MXPA96004768A - Dust inhaler s - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an inhaler for dry powder, characterized in that it comprises: a housing having a front wall, a rear wall, and a circumferential wall forming a disc-shaped mixing chamber; a free-rotating propeller, notably mounted within the housing, a plurality of inlets aligned with the propeller, and passing through the circumferential wall and into the mixing chamber, a supply gate that passes through the housing and leads into the mixing chamber; buccal attached to the front wall of the housing, and an outlet that passes from the mixing chamber through the front wall and towards the buccal part.

Description

DRY POWDER INHALER Background of the Invention Field of the Invention The field of the invention is inhalers for inhalants or dry powder drugs.

Description of the Prior Art > Certain medications can be administered as dry powder directly to the lungs by inhalation through the mouth or inspiration through the nose. This process allows the medication to avoid the digestive system, and in some cases, allows smaller doses to be used to achieve the same desired results as orally ingested medications. In other cases, it provides a distribution technique for medications that show unacceptable side effects when taken by other methods. Various devices and nebulizers have been known and used to form inhaled mists of medicines. These devices form REF: 23254 mists of liquid medicines, medicines in powder or from liquids and powders. However, these known devices have various disadvantages, including lack of efficiency in the distribution of the drug or drug; difficulties in loading and use that require substantial manual dexterity; the need for repeated deep inhalation; the uniform dosage; the formation of "" clusters or cakes of powdered medicines; Y others. Another important factor is that it has not been understood that various important benefits are obtained if the distribution of a drug is relatively independent of the flow rate inspiratory (for example, how deeply the patient inhales) or the inspiratory coordination of the patient (for example, the timing of patient inhalation). A device independent of inspiratory flow velocity can be used by patients with low inspiratory flow velocities, such as children or patients who experience aspiration insufficiency. In addition, if the distribution of a drug is independent of the inspiratory flow rate of the patient, the dose to inhale will remain relatively consistent not despite the patient's inhalation characteristics. The metered dose inhalers, which typically use a propellant gas, require significant coordination for proper use. The drive must occur during inspiration, or most of the drug will be deposited in the throat. It is now appreciated that a device operated by the breath will minimize the need for patient coordination. Furthermore, the beneficial effects of reducing the size of the large particles or agglomerated particles during the use of the inhalation devices have apparently not been previously appreciated. Large or agglomerated drug particles accumulate momentum during inhalation and forced inspiration and impact the moist, soft tissue that surrounds the throat and larynx, instead of remaining in the air flow to be deposited in the lungs. When this occurs, much of the drug apparently does not reach the depth inside the lungs and is thus placed in a strategic site where it will be solvated for direct absorption through the alveolar tissue into the bloodstream. In the most severe cases, such an impact can cause coughing and this mode could force large volumes of air carrying moisture, as well as finely dispersed saliva, to be reinjected into the device leading to the formation of drug deposits. Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide an improved dry powder inhaler.

Compendium of the Invention and- For these purposes an inhaler has a chamber for mixing air and a powder or inhalant drug. The air flows into the chamber and mixes with the powdered inhalant by means of a propeller that rotates inside the chamber. The air that the drug flows out of the chamber and into a mouthpiece. Preferably, the outside air also flows towards the mouthpiece around the air carrying the drug. The inhaler is substantially independent of the flow velocity.

Preferably, the device uses breath actuation and is generally independent of patient coordination. Doses of a drug can be dispensed from a multiple dose cartridge mounted on the inhaler inside the camera. The speed of air flow through the Chamber and rotating speed of the propellant can be adjusted for different drugs for increased distribution efficiency. In a modality without an engine, air enters the chamber tangentially, mixes with the powder drug, and exits the device through a central opening from which the air / drug mixture is drawn into the mouth, throat and lungs of the user.

