Abstract:
An inhalation device for administering powered forms of medicament includes a mouthpiece connected to a first closable port suction chamber with at least one deformable wall separating a second chamber. First closable port having a throat is sealed with a cover and a structure for locating at least one medicament powder pouch and a means of exposing contents. A carousel to include a plurality of powder pouches arrayed radial and a device to index each before exposing contents before an exhaust port communicating before a second chamber is also described.

Description:
FIELD AND THE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     Inhalators have been part of medicine used to spray liquid and powered medicament orally for treating nose, throat and lung problems. Sprayed medicament that are sprayed into an inhaled air stream as seen in U.S. Pat. No. 6,866,037 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,712,070 have a much higher velocity than the inhaled air resulting in much of the medicament coats the back of the throat. It is absorbed into the system which is often undesirable. The powered medicament is aerated by turbulence created by inhaling the air through restricted passages, then carried to the lungs in the inhaled air stream. This back pressure slows the air intake and allows much of these, less than 20 Mcg dose, of micron size particles to coat the throat before the patient is able to accelerate the air stream. Another difficulty encountered is when the user must expand their lungs rapidly from rest while avoiding blowing into the inhalation device as this will cause a loss of medicament into the outside air. All of these problems and limitations of these present devices are exacerbated because the user has a respiratory disorder. As the users are often have poor eyesight along with having poor motor skills handling the small capsules is a very real problem of present devices. Other devices are not refillable and are a major cost driver to already expensive medicaments; others that contain fluorocarbon propellants will soon be banned from sale. A major disadvantage of prior art is: there is no means provided for the user to confirm that the inhalation device has properly dispensed the dosage as in U.S. Pat. No. 6,792,945.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     An inhalation device for administering powered forms of medicament includes a mouthpiece connected to a first closable port suction chamber with at least one deformable wall separating a second chamber having at least one port to allow outside air entry and at least one exhaust port to the first chamber. Closable port having a throat is sealed with a cover and a means for locating at least one medicament powder pouch and a means of exposing contents. A carousel is also described to include a plurality of medicament powder pouches arrayed radial and a mechamism to index each before exposing means. The cover is hinged to seal first chamber inlet port and also the exhaust of the second chamber is sprung to resist against a latch having a drawbar connected centrally to deformable wall. When adequate suction is applied by the user to first chamber and deformable wall has excursion into the first chamber by sufficient pressure differential, drawbar is urged to trip latch. Whereby, cover is sprung open covering intake port and exposing exhaust port provided in the second chamber. Thus second chamber becomes an air pump exhausting air into opened pouch mixing medicament powder into the stream of air rushing in to equalize the pressure of the first chamber. The user can inhale against the resistance of the mechanism and have inertia of the inhaling while feeling increased resistance just before the cover trips. The rush of air to the user is desirable psychologically and physically. The user can view the operational status of the inhalator by looking in the viewing window and see the indicator dial advance. As a further verification the carousel can easily be inspected visually. Although it is unlikely that medicament particles would remain after each cycle, the pouches continue to be exposed to the inhaled stream of air rushing by. A second inhalation device is operated by a pressure differential that trips a cover to open device. In a similar manual device a button is used to unlatch cover. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0003]      FIG. 1  is a sectional side view of a first inhalation device in a free state in accord with the present invention;  
         [0004]      FIG. 2   a  is a sectional side view of a first inhalation device in  FIG. 1 a  free state;  
         [0005]      FIG. 2   b  is a sectional side view of a first inhalation device in  FIG. 1  in an extended state;  
         [0006]      FIG. 3  is an end view of a first inhalation device;  
         [0007]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged sectional side view of a first inhalation device in a free state in accord with the present invention;  
         [0008]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged partial prospective view of a first inhalation device;  
         [0009]      FIG. 6  is an end view of a first inhalation device;  
         [0010]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged partial sectional side view of a first inhalation device in an extended state;  
         [0011]      FIG. 8  is an isometric partial view of a first inhalation device;  
         [0012]      FIG. 9  is a prospective view;  
         [0013]      FIG. 10  is an enlarged partial view of  FIG. 9 ;  
         [0014]      FIG. 11  is partial view of  FIG. 10  rotated slightly counter clockwise;  
         [0015]      FIG. 12  is a side view of a first inhalation device;  
         [0016]      FIG. 13  is a section end view of a first inhalation device;  
         [0017]      FIG. 14  is an isometric view of a medicament pouch carousel assembly;  
         [0018]      FIG. 15  is a section view of a inhalation device;  
         [0019]      FIG. 16  is an enlarged partial prospective view;  
         [0020]      FIG. 17  is an isometric view a second inhalation device;  
         [0021]      FIG. 18  is a mouthpiece end view of a second inhalation device;  
         [0022]      FIG. 19  is an intake end view of a second inhalation device;  
         [0023]      FIG. 20  is an oblique section view of a second inhalation device;  
         [0024]      FIG. 20   a  is an enlarged view;  
         [0025]      FIG. 21   a  is a section view in closed state;  
         [0026]      FIG. 21   b  is a section view in transition to open state;  
         [0027]      FIG. 21   c  is a section view in open state;  
         [0028]      FIG. 22  is a plan view of a second inhalation device;  
         [0029]      FIG. 23  is an enlarged partial view transition to open;  
         [0030]      FIG. 24  is an enlarged partial view closed;  
         [0031]      FIG. 25  is an enlarged partial button release; 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0032]      FIGS. 1, 2   a  and  2   b  show a first inhalation device I herein comprising an inhalator a first chamber housing  2  having a mouthpiece  4  commuting to first chamber  6  through strainer  8  and an annular rim  12  having a concentric seat face  10 . A second chamber housing  20  having a second chamber  21  is attached to the first chamber housing by snap fit mechanism  22 ,  23  providing a clamp fit and mostly sealed to elastic membrane  24  along flange  26 .  FIG. 2   a  shows a side section view of a first inhalation device I showing elastic membrane  24  in the relaxed state and enlarged section is seen in  FIG. 4  cover  30  in the second position with hinge  32  and connected to second chamber housing  20  through pivot pin  34  and latch mortise  36  restricting air flow through exhaust port  38  of latch draw bar  40  slidably located in slot  41  in a second chamber housing  20  with latch tongue  42  biased into latch mortise  36  by a compression spring  44  having rest  46 . Manual release  46  is given lineal clearance by slot  48  for a lineal freedom.  FIG. 5  is a partial view showing intake port  50  and torsion spring  52  under load by cover  30  in closed position. A plow  31  is seen protruding into undercut  110  of medication carousel  100 . A transfer bar  25  pivots a inside of housing.  
