member 22, as shown in Fig. 1, 5 and 7.

0056The Pulverinhalationsvorrichtung 1 can be made in three parts by injection molding of plastic. The cover part 20 forms a first component with the lateral surface section 21, and the base part 22 is in two parts, as can be seen in FIG. The base part 22 is separated along a longitudinal plane in the two halves 22a, 22b, so that all three components can be well made by injection molding. To form the base part 22, the halves 22a, 22b are detachably or permanently connected to one another. The correct arrangement of the two halves 22a, 22b together can provide tongue and groove arrangements 22c. If appropriate, these can also be designed as latching connections and thus ensure not only the correct positioning of both halves but also their connection.

0057At least one of the components can be made of a transparent plastic, so that the user has insight into the dispersion chamber 2 for optical control of the inhalation.

0058Furthermore, the powder inhalation device 1 may have a handle 8 which extends from the base part 22 adjacent to the dispersion chamber 2. Unlike shown, it is conceivable that such a handle can also be designed as a capsule storage depot by the handle is made hollow and has at least one reversibly closable opening.

0059In the present example, the cover part 20, which closes off the dispersion chamber 2 with the lateral surface section 21, is hinged to the base part 22 by means of a hinge 28, so that the dispersion chamber 2 can be easily opened by pivoting the cover part 20, as shown in FIG and FIG. 3 is shown. In the embodiment shown in the figures, the cover part 20, in addition to the lateral surface section 21, also has a lever section 23 which adjoins the lateral surface section 21 distally to the hinge 28 and which rests on the mouthpiece 5 in the closed arrangement. In this case, the cover part 20 on the lever portion 23 on both sides arranged discs as guide elements 25 which abut in the closed arrangement on the side walls 29a of the base part 22 in the region of the mouthpiece 5. Next, the lid member 20 on the lever portion 23 on both sides arranged latching lugs 26, which occur when the lid member 20 on the base member 22 in the closed arrangement with corresponding recesses 27 in the side walls 29a of the base member 22 into engagement. In order to easily grasp the lid part 20 bearing against the base part 22 for reopening, a grip recess 24 is provided on the free end of the lever section 23 on the side facing the base part. To open a capsule, the base part 22 has a capsule receptacle in the form of two spaced-apart supports 6, which can receive a capsule, and from the cover part 20 extends in the lateral surface portion 21 a fork structure 7 with clevis 71, which has two pairs of tines, the so are dimensioned, shaped and spaced so that they can engage on both sides of a connecting plane of the capsule halves on the half-circumference of the capsule upon closing of the cover part 20 (see Fig. 4) between the two supports 6 on an inserted capsule (not shown in Fig. 4)

0060For inhalation of the powder, the user will take the mouthpiece 5, which adjoins the cylindrical dispersion chamber 2, in the mouth and inhale, so that air currents are generated, as shown in Fig. 5, which stir up and entrain the powder in the dispersion chamber 2, so that the user inhales the powder aerosol. Other than shown in the figures, the powder inhalation device 1 may also be formed with a nose piece, so that instead of a mouthpiece 5 with a flat oval cross-section 44 as seen in Figs. 2 and 7, rather a spout or a proboscis with a roundish cross-section for receiving in a nostril is formed. For simultaneous reception in both nose holes, two spouts or proboscis can be formed accordingly. For the particular air guidance, the powder inhalation device 1 has air inlets 3a, 3b, in the present example in each case three, both on the lateral surface section 21 and on the lateral wall 29b of the base part 22 adjacent to the lateral surface section 21, which, however, is in no way restrictive. The air inlets 3a, 3b can be seen in the present example, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, slit-like and extend substantially over the entire width of the lateral surface. The side cross-sections in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 show that the cross-section of the air inlets 3a, 3b tapers from outside to inside, the narrowest cross-sectional position being defined by an air inlet edge 32 projecting into the dispersion chamber 2, which, together with the entry angle α, β, with which the air inlets 3a, 3b open into the dispersion chamber 2 - provide a desired flow path into and through the dispersion chamber 2. Due to the cross-sectional taper in the air inlets 3a, 3b, thereby acting as nozzles, the incoming air streams L_e accelerated so that they enter the dispersion chamber 2 at high speed. The entrance angles α, β in the range of 45 ° to 85 ° with respect to the radius of the hollow cylindrical dispersion chamber 2 spanning the air inlets 3a, 3b are inclined with respect to the radius such that at least one direction reversal of the airflow Lw generated in the dispersion chamber 2 on the way to the air outlet 4 is present. Through the air inlets 3a, 3b, the air flows L_e As tangential as possible to flow into the dispersion chamber 2, so that the air flow Lw circulates before it leaves the dispersion chamber 2.

