Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/RU2141914C1/en
Timestamp: 2020-06-05 07:38:37
Document Index: 355194812

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 12', 'art 62', 'art 62', 'art 66', 'art 62', 'art 62', 'art 110', 'art 110', 'art 110', 'art 110', 'art 110', 'art 110']

RU2141914C1 - Method of and device for filling containers - Google Patents
Method of and device for filling containers Download PDF
RU2141914C1
RU2141914C1 RU96123902A RU96123902A RU2141914C1 RU 2141914 C1 RU2141914 C1 RU 2141914C1 RU 96123902 A RU96123902 A RU 96123902A RU 96123902 A RU96123902 A RU 96123902A RU 2141914 C1 RU2141914 C1 RU 2141914C1
RU96123902A
RU96123902A (en
Уильям Исон Стефен
Патрик Эшли Кетерол Клайв
Питер Гриффин Дейвид
1995-05-16 Application filed by Мерк Патент Гмбх filed Critical Мерк Патент Гмбх
1999-02-27 Publication of RU96123902A publication Critical patent/RU96123902A/en
1999-11-27 Publication of RU2141914C1 publication Critical patent/RU2141914C1/en
2000-11-29 First worldwide family litigation filed litigation Critical https://patents.darts-ip.com/?family=10755262&utm_source=google_patent&utm_medium=platform_link&utm_campaign=public_patent_search&patent=RU2141914(C1) "Global patent litigation dataset” by Darts-ip is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
239000003814 drug Substances 0.000 abstract 2
-1 for instance Substances 0.000 abstract 1
FIELD: mechanical engineering; packing facilities. SUBSTANCE: proposed method and device are designed for filling container which has many holes, each containing corresponding dose of powder material, for instance, medicine. Method comes to installing empty container in position when its holes are in communication with reservoir containing powder material. This material, under action of gas flow, passes from reservoir to fill holes. Then container is separated from reservoir. Filled up holes are hermetically sealed, when necessary, with sheet material. With holes filled up, their volume defines value of each dose making it unnecessary to meter out dose before filling into hole. Container can be made as rigid or flexible plate. Flexible plate can be rolled into cylinder for use in inhalator. Invention contains description of device for implementing proposed method and inhalator designed for use with cylindrical container. EFFECT: provision of precise metering out of medicine doses at reduced size of container and increased quantity of doses. 12 cl, 56 dwg
The invention relates to a method for producing a container and a plurality of individual doses of particulate material, in particular powdered material contained in a container, and to a device for implementing this method. The invention is particularly applicable to devices for administering single doses of a powdered drug by inhalation.
It is known to use a pharmacologically active compound in the form of finely divided particles for administration by the patient himself by inhalation in order to alleviate the condition in respiratory diseases, in particular in asthma.
Such preparations may be contained in containers, each of which has a certain number of cells, each of which contains an appropriate dose of the drug. Such containers are used together with an inhaler, in which individual doses of the drug are selected in turn. For example, in the description of European patent N EPO 211595 (Glaxo Group Limited), an inhaler is given in which a particular substance is introduced from a disk-shaped blister swollen in the form of a blister pack.
Blisters (air bubbles) of the disk are filled with powder using a filling head, which separates individual doses of the substance from the reservoir and allows these doses to enter the air pockets in the disk. The inaccuracies inherent in this method when measuring each dose and the need to give the powder the appropriate properties of a flowing material to enable filling lead to the fact that the drug must be mixed with a significant amount of lactose.
This leads to an increase in the required sizes of individual air pockets (bubbles) in the container and, consequently, to a decrease in the number of doses that can be dispensed from the container of a given size. In addition, the user, when administering a dose of the drug to himself, should inhale a relatively large amount of powder, which can lead to unpleasant sensations in the mouth and throat of the user.
In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of filling a container having a plurality of cells with a plurality of doses of a predetermined amount of particulate material, the method comprising the following operations:
setting each cell in a position in which it communicates with the reservoir with an excess amount of material in the form of particulates;
forced supply of material to introduce it into the cells and fill the cells; and
separating the cells from the tank, each cell containing a corresponding dose and the volume of each cell determining the amount of dose contained in it, and the method is characterized in that the particulate material is forcibly fed into the openings under gas pressure acting on the particulate material located in the tank, while the container rests on a porous base, which allows gas to pass through the holes (in the plate), and this prevents the displacement of particulate material from the hole sty.
