KR20050023256A - Inhaler - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a catalytic burner, a fuel tank 6 connected to the burner and containing hydrogen, a container for inhalation additives such as fragrances or active ingredients, an inlet 2 of a gas mixture containing oxygen, in particular air, and It relates to an inhaler comprising an outlet 3 of an inhalation mixture containing a fragrance or an active ingredient.

Description

Inhaler {INHALER}

The present invention relates to a new type of inhaler.

Inhalers are mostly used for medical or therapeutic purposes and are designed differently depending on the application.

Some inhalers consist of mouthpieces and endpieces for smoking cessation, and some have air channels into which nicotine capsules can be inserted. Nicotine in nicotine capsules is released through the air stream created by sucking the mouthpiece. Contrary to cigarette or cigar smoking, the advantage of this inhaler is that it does not contaminate indoor air and harm other people's health. Therefore, such inhalers are particularly suitable for use in non-smoking areas such as airplanes. However, this type of inhaler has the problem that the released nicotine still harms the health of the smoker. In addition, the feeling of smoking while inhaling the inhaler is hardly comparable to burning cigarettes or cigars, because the inhaled air is generally cold and lacks smoke, making it hard to feel satisfied.

In DE 198 54 009 A1 a cigarette inhaler is known, which claims the advantage of not producing all tobacco smoke (secondary smoke) that harms others over conventional cigarettes. In this inhaler, the material is heated to produce an aerosol. The heat required for this is generated from unsalted catalyst combustion of butane gas, pentane or isopropanol. Gases from the combustion process are dispersed or sucked into the flow channel of the inhaler and mixed with the inhalation aerosol. Therefore, inevitably, harmful substances to the inhaler user or others are released during the combustion process of the heating agent.

Other inhalers for the treatment of respiratory illnesses or colds have hot water tanks, which are connected to the North / Mouse pieces. Adding fragrance oils or pharmaceutically active ingredients to the water in the hot water tank can inhale these components as water vapor when the water warms up. This type of inhaler uses a hot wire as a heat source, which can be driven by an alternating current in an outlet or a direct current in a car battery. The disadvantage of these inhalers is that they are bulky. In addition, power supply is necessary and cannot use anywhere.

These problems also apply to inhalers that make inhalation aerosols from solutions containing pharmaceutically active ingredients. In particular, there are two devices for making aerosols: ultrasonic nebulizers and pressurized nebulizers. The ultrasonic nebulizer atomizes the solution through the ultrasonically vibrating membrane; In a pressurized nebulizer, the solution passes through a pressurized nozzle.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a cross-sectional view for explaining the principle of operation of the inhaler of the present invention.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new type of inhaler which is suitable in the case described above but does not have the above problems.

This object is achieved by the features of claim 1.

The basic idea of the present invention is to produce inhalation mixtures containing fragrances and / or active ingredients using the resulting waste gases as well as the electrical energy generated during hydrogen combustion. Therefore, the suction additive can be heated by heating the vessel containing the hop additive using the heat present in the waste gas. Since the heat of the waste gas is also used for heating the inhalation mixture, the inhalation performance of the water vapor can be increased, and the active ingredient can be delivered at a higher concentration than the cold inhalation mixture. At the same time, there is no harmful substance in the waste gas when burning hydrogen, so the waste gas may be added directly to the intake mixture.

This has several advantages. Inhalers that receive energy through the catalytic burner do not require an external energy source. By catalytic combustion of hydrogen, the required energy is released as clean energy, since the combustion products contain nothing but harmless water vapor, and water vapor is also used to transport fragrances or active ingredients. Thus, the fuel used is an energy supplier and also provides a vehicle for fragrance or active ingredient.

In principle, it is possible to design the catalytic converter of the present invention so that when operating the inhaler, the warm waste gas mixed with the ambient air as much as possible passes through the inhaler container and absorbs the inhalation additive. Inhalation additives or active ingredients can be supplied in liquid, solid or powder form, depending on the kind. If the inhalation additive is a liquid, it can be evaporated from the surface into waste gas. If the inhalation additive is a solid, the inhalation additive may be mixed with the waste gas at an appropriate flow rate and flow rate to form an aerosol containing solid particles.

Since the reaction process can be easily adjusted, the fuel cell itself can be used as a catalyst burner. Modern fuel cells have good efficiency and can be designed to adjust the amount of hydrogen ions passing through the membrane by the amount of air passing through the catalyst membrane of the fuel cell.

One way to use such a fuel cell as a catalytic burner is to wind the fuel cell into a coil. When the fuel cell is in the form of a coil, not only can the space be drastically reduced, but also the air channel through which the oxygen or oxygen-containing gas mixture passes is automatically formed.

