JP5638826B2 - Powder inhalation device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a powder inhalation device suitable for administering a powder in a capsule by a patient's suction, and intends to realize smooth suction of the powder taken out from the capsule.

  BACKGROUND ART Powder inhalation devices that administer powder in capsules by patient suction are frequently used in asthma patients and the like. Conventionally, as such powder inhalation devices, storage chambers for storing capsules filled with powders It has been known that, after making a hole in a capsule disposed in the storage chamber, the powder in the capsule is sucked through the mouthpiece (see Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent No. 3530004

  However, in the conventional powder inhalation device as described above, the bottom wall surface of the pin insertion hole extending vertically through the storage chamber and inserting the pin of the drilling tool flows out from the peripheral wall surface of the pin insertion hole to the outlet side. Since the corner connecting the bottom wall surface and the peripheral wall surface of the pin insertion hole is formed at a right angle from the passage, the accumulation of dust due to the stagnation of the outside air flow in the vicinity of the corner There is a problem in that sticking occurs and smooth suction of the powder cannot be performed. Further, such sticking of the powder is not preferable from a hygienic viewpoint.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a powder inhalation device capable of realizing smooth suction of a powder taken out from a capsule over a long period of time.

In order to solve the above-described problems, a powder inhalation device according to the present invention includes a storage chamber for storing a capsule filled with a powder, and an outside air through the storage chamber from the outside air inlet to an outside air outlet serving as a dust suction port. A powder inhalation device comprising: a main body portion having an external airflow passage for circulating a gas; and a punching tool that opens a hole through the capsule disposed in the storage chamber, wherein the external airflow passage is downstream of the storage chamber An outflow side passage, one end of which is connected to the outside air discharge port side and the other end is terminated by a side wall surface in the main body portion and is dead end, and the perforating tool is passed through the storage chamber and the outflow A perforating tool passage passage connected to a peripheral wall surface forming a side passage, and extending at least partially between the side wall surface of the outflow side passage and the peripheral wall surface, and the side wall surface Leave The concave curved surface connecting the said side wall and the peripheral wall continuously provided, the piercer passes through the passage, the ends of the drilling direction is characterized in that the continuously connected to the side wall. Here, “partially extends” means that the concave curved surface partially exists in the circumferential direction of the outflow side passage or in the direction intersecting the circumferential direction. In addition, the “circumferential direction” indicates a direction that goes around the extending direction of the outflow side passage as a central axis.

  In such a powder inhalation device, a capsule is disposed in the storage chamber of the main body, and after a hole is made in the capsule with a punch, the patient sucks from the suction port and flows into the external air intake of the main body. The outside air is accompanied by the powder in the capsule and is discharged from the outside air outlet of the main body through the perforating tool passage and the subsequent outflow passage, and the patient can take in the powder. At this time, the powder dropped from the storage chamber through the punching passage is received by the outflow side passage, and a concave curved surface is provided between the side wall surface and the peripheral wall surface of the outflow side passage. And is smoothly guided and discharged without being deposited and fixed on the corners of the peripheral wall surface.

  Therefore, according to the powder inhalation device of the present invention, the powder is not deposited and fixed in the outflow side passage, and smooth suction of the powder taken out from the capsule can be realized over a long period of time.

  In the powder inhalation device of the present invention, it is preferable that the concave curved surface is disposed on the outflow side passage on the side opposite to at least the side to which the punching device passage is connected.

Alternatively, in the powder inhalation device of the present invention, the outside air is circulated through the storage chamber from the storage chamber for storing the capsule filled with the powder and the outside air outlet serving as the powder suction port from the outside air intake port. A powder inhalation device comprising: a main body portion having an external airflow passage to be opened; and a punching device that opens a hole through the capsule disposed in the storage chamber, wherein the external airflow passage is provided downstream of the storage chamber. An outflow side passage having one end connected to the outside air discharge port side and the other end terminating in a side wall surface within the main body portion to make a dead end; and the outflow side passage through which the perforating tool passes through the storage chamber A perforating tool passage that is connected to a peripheral wall surface that forms a wall, and extends at least partially between the side wall surface and the peripheral wall surface and leaves the side wall surface and the side wall surface With the peripheral wall An inclined surface continuously connects provided, the piercer passes through the passage, the ends of the drilling direction is characterized in that the continuously connected to the side wall.