Brief Description of the Drawings Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which describe two embodiments of the invention. The drawings, however, are provided for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to be a limitation on the scope of the invention. In the drawings, where the characters of similar references denote similar elements throughout the various views: Figure 1 is a top plan view of a preferred embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a side elevation view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1, with the dose injector handle lifted out of its travel position, secured, and the front piece rotated in a downward direction to expose the interior of the device; and '10 Figure 3 is a top sectional view of the preferred embodiment, taken along lines 3-3 in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a front sectional view 15 taken along lines 4-4 in Figure 3, showing the aerosolization chamber and the propeller in non-concentric relation; Figure 5 is another front sectional view, taken along lines 5-5 in Figure 3, in front of the rear wall of the front mouthpiece, showing the preferred position of the air inlet orifices; Figure 6 is a front end view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1; Figure 7 is a rear end view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1; Figure 8 is an approach view of the aerosolization chamber, showing the position of the propeller in non-concentric relation therein; Figure 9 is a sectional elevation view of the propeller shown in Figure 8; Figure 10 is a top plan view of the mounted dose cartridge, usable in the embodiment shown in Figure 1, Figure 11 is a sectional side view of the dose cartridge, taken along lines 11-11 of Figure 10; Figure 12 is a top view of the ring portion of the cartridge, showing the openings for maintaining medicament doses; Figure 13 is a top view of one of the cover plates shown in Figure 10; Figure 14 is a top plan view of a second preferred embodiment of the invention; Figure 15 is a sectional view taken along line 15-15 of Figure 14; Figure 16 is a sectional view taken along line 16-16 of Figure 15; Figure 17 is a sectional view taken along line 17-17 of Figure 14; Figure 18 is a sectional view taken along line 18-18 of Figure 14; Figure 19 is a front end view of the embodiment shown in Figure 14; Figure 20 is a rear end view of the embodiment shown in Figure 14; Figure 21 is an enlarged, front elevational view of the propeller of the embodiment of Figure 14; Figure 22 is a sectional view taken along line 22-22 of Figure 21; Figure 23 is a top plan view of the dose cartridge, assembled, for use with the embodiment of Figure 14; Figure 24 is a sectional view taken along line 24-24 of Figure 23; Figure 25 is a top plan view of the ring portion of the cartridge of Figure 23, showing the openings to maintain the doses of dry powder; Figure 26 is a top plan view of the cartridge assembly of Figure 23, including a top cover plate; Figure 27 is a side elevational view of the ring portion of Figure 25; Figure 28 is a top plan view of the inhaler of Figure 14, with the lower retainer lever raised or removed, and the plates cover on the cartridge removed, for illustration purposes only; Figure 29 is a side elevation view "" "of the inhaler of Figure 14, showing the movement of the lower retention lever; Figure 30 is a side elevational view, in partial section, of the inhaler of Figure 14 schematically illustrating the air flow pathways through it; Figure 31 is a top elevation view thereof; Figure 32 is an exploded view in upper elevation of the inhaler of Figure 14; Figure 33 is a side elevational view thereof, in partial section; 25 Figure 34 is an end view of the engine frame or chassis, taken along line 34-34 of Figure 32.

Figure 35 is an end view of the housing, taken along line 35-35 of Figure 32; Figure 36 is a rear end view of the front cylinder, taken along line 36-36 of Figure 32; Figure 37 is a front end view thereof, taken along line 37-37 of Figure 32; Figure 38 is a rear elevational view of an alternative dry powder inhaler; Figure 39 is a side elevation view thereof, in partial section; Figure 40 is a front elevation view thereof; Figure 41 is a fragment of the sectional view of a blister pack (blister); Figure 42 is a fragment of the enlarged sectional view of the inhaler of Figure 38-40; Y Figure 43 is a fragment of the sectional view of another modality without motor.

