FI84784B - Dispensing device - Google Patents

Description

1 84784

The dispensing device. - Utmatningsanordning.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for dispensing a mixture of propellant and product from a pressurized aerosol container. In a preferred embodiment, the product is a drug.

Aerosols containing a mixture of drug and propellant are commonly used, for example, in the treatment of upper and lower respiratory tract diseases. To treat such diseases, the drugs are administered to the patient in spray form by means of an oral or nasal inhalation device having a housing or sleeve into which a pressurized aerosol container is placed and a mouthpiece or nozzle leading out of the tubular housing. In use, the aerosol container is placed in a housing which is then held by the patient in a more or less upright position and the mouthpiece or nozzle of the inhaler is placed in the patient's mouth or nostril. At the same time, the patient inhales using an aerosol canister to open the canister discharge valve and deliver the drug from the canister through the mouthpiece or nozzle to the patient's mouth or nostril.

In all such devices, the patient removes the drug by pressing the portion of the aerosol container protruding from the housing. Under such compression, the aerosol container moves relative to the housing, thus opening the aerosol container discharge valve. For some patients, such as children, geriatric patients, arthritis patients, and the elderly, it is difficult to hold the inhaler in the mouth or nostril while pushing the aerosol container relative to the housing to open the outlet valve. Others have difficulty coordinating the movements of their hands when inhaling and for this reason the desired dose of medication may not be obtained.

It is an object of the present invention to facilitate the dispensing of medicament from such patients from an aerosol container and likewise.184784 to substantially close or cover the aerosol container, the aerosol can and the mouthpiece or nozzle when the device is not in use.

According to the invention, there is provided an apparatus according to the preamble of claim 1 for dispensing a mixture of propellant and product from a pressurized Aero solo tank with an outlet valve, characterized in that the cover is formed near one end of the housing by a pivotally mounted lid around the first pivot axis defined by the pivoting means for closing the pivoting position and vice versa, and the part left free by the housing cover, and this second pivot axis of the operating lever passes first parallel to the pivot axis about which the lid can be pivoted relative to the housing, so that when the lid is pivoted from the closed position to the open position both pivot axes are displaceable relative to each other and the part of the operating lever against the aerosol can is moved to its contact point in the aerosol can.

: The discharge spout can be constructed as a mouthpiece to be placed in the patient's mouth or it can also be formed as a nozzle to be inserted into the patient's nostril.

In preferred embodiments, the lid is hinged to the body and the operating lever is hinged to the lid.

Two embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying schematic drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view of an inhalation device according to a first embodiment of the invention, showing its lid in the open position and in the operating position of the device.

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Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the device of Figure 1.

Figure 3 corresponds to Figure 1, but shows another embodiment.

Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of the device of Figure 3.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, the inhalation device for the medicaments in the aerosol container comprises a hollow body 1 which is open at one end and in this description the open end is the upper end of the body for ease of explanation. When using the device, the patient normally holds the body in this position. The body has an outlet spout 2 which projects laterally close to the other end of the body, i.e. the lower end. The pressurized aerosol container 3 (Fig. 1) can be placed in the body 1 in an upside down position as shown in Fig. 1. The spindle or abutment piece 5 at the bottom of the body 1 engages the outlet valve part 4 of the container 3. The abutment piece 3 has an outlet channel 6 (Fig. 1). When the container 3 is pressed down relative to the abutment 5, the valve part 4 naturally remains held in place by the abutment and the mutual movement between the aerosol container ____: and the valve part opens the valve part 4 so that the dose of drug and propellant mixture "I discharges and passes; ** into the patient's mouth through the discharge spout 2.

The lid 7 is hinged close to the open top of the body 1. For this purpose, the cover 7 has internal pins 8 near its upper end, which fit into the holes 13 in the body. As a result of this hinge attachment, the cover 7 can be moved between the closed position and the open position, with the lower end closing the discharge spout 2 and the open spout 4 84784 . In use, the lid rotates about 180 ° to the position shown in Figure 1. The cover 7 has two outer pins 9, the centers of which are staggered with respect to the centers of the pins 8. In the vicinity of the upper end of the operating lever 10 there are holes il in which the pins 9 are positioned so that the lever is hinged to the frame through the cover. This lever 10 fits around the part of the body 1 which is not covered by the lid 7. In certain positions, the underside of the lever cover 12 acts as a fulcrum against the aerosol container 3. The diameter of the pins 8 is preferably about half the diameter of the outer pins 9. The pin 8 is arranged to move epicycloidically when the cover is lifted to tune the device and when the cover is pressed down to release the device. Alternatively (not shown) the pin 8 may be arranged to move hypocycloidically.