  In the powder inhalation device of the present invention, it is preferable that the inclined surface is disposed on the outflow side passage on the side opposite to at least the side to which the punching device passage is connected.

In the powder inhaler of the present invention shall of the piercer passes through the passage, the ends of the drilling direction is continuously connected to the side wall.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a powder inhalation device capable of realizing smooth suction of a powder taken out from a capsule over a long period of time.

It is sectional drawing along the axial direction of the powder inhalation device which is a reference example of this invention. It is an exploded view of the powder inhalation device shown in FIG. (A) is a bottom view of the second part, (b) is a rear view of the second part, (c) is a right side view of the second part, and (d) is a perspective view of the second part. It is. It is a side view of the powder inhalation device of FIG. It is sectional drawing along the axial direction of the powder inhalation device of FIG. 1, and shows the state which opened the cover body. It is principal part sectional drawing along the axial direction of the powder inhalation device which is the other reference example of this invention. (A) is principal part sectional drawing along the axial direction of the powder inhalation device of 1st Embodiment according to this invention, (b) is the powder inhalation device of 2nd Embodiment according to this invention. It is principal part sectional drawing along an axial direction. It is sectional drawing along the axial direction of the powder inhalation device which is another reference example of this invention. It is sectional drawing along the axial direction of the powder inhalation device shown in Drawing 8, and shows the state where the lid was opened. It is an exploded view of the powder inhalation device shown in FIG.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings. In FIG. 1 , reference numeral 1 denotes a powder inhalation device which is a reference example of the present invention , and reference numeral C denotes a capsule filled with a powder.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the powder inhalation device 1 includes a main body 2 that discharges the powder taken out from the capsule C and discharges it to the patient's mouth, and a capsule C that is stored in a storage chamber 3 in the main body 2. Perforating means 4 for making holes.

  Specifically, the main body 2 has a mouthpiece 5 at one end (left side in FIG. 1) in the axial direction X, where the patient crawls or touches the mouth, and a storage chamber at the other end (right side in FIG. 1). 3 has an openable / closable lid 6 that enables loading and unloading of capsules C into and from 3. The lid body 6 is provided with an outside air inlet 7 for taking in outside air by the patient's suction, and the mouthpiece 5 is provided with an outside air outlet 8 serving as a suction port. In the main body 2, an external airflow passage 10 is formed through which the external air sucked from the external air inlet 7 to the external air outlet 8 is circulated through the storage chamber 3.

In this reference example , the external air flow passage 10 is connected to the take-out part S1 for taking out the powder from the capsule C and the discharge side of the take-out part S1, and the path (the path of the internal space) is lengthened or the flow is changed. This mainly comprises a dispersion part S2 that disperses and refines the powder and a diffusion part S3 that is connected to the discharge side of the dispersion part S2 and diffuses the powder. In addition to these elements, an element that imparts spin to the flow and an element that rectifies the flow may be added to the external airflow passage 10 (not shown).

  The take-out part S1 of the external airflow passage 10 is provided on the downstream side of the storage chamber 3 and at least one extending along the axial direction X on the upstream side of the storage chamber 3, here, one inflow side passage 11 and the downstream side of the storage chamber 3. At least one, in this case, one outflow side passage 12 extending along the axial direction X, and pins 33a and 33b as piercing tools, which will be described later, pass through the inflow side passage 11, the storage chamber 3, and the outflow side passage 12 respectively. It has at least one that communicates with each other, here, two punching tool passages 13a and 13b that are spaced apart in the axial direction X. The inflow side passage 11 and the outflow side passage 12 are positioned with the storage chamber 3 in between in the radial direction (direction orthogonal to the axial direction X).

