Patent Publication Number: US-2012037157-A1

Title: Inhaler

Description:
The present invention relates to an inhaler according to the preamble of claim  1 ,  3 ,  5  or  6 . 
     The present invention relates to passive inhalers, i.e. inhalers where the patient or user breathes in to generate an air stream, which entrains the inhalation formulation and forms the desired aerosol. 
     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. 
     GB 2 247 042 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 previously pierced blister pocket, with the result that the inhalation formulation in the blister pocket mixes with the air and is discharged to the patient. Depending on the length of the blister strip and on the transmission, operation of the actuator may require undersigned high forces. 
     Object of the present invention is to provide an inhaler wherein the operation is facilitated. 
     The above object is achieved by an inhaler according to claim  1 ,  3 ,  5  or  6 . Preferred embodiments are subject of the subclaims. 
     According to a first aspect of the present invention, the inhaler comprises a guiding element preferably with a guiding surface for guiding preferably a contact side of a carrier, such as a blister strip. The surface comprises at least one protrusion protruding from the surface towards the contact side in order to reduce the areal contact and, thus, the friction between the guiding element and the carrier, i.e. the sliding friction can be reduced when the carrier is moved onward. This facilitates movement of the carrier and, thus, operation of the inhaler. 
     According to a second aspect of the present invention, the inhaler comprises a flexible guiding element for the unused carrier in a reservoir and preferably a flexible guiding element for the used carrier in a receiving part. This facilitates unwinding of the unused carrier and, in particular, winding-up of the used carrier and/or reduces or prevents the interference of the roll of unused carrier and the roll of used carrier in the inhaler. This facilitates movement of the carrier and, thus, operation of the inhaler. 
     According to a third aspect of the present invention, the inhaler comprises a loose guiding element between a reservoir for the unused carrier and a receiving part for the used carrier in order to reduce the friction between the carrier in the reservoir or a flexible spiral guiding the carrier in the reservoir on one hand and the carrier in the receiving part or a flexible spiral guiding the carrier in the receiving part on the other hand. This facilitates movement of the carrier and, thus, operation of the inhaler. 
     According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, an inhaler comprises a lubrication device and/or the carrier comprises a lubricant in order to reduce friction between the guiding element and the carrier. This facilitates movement of the carrier and, thus, operation of the inhaler. 
    
    
     
       Further aspects, features, properties and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the claims and the subsequent description of a preferred embodiment, with reference to the drawings. There are shown in: 
         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; 
         FIG. 3  a schematic sectional view of a guiding element of the inhaler; 
         FIG. 4  a schematic sectional view of another guiding element of the inhaler; and 
         FIG. 5  a schematic sectional view of a further guiding element of the inhaler. 
     
    
    
     In the Figures, 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. 
       FIG. 1  shows in a very schematic sectional representation an inhaler  1 . 
     The inhaler  1  serves to deliver a powdered inhalation formulation from a preferably band-shaped carrier, such as a 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, in particular powder  10 . Thus, the formulation is pre-metered. 
     The inhaler  1  has a reservoir  4  for the still unused blister strip  2  with closed (sealed) receptacles, here blister pockets  3 . The unused blister strip  2  is preferably rolled up or wound up or stored in the reservoir  4 . 
     The inhaler  1  has preferably a conveyor  5  for stepwise onward movement of the blister strip  2  in direction of arrow  5   a  stepwise by one blister pocket  3 , 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 removal device or piercing member  7 , which punctures or cuts open a lid of the respectively aligned blister pocket  3  in position  6 . The piercing member  7  is hollow and/or 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. An air stream  9  of ambient air is sucked in and passes 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 . Thus, the respectively opened blister pocket  3 , into which the piercing member  7  partly extends, is emptied. 
     The inhaler  1  has a preferably manually actuateable, lever-like actuator  12  being pivotally mounted to a housing  12   a  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 partially opened position, the piercing member  7  is withdrawn from the last-pierced blister pocket  3 . 
     Then, the blister strip  2  is moved forward by one blister pocket  3 , so that the next blister pocket  3  is moved in position  6 . This will be explained in more detail later. 