0061The air outlet 4 may also, as seen in Fig. 6, consist of a plurality of openings 4 provided in the support wall 43 and connected to an outlet passage 41 extending through the mouthpiece 5 (see Fig. 3). The narrow cross sections of the gap-shaped air outlets 4 likewise ensure an acceleration of the flow velocity and prevent the escape of larger particle agglomerates and the capsule halves. Thus, the gap-shaped air outlets 4 also have a deagglomeration function. Further provide in the outlet passage 41 changes in cross section with bottlenecks 41 a and widenings 41 b, which are designated in Fig. 4, for corresponding increases or decreases in the flow rates of the air flow, Further, as shown in Fig. 1, air guide grooves 31 may be provided in an outer surface of the lateral surface portion 21 and the lateral wall 29b of the base member 22 perpendicular to the slit-like air inlets 3a, 3b. In the present example, an air guide groove 31 can be seen on the air inlets 3b of the lateral surface portion 21 and two air guide grooves 31 offset thereto can be seen on the air inlets 3a of the base part 22.

0062The air guide and in particular the design of the air inlets 3a, 3b also allow acoustic feedback when correctly inhaled. Thus, when inhaling at the mouthpiece, a sound may be generated when a proper rate of inhalation is achieved and maintained.

0063In Figs. 2 and 3 it can be seen that the two spaced-apart supports 6 are formed by mutually aligned U-profile sections 61, which are arranged on the side wall 29 a adjacent to the Auflagerwand 43, and their opening upwards, in the closed arrangement to the lateral surface portion 21 has. The U-profile section 61 is shaped and dimensioned to receive the ends of a capsule K and has, as can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 6, a support edge 62 on its side remote from the side wall 29a. This means that a capsule does not rest on the bottom of the U-profile sections 61 but only on the support edge 62, so that the capsule halves can easily tip out of the supports after opening the capsule. Further, for centering an inserted capsule on each side wall 29a spacers 63 associated with the supports 6, which are aligned with a symmetry longitudinal axis of an inserted capsule K. The fork neck 73 of the fork structure 7 has a bend which, as can be seen in FIG. 4 and especially in FIG. 5, corresponds to a curvature of the support wall 43. The clevis 71 consists of four prongs 72, of which a pair of prongs 72a is close to the support wall 43 in the closed configuration, and the other pair of prongs 72b is referred to as the remote pair of prongs 72b.

0064The chosen shape courses and distances between the tines of a pair and between adjacent tines of the two pairs are dependent on the materials and - like the design of the support 6 - on the dimensions of a capsule to be inserted. This means that different types of capsules can be useful for opening different capsule types. As can be seen in particular from FIGS. 3 and 4, it may be advantageous that not only the bending of the fork neck 73 follows the curvature of the support wall 43, the alignment and shaping of the legs of the U-profile section 61 can follow this line, so that the Attack of the fork head 71, which is guided by the pivoting movement along a circular arc, exactly opposite to the bearing point on the support 6 takes place without the capsule can escape laterally and would be pressed against one of the legs of the U-profile section 61. Therefore, the prongs of the near-wall pair of tines 72 a, whose shape continues the curvature of the fork neck 73, longer than the prongs of the remote tine pair 72 b: Thus, a uniform attack on the capsule take place,

0065FIGS. 8 to 10 show cover parts 20 of a powder inhalation device according to the invention, respectively in rear view (left) and side view (right) with different fork structures 7.

00668 shows a first fork variant, as also shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, in which the fork structure 7 is arranged centrally with respect to a central longitudinal section plane and in the case of the R1 the rounded shape adapted to a capsule and distance between a near-wall prong 72a and a wall prong 72b, which form a fork. The distance between the tines 72a, 72b of the respective pair, or the distance between the forks, is defined so that the forks on both sides of a connecting plane of a to open the capsule to be opened. However, the distance of the forks should not be greater than 1/3 of the total capsule length,

0067Fig. 9 and 10 show variants in which the fork structure 7 offset from the central longitudinal plane is not centrally located. Although the shape curve R2 between the prongs 72a, 72b of the respective wall-proximate or wall-remote pair is shown rectangular, it can be rounded just as well as in FIG. Conversely, an angular shape curve for the fork structure variant from FIG. 8 is also conceivable.

