EP1986721A2

EP1986721A2 - Inhaler

Info

Publication number: EP1986721A2
Application number: EP07722848A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ralf Thoemmes
Original assignee: Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH; Vectura Delivery Devices Ltd
Current assignee: Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH; Vectura Delivery Devices Ltd
Priority date: 2006-02-20
Filing date: 2007-02-19
Publication date: 2008-11-05
Also published as: NO20083487L; US20100139654A1; AU2007218261A1; KR20080108995A; CA2642745A1; WO2007096111A3; WO2007096111A2; JP2009527264A; BRPI0708109A2; SG170003A1; MX2008009325A; AU2007218261B2

Abstract

An inhaler is proposed for dispensing a powdered inhalation formulation from a blister strip with a multiplicity of blister pockets. The used part of the blister strip with emptied blister pockets is wound up by a watch spring or is pushed into a helical channel. A simple structure is thus permitted, wherein the used blister strip is separtaed from the still unused part.

Description

inhaler

The present invention relates to an inhaler according to the preamble of one of the independent claims.

The present invention relates to an inhaler for dispensing a powdered inhalation formulation from a blister strip having a plurality of blister pockets each containing a dose of an inhalation formulation.

GB 2 407 042 A discloses an inhaler with a rolled-up blister strip. For or during inhalation, one dose of the inhalation formulation is removed from each blister pocket, thereby emptying this blister pack. This can be done inhalation, for example, by inhaling a patient in that an air flow through the previously pierced or otherwise opened blister pocket is generated, so that the inhalation formulation located in the blister pack mixes with the air and is output in the desired manner. The emptied blister bags are each issued and must be disposed of.

WO 2005/037353 A1 discloses a similar inhaler, the part of the blister strip having already opened and / or emptied blister pockets - this part is also referred to in the present invention as "used

This is done by the blister strip forming an endless band which is movable in a double-flighted spiral with deflection This construction is complex, requires relatively high forces for further movement of the blister strip and does not allow Thus, there is a need for constructive solutions for optimally storing the used part.

The present invention has for its object to provide an inhaler, the optimized storage of a used part of a blister strip with empty blister pockets and / or the separation of used and unused blister pockets or parts of the blister strip to prevent or reduce contamination allows.

The above object is achieved by an inhaler according to one of the independent claims. Advantageous developments are the subject of the dependent claims.

A first aspect of the present invention is to wind the used part by spring force and / or to draw into a receiving space. In particular, this is done with a arranged in the receiving space clock spring which engages the free end of the used part of the blister strip. Thus, a very compact winding of the used part is made possible in a simple and cost-effective manner.

The inhaler preferably has a conveying device for stepwise advancement of the blister strip in order to be able to empty the blister pockets successively for inhaling the respective dose. According to a particularly preferred development, the conveying device is designed such that the blister strip can be moved stepwise in each case preferably exclusively by spring force to the next blister pocket weiterbewegbar. This allows a simplification of the operation, since - in particular with purely mechanical construction of the inhaler - a complete further movement of the blister strip from a blister pack to the next blister pack by a user is not required. Rather, it is sufficient to release or trigger, which can be achieved, for example, with relatively little force and, if necessary, very short movement to release the blister strip, so that it is moved by the spring force to the next blister bag.

According to a second, independently realizable aspect of the present invention, the used part of the blister strip is not drawn into a receiving space, but preferably only pushed into it. This allows a substantial simplification of the mechanics, in particular a reduction of the required parts. The receiving space is preferably formed as a channel, which runs in particular helical or helical. It preferably has a small channel width, which corresponds in particular at least substantially to the radial thickness of the used part of the blister strip. It is thus easy to obtain positive guidance of the part used. In particular, the used part is then "wound up" helically when it is pushed into the channel.

Particularly preferred is a conveyor of the inhaler, which is provided for the stepwise further movement of the blister strip, sufficient as the only drive and designed such that it on the one hand the still unused portion of the blister strip with not yet emptied blister pockets and on the other hand, the unused part in the receiving space or Channel slides. The conveyor is then preferably arranged between a reservoir of the inhaler for the still unused part and the receiving space.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, which can also be implemented independently, the inhaler has an additional device for compressing deflated blister pockets. This allows a substantial reduction in the required size of the receiving space for the used part of the blister strip, since the emptied blister pockets occupy a much smaller space after compression. Accordingly, the inhaler can be made particularly compact.

Particularly preferably, the conveyor and the receiving device simultaneously or sequentially, in particular by a common actuating element, for example by pivoting a lever operable. In particular, the additional device is formed by the conveyor.

