Abstract:
The invention relates to a dry powder inhaler, having a base housing, having a capsule receptacle for a capsule containing dry powder, having at least one needle- or blade-like opening means, movably arranged in relation to the base housing, for opening the capsule, and having a mouthpiece, through which the dry powder from an opened capsule can be inhaled. The invention is distinguished in that the opening means are fastened on the mouthpiece, and that the mouthpiece can be moved in respect to the base housing out of a normal position into an opening position which opens the capsule.

Description:
This application is the national stage of PCT/EP2007/001408 filed on Feb. 19, 2007 and claims Paris convention priority of DE 10 2006 010 089.1 filed Feb. 24, 2006. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a dry powder inhaler, having a base housing, having a capsule receptacle for a capsule containing dry powder, having at least one needle- or blade-like opening means, movably arranged in relation to the base housing, for opening the capsule, and having a mouthpiece, through which the dry powder from an opened capsule can be inhaled. 
     Such a dry power inhaler is known, for example, from EP-A-1 270 034, of from USP-A-2003/0000523. 
     In connection with such known inhalers, separate actuating means, which are fixedly connected with the opening means, are provided, and are pressed into the base housing for opening the capsule. 
     It is intended by means of the present invention to find an advantageous alternative solution as to how capsules can be opened in an advantageous manner. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     To this end, the invention provides that the opening means are fastened on the mouthpiece, and that the mouthpiece can be moved in respect to the base housing out of a normal position into an opening position which opens the capsule. By means of this it is advantageously achieved that no separate actuating means for opening the capsule need to be provided. In accordance with the invention the mouthpiece, which is an indispensable part of an inhaler, is given an additional function: based on its mobility and on the opening means arranged on it, it is used for opening the capsule. 
     For bringing the mouthpiece back into its normal position again, it can be provided in accordance with the invention that at least one spring element is provided between the housing and the mouthpiece. Therefore, when moving or pushing the mouthpiece out of the normal position into the opening position, it is necessary to make a movement force available which is greater than the spring force with which the mouthpiece is maintained in the normal position. In accordance with the invention one spring element or several spring elements can be provided. The provision of several spring elements, for example several helical springs arranged parallel with each other or coaxially inside each other, can have the advantage that a more uniform prestressing force is made available, by means of which tilting or jamming of the mouthpiece in the course of being changed from the opening position into the normal position is counteracted. 
     From the normal position, the mouthpiece is advantageously moved into the opening position in the axial direction in respect to the center longitudinal axis of the mouthpiece, or of the base housing. The mouthpiece can in particular be arranged in such a way that at least portions of it are introduced into the base housing in the course of being transferred from the normal position into the opening position. 
     It can be provided in accordance with an advantageous further development of the invention that at least one needle extending in the longitudinal direction of the mouthpiece is used as the opening means. In this case the needle can be arranged in such a way that in the normal position of the mouthpiece the needle does not enter into the capsule receptacle. When pushing down the mouthpiece, at least the tip of the needle extends into the capsule receptacle, into which the suitable capsule can be inserted. 
     A substantially sleeve-like intermediate element at the base housing can be used for guiding the mouthpiece from its normal position into the opening position. The mouthpiece is advantageously guided over the entire movement track of the mouthpiece. In this case the sleeve-like intermediate element is advantageously designed in such a way that in the process of inhaling the dry powder it conducts the dry powder from the capsule receptacle to the mouthpiece. For this purpose the intermediate element can have a sieve-like structure on the side facing the capsule receptacle, which during inhalation prevents the capsule receptacle from getting into the intermediate element, or into the mouthpiece. The sieve-like structure accordingly holds the capsule back inside the capsule receptacle. 
     By means of the dry powder inhaler in accordance with the invention it is furthermore intended to achieve that the insertion of the capsule can take place in an advantageous manner. This is achieved in that in accordance with the invention the capsule receptacle is arranged to be pivotable in relation to the base housing in such a way, that at least portions of it can be pivoted out of the base housing for introducing a capsule. Thus, an easy and user-friendly introduction of the capsule into the capsule receptacle can take place, based on the pivotable arrangement of the capsule receptacle. 