In comparison with powdered inhalant additives, inhalant additives dissolved in water or other carriers are preferred to be easy to handle because they have little or no conditions for the flow rate and velocity of the waste gas. Depending on the design of the inhaler, there may be additional advantages in that the concentration of dissolved inhalation additives can be properly adjusted and there is no restriction on the addition of additives to the inhalation mixture.

The inhaler according to the present invention is preferably provided with a heating mechanism operated by a catalytic burner, in which case the solution containing the inhalation additive is evaporated to include the inhalation additive as a vapor in the inhalation mixture. Such a heating device may be in a spiral hot wire in the container for the dissolved inhalant additive.

On the other hand, a heat exchanger for transferring the heat of the waste gas to the solution can also be considered.

In addition, the inhaler may further include a nebulizer operated by a catalytic burner, specifically, an ultrasonic nebulizer or a pressurized nebulizer for spraying a solution. The principle of both nebulizers is that the solution is basically sprayed using pressure. The internal pressure of the vessel containing the solution containing the inhalation additive required for pressurized spraying is generated by the heating of the solution or by a compressor. However, it is also conceivable to accumulate sufficient pressure inside the vessel using only a little heat with a solution additive that has a significantly lower boiling point than water. In this way, the heat supply can be adjusted to regulate the pressure and spray conditions.

On the other hand, the inhaler may comprise an additional water tank as well as a heating mechanism operated by the catalytic burner to evaporate the water. In this case, the entire suction mixture need not be produced in the catalyst burner. Rather, the heat generated during hydrogen combustion is used to heat water with steam and add this steam to the steam coming out of the catalyst burner.

In other cases, the inhaler may further comprise an adjustment device for the addition of fragrances or active ingredients to the inhalation mixture.

The fuel tank and all other containers may be replaced or refilled. In this way, the inhaler can be used for a long time.

It is also advantageous if a mixing mechanism for mixing the inhaled mixture with ambient air is arranged upstream of the outlet. This allows the user to adjust the amount of inhalation mixture to be inhaled as needed.

Preferably, the inhaler according to the present invention should have an adjustment system for adjusting the amount of oxygen passing through the fuel cell. This is advantageous when it is necessary to produce a certain amount of inhalation mixture, in which case the functionality of the inhaler is the same as for conventional inhalers for therapeutic purposes.

In addition, the inhaler according to the present invention may include a mouthpiece. Such mouthpieces may be identical in shape to the mouthpieces of cigarettes and are particularly suitable for inhalers which inhale the inhalation mixture only through the mouth. Instead of a mouthpiece, a mask may be installed at the outlet of the inhaler, which may cover the user's mouth and nose with a mask.

Catalytic combustion, especially currents from fuel cells, can also be used. The current can be used to heat additives or water on the one hand by activating spiral heating wires, while on the other hand it can also be used in lamps indicating, for example, that the inhaler is in use. In addition, when using an inhaler as a cigarette substitute for smoking cessation or as a new type of stimulator, an electric current may be used to initiate the burning of a cigarette or cigar.

The inhaler of the present invention can be used anywhere in common, and no external power source is required. While the inhaler of the present invention can produce a warm inhalation mixture that is pleasing to the user, it can utilize combustion products and waste heat to prepare the inhalation mixture if necessary.

The inhaler of FIG. 1 comprises an elongated cylinder 1 with an air inlet 2 and an inlet mixture outlet 3. The outlet 3 is provided with a replaceable mouthpiece 4. The cylinder 1 has a concentrically arranged wall 5 and a cylindrical hydrogen-containing fuel tank 6, the bottom of the fuel tank facing the air inlet 2 and the gas outlet of the fuel tank (3) is facing.

The inner membrane 7 and outer membrane 8 forming the fuel cell are arranged concentrically spaced between the cylindrical inner wall and the wall 5. The space 9 between the two membranes 7, 8 is closed by a gastight seal on the side facing the inlet 2. The space 9 is connected to the gas outlet of the fuel tank 6 on the side facing the outlet 3, and the hydrogen flowing from the fuel tank 6 to the space 9 can be controlled by the valve 10.

Channels 12 and 13 between the inner wall and outer membrane 8 of the cylindrical body and between the inner membrane 7 and the wall surface are connected via the annular air filter 14 at the end facing the inlet 2. ) The other ends of the channels open toward the mixing chamber 11 arranged upstream of the outlet 3 front. The connection between the channel 12 consisting of the inner film 7 and the wall 5 and the mixing chamber 11 is not shown.

