JP2011212252A - Powder inhalation device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a novel powder inhalation device by which the load of a patient can be reduced when inhaling by securing a passage for air to flow in when administering a medicine in a capsule by the inhalation of the patient and an operation for inserting the capsule into a housing chamber can be easily carried out.SOLUTION: The powder inhalation device has a block body 110 having a housing chamber Rc for housing the capsule C filled with a medicinal powder, a boring means D arranged in the outer side of the block body 110 and for boring a hole in the outer skin of the capsule C arranged in the housing chamber Rc, a medicinal powder receiving section M for receiving the medicinal powder of the capsule C in which the hole is bored in the outer skin, and a mouthpiece 130 for making it possible to inhale the medicinal powder of the medicinal powder receiving section M through a discharging path connected to the medicinal powder receiving section M, and is characterized by having supporting ribs R erected from the wall face of the housing chamber Rc and supporting the capsule C by bringing the erected projecting ends Rinto contact with the outer skin of the capsule C.

Description

  The present invention relates to a powder inhalation device suitable for administering a medicine in a capsule by a patient's suction, and performs a stable perforation operation to ensure a route through which air flows, thereby It is intended to reduce the burden on patients.

  A powder inhalation device that places a capsule filled with a powdered drug in a storage room, punctures the capsule, and sucks the powder in the capsule through the mouthpiece is often used in asthmatic patients and the like. Various proposals have been made so far, such as those in which drug powder is diffused during suction to achieve atomization (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP-A-11-212280

  By the way, in the conventional powder inhalation device, the inner diameter of the storage chamber is generally matched with the outer diameter of the capsule so that the capsule does not move when the capsule is pierced. In such a case, the air that flows in from the outside due to the patient's suction is sucked through the discharge passage along with the powder from the hole drilled in the capsule. It was a burden. In this regard, if the piercing pin is enlarged and the hole of the capsule is expanded, the resistance force during piercing increases, and a large force is required to push down the piercing pin. There was concern that the flow of air would be hindered by the fragments. Further, when the capsule is put into the storage chamber, the frictional resistance when the outer shell of the capsule comes into contact with the storage chamber is large, the capsule needs to be pushed in strongly, and it has been required to be able to be inserted by a simple operation.

  The problem of the present invention is that the capsule can be stably supported during perforation, and the capsule can be accommodated while ensuring a sufficient path for air flowing in from the outside during suction and without requiring a large suction force. A new powder inhalation device that can be easily inserted into a chamber is proposed.

According to the present invention, there is provided a block body having a storage chamber for storing a capsule filled with medicinal powder, a punching means for making a hole in an outer shell of a capsule provided outside the block body and disposed in the storage chamber, and a punching means. Powder inhalation comprising a powder receiving part for receiving powder in a capsule with a hole in the outer skin, and a mouthpiece for sucking the powder in the powder receiving part through a discharge path connected to the powder receiving part A device,
A powder inhalation device comprising a support rib that rises from a wall surface of the storage chamber and that supports the capsule by bringing the rising tip into contact with the outer skin of the capsule.

  The support rib preferably extends in a direction along the axial direction of the capsule and is supported from the radial direction of the capsule.

  The support rib is preferably composed of a plurality of sheets arranged at intervals.

  The storage chamber preferably includes an axial support rib that protrudes from the side wall of the end of the storage chamber and has the tip abutted against the hemispherical dome portion of the capsule to support the capsule in the axial direction.

The support rib that rises from the wall surface of the storage room is made to contact the outer shell of the capsule, so it is possible to secure a space for air to flow while supporting the capsule so that it does not move, and to easily suck the powder. Can do.
Further, since the frictional resistance when the capsule is inserted into the storage chamber is reduced, a reliable insertion arrangement with a small force is possible.

  Since the support rib extends in a direction along the axial direction of the capsule and is supported from the radial direction of the capsule, the capsule can be supported stably, and between the capsule and the inner wall of the storage chamber In addition, an air flow path is formed.

  Since a plurality of support ribs are arranged at intervals on the wall surface of the storage chamber, the capsule support can be more stably and reliably perforated, and an air flow path can be provided between the support ribs. Become.

  Since the axial support rib for supporting the hemispherical dome portion of the capsule from the axial direction is provided on the end wall surface of the storage chamber, the capsule can be reliably supported during drilling.