According to a fourth, independently realizable aspect of the present invention, the receiving means is designed such that the used part of the blister strip is wound or bent in the same direction in which the still unused part of the blister strip, in particular in a reservoir, is wound or bent. This in turn allows a special - A -

ders compact and thus space-saving Aur winding or bending of the used part of the blister strip, so that the size of the receiving space and thus the size of the inhaler can be minimized.

According to a preferred embodiment, the winding plane of the unused portion of the blister strip and the winding plane of the used part of the blister strip lie in a common plane. In this case, the reservoir and the receiving space are arranged side by side. This allows in particular a minimization of the height or a particularly flat training düng of the inhaler.

According to an alternative embodiment, the winding plane of the unused part and the winding plane of the used part are superimposed. In this case, the reservoir and the receiving space are arranged one above the other. In particular, this would allow a minimization of the areal extent of the inhaler.

According to a fifth, independently realizable aspect of the present invention, the receiving space for the used part of the blister strip and the reservoir for the unused portion of the blister strip are separated from each other or separated from each other, in particular so that possibly in the opened and emptied blister pockets remaining remnants of the inhalation formulation - At least with normal use of the inhaler - do not reach the unused portion of the blister strip and can settle there, for example, undesirably outside. This could in fact lead to an inaccurate dosage, which can be excluded by the proposed separation, however.

Further aspects, features, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the claims and the following description of preferred embodiments with reference to the drawing. It shows

Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a proposed inhaler according to a first embodiment in the open state with an already fully used blister strip. and 2 is a schematic representation of a proposed inhaler according to a second embodiment in the opened state with a still largely unused blister strip;

Fig. 3 is a schematic representation of a proposed inhaler according to a third embodiment, which is very similar to the first; and

4 is a schematic representation of a proposed inhaler according to a fourth embodiment, which is very similar to the second one.

In the figures, the same reference numerals are used for the same or similar parts, even though a repeated description is omitted. In particular, the same or corresponding advantages and properties then result.

1 shows in a very schematic representation a proposed inhaler 1 according to a first embodiment, specifically in a cut-open state without lid or cover.

The inhaler 1 serves to dispense a preferably pulverulent inhalation formulation from a blister strip 2 with a multiplicity of blister pockets 3, each of which directly contains a dose of the in particular loose inhalation formulation. The powder 4 forming the inhalation formulation is indicated by way of example in FIG. 1 in the case of a blister pocket 3. For and in particular during inhalation, preferably one dose of the inhalation formulation is taken from a blister pocket 3.

The blister strip 2 is preferably formed band-shaped. Preferably, the blister strip 2 is finally formed, so does not form an endless or closed loop.

The inhaler 1 preferably has a reservoir 5 for the still unused blister strip 2 with not yet emptied blister pockets 3. In particular, the blister strip 3 is rolled up or wound up in the reservoir 5. At the Representation example, the reservoir 5 is formed so that the blister strip 2 can be moved out or pulled out as easily as possible. In particular, no partitions or inner guides are provided in the illustrated example, but the reservoir 5 is limited here only by preferably continuous side walls and flat sides. The winding or curvature plane of the unused blister strip 2-that is to say of the blister strip 2 in the reservoir 5-here corresponds to the plane of the drawing or a parallel plane.

In the illustrated example, the blister strip 2 is received directly in the reservoir 5. However, instead of this, a cassette, a container, a drum or the like can also be inserted with the blister strip 2 into the inhaler 1 or the reservoir 5.

The inhaler 1 has a mouthpiece 6 for a user, not shown. The individual emptying of the blister pockets 3 is effected by a removal device 18, preferably with a piercing element A.

The removal device 18 is shown here only schematically and is preferably arranged adjacent to the mouthpiece 6.

By means of the removal device 18, the respective blister pocket 3 is obviously, for example, pierceable or sliceable. In particular, the respective blister pocket 3 is obviously visible from the outside by means of the removal device 18, in that it is pierced or cut open by the piercing element A.

During inhalation, the respectively open blister pocket 3 is preferably emptied by suction. An air flow L of ambient air is sucked in and conducted by the removal device 18 through the opened blister pocket 3 in such a way that the loose inhalation formulation with the intake ambient air is emitted as the aerosol cloud 17.

The inhaler 1 has a conveyor 7 for the stepwise advancement of the blister strip 2, preferably by a respective blister pocket 3, in order to be able to feed the blister pockets 3 successively to the removal device 18 for emptying and inhaling the respective dose. The blister strip 2 is preferably deflected in the conveyor 7 at most by 90 °. This supports the desired ease of movement.