     In this connection it is conceivable that the pivot axis around which the capsule receptacle is pivotable, extends perpendicularly in relation to the center longitudinal axis of the mouthpiece or of the base housing. Accordingly, the capsule receptacle is then pivoted laterally out of the base housing. 
     Furthermore, it has been advantageously provided that the pivot axis, around which the capsule receptacle can be pivoted, is arranged offset in relation to the center longitudinal axis of the mouthpiece or of the base housing. Because of this non-centered arrangement of the pivot axis it has been achieved that the capsule receptacle is easily accessible even at a small opening angle. 
     For the pivotable arrangement of the capsule receptacle, on its side facing away from the mouthpiece, the base housing can provide a pivoting element comprising or supporting the capsule receptacle which, in its not pivoted-out normal position, terminates flush, at least to a large extent, with the exterior of the base housing. By means of this it is achieved that, in the normal position of the pivoting element, the pivoting element advantageously fits into the base housing. 
     The pivoting element as such can have a U-shaped exterior contour in a lateral view, which can extend from the front over the underside as far as the back of the base housing. This has the advantage that pivoting-out of the pivoting element can take place, for example, by grasping the front and back of the pivoting element with two fingers. To this extent the pivoting element can be pivoted in a simple way from the normal position into the pivot position and thereafter, following the insertion of the capsule, can be pivoted back out of the pivoted position into the normal position. 
     In this case the capsule receptacle is advantageously arranged between the two U-legs of such a pivoting element. Then the capsule receptacle can be embodied as one piece with the pivoting element, or can be fastened on the pivoting element as a separate component. 
     The capsule receptacle as such advantageously has a depression, which is embodied to be slightly larger than the capsule, and which is followed by surfaces extending in a funnel-shape toward the depression. By means of this it is achieved that in the course of inserting the capsule into the capsule receptacle the former automatically takes up the intended position in the depression. When opening the capsule, the capsule is located in the depression; therefore no lateral excursion of the capsule can take place when the opening means impinges on the capsule. 
     Advantageously the longitudinal axis of the depression of the capsule receptacle extends obliquely in relation to a center longitudinal plane of the base housing. In this case the longitudinal axis of the depression can enclose an angle of approximately 45° with the center longitudinal plane of the broad side of the base housing. Such an angle has the advantage that, with the capsule receptacle pivoted-up, the capsule finds its own way into the depression. Furthermore, the capsule can be removed in a simple way out of the depression after the inhaler has been used. 
     Moreover, the capsule receptacle can be delimited by a substantially perfectly circular upper edge. By means of this it is possible to make available a definite termination, or connection with the underside of the sleeve-like intermediate element which faces the capsule receptacle. Moreover, a suction inlet for suctioning in the course of inhalation can be provided in the area of the upper edge. Here, the suction inlet is advantageously arranged perpendicularly in relation to the center longitudinal axis of the housing, or respectively of the mouthpiece. 
     In accordance with the invention it is furthermore advantageous if the capsule receptacle has a storage space for the storage of capsules. It is possible by means of this to carry along a certain reserve of capsules in the inhaler. It is conceivable here that, when the capsule receptacle is pivoted-out, the storage space is accessible for the introduction of capsules to be stored, or the removal of stored capsules and, when the capsule receptacle is pivoted-in, it is not accessible. When transporting the inhaler with the capsule receptacle closed, the capsules are stored, safe against loss, in the storage space. 
     Further details and advantageous embodiments of the invention can be taken from the dependent claims and the following description, in which two exemplary embodiments, which are represented in the drawings, are described in greater detail and explained. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
       Shown are in: 
         FIG. 1 , a perspective plan view of a dry powder inhaler in accordance with the invention with the cover placed thereon, 
         FIG. 2 , a front view of the inhaler in accordance with  FIG. 1  without cover, 
         FIG. 3 , a lateral view of the inhaler in accordance with  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4 , a plan view of the inhaler in accordance with  FIG. 3  with the capsule receptacle pivoted open, 
         FIG. 5 , a perspective plan view of  FIG. 4 , 
         FIG. 6 , a view from above on the inhaler in accordance with  FIG. 1 , 
         FIG. 7 , a section along the line A-A in  FIG. 6 , 
         FIG. 8 , a section along the line D-D in  FIG. 6 , 
         FIG. 9 , a section along the line C-C in  FIG. 6 , 
         FIG. 10 , the sectional view in accordance with  FIG. 9  with the mouthpiece pressed down, 
         FIG. 11 , a view from above on the underside of the turned- over inhaler, and 
         FIG. 12 , the pivoting element with the cap pulled off. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The dry powder inhaler  10  represented in  FIG. 1  is comprised of a cover  12 , a base housing  14  and a pivoting element  16  pivotably arranged on the base housing. 
