Abstract:
There is provided an inhalation device suitable for dispensing medicament, particularly medicament for use in the treatment of respiratory disorders. The device comprises a body; a medicament carrier, locatable within said body; a mouthpiece, reversibly movable from a storage position wherein said mouthpiece is within the body to an in-use position wherein a portion of the mouthpiece protrudes from the body and wherein the mouthpiece is in communication with the medicament carrier to allow passage of medicament therebetween; and a mouthpiece actuator, slidably movable relative to the body, and coupled to the mouthpiece such that movement of the mouthpiece actuator in a first direction moves the mouthpiece towards said storage position and movement of the mouthpiece actuator in an opposing direction moves the mouthpiece towards the in-use position.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is filed pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §371 as a U.S. National Phase Application of International Application No. PCT/EP99/07079 filed Sep. 23, 1999, which claims priority from GB9820886.1 filed Sep. 26, 1998. 
    
    
     The present invention relates to an inhalation device for use in the administration of medicament to a patient. The device has a mouthpiece, which is reversibly retractable from a storage position located inside the body of the device to a dispensing position in which the mouthpiece protrudes from the body of the device. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The use of inhalation devices in the administration of medicaments, for example in bronchodilation therapy, is well known. Such devices generally comprise a body or housing within which a medicament container is located. A mouthpiece (or nozzle) is typically provided, wherein ‘in use’ the mouthpiece communicates with the medicament container to allow passage of medicament from the source to the mouthpiece and thence, to the patient. 
     In a typical dispensing operation the body of the device is held by the patient and the mouthpiece (or nozzle) of the inhalation device is placed in the mouth (or nose) of the patient. The patient inhales, thereby causing transfer of medicament from the medicament container to the interior of the body of the patient. 
     When not in use it is desirable, from a hygiene standpoint, that the mouthpiece is provided with some kind of protective cover. The cover desirably acts both to prevent build-up of dirt on the mouthpiece and to prevent ingress of dirt into the body of the device through the mouthpiece, which might then be subject to inhalation by a patient. 
     It is known to provide the mouthpiece with a protective cap which acts as a protective cover. The cap may either be an entirely separate element or it may be joined to the body of the device in some way. DE-A-3,639,836, for example, describes a device in which the protective cap is mounted on an arm, which is pivotally mounted to the body of the device. 
     As an alternative to the use of a protective cap, one might envisage a device having a mouthpiece which is reversibly retractable from a storage position in which the mouthpiece is contained within the body of the device to a dispensing position in which the mouthpiece protrudes from the body of the device. In a device of this type the body of the device itself acts as the protective cover when the mouthpiece is in the storage position. The mouthpiece cover is thus an integral part of the inhalation device, avoiding contamination problems of prior art inhalation devices caused by the loss of removable mouthpiece covers. 
     GB-A-2,074,454 describes an inhalation device comprising a tubular body adapted for detachable fitting to an aerosol container. A mouthpiece is provided, which is movable from a storage position to a dispensing position by means of a cap, rotatably mounted on the tubular body, which has actuating means associated therewith. The cap and tubular body are provided with openings of similar dimensions. Manual rotation of the cap to bring the openings into register causes the actuating means to move the mouthpiece to the dispensing position in which the mouthpiece protrudes from the body of the device. Conversely, rotation of the cap by the user to bring the openings out of register causes the mouthpiece to be moved to the storage position in which the mouthpiece is contained within the body of the device. 
     For the convenience of the user, it is desirable that the inhalation device is arranged to allow movement of the mouthpiece from the storage to dispensing position (and vice-versa) by a non-complex, preferably one-handed operation. The device described in GB-A-2,074,454 is complex to actuate, and in particular would be very difficult to actuate by means of a one-handed operation, since it requires a rotatory movement of the cap relative to the body. This would normally require the user to hold the body in one hand, the cap in another and thence, to perform the required relative rotatory movement. 