     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 preferably a receiving space or part  13  to receive or store the used part of the blister strip  2 . The receiving space or part  13  is formed such that the used part can be wound up.  FIG. 1  shows a situation with essentially filled reservoir  4  and partly empty receiving space  13 . 
     The conveyor  5  comprises preferably 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 preferably arranged preferably between is the reservoir  4  and the receiving part  13 , in particular between the removal position  6  and the receiving part  13 , thus after the emptying of the blister pockets  3 . 
     The pivot axis of the actuator or lever  12  is preferably coaxial with the rotation axis of the conveying wheel  14 . In particular, the actuator or lever  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 some aspects of the inhaler  1 , but in  FIG. 2 , which shows a more realistic, but still very 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 mouthpiece cover  15  is pivotable around a cover axis  15   a , which is indicated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  and extends perpendicular to the drawing plane in the present representation. 
     The pivot axis of the actuator  12  extends preferably coaxial to or with the cover axis  15   a . The rotation axis of the conveying wheel  14  extends preferably coaxial to the cover axis  15   a  and to the pivot axis of the actuator  12 . 
     The conveyor  5  or its conveying wheel  14  is preferably driven by the mouthpiece cover  15 , namely by the pivotal movement of the mouthpiece cover  15 . In particular, the blister strip  2  is moved forward, when the mouthpiece cover  15  is opened. Preferably, only part of the opening movement of the mouthpiece cover  15  actuates or operates the conveyor  5  or its conveying wheel  14  to move the blister strip  2  forward. 
     When the mouthpiece cover  15  is opened starting with the completely closed position shown in  FIG. 2 , in a first phase of the opening movement, for example up to a first angle of about 10, 20 or 30 degrees, the blister strip  2  is not moved due to a is respective freewheel (not shown) between the mouthpiece cover  15  and the conveying wheel  14 . 
     First of all, the actuator  12  has to be moved or opened in order to withdraw the piercing member  7  from the previously pierced and usually already emptied blister pocket  3 . This opening movement of the actuator  12  can be performed manually. However, the actuator  12  preferably opens automatically when opening the mouthpiece cover  15 . In particular, the mouthpiece cover  15  can be opened up to the first angle. When the mouthpiece cover  15  reaches this angle, e.g. about 20 degrees, the actuator  12  flips automatically open into its opened position, in particular due to a biasing or spring means (not shown) or the like. However, it also possible that the actuator  12  moves jointly with the mouthpiece cover  15  in the first phase of the opening movement (e.g. due to a ratchet mechanism, spring or the like) until the actuator  12  reaches its opened position or the first angle. 
     The opened position of the actuator  12  is preferably set such that the piercing member  7  is not exposed to the exterior and/or that the inhaler  1  is not completely opened in order to avoid or at least minimize any potential external influences. 
     In order to limit the open position of the actuator  12 , the opening or pivot range of the actuator  12  is smaller than the one of the mouthpiece cover  15  and/or is restricted to preferably at most 20 degrees, in particular to about 10 degrees or less. 
     However, it is also possible that the actuator  12  is not limited in its opening position, but can open or pivot as far as the mouthpiece cover  15 , in particular jointly with the mouthpiece cover  15 . 
     During the further opening (second phase) of the mouthpiece cover  15 , the conveyor  5  or its conveying wheel  14  is actuated to move or index the blister strip  2  by one blister pocket  3  onward to the next blister pocket  3  that shall be emptied. This blister movement happens preferably up to the complete opening of the mouthpiece cover  15 . 
     When the mouthpiece cover  15  has been fully opened and the next blister pocket  3  has been moved in position  6 , the actuator  12  can be pivoted back, i.e. closed, in order to pierce the already aligned, still closed blister pocket  3 . Then, the inhaler  1  is ready for inhalation, i.e. activated as already described. 
     After inhalation, the inhaler  1  can be closed by pivoting back the mouthpiece cover  15  into its closed position. 