1 is a side view showing a powder inhalation device of a lateral loading (horizontal direction) loading type according to an embodiment of a powder inhalation device according to the present invention. It is sectional drawing of the powder inhalation device shown in FIG. (A) is a Y ₁ -Y ₁ cross-sectional view of FIG. 2, (b) is a Y ₂ -Y ₂ cross-sectional view of FIG. ₂ , and (c) is another embodiment according to the present invention in which the arrangement of the support ribs is changed. a view showing an embodiment, a diagram corresponding to Y ₁ -Y ₁ cross-sectional view of FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which loads a capsule in the powder inhalation device shown in FIG. It is an exploded view of the powder inhalation device shown in FIG. It is the figure which showed the middle part of the powder inhalation device according to this invention, (a) is the top view which showed the middle part from the lower side, (b) is the rear view of (a), (c) (A) is a side view of (a), (d) is a perspective view of (a). It is the figure which showed other embodiment according to this invention, and is sectional drawing which shows the powder inhalation device of a vertical orientation (vertical direction) loading type. It is XX sectional drawing of FIG. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where capsules are loaded into the powder inhalation device shown in FIG. 7. It is an exploded view of the powder inhalation device shown in FIG.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described more specifically with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 schematically shows a powder inhalation device 100 of a type in which capsules filled with a medicine are loaded in a direction in which the longitudinal direction (axial direction) is horizontal, according to an embodiment of the powder inhalation device according to the present invention. 2 is a side view, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the powder inhalation device 100 shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view taken along line Y ₁ -Y _{1 in} FIG. 2, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line Y ₂ -Y ₂ , FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where a capsule is loaded on the powder inhaler device 100 shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 5 is a powder inhaler device 100 shown in FIG. FIG.

  In FIG. 2, 110 is a cylindrical block body having a storage chamber Rc for storing a capsule C filled with medicinal powder, and 120 has a cylindrical portion 121 in which the block body 110 is loaded. Is a body provided with a punching means D for forming a hole in the capsule C, and 130 is fixed to the tip of the cylindrical portion 121 of the body 120 and sucks the powder of the capsule C punched in the storage chamber Rc. It is the mouthpiece which has the suction inlet 131 for. In the powder inhalation device 100 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the side on which the perforating means D is provided is the upper side, and the direction (axial direction) in which the storage chamber Rc for storing the capsule C extends in the longitudinal direction is the horizontal direction or the horizontal direction. This will be described as a direction.

  The block body 110 is composed of four parts: a core part 111, an upper part 112, a middle part 113, and a lower part 114.

The core part 111 has a storage chamber Rc in which the capsule C can be stored. The capsule C has a hemispherical dome shape (hemispherical dome portion) at both ends and a cylindrical shape at the central portion, and the extending direction (penetration direction) of the central portion is an axial direction. The direction that intersects perpendicularly is the radial direction, and the direction that goes around the axial direction is the circumferential direction. The storage chamber Rc extends in the insertion direction of the block body, and the capsule is stored in a state in which the axial direction of the capsule coincides with the extending direction. The upper and lower housing chamber Rc are through holes n of the two respectively is formed, of which two through-holes n of the storage room Rc upper, the another by the outside air introducing path n _a which extends transversely (axially) Communicate. In the lower part of the core part 111, a powder receiving part M for receiving the powder extracted from the capsule C through the two through holes n on the lower side of the storage chamber Rc is formed. Although outside air introducing passage n _a are opened in the same direction as the housing chamber Rc (lid 111a side to be described later), medicine powder receiving unit M is open in the opposite direction to the opening direction of the housing chamber Rc (mouthpiece side) ing. A connection path m ₁ is provided on the exit side of the powder receiving part M, and the powder in the capsule C is sent from the powder receiving part M to the discharge path to be described later via the connection path m ₁ at the time of suction. It is.

Storage room Rc has a support rib R rising from the wall, it bears the capsule C is brought into contact with the rising headland R ₁ to the outer skin of the capsules C. As a result, a gap H shown in FIG. 3A is formed between the wall surface of the storage chamber Rc and the outer skin of the capsule C, so that air taken in from the outside can also flow into the gap H during suction. It becomes. Further, when the capsule C is inserted, the support rib R reduces the contact range with the capsule skin and reduces the frictional resistance, so that a reliable insertion arrangement with a small force is possible. In the example shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, in the radial cross section, the support rib R protrudes obliquely downward from the upper left and right sides of the wall surface of the storage chamber Rc, and protrudes upward from the lower side. Although the case of three is shown, the place and number of the support rib R formed on the wall surface of the storage chamber Rc can be selected as appropriate. For example, as shown in FIG. 3C, six support ribs R extending in the axial direction at intervals of 60 ° may be provided along the circumferential direction of the inner surface of the storage chamber Rc. At this time, by arranging the pair of support ribs R in a direction orthogonal to the insertion direction of the perforation pins described later, deformation of the capsule in the radial direction during capsule perforation can be suppressed. The support ribs R are preferably arranged at equal intervals.

