Abstract:
An inhaler for delivery of a powder-form inhalation formulation from a blister strip with a plurality of blister pockets is proposed. A flexible guiding element receives the used blisters strip.

Description:
This application is a national phase application under 35 U.S.C. §371 of International Application No. PCT/EP2009/000294, filed Jan. 19, 2009, which claims priority to European Patent Application No. 08001307.1, filed Jan. 24, 2008, the disclosures of which are all hereby incorporated by reference herein. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an inhaler ( 1 ) for delivery of an inhalation formulation from a preferably band-shaped blister strip with a plurality of blister pockets containing the inhalation formulation in doses comprising preferably a piercing member ( 7 ) to puncture a lid of an aligned blister pocket ( 3 ), the inhaler ( 1 ) being designed such that—preferably by breathing in during inhalation—an air stream ( 9 ) of ambient air can be sucked or delivered in to discharge the respective dose from an opened blister pocket ( 3 ) and to deliver it with the ambient air as an aerosol cloud ( 11 ), characterized in that the inhaler ( 1 ) comprises a flexible or elastic guiding element ( 20 ) for receiving or guiding the blister strip ( 2 ), wherein the guiding element ( 20 ) comprises a mounting portion ( 21 ) with a corrugation ( 22 ), the guiding element ( 20 ) is held between a first and a second holding portion ( 23 ,  24 ), in particular with the mounting portion ( 21 ), the guiding element ( 20 ) or mounting portion ( 21 ) is at least partially covered by a guiding portion ( 28 ), and/or the guiding element ( 20 ) comprises a free end ( 25 ) or a slit ( 27 ) with two tip and/or two tapered portions ( 26 ) so that the guiding element comprises ( 20 ) a free end ( 25 ) with the highest curvature, flexibility or elasticity of the guiding element ( 20 ). The present invention also relates to an inhaler ( 1 ) for delivery of an inhalation formulation from a preferably band-shaped blister strip ( 2 ) with a plurality of blister pockets ( 3 ) containing the inhalation formulation in doses, preferably according one of the preceding claims, comprising: preferably a piercing member ( 7 ) to puncture a lid of an aligned blister pocket ( 3 ), the inhaler ( 1 ) being designed such that—preferably by breathing in during inhalation—an air stream ( 9 ) of ambient air can be sucked or delivered in order to discharge the respective dose from an opened blister pocket ( 3 ) and to deliver it with the ambient air as an aerosol cloud ( 11 ), characterized in that the inhaler ( 1 ) comprises a metal guiding element ( 20 ) for receiving or guiding the blister strip ( 2 ), the guiding element ( 20 ) being electropolished in order to reduce the sliding resistance of the blister strip ( 2 ) on the guiding element ( 20 ). 
     The present invention relates to an inhaler for delivery of a powder-form inhalation formulation from a blister strip with a plurality of blister pockets (also called blisters) containing the inhalation formulation in doses. 
     BACKGROUND 
     GB 2 407 042 A discloses an inhaler with a rolled-up blister strip. The inhaler comprises a manually operated, pivotable actuator which operates a conveyor for stepwise moving the blister strip. The actuator supports a piercer and an associated mouthpiece. By pivoting the actuator, the blister strip and be moved forward and blister pockets of the blister strip can be pierced one after the other. When a patient breathes in an air stream passes through the pierced blister pocket, with the result that the inhalation formulation in the blister pocket mixes with the air and is discharged to the patient. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Object of the present invention is to provide an inhaler with simple and/or compact construction, which allows optimized conveying and/or storage of the blister strip. 
     The above object is achieved by an inhaler according to the present invention. Advantageous embodiments are discussed in detail below. 
     One aspect of the present invention is to provide a flexible or elastic guiding element, preferably in the shape of a spiral, wherein the guiding element comprises a mounting portion with a corrugation, is held between a first and a second holding portion, is at least partially covered by a guiding portion in the mounting portion, and/or comprises a free end and/or a slit with two tip portions, so that it comprises a free end with the highest curvature, flexibility and/or elasticity of the guiding element. This allows a simple and compact construction with optimized conveying and/or storage of the preferably used blister strip. 
     According to an or additional aspect of the present invention, the inhaler comprises a metal guiding element, which is electropolished in order to reduce the sliding friction of the blister strip on the guiding element. This allows also a simple and compact construction with optimized conveying and/or storage of the blister strip. 
     Further aspects, features, properties and advantages of the present invention are described in the claims and the subsequent description of a preferred embodiment, with reference to the drawing. There are shown in: 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  a schematic sectional view of an inhaler without mouthpiece cover; 
         FIG. 2  a schematic sectional representation of the inhaler with closed mouthpiece cover; and 
         FIG. 3  a partial, enlarged view of  FIG. 2 ; and 
         FIG. 4  a perspective view of a guiding element of the inhaler. 
     
