Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
  • A61M15/00—Inhalators
  • A61M15/0028—Inhalators using prepacked dosages, one for each application, e.g. capsules to be perforated or broken-up
  • A61M15/0045—Inhalators using prepacked dosages, one for each application, e.g. capsules to be perforated or broken-up using multiple prepacked dosages on a same carrier, e.g. blisters
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
  • A61M15/00—Inhalators
  • A61M15/0028—Inhalators using prepacked dosages, one for each application, e.g. capsules to be perforated or broken-up
  • A61M15/003—Inhalators using prepacked dosages, one for each application, e.g. capsules to be perforated or broken-up using capsules, e.g. to be perforated or broken-up
  • A61M15/0033—Details of the piercing or cutting means
  • A61M15/0035—Piercing means
  • A61M15/0036—Piercing means hollow piercing means
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
  • A61M15/00—Inhalators
  • A61M15/0028—Inhalators using prepacked dosages, one for each application, e.g. capsules to be perforated or broken-up
  • A61M15/0045—Inhalators using prepacked dosages, one for each application, e.g. capsules to be perforated or broken-up using multiple prepacked dosages on a same carrier, e.g. blisters
  • A61M15/0046—Inhalators using prepacked dosages, one for each application, e.g. capsules to be perforated or broken-up using multiple prepacked dosages on a same carrier, e.g. blisters characterized by the type of carrier
  • A61M15/0051—Inhalators using prepacked dosages, one for each application, e.g. capsules to be perforated or broken-up using multiple prepacked dosages on a same carrier, e.g. blisters characterized by the type of carrier the dosages being arranged on a tape, e.g. strips
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
  • A61M15/00—Inhalators
  • A61M15/0028—Inhalators using prepacked dosages, one for each application, e.g. capsules to be perforated or broken-up
  • A61M15/0045—Inhalators using prepacked dosages, one for each application, e.g. capsules to be perforated or broken-up using multiple prepacked dosages on a same carrier, e.g. blisters
  • A61M15/0053—Inhalators using prepacked dosages, one for each application, e.g. capsules to be perforated or broken-up using multiple prepacked dosages on a same carrier, e.g. blisters characterized by the type or way of disposal
  • A61M15/0055—Inhalators using prepacked dosages, one for each application, e.g. capsules to be perforated or broken-up using multiple prepacked dosages on a same carrier, e.g. blisters characterized by the type or way of disposal the used dosages being coiled
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
  • A61M15/00—Inhalators
  • A61M15/0091—Inhalators mechanically breath-triggered
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
  • A61M15/00—Inhalators
  • A61M15/0091—Inhalators mechanically breath-triggered
  • A61M15/0096—Hindering inhalation before activation of the dispenser
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
  • A61M2202/00—Special media to be introduced, removed or treated
  • A61M2202/06—Solids
  • A61M2202/064—Powder

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a fluid dispenser device, and more particularly to a dry powder inhaler.
• Inhalers are well known in the state of the art. There are different kinds.
• a first type of inhaler contains a reservoir receiving a multitude of doses of powder, the inhaler being provided with dosing means allowing each actuation to separate a dose of this powder from the reservoir to bring it into an expulsion conduit to to be distributed to the user.
• Inhalers with individual reservoirs, such as capsules, which are to be loaded into the inhaler just prior to use thereof have also been described in the state of the art.
• the advantage of these devices is that it is not necessary to store all the doses inside the device, so that it can be reduced in size. By cons, the use is more complex, since the user is obliged to load a capsule in the inhaler before each use.
• inhaler Another type of inhaler is to package the doses of powder in pre-dosed individual tanks, then to open one of these tanks each actuation of the inhaler. This implementation ensures a better seal of the powder, since each dose is open at the time of its expulsion.
• various variants have already been proposed, such as an elongated blister strip or blisters arranged on a rotating circular disk. All types of inhalers described above and existing have advantages and disadvantages related to their structure and operation. Thus, with some inhalers, there is the problem of accuracy and reproducibility of the dosage at each actuation.
• the effectiveness of the distribution is also a problem with a number of inhalers.
