Abstract:
A dispenser ( 1 ) has two remote pressure handles ( 29, 35 ) and lateral gripping recesses ( 58 ) for mutually displacing two units ( 2, 3 ) axially and rotationally. A tear-off web ( 52 ) prevents the two units ( 2, 3 ) from being actuated accidentally. A discharge stud ( 34 ) protrudes beyond the handles ( 29, 35, 58 ). The dispenser ( 1 ) is so small that it may be fully enveloped and covered by one user&#39;s hand. Nevertheless reliable actuation for nasal application is assured.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a dispenser for discharging flowable or other media which may be gaseous, pasty or liquid, preferably powdery. On dispensing the dispenser is held and simultaneously operated single-handedly. The medium is hauled by suction or inhalation. Thereby the pharmaceutical active substance contained therein may be inhaled or deposited on the mucous membrane of the patient&#39;s nose. The dispenser may be made entirely of injection-molded or plastics parts. 
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     An object is to provide a dispenser which obviates the draw-backs of known configurations. Another object is to permit microvolumetrical delivery. A further object is to provide a miniature dispenser, which i.e. can be single-handedly clasped and therewith entirely enveloped or covered. Still another object is to provide a dispenser which is simple to manufacture, assemble, handle, keep, or the like. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to the invention the dispenser is suitable for accommodating a blister pack comprising exclusively two store chambers. The deep-drawn store cups and a deck plate thereof are made of a transparent plastics film or of a metal foil such as aluminum. The cup walls are substantially thinner than the foil deck, the thickness of which is less than half a millimeter. The cup openings are hermetically sealed by a film of plastics or metal foil, such as aluminum, which is thinner as compared to the cup and deck. The planar sealing film or foil is thermoplastic-welded to the planar deck. The sealing foil forms in a knurled pattern protuberances which in forming corresponding indents are undetachably melted to the deck. Beyond the deck&#39;s rear side only the cups protrude, thus lending themselves to good support. The clearance between the cups is at least 1.5 times larger than the cup diameter which is greater than the cup depth. The axes spacing between the cups is less than 30 mm or 25 mm. 
     The dispenser has lateral external depressions or a waisting enabling each base body to be reliably gripped between thumb and index finger, e.g. when setting or twisting one base body relative to the other. Such depressions also form the remote pressure faces for axially shortening the dispenser. 
     The store cup is directly supported with respect to the base body with zones adjoining its margin rim with its outer circumference or with its bottom. Thus its positioning is precise. Thereby too the cup is protected against damage by support and shielding. 
     To precisely rotationally orient the two base bodies and the store body or blister pack relative to each other a snap connection or a resilient catch is provided. This latch acts likewise in the various mutual axial positions of these three bodies. The catch members may also overcomeably lock in one or more mutual axial positions of the three bodies. Each latched position is prevailable by a correspondingly high twist or axial input force. Apart from the locked positions the bodies are difficult to be mutually twisted due to increased friction. In the locked position yet a slight and more easily mobile rotative play is provided. 
     The initial or rest position for actuation lies between the rotation permitting position and the actuated end position. A latch needs to be overcome to transfer from the rest position to the rotation permitting position. This latch may be formed by mutually overlapping rims of the base bodies. In the rotation permitting position a captive stop prevents withdrawal. By exerting an increased force this stop too, namely a snap connection, is overcomeable to permit mutual separation of the base bodies. When moving from the rest position to the end position no latching resistance has to be overcome, but merely the rupture resistance of the foil seal and the frictional resistance between the base bodies. In this end position a freely protruding discharge stud is at least as long as the remainder of the dispenser. 
     The dispenser is tamper-proof to the extent that although a blister pack is to be inserted without altering or ruining the tamper-proof safeguard, the blister pack cannot be then opened. The safeguard fully surrounds a rim of that base body which externally overlaps. The safeguard is in dust-tight contact with this rim which does not overlap the other body in the latched position. Thus these bodies can be instantly mutually twisted without mutual axial motion once the safeguard has been detached. When the base bodies are then mutually perpendicularly oriented the blister pack or its reception is then freely visible. This is also the case when one of the two base bodies is made of a transparent or translucent material. 
     The blister pack is safeguarded from being extracted axially by positively acting means which can only be overcome by exerting an increased manual force. This safeguarding for firstly the blister pack and for secondly mutually the base bodies act independently of each other and of the tamperproof safeguard. 
     Including each of the cited safeguarding means and without the blister pack the dispenser comprises only two one-part components. No return spring is needed for mutually moving the components. Reference is made to the German patent application 197 04 849.8 (=PCT/EP 9800311) in including the features and effects thereof in the present invention. 