The conveyor 7, in the illustrated example, a drive wheel 8, which engage for example between the blister pockets 3 and so can promote the blister strip 2 form-fitting manner. The conveyor 7 is preferably operated manually. Possible structural details follow in the description of the second embodiment.

The inhaler 1 has a receiving device 9, in particular with a receiving space 10 for receiving or storing the used part of the blister strip 2.

The receiving device 9 is formed in the first embodiment such that the blister strip 2 after use - ie after emptying of the individual blister pockets 3 - is slidable into the receiving space 10, in particular wherein the blister strip 2 or used part is received in a defined and compact manner , For this purpose, the receiving space 10, for example, with a guide, not shown, or the like. Be provided. However, the receiving space 10 is particularly preferably provided with a channel or formed as a channel into which the blister strip 2 is slidable.

1 shows the inhaler 1 after repeated use and corresponding emptying of the blister pockets 3. The blister strip 2 is already completely conveyed out of the reservoir 5 in the illustrated state and at least for the most part received by the receiving device 9 or its receiving space 10, in the illustration example pushed into the canal.

The channel preferably has the smallest possible channel width, which corresponds at least substantially to the radial thickness of the used part of the blister strip 2.

The channel preferably runs at least substantially spirally or helically. However, other forms are also possible in principle. Lich, for example, the channel may meander and / or extend in another plane.

The receiving device 9 and in particular the inhaler 1 are preferably designed such that the used part of the blister strip 2 is wound or bent in the same direction, in which the still unused part of the blister strip 2 with not yet emptied blister pockets 3 in the inhaler 1 -. in particular in the reservoir 5 - recorded, in particular wound or bent. The uniform winding or bending direction applies in particular for other areas in which the blister strip 2 is guided in the inhaler 1, so for example from the reservoir 5 to the receiving space 10, that is generally for the blister strip 2. Due to the uniform Biegebzw. Winding direction of the blister strip 2, it is easier, the blister strip 2 - so the used part - as narrow and compact to bend or wik- no, so the receiving space 10 as small as possible and space-saving form. Furthermore, there are much lower conveying forces and thus ease of operation of the inhaler 1, when the blister strip 2 must be bent by a certain radius and was not previously bent in the opposite direction.

The conveyor 7 is sufficiently strong dimensioned in the representation example to push the used part of the blister strip 2 in the channel can. In particular, the blister strip 2 is therefore moved further forward or forward exclusively by the conveyor 7. In particular, the inhaler 1 only a single conveyor 7. This allows a simple and therefore cost-effective design of the inhaler 1 of a few components.

The conveying device 7 is preferably arranged between the reservoir 5 and the receiving device 9, in particular between the removal device and the receiving space 10, that is to say after the blister pockets 3 have been emptied.

The receiving space 10 is preferably separated from the reservoir 5, in the illustrated example in particular by the continuous partition 1 1. In this way can be prevented or at least minimized be that any residues of the inhalation formulation from the already emptied and opened blister pockets 3 fall out and can attach outside of the blister strip 2 in the region of the unused part, so still filled blister pockets 3. The separation of the receiving space 10 thus prevents or at least minimizes a possible contamination or incorrect dosage by said residues.

A second embodiment of the proposed inhaler 1 is explained in more detail below with reference to FIG. 2, which corresponds at least essentially to the representation according to FIG. In the following, only essential differences of the second embodiment compared to the first embodiment will be explained to avoid repetition. The previous statements and explanations to the first embodiment and generally to the present invention thus apply correspondingly or in addition.

In the second embodiment, the inhaler 1 or the suction device 9 is designed such that the used part of the blister strip 2 is wound up by spring force and / or pulled into the receiving space 10. For this purpose, the conveyor 9 preferably has a spring, in particular a clock spring 12, which is shown only schematically in FIG. 2 in the tensioned state.

The spring is arranged in the representation example in the receiving space 10 and preferably engages the free end of the used part of the blister strip 2. For example, the spring 2 is suspended at the end region in the blister strip 2.

The further the blister strip 2 is conveyed forward by the conveyor 7, the longer becomes the (used) part of the blister strip 2 extending into the receiving space 10, which is then wound up accordingly by the clock spring 12. However, other constructive solutions that effect the same or the like are possible here as well.