Preferably, the particulate material is a powdered drug, which may preferably be of the type used when the drug is administered by the user to himself by inhalation using an inhaler.
Since each dose of material is effectively measured using the cells themselves in the container, the need to measure doses before filling the container is eliminated, the amount of material in each cell is more precisely controlled, and the need to use any significant amount of auxiliary material, for example, lactose, is reduced or eliminated . Therefore, the container can be shaped so that it contains a relatively large number of doses, and the user does not have to inhale a large amount of particulate material when one such dose is administered.
Preferably, the container is a plate, and each cell is a corresponding hole in the plate.
Preferably, all the cells are simultaneously set to a position in which they communicate with a common reservoir.
Preferably, the particulate material is drawn into the cells by passing gas through the particulate material in the reservoir and through the openings.
The use of gas provides the possibility of additional control of the force with which the particulate material is drawn into the holes, and, therefore, the regulation of the density of the material in the holes.
Preferably, before feeding the particulate material, the plate is mounted on a porous base under the reservoir.
Preferably, the base comprises a perforated base plate and a sheet of fine pore material, such as filter paper, laid when used between the base plate and the container.
After filling, the openings are preferably hermetically closed, so that each dose is individually encapsulated in its corresponding opening, and said hermetic closure is rationally obtained by attaching an appropriate sheet of material to each side of the plate.
Preferably, the sheet material that hermetically closes the openings is a multilayer foil that is attached to the plate by heat sealing with it.
A multilayer foil tends to counteract any tendency of sheet fragments to tear away from the rest of the sheet when the sealed coating of a given cell breaks to allow material to exit from this cell.
The plate may be flexible, and in this case, the method preferably includes the operation of rolling or converting the plate into a cylinder in another way after filling it.
You can hold the container in the shape of a cylinder by putting an annular end cap on it, as a rule, use two of these end caps, one at each end of the cylinder.
Such a plate preferably contains regularly arranged elongated, flat, generally rigid strips, the adjacent pairs of which can be rotated relative to each other, so that these strips are essentially parallel to the axis of the cylinder in the finished container.
Alternatively, the plate may be one of a series of strips that are assembled and installed together to form a cylindrical composite container.
Preferably, the reservoir is contained in a hopper having a network of outlet openings, each of which is aligned with a corresponding opening (of the container) when the openings (of the container) are in the indicated position relative to the reservoir, and said gas is supplied to the hopper under sufficient pressure to provide a supply material in the form of particles through the outlet and into the holes (container).
Preferably, the dimensions of the outlet openings are such that essentially no particulate material escapes through these openings when gas is not supplied to the hopper.
Thus, interrupting the supply of gas to the hopper, you can remove the plate from under it without losing any significant amount of particulate material from the bottom of the hopper.
According to a second aspect of the invention, an apparatus for implementing the method of the first aspect of the invention comprises a porous base on which a plate can be positioned evenly; a filling head for supplying particulate material to the upper surface of the plate; and means for moving air or gas through the base and openings in the plate to draw particulate material into these openings.
Preferably, the filling head comprises a hopper having a series of outlet openings, the positions of which relative to each other correspond to the relative positions of the holes in the plate, so that when the plate is in a predetermined position below the hopper, each hole in the hopper is aligned with a corresponding hole in the plate.
Preferably, the device comprises means for determining (detecting) the level, designed to determine the level of material in the form of particulate matter remaining in the hopper, and feeding means for supplying additional material in the form of particulate matter in the hopper.