Description of the Preferred Modalities Figures 1-3 show the full view of the first preferred embodiment, where a hollow front end piece 3 is pivotably mounted on an inner central core 1 by a pair of tabs 5. A pair of pins 7 have ends mounted on the core 1 to pivot piece 3 in an outward and downward direction from the core 1. The front end piece 3 includes a hollow tubular or nasal part 9, formed in the front, and a rear wall 11 which closes the back part of the piece 3. A rear end piece 13 is attached to the core 1 around a marginal edge 15, by means of a snap-fit skirt 17 or other known connection. The core 1 conveniently has a flattened bottom 19, a pair of rounded, separate sidewalls 21a and 21b, and a flattened disk surface 23 for ease of fastening by the user. As shown in Figures 2, 3, 4 and 8, a disc-shaped or circular-shaped aerosolization chamber 25 is formed in the front wall 27 of the core 1, transversely to the air flow, shown by the arrows in FIG. Figures 2 and 3 coming out of the mouthpiece 9. The chamber 25 is preferably less than 13 mm in diameter and 3 mm thick, and the ratio of the chamber diameter to the chamber thickness (or depth) is preferably approximately 4: 1. The chamber 25 is attached at the front by a portion of the rear closure wall 11, at the rear by a smooth wall 29, and around the periphery by a circumferential wall 30. An impeller or propeller 31, shown at Figures 3, 4, 8 and 9 comprise a thin, flat circular plate 33, having a peripheral edge 35. A plurality of short blades 37 extend radially outwardly from the edge peripheral 35. Plate 33 is placed non-concentric 0 off-center inside the chamber 25. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the propeller 31 is placed below the geometric center of the camera aerosolization 25, towards the bottom of the circumferential wall 30. The front surface of the propeller is very close to the rear wall 11. The propeller 31 is mounted on a central axis 39"" that extends through a hole 41 formed in the wall 39 of the rear chamber, and accommodated for high speed rotation about a fixed axis xx as shown in Figure 3. The shaft 39 is connected to a high speed electric motor 43, which is driven by the minus one, but preferably a pair of batteries 45. The batteries 45 are carried in the separate holes 47a and 47b. The aerosolization chamber 25 is opened and exposed for cleaning maintenance by pivoting the front end piece 3 around the pins 7 as shown in Figure 2. A plenum chamber or flow path 49 is shown in Figures 3, 5 and 7, a first reduced stream of air passes through the inner core 1 towards the mouthpiece 9, for inhalation by the user's part. Flow path 49 includes at least one opening 51 formed in the rear end part 13, for receiving the outside air inside the core 1. The passageways 53 are formed through the inner core 1, in communication with the opening 51, to allow the passage of the flow of air, shown by the arrows in Figures 2 and 3, through the core 1 towards the mouthpiece 9. The passageways lead towards the hollow front end piece 3, through at least one, but preferably a plurality of openings 55 in reduction, formed in the rear closure wall 11, as shown in Figure 5. The size of the opening 51, the passageways 53, and the openings 55 are adjusted to provide significant resistance to airflow, to reducing the speed of said air stream through the core 1, and into the user's mouth. This apparently reduces the momentum of the particulate and hence the impaction against the back of the user's throat. A portion of the main air stream is biased, as shown by the arrows in Figures 2 and 3, for scanning through the aerosolization chamber 25, and bringing the powder medicament back into the main air stream . This is achieved through the provision of an inlet opening 59, formed in the rear closure wall 11, near the center of the propeller 31. An outlet opening 61 is formed in the rear closure wall 11 in the upper part of the aerosolization chamber 25. the motor 43 drives the propeller 31 at a high speed, the propeller acts as a centrifugal air pump which pulls air in through the inlet opening 59, mixing the air with the full dose of the powdered medicament inside the chamber 25, and expelling the air and the medicament as a fine, low density, dry mist, out through the outlet opening 62. This air or mist carrying dust is then combined with the main reduced air stream in the piece. mouth 9 for inhalation by the user. The openings 59 and 61 are sized so that the mist emerges from the chamber 25 through the opening 61 at a clinically negligible rate. The size of the inlet opening 59 can be adjusted, for example, to 2.4 mm in diameter and the size of the outlet opening 61 can be adjusted, for example, to 1.6 mm in diameter. This low speed is combined with the first reduced air stream, to produce a dry low mist density, fine, which is easily inhaled by the user without forced inhalation. Because there is no longer a perforation of a capsule or use of a vacuum or centrifugal force to remove the medication from the capsule, the user no longer needs to strongly suck the medication into their lungs. The propeller 31 is rotated by the electric motor 43 at extremely high speed, such as 12,500 rpm. Such high velocity causes a high velocity flow and turbulence of the powder in the air stream and, with the unbalance of this flow, which results from the displacement of the propeller 31, causes the particles to be impacted with each other and with the walls 11. , 29 and 30 of the chamber, to be sprayed and disagated into smaller, more breathable particles. This effect also causes the particles to mix