  In addition, one end of the outflow side passage 12 is connected (opened) to the outside air discharge port 8 side, and the other end is terminated in the main body 2 by the side wall surface 12a and becomes a dead end. The lower ends of the punching tool passages 13 a and 13 b (ends in the punching direction of the pins 33 a and 33 b) are connected to the upper side of the peripheral wall surface 12 b that forms the peripheral surface of the outflow side passage 12. At the bottom of the storage chamber 3, a recess 3 a is formed that receives the powder taken out from the capsule C and is depressed downward, that is, in the punching direction of the pins 33 a and 33 b. Instead of the recess, a rib (not shown) may be provided so as to provide a predetermined gap between the lower side of the storage chamber 3 and the capsule C. Further, the inflow side passage 11 has one end exceeding the punching tool passage 13a and terminating in the main body 2 and the other end connected (opened) to the outside air intake 7 side. You may terminate in a connection position with the passage 13a.

  Further, at least partly between the side wall surface 12a and the peripheral wall surface 12b of the outflow side passage 12, a concave curved surface such as a curved surface or a spherical shape that smoothly guides the powder to the outside air outlet 8 side. 12c is formed. In the illustrated example, the concave curved surface 12c is formed as a continuous connection between the side wall surface 12a and the peripheral wall surface 12b. Further, here, the lower portion of the corner between the side wall surface 12a and the peripheral wall surface 12b, that is, the side of the peripheral wall surface 12b facing the side (upper side) to which the punching passages 13a and 13b are connected and the side wall surface 12a. The concave curved surface 12c is formed in the corner part formed by these. Moreover, although the concave curved surface 12c consists of a single circular arc in the example of illustration, it may consist of two or more circular arcs.

  The dispersion part S2 of the external airflow passage 10 is connected to the discharge side of the outflow passage 12 and extends obliquely with respect to the axial direction X and the radial direction, and once receives the dust and the external air introduced from the inclined passage 14. The branch chamber 15 that branches into two after changing the direction of the flow, two branch passages 16a and 16b extending from the branch chamber 15 in an inclined direction with respect to the axial direction X and the radial direction, From the two detours 17a, 17b connected to the discharge side of 16b and radially inward while detouring in the axial direction X, and the combined flow path 18 connected to the discharge side of the detours 17a, 17b and finally joined together Become. The width (diameter) of the branch chamber 15 is larger than the width of the ramp 14 and the branches 16a and 16b. The powder mixed with the outside air is stirred and crushed and finely dispersed while passing through each path of the dispersion part S2.

  The diffusion part S3 of the external airflow passage 10 is connected to the discharge side of the combined flow path 18 and includes a diffusion path 5a that spreads toward the outside air discharge port 8, and the powder is diffused while passing through this diffusion path 5a. 5 is discharged from the outside air outlet 8.

  The lid body 6 provided at the other end in the axial direction X of the main body 2 allows continuity of the outside air into the outside air flow passage 10 when sucked by the mouthpiece 5, and the patient accidentally exhales from the mouthpiece 5. When the air is blown, a check valve 21 that closes the outside air inlet 7 is arranged. The check valve 21 is not necessarily provided in the lid body 6, and can be provided in any location in the external airflow passage 10.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the main body 2 is assembled in the axial direction X, and is fitted and held at a cylindrical casing 23 and one end of the casing 23 in the axial direction X. The mouthpiece 5, the first to fourth parts 24 to 27 housed and held in the housing 23, and the lid 6. The housing 23 is formed with two pin insertion holes 23a and 23b through which the pins 33a and 33b of the punching means 4 are inserted. In the following description, “front end side” means the side (left side in FIG. 2) where the mouthpiece 5 is located in the axial direction X, and “rear end side” means that the lid body 6 is located in the axial direction X. Side (right side in FIG. 2).