FIG. 1A-1H are simplified diagrams showing various steps of implementing a method for manufacturing a cylindrical container according to the invention;
FIG. 2A-2E are elements of an alternative type of cylindrical container that can be filled using the method illustrated in FIG. 1A-H, with FIG. 2E the container is shown assembled;
FIG. 3 is a plan view of a device for implementing a modified version of the method, the device having a number of positions located around a turntable on which various operations are performed;
FIG. 4 is a schematic section of the first of these positions, which is made in the radial plane;
FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view made in a radial plane illustrating the second of these positions and the operations performed thereon;
FIG. 6 is a similar view of elements that are transported along the turntable from a second position to a third position;
FIG. 7-11 are radial sections of the third position at various stages of its operation;
FIG. 12-16 are radial sections of elements of the fourth position at various stages of its operation;
FIG. 17 and 18 are similar images of the fifth of these positions;
FIG. 19 is a similar image of a sixth position;
FIG. 20 shows elements of a seventh position;
FIG. 21 shows elements that are transported from a seventh position to an eighth position;
FIG. 22 is a perspective, partially exploded view of an inhaler for dispensing doses of a powdered drug from a finished container that forms part of a cartridge placed in an inhaler;
FIG. 23-26 are perspective images with a spatial separation of the details of the various elements of the cartridge;
FIG. 27 shows an assembled cartridge;
FIG. 28 is a schematic view with partial spatial separation of the details of the cartridge and the housing;
FIG. 29A-29F are schematic cross-sections illustrating the operation of a portion of an inhaler at various stages during its cycle of operation;
FIG. 30A-30F are sections illustrating the operation of other parts of the device at the respective stages of its operation cycle; and
FIG. 31 is a side view of an inhaler member;
FIG. 32 is an end view of this element;
FIG. 33 shows in front an alternative type of container that can also be filled according to the method of the invention;
FIG. 34 shows a detail of a given container; and
FIG. 35 is a side view of this container.
As shown in FIG. 1A-1H, the container comprises a housing 201 that has a series of through holes, for example, such as an opening 202, for accommodating appropriate doses of a drug therein. For clarity, the images in the case shown in FIG. 1A-1H, there are only 16 such through holes, although in practice a larger number of through holes can be made in the housing 201.
In the finished container, the housing 201 has a substantially cylindrical shape with radially spaced openings, and the openings are hermetically sealed by the outer sheet 204 and the inner sheet 206 of the multilayer foil, which are attached to the body 201 by heat sealing.
As shown in FIG. 1A, the casing 201 is a rectangular plastic plate, and on the lower side of the plate there are a number of parallel grooves 208 located at equal distances from each other. Grooves 208 divide the element into a number of parallel rigid strips, such as strip 210 extending across the width of the plate. Adjacent pairs of strips are connected by corresponding sections of smaller thickness such as section 212. The thickness of the plastic in these sections is such that adjacent strips can be rotated relative to each other. Through holes in the housing 201 are all made in strips.
The plate 201 is evenly laid on a base 214 of porous material so that the side of the plate on which there are no grooves is on top, and the upper surface of the plate 201 is covered with a layer of powdered drug 216 that covers one end of each of the through holes.
As shown in FIG. 1C, nitrogen is then passed down through layer 216, through holes and through base 214, causing material 216 to pass into each of the through holes. The porosity of the base 214 is such that the material 216 cannot pass through it. As a result, the base 214 prevents the exit of material 216 from the bottom of the through holes.
When the through holes are filled with material 216, any excess material that has not entered the through hole is removed by moving the resilient flexible scraper 218 over the top surface of the plate 201 (FIG. 1D). After this, the sheet 204 is heat-sealed to the upper surface of the plate 1 (201) (FIG. 1E), which is then turned over so that the sheet 206 can be similarly attached to the opposite side of the plate 1 (201) (FIG. 1F).
The flexibility created by the sections with a smaller thickness between the strips of the plate 201 allows the plate to be rolled (rolled) (Fig. 1G) into a substantially cylindrical shape, the strips extending axially along the cylinder and the grooves 208 being on its inner surface .
After that, two annular end caps 220 and 222 are put on the cylinder, one for each end of the cylinder. Each cover has an annular guide, such as guide 224, into which the strips enter and into which they are mounted in a tight fit. Thus, caps 220 and 222 prevent the cylinder from rolling out. The elements shown in FIG. 2A-2E correspond to the elements depicted in FIG. 1A-H, and corresponding elements are denoted by the same reference numbers increased by 30. Thus, the container comprises a housing 231 that is formed by rolling a plate (also indicated at 231) and which has a number of through holes, such as, for example hole 232, which are filled with a powdered medicament using the same method as shown in FIG. 1, and are sealed on one side by a first sheet of multilayer foil 234 and on the other hand by a second sheet of multilayer foil 236 attached to the plate 231 after turning it over.
It can be seen that the casing 231 has a larger number of through holes, such as aperture 232, compared with the casing 201 and, therefore, may contain a larger number of doses of the drug as compared to the casing 201. In addition, each of the grooves on the plate 231, for example, the groove 238 is wedge-shaped so as to facilitate rolling. Each of the covers 250 and 252 has diametrically opposite internal grooves, for example, grooves 256 and 258, which enable the container to be attached to the rotatable central part of the inhaler in which the container is to be used, and this fastening is carried out using a keyway connection.