• One solution to this specific problem has been to synchronize the expulsion of the dose with the inhalation of the patient. Again, this could cause drawbacks, that generally in this type of device, the dose is loaded into an expulsion conduit prior to inhalation, and then the expulsion is synchronized with the inhalation.
• the present invention aims to provide a fluid dispenser device, in particular a dry powder inhaler that does not reproduce the aforementioned drawbacks.
• the present invention aims to provide such an inhaler that is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and assemble, reliable of use, guaranteeing an accuracy of dosing and a reproducibility of the dosage at each actuation, providing an optimal yield as for the effectiveness of the treatment, by allowing to distribute a large part of the dose at the level of the zones to be treated, in particular the lungs, safely and effectively avoiding the risks of overdose, of dimensions as small as possible, while ensuring a seal and absolute integrity of all doses until their expulsion.
• the present invention also aims to provide such an inhaler provided with a blister strip, wherein the storage of the band portion used is optimized, and the risk of blocking the band minimized.
• the present invention therefore relates to a fluid dispenser device comprising a body, provided with a dispensing opening and at least one cover member movable between a closed position, in which it covers said dispensing orifice , and an open position, in which it discovers said dispensing orifice, said device further comprising an elongate flexible strip supporting a plurality of reservoirs each containing a dose of fluid or powder, reservoir opening means for opening a respective reservoir at each actuation, and displacement means for moving said flexible band before and / or during and / or after each actuation, to bring a tank full face to said tank opening means, the front end of said band flexible, in the direction of displacement thereof, being fixed to a receiving member rotatably mounted relative to said body, said receiving member being adapted to exert a tensile force on said elongated strip.
• said rotary reception element is rotated during opening and / or closing of said at least one hood element.
• said rotary reception element comprises a toothing cooperating with an actuating member secured to at least one hood element.
• said toothing cooperates with a non-return device, such as a finger, to prevent rotation of said rotary receiving element in the opposite direction to that which is imparted to it by said actuating member.
• said actuating member comprises a toothed rod driving said rotational receiving element in rotation in one of its directions of displacement, and sliding on said toothing without causing rotation of the receiving element in the other direction of displacement.
• said rotary reception element is rotated during the opening of said at least one hood element.
• said rotary reception element is rotated during the closing of said at least one hood element.
• said rotary receiving member cooperates with a loaded spring, in particular a helical spring, which urges it continuously in rotation, so that said receiving member permanently exerts a pull on the front end of the elongated strip.
• said spring is preloaded during assembly of the device, so that it exerts a maximum force on said rotary reception element at the beginning of use, said force decreasing gradually with each actuation of the device.
• said opening means comprise a fixed needle relative to said body, a reservoir being moved against said needle each time the device is actuated, said needle penetrating into said reservoir to empty it by means of the inhalation flow.
• said opening means are controlled by inhalation of the user, so that the reservoir is simultaneously opened and emptied by said inhalation flow.
• FIG. 1 represents a schematic cross-sectional view of a dispensing device according to a first advantageous embodiment of the invention
• FIG. 2 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1, showing an alternative embodiment of the invention, in the closed position,
• FIG. 3 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2, in the open position, and
• FIGS. 1 to 3 show two advantageous embodiments of a dry powder inhaler.
• This inhaler comprises a body 10 on which can be mounted sliding two parts 1 1, 12 forming a cover (visible in Figures 2 and 3) adapted to be open to open and load the device.
• the body 10 may be approximately rounded in shape as shown in the figures, but it could have any other suitable shape.
• the body 10 comprises a mouthpiece or inhalation 1 defining a dispensing orifice through which the user will inhale during actuation of the device.
• the covers 11, 12 can open by pivoting about a common axis of rotation, but any other opening means of the device is possible.
• the device could comprise a single cover instead of two.
• This blister strip 20 is advantageously constituted by a layer or base wall forming the cavities 21 receiving the doses of powder, and a layer or closure wall which sealingly closes each of said blisters 21.
• the blister strip 20 can be wound inside the body 10, preferably in a storage housing 11, and tape drive means 40 are provided to progressively unroll this blister strip and bring a respective individual reservoir or blister 21 in a dispensing position with each actuation of the device.
