Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US5881719?dq=5,960,411
Timestamp: 2014-03-13 14:34:00
Document Index: 754352486

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 2', 'art 2', 'art 3', 'art 2', 'art 3', 'art 3', 'art 2', 'art 3', 'art 3', 'art 3']

Patent US5881719 - Inhaler for administering medicaments from blister packs - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsThe present invention relates to an inhaler for administering medicaments (38) from blister packs (5), which has a housing with a mouthpiece (1) on one side, an air inlet opening (32) on the opposite side and, between them on the inside, a duct (7) which connects the mouthpiece (1) and the air inlet...http://www.google.com/patents/US5881719?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US5881719 - Inhaler for administering medicaments from blister packsAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS5881719 APublication typeGrantApplication numberUS 08/671,739Publication dateMar 16, 1999Filing dateJun 28, 1996Priority dateJun 30, 1995Fee statusLapsedAlso published asCA2225999A1, CA2225999C, CN1112222C, CN1189782A, DE19523516C1, DE69615033D1, DE69615033T2, EP0835148A1, EP0835148B1, WO1997002061A1Publication number08671739, 671739, US 5881719 A, US 5881719A, US-A-5881719, US5881719 A, US5881719AInventorsJoachim Goede, Wolfgang Gottenauer, Andre NarodyloOriginal AssigneeAsta Medica AktiengesellschaftExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (22), Non-Patent Citations (1), Referenced by (67), Classifications (11), Legal Events (10) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetInhaler for administering medicaments from blister packsUS 5881719 AAbstract The present invention relates to an inhaler for administering medicaments (38) from blister packs (5), which has a housing with a mouthpiece (1) on one side, an air inlet opening (32) on the opposite side and, between them on the inside, a duct (7) which connects the mouthpiece (1) and the air inlet opening (32), it being possible for at least one blister strip (5) to be inserted into the housing so that the covering foil (35) of the inserted blister strip (5) adjoins the duct (7). The housing has means for pressing out the individual cavities (31) of the blister strip (5), which means contain at least one plunger (10) with a curved plunger surface, which corresponds to the shape of the blister cavities (31), for engagement on the blister cavity.
8. Inhaler according to claim 1, wherein said plunger has a longitudinal axis and wherein said concave plunger surface includes an edge which lies in a plane which extends at an angle other than 90 longitudinal axis of said plunger, the plane of said edge intersecting a perpendicular plane extending in the longitudinal direction of the housing, such that the plunger engages said generally convex outer surface of one of said blister cavities asymmetrically.
9. Inhaler according to claim 1, wherein said plunger includes a longitudinal axis and said concave plunger surface includes an edge which lies in a plane which extends at an angle of 90 longitudinal axis of said plunger, said plunger connected to said housing by a lever, said lever pivotally connected to said housing, whereby, when said lever is depressed, said plunger moves in an arc about the pivot of said lever so that said edge first contacts a side of the generally convex outer surface of one of said blister cavities.
In order to achieve defined tearing-open of the covering foil when using customary blister packs, the plunger must engage asymmetrically on the blister cavity during the pressing-out operation. This is achieved, for example, by the pressing-out plunger itself having an asymmetrical cross-section, i.e. the edge of the curved plunger surface extends in a plane which, at an angle not equal to 90 longitudinal axis of the plunger, intersects a perpendicular plane extending in the longitudinal direction of the housing, so that the plunger engages firstly on one side of the outwardly curved blister cavity when it is pressed down. The covering foil then tears open firstly in this contact region, while it remains connected to the remaining covering foil on the opposite side of the cavity. A likewise asymmetrical engagement of the plunger on the blister cavity is achieved in a symmetrically designed pressing-out plunger if the latter is connected to the housing laterally by means of a lever arm in such a way that the plunger, when it is pressed down by the user, carries out a movement along an arc about the pivot of the housing part, and that the engagement on the blister cavity firstly takes place on one side. The pressing-out plunger of asymmetrical cross-section in the longitudinal direction can also be combined with the lever arrangement. Of course, the blister packs with asymmetrical cavities described above can also be used in an inhaler in which the pressing-out device engages asymmetrically on the blister cavity.