     The described or another dispenser is suitable for receiving and storing biological active substances over several weeks, months or years. These may be physiologically active substances such as hormonal active substances and/or active substances containing breakdown or fission products such as peptides from proteins. Such biological information transmitters when containing amino acids or other similar active substances may be highly sensitive to moisture. Therefore the substances are thus held in the dispenser in a pressure-proof or sealed chamber. This chamber is not opened until immediately before being discharged from the dispenser, e.g. by destroying a seal. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Example embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail in the following and illustrated in the drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective illustration of the dispenser according to the invention, 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded sectional view of the dispenser, 
     FIG. 3 is a view of the one base body as seen from above 
     FIG. 3 a  is an enlarged detail view of an end portion of FIG. 3, 
     FIG. 3 b  is detail sectional view taken in the plane indicated by line  3   b — 3   b  in FIG. 3 a,    
     FIG. 4 is a view of the other base body as seen from below 
     FIG. 5 is a view of the blister pack as seen from above 
     FIG. 6 is an exploded view in perspective of a further embodiment, and 
     FIG. 7 is an exploded view in perspective of a third embodiment 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The dispenser  1  has two units  2 ,  3  to be translated without mutual rotation from a rest position (FIG. 1) to an end position with the dispenser  1  shortened. Without simultaneous change in length units  2 ,  3  are mutually rotatable in the rest position over more than 360°. First unit  2  consists of only a beaker-type base body  2  and a blister pack or store body  6  located totally therein. Second unit  3  consists of only a base body  5 . Each base body  4  or  5  is in one part. 
     Dispenser  1  serves to accommodate only two separate dosages of the medium to be discharged one after the other and held in separate blisters or stores  7 . The volume of cup  7  is more than four, six or eight times greater than the medium contained therein. On discharge, the medium flows through store  7  directly in a straight outlet duct  8 , the circular disk-shaped cross-sections of which continually increase at an acute angle in the flow direction. Its outer end forms the medium outlet  9  and has a diameter of at least 3 mm or 5 mm, as compared to which the largest cup width is greater but smaller than 2.5 and 1.5 times the said diameter. On discharge, duct  8 , outlet  9  and the one store  7  have a common axis  10  oriented parallel to the setting axis  11 , to the discharge direction  12  and to the actuating direction  13 . The center or symmetry axis of units  1  to  6  is located in two planes of symmetry oriented at right angles to each other, to which the setting or rotation direction  14  is oriented at right angles. 
     Each store  7  comprises a dished store cup  15 , the planar opening of which is sealed off pressure-hermetically by a store closure  16 , namely a planar blister diaphragm. The spherically domed cup bottom  17  translates smoothly into a store jacket  18  which is conically acutely flared toward the store opening. Shell  18  translates directly into the planar deck plate  19  which is totally covered by the closure  16  adhesively connected thereto. 
     Between the integral stores  7  the deck  19  is traversed by a support body  20  which is telescopic and comprises only two parts. Cups  15  are radially spaced from the hollow or tubular support body  20 , the outer circumference of which is formed by a freely protruding projection  21  of body  4 . Rim  22  of deck  19  is supported on all sides by an inner support shoulder  23  of body  4 . Between stores  7  the deck  19  is supported along a central opening by a ring shoulder of the mandrel or spigot provided by projection  21 . Thus the micro-thin cups  15  are positionally locked with zero clearance when its corresponding chamber  24  is emptied. When body  6  is separated, the walls of the store cups  15  and the deck  19  are bendingly flexible or elastic. 
     In plan view body  4  forms an oblong cap  25  including an outermost jacket  26  and a bottom  27 . Each cup  15  is spaced from both walls provided by jacket  26  and bottom  27 . Relative to the open, planar end face of the shell formed by jacket  26  the support face or shoulder  23  is countersunk by at least twice or maximally five or four times the thickness of deck  19 . In the common axial plane  60  of axes  10 ,  11  projection  21 , jacket  26  and bottom  27  are stiffened by ribs  28  adjoining them directly. The free rib edges are coplanar with support shoulder  23  and likewise support deck  19 . Each member  28  has a recessed reception  62  which is spaced from and located between the shell provided by projection  21  and the jacket  26 . Bottom support or reception  62  is snugly adapted to the outer shape of cup  15  and thus provides direct strip-shaped support for the zones provided by cup bottom  17  and store jacket  18 . 