0068The offset of the fork structure 7 from the central longitudinal plane leads to a different course of the force lines or bending lines occurring on the capsule. It depends on the capsule size and the capsule material, which of the variants, a central or an offset arrangement of the fork structure 7, a better opening effect.

0069A third variant of the fork structure 7 is shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. In this variant, the fork is "fed" from a near-wall and far wall prong 72a ', 72b', which is arranged closer to the (in Fig. 11 right) side wall 29a of the base member 22 by the offset from the central longitudinal plane M. D. That is, the shape course R1 'defined between the prongs 72a', 72b 'is longer than the shape course R1 between the prongs 72a, 72b of the second fork by a lead-in section v. As shown in FIG. Here, the corresponding U-profile section 61 '- be increased by an amount v, which corresponds to the lead section v. Not shown are variants in which only the shape curve R1' or only the support 6 have this "lining", or variants,

0070Further, this opening mechanism can be assisted when the capsule is inserted in a preferred orientation in which the capsule half, which is arranged at the connection level with the other capsule half inside, is placed on the padded support or the pad associated with the padded fork. For this purpose, for example, color or other markings can be provided which show the user the insertion orientation.

0071The fork structure variant with one-sided feeding is shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 only in the case of a fork structure 7 offset from the center longitudinal plane. However, according to the invention it is also provided that centrally arranged fork structures 7, as shown in FIG. 1 8 to 8, may also have a lining, that is to say a single-sided advance section and / or a raised shoulder on the (associated) support.

0072Although the fork structures in the examples presented with the figures each have a fork head with two pairs of prongs (double fork) - the invention as described by the following Schutzanspis defined, but is by no means limited to such a clevis. A clevis of a powder inhaler according to the invention may also have only one pair of prongs (single fork), which can be arranged centrally with one prong on each side of the capsule periphery directly on the connecting plane of an openable capsule attack. The capsule is then pressed on contact by the connecting portion of the clevis between the tines. However, other alternatives are conceivable: in a three-pronged clevis, a central prong may face two spaced tines from the center defined by the joint plane of the capsule so that the capsule is on one side of the central prong and on the other side is bordered by the two spaced tines.

0073Finally, FIGS. 12 and 13 show variants of the fork structure which are designed to cut a capsule arranged on the support. In Fig. 12, the inner edges of the prongs 72a, 72b are formed as a cutting blade 75. As shown, this cutting blade 75 can follow the entire shape progression, but variants are also conceivable in which only sections of the shape course are formed as blades. FIG. 13 shows a variant in which the prongs 72a, 72b have a cutting blade 80. Here, the cutting blade 80, for example made of metal, between the prongs 72a, 72b are used, but it is also conceivable that the cutting blade 80 is injected during the manufacturing process of the lid part.

0074For this variant of a powder inhaler is in principle a fork of two prongs sufficient, which have the cutting blade or which are formed as a cutting blade. But it is also conceivable that a fork structure may have two forks with cutting blades, so that a capsule is cut into three parts. Further, a fork structure is conceivable in which a fork is formed without cutting blade for holding a capsule half, while a second fork with cutting blade (s) cut through the capsule by a cut. By this embodiment, in particular capsules can be opened, which are cohesively connected by welding or gluing together. However, it is not excluded that also positively or non-positively connected capsules can be opened by a fork structure with cutting blades.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

00761 powder inhaler 5 mouthpiece

00772 dispersion chamber 6 capsule supports

007820 lid part 6 'set (fed)

0079In stock

008021 lateral surface portion 61 U-profile section

008122 base part 61 'fed U-

0082profile section

008322a, b, c right and left half, groove 62 support edge

0084Spring assembly

008523 lever section 63 spacers

008624 recessed grip 71 clevis

008725 guide element 72a, b wall near and far away

0088prong

00896 latching nose 72a ', b' leading wall near and far wall tines

00907 detent recess 73 fork neck

00918 hinge 75 trained cutting blade

009229a, b Sidewall, shell wall 8 Gripping aid

00933a, 3b air inlets 80 inserted cutting blade

009431 air guide grooves

009532 leading edge R1, RV Shape and distance between wall-close and wall-distant

0096Tines (leading)

0097Air outlet R2 Shape and distance between the tines of a pair 1 outlet channel α, β inlet angle

00981a, b constriction, expansion M midplane

00992 deagglomeration structure V flow

01003 support wall K capsule

01014 outlet cross-section