    
    
     In the Figures, the same reference numbers are used for identical or similar parts, even if a repeated description is omitted. In particular identical or corresponding advantages and properties then also result or may be achieved. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  shows in a schematic sectional representation an inhaler  1 . 
     The inhaler  1  serves to deliver a powdered inhalation formulation from a band-shaped blister strip  2 . The blister strip  2  is finite, not forming an endless or closed loop. It has a large number of blister pockets  3  respectively containing directly a dose of the loose inhalation formulation. Thus, the formulation is pre-metered. 
     The inhaler  1  has a reservoir  4  for the still unused blister strip  2  with closed (sealed) blister pockets  3 . The blister strip  3  is rolled up or wound up in the reservoir  4 . In the representation example the reservoir  4  is formed such that the blister strip  2  can be moved outwards or pulled out of the reservoir  4  as easily as possible. 
     In the representation example the blister strip  2  is directly received in the reservoir  4 . However, instead of this a cassette, a container, a drum or suchlike can also be fitted or inserted with the blister strip  2  into the inhaler  1  or the reservoir  4 . 
     The inhaler  1  has a conveyor  5  for stepwise onward movement in direction of arrow  5   a  by one blister pocket  3  in each case, in order to feed the blister pockets  3  successively to an opening and/or removal position  6  where the respective blister pocket  3  is opened and can be emptied. 
     The blister pockets  3  can be opened respectively preferably by means of a piercing member  7 , which punctures cuts open a lid of the respectively aligned blister pocket  3  in position  6 . The piercing member  7  is hollow and in fluid connection with an adjacent mouthpiece  8  of the inhaler  1 . 
     During or for inhalation a patient or user, not represented, places the mouthpiece  8  in his mouth and breathes in. The respectively opened blister pocket  3 , into which the piercing member  7  extends, is thereby emptied by sucking in. An air stream  9  of ambient air is sucked in and passed through the opened blister pocket  3  such that the loose powder  10  (forming the inhalation formulation and being schematically shown in  FIG. 1  only in the actually opened blister pocket  3  below mouthpiece  8 ) is dispensed with the sucked-in ambient air as an aerosol cloud  11  via the mouthpiece  8 . This situation is schematically represented in  FIG. 1 . 
     The inhaler  1  has a preferably manually actuatable, lever-like actuator  12  being pivotally mounted to a housing  19  of the inhaler  1 . 
     The piercing member  7  and the mouthpiece  8  are attached to and supported by the actuator  12 . 
     The actuator  12  is operable (pivotable) to cause the piercing member  7  to puncture the lid of the respectively aligned blister pocket  3  in position  6  below the mouthpiece  8 . 
     When the actuator  12  swivels from the position shown in  FIG. 1  (here anti-clockwise) to a opened position, the piercing member  7  is withdrawn from the last-pierced blister pocket  3 . 
     Then, the blister strip  2  is moved forward one blister pocket  3 , so that the next blister pocket  3  is moved in position  6 . 
     When the actuator  12  swivels back into the position shown in  FIG. 1 , i.e. is manually moved back, the next aligned blister pocket  3  of the blister strip  2  is punctured by the piercing member  7  and thereby opened. Then, the next inhalation can take place, i.e. the inhaler  1  is activated. 
     The inhaler  1  has a receiving space or apparatus  13  to receive or store the used part of the blister strip  2 . The receiving space or apparatus  13  is preferably formed such that the used part can be wound up.  FIG. 1  shows a situation with essentially filled reservoir  4  and still essentially empty receiving space  13 . 
     The conveyor  5  comprises a conveying wheel  14 , which can engage between the blister pockets  3  and thus convey the blister strip  2  in form-locking or form-fit manner. This allows very secure or precise moving or indexing of the blister strip  2  as desired and/or necessary. 
     The conveyor  5  or its conveying wheel  14  is arranged between the reservoir  4  and the receiving apparatus  13 , in particular between the removal position  6  and the receiving apparatus  13 , thus after the emptying of the blister pockets  3 . 
     The pivot axis  16  of the actuator  12  is coaxial with the rotation axis of the conveying wheel  14 . In particular, the actuator  12  may be supported by an axle of the conveying wheel  14 . 
     The inhaler  1  comprises a mouthpiece cover  15 . The mouthpiece cover  15  is not shown in  FIG. 1  which explains the basic principle of the inhaler  1 , but in  FIG. 2  which shows a more realistic, but still schematic sectional view of the inhaler  1 .  FIG. 2  shows the inhaler  1  with closed mouthpiece cover  15 , wherein the blister strip  2  has been partly omitted for illustration purposes. 
     The inhaler  1  or its receiving apparatus  13  comprises a guiding element  20  for receiving and/or guiding the blister strip  2 , in particular the used part of the blister strip  2 . 
     The guiding element  20  is preferably flexible and/or elastic. It is preferably made of metal, in particular spring steal. 
     The guiding element  20  is preferably mounted or fixed at a mounting portion  21 , in particular only at this portion  21 . 
       FIG. 2  shows the open inhaler  1  with the mounted guiding element  20 .  FIG. 3  shows in an enlarged, partial view of  FIG. 2  the area of the mounting portion  21  of the guiding element  20 .  FIG. 4  shows the guiding element  20  alone, in particular in its pre-fabricated form or state. 