     On inserting store body  6  it is the central opening in deck  19  that first engages the centering end of projection  21 . Thereafter deck  19  and both cups simultaneously engage support shoulder  23  and reception  62 . Thereby a safeguard  63  is activated in positively preventing body  6  from lifting off by its weight from support shoulder  23  and reception  62  when unit  2  is turned upside down. Safeguard  63  has snap projections on the inner circumference of the rim of jacket  26 . These projections  63  protrude beyond support shoulder  23  and can radially resiliently shunt when rim  22  is held without motion play between projections  63  and support shoulder  23 . Thereby body  6  does not protrude beyond the opening of jacket  26 . 
     Body  6  is prevented from rotation relative to body  4  not only by contacting the inner circumference of jacket  26  but also by engaging projection  21 . Therefore the opening in deck  19  deviates in shape from circular. This shape includes a circle with two opposing flats or with counterdirectional cut-outs. The insertion end of projection  21  is complementarily adapted to this shape. The outside of wall  27  and projection  21  commonly form a recessed actuating handle  29 . Projection  21  adjoins in one part only to the inside of wall  27 . Actuating handle  29  is concave and extends up to the outsides of both length sections of jacket  26 . Thus handle  29  can be centeringly supported on the side of the last joint of the user&#39;s index finger beyond which both store places then freely protrude. 
     Support body  20  provides a connection or plug reception simultaneously forming the central telescopic connection between bodies  4 ,  5 . Support body  20  is totally concealed from outside in every relative position of bodies  4 ,  5 . Support body  20  serves as a permanent rotational bearing  30 , as a plug connection between bodies  4 ,  5  and for their mutual axial guidance on actuation. Body  5  forms a cap  31  likewise oblong parallel to plane  60 . Shell  32  of cap  31  protrudes from end wall  33  counter jacket  26  toward wall  27 . The inner circumference of shell  33  is closely adapted to the outer circumference of jacket  26 . The free end face of projection  21  abuts on the inside of end wall  33  at the stroke end. Then slots or respective suction ducts  55  are free between the insides of walls  32 ,  33  and the outsides of the walls provided by jacket  26  and support deck  19 . Suction ducts  55  guide ambient air flowing radially toward axis  10  in a jacket flow about chamber  24 . Then the air is led into chamber  24  in direction  13 . From here the air entrains the medium back in direction  12  and directly out of opening  9 . Suction may also occur through support body  20  or bearing  30  and thereby be variably throttled by the cited user&#39;s finger, since the passage of projection  21  traverses wall  27  only in the vicinity of handle  29 . 
     Shell  32  and end wall  33  transit into a discharge stud  34 . Stud  34  freely protrudes in direction  12  beyond the planar portion of wall  33  by more than the length of shell  32 , e.g. by at least 1.5 or 2 times thereof. On both sides of plane  60  and on its side remote from wall  33  the outer shell  38  of stud  34  transits directly into shell  32  by an arc angle of at least  1800  or more without any intermediate shoulder. With the outside shell  38  transits into wall  33  concavely curved. There shell  38  forms a deepened actuating handle  35  axially congruent with handle  29 . Handle  35  has projections enhancing the grip and serves to support the user&#39;s thumb tip which can simultaneously support on wall  33  and on the outer circumference of stud  34 . A bearing mandrel  36  protrudes from the inside of wall  33  and is closely adapted to the inner circumference of projection  21 . Arbor  36  extends up to handle  29  in the actuated end position. 
     Handle  29  supports on the user&#39;s middle finger and the handle  35  supports on the thumb of the same hand. Thus this hand&#39;s index finger can support on the outer circumference of stud  34 . Thereby the dispenser  1  can be reliably oriented. Arbor  36  protrudes beyond the end of shell  32  and is surrounded by the stop for projection  21 . Thus, on closing the housing provided by caps  25 ,  31  firstly its mandrels respective projection  21  and arbor  36  interengage. Body  6  may also be first plugged on arbor  36 . On closing the casing body  6  is automatically slipped over projection  21  due to inclined faces involved on closure of the housing. Projection  21  and arbor  36  freely protrude counterdirectionally. 
     Stud  34  also has an inner shell  37  freely protruding counter direction  13  up to the open end face of cap  31 . Shell  37  has a wall thickness steadily reduced in direction  13  up to its inner end. The outer end of shell  37  adjoins in a ring zone and in one part the outer end of shell  38 . This ring zone bounds outlet  9 . Tube  37  bounds duct  8  and is free of contact with shell  38  except for the ring zone. At its outer circumference tube  37  has four axial ribs  39  circumferentially uniformly distributed. Ribs  39  are located in axial planes inclined at an angle of 45° to plane  60 . Ribs  39  do not adjoin the inner circumference of shells  32 ,  38 . The length of stud  34  above end wall  33  is at least as great as the spacing between handles  29 ,  35  when in the shortened end position. The annular end face of stud  34  is rounded at its outer circumference with a radius greater than that at its inner circumference. 