As can be seen in FIG. 2A, the through holes are arranged so that they lie on the spiral path of the housing 231 when the container is assembled.
The device shown in FIG. 3, contains a rotary table 1 and eight positions 2-9 located around its periphery. In use, the turntable is rotated counterclockwise to transport elements on the turntable in turn to each of the positions, as described below.
As shown in FIG. 4, the device comprises a holder 10 designed to hold the container in the form of a rectangular plate with the possibility of its release. The holder 10 has a first rectangular frame part 12 having an inner peripheral rectangular flange (flange) 14, which borders a rectangular central hole 16. A perforated metal support 18 is placed in this hole. The holder 10 also has a second rectangular frame 20, which is mounted on the frame 12 with the possibility of rotation and which also has a peripheral flange 22 and a Central hole 24. The holder 10 is attached to the rotary table 1 with the possibility of disconnection using the plate 26 with the hole.
As can be seen in FIG. 4, position 2 includes a block 28, which has a central passage bore 30 that communicates with two posts (legs) 32 and 34. The passage bore 30 is selectively connected to a vacuum source, and block 28 is attached to a pneumatic cylinder 38, which can be brought in action for raising and lowering the block 28. The pneumatic cylinder 38, in turn, is suspended from the upper plate 40 (Fig. 3) by means of a drive means (not shown), driven to offset the node 38 and, therefore, the block 28 in the radial direction .
At the radial outer end of position 2, there is a roll of filter paper 42, and at position 2 there is a mechanism consisting of a punch and a die (not shown) for cutting filter paper into segments of a given length.
In use, the block 28 draws the cut piece of filter paper from the radial outer end of position 2, while a vacuum is applied to the passage hole 30 to hold the cut piece on the stands 32 and 34, in addition, the block 28 moves the cut piece of filter paper radially inward to the position shown in FIG. 4, and then lowers it onto the support 18. After that, the vacuum source is disconnected, so that when lifting the block, the filter paper remains in the holder 10.
After that, the holder 10 on the turntable 1 moves to position 3, which is shown in more detail in FIG. 5. Position 3 has a pneumatic gripper 44, which is attached to the upper plate 46 by means of a pneumatic cylinder 48.
The gripper 44 picks up the container 50 from the accumulator 52 located at the radial outer end of position 3, transports the container 50 to the position shown in FIG. 5, and installs it in the holder 10 on filter paper (indicated at 54). After that, the gripping device 44 is retracted, and the frame 20 is lowered onto the frame 12, so that the filter paper 54 and the container 50 are clamped between the shoulders (flanges) 14 and 22. The container 50 is a flexible plate having a grid of holes, one of which is indicated by pos. 56. The container is similar to the containers shown in FIG. 1A and 2A.
After that, the holder, together with the container and filter paper held therein (as shown in FIG. 6), moves to the filling position 4, which is shown in FIG. 7. In FIG. 6-21, the holder 10 is shown in simplified form for clarity.
Filling position 4 comprises a filling head 59 having a rectangular inlet manifold 58 that communicates with a pipe 60 through which nitrogen under pressure can be selectively supplied to the manifold. The collector 58 is sealed with respect to the rectangular upper frame part 62 by means of an annular seal 64. The frame part 62 has a central rectangular hole in which the diffuser 64 is arranged in the form of a perforated body part, the peripheral rectangular frame part 66 surrounds the part 62 and forms the first end part together with part 62 the hole in which the inlet tray 68 is placed, along which, in use, the powdered drug from the screw 70 is fed through the valve 72. The frames 62 and 66 also form a hole, placed opposite the specified tray 68 and designed to accommodate an ultrasonic level sensor 74. The peripheral frame has an additional hole on one side of its own through which the rod 76 passes. The end of the rod is attached to a rectangular plate 79, the longitudinal axis of which extends substantially perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 7.
The hopper 78 is sealed relative to the base of the frame 66 by means of an o-ring seal 80. At the bottom of the hopper 78 there is a linear grid of holes, one of which is indicated by pos. 82 and whose locations correspond to the locations of the openings in the container 50. The assembly located above the holder 10 with the container 50 may be lowered to the position shown in FIG. 9, in which the lower part of the hopper 78 abuts against the container 50 and the holes in the hopper 78 align with the holes in the container 50.
