Inhalation device

Actuator for an inhaler for delivering medicament by inhalation, having a mouthpiece for guiding medicament to the mouth of a user; and a removable protection cap for the mouthpiece. The cap is secured to the mouthpiece by a cap retaining member that engages a mating recess in the mouthpiece outer periphery. The cap includes at least one release button arranged to provide an elastic deformation of the cap inner periphery that disengages the cap retaining member from the recess.

The present invention relates to an actuator for an inhaler for administering medicament by inhalation and to an inhaler including the same.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

For some time, actuators have been known for delivering metered doses of medicament from aerosol canisters. Conventionally, these actuators comprise a tubular member for receiving a canister containing medicament; a mouthpiece for guiding medicament to the mouth of a user. In order to prevent dust etc. from entering the mouth piece when the actuator is not used, the actuator further may comprise a removable protection cap for the mouthpiece. The actuator, except for the protection cap, can be comprised of a single integral moulding in plastic material, or an assembly of two or more parts. It is of great importance that the protection cap is reliably attached to the mouth piece, to prevent dust or foreign particles etc. being collected within the inhaler and contaminating the inhaler at worst being inhaled or blocking the delivery channel. Therefore it is important to maintain cleanliness of the inhaler. However, it is of equal importance that the protection cap is simple to remove, so that any patient, for example, a physically impaired patient, is able to remove it and use the inhaler without hindrance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an aim of the present invention to provide an actuator, with an improved protection cap for the mouth piece.

Accordingly, the present invention provides an actuator for an inhaler for delivering medicament by inhalation, comprising a mouthpiece for guiding medicament to the mouth of a user; and a removable protection cap for the mouthpiece, wherein the cap is secured to the mouthpiece by a cap retaining member that engages a mating recess in the mouthpiece outer periphery, and wherein the cap comprises at least one release button arranged to provide an elastic deformation of the cap inner periphery that disengage the cap retaining member from the recess.

According to one embodiment, the section of the cap inner periphery comprising the retaining member encloses the outer periphery of the mouthpiece in a close mating relationship, and the release button is comprised of a transverse section of the cap inner periphery that is spaced apart from the mouthpiece outer periphery.

Preferably, the cap comprises at least two buttons, and in the disclosed embodiment, the cap comprises two diametrically arranged release buttons. In order for the cap to be easy to remove it is suitable to provide it with two diametrically arranged release buttons as is disclosed inFIGS. 1 to 6.

According to one embodiment, the mouthpiece is comprised of an ovoid tubular section, wherein the retaining member is arranged about the minor axis, and the release buttons are arranged about the major axis. Preferably, the cap comprises an essentially ovoid mating section with bulged sections about the major axis forming the release buttons.

The present invention also extends to an inhaler comprising the above-described actuator and a canister containing medicament.

Preferably, the inhaler is a pressurised metered dose inhaler.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The inhaler comprises an actuator, which comprises a main body2, an outlet assembly4fitted to a lower part of the main body2and a cap6, and an aerosol canister7containing medicament fitted therein.

The main body2comprises a tubular member8having an opening10at one, the upper end thereof into which a canister7having a valve stem11extending therefrom is in use fitted, and a foot12having a bottom surface which includes a recess12a, in this embodiment concave in shape, for receiving typically a thumb of a user. In an alternative embodiment the foot12can be formed with a substantially flat bottom surface. The foot12serves to allow the actuator to stand unsupported on a flat surface such that, when the actuator is not in use, it can be stored in an upright position. This is particularly advantageous when a canister7is fitted therein, since such canisters7should, ideally, be stored with the valve stem11directed downwards. The other, lower, end of the tubular member8is closed and includes a lateral opening14, in this embodiment ovoid in shape, into which the outlet assembly4is fitted.

The main body2further comprises a pair of opposing projections16which extend inwardly from the inner surface of the tubular member8adjacent the lateral opening14. The projections16are disposed to the sides of the lateral opening14and are spaced rearwardly therefrom.

The outlet assembly4comprises a tubular section18, a major part of which defines the mouthpiece which is in use gripped by the lips of a user, and a nozzle block20connected thereto.

Even though the embodiment of the present invention is disclosed herein is an actuator of two part type, as disclosed in great detail below, it is inherently clear that the protection cap does not depend on the type of actuator as long it comprises a mouthpiece. Moreover, the disclosed actuator is a “pressurised metered dose inhaler”, but the protection cap can be used to protect the mouthpiece of other types of inhalers.

The actuator according to the present invention is clearly disclosed in the figures. FromFIGS. 1 to 6and especially inFIGS. 7 to 10it can be seen that the protection cap6comprises a cap section60that closely mates the outer surface of the mouthpiece, and two diametrically arranged release buttons70. InFIG. 10, reference number80is a retaining member that extends along the mouthpiece diameter and engages a mating recess90in the mouthpiece outer periphery thereby securing the cap to the mouthpiece.

More in detail, it can be seen inFIG. 7that the release buttons70are formed as sections of the cap inner periphery that is spaced apart from the mouthpiece18outer periphery. Due to the design of the release buttons70on the protection cap6, the buttons70, when pushed, will provide an elastic deformation of the cap inner periphery that disengage the cap retaining member80from the recess90.