     Preferably, the inhaler  1  comprises a guiding element  16  for the unused carrier. The guiding element  16  is located in particular in the reservoir  4  or forms the reservoir  4 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     The guiding element  16  stores and/or guides the unused carrier. However, the guiding element  16  and/or an other guiding element  17  can be used to guide other parts of the carrier and/or can be located in other parts of the inhaler  1 . 
     In the present embodiment, the inhaler comprises preferably an other guiding element  17 . In particular, the other guiding element  17  is located in the receiving part  13  or forms the receiving part  13 . 
     Additionally or alternatively, the inhaler  1  may comprise a further guiding element  18  as shown in  FIG. 1 . The further guiding element  18  is loosely received in the inhaler  1  or its housing  12   a . The further guiding element  18  is located between the reservoir  4  and the receiving part  13  for reducing the friction between the carrier in the reservoir  4  or a flexible spiral (guiding element  16 ) guiding the carrier in the reservoir  4  on one hand and the carrier in the receiving part  13  or a flexible spiral (guiding element  17 ) guiding the carrier in the receiving part  13  on the other hand. 
     Preferably, the guiding elements  16 ,  17  and/or  18  are flexible and/or moveable or bendable when the carrier is moved or conveyed, in particular transversally to the carrier. 
     Preferably, the guiding elements  16 ,  17  respectively comprise a spiral portion or form at least essentially a spiral. 
     In particular, the guiding element  16  and/or  17  may encompass the carrier peripherally, preferably such that the roll of unused carrier in the reservoir  4  and the roll of used carrier in the receiving part  13  do not directly contact. This allows reduction of friction between these rolls. This may be achieved alternatively or additionally by the guiding element  18 . 
     The other guiding elements  16 ,  17  and/or  18  are preferably also strip- or band-like. 
     Preferably, the guiding elements  16 ,  17  and/or  18  are made of steel, in particular spring steel. However, the guiding elements  16 ,  17  and/or  18  can also be made of any other suitable material, in particular plastics. 
     Preferably, the guiding element  16 ,  17  and/or  18  are made from sheet material, in particular metal sheet. 
     The spiral/guiding element  16  of the reservoir  4  may be accommodated in the housing  12   a  loosely. Then, the outer end of the guiding element  16  preferably engages the housing  12   a , a recess or the like in order to counterbear the guiding element  16  when the carrier is drawn out of the spiral/guiding element  16  during the onward movement  5   a  of the carrier. 
     The spiral/guiding element  17  may be filed at one part or end, preferably an outer end, to the housing  12   a  or any other stationary component of the inhaler  1 . This applies for the other guiding elements  16  and  18  as well. 
     Preferably, the reservoir  4  and the receiving part  13  are very close and, in particular, is share a common space within the inhaler  1 /housing  12   a  in order to allow a very compact design of the inhaler  1 . In particular, the spiral of the reservoir  4  is large in diameter before first use of the inhaler  1  (in this state, most of the carrier is located in the reservoir  4 ). In this state, the receiving part  13  requires nearly no space because the carrier has not yet been moved into the receiving part  13 . Therefore, the spiral of the receiving part  13  can be minimal in diameter in this state. 
     During use of the inhaler  1 , the size of the roll of the unused carrier and/or the spiral decreases in the reservoir  4  and increases in the receiving part  13 . Thus, the receiving part  13  is shifted during the further use of the inhaler  1  towards the reservoir  4 . Correspondingly, the loose guiding element  18  is moved or shifted during the use of the inhaler  1 , more precisely with the onward movement of the carrier from the reservoir  4  into the receiving part  13 . 
     In order to (further) reduce the friction, any one of the guiding elements  16 ,  17 ,  18  may comprise at least one protrusion  19  protruding towards the carrier or spiral, in particular protruding from an at least essentially flat surface or side of the respective guiding element  16 ,  17 ,  18  towards a preferably essentially flat contact side of the carrier (in particular, the side of the carrier where the blister pockets  3  are sealed by a foil or the like). Thus, it is possible to reduce the areal contact between the guiding element  16 ,  17 ,  18  on one hand and the associated carrier or spiral or one of the other guiding elements  16 ,  17 ,  18  on the other hand. With other words, the protrusion(s)  19  may reduce friction between guiding element and carrier or between two guiding elements. 