After that, the powdered drug 84 is fed into the hopper along the tray 68. Then, the sensor 74 determines the level to which the drug 84 is filled up at the end of the hopper that is opposite to the tray 68, and if this level is insufficient, the rod 76 extends, causing the plate 79 to redistribute drug 84 over the holes in the hopper.
After that, nitrogen is introduced through the pipe 60 and it passes through a diffuser 64 (which prevents the formation of a nitrogen stream that could adversely affect the distribution of particulate material 84), through the material 84, through the openings in the lower part (bottom) of the hopper 78 and through the holes in the container 50. Nitrogen, leaving the holes in the container 50, passes through the support 18, passing through the filter paper 54. This passing of nitrogen causes the powdered drug 84 to pass through the holes in the hopper 78 and into the holes in the container 50, however, the filter paper 54 prevents the displacement of the powdered drug from the bottom of the holes in the container 50.
After that, the filling head 59 is lifted up from the container 50, as shown in FIG. 11, and the next portion of the powdered drug is poured into the hopper for the next filling operation, and if necessary, it is leveled using the plate 79. Then, the filled container 50 and its holder 10 are transported using the rotary table 1 to position 5, which has its radial the outer end of the roll 300 of the laminate foil tape 301 and a feeding means (not shown) for feeding the foil from the roll through the punch 302 and the matrix 304 in which a rectangular hole is formed. The heat seal head 306 is mounted at the same end of position 5, and its installation in a position in which it is aligned with the hole formed by the matrix 304 is carried out using a pneumatic cylinder (not shown) that can be actuated to raise and lower the head 306.
The head 306 contains a heater 308 and a number of legs, one of which is indicated by pos. 310 and which are arranged in the form of a rectangular grid on the lower side of the head 306. Each leg is made in the form of a short hollow cylinder, the inner cavity of which communicates with a vertical passage, for example, aperture 312. The vertical passage openings, in turn, communicate with a horizontal common passage an opening 314, which may be selectively connected to a vacuum source (not shown).
As shown in FIG. 13, the punch 302 is also mounted on a pneumatic cylinder (not shown), which can be actuated to lift the punch 302, which causes the punch to cut a rectangular piece 313 from the foil section 301 that moves upward to come in contact with the head 306. When this happens, the passage opening 314 is connected to a vacuum source, which causes the legs on the head 306 to hold a piece of foil 313 on it.
The foil strip 301 is wider than the cut piece 313, and as a result, when the punch returns to the position shown in FIG. 13, a new piece of foil can be fed into position above the punch 302 using a reeling unit (not shown) located to the right of the elements depicted in FIG. 12, and this node is located on the opposite side of these elements with respect to the roll 300.
The pneumatic cylinder to which the head 306 is attached is mounted on the upper plate 316 (Fig. 3) using a drive mechanism designed to bias the head 306 in any radial direction. Thus, after the cut piece 313 is attached to the head 306, the head is lifted to the position shown in FIG. 15, and using the drive means, the head is moved radially inward to the position shown in FIG. 16, in which it is located above the container 50.
Then, the head 306 is lowered onto the container 50, as shown in FIG. 16. The multilayer foil of the cut piece 313 has a top layer (in contact with the legs on the head 306), which is essentially not affected by heat from the heater. However, the lowest layer of the multilayer foil is partially melted by heat from the heater 308, causing the cut piece 313 to adhere to the container 50 by heat sealing. After that, the passage opening 314 is disconnected from the vacuum source, and the head 306 is lifted and returned to the position shown in FIG. 12, leaving the container 50 sealed with a multilayer foil on one surface.
As shown in FIG. 17, then the container 50 and its holder 10 are transported to position 6, on which the container 50, the support (holder) 10 and the support 18 are removed from the turntable 1 and mounted on the support 320. After that, the upper part of the container 50 and the holder 10 are installed a similar support 322 and a perforated plate 324. The supports 320 and 322 are attached to a mechanism (not shown) that flips the elements shown in FIG. 17 in the direction indicated by arrows 326 in FIG. 18, so that the support 320 after this inversion becomes the uppermost. Then, the elements shown in FIG. 18, to position 7, containing a head (not shown) that detaches the upper portion of the support 320 and which has a suction device that is tightly attached to the plate 324 to force the filter paper 54 to be held on the plate 18. After that, the head is displaced from the container 50 grabbing support 320, support plate 18, and paper 54 with it, as shown in FIG. 19.