• the band portion 25 comprising the empty tanks is advantageously adapted to wind in another location of said body 10, preferably a receiving housing 15, as will be described in more detail below.
• the inhaler comprises reservoir opening means 30 preferably comprising means for piercing and / or cutting the closure layer of the blisters.
• the tank opening means advantageously comprise a needle 30, preferably fixed relative to the body 10, and against which a respective blister 21 is moved at each actuation. The blister is then pierced by said needle, which penetrates into said blister to expel the powder by means of the inhalation flow of the user.
• Displacement means 40 are also provided in the device, and are adapted to move the blister strip 20 before and / or during and / or after each actuation of the device.
• these displacement means 40 are also adapted to move the reservoir to be emptied 21 against said piercing and / or cutting means 30 during actuation.
• displacement means 40 may be biased by an elastic element, such as a spring or any other equivalent elastic element, said elastic element being preloadable during opening of the device.
• the displacement means 40 comprise an indexing wheel 40 which receives and guides the blisters. Rotation of this wheel 40 advances the blister strip 20. In a particular angular position, a given reservoir 21 is always in position to be opened by the opening means 30.
• means for positioning said wheel in rotation indexing 40 may be provided to accurately determine its angular position after each rotation.
• These positioning means may, according to an advantageous variant, comprise a projection or finger one end of which cooperates elastically with notches provided around said wheel 40.
• a complementary wheel could be provided to help guide and / or drive the blister strip 20.
• An actuation cycle of the device may be the following.
• the two side portions 1 1, 12 forming a cover are spaced apart from each other by pivoting on the body to open the device, and thus charge the device.
• the indexing wheel 40 can not move towards the needle 30 because it is retained by appropriate locking means 100. It is during inhalation by the user through the mouthpiece 1 that these locking means are released, which then causes the displacement of said indexing wheel 40 towards the needle 30, and therefore the opening of a tank 21.
• the reservoir 21 moves to its open position to be opened by the needle 30 which is fixed relative to the body.
• this needle can also be movable during the opening phase of the reservoir 21.
• the needle could move towards the reservoir 21 while the reservoir 21 moves towards the needle.
• the reservoir 21 and the needle move in the same direction during actuation, the reservoir 21 moving more rapidly in this direction so that it comes into contact with the needle to be opened.
• an inhalation triggering system which advantageously comprises a unit 60 that can be moved and / or deformable under the effect of inhalation, this unit 60 being suitable to release the blocking means 100.
• This unit 60 advantageously comprises a deformable air chamber 61.
• the inhalation of the user causes the deformation of said deformable air chamber 61, thus making it possible to release said blocking means 100 and therefore to allow the displacement of the indexing wheel 40 and a respective tank 21 to its open position.
• the tank 21 is only open at the moment of inhalation, so that it is simultaneously emptied. There is therefore no risk of loss of dose between the opening of the tank and its emptying.
• the inhaler further comprises a dispensing chamber 70 which is intended to receive the dose of powder after the opening of a respective tank 21.
• this dispensing chamber 70 is provided with at least one ball 75 which moves to the drum. inside said chamber 70 during inhalation, to improve the distribution of the air and powder mixture after opening a reservoir 21, in order to increase the efficiency of the device.
• the opening means 30, in particular the needle may be formed directly on said distribution chamber 70, for example at the end of a channel 69 leading to said chamber 70.
• the individual reservoirs or blisters 21 are formed on an elongate strip 20, which at the beginning is mainly stored as a coil in a storage housing 11 inside the body 10 of the device .
• this wound blister strip 20 is held by internal walls of said storage housing 11 without its rear end 28 (in the direction of movement of the blister strip 20) being fixed relative to said body 10, which allows an easier assembly of this blister strip coil inside the device.
• the blister strip 20 is moved by the user advantageously by means of the indexing wheel 40 which advantageously has at least one, preferably several recesses 41, of which the shape corresponds to that of the blisters.
• this indexing wheel 40 rotates, it drives the blister strip 20.