To tune the device ready for use, the patient preferably opens the lid 7 to the fully open position shown in Figure 1. The relative movement of the pins 8 and 9 moves the aerosol container 3 and the body 1 upwards relative to the lever 10 to a position where the aerosol container contacts the lower edge of the lever cover 12 and continued movement of the cover 7 causes the lever 10 to pivot up and out (Figure 1).

'* - To operate the device, the patient pushes the discharge spout 2 into his mouth and releases the aerosol by squeezing the body 1 and the lever 10 together. During compression, the lever cover. The underside 12 presses the aerosol container 3, causing the valve part 4 to discharge the dose through the discharge channel 6 and the discharge port ΓΙ 2 into the patient's mouth.

If necessary, the patient can take additional doses by repeatedly squeezing the body and the lever, or he can close the device by lowering the lid 7 onto the discharge spout 2.

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The second embodiment shown in Figures 3 and 4 is generally similar in structure and operation to · not shown in Figures 1 and 2 and is therefore not described in detail. In Figures 3 and 4, the same reference numerals as in Figures 1 and 2 are used to show the corresponding parts. In this context, however, several differences from the first embodiment must be noted. First, the arrangement of the pins Θ and 9 and the holes 11 and 13 is different. The pins Θ are formed outside the body 1 (and not inside the cover 7) and the holes 13 are formed eccentrically through the pins 9 of the cover 7 (and not through the body 1). The geometric effect is the same as that obtained with the first embodiment, but the second embodiment has the advantage of being easier to manufacture. Second, the end of the aerosol container far from the discharge spout is better covered than in the first embodiment, because flaps 14 are pivotally attached to the rest of the body 1 by an integral plastic hinge, the position of which is shown by broken line 15. The flap extends partially under the lever cover 12.

Although in both of the embodiments described above the container 3 is removable from the device to allow a new container to be inserted, the device may be designed to be disposed of after one container has been emptied, • .1 in which case the container can be replaced: '·· during manufacture and no longer * i “- removable .

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Claims (6)

6 ö 4 7 8 4 An apparatus for dispensing a mixture of propellant and product from an aerosol container (3) provided with an outlet valve, the device comprising a housing (1) for receiving the aerosol container (3) having a cam-like outlet (2) near one end and a cover for the outlet (2) and a housing (1) a pivotable operating lever (10), the pivoting movement of which against the aerosol container (3) causes an axial force on the aerosol container (3) to move it relative to the housing (1) and open the outlet valve (4) to discharge the mixture from the aerosol container (2), characterized in that the cover is formed near the other end of the housing (1) as a cover (7) pivotally attached to the housing, which is pivotable relative to the housing (1) by a first pivot axis (8) defined by fastening means enabling pivoting movement between the housing and the cover - (8) around the closed position in which it closes p the release opening (2), the outlet opening (2) in the open position and vice versa, and that the operating lever (10) is pivotally attached to the cover (7), so that it can be pivoted to allow pivoting movement between the operating lever and the cover. . around the second pivot axis (9) to (9) defined by the fastening members: · turn into a closed position against a part of the cover (7) of the housing (1) left free, and this second pivot axis (9) to (9) of the operating lever (10) runs on the first pivot axis (8) - (8), around which the cover (7) can be pivoted in one direction with respect to the housing (1), whereby when the cover (7) is pivoted from the closed position to the open position both pivot axes (8) - ( 8), (9) - (9) are displaceable relative to each other and thus the part (12) of the operating lever (10) facing the aerosol container (3) is displaceable at its point of contact in the aerosol container (3). Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the cover (7) has two pairs of pivot pins (8, 9), namely one pair (8) of pivot pins with a smaller diameter 7 84784, the pair being received by a corresponding pair of openings (13) in the housing (1) so that the pivot axis of the cover (7) with respect to the housing (1) is determined, and one pair (9) of pivot pins having a larger diameter, which pair is received by a corresponding pair of openings (11) in the operating lever (10) , that the pivot axis of the operating lever (10) with respect to the cover (7) is thus determined. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the cover (7) has a first pair of pivot pins (9) which are received by a corresponding pair of openings (11) in the operating lever (10), and that the housing (1) has a second pair of pivot pins (8) has a smaller diameter than the pins of the first pair (9) and are received in a respective pair of openings (13), which openings are formed in the region of the first pair of pivot pins (9) of the cover (7). Device according to Claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the pivot pin (8) having a smaller diameter has a diameter which corresponds approximately to half the diameter of the pivot pin (9) having a larger diameter. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a housing-shaped body (5) with an outlet channel (6) is arranged in the housing (1), to which the outlet valve (4) of the container (3) can be reproducibly received. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the part (12) in contact with the aerosol container (3) of the operating lever (10) is formed by a roof-like transverse wall part (12) of said lever (10). 8 84784 Pa te n tk ra. v