The first part 24 assembled to the rear end side of the mouthpiece 5 and inserted from the opening on the front end side of the housing 23 has a bottomed double cylindrical shape, and is between the outer cylinder 24a and the inner cylinder 24b. Is formed with an annular groove 24c. Further, the end 24b ₁ of the inner cylinder 24b protruding from the bottom to the front end side is fitted into the recess 5b of the mouthpiece 5, and the end 24b ₂ on the rear end side of the inner cylinder 24b is The peripheral surface is formed to slightly widen toward the rear end side. The inner peripheral surface of the inner cylinder 24 b forms the joint channel 18 in cooperation with the second part 25. In addition, an annular flange 24d is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the outer cylinder 24a so as to be in contact with one end (tip) of the housing 23 and positioned in the axial direction X when assembled.

  The second part 25, which is assembled to the rear end side of the first part 24 and inserted from the opening on the rear end side of the housing 23, has a substantially cylindrical shape, and the conical recess 25a and the center thereof are formed on the front end side surface. It has a projecting conical raised portion 25b and a hemispherical portion 25c that forms the branch chamber 15 in cooperation with the third part 26 on the rear end surface. As also shown in FIG. 3, grooves 25 d and 25 e extending in the axial direction X are formed on a part of the outer peripheral surface of the second part 25. These conical recesses 25a, raised portions 25b, and grooves 25d and 25e cooperate with the first part 24 to form the detours 17a and 17b. Furthermore, from the hemispherical portion 25c, a groove 25f is formed extending obliquely toward the rear end side. The groove 25f forms the inclined groove 14 in cooperation with a groove 26c of the third part 26 described later. Further, on the outer peripheral surface of the second part 25, a step part 25 g is formed that is in contact with the end part on the rear end side of the outer cylinder 24 a in the first part 24 and is positioned in the axial direction X.

  The third part 26 assembled to the rear end side of the second part 25 and inserted from the opening on the rear end side of the housing 23 has a substantially cylindrical shape, and the rear end side of the second part 25 is formed on the front end side. A recess 26a into which the end of the recess is inserted. A hemispherical portion 26b that forms the branch chamber 15 in cooperation with the hemispherical portion 25c of the second part 25 is formed in the concave portion 26a. A groove 26c is formed extending from the hemispherical portion 26b so as to be inclined toward the rear end surface and to form the inclined groove 14 in cooperation with the groove 25f of the second part 25. Further, the end portion on the distal end side of the peripheral wall forming the concave portion 26 a comes into contact with the step portion 23 c formed on the inner peripheral surface of the housing 23 and is positioned in the axial direction X.

  The fourth part 27 assembled to the rear end side of the third part 26 and inserted from the opening on the rear end side of the housing 23 has a substantially cylindrical shape, and includes the storage chamber 3, the inflow side passage 11, Outflow side passage 12 and punching tool passages 13a and 13b are formed.

  On the rear end side of the fourth part 27, the lid body 6 is connected to the fourth part 27 via a pivot P as a connecting portion so as to be opened and closed. A hinge may be applied to the connecting portion instead of the pivot P. Moreover, it can also comprise so that the cover body 6 may be mounted | worn by fitting or screwing. As shown in FIG. 4, locking pieces 6 a are integrally provided on both sides of the lid body 6. A claw portion 6b is provided at the tip of the locking piece 6a. The claw portion 6b is locked by a groove 23d provided on the outer peripheral surface of the housing 23 so that the lid body 6 is closed. Hold.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1, the punching means 4 is formed integrally with the casing 23 of the main body 2 and has an opening at the upper end, and a spring 31 on the inside of the cylinder 30. A push button 32 that is slidably supported by such an elastic member and is exposed so as not to come out from the opening of the upper end portion, and is fitted and held in a hole portion of the push button 32, and the punching tool is pressed by the push button 32. It comprises hollow pins 33a and 33b as punching tools for punching the capsule C by introducing the tip into the storage chamber 3 through the passage passages 13a and 13b. The pins 33a and 33b may be solid. Further, a cap 34 that is engaged by a screw or an undercut and prevents the push button 32 from coming off is provided at the upper end portion of the cylindrical body 30.

