KR19990007991A - Dry powder inhaler dispensing system - Google Patents

Abstract

The powder storage and dispensing system for the powdered medicine inhaler 20 includes a carrier disk 46 with a blister envelope 54 sealed with a sheer layer 56. Tab 48 is attached to sheer layer 56 under blister shell 54. The carrier disk 46 is located in the dry powder inhaler 20. The actuator 80 presses the tab 48 to cause the sheer layer 56 to peel off, thereby transferring the powdered medicine contents from the blister envelope to the dry powder inhaler 20. The disc carrier 130 has a burst blister 132, where the burst blister sheath 132 is sealed with a thin film lid 150 and covered by a plate 136. Actuator 160 moves relative to plate 136, causing plate 136 to bend and blister envelope 132 to rupture open, thereby delivering powdered medicine 62 into dry powder inhaler 20.

Description

Dry powder inhaler dispensing system

Various drugs in the dry powder mixture can be inhaled directly into the lungs through the mouth or nose. Inhalation prevents the drug from passing through the digestive tract and obviates the need for other injectable drug administration techniques such as, for example, subcutaneous injection. Direct inhalation allows in some cases to use lesser amounts to achieve the same desired effect as when taken orally with the same drug. On the other hand, inhalation also makes it possible to avoid undesirable side effects.

Various dry powder inhalers have been used for direct inhalation of powdered medicine. These dry powder inhalers are typically inhaled by the patient by delivering dry powder from bulky containers, capsules or blister packages. Individual discrete sealed containers such as blisters are preferred as a method of sealing the powdered medicine from the surroundings (to reduce firmness, contamination, etc.). Thus, various blister dry powder storage and delivery devices have been used, but still have many inconveniences. For example, the blister should be strong enough to provide good sealing from the surroundings, but should also be able to reliably deliver the powdered medicine when used by the patient. In addition, in order to more accurately provide the batch drug, the powdered medicine must be released from the blister to the inhalation device without any mixing or spilling of the powdered medicine and the blister or container material. Inhalation drugs, such as asthma drugs, can be used frequently, and therefore, drug storage and delivery materials and devices should be simple, inexpensive and easy to use and manufacture.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved dry powder storage and dispensing system for use with an inhaler.

The present invention relates to a dry powder storage device and system for powdered medicine.

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the drawings are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

In the drawings, like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout the several views.

1 is a perspective view of a dry powder inhaler;

1A is a perspective view of a traveling handle of the inhaler of FIG. 1;

1B is a top view of the inhaler of FIG. 1;

1C is a schematic partial cross-sectional view of the inhaler of FIG.

2 is a perspective view of the drug carrier disk with outer tabs.

3 is a perspective view of another carrier disk with inner disk tabs.

4 is a perspective view of another disc embodiment with tabs received within the disc.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 2; FIG.

Fig. 5A is a top view of Fig. 5;

FIG. 5B is an exploded cross sectional view taken along line 5B-5B in FIG. 5A;

Figure 5C is a bottom view of Figure 5B.

Figure 6 is a side view of the blister just before opening.

7 is a side view immediately after the blister is sheared open;

Figure 8 is a sectional view of the carrier disk of Figure 2 installed in a first embodiment of a dry powder inhaler.

Figure 9 is a sectional view of the carrier disk of Figure 2 installed in a second embodiment of a dry powder inhaler.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of another disc carrier with blisters cut along the outer circumference of the inclined plate.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of another disc carrier embodiment with a burst blister radially cut into a flat plate; FIG.

FIG. 11A is a perspective view of the bottom surface of the disc carrier of FIG.

Figure 12 is a perspective view of another variant embodiment of a disk carrier with a tear blister cut along the outer circumference of the flat plate.

FIG. 13 is a partial cross sectional view taken along line 13-13 of FIG. 10;

14 is a side view of the blister of FIG. 13 just before opening;

Fig. 15 is a side view showing the blister immediately after opening;

Figure 16 is a perspective view of a straight strip carrier.