Then, transportation of the remaining elements shown in FIG. 19, to position 8, which is similar in shape and function to position 5 and which, therefore, includes a roll 326 of multilayer foil supplied to a node consisting of a die and a punch, which are similar to the punch 302 and the matrix 304. Cutting is performed using the punch and matrix a piece of multilayer foil, which is then supplied to the head 328 of the same type as the head 306. The head 328 is mounted at position 7 using the same design as that used at position 5 to secure the head 306, so that the head 328 can be radially offset but to the position shown in FIG. 20, in which it is located directly above the container 50. Then the head is lowered, engaging the cut piece of the multilayer foil with the container 50 by heat sealing.
In FIG. 21, the container 50 is shown in a filled state with hermetic seals (coatings), but still in the holder 10. The sheets of the multilayer foil are indicated by pos. 321 and 323. In this form, the container 50 and the holder 10 are served at position 9, in which the container 50 is removed from the holder 10 and rolled into the cylinder using a method similar to that described previously.
As shown in FIG. 22, an inhaler in which container 50 can be used comprises a housing 100 that has a substantially cylindrical portion and which is attached at its lower end to a mouthpiece 102 extending substantially radially relative to the main body of the housing 100. The opposite end of the housing 100 comprises a rotary element in the form of a cap 104, which is mounted to rotate on the rest of the housing 100. The cap 104 has a window 106 through which you can see the cartridge 108 located inside the housing 100.
As shown in FIG. 23-26, the cartridge 108 comprises a hollow cylindrical central portion 110 having an upper portion 112 with a reduced diameter, on which an upper hole 114 is provided, and there is a foot 116 integrally formed with the upper portion. The central portion 110 also has a lower portion 118 that has a larger diameter compared to section 112 and which at the junction with section 112 forms an annular shoulder 120. At section 118 there is an external screw thread 122, a radial hole 124 in its upper zone and two axially extending lower protrusions 126 and 128.
In the central part 110, a vertical axis 130 is placed, the upper part of which protrudes through the hole 114. In the upper part of the axis 130, a groove 132 is made for contacting the protrusion 136 on the lower side of the upper part of the cap 104 so as to provide a swivel type key connection. between the axis 130 and the cap 104. In the lower part of the axis 130 there is a radial crank lever 138, in which a radial groove 140 is made, which makes sliding contact with the protrusion 142 on the pin 144 located above the plate 146. The pin is aligned with a verst (not shown) in the central part 110, located at some distance from the hole 124 at an angle relative to it. When the cartridge is inserted, the plate 146 is attached to the inner side of the central part by appropriate means (not shown), and the pin 144 and the plate 146 include guide means (not shown) arranged so that turning the axis 132 causes axial displacement of the pin 144. As shown in FIG. . 25, the collar 120 supports the sleeve 150, which is rotatably mounted on the central portion 110 and which covers the upper portion 112.
The sleeve 150 has internal longitudinal acute-angled slots 152 and two diametrically opposite sets of external longitudinal ribs 154 and 156.
As shown in FIG. 25, the drug to be dispensed is contained in a cylindrical container 158 that has side walls containing a series of spirally arranged radial through holes, such as hole 159 (FIGS. 5 and 13), each of which contains a corresponding dose of material. The inner and outer surfaces of the side walls are covered with corresponding sheets of multilayer foil, which hermetically closes both ends of each hole. The container 158 is made using one of the methods described above.
The central portion 110 passes through the center of the container 158, which includes a lower end cover 160 having a partially helical groove (not shown) designed to come into contact with the thread 122, and an upper cap 162 that includes two diametrically opposite groups of grooves 164 and 166, which come in contact with groups of ribs 154 and 156 to provide a swivel type key connection between the sleeve 150 and the container 158.
The upper part of the axis 130 has a shoulder 133, which serves as a support for the ratchet element 168, which can rotate relative to the axis 130. The ratchet element 168 has an upper pin 170 that comes into contact with the arcuate guide 172 (Fig. 28A (? Fig. 28) ) on the underside of the cap 104 so as to provide a connection between the cap 104 and the ratchet mechanism member 168 at idle.