  In the powder inhalation device 1 configured as described above, in order to place the capsule C in the storage chamber 3, the locking pieces 6a of the lid body 6 are pushed inward from both sides, and the casing 23 formed by the claw portions 6b 5 is released and the lid body 6 is rotated about the pivot P as shown in FIG. 5, whereby the storage chamber 3 is opened and the capsule C can be easily loaded. .

  In order to suck the powder in the capsule C arranged in the storage chamber 3, first, the push button 32 is pushed. Then, the pins 33a and 33b connected to the push button 32 are introduced into the storage chamber 3 against the repulsive force of the spring 31, and a hole is opened in the capsule C at the tip portion.

  After opening a hole in the capsule C, the mouthpiece 5 is squeezed by the mouth and sucked. As shown by the arrow in FIG. 1, outside air flows into the storage chamber 3 through the check valve 21. And is introduced into the dispersion part S2 of the outer airflow passage 10 through the outflow side passage 12. At this time, the lower corner of the upstream side wall surface 12a of the outflow side passage 12 is a place where the powder dropped from the storage chamber 3 is easily deposited and fixed. In addition, a concave curved surface (R) 12c is provided, and the outside air that flows along with the powder in the outflow side passage 12 is smoothly guided toward the discharge side, so that the powder does not accumulate and adhere.

  In the dispersing portion S2, the powder is diffused and crushed by the flow shown by the arrow in FIG. 1 and discharged from the outside air discharge port 8 (suction port) of the mouthpiece 5 as fine and dispersed powder.

  Therefore, according to the powder suction device 1, the powder is not deposited and fixed in the outflow side passage 12, and the smooth suction of the powder taken out from the capsule C can be realized over a long period of time.

In addition, according to this reference example , the concave curved surface 12c is disposed below the corner between the side wall surface 12a and the peripheral wall surface 12b of the outflow side passage 12, so Accumulation and sticking to the corner formed by the lower side of the wall surface 12b and the side wall surface 12a can be reliably prevented.

Moreover, according to this reference example , since the dispersion | distribution part S2 was provided in the external airflow channel | path 10, the time and distance for which a powder contacts a discharge path can be lengthened, and it can refine | miniaturize a powder efficiently. it can. Further, the grooves 25d and 25e forming the detours 17a and 17b are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the second part 25, so that the discharge path can be effectively extended without changing the size of the main body 2. it can. Furthermore, in this reference example , by providing the branch chamber 15 in the dispersion part S2, the powder is further refined by contact between the powder and the contact between the powder and the wall surface due to the flow change in the branch chamber 15. can do. Moreover, since the width (diameter) of the branch chamber 15 is made larger than the width of the ramp 14 and the branches 16a, 16b, the outside air is efficiently stirred in the branch chamber 15. Further, when the detours 17a and 17b are provided in the dispersing portion S2, the route is extended inward in the radial direction while being folded back in the axial direction X, so that the main body 2 is increased in size due to the extension of the discharge route. There is no.

Hereinafter, other reference examples and embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the following embodiments, members similar to those in the reference example are given the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof are omitted.

Another reference example shown in FIG. 6 is an example in which an inclined surface 12c ′ is provided between the peripheral wall surface 12b and the side wall surface 12a of the outflow side passage 12 instead of the concave curved surface 12c. According to this reference example , as in the previous reference example , the outside air that flows along with the powder into the outflow side passage 12 is smoothly guided toward the discharge side, and the powder does not accumulate and stick.

In the first and second embodiments of the present invention shown in FIGS. 7 (a) and 7 (b), the lower end of one punching tool passage 13b is continuously connected to the side wall surface 12a. That is, the position x1 in the axial direction X on the rear end side of the lower end of the punching tool passage 13b coincides with the side wall surface 12a. According to this, the powder that has fallen from the storage chamber 3 through the punching passage passage 13b flows more smoothly to the discharge side, and the flow of outside air near the side wall surface 12a of the outflow side passage 12 becomes more active, Accumulation and sticking of the powder in the outflow side passage 12 is further prevented.