To this end, the dry powder storage and delivery device preferably comprises a disk with radially spaced metal foil blisters containing the dry powder. Preferably the blister is sealed on the underlying metal foil sheer layer. In a preferred embodiment, the sheer layer is bonded onto the carrier disk. Shear tabs are preferably adhered on the sheer layer at the bottom of each blister at intervals separating the tabs from the disc. In a preferred use, the actuator presses the tab and tears or cuts the sheer layer from the blister, thereby releasing the dry powder that is the contents of the blister.

Also preferably the blister is formed of a generally breakable material with a perforated line in the center, rupturing open when the blister is crossed by the actuator to release the powdered powder contents of the blister.

Referring to the drawings in detail, as shown in Figure 1, the dry powder inhaler 20 is provided with a mouthpiece 22 that is covered with a cap 24 when not in use. The handle 26 on top of the inhaler 20 is used to advance a batch of drug through the mouthpiece 22. 1, 1B and 1C, the blister opening structure 38 includes a center button 28 located above the spring 44 on the rocker arm 40. As shown in FIG. The rocker arm 40 is provided with a lever tip 42 that presses the inner tab 32 on the carrier disk 34 upward to tear or incise the blister 36.

Carrier disk 34 and blister 36 are shown in more detail in FIGS. 2 shows a carrier disk 46 with an outer tab 48 extending from a radially spaced blister 36 supported on a carrier disk 60. FIG. 3 shows the carrier disk 34 shown in FIG. 1C in more detail with the inner tab 34. 4 shows another embodiment of a carrier disk with tabs received within the profile of the disk 50. The sheer pin hole 52 extends through the disk 50, and in use the pin of the inhaler device extends through the hole 52 to press the tabs received in the disk 50, thereby tearing the blister 36. Open. Carrier disks 34, 46, 50 may include indexing / drive notches 72.

Referring to FIG. 5, which illustrates the outer tab carrier disk design, a blister envelope 54 is positioned on the sheer layer 56. Preferably the outer circumference of the blister sheath 54 is heat sealed to the sheer layer 56 as shown at 58 in FIGS. 5 and 5A. Powdered medicine 62 is received between blister sheath 54 and sheer layer 56. The tab 48 lies under the sheer layer below the blister sheath 54. The tab 48 is also separated from the disc carrier 60 into the gap 64 around all but the hinge line 68 (FIG. 7). Hinge line 68 may optionally be provided as an indentation area. Likewise, the stress concentrator 70 may optionally be included as a needle or saw tooth at the innermost position of the gap 64 on the disc carrier 60 just inside the point where the blister skin and sheer layer join. The stress concentrator may assist in initiation of the cutting / cutting action of the sheer layer.

Preferably, the blister envelope 54 and sheer layer 56 are metal, such as an aluminum thin film. The disc carrier 60 and the tab 48 are preferably injection molded or die cut plastic. Shear layer 56 is attached to disk carrier 60 and tab 48 by adhesive 49 to traverse gap 64 as shown in FIGS. 5B and 5C.

6 and 7 illustrate the operation of the disc carrier 60 in the inhaler. As shown in FIG. 6, the disk 60 is seated on a support 84 located just inside the gap 64. The blister 36 is located on top of the guide wall 86. As shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the actuator 80 presses the tab 48 acting as a lever, so that the sheer layer is cut away from the blister sheath 54, thereby opening up the blister. The powder 62 contained in the blister 36 is dropped from the blister 36 and the disc 60 to a chute in the inhaler. The tab 48 pivots about the hinge point 68. By turning in this manner, the heat seal 58 remains intact, while the sheer layer 56 is cut and the blister 36 is opened.

Referring to FIG. 8, the dry powder inhaler 100 includes a housing 102, a mouthpiece 104, and a propeller 108 in the mixing chamber 106. The motor 110 driven by the battery rotates the thruster 108. When the blister 36 is torn open as shown in Figures 6 and 7, the powder falling from the blister 36 into the mixing chamber 106 is mixed with air and can be aspirated by the patient. 9 shows another inhaler embodiment with a centrally positioned mouthpiece 104.

10-16 illustrate blisters that are burst open rather than being torn or cut open. As shown in FIG. 10, the burst blister carrier disk 130 has a plurality of burst blisters 132 on the inclined plate 136. The plate 136 and blister 132 have a perimeter cut line 134.