Air introduction passage n _a a housing chamber Rc is opened and closed by a pivotable lid 111a of the pivot P as the base point to the core part 111, as shown in FIG. The lid 111a can be rotated by a hinge instead of the pivot P. Further, on both sides of the lid 111a, operation pieces 111c are provided as shown in FIG. A claw portion 111d is provided at the distal end of the operation piece 111c, and the claw portion 111d is locked by an opening provided in the cylindrical portion 121 of the body 120 to hold the lid 111a in a closed state. It is possible.

Lid 111a has a check valve 111b to allow the introduction of outside air into the air introduction passage _{n a} when the suction at the mouthpiece 130. In the illustrated example, the check valve 111b moves to the inside of the block body 110, and a state in which outside air can be introduced is shown.

As shown in FIG. 5, the upper part 112 is connected to the powder receiving part M via the connection path m ₁ , and a shape 1 a that becomes a part of the main path 1 for taking out the powder from the storage chamber Rc, It has a shape 2a that becomes a part of a branch part 2 for branching the main path 1 into a plurality of parts.

  The middle part 113 has a shape 1b that forms the main path 1 together with the shape 1a of the upper part 112, and a shape 2b that forms the branch portion 2 together with the shape 2a. Inside the middle part 113, two branch passages 3 are formed to guide the powder from the branch part 2, and as shown in FIG. 6 ((a) in FIG. 6 shows the middle part 113 from the lower side). (B) is a rear view, (c) is a side view, and (d) is a perspective view) are connected to an opening 3a formed on the outer peripheral surface of the middle part 113. As shown in the drawing, the branch portion 2 has an inner diameter larger than that of the main path 1 and the branch path 3. The opening 3a is a part of a discharge path for discharging the powder, and is connected to two straight grooves 113a for forming a straight path 4 extending in the central axis direction of the cylindrical portion 121. . The straight grooves 113a may be configured with the same diameter, or may adopt a structure that expands toward the mouthpiece 130 side, a structure that contracts the diameter, or the like. The straight path 4 can also be configured as an internal passage of the middle part 113.

  The lower part 114 is a part that connects the middle part 113 and the mouthpiece 130. The lower part 114 has an outer cylinder part 114a for fitting the front end side portion of the middle part 113 therein, and a straight path between the outer part 114a and the middle part 113 is connected to the middle part 113 by the connection between the outer cylinder part 114a and the middle part 113. 4 is formed.

  The lower part 114 is a part of a discharge path for discharging the powder between the middle part 113 and the shortest way of the powder passing through the straight groove 113a toward the suction port 131 of the mouthpiece 130. The detour 5 is provided so as to make a detour with respect to the direction along the axis O, that is, with respect to a path along the radial direction.

  The detour 5 forms the back surface of the lower part 114 (the surface facing the lid 111a side), collides with the powder from the straight groove 113a, and folds back to the block body 110 side, and the middle The tip surface of the part 113 is formed, and the second folded surface 5b that is caused to collide with the powder powder folded back on the first folded surface 5a to be folded back toward the mouthpiece 130 and directed toward the suction port 131 is provided. Have. The first folded surface 5a is formed of an annular recess formed on the back side of the lower part 114, and a suction port introducing hole (hereinafter referred to as a suction port 131) that leads to the suction port 131 of the mouthpiece 130 is formed in the raised portion surrounded by the folded surface 5a. 6) (referred to as “introducing hole”). The introduction hole 6 has an inclined surface 6a whose diameter increases toward the upstream side. The second folded surface 5b is formed of an annular recess formed on the front end surface side of the middle part 113, and the raised portion 113b surrounded by the folded surface 5b enters the inclined surface 6a of the introduction hole 6 and is introduced. It is a guide to the hole 6. That is, the detour 5 of the present embodiment is configured as an annular space formed over the entire circumference in the circumferential direction inside the block body 110, thereby dispersing the drug powder further to atomize the dispersion chamber. Therefore, atomization can be promoted.