     The Applicants have now found that actuation of the mouthpiece can be facilitated if the movement of the mouthpiece is achieved through the use of a mouthpiece actuator, which is slidably movable relative to the body of the device. One handed operation is thus, for example, achievable if the user holds the body of the device in the palm of a partially cupped hand and employs the thumb to provide sliding movement to the mouthpiece actuator, thereby causing movement of the mouthpiece. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided an inhalation device for dispensing medicament comprising 
     a body; 
     a medicament carrier; 
     a mouthpiece, reversibly movable from a storage position wherein said mouthpiece is within said body to an in use position wherein a portion of the mouthpiece protrudes from the body and wherein the mouthpiece is in communication with said medicament carrier to allow passage of medicament therebetween; and 
     a mouthpiece actuator, slidably movable relative to the body, and coupled to the mouthpiece such that user movement of said mouthpiece actuator in a first direction moves the mouthpiece towards said storage position and user movement of the mouthpiece actuator in an opposing direction moves the mouthpiece towards said in-use position. 
     Herein the term ‘mouthpiece’ is used in a generic sense to mean an element shaped such as to be insertable into the mouth or nose of a patient for inhalation therethrough. 
     In one preferred aspect, the mouthpiece actuator and mouthpiece are coupled by a coupling mechanism. In one particularly preferred aspect, the coupling mechanism comprises a rack and pinion mechanism. In another particularly preferred aspect, the coupling mechanism comprises a hinged lever mechanism. 
     In one aspect the medicament carrier is within the body. In another aspect the medicament carrier is attachable to the exterior of the body. 
     In another preferred aspect, the mouthpiece actuator and mouthpiece are directly coupled. 
     Preferably, the mouthpiece is comprised of an elastic material. 
     Preferably, the mouthpiece is provided with a cover comprised of an elastic material. 
     Preferably, the inhalation device additionally comprises a curtain arrangement contactable by the mouthpiece on movement of the mouthpiece from the storage to the in-use position. More preferably, the curtain arrangement comprises a plurality of curtains comprised of an elastomeric material. 
     Preferably, the mouthpiece actuator is provided with a safety trigger mechanism to prevent accidental actuation thereof. 
     Preferably, at least a portion of the mouthpiece actuator is shaped for ease of grip by the user. 
     Preferably, at least a portion of the mouthpiece actuator has a friction-enhancing coating. 
     Preferably, the device is provided with a dose counter, which indicates the number of doses dispensed from or remaining in the container. More preferably, the dose counter comprises an indexing mechanism actuated by a predetermined movement of the medicament container relative to the body. 
     Preferably, the mouthpiece is actuable by a sliding thumb motion. 
     Preferably, the medicament container is an aerosol or a dry-powder container. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided the use of an inhalation device provided herein for dispensing medicament. 
     Preferred embodiments of the inhalation device according to the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a sectional plan view of a first inhalation device in accord with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 a  is a sectional side view of the device of FIG. 1, wherein the mouthpiece is in the in-use position; 
     FIG. 2 b  is a sectional side view of the device of FIG. 1, wherein the mouthpiece is in the storage position; 
     FIG. 3 a  is a sectional side view of a second inhalation device in accord with the present invention wherein the mouthpiece is in the storage position; 
     FIG. 3 b  is a sectional side view of the device of FIG. 3 a  wherein the mouthpiece is in the storage position; 
     FIG. 4 is a sectional plan view of a third inhalation device in accord with the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a sectional side view of the device of FIG. 5; 
     FIG. 6 is a sectional plan view of a fourth inhalation device in accord with the present invention; 
     FIG. 7 a  is a sectional side view of the device of FIG. 6 wherein the mouthpiece is in the storage position; 
     FIG. 7 b  is a sectional side view of the device of FIG.  6  and FIG. 7 a  wherein the mouthpiece is in the in-use position. 
     FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of a section mouthpiece actuator having surface (S) with an optional coating layer (C) thereon. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIGS. 1,  2   a  and  2   b  show a first inhalation device herein comprising a body  10  having an end cap  16 , wherein the end cap  16  is reversibly attached to the body  10  by a snap fit mechanism  30 ,  32 . Within the body there is provided a medicament container  20 , which is in communication with a hollow transition piece  40  also provided in said body  10 . 