Fig. 12 shows a similar embodiment, but here the plane of the disc is a flat plate which is not inclined.

FIG. 11 shows a variant embodiment having a plate 140 and a flat plate 144 with a radial cutout at the blister. 11A better illustrates the radially cut blister 148 on the flat radially cut plate 144. The cutout or weakness of the plate 144 and blister 142 is preferably positioned in the center of each blister 148.

As shown in FIG. 13, the ruptured blister carrier disk 130 has a crushable blister sheath 132 attached by a heat seal 58 on the lidstock 150 at the blister sheath circumference. Equipped. The lead stock 150 is then bonded to the plate 136. At the center of the blister envelope 132 is a cut point or a weak point 134. Correspondingly, the plate 136 is also provided with a cut line aligned with the cut line 134 on the blister envelope 132.

The blister sheath 132 is preferably made of crushable plastic or metal material. Lead stock 150 is preferably metal (eg, aluminum foil), while plate 136 is preferably a rigid plastic that is injection molded or die cut, as is the carrier disk center.

In use, as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, a plate having a wide and flat blade-shaped plunger or actuator 160 having an angled point 166 is supported on its side by a support 164 (part of the inhaler). Is pulled down onto the tear line 134 on 136. As the actuator is towed into the blister, the blister breaks or ruptures as shown in FIG. 15 to deliver the powder 62.

5 and 13, the blister shown in Fig. 16 may be provided in a strip shape instead of a disc shape.

Therefore, although some embodiments have been shown and described, it will be understood that more modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims (20)

Carrier, Blister envelope on the carrier, A sheer layer attached around the outer periphery of the blister sheath, A powder storage and dispensing system for a dry powder inhaler, comprising a tab attached to a sheer layer. The system of claim 1, wherein the carrier is a disk. The system of claim 1, wherein the carrier is a strip. The system of claim 1, wherein the sheer layer comprises a metal foil. The system of claim 1, wherein the blister envelope comprises a metal foil. The system of claim 1, wherein the sheer layer is attached to the carrier and the tab. The system of claim 1, wherein the blister envelope extends over the carrier. Carrier disk, Tabs, A sheer layer attached to the carrier disk and connecting the carrier disk to the tab; A powdered medicine storage and dispensing system comprising a blister attached to a sheer layer on a tab. 9. The system of claim 8, wherein the carrier disk and tab are separated by a gap. Carrier, Plate on the carrier, A blister sheath attached to the plate and around the periphery, A perforation line located in the center of the blister envelope, A dry powder dispensing system for an inhaler, comprising a powdered powder in a blister envelope. 11. The system of claim 10, wherein the blister sheath comprises a crushable material. A round carrier disk with a central opening, A plurality of sheer tabs radially projecting from the central opening and having a periphery spaced apart from the carrier disk across the gap and pivotally connected to the carrier disk at hinges along one side of the tab; A sheer layer attached to and attached to the lower portion of the carrier disk and the sheer tab, A powdered medicine storage and dispensing system, comprising: a blister layer attached to the bottom of the sheer layer and forming a space for receiving the powder between the sheer layer and the blister sheath and having generally one blister sheath formed on each tab. 13. The powdered medicine storage and dispensing system of claim 12, further comprising a stress concentrator at the outer circumferential end of the tab opposite the hinge line. 13. The powdered medicine storage and dispensing system of claim 12, wherein a heat seal for attaching the blister layer to the sheer layer is further included around the outer periphery of the respective blister envelope. 11. The powdered medicine storage and dispensing system of claim 10, wherein the carrier has a central opening and a perforation line extending radially outward from the central opening. The powdered medicine storage and dispensing system of claim 10, wherein the carrier comprises a disc and a perforation line extending generally parallel to the outer periphery of the disc. 11. A powdered medicine storage and dispensing system according to claim 10, wherein the carrier consists of a strip. 11. The powdered medicine storage and dispensing system of claim 10, wherein the plate is coplanar with the disk. 11. The powdered medicine storage and dispensing system of claim 10, further comprising a cut line aligned with the cut line on the blister. 11. A powdered medicine storage and dispensing system according to claim 10, further comprising a lead stock adhered on a plate and a heat seal for bonding the blister envelope to the lead stock.