       FIG. 3  shows in a partial sectional view part or one guiding element  16 ,  17  or  18  with multiple protrusions  19 , here two protrusions  19  on one side or surface. However, only one protrusion  19  can be provided on one side if desired. 
     The at least one protrusion  19  is preferably rib-like and/or rail-like and/or extends in lengthwise direction of the guiding element or carrier. 
     If two protrusions  19  are provided and extend in lengthwise direction, the distance between the protrusions  19  and the location of the protrusions  19  is choosen such that the associated carrier is securely guided on or between the protrusions  19 . 
     The protrusions  19  guide or contact preferably the flat contact side or backside of the carrier. However, the protrusions  19  can also guide or contact or support the carrier on its other side, in particular such that the receptacles/blister pockets  3  engage inbetween the protrusions  19 . 
     The guiding element  16 ,  17  or  18  may comprise protrusions  19  on opposite sides as shown in  FIG. 4 . This may reduce the friction on both sides to the carrier, in particular if the carrier is guided in spiral form and, thus, may contact both sides of the respective guiding element  16 ,  17  or  18 . However, the two-sided location of protrusions  19  may be used for other purposes as well, e.g. to reduce the friction on one side of the guiding element  16 ,  17  or  18  with a carrier and on the other side of the guiding  16 ,  17  or  18  with one of the other guiding elements  16 ,  17  or  18  or the like. 
     The guiding elements  16 ,  17  or  18  may comprise multiple protrusions  19  preferably evenly distributed in lengthwise direction and/or protrusions  19  with essentially hemispherical form as shown in  FIG. 5  or with any other form. 
     The protrusions  19  are formed preferably by corrugations of the respective guiding element  16 ,  17  or  18  and/or by deep-drawing or the like. However, the protrusions  19  could also be formed by folding, e.g. of edges of the respective guiding element  16 ,  17  or  18  or the like. 
     Additionally or alternatively to the above possibilities to reduce friction, the inhaler  1  may comprise a lubrication device  20  and/or the carrier may comprise or be provided with a lubricant  21  in order to reduce friction between at least one of the guiding elements  16 ,  17  or  18  and the carrier, as schematically shown in  FIG. 1 . The lubrication device  20  may be formed by a suitable material, such as felt or the like, is which is soaked with the lubricant  21  and is in contact with the carrier or any other component in order to transfer the lubricant  21  to the carrier or the other component. 
     Preferably, the lubricant  21  is applied to the carrier after the opening and/or removal position  6  and/or on the side opposite of the removal side of the carrier. 
     As mentioned, the lubricant  21  may be applied to the carrier, in particular within the inhaler  1 , preferably by means of the lubrication device  20 . However, it is also possible that the lubricant is applied to the carrier before the carrier is inserted into the inhaler  1 . In particular, the lubricant  21  may form a coating of the carrier or any guiding element or any other component of the inhaler  1 . The lubricant  21  may be applied more or less to one side of the carrier and/or only in one part of the carrier, e.g. the end region of the carrier which is inserted into the receiving part  13  at first. 
     Preferably, the lubricant  21  is viscous and/or adheres to the carrier. 
     The guiding elements  16 ,  17  and  18  described above are preferably—at least partially—flexible, moveable and/or elastically deformable, in particular transversally to a flat side and/or to the associated carrier. However, the inhaler  1  can additionally or alternatively also comprise a rigid and/or stationary guide  22  for guiding the carrier and/or partitioning the reservoir  4  and the receiving part  13  against each other, as schematically shown in  FIG. 1 . This guide  22  can also be provided with at least one protrusion  19  as described above in order to reduce the (sliding) friction with the carrier and/or one other guiding element  16 ,  17  or  18 , in particular a spiral formed thereof. 
     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 
           12   a  housing 
           13  receiving part 
           14  conveying wheel 
           15  mouthpiece cover 
           15   a  cover axis 
           16  guiding element 
           17  guiding element 
           18  guiding element 
           19  protrusion 
           20  lubrication device 
           21  lubricant 
           22  guide