     An essentially flat cover  50  is retainably mounted on first and second guide rails  60 ,  62  provided on a first face of the body  10  for slidable movement thereon. The exterior surface of the cover  50  has contours  52  for ease of grip by the user. The interior surface of the cover  50  communicates with first and second rack pinion mechanisms  70 ,  80  which are aligned with the axes defined by the first and second guide rails  60 , 62 . Each of the first and second rack and pinion mechanisms  70 ,  80  (wherein, for clarity, only the first mechanism is shown in detail on FIGS. 2 a  and  2   b ) comprises a first rack  72 ,  82  attached to the cover  50 , which communicates with a wheel  74 ,  84  axially mounted to the body  10 , which wheel  74 ,  84  communicates with a curved second rack  76  which is mounted for communication with the mouthpiece  90 . 
     Actuation of the device from the storage position (shown in FIG. 2 b ) to the in-use position) (shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 a ) is achievable by the user sliding the cover  50  along the guide rails  60 ,  62  in a direction towards the end cap  16 . The first rack  72  is thus bought into engagement with wheel  74 , which rotates and engages second rack  76 , thereby moving the second rack  76  in the opposite direction. In turn, the movement of the second rack  76  causes the mouthpiece  90  to be moved to the in-use position, in which it protrudes from the body  10 . In the in-use position it may be seen that the interior of the mouthpiece  90  communicates with the hollow interior of the transition piece  40 , which itself communicates with the medicament container  20 . Thus an inhalation passageway is provided from the mouthpiece  90  to the medicament container  20 . Deactivation is achievable by the reverse sliding motion of the cover  50 . 
     FIGS. 3 a  and  3   b  show a second inhalation device herein having a flattened cigar shaped body comprising first  110  and second  112  body segments, wherein a male portion  114  of the second body segment  112  is slidably receivable within the interior of the first body segment  110 , to form the full body-shape. When so received, the two body segments are releasably secured to each other by snap-lock mechanism  130 . The first and second segments  110 ,  112  are provided with end caps  116 ,  118 , which are coated with an elastomeric material for ease of grip thereof. A medicament cartridge  120  is provided within the second body segment  112 . Mouthpiece  190  is coupled to the second body segment  112  through hinged arm mechanism  170 . 
     Actuation of the device from the storage position shown in (FIG. 3 b ) to the in-use position (shown in FIG. 3 a ) is achievable by the user releasing the snap-lock  130  and slidably separating the first and second body segments  110 ,  112  away from each other. The movement of the second body segment  112  is translated to the mouthpiece  190  through the coupling provided by the hinged arm mechanism such that the mouthpiece  190  is moved to the in-use position. Deactivation is achievable by sliding the first and second body segments  110 ,  112  towards each other until the snap-lock  130  snaps into action. 
     FIGS. 4 and 5 show a third inhalation device herein comprising a body  210 , which is overall shaped for ease of grip in the hand of a user. Within the body  210  there is provided a medicament cartridge  220  and attached thereto mouthpiece  290 , wherein the mouthpiece is comprised of a resiliently deformable elastomeric material. A shaped cover  250  is retainably mounted on first and second guide rails  260 ,  262  provided on the body  210  for slidable movement thereon. 
     Actuation of the device from the storage position (shown in FIG. 4) to the in-use position (shown in FIG. 5) is achievable by the user sliding the cover  250  along the guide rails  260 ,  262  (e.g. by a thumb movement), thereby revealing the mouthpiece  290 , which ‘pops out’ into its characteristic shape. Deactivation is achievable by the reverse sliding action, which causes deformation of the mouthpiece  290 . 
     FIGS. 6,  7   a  and  7   b  show a fourth inhalation device herein comprising a body  310  provided with a medicament compartment  320  which is accessible for loading of medicament by opening of door  322 . Contoured elastomeric strips  316 ,  318  are provided to the body  310  for ease of grip thereof. 