D in FIG. 2 is a punching means for opening a hole in the capsule C, which is disposed at the upper part (upper side) of the storage chamber Rc of the block body 110. Perforation means D, as well as constructed integrally with the body 120, the a cylindrical portion D ₁ having an opening in the upper portion, is slidably supported by an elastic member such as a spring S to the inside of the cylindrical portion D ₁ , the pushbutton D ₃ which is exposed so as not to escape by the cap D ₂ from the opening of the upper end, is fitted and held on the upper inside of the pushbutton D _3, at the pressing of the pushbutton D _3, formed in the body 120 It comprises a perforation pin D ₄ for perforating the capsule C by introducing the tip portion into the storage chamber Rc through the through hole 121 a and the through hole n formed in the core part 111. The cylindrical portion D ₁ may be constructed separately from the body 120. Or a pin in the solid body piercing pin D ₄ has no opening inside but may be a hollow body open tip which opens the inside of the tip as shown. The perforated strip which is formed when perforating the capsule C when the hollow body of the tip open, can also be configured to accommodated and held in the interior space of the piercing pin D _4. The piercing pin D ₄ may be of a pipe-shaped as a hollow over the length throughout.

  The powder inhalation device 100 can be administered to a patient through the following operations.

  First, in order to arrange the capsule C in the storage chamber Rc, it is only necessary to open the storage chamber Rc by rotating the lid 111a around the pivot P as shown in FIG. Can be easily loaded.

Next, when the push button D ₃ is pushed in, the perforation pin D ₄ connected to the push button D ₃ is introduced into the storage chamber Rc against the elastic force of the spring S, and a hole is opened in the capsule C at the tip portion. Release the pushbutton D _3, to return to the previous position piercing pin D ₄ push with button D ₃ pressed by the elastic force of the spring S. Since the capsule C has a hole, the drug powder in the capsule C can be introduced into the drug powder receiving portion M through the through hole n.

Thereafter, when the mouthpiece 130 is swallowed and inhaled, outside air flows from the storage chamber Rc into the powder receiving part M through the check valve 111b, and the powder and air in the capsule C are mixed. The air containing the medicine is introduced into the main path 1 that is the entrance side of the discharge path via the connection path m ₁ , rises along the wall surface of the main path 1, and heads toward the branch portion 2. Since the main path 1 is formed so as to incline toward the branch portion 2, the drug powder can be efficiently atomized by contact with the wall surface of the main path 1. In addition, since air can pass through the gap H between the wall surface of the storage chamber Rc and the capsule C, the air can flow smoothly.

  In the branch part 2, the powder from the main path 1 is diverted from the branch part 2, so that the flow of the powder from the main path 1 changes in the branch part 2. The powder can be efficiently atomized by contact. Moreover, since the branch part 2 has a larger inner diameter than the main path 1 and the branch path 3 and is temporarily stored inside the branch part 2, the atomization of the drug powder is more effectively performed.

  The medicinal powder divided from the branch part 2 ascends or descends along the respective diversion paths 3 toward the straight path 4. Since the branch channel 3 is formed so as to be inclined toward the straight channel 4, the drug powder can be efficiently atomized even by contact with the branch channel 3.

  The medicinal powder that passes through the straight path 4 extends along the path along the axis O and is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the block body 110. It becomes possible to contact the discharge path for a long time, and the powder can be atomized more efficiently.

  The powder that has passed through the straight path 4 reaches the detour 5. Since the detour 5 extends so as to detour with respect to the path along the radial direction, the air containing the medicinal powder becomes longer in contact with the discharge path, and the medicinal powder can be atomized more efficiently. it can. Further, even if the discharge path is lengthened, the powder suction device 100 is not increased in size because it is retained on the inside and the outer peripheral surface of the block body 110.

  Thus, the mouthpiece 130 sucks the medicinal powder that has been atomized through the discharge path having the main path 1, the branch portion 2, the branch path 3, the straight path 4, the detour path 5, and the introduction hole 6. Inhaled through mouth 131.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the support rib R is preferably extended in the direction along the axial direction of the capsule, that is, from the powder receiving portion M toward the suction port 131 of the mouthpiece 130. This prevents the air flowing through the gap H between the wall surface of the storage chamber Rc and the outer skin of the capsule C from being obstructed by the support rib R.

  It is preferable that a plurality of the support ribs R are arranged at intervals on the wall surface of the storage chamber Rc. As a result, the support of the capsule C can be stably and reliably perforated, and the frictional resistance when the capsule C is inserted into the storage chamber Rc is reduced, so that the capsule C can be easily inserted. Further, when a thin wall portion is provided at the tip of the support rib R so that the thin wall portion can be elastically deformed, the capsule C is reliably supported after insertion even when there is a variation in the size of the capsule C. It becomes possible.

The storage chamber Rc is preferably provided with axial support ribs Ra which protrudes from the end side wall Rc _1, it is brought into contact with the hemispherical dome of the capsule C tip for supporting the capsules C in the axial direction. As a result, the capsule C can be reliably supported from the axial direction, and the capsule C does not move during drilling.