In the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 1, the pressing-out device is designed as a single lever 2 which constitutes the upper part 2 of the housing at the same time. The upper part 2 of the housing is connected to the bottom part 3 of the housing by means of a film hinge, the upper part 2 of the housing engaging slightly beyond the bottom part 3 of the housing in the fitted-together state. A mouthpiece 1, shaped essentially like a truncated cone, is attached to the narrow side of the bottom part 3 of the housing. Located in the single lever 2 is a rectangular recess 27 in which the approximately square grip plate 4 of the pressing-out plunger 10 engages (not visible in FIG. 1). The grip plate 4 is displaceable in the recess 27, it being possible for the said grip plate to be fixed in an engaging manner in the positions a, b, c or d by means of corresponding notches 28. Prior to the inhaling operation, the displaceable pressing-out plunger 10 must be pushed by means of the grip plate 4 over a blister cavity 31 which has not yet been emptied (not visible in FIG. 1), i.e. the pressing-out plunger 10 is positioned with the engaging function at one of the four pressing-out positions a, b, c or d. By pressing down the upper part (single lever) 2 of the housing, the blister cavity 31 located below the pressing-out plunger 10 is pressed out. In this embodiment of the inhaler, the pressing-out of a blister cavity 31 can take place not only with the index finger and thumb, but also with the whole hand, since the single lever 2 provides a broad application surface. In order to prevent slipping-off, it is additionally provided on the surface with longitudinally extending gripping grooves 35. The arcuate recess 36 in the upper part 2 of the housing and the gripping grooves 35 in the bottom part 3 of the housing facilitate the opening of the housing. In the fitted-together state, the housing is held closed by means of a pin 42 which engages in a cutout 41 in the mouthpiece 1 and the bottom part 3 of the housing. The pin 42 is attached to the upper part of the housing or single lever 2 and can be lowered in the cutout 41 when the single lever 2 is pivoted down. In order then to avoid the single lever 2 pivoting up, the mouthpiece 1, which is rotatable, is turned through about 30 in such a way that the opening operation is blocked, but the single lever 2 can nevertheless be pressed downwards to press out a blister cavity 31. To open the housing, the mouthpiece 1 is turned back in the opposite direction so that the part of the cutout 41 on the mouthpiece 1 exposes the pin 42 on the single lever 2, and the single lever 2 can be pivoted upwards.
FIGS. 9 and 10 are cross-sectional illustrations of the inhaler according to FIGS. 7 and 8 with a pressing-out plunger 10 designed for asymmetrical engagement on the blister cavity. It cannot be seen in the longitudinal section of FIG. 8 at what angle the edge of the curved surface 37 extends relative to the longitudinal axis of the plunger 10. If the angle is not equal to 90 perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the housing, i.e. to the air flow, so that the cross-section of the plunger is of asymmetrical design transversely to the longitudinal axis of the housing. Only in this way is it guaranteed that the severed covering foil, the tag 8, is aligned parallel to the air flow after the pressing-out operation and does not impede the air flow. This is to be explained again with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. FIG. 9 shows the inhaler with the housing flap 23 closed and a blister strip 5 inserted, the asymmetrical cross-section of the pressing-out plunger 10 being achieved in that the edge of the curved surface 37 of the plunger 10 extends at an angle not equal to 90 relative to the longitudinal axis of the plunger, and this plane of the edge intersects a perpendicular plane extending in the longitudinal direction of the housing. The curved surface 37 engages further around part of the corresponding surface of the blister cavity 31 than over the remaining part, such that the covering foil 39 is firstly torn open by the plunger 10 at a predetermined point. The blister strip 5 is pressed onto the bottom part 3 of the housing by the elastic webs 6 so that there is an airtight closure. The pressing-out plunger 10 is shaped asymmetrically in cross-section, so that the container film 33 is stretched to a greater extent on one side during the pressing-out operation (FIG. 10), and the covering foil 39 tears open at this point below the more greatly loaded container film 33 and remains connected to the remaining covering foil 39 on the opposite side. The medicament 38 drops through the supply opening 20 into the air duct 7. The tag 8 of the covering foil 39 hangs down, aligned parallel to the air flow, into the supply opening 20, extending right into the air duct 7.