     Preferably the guiding element  20  comprises a spiral portion or has the form essentially of a spiral. 
     The guiding element  20  is preferably held by form-fit at a mounting end, in particular at its mounting portion  21 . However, it can have any other suitable form. 
     Preferably, the mounting portion  21  is essentially straight, but bent or folded, and/or comprises a corrugation  22 , as schematically shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . This facilitates the preferred form-fit mounting. 
     In the present embodiment, the mounting portion  21  with a corrugation  22  is held between a first holding portion  23  and a second holding portion  24  as shown in particular in  FIG. 3 . The holding portions  23 ,  24  are preferably stationary and/or molded and/or interconnected with or formed by housing  19  of the inhaler  1  or any other suitable component of the inhaler  1 . 
     Preferably, the first holding portion  23  and the second holding portion  24  are formed by different halves of the housing  19  or by the same half of the housing  19 . 
     In particular, the holding portions  23  and  24  comprise inbetween or form a slit for receiving or holding the guiding element  20  or its mounting portion  21 . The opposing surfaces of the two holding portions  23 ,  24  are preferably essentially complementary. 
     Preferably, the guiding element  20  may be inserted into one half of the housing  19  in a first step. Then, the housing  19  is closed by the second half of the housing  19  in a second step so that the mounting portion  21  is held in a form-fit manner in the housing  19 . 
     The guiding element  20  preferably comprises a free end  25  or a slit  27  with two tip and/or two tapered portions  26 . This facilitates optimized guidance of the blister strip  2 . 
     In the present embodiment, the free end  25  has essentially the form of the tongue of a snake, i.e. with two tip portions  26  with the longitudinally extending slit  27  and increasing distance in between towards the end. 
     In particular, the free end  25  comprises the highest curvature, flexibility and/or elasticity of the guiding element  20 . 
     The slit  27  and/or tapered portion  26  (as outlined above) facilitates production of the guiding element  20  and, in particular, avoids that fins or ribs resulting from production can stop or hinder the blister strip  2 , in particular its free end. 
     The inhaler  1  comprises preferably a guiding portion  28  as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . The guiding portion  28  is preferably inclined and/or like a ramp. The guiding portion  28  facilitates entry or insertion of the free end or tip of blister strip  2  into the guiding element  20 . Thus, it is facilitated to convey and in particular push the blister strip  2  into the guiding element  20  without any handicap. 
     The guiding portion  28  is preferably formed by the housing  19 , in particular molded integrally with one half of the housing  19 . 
     When the blister strip  2  is conveyed, it is preferably pushed into the guiding element  20 . The blister strip  2  is wound up in the guiding element  20 . The free end  25  causes the free end of the blister strip  2  to bend inwardly in particular such that a winding core is formed by the inwardly bent end of the blister strip  2 . 
     With increasing conveying of the blister strip  2  into the guiding element  20 , the guiding element  20  is expanded radially and/or guides the used blister strip  2  at its outer part, in particular the winding formed inside or in the center of the guiding element  20 . 
     In order to reduce the sliding resistance of the blister strip  2  on the guiding element  20 , the guiding element  20  is preferably polished, in particular electrically or electrophoretically polished. 
     Preferably, the guiding element  20  is made of a high quality steel, in particular of steel 1.4302. In particular, the guiding element  20  is made from a metal band with a thickness of about 0.08 to 0.10 mm, preferably of about 0.09 mm, a length of about 100 to 150 mm, and/or a width of about 16 to 18 mm. 
     The guiding element  20  described above allows an optimized guidance and/or storage of the blister strip  2 , wherein a very simple and compact construction is possible. Further, simple mounting is possible. 
     Preferably, the inhaler  1  is portable, works only mechanically and/or is hand-held. 
     Preferably, the terms “blister strip” and “blister pockets” have to be understood in a very broad sense to cover also other kinds of storage means with receptacles or even bulk storages for the formulation. 
     LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS 
     
         
         
           
               1  inhaler 
               2  blister strip 
               3  blister pocket 
               4  reservoir 
               5  conveyor 
               5   a  onward movement 
               6  opening and/or removal position 
               7  piercing member 
               8  mouthpiece 
               9  air stream 
               10  powder 
               11  aerosol cloud 
               12  actuator 
               13  receiving apparatus 
               14  conveying wheel 
               15  mouthpiece cover 
               19  housing 
               20  guiding element 
               21  mounting portion 
               22  corrugation 
               23  first holding portion 
               24  second holding portion 
               25  free end 
               26  tip portion 
               27  slit 
               28  guiding portion