• blister strip advancing means for example by providing a profile on the lateral longitudinal edges of the blister strip, said profile being adapted to cooperate with appropriate drive means.
• holes along the lateral edges of the blister strip could also be used to advance the blister strip by means of toothed wheels cooperating with said holes.
• this used blister strip is automatically wound on itself to form a coil again.
• the front end 25 of this blister strip 20 is attached to a receiving member 50 rotatably mounted relative to the body 10.
• this rotary reception element 50 is adapted to exert a tensile force on the strip 20, especially on its front end 25.
• Figures 1 to 3 show two embodiments, wherein this pulling force is exerted either during the opening of the covers 1 1, 12 or during their closure.
• an actuating member 150 is adapted to cooperate with a toothing 55 of the receiving member 50, said actuating member 150 being integral with a cover member.
• said actuator member 150 cooperates with the toothing to rotate the reception element 50.
• a non-return system 250 such as a finger as shown in FIG. 1, also cooperates with the receiving element 50, in particular with the toothing 55, to prevent a rotation of the receiving member 50 in the opposite direction to that imparted by the actuating member 150.
• the actuating member 150 rotates the element 50 during the opening of the covers, then the non-return finger 250 block the receiving element 50 when closing hoods, and vice versa.
• the actuating member 150 is a flexible finger cooperating in one direction with the toothing 55 to rotate the receiving member 50, and sliding on the toothing in the other direction.
• the actuating member 150 is a toothed rod operating in a similar manner. It should be noted that the non-return system is not visible in Figures 2 and 3, but it is preferably also provided.
• Figure 4 shows another embodiment of the invention, wherein the pull of the receiving member 50 on the strip 20 is not related to the handling of the covers.
• a loaded spring 160 preferably a helical spring, is connected to said receiving element 50 to urge it continuously in rotation.
• the traction exerted on the strip 20 is permanent, ensuring that the band is always tight and well wound.
• a coil spring it can be preloaded during assembly, that is to say wound on itself. In this way, traction is maximum at the beginning of use, and decreases gradually with each actuation, because the spring is gradually relaxed.
• the receiving member 50 is disposed approximately in the center of the receiving housing 15.
• This can comprise guide walls, in particular an outer guide wall 16, curved, for example cylindrical, against which the strip will slide. Blisters 20.
• There may also be an internal guide wall 17 provided at the inlet of the receiving housing 15, and preferably extending approximately parallel to the outer guide wall 16 to form a guide channel 18 for the The guiding walls 16, 17 further promote good winding of the blister strip 20 around the receiving element 50.
• the present invention therefore makes it possible to provide a dry powder inhaler which notably provides the following functions:
• a plurality of individual doses of powder stored in sealed individual reservoirs for example 30 or 60 doses stored on a coil-wound web;
• this blister piercing being carried out by means of an inhalation detection system coupled to a preloaded release system; a suitably shaped drive engaged with the blisters to effect movement of the blister strip upon each actuation, and to bring a new reservoir into a position in which it is to be opened by the appropriate opening means; and reliably the portion of the worn strip, by winding around a rotary member adapted to pull on the strip each actuation.

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• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
• Anesthesiology (AREA)
• Biomedical Technology (AREA)
• Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
• Hematology (AREA)
• Bioinformatics & Cheminformatics (AREA)
• Pulmonology (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
• Medical Preparation Storing Or Oral Administration Devices (AREA)
• Containers And Packaging Bodies Having A Special Means To Remove Contents (AREA)
• Devices For Dispensing Beverages (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=38229234

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (6)

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Family Cites Families (17)

• 2006
  • 2006-12-11 FR FR0655411A patent/FR2909644B1/fr active Active
• 2007
  • 2007-12-10 US US12/517,967 patent/US20100319693A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2007-12-10 EP EP07871895A patent/EP2097337A2/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2007-12-10 CN CN2007800458465A patent/CN101557997B/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2007-12-10 CN CN2007800457443A patent/CN101563127B/zh active Active
  • 2007-12-10 JP JP2009540822A patent/JP5099721B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2007-12-10 WO PCT/FR2007/052463 patent/WO2008084153A2/fr active Application Filing

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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