     Both store chambers  24  are commonly closed by foil  16  totally covering deck  19 . For opening, the free end of tube  37  forms a rectangularly conical tool  40 . The tool spike  41  transits into diverging webs  42  which adjoin the end face of tube  37  in the middle between ribs  39 . Between adjacent parting members  42  in each case a port  44  of a duct inlet  43  is located. In the shortened end position cup  15  is totally out of contact with parts  37 ,  40 . Air drawn in via the paths or suction ducts  55  enters via the annular duct between shells  18 ,  37  into chamber  24  where it forms a roller swirl to flow from the swirl directly into duct  8 . Air may be drawn in through outlet  9  also in the rest position, i.e. before tool  40  has opened seal  16  of the associated chamber  24 . After opening the webs with spike  41  dip partly into the medium. Thereby spike  41  can urge cup bottom  17  against face  62 . 
     The free end of arbor  36  forms radially resilient tongues  45  since its shell is traversed in plane  60  by two opposed openings  46 . Spring ends provided by tongues  45  are located on both sides of plane  60  and each have at the outer circumference a protruding cam  48  to which a counter-member or stop  47  is coordinated. The inner circumference of projection  21  has stops  47  which are spaced from and located between the ends of projection  21 . Stop  47  is a bottom projection of an axial groove  57  and located between this groove&#39;s ends. Groove  57  extends up to both ends of projection  21 . Such grooves  57  with stops  47  may be mutually opposed on the inner circumference of projection  21  or on one side only. In the rest position the individual cam  48  abuts on the associated stop  47  to thus form a captive lock or catch  48 ,  57  against withdrawal. Thereby tongue  45  is non-tensioned and cam  48  has a minor rotative play. Thus also in the rest position an anti-rotation safeguard is provided. 
     When subjected to a sufficiently high withdrawal force cam  48  and tongue  45  are commonly urged radially inwards on an inclined face of stop  47 . Thus bodies  4 ,  5  can be totally separated. Body  6  can then be removed and replaced by a filled one. As soon as arbor  36  has attained projection  21  on assembly the anti-twist safeguard  47  begins to be effective. On further insertion the cam  48  automatically hurdles cam  47 . When bodies  4 , 5  are rotated out of orientation in the rest position, the free ends of jacket  26  and shell  32  have a minimal gap spacing from each other permitting mutual contact. On rotation cam  48  slides over the side flank of groove  57  while tongue  45  resiliently flies radially inwards. Cam  48  then slides with increased friction on the inner circumference of projection  21  until it, respectively the other cam  48 , snaps into the one or the other groove  47 . An inner ring shoulder of projection  21  axially locks cam  48 , even in any rotational position, but axially withdrawable when the force is increased. 
     To thwart tamper, means  49  are provided which although enabling the locks  47 ,  48 ,  57  to engage as well as the housing parts  25 ,  31  to be separated, block any section of the working stroke or mutual rotation of bodies  4 ,  5 . Therefore the opposed ends of jacket  26  and shell  32  are commonly closely surrounded by a flexible tag or tear-off web  52 . Web  52  is in one part with inner jacket  26  and has a slight gap, spacing from both shells  26 ,  32 . This gap is bridged by rupture members including nominal breaking points  51  directly at the curved outer circumference of shell  26 . Each rupture member is reduced in width and thickness toward its point  51 . Eight such members  51  are circumferentially evenly distributed. On being broken members  51  part smoothly and directly from the slightly widened outer circumference of shell  26 . On this circumference the inner circumference of shell  3  is then able also to slide without obstruction at the break point. In a convexly curved section, tag  52  is provided on its outside with an axial slot or grip gap which is covered by an angle projection  64 . The engagement of a finger nail in the gap and under the hook  64  permits the breaking open of member  52  at this location and the peeling of it circumferentially entirely off. The forcible rotating of bodies  4 , 5  also results in the bursting off of member  52 . 
     Axial actuation can be blocked in the rest position or the like by means  50  which are overcomeable by an increased pressure force. Directly after releasing these means  50  permit a significantly easier displacement. Therefore the open rim of shell  32  slides by an inner bevel  53  on the counter rim of shell  26 , thereby resiliently widening shell  32 . In further action spike  41  pricks seal  16 . Only thereafter and after inlet  43  has penetrated ribs  39  with their end edges  54  further slit open seal  16 . 