     The inhaler  10  in accordance with  FIG. 1  is represented without the cover  12  in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . A mouthpiece  18  is visible, which extends in the longitudinal direction of the inhaler  10  and is embodied to be hollow, through which the dry powder in an open capsule present in the inhaler can be inhaled. 
     As becomes clear in particular from  FIG. 3 , the pivoting element  16  extends from the front side  20  of the base housing over an underside  22  of the base housing as far as the back  24  of the base housing. Accordingly, the pivoting element  16  is embodied in a U-shape in a lateral view. In the normal position of the pivoting element represented in  FIGS. 1 to 3 , it terminates flush to a large extent with the exterior of the base housing  14 . 
     In  FIGS. 4 and 5  the pivoting element  16  is represented in a pivoted position in which it has been pivoted out of the base housing  14 . A capsule receptacle  26  arranged on the pivoting element  16  is accessible in the pivoted position. A dry powder capsule can be inserted into the capsule receptacle  26 . Following the insertion of the capsule, the pivoting element is pivoted back again into its normal position. 
     As can be seen from  FIGS. 7 and 8  in particular, the pivoting element  16  is arranged spaced apart from a pivot axis  30 , which is offset by the value x from the center longitudinal axis  28  of the base housing, or respectively of the mouthpiece. The pivot axis  30  furthermore extends perpendicularly in relation to the center longitudinal axis  28 . For a pivotable arrangement, the pivoting element  16  provides pivoting recesses  32 , which open in a V-shape, which are engaged by pivoting pins  34  oppositely located on the base housing  14  and facing each other. 
     It becomes clear from the sectional views in  FIGS. 7 ,  8 ,  9  and  10  in particular that the capsule receptacle  26 , which is fastened on the pivoting element  16 , has a depression  36 , which is embodied substantially slightly larger than the capsule to be received, which is followed by surfaces  38  extending in a funnel shape toward the depression. In this case the depression  36  extends obliquely in relation to the center longitudinal planes of the narrow side and of the broad side of the base housing and of the mouthpiece, wherein the section line A-A in  FIG. 6  extends along the center longitudinal plane of the broad side of the base housing  14 , or respectively of the inhaler  10 . This also becomes clear from  FIG. 5  in particular. The section line C-C in accordance with  FIG. 6  represented in  FIG. 9  extends along the longitudinal direction of the depression. 
     It becomes clear from  FIGS. 9 and 10  that two opening means in the form of needles  40  extending in the longitudinal direction are arranged on the mouthpiece  18 . Together with the needles  40 , the mouthpiece  18  can be pressed down along the longitudinal axis  28  toward the base housing.  FIG. 9  shows the normal position of the mouthpiece  18 , and  FIG. 10  the pressed-down opened position of the mouthpiece  18 . In the pressed-down position, the needles  40  protrude into the capsule receptacle  26 , as well as into the depression  36  of the capsule receptacle  26 . A capsule present in the capsule receptacle  26  is thus perforated, or respectively opened, when the mouthpiece  18  is pressed down. Two spring elements  42 ,  44  are provided between the base housing  14  and the mouthpiece  18  which, in the normal position, act on the mouthpiece with prestress. Thus, pressing-down on the mouthpiece  18  takes place opposite the prestressing force of the two spring elements  42 ,  44 . In the exemplary embodiment in accordance with the drawing figures, two spring elements  42 ,  44  in the form of helical springs are provided, which are arranged extending coaxially in respect to each other around the center longitudinal axis  28 . Because of providing these two spring elements, a uniform action on the mouthpiece  18  for movement from the opening position into the normal position is achieved. Tilting or jamming of the mouthpiece  18  in the course of the movement from the opening position into the normal position is hereby counteracted. 