Patent CitationsCited PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS3054503 *Apr 6, 1961Sep 18, 1962Sparks CorpPush-out-blister packageUS3669113 *Jun 18, 1969Jun 13, 1972England Eunice Cockburn HowellInhalation deviceUS4015717 *Aug 25, 1975Apr 5, 1977The Medical Dispenser CompanyTablet package for use in chronologically dispensing tabletsUS4074806 *Feb 18, 1977Feb 21, 1978Deena Packaging Industries, Inc.Tablet dispensing containerUS4953545 *Oct 18, 1989Sep 4, 1990Mccarty JerryDisposable respiratory medication dispersion chamberUS5301666 *Dec 14, 1992Apr 12, 1994Asta Medica AktiengesellschaftPowder inhalerUS5337740 *Aug 1, 1991Aug 16, 1994New England Pharmaceuticals, Inc.Inhalation devicesUS5349947 *Jul 15, 1993Sep 27, 1994Newhouse Michael TDry powder inhaler and process that explosively discharges a dose of powder and gas from a soft plastic pillowUS5492112 *Apr 14, 1994Feb 20, 1996Dura Pharmaceuticals, Inc.Dry powder inhalerUS5507281 *Aug 20, 1992Apr 16, 1996Boehringer Ingelheim KgDevice for initiating a mechanical switching operation in synchronism with the breathingAU645056A * Title not availableEP0211595A2 *Jul 29, 1986Feb 25, 1987Glaxo Group LimitedDevices for administering medicaments to patientsEP0315951A1 *Nov 8, 1988May 17, 1989Warner-Lambert CompanyPill dispenser with incrementally movable pill ejectorEP0469814A1 *Jul 29, 1991Feb 5, 1992Lilly Industries LimitedMedicament administering devicesEP0528764A1 *Aug 11, 1992Feb 24, 1993Sandoz Ltd.Inhaler for administration of powdery substancesFR2010520A1 * Title not availableGB1262085A * Title not availableGB2129691A * Title not availableGB2142246A * Title not availableGB2253200A * Title not availableGB2270293A * Title not availableWO1994008552A2 *Oct 12, 1993Apr 28, 1994Dura Pharma IncDry powder inhaler* Cited by examinerNon-Patent CitationsReference1 *International Search Report Dated Oct. 30, 1996.* Cited by examinerReferenced byCiting PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS6209538 *Mar 17, 1998Apr 3, 2001Robert A. CasperDry powder medicament inhalator having an inhalation-activated flow diverting means for triggering delivery of medicamentUS6415790 *Dec 7, 1999Jul 9, 2002Delsys Pharmaceutical CorporationDry powder delivery system apparatusUS6443152Jun 12, 2001Sep 3, 2002Becton Dickinson And CompanyMedicament respiratory delivery deviceUS6484715 *Jul 12, 1999Nov 26, 2002Ing. Erich Pfeiffer GmbhMedia dispenserUS6550477 *Jan 27, 2000Apr 22, 2003Innovative Devices, LlcDry powder medicament inhalator having an inhalation-activated flow diverting means for triggering delivery of medicamentUS6591832 *Feb 21, 2002Jul 15, 2003Saint-Gobain Calmar Inc.Dry powder dispenserUS6606992 *May 30, 2000Aug 19, 2003Nektar TherapeuticsSystems and methods for aerosolizing pharmaceutical formulationsUS6644309Sep 10, 2001Nov 11, 2003Becton, Dickinson And CompanyMedicament respiratory delivery device and methodUS6651341 *Oct 12, 2000Nov 25, 2003Microdrug AgFoil cutterUS6655379Mar 11, 1999Dec 2, 2003Nektar TherapeuticsAerosolized active agent deliveryUS6672304Mar 24, 2000Jan 6, 2004Innovative Devices, LlcInhalation actuated device for use with metered dose inhalers (MDIs)US6681768Jun 21, 2002Jan 27, 2004Sofotec Gmbh & Co. KgPowder formulation disintegrating system and method for dry powder inhalersUS6698425 *Apr 10, 1998Mar 2, 2004Astrazeneca AbPowder inhalerUS6722364Jan 12, 2001Apr 20, 2004Becton, Dickinson And CompanyMedicament inhalation delivery devices and methods for using the sameUS6729324Feb 11, 2002May 4, 2004Innovative Devices, Llc.Inhalation actuated device for