As shown in FIG. 28, the cap 104 can be removed from the rest of the housing 100 so as to enable insertion of the assembled cartridge 108 (such as shown in FIG. 10) into the housing 100 until the lower protrusions 126 and 128 of the center portion 110 fit into corresponding sockets 174, 176 (FIG. 23) in the lower part of the housing 100 to create a rotatable key-type connection between the central part 110 and the housing 100.
As shown in FIG. 28, the housing 100 comprises an upper groove 178 that interacts with a downward protrusion (not shown) in the cap 104 to create stops that define the boundaries of the permissible rotational displacement of the cap 104 relative to the rest of the housing 100.
The protrusions 126 and 128 create some clearance between the lower end of the central part 110 and the housing 100, thereby ensuring that the inner cavity of the central part 110 will be able to communicate with the air inlet 180 made on the lower side of the mouthpiece 102, which contains an air outlet 182, separated by a partition from the inlet 180. The container 158 is located at some distance from the housing 100 in order to create an outlet channel between the vertical inner ribs 182 and 184 (Fig. 29A), which which communicates with the outlet 182.
Thus, the inhaler has an air channel, shown by highlighted arrows, extending upward from the air inlet 180 through the central portion 110, through the hole 124 and the through hole containing the dose of the drug and combined with the hole 124, and then through the outlet channel down to the outlet hole 182. To take the dose of the drug from the inhaler, the user must turn the cap 104 from one end position to another and vice versa, causing the pin 144 to break the tight seal (coating) of foil on the through hole and causing the through hole thereafter to shift to a position in which it is aligned with the output channel. This operation will now be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 29A-29F and FIG. 30A-30F.
In FIG. 29A, the metering device is shown in the initial position in which pin 144 is retracted and all cells are hermetically closed. Rotating the cap 104 in a clockwise direction as shown by arrow 184 in FIG. 29B causes a corresponding rotation of the axis 130, which, in turn, causes the crank lever 138 to rotate so that the pin 144 is pushed out until it pierces the internal seal of the cavity 186 (FIG. 30B). During this operation, the groove 172 is offset relative to the pin 170 so as to prevent the ratchet member 168 from turning until the pin 170 comes into contact with the rear end of the groove 172. Subsequent further rotation of the cap (head) 104 in the same direction causes a corresponding rotation of the element 168, which can rotate relative to the sleeve 150 only in the clockwise direction. When this happens, the engagement of the tab 116 with the corrugated inner edge of the sleeve 150 prevents this sleeve from turning counterclockwise. When the acceptable clockwise rotation limit is reached, element 168 is in the position shown in FIG. 29C, and the pin 144 is in the position shown in FIG. 30C, in which it passes through aperture 186 and protrudes beyond it so as to pierce both the inner and outer sealed coatings.
Then, cap 104 is rotated in the opposite direction, as shown in FIG. 12d, causing the pin 144 to exit the hole 186. During the retraction of the pin 144, the groove 172 is displaced relative to the pin 170 so as to prevent the sleeve 150 from shifting accordingly (and therefore the container 158 will not shift) until the pin 144 is completely retracted from the hole. With further rotation of the cap 104 counterclockwise, the element 168 rotates due to the contact of the pin 117 with the groove 170, which, in turn, causes the sleeve 150 to rotate. Since the sleeve 150 is attached to the container 158 using a key-type connection, this displacement forces the container 158 rotate in the lower section 118 of the central part 110, which, in turn, leads to the displacement of the through holes, including the hole 186, along a partially spiral path due to the engagement of the cap 160 with a screw thread 122. By that moment, to when cap 104 reaches the limit of anti-clockwise rotation, as shown in FIG. 29F, hole 186 is in alignment with the outlet channel (FIG. 30F).
If then the user will inhale through the outlet 182 of the mouthpiece 102, the resulting air flow through the device displaces the drug from the opening 186 into the outlet and beyond the device through the outlet 182.
As shown in FIG. 23, the mouthpiece 102 also includes a grate 190 for trapping any freely moving (torn) pieces of sealing foil that move along the course of the air during inhalation.
Pin 144 is a pin of the type shown in FIG. 31 and 32, and has a shape that allows you to create the valves in sealed seals (coatings) of foil, while minimizing the amount of material displaced from the cells when inserting the pin. These flaps can be moved to allow material to escape, but they are attached to the rest of the foil in order to reduce the likelihood of tearing of the pieces of foil upon inhalation.