According to a particularly preferred development, the tension or tensile force of the spring, ie the spring force, is sufficiently high around the blister strip

2 to move forward and also to withdraw from the reservoir 5, depending on Construction, if necessary, also to handle. In this case, the conveyor 7 is then preferably designed such that the blister strip 2 can be gradually released and in each case preferably only by the spring force to the next blister pocket 3 is moved on. This allows a particularly simple operation and handling of the inhaler 1, since then only an unlock or release, for example by pressing a button, not shown, must be effected by a user, not shown. In particular, incomplete forwarding of the blister strip 2 from one blister pocket 3 to the next blister pocket 3 in the event of improper use can be ruled out.

In the illustrated example, the conveyor 7 is preferably formed, however, such that an actuating element, in particular a hand lever 13, must be pivoted by a user, not shown, to turn the drive wheel 8 step by step and thereby further promote the blister strip 2 by one step. The drive wheel 8 or the conveyor 7 is preferably provided with a freewheel and a corresponding turnstile, so that the drive wheel 8 when swinging back and forth and also in an incomplete pivoting of the hand Hebeis 13 in the desired manner only in one direction and in particular only in the desired steps is rotatable.

In the second embodiment, the inhaler 1 preferably has an additional device 14 for squeezing emptied blister pockets 3. The additional device 14 allows compressed blister pockets 3 to be compressed before the respective receptacle is received in the receiving space 10. Compression takes place in particular after the conveyor 7 or the conveyor wheel 8 and before the receiving space 10.

The compression of the emptied blister pockets 3 leads to a much smaller space requirement for the used part of the blister strip 2, so that accordingly the receiving space 3 and thus also the inhaler 1 can be made substantially smaller or more compact.

Particularly preferably, the additional device 14 is coupled to the conveyor 7 or formed by this. In particular, the cooperation mendrücken a deflated blister pocket 3 preferably immediately after the further promotion of the blister strip 2 by one step, ie the next still filled blister pocket 3. Most preferably, the additional device 14 with the actuating element of the conveyor 7, in particular so the hand lever 13 coupled.

In the illustrated example, the additional device 14 is formed by an extension 15 of the hand lever 13, the compression of a deflated blister pocket 3 causes complete pivoting of the hand lever 13 by the respective blister pocket 3 between the extension 15, which is provided with a corresponding contact surface, and a fixed in the representation example abutment surface 16 is clamped. Due to a corresponding leverage so a very effective compression of the emptied blister pockets 3 can be achieved. As a result, the blister strip 2 can then be wound up substantially more compactly by the receiving device 9-in the illustrated example by the watch spring 12-than by the blister pockets 3 which are not compressed.

A cloud 17 in FIG. 2 schematically indicates how the inhalation formulation during inhalation or atomization could be output by the inhaler 1.

In the third and fourth embodiments shown in Figs. 3 and 4, which correspond largely to the first and second embodiments, respectively, the inhalation formulation is discharged from the respective blister pocket 3 by gas or air under pressure. It is then an active inhaler 1; the preferably pulverulent, but possibly also liquid inhalation formulation is thus actively atomized or dispensed, and not by an air stream generated by inhalation during inhalation.

For this purpose, the inhaler 1 or the removal device 18 has a device 19 for providing pressurized gas. This may be, for example, a gas reservoir for compressed and / or liquefied gas or an example manually operable air pump. The removal device 18 has, for example, a schematically indicated supply line 20 in order to be able to supply the pressurized gas, in particular air, from the device 19 to the respective or opened blister pocket 3. The pressurized gas is directed into the blister pocket 3 to dispense and atomize the inhalation formulation, in particular to form an inhalable mixture of inhalation formulation and gas or air to produce an aerosol cloud 17. However, other constructive solutions are also possible here; in particular, the inhalation formulation from an opened blister pocket 3 may initially be required in a flow path, for example by gravity, vibration or the like, in order then to be discharged by the pressurized gas and to be atomized.

Individual features and aspects of the individual embodiments and variants can also be combined with one another as desired or used in other inhalers 1.

Claims

claims:

1. inhaler (1) for dispensing a preferably pulverformigen inhalation formulation of a blister strip (2) with a plurality of Blisterta- see (3), each containing a dose of the inhalation formulation, with a conveyor (7) for the stepwise advancement of the blister strip (2), with a device (18, 19) for the individual emptying of the blister pockets (3), and with a receiving device (9) with a receiving space (10) for receiving the used part of the blister strip (2) in particular with the emptied Blister pockets (3), characterized in that the conveying device (7) and / or receiving device (9) is or are formed in such a way that the used part is pushed into the receiving space (10) during further movement.

2. Inhaler according to claim 1, characterized in that the receiving space is formed as a channel.

3. Inhaler according to claim 2, characterized in that the channel has a channel width which corresponds at least substantially to the radial thickness of the used part.