intimately with the air flow, to provide a self-cleaning action on the walls of the chamber. Due to the placement of the displacement of the propeller 31 in the chamber 25, the high velocity air circulation is at different pressures and velocities, at different points around the chamber 25. This effect seems to promote the turbulent mixing of the particles and the air , and reduces the formation of deposits or powder medicine cakes. As shown in Figure 5, the inlet opening 59 can be placed over a wide area below the flange or pouch 62 of the propeller, but preferably it is just below the bag 62 and above the vanes 37, to provide a less restricted entry to the chamber 25. Similarly, the outlet opening 62 can be positioned virtually anywhere above the propeller bag or rim 62, but is preferred place it above the vanes 37 and on one side or the other of the center line of the chamber 25. If the user attempts to pull or suck air through the mouth piece 9 at a high speed, partial vacuum will be created in the core internal 1, however this vacuum could exist in the total internal volume of the inner core 1, so that the centrifugal pumping action of the displacement propeller 31 could be unaffected by the vacuum or by the degree to which the user pulls or sucks on the mouthpiece 5. Figures 10-12 show a cartridge 63 containing medicament, for multiple doses, for use in the embodiment of Figure 1. As shown in Figure 12, the cartridge 63 comprises a relatively thin ring 65 of plastic or other lightweight material having an outer edge 67 with recesses and a smooth inner edge 69. A series of openings 71 are formed through the ring 65 between the outer edge 67 and the inner edge 69 and receive 5 and maintain the doses of medicament powdered. A pair of cover plates 73a and 73b having a thin outer flange 75 and the outer edge 77, and a thicker internal portion 79, are provided for "'" * "cover both sides of the ring 65, as shown in Figures 10 and 11. A U-shaped opening 81 is formed in the flange 75 of each cover plate The plates placed in face-to-face arrangement , as shown in Figure 11, to sandwich the ring 65 therebetween.The outer edge 77 is set to size to finish near the outer edge 67 with recesses in the ring, as shown in Figure 10. The U-shaped openings 81 in the cover plates 73a and 73b are aligned one above the other as shown in FIG. Figure 10, so that The dose of the medicament contained in each opening is exposed, one at a time, as the ring 65 is rotated between the cover plate 73a and 73b. A central depression 83 is formed in the cover plates 73a and 73b adjacent a central hole 85. A rivet hollow 87 or other securing device is installed in the internal hole for clamping the cover plates 73a and 73b together on the ring 65. A mounting mechanism 89 is provided for the assembly of the dosing cartridge 63 on the inner core 1, and for the introduction of medicament into the chamber of aerosolization 25. The mounting mechanism 89, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, includes a latch lever 91 pivoted by a pin 93 mounted on the rear end part 13. An open area 95 is formed on the upper surface 23 of the core, for receiving the dosing cartridge 63 on a central leg 97. A displacement leg 98 extends within a small opening 99 formed through the plates 73a and 73b to immobilize the cover plates 73a and 73b. A securing post 100 containing a spring-loaded ball slide 101 extends from the front end of the latch lever 91, and is adapted for insertion into a receiving hole 103 formed in the upper rear portion of the latch. front end piece 3. A plunger 105 for loading medicament, with a top T-shaped rod 106, is reciprocally mounted in a hole 107 in the lever retention 91, and biased upward by a spring 109 against a stop 110 formed in the plunger 105. A gutter or conduit 111 for loading medicament is formed in the inner core 1 below the plunger 105, and extends downwardly into the upper part of the aerosolization chamber 25. Preferably, the diameter of the gutter 111 is adjusted to the diameter of the opening 71. In use, the dosage cartridge 63 is placed on the legs 97 and 98 in the open area 95. The latch lever 91 is pivoted downward to retain the cartridge and secure the mouth piece 9 in its closed, operable position. The U-shaped openings 81 in the cover plate 73a and 73b are automatically aligned below the plunger 105 for loading medicament, by arranging the opening 99 and the displacement leg 98. The outlet 61 of the aerosolization chamber is preferably displaced from below the gutter 111 to prevent interference with the drug load, or with the exit 61 which becomes jammed with medicament during loading. A ball 113, spring loaded, shown in Figure 1, is formed in the rear end part 13, so that said ball is deflected against an edge outer 67 with recesses, to prevent undesired movement of the ring 65 of the dosing cartridge. The ring 65 is then rotated to place an opening 71 filled with medicament, in alignment on the gutter 111. The loading plunger 105 is pressed downwardly against the deviation from the spring 109 to press the full dose of the powdered medicament, directly into the aerosolization chamber 25. After this, the plunger 105 remains in the gutter 111 to form the upper portion of the circumferential wall 30 of the aerosolization chamber 25. The plunger 105 can be maintained there, against bias or deviation of spring by rotating the plunger handle 106 under the superimposed blades 117, spaced apart around a hollow area 119 formed in the front part of the retaining lever 91, as shown in Figure 1. An exhaust exclusion system 121 is provided. exhalation, to