The part where the support rib R is formed may be provided at a part avoiding the through hole n as shown in FIG. Further, only one or two support ribs may be provided, and the capsule may be supported by the tip of the support rib and the inner wall of the storage chamber. Further, when the number of ribs is small, stable support may be possible by increasing the width of the support rib (direction along the circumferential direction of the capsule). More stable support can be achieved by matching the distal end surface of the support rib to the outer shape of the capsule.
The support rib R is preferably arranged on the lower side of the capsule so as to receive pressure due to the insertion of the piercing pin. However, when the support rib is provided on the lower side of the capsule C, for example, a plurality (a pair) are provided. It is preferable that one support rib is constituted by the auxiliary ribs, and the interval between the auxiliary ribs is made smaller than the diameter of the hole formed in the capsule. As a result, while the air flow passage is secured, deformation around the opening portion is suppressed at the time of drilling, and reliable drilling is possible. Support ribs provided at other positions can also have the same configuration.
Although the supporting rib is a rib extending in the axial direction, the length and width can be set as appropriate, and may be divided in the axial direction.

  FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a side surface of a suction-type dispenser 200 of a type in which a capsule C is vertically loaded according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XX of FIG. FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing when the capsule C is loaded, and FIG. 10 is an exploded view of the same configuration. In addition, the same part as another form has the same code | symbol, and abbreviate | omits the description. In the powder inhalation device 200 shown in FIG. 7, the side on which the perforating means D is provided is described as the upper side, and the direction (axial direction) in which the storage chamber Rc for storing the capsule C extends in the longitudinal direction is described as the vertical direction.

In this embodiment, the capsule C can be accommodated from the vertical direction as compared with those shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 described above. The capsule C is configured by one perforation pin D ₄ , and the perforation means D is pivoted with respect to the core part 111. Although the capsule C is supported by the support rib R in that it can be opened and closed by rotating to the base point, the force when inserting the capsule C can be reduced. Since the capsule C is configured to extend along the axial direction of the capsule C and is supported from the radial direction of the capsule C, the capsule C can be stably supported, and the support rib R can be attached to the wall surface of the storage chamber Rc. Since the plurality of capsules C are arranged at intervals, the support of the capsule C is more stable, and the axial support rib Ra for supporting the hemispherical dome portion of the capsule C from the axial direction is provided on the end side wall Rc ₁ of the storage chamber Rc. When drilling Is to be a possible support reliably capsule C, can be loaded methods such capsules C are applied to different dosing unit.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to stably support the capsule at the time of perforation, and at the time of suction, it is possible to secure a sufficient path for the air flowing in from the outside without requiring a large suction force. A powder inhalation device that can be easily inserted into a storage chamber can be provided.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main path 2 Branch part 3 Divided flow path 4 Straight path 5 Detour 5a 1st return surface 5b 2nd return surface 6 Suction inlet introduction hole (introduction hole)
100 Powder inhalation device (horizontal loading type)
110 Block body 111 Core part 111a Cover body 111b Check valve 111c Operation piece 111d Claw part 112 Upper part 113 Middle part 113a Linear groove 114 Lower part 120 Body 121 Cylindrical part 130 Mouthpiece 131 Suction port 200 Powder suction device (vertical direction) Loading type)
C Capsule D Drilling means D ₁ Tube part D ₂ Cap D ₃ Push button D ₄ Drill pin H Gap M Powder receiving part m ₁ Connection path n Through hole na _Outdoor air introduction path R Support rib Ra Axial support rib R ₁ Standing up Tip Rc storage room

Claims (4)

A block body having a storage chamber for storing a capsule filled with medicinal powder; a perforating means provided outside the block body for making a hole in the outer shell of the capsule disposed in the storage chamber; and a hole in the outer skin by the perforating means A powder inhalation device comprising: a powder receiving part for receiving the powder of the opened capsule; and a mouthpiece for sucking the powder in the powder receiving part through a discharge path connected to the powder receiving part. ,
A powder inhalation device, comprising a support rib that rises from a wall surface of the storage chamber and supports the capsule by bringing the rising tip into contact with the outer skin of the capsule.   The powder inhalation device according to claim 1, wherein the support rib extends in a direction along the axial direction of the capsule and supports the capsule from the radial direction of the capsule.   The powder inhalation device according to claim 1, wherein the support rib is composed of a plurality of sheets arranged at intervals.   The said storage chamber is provided with the axial direction support rib which protrudes from the edge part side wall of this storage chamber, abuts the front-end | tip on the hemispherical dome part of the said capsule, and supports this capsule to an axial direction. A powder inhalation device according to claim 1.

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