     A circular, essentially flat cover  350  is retainably mounted on the first and second guide rails  360 ,  362  provided on the body  310 . The interior surface of the cover  350  is coupled through articulated assembly  370  to mouthpiece  390 , which is itself hingedly mounted. Cover  350  comprises an angled portion  351 . The mouthpiece  390  is provided with a thin, flexible elastomeric covering  392  to form a curtain arrangement covering the mouthpiece  390 , which is contactable by the mouthpiece on movement of the mouthpiece from the storage to the in-use position. More preferably, the curtain arrangement comprises a plurality of curtains or coverings  392 . ` 
     Actuation of the device from the storage position (shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 a ) to the in-use position (shown in FIG. 7 b ) is achievable by the user slidably moving the cover  350  along the guide rails  360 ,  362 . Movement of the cover to said in-use position causes said angled portion  351  to contact said articulated assembly  370 . The sliding action is coupled via articulated assembly  370  to the mouthpiece  390 , which is moved to a position in which it stands proud from the body  310 , and in which there is an inhalation passageway established between the mouthpiece  390  and the medicament compartment  320 . Deactivation is achievable by performance of the reverse sliding action. 
     Optionally, the device may be provided with a dose counter ( 98 ,  198 ,  298  and  398 ), which indicates the number of doses dispensed from or remaining in the container. More preferably, the dose counter comprises an indexing mechanism actuated by a predetermined movement of the medicament container relative to the body. 
     The inhalation device herein is suitable for dispensing medicament, particularly for the treatment of respiratory disorders. Appropriate medicaments may thus be selected from, for example, analgesics, e.g. codeine, dihydromorphine, ergotamine, fentanyl or morphine; anginal preparations, e.g., diltiazem; antiallergics, e.g., cromoglycate, ketotifen or nedocromil; antiinfectives e.g., cephalosporins, penicillins, streptomycin, sulphonamides, tetracyclines and pentamidine; antihistamines, e.g., methapyrilene; anti- inflammatories, e.g., beclomethasone dipropionate, fluticasone propionate, flunisolide, budesonide, rofleponide, mometasone furoate or triamcinolone acetonide; antitussives, e.g., noscapine; bronchodilators, e.g., albuterol, salmeterol, ephedrine, adrenaline, fenoterol, formoterol, isoprenaline, metaproterenol, phenylephrine, phenylpropanolamine, pirbuterol, reproterol, rimiterol, terbutaline, isoetharine, tulobuterol, or (−)-4-amino-3,5-dichloro-α-[[[6-[2-(2-pyridinyl)ethoxy] hexyl]methyl] benzenemethanol; diuretics, e.g., amiloride; anticholinergics, e.g., ipratropium, tiotropium, atropine or oxitropium; hormones, e.g., cortisone, hydrocortisone or prednisolone; xanthines, e.g., aminophylline, choline theophyllinate, lysine theophyllinate or theophylline; therapeutic proteins and peptides, e.g., insulin or glucagon. It will be clear to a person skilled in the art that, where appropriate, the medicaments may be used in the form of salts, (e.g., as alkali metal or amine salts or as acid addition salts) or as esters (e.g., lower alkyl esters) or as solvates (e.g., hydrates) to optimise the activity and/or stability of the medicament. 
     Preferred medicaments are selected from albuterol, salmeterol, fluticasone propionate and beclomethasone dipropionate and salts or solvates thereof, e.g., the sulphate of albuterol and the xinafoate of salmeterol. 
     Medicaments can also be delivered in combinations. Preferred formulations containing combinations of active ingredients contain salbutamol (e.g., as the free base or the sulphate salt) or salmeterol (e.g., as the xinafoate salt) in combination with an anti-inflammatory steroid such as a beclomethasone ester (e.g., the dipropionate) or a fluticasone ester (e.g., the propionate). 
     It will be understood that the present disclosure is for the purpose of illustration only and the invention extends to modifications, variations and improvements thereto. 
     The application of which this description and claims form part may be used as a basis for priority in respect of any subsequent application. The claims of such subsequent application may be directed to any feature or combination of features described therein. They may take the form of product, method or use claims and may include, by way of example and without limitation, one or more of the following claims.