In the disclosed embodiment the cap comprises two buttons, but it could alternatively comprise one single button or three or more buttons. According to one embodiment, a cap comprising three or more buttons is designed as a child safety cap, only being possible to remove e.g. when applying equal pressure on all buttons simultaneously, or when applying pressure on the buttons in a predetermined sequence etc. and in the disclosed embodiment, the cap comprises two diametrically arranged release buttons. In order for the cap to be easy to remove it is suitable to provide it with two diametrically arranged release buttons as is disclosed inFIGS. 1 to 6.

According to the disclosed embodiment, the mouthpiece is comprised of an ovoid tubular section18, wherein the retaining member80is arranged to extend along the minor axis where the cap comprises an essentially ovoid mating section, and the release buttons70are arranged as bulged sections diametrically about the major axis. When the cap6is placed on the mouthpiece the retaining member80will engage the recess90, and the bulged sections forming the release buttons70being spaced apart from the mouthpiece. When the release buttons70are pressed, the bulged sections are forced towards the mouthpiece whereby the mating section of the cap comprising the retaining member80is lifted from the mouthpiece and disengages the recess90. Thereafter the cap can be removed by preserving the release pressure and removing the cap6from the mouthpiece.

The tubular section18includes a radial outwardly-directed peripheral flange22. When the outlet assembly4is inserted fully into the main body2, the flange22abuts the lateral opening14such that the major part of the tubular section18extends outwardly of the main body2.

The outlet assembly4further comprises first and second arms24,26which extend rearwardly form respective sides of the tubular section18. Each of the first and second arms24,26includes a catch member28,30which is adapted to engage with a respective one of the projections16on the inner surface of the tubular member8when the outlet assembly4is inserted fully into the main body2. The catch members28,30on the first and second arms24,26each include a first surface28a,30awhich has a rearwardly directed component and acts as a guiding surface, and a second surface28b,30bwhich is substantially orthogonally directed to the longitudinal axis of the outlet assembly4and acts as a locking surface.

The outlet assembly4further comprises a third arm34which extends rearwardly from the top of the tubular section18. The third arm34includes a catch member35in the form of an outwardly-directed projection, which, when the outlet assembly4is inserted fully into the main body2, engages behind a part of the tubular member8defining the lateral opening14. The catch member35on the third arm34, as with the catch members28,30on the first and second arms24,26, includes a first surface35awhich has a rearwardly directed component and acts as a guiding surface, and a second surface35bwhich is substantially orthogonally directed to the longitudinal axis of the outlet assembly4and acts as a locking surface.

The nozzle block20is connected to the tubular section18by first and second pairs of connecting elements36,38. The first pair of connecting elements36extend between a lower part of the nozzle block20and a lower part of the tubular section18. As will be described herein below, in this embodiment the lower connecting elements36are configured to break or be permanently deformed on withdrawal of the outlet assembly4from the main body2. The second pair of connecting elements38extend between an upper part of the nozzle block20and an upper part of the tubular section18. The nozzle block20includes a tubular bore40which extends along the longitudinal axis of the tubular member8when the outlet assembly4is inserted fully into the main body2. The tubular bore40is open at one, the upper, end and includes a laterally-directed spray orifice42at the other, lower, end. The spray orifice42is configured to direct a spray into the tubular section18. In this embodiment the tubular bore40is adapted to receive the valve stem11of a canister7.

The outlet assembly4further comprises a fourth arm44which extends forwardly and downwardly from the nozzle block20. The distal end of the fourth arm44includes a catch member46which, when the outlet assembly4is inserted fully into the main body2, engages behind a part of the tubular member8defining the lateral opening14. The catch member46on the fourth arm44includes a surface46awhich is substantially orthogonally directed to the longitudinal axis of the outlet assembly4and acts as a locking surface.

In manufacture, an outlet assembly4and a main body2are selected according to the requirements, based on colour, shape, etc., for the actuator. The outlet assembly4is then inserted into the lateral opening14in the main body2until the catch members28,30on the first and second arms24,26of the outlet assembly4engage with the respective projections16on the inner side surface of the tubular member8of the main body2, and the catch members34,46on the third and fourth arms34,44of the outlet assembly4engage behind respective parts of the tubular member8defining the lateral opening14. A canister7is then passed into the tubular member8of the main body2through the upper opening10such that the valve stem11of the canister7is located in the tubular bore40in the nozzle block20. The inhaler is then ready for use.

By the provision of catch members the outlet assembly4is held in the main body2and the outlet assembly4cannot be non-destruct ably detached from the main body2. As mentioned herein above, the outlet assembly4is configured to break or be permanently deformed if withdrawn from the main body2and thereby render the outlet assembly4and hence the actuator unusable. In this embodiment this is achieved by configuring the lower connecting elements36connecting the tubular section18and the nozzle block20of the outlet assembly4to break or be permanently deformed on withdrawal of the outlet assembly4from the main body2.

Finally, it will be understood by a person skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the described embodiment but can be modified in many different ways within the scope of the appended claims.