prevent the exhalation by the user towards the device, so that the humidity of the breath that agglomerates the dust is not available. The exclusion system 121 includes a one-way valve or hinged flap 123 mounted by the inner pin 125 of the opening 51 in the rear end piece 13. A spring 127 is connected to the flap 123 to deflect it to a closed position on the opening 51 during the entire operation of the apparatus, different from when the user is pulling air through the mouthpiece 9. When the user inhales or pulls air through the inner core 1, the reduction of the internal pressure in the core 1 allows the atmospheric pressure on the flap 123 to exceed the deviation of the spring 127 and force it to open to admit air to the inner core 1, to create the first air current, as described above. An electrical switch 129, normally open, is connected to the flap 123 and interconnected between the electric motor 43 and the batteries 45, through an electrical box 131, formed in the core 1, to ensure that the motor 43 is not energized by the batteries 45, unless the flap 123 is opened. The flap 123 will open when the user draws air through the mouth piece 9 to inhale the aerosolised powder medicament. The volume of many medications, in their dosage amounts, is often extremely small. It has been a practice for many years to dilute these small volumes with inert filler materials to increase the total volume at manageable sizes, as in aspirin tablets and the like. Thus, in the field of inhalable powdered medicaments there has been an established practice of adding inert powders to the medicament to bring the volume to a size that can be efficiently inhaled. However, there has apparently been little or no attention given to the size of the particles of the inert powder in the face of the problem with the momentum of large particles and the constitution of deposits or cakes. It has now been discovered that mixing an amount of inert powder of substantially large particles, carefully adjusted to size, with virtually any dose of fine active ingredient or powdered medicament, will provide a useful mixture of particle sizes that will intermix or undergo spray. and autoerosion in the aerosolization chamber. With this mixture, the powder is disaggregated and pulverized into smaller sized particles, capable of being swept out of the aerosolization chamber first, while the larger particles of inert material act to scrub and clean the internal surfaces of the chamber. aerosolization. Larger particles after this suffer Self-cleaning and self-drilling for inhalation by the user. Due to the low velocity of the air entering through the mouthpiece by virtue of the action of reduction and constriction of the flow path 49, there is apparently insufficient general momentum given to any of the large particles, to cause the impact with the soft moist tissue of the throat and the larynx. Accordingly, by the provision of a diluent in the form of particles of non-toxic substances, such as lactose, where a substantial amount thereof is in the particle size range of 50 microns and larger, the medicament having a Small particle size, is cleared from the aerosolization chamber, notwithstanding the initial moisture in the medication. A second embodiment 200 of the present inhaler is shown in Figures 14-37. With reference to Figures 14 and 15, the inhaler 200 has a core or housing 201. A front end piece 203 on the front of the housing 201, tapering towards a mouthpiece 209 having a diameter comfortably accommodated by the user's mouth . The housing 201 has a flat bottom surface 211. A rear end piece 213 is attached to the back of the housing 201. A powder drug cartridge 263 is pivotably supported or supported on the upper part of the housing 201, with a retainer lever 291 superimposed on the cartridge 263. With reference to Figure 15, a front cylinder 217 has walls cylindrical 221 and a back plate 225 which form a front chamber 219. A flange 223 extends radially outwardly from the cylindrical walls 221 just forward of the back plate 225. The countersunk outward flow holes 227 pass through the back plate 225 with a feather edge or sharp edge on the rear surface of the back plate. The discharge orifices 227 are preferably provided in the pattern shown in Figure 37. The radial holes 229 extend through the cylindrical walls 221 of the front cylinder 217 within the front chamber 219 just in front of the discharge orifices 227. Preferably , the radial holes 229 are also provided separated on the cylindrical walls 221. A dust gutter 261 extends through the upper surface of the housing 201 towards the driving chamber 235. A air inlet 231, front, extends through the front end piece 203 into a distribution chamber 307 formed between the front end piece 203 and the front cylinder 217. With reference to Figures 15, 16 and 17, a frame 205 for motor is secured within the housing 201. The motor frame 205 has two battery tubes 239 attached to a central motor tube 241 by the webs 245, as shown in Figures 32-34. A partition wall 309 having an air supply port 311 extends through the rear end of the motor frame 205. A miniature, high-speed electric motor 243 is contained within the forward end of the tube 241 of the motor, as shown in FIG. 16. A motor shaft 237 extends from the motor 243 through an axle aperture in FIG. the front wall 247 of the engine tube 241, and inside a propulsion chamber 235. A propeller 233 is attached to the motor shaft 237 for rotation within the propeller chamber 235. As shown in Figures 21 and 22, the propeller 233 has two tapered arms that extend oppositely, forming an equilateral parallelogram.