Still another reference example shown in FIGS. 8 to 10 is a powder inhalation device 1 of a type in which the capsule C is loaded in the vertical direction (the direction in which the longitudinal direction of the capsule C coincides with the piercing direction of the pin of the piercing means 4). .

  Although the present invention has been described based on the illustrated examples, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be appropriately changed within the scope of the claims. For example, it has been described that the concave curved surface 12c or the inclined surface 12c ′ provided between the peripheral wall surface 12b and the side wall surface 12a of the outflow side passage 12 is provided in the lower part of the corner between the peripheral wall surface 12b and the side wall surface 12a. However, you may provide over the perimeter of a corner part, and according to this, the flow of the external air in the outflow side channel | path 12 can be made smoother. In the illustrated example, it is described that one inflow side passage 11 and one outflow side passage 12 are provided. However, a plurality (for example, two) may be provided. Furthermore, although the inflow side passage 11 and the outflow side passage 12 have been described as extending along the axial direction X, the inflow side passage 11 and the outflow side passage 12 may be inclined and extend in the axial direction X, and need not extend in parallel to each other. Further, the dispersive part S2 in the external airflow passage 10 is not provided, and the outflow side passage 12 is directly connected to the diffusion path 5a of the mouthpiece 5, or the path in the dispersal part S2 is made shorter than the illustrated example, The length along the axial direction X may be shortened.

  Thus, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a powder inhalation device capable of realizing smooth suction of the powder taken out from the capsule over a long period of time.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Powder suction device 2 Main body part 3 Storage chamber 4 Perforation means 5 Mouthpiece 6 Lid 7 Outside air intake 8 Outside air discharge port 10 Outside air flow path 11 Inflow side path 12 Outflow side path 12a Side wall surface 12b Circumferential wall surface 12c Concave surface ( R)
12c 'Inclined surface 13a, 13b Perforation tool passage 14 Inclination path 15 Branch chamber 16a, 16b Branch path 17a, 17b Detour 18 Joint flow path 21 Check valve 33a, 33b Pin (perforation tool)

Claims (4)

A storage chamber for storing capsules filled with powder, a main body having an external airflow passage for circulating external air from the outside air inlet to an external air discharge port serving as a powder suction port via the storage chamber; and A powder inhalation device comprising: a piercing tool that pierces through a capsule to be disposed;
The external airflow passage is provided on the downstream side of the storage chamber, one end is connected to the external air discharge side, the other end is terminated by a side wall surface in the main body, and a dead end is formed. A piercing tool passage passage that passes through the piercing tool and is connected to a peripheral wall surface forming the outflow side passage,
Provided between the side wall surface of the outflow side passage and the peripheral wall surface is a concave curved surface extending at least partially and continuously connecting the side wall surface and the peripheral wall surface leaving the side wall surface;
The powder inhalation device, wherein a perforation direction end of the perforating tool passage is continuously connected to the side wall surface.   The powder inhalation device according to claim 1, wherein the concave curved surface is arranged on at least the side of the outflow side passage that is opposite to the side to which the punching device passage is connected. A storage chamber for storing capsules filled with powder, a main body having an external airflow passage for circulating external air from the outside air inlet to an external air discharge port serving as a powder suction port via the storage chamber; and A powder inhalation device comprising: a piercing tool that pierces through a capsule to be disposed;
The external airflow passage is provided on the downstream side of the storage chamber, one end is connected to the external air discharge side, the other end is terminated by a side wall surface in the main body, and a dead end is formed. A piercing tool passage passage that passes through the piercing tool and is connected to a peripheral wall surface forming the outflow side passage,
Provided between the side wall surface of the outflow side passage and the peripheral wall surface is an inclined surface that extends at least partially and continuously connects the side wall surface and the peripheral wall surface leaving the side wall surface;
The powder inhalation device, wherein a perforation direction end of the perforating tool passage is continuously connected to the side wall surface.   The powder inhalation device according to claim 3, wherein the inclined surface is disposed on at least a side of the outflow side passage opposite to a side to which the punching device passage is connected.

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