     The mouthpiece  18  as such is guided by a sleeve-like intermediate element  46  arranged on the base housing  14 . The intermediate element  46  is embodied to be hollow and closes off the capsule receptacle  26  in the direction toward the mouthpiece  18  by means of a sieve-like structure  48 . This has the advantage that, in the course of retracting the needles  40 , the capsule, which has possibly been carried along by the needles  40 , is pushed off at the intermediate element  46 , or respectively the structure  48 , and falls back into the capsule receptacle  26 . Also, the capsule remains in the capsule receptacle  26  in the course of inhaling through the mouthpiece  18 , when air from the capsule receptacle  26  is aspirated via the intermediate element  46  and the mouthpiece  18 . 
     For securing the mouthpiece  18  in the normal position against the spring force of the spring elements  42 ,  44 , radially outwardly projecting retaining protrusions  54  are provided on the sieve-like structure  48  of the intermediate element  46 . These retaining protrusions  54 , which can be seen in particular in  FIG. 7 , work together with radially inwardly protruding retaining sections  56  provided on the mouthpiece  18 . 
     In order to make possible the inflow of air into the capsule receptacle  26  for inhaling, even in the pivoted-in state of the pivoting element  16 , the capsule receptacle has a suction inlet  52 , which can be easily seen in  FIG. 5 , on its substantially perfectly circular upper edge  50 . 
     The sequence when using the inhaler  10  represented in the drawing figures is as follows: in accordance with  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the pivoting element  16  is initially pivoted out of the base housing  14 . A dry capsule is subsequently placed into the capsule receptacle  26  and the pivoting element is pivoted into the base housing. Because of the surfaces  38  which, in the pivoted-in state, extend funnel-like obliquely downward, the capsule gets automatically into the depression  36 . Thereafter, for opening the capsule, the mouthpiece  18  is pressed axially downward against the force of the springs  42 ,  44 , as represented in  FIG. 10 . In the process, the needles  40  open the capsule. In the course of the automatic retraction of the mouthpiece by means of the spring elements  42 ,  44 , the capsule is pushed off the intermediate element  46  and falls back into the capsule receptacle  26 . Thereafter, the powder can be inhaled by placing the mouth on the mouthpiece  18  and subsequently sucking in air. In the process, the powder present in the capsule receptacle  26  is inhaled, together with the aspirated air, through the sieve structure  48 , the interior of the intermediate element  46  and the interior of the mouthpiece  18 . The pivoting element  16  can subsequently be pivoted out of the base housing  14 , and the empty capsule can be removed from the capsule receptacle  26  and recycled. 
     For the storage of capsules to be used later, the capsule receptacle can house a storage space, not represented in the drawing figures. Because of this it is possible to take along a certain supply in the inhaler. In this case the storage space is accessible, in particular with the capsule receptacle pivoted out, for the insertion, or respectively removal, of capsules to be stored, or respectively already stored, and is not accessible when the capsule receptacle is pivoted in. 
       FIGS. 11 and 12  show a variation of the inhaler  10 , which is represented inverted in  FIG. 11 , in which the pivoting element  16  is provided with two openings  58  which lead to a storage space and are closed by a cap  60 , which is displaceably conducted on the underside  22 . As represented by the two-headed arrow  62 , the cap  60  can be displaced in two directions in such a way that respectively one of the openings  58  is freed, so that a capsule  64  can be removed. The cap  60  has detents or snap-in knobs, by means of which it is maintained in the closed position, in which both openings  58  are closed, and in the two opening positions. The cap  60  can be provided on its top with slightly protruding strips  66 , which make the displacement of the cap, for example by means of the thumb, easier. 
       FIG. 12  shows the pivoting element  16  in the pivoted position and with the cap  60  pulled off, from which two capsules  84  can be removed one after the other. A magazine  68  for receiving a capsule  64  is connected with the one opening  58 . It is also conceivable that a magazine for receiving several capsules be provided in the pivoting element  16 , which can then be dispensed through a single opening  58  by means of a dispenser, not represented.