         [0033]      FIG. 2   b  is a section side view of a first inhalation device shown with a pressure differential resulting from a pressure resistively lowered though mouth piece  4  causing a negative pressure in a first chamber  6  while being partially equalized in second chamber  21  by entry of free air into intake port  50  pushing elastic membrane  24  in first chamber  6 .  FIG. 7  shows latch draw bar  40  ending with end pad  60  by means connected centrally to elastic membrane  24  is drawn with it a in direction of vector arrow  62  and being translated to urge latch draw bar  40  in direction shown by arrow  64  whereby latch tongue  42  is withdrawn from latch mortise  36  freeing cover  30  to a first position driven by torsion spring  52  thereby exposing exhaust port  38  to permit air flow from second chamber  21 . A curved vane  70  causes a vortex stream  74  of air being expelled from a second chamber  21  further being diverted by baffle ring  32  while a main body of inhaled air rushes in and draws vortex air stream  74  along.  FIG. 8  is an enlarged view showing exhaust port  38  and internal vane  70  to induce a turbulent air flow  39   
         [0034]      FIG. 9  is a first inhalation device  1  shown in full isometric view in the state of the cover  30  in second position showing view window  129  while  FIG. 10  is the same as  FIG. 11  in the condition with cover  30  pivoting to a first position. An escapement mechanism  120  comprising of gear  125  along with first drive paw  122 , second drive paw  124  which both are connected to cover  30  by first flexible shaft  126  and flexible shaft  128  respectively.  FIG. 11  is a partial view where medication pouch  152  is visible along with medication carousel  100  in place with snap mechanism  106 ,  108  retains insert  104 .  
         [0035]      FIG. 12  is a first inhalation device  1  shown in full side view and a side view  FIG. 13  is a section with first paw  122  on gear tooth  130  to rotate medication carousel  100  one half pitch in direction shown  126  when cover  30  unlatched. When cover  30  is by means closed to latch medication carousel  100  is rotated one half pitch by second paw  124  thereby providing escapement mechanism  120 .  
         [0036]      FIG. 14  is a medicament carousel assembly  105  in isometric view showing indicator notes  140  on medication carousel  100  along with medicament carrier  154  having radial spaced medicament containers  152  having rippable covering  158  and preferably removably located to surface  156  and medicament container  152  aligned to undercut  110  A transit protective shield  170  having radial blisters  159  is aligned to medicament containers  152 .  
         [0037]      FIG. 15  is a second inhalation device  200  shown in section while in suction state and plow  202  poised as shown. When cover  220  is by means closed plow  202  will rip open single pouch  230 . Second inhalation device  200  is manually released by  250 . Single pouch  230  is removably located by sliding in groove  254 .  
         [0038]      FIG. 17  is an isometric view of a second inhalation device  300  with body  310  including a mouth piece opening  320  and a inlet  324  closed by cover  326  having air duct  322  whereby operated by means to knob  328  showing instructions  340 .  FIG. 18  an end view showing partition screen  344  before mouthpiece  320 .  FIG. 19  is inlet end shown in an open state viewing air slot  350 .  
         [0039]      FIG. 20  is an oblique section view and enlarged view shows a medicament carousel  360  having radial gear tooth  362  and medicament carrier  364  with one or more medicament container packets  380 . Ratchet paw  370  is connected to flexure  376  providing stepped unidirectional turning. At least one tine  384  is arrayed along air slot wall  352 . Detent ball  392  in connected by flexure  394  to dial plate  396  providing a breakaway selector device  390  having one or more flexure  384  each with incremental stiffness values.  
         [0040]      FIG. 21   a  demonstrates a section of a closed inhalator showing cover  320  closely fit to the inside surface  410  of body  310  pivotally connected by pin  410  to body  310  and is closed using knob  328 . Said cover  320  is biased to rest along detent ball  392  by torsion spring  420 . Pressure is by means reduced through mouthpiece  320  resulting in a negative pressure in closed chamber  400 . When sufficient pressure differential with the assistance of torsion spring  420  to cause cover  320  to overcome detent  392  and pivot on pin  410  and pivot to a first position.  FIG. 21   b  shows cover  320  in transition to a first position and  FIG. 21   c  shows cover  320  at a first position permitting free flow of air  430 .  FIG. 22  is a plan view showing a second inhalation device  300  and medicament carousel  360  having dose indices  440  and breakaway indices  450 .  FIG. 23  is an enlarged partial view showing air flow  460  only through air duct  322  to air slot  350  thereby aerating medicament container  380 .  FIG. 24  is an enlarged view of cover  320  in a second position maintained by detent ball  392 .  FIG. 25  is an enlarged view of manual lever  496  having release bar  494  retaining cover  320  by dog  490 .