The propelling chamber 235 is formed by a front wall 207 of the housing 201, a front edge 208 of the housing around the front wall 207, and a rear plate 225 of the front cylinder 217, although other configurations are available. The plenum chamber 235, as shown in Figures 15 and 16, is in general an open space in the form of a disc. The propeller 233 fits within the chamber 235 with a minimum void space (preferably approximately 0.2-0.3 mm) from the front to the rear, for example, between the back plate 225 and the front wall 207 of the housing, and also radially with the length or diameter of the propeller 233 only slightly less than the diameter of the edge 208. This relatively narrow adjustment of the propellant within the chamber provides the interaction of adequate mixing of the air and the powder drug. In contrast to the first embodiment, the propeller 233 is centered in the chamber 235. With reference to Figures 16 and 32, the front end piece 203 has threaded protrusions or protrusions 251. On both sides of the mouthpiece 209. The front cylinder 217 is attached to the front end piece 203 by means of screws 253 extending through the holes in the flange 223 and which are screwed into the protuberances 251. The screws 253 have shoulder caps 254 which extend into the mounting slots 249 in the housing 201, as shown in Figure 18. The front end piece 203 and the front cylinder 217 may be attached to the housing 201 by inserting the shoulder caps 254 through the slot holes 250 in the slots 249, and by rotating the front end piece 203 through a sharp angle. With the reverse sequence, these pieces can be removed to gain access to the plenum chamber 235. The cartridge 263 supported on top of the housing 201 includes a cartridge ring 264 having ridges 265 in the shape of a sawtooth, as shown in Figure 25. The holes or openings 271 extend longitudinally through the ring 264 of the cartridge and are charged (eg, in the factory or pharmacy) with medicament in the form of a dry powder. An upper plate 273 and a lower plate 275 are joined above and below the cartridge ring 264, to form the complete cartridge 263 and to prevent leakage or contamination of the powder in the openings 271, as shown in Figures 23, 24 and 26. A rivet or other fastener or union secures the upper and lower plate on the ring 264 of the cartridge. The anti-rotation alignment holes 277 extend through the upper and lower plates 273 and 275. A hole 279 of the gutter is provided in the upper plate 273 and the lower plate 275 so that the openings 271 can be accessed when it is brought into alignment with the gutter 279. As shown in Figures 14, 15, 28 and 29 the cartridge 263 is placed on the housing 201 with a rod or rod 259 extending in an upward direction from the housing toward the hole central 267 of the cartridge 263. A leg 269 also extending also upwardly from the housing 201, passes through the holes 277 of the leg in the upper plate 273 and the lower plate 275, to prevent the plates from rotating with the ring 264 of the cartridge. With reference to Figure 28, a rack spring 257 on a rack 255 on the housing 201, engages the shoulders 265 around the peripheral edge of the cartridge ring 264, such that the ring of the cartridge can only be rotated in an address (for example, in favor of the clock hands as shown in Figure 28).