The cylindrical active ingredient container 15 concentrically installed inside the fuel tank 6 is for a suction additive which is dissolved in a fluid such as water. The bottom of the active ingredient container 15 is firmly fixed to the bottom of the fuel tank 6. A hollow needle 16 is provided as the outlet of the active ingredient, which is connected to the mixing chamber 11 through the gas outlet of the fuel tank 6. A pressure reducing valve 17 is installed at the inlet of the needle 16 facing the mixing chamber 11. A piston 18 is installed inside the active ingredient container 15, which is pushed towards the needle 16 by a spring 19 at the bottom of the active ingredient container 15. By this pressure, the solution mixed with the suction additive is moved toward the needle 16.

A spiral filament 20 is disposed inside the needle 16 to evaporate the fluid containing the inhalant. The spiral filament 20 may receive current through the membranes 7 and 8 of the fuel cell, as well as the compressor or ultrasonic nebulizer of the pressurized nebulizer.

The fuel cell also supplies current to two rechargeable batteries 21 located within the wall 5. The hydrogen supply through valve 10 can be regulated using an adjustment system (not shown), which is operated by battery 18 or directly by the current of the fuel cell. It can also be connected to other consumers to supply current from fuel cells or batteries (connections not shown).

To inhale, hold the mouthpiece in your mouth and draw air into the inhaler through the inlet (2). During this process, the intake air reacts with hydrogen as it passes through the membranes 7, 8, producing water vapor and producing an air / water mixture.

At the same time, the current from the fuel cell flows into the helical filaments in this reaction, so that the fluid containing the suction additive in the needle evaporates. Due to the excess pressure generated during this process, the pressure reducing valve 16 can be opened and the vapor containing the suction additive can be discharged. Since this vapor is mixed with the air / water vapor mixture in the mixing chamber 11, the mixture of air, water vapor and the suction additive can be sucked through the mouthpiece.

To use the inhaler for a long time, it is recommended to use the fuel tank (6) and the active ingredient container (15) as a replacement or refill. To this end, it is possible to install a valve connecting body in the cylindrical body, and to screw the fuel tank 6 and the active ingredient container 15 to the valve connecting body.

The basic concept of an inhaler operated with a catalytic burner can be realized with several different designs. For example, membranes, fuel tanks, active ingredient containers and air channels do not necessarily have to be arranged concentrically.

Similarly, other adjustment mechanisms may be installed. Fuel cells used today are self-aligning to the air supplied, but depending on the application, the hydrogen supply may need to be adjusted. For example, according to the temperature and / or relative humidity of the air / vapor / adsorbent mixture, the fresh air supplied to the mixing chamber may be adjusted, or the mixture of the mixing chamber may be cooled. Of course, all the necessary cooling may be possible via a heat exchanger.

Reference List

One  Cylinder 13  channel 2  Entrance 14  Air filter 3  exit 15  Active ingredient container 4  Mouthpiece 16  needle 5  wall 17  Pressure Reducing Valve 6  Fuel tank 18  piston 7  Inner membrane 19  spring 8  Outer membrane 20  Spiral filament 9  space 21  battery 10  valve 11  Mixing room 12  channel

Claims (13)

Catalytic burner; Containers for inhalation additives such as fragrances or active ingredients 15; Inlet 2 of a gas mixture containing oxygen, in particular air; And an outlet (3) of the inhalation mixture containing fragrances or active ingredients. And a fuel tank connected to the catalyst burner for containing hydrogen. 2. The inhaler of claim 1, wherein said catalyst burner is a fuel cell (7, 8). The inhaler according to claim 2, wherein the fuel cells (7,8) are rolled up in coil form. The inhaler of claim 1, wherein said inhalation additive is dissolved in water or other carriers. 5. The inhaler of claim 4, further comprising heating means (20) operated by said catalyst burner for evaporation of a solution containing a suction additive. 6. The inhaler of claim 4 or 5, further comprising a nebulizer operated by a catalytic burner, specifically an ultrasonic nebulizer or pressurized nebulizer for spraying the solution. The inhaler of claim 1, further comprising a water tank. 2. The inhaler of claim 1, further comprising a dose adjusting mechanism for inhalation additives to the inhalation mixture. 8. The inhaler according to claim 1, wherein both the fuel tank and the other container are replaceable or refilled. 2. An inhaler as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a mixing means (11) upstream of the face of the inlet to add ambient air to the inhalation mixture. The inhaler of claim 1, further comprising an adjustment system for adjusting the amount of oxygen introduced through the fuel cell. The inhaler of claim 1, further comprising a mouthpiece (4). The inhaler of claim 1, further comprising a lamp operated by a catalytic burner.