     Walls  26 ,  37 ,  32 ,  33  are circularly curved by more than 180° on both sides of axis  11  and about axes  10  of stores  7 . Therebetween these walls are throated or waisted concavely. Thus concave recesses or setting handles  58  are formed on the outsides of shells  26 ,  32 . The arc radius of each recess  58  is greater than the radius of curvature about axis  10 . Recesses  58  constantly extend between and up to both handles  29 ,  35 . Handles  58  permit reliable holding of dispenser  1  on rotating and opening or closing bodies  4 ,  5 . Handle  58  forms a projection  59  at the inside of shell  32 . Projection  59  can be slightly nearer to plane  60  than the associated portion of shell  26 . The thus formed cam  59  then effects the trigger or pressure point of control  50  since cam  59  must resiliently flex radially outwards. Cams  59  are located in a middle or axial plane  61  of axis  11 . Plane  61  is perpendicular to plane  60 . In plane  61  also cams  48 , locks  47 ,  57  and handles  29 ,  35  are located. Deck  19  too, has the cited waisted shape. 
     For putting to use, dispenser  1  is opened, a blister unit  6  inserted in body  4  and then body  5  is again axially put on body  4  until members  47 ,  48  snap in place. Now—or prior—member  52  is torn off. In overcoming the trigger point of control  50  bodies  4 ,  5  are compressed. Thereby spike  41  punctures seal  16  of one of both chambers  24 . Before or after that stud  34  is introduced into a nostril. By inhaling through this nostril air is drawn in via the inlet opening  56  and passages  55 . This air entrains the powder from chamber  24  while flowing free of any valve from inlet  56  to outlet  9  and into the nostril. After this, stud  34  is removed from the nostril and by gripping handles  58  bodies  4 ,  5  are manually pulled away from each other into their rest position. Bodies  4 ,  5  are then mutually twisted in direction  14  through 180°. Thus the second chamber  24  is in-line with stud  34 . In the same way as in the first instance the medium is then delivered from this chamber  24  into the other nostril. Thereby control  50  is likewise effective. 
     In FIG. 6 shells  26 ,  32  of bodies  4 ,  5  are cylindrical and each directly mutually guided solely by their circumferential faces. Stud axis  10  is eccentric to axis  11  of the shells  26 ,  32 . Therefore blister holders  62  are directly adjacent, except for a gap spacing, without a bearing inbetween. 
     In FIG. 7 reversing axis  11  is transverse or perpendicular to axis  10 . Axes  10 ,  11  may intersect. Cylindrical body  4  has on each of its two remote end faces a store place  62  for receiving an individual store. After discharge from the first individual store body  4  is totally released from body  5 , reversed about its transverse axis  11  and reinserted into body  5  for discharging the second individual store. Body  5  or its shell  32  does not radially protrude beyond stud  34  while being coaxial. Shell  32  may have a length slot for the protruding engagement of handle  58  of body  4 . 
     The proportions as illustrated are particularly favorable. It will be appreciated that all features of any one embodiment may be included in any other embodiment by being added thereto or combined therewith. The cited properties and effects may be provided precisely as described, or merely substantially or approximately so and may also greatly deviate therefrom depending on the particular requirements. 
     Means are included for preventing low grade discharge of the medium during breaking through or entirely opening closure  16  with tool  40 . These means may prevent air flow or compressive action into chamber  24  due to constricting the casing chamber commonly bounded by units  2 ,  3  or bodies  4 ,  5  by providing a temporary bypass for such flow apart from chamber  24 , opening  9 ,  44  or ducts  8 ,  55 ,  56 . The bypass may include escape orifices like slots directly traversing at least one of the casing chamber&#39;s walls  26 ,  27 ,  29 ,  32 ,  33 ,  35 ,  37 ,  38 . The orifices directly connect the casing chamber with the environment and commonly define a smallest passage cross-section bigger or flow resistances respective duct lengths smaller than the passage cross-section or flow resistances respective duct lengths of duct  55 ,  56 . The means also may include a temporary addition closure for closing the opening of chamber  24 , duct  8  or outlet  9 . Means may be included for automatically closing escape orifices or for initially closing and subsequently opening the additional closures at the end of the opening stroke section and by the manual actuating force effecting the stroke motion. only after the opening stroke then stud  34  is to be inserted into the nostril.