An alternative type of powder drug container is shown in FIG. 33 and is one rigid plate 350 having a central row of ten holes, such as hole 352, each of which contains a corresponding dose of the drug. The holes are hermetically closed by two strips of foil, one of which is indicated by pos. 354 and which extend along the plate 350. On both sides of the drug-containing holes are two rows of auxiliary holes 356 and 358, which serve to set the plate 350 to a predetermined position during use.
The central holes in the plate 350 can be filled using the device shown in FIG. 3-21, when modifying it so that the number and arrangement of holes in the hopper at the filling position corresponds to the number and arrangement of holes in the center row of the container 350. In the modified device, there is no rolling position 9 available in the previously described device.
1. A method of filling a container having a plurality of cells with a plurality of doses of a predetermined amount of particulate material, comprising placing each of the cells in a position in which they communicate with the reservoir of excess particulate material, forcing material to be introduced into the cells, and for filling the cells and separating the filled cells from the tank, with each dose being contained in the corresponding cell, and the volume of each cell determines the amount of dose contained in it, distinguishing the fact that the cells are formed by holes in the plate, and the displacement of the plate relative to the reservoir or reservoir relative to the plate leads to the installation of the cells in a position in which they communicate with the reservoir, while the particulate material is forced into the holes under gas pressure acting on the material in the form of particulates in the tank, while the container rests on a porous base, which allows gas to pass through the holes, while preventing the displacement of material in the form particulate matter through holes.
2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the particulate material is a powdered drug that is to be administered by inhalation.
3. The method according to any one of the preceding paragraphs, characterized in that before filling the cells are installed in a position in which they simultaneously communicate with a common tank.
4. The method according to any one of the preceding paragraphs, characterized in that the porous base has a sheet of material with small pores in it, and after use, this sheet is discarded.
5. The method according to any one of the preceding paragraphs, characterized in that after filling the cells are hermetically closed, as a result of which each dose is separately encapsulated in its corresponding cell.
6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that the plate is flexible and, after filling it, is rolled up or otherwise converted into a cylinder.
7. The method according to any one of the preceding paragraphs, characterized in that the tank is placed in a hopper having a grid of outlet openings, each of which is combined with a corresponding filling cell, and said gas is supplied to the hopper under a pressure sufficient to provide a forced feed material in the form of particles through the outlet in the cell.
8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that the dimensions of the outlet openings are selected so as to substantially prevent the passage of particulate material through these openings, except when the material is extruded under gas pressure.
9. A device for filling a container, characterized in that the said device comprises a porous base configured to evenly place a plate on it, a filling head for supplying particulate material to the upper surface of the plate, and means for passing air or gas through the base and openings in a plate for forced feeding of particulate material into said openings.
10. The device according to claim 9, characterized in that the filling head contains a hopper having a number of outlet openings, the positions of which relative to each other correspond to the positions of the holes in the plate, as a result of which, when the plate is placed under the hopper, each outlet of the hopper is aligned with the corresponding hole plate.
11. The device according to claim 10, characterized in that it contains means for determining the level of material in the form of particles remaining in the hopper, and a feeding means for feeding into the hopper additional material in the form of particles.
12. The device according to claim 11, characterized in that the hopper has an elongated shape, and the means for determining the level and the feeding means are located so that the material is supplied at one end of the hopper, and the level of the material is determined in the remote area of the hopper, the device also contains means for the distribution of particulate material in a hopper, designed to provide substantially the same filling height.
RU96123902A 1994-05-17 1995-05-16 Method of and device for filling containers RU2141914C1 (en)
RU96123902A RU96123902A (en) 1999-02-27
RU2141914C1 true RU2141914C1 (en) 1999-11-27
RU96123902A RU2141914C1 (en) 1994-05-17 1995-05-16 Method of and device for filling containers
FI (1) FI964594A (en)
BRPI0507397A (en) * 2004-02-06 2007-07-10 Microdose Technologies Inc vial packaging for use with an inhalation device
LU86048A1 (en) * 1985-08-21 1987-03-06 Wurth Paul Sa Device for the pneumatic injection of powdery materials into a pressure enclosure and application to the injection of solid fuels in a tank oven
DK0732952T3 (en) * 1993-12-18 2000-09-25 Merck Patent Gmbh powder inhaler
1996-11-15 FI FI964594A patent/FI964594A/en not_active Application Discontinuation