4. Inhaler according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the channel is spiral or helical.

5. Inhaler according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conveying device (7) on Blisterstreifen (2) between the receiving space (10) and a reservoir (5) of the inhaler (1) for the still unused portion of the Blisterstreifens (2) with not yet empty blister pockets (3) attacks.

6. Inhaler according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conveying device (7) forms the only drive for moving the blister strip (2).

7. inhaler (1) for dispensing a preferably powdered inhalation formulation of a blister strip (2) with a plurality of blister pockets (3), each containing a dose of the inhalation formulation, with a conveyor (7) for stepwise advancement of the blister strip (2), with a device (18, 19) for the individual emptying of the blister pockets (3), and with a receiving device (9) with a receiving space (10) for receiving the used part of the blister strip (2) in particular with the emptied blister pockets ( 3), characterized in that the receiving device (9) is designed such that the used part is wound by spring force and / or pulled into the receiving space (10).

8. Inhaler according to claim 7, characterized in that the receiving device (9) has a spring, in particular a watch spring (12).

9. Inhaler according to claim 8, characterized in that the spring in the receiving space (10) is arranged.

10. Inhaler according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the spring acts on the free end of the used part.

1 1. Inhaler according to one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that the conveying device (7) is designed such that the blister strip (2) is gradually releasable and in each case preferably only by the spring force is gradually moved further.

12. An inhaler (1) for dispensing a preferably powdered inhalation formulation from a blister strip (2) with a multiplicity of blister pockets (3), each containing a dose of the inhalation formulation, in particular according to one of the preceding claims, having a conveying device (7 ) for stepwise advancement of the blister strip (2), with a device (18, 19) for the individual emptying of the blister pockets (3), and with a receiving device (9) with a receiving space (10) for receiving the used part of the blister strip ( 2), in particular with the emptied blister pockets (3), characterized in that the inhaler (1) has an additional device (14) for compressing emptied blister pockets (3).

13. An inhaler according to claim 12, characterized in that the additional device (14) allows compression of deflated blister pockets (3) before the respective recording in the receiving space (10).

14. Inhaler according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the additional device (14) and the conveyor (7) by means of a common actuating element, in particular by pivoting a lever (13), preferably successively or simultaneously, are actuated, in particular wherein the additional device (14) by the conveyor (7) is formed or integrated in this.

15. An inhaler (1) for dispensing a preferably pulverulent inhalation formulation from a blister strip (2) with a multiplicity of blister pockets (3) each containing a dose of the inhalation formulation, in particular according to one of the preceding claims, with a conveying device (7). for progressively moving the blister strip (2), with a device (18, 19) for individual emptying of the blister pockets (3), and with a receiving device (9) for receiving the used part of the blister strip (2), in particular with the emptied blister pockets (3), characterized in that the receiving device ( 9) is designed such that the used part is wound or bent in the same direction in which the still unused part of the blister strip (2) is wound or bent with not yet emptied blister pockets (3) in the inhaler (1).

16. An inhaler according to claim 15, characterized in that the winding plane of the unused part and the winding plane of the used part lie in a common plane.

17. Inhaler according to claim 15, characterized in that the winding plane of the unused part and the winding plane of the used part are superimposed.

18. Inhaler (1) for dispensing a preferably powdered inhalation formulation from a blister strip (2) with a multiplicity of blister pockets (3) each containing a dose of the inhalation formulation, in particular according to one of the preceding claims, with a reservoir (5). for the still unused blister strip (2) with blister pockets (3) not yet emptied, with a conveying device (7) for incrementally advancing the blister strip (2), with a device (18, 19) for emptying the blister pockets (3) one by one; with a receiving device (9) with a receiving space (10) for receiving the used part of the blister strip (2), in particular with the emptied blister pockets (3), characterized in that the receiving space (10) is separated from the reservoir (5).

19. Inhaler according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inhaler (1) is designed to be portable.

20. An inhaler according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the means (18, 19) for the individual emptying of the blister pockets (3) for dispensing the respective dose by pressurized gas, in particular compressed air, is formed.

21. An inhaler according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the blister pockets (3) are individually one after the other from the outside, in particular so that by inhalation during inhalation, an air flow (L) is sucked into ambient air to the respective dose with the ambient air as an aerosol cloud (17) output.

22. An inhaler according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inhaler (1) for receiving a finite blister strip (2) is formed.

23. Inhaler according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conveying device (7) deflects the blister strip (2) by at most 90 °.