use with metered dose inhalers (MDIs)US6810872 *Nov 2, 2000Nov 2, 2004Unisia Jecs CorporationInhalant medicatorUS6845772 *Dec 1, 2000Jan 25, 2005Innovata Biomed LimitedInhalerUS6871647 *Sep 18, 2002Mar 29, 2005Advent Pharmaceuticals Pty LtdInhalerUS6929005Jun 12, 2001Aug 16, 2005Becton, Dickinson And CompanyMedicament respiratory delivery device, cartridge and method of making sameUS6932082Feb 20, 2003Aug 23, 20053M Innovative Properties CompanySpacer or actuator for inertial removal of the non-respirable fraction of medicinal aerosolsUS6941947 *Dec 18, 2002Sep 13, 2005Quadrant Technologies LimitedUnit dose dry powder inhalerUS7040316 *Mar 3, 2004May 9, 2006Becton, Dickinson And CompanyMedicament inhalation delivery devices and methods for using the sameUS7080644 *Jun 25, 2001Jul 25, 2006Microdose Technologies, Inc.Packaging and delivery of pharmaceuticals and drugsUS7163013 *Oct 3, 2002Jan 16, 2007Alchemy Healthcare LimitedApparatus for the nasal or oral delivery of a medicamentUS7185651May 14, 2003Mar 6, 2007Nektar TherapeuticsFlow regulator for aerosol drug delivery and methodsUS7207330Jun 5, 2000Apr 24, 2007Innovata Biomed LimitedDelivery systemUS7219665Sep 4, 2000May 22, 2007Innovata Biomed LimitedDelivery deviceUS7249600 *Dec 11, 2002Jul 31, 2007Technology Innovation LimitedMedicament packaging and dispenserUS7270127 *Sep 3, 2002Sep 18, 2007Becton, Dickinson And CompanyMedicament respiratory delivery deviceUS7464704Nov 22, 2002Dec 16, 2008Innovata Biomed LimitedMedicament delivery assemblyUS7464706 *Sep 4, 2003Dec 16, 2008Mannkind CorporationUnit dose cartridge and dry powder inhalerUS7533668 *Apr 10, 1998May 19, 2009Astrazeneca AbDisposable inhalerUS7540285 *Mar 7, 2006Jun 2, 2009Becton, Dickinson And CompanyMedicament inhalation delivery devices and methods for using the sameUS7559325 *Apr 9, 2004Jul 14, 2009Novartis Pharma AgAerosolization apparatus with air inlet shieldUS7562769Mar 11, 2004Jul 21, 2009Brintech International LimitedFormulation and presentation of medicamentsUS7571723Mar 1, 2007Aug 11, 2009Innovata Biomed LimitedDelivery deviceUS7571724Mar 1, 2007Aug 11, 2009Innovata Biomed LimitedDelivery deviceUS7617822Jun 16, 2004Nov 17, 2009Rijksuniversiteit GroningenDry powder inhaler and method for pulmonary inhalation of dry powderUS7623040 *Oct 16, 2006Nov 24, 2009Checkpoint Systems, Inc.Smart blister packUS7726304Feb 10, 2004Jun 1, 2010Consort Medical PlcDispensing apparatusUS7810495Jun 19, 2006Oct 12, 2010Microdose Therapeutx, Inc.Packaging and delivery of pharmaceuticals and drugsUS7950390Aug 25, 2009May 31, 2011Microdose Therapeutx, Inc.Packaging and delivery of pharmaceuticals and drugsUS7954492Nov 9, 2005Jun 7, 2011Almirall, S.A.Pharmaceutical powder cartridge, and inhaler equipped with sameUS8012433 *Dec 21, 2010Sep 6, 2011Occhio Parc Scientifique Du Sart TilmanDevice for dispersing dry powdersUS8047203 *Jul 18, 2005Nov 1, 2011Quadrant Technologies LimitedUnit dose dry powder inhalerUS8066002Dec 19, 2005Nov 29, 2011Glaxo Group LimitedManifold for use in medicament dispenserUS8069851 *Jun 22, 2009Dec 6, 2011Novartis AgAeorosolization apparatus with air inlet shieldUS8071073Nov 22, 2005Dec 6, 2011Meda Pharmaceuticals Inc.Compositions comprising azelastine and methods of use thereofUS8156936Nov 2, 2007Apr 17, 2012Mannkind CorporationUnit dose capsules and dry powder inhalerUS8205614Aug 10, 2009Jun 26, 2012Innovata Biomed LimitedDelivery deviceUS8215300Apr 14, 2008Jul 10, 2012Mannkind CorporationUnit dose cartridge and dry powder inhalerUS8408200Oct 7, 1999Apr 2, 2013Novartis AgFlow resistance modulated aerosolized active agent deliveryUS8511302Apr 22, 2005Aug 20, 2013Innovata Biomed LimitedDose counter mechanisms for medicament delivery devicesUS8518919Nov 10, 2011Aug 27, 2013Meda Pharmaceuticals Inc.Compositions comprising azelastine and methods of use thereofUS8534281Dec 11, 2006Sep 17, 2013Glaxo Group LimitedManifold for use in medicament dispenserUS8550070Jun 20, 2002Oct 8, 2013Orion CorporationPowder inhalerUS8567394Dec 21, 2007Oct 29, 2013Almirall, S.A.Inhalation device for drugs in powder formUS8573202Aug 17, 2010Nov 5, 2013Microdose Therapeutx, Inc.Packaging and delivery of pharmaceuticals and drugsUS8590531Dec 19, 2005Nov 26, 2013Glaxo Group LimitedManifold for use in medicament dispenserUS20100000531 *Jun 13, 2007Jan 7, 2010Cambridge Consultants LimitedDry powder inhalersEP2377557A2Nov 22, 2005Oct 19, 2011MedPointe Healthcare Inc.Compositions comprising azelastine and methods of use thereofEP2486942A1Nov 22, 2005Aug 15, 2012Meda Pharmaceuticals Inc.Compositions comprising azelastine and methods of use thereofEP2522365A1Nov 22, 2005Nov 14, 2012Meda Pharmaceuticals Inc.Compositions comprising azelastine and methods of use thereofWO2001072605A1 *Mar 21, 2001Oct 4, 2001Cameron AllanContainers for individual doses of an inhalable pharmaceuticalWO2003030973A1 *Oct 3, 2002Apr 17, 2003Alchemy Healthcare LtdApparatus for the nasal or oral delivery of a medicamentWO2006058022A1Nov 22, 2005Jun 1, 2006Medpointe Healthcare IncCompositions comprising azelastine and methods of use thereofWO2013114371A1Jan 31, 2013Aug 8, 2013Protalix Ltd.Dry powder formulations of dnase i* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification128/203.15, 128/203.21, 604/58, 128/203.12International ClassificationA61M15/00Cooperative ClassificationA61M2015/0031, A61M15/0045, A61M2015/0048, A61M2202/064, A61M2015/0051European ClassificationA61M15/00C2Legal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionMay 3, 2011FPExpired due to failure to pay maintenance feeEffective date: 20110316Mar 16, 2011LAPSLapse for failure to pay maintenance feesOct 18, 2010REMIMaintenance fee reminder mailedFeb 12, 2010ASAssignmentOwner name: ALMIRALL, S.A.,SPAINEffective date: 20100127Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:MEDA PHARMA GMBH & CO. KG;REEL/FRAME:023928/0129Sep 26, 2006ASAssignmentOwner name: MEDA PHARMA GMBH & CO. KG, GERMANYFree format text: CHANGE OF NAME;ASSIGNOR:VIATRIS GMBH & CO. KG;REEL/FRAME:018296/0808Effective date: 20060123Owner name: VIATRIS GMBH & CO. KG, GERMANYFree format text: MERGER;ASSIGNOR:SOFOTEC GMBH & CO. KG;REEL/FRAME:018296/0801Effective date: 20051213Sep 12, 2006FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 8May 11, 2005ASAssignmentOwner name: SOFOTEC GMBH & CO. KG, GERMANYFree format text: CHANGE OF ADDRESS OF ASSIGNEE;ASSIGNOR:SOFOTEC GMBH & CO. KG;REEL/FRAME:015991/0502Effective date: 20050502Feb 7, 2003ASAssignmentOwner name: SOFOTEC GMBH & CO. KG, GERMANYFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:ASTA MEDICA AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT;REEL/FRAME:013735/0078Effective date: 20011105Owner name: SOFOTEC GMBH & CO. KG WEISMULLERSTRASSE 45FRANKFURSep 6, 2002FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 4Aug 23, 1996ASAssignmentOwner name: ASTA MEDICA AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT, GERMANYFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:GOTTENAUER, WOLFGANG;NARODYLO, ANDRE;GOEDE, JOACHIM;REEL/FRAME:008100/0156;SIGNING DATES FROM 19960626 TO 19960702RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services©2012 Google