A frame or structure 283 of the lever is pivotably attached to the rear end piece 213 by a pivot pin 287. A tight fit 293 releasably secures the front of the lever structure 283 toward the front end piece. A retaining lever 291, which is nested within the frame 283 of the lever, is also pivotably supported on the peg 287. A piston 289 is pivotably attached to the retainer lever 291 by a peg 285. The piston 289 is aligned with the gutter 261 for dust. With reference to Figures 30 and 31, an inlet gate 325 extends through the rear end part 213. A one-way valve 323 separates the inlet gate 325 from a rear plenum chamber 308 in the rear end part 213 An interconnecting circuit board 321 extends through the rear end piece 213. The rear plenum 301 opens to a central plenum chamber 303 through the air supply port 311, which extends through the wall 309. The central plenum chamber 303 leads from within the housing 201 towards two channel slots 305 on the front wall 207, which lead towards the Plenum chamber 235. A switch 329 on the one-way valve 323 is electrically connected to the motor 43 of the batteries 45 through the circuit board 321, to start the motor when the one-way valve is opened. In use, a cartridge 263 loaded into the inhaler 200 by pivoting the frame 283 of the lever, and the retaining lever 291 facing up, as shown in Figure 29. The cartridge 263 is installed on the rod or rod 259 with the leg 269 passing through the holes 277 of the leg in the upper or lower plates of the cartridge 263. The frame 283 of the retaining lever 291 is pivoted down with the piston 289 aligned with an opening 271 in the cartridge 263. As the retaining lever 291 is pressed down, the piston 289 pushes the medicament powder out of the opening 271, through the gutter 261 and into the plenum chamber 235. The piston 289 is of suitable dimensions for tightly engage the diameter of the openings 271, to drive virtually all the powder out of the opening. The piston 289 also extends completely through the gutter 261, so that the full dose from the opening is pushed completely to the plenum chamber, virtually no dust remaining in the gutter 261. The volume of the dose is very small compared to the volume of the plenum chamber, as shown in the drawings The inhaler 200 is then ready for use. The mouth piece 209 is placed inside the mouth of the user. As the user inhales gently, a slight pressure drop is created in the front chamber 219, correspondingly in the driving chamber 235, the central plenum chamber 303 and the rear plenum chamber 301, which are all connected. The reduced pressure in the rear plenum chamber 301 causes the valve 323 to be single opens, closing the switch 329 and energizing the motor 243. As the motor rotates and rotates the propeller 243 within the driving chamber 235 (which is now loaded with a dose of medicament powder), the air flows towards the inhaler 200 from the flow gate 325 through the rear plenum chamber 301, forwardly through the air supply port 311 into the central plenum chamber 303, through the channels 305 and into the plenum chamber 235, as shown in FIG. illustrates schematically in Figures 30 and 31. The Air flow also prevents dust from flowing to the engine. Propeller rotation at approximately 14,000 rpm efficiently mixes the powder with the air flowing through the booster chamber. Still referring to Figures 30 and 31, the dust-carrying air passes out of the propellant chamber 235 through the discharge orifices 227 and towards the front chamber 219. The sharp edges on the discharge orifices 227 face-to-face. the propelling chamber, prevent substantially an accumulation of dust in the holes, to prevent plugging. The outside air enters into the distribution chamber 307 through the front air inlet 231, which can be adjustable or sized in order to increase or decrease the air flow for improved distribution efficiency. From the distribution chamber 307, the outside air passes radially inwardly through the radial holes 229, which restrict flow through the design. It is intended that the outside air provide a boundary layer or barrier for the air that carries dust, in the front chamber 219. The air that carries dust, surrounded by the barrier layer of the outside air, is removed from the chamber front 219 to the user's mouth, throat and lungs thereof, to distribute the powder medication. The barrier layer helps prevent the powdered medicament from accumulating or collecting on the inside walls of the mouthpiece and is also believed to help prevent dust from settling in the mouth and throat of users. When the user stops inhaling, the valve 323 closes the , < "- * • opening, and switch 329 stops the motor. inhaler is accordingly powered by the breath. Since the valve 323 opens even with a slight pressure drop, the inhaler requires only the slight inhalation to ignite. The inhaler 200, as the inhaler shown in Figure 1, produces a slow-moving, fine-powder aerosol mist that can be easily and safely inhaled deep into the lungs, to maximize the effective distributed dose, and maximize the effect of the drug. Contrary to In many prior inhalers, the present inhaler does not require excessive or deep inhalation to achieve drug delivery. Consequently, the lung function of the user is not as important as in the prior art. The present inhaler is by therefore highly advantageous for use by people with impaired lung function. In addition, the exhalation within the inhaler 200 is prevented as the one-way valve 323 closes only with a slight rise in pressure in the rear plenum 301. If the user coughs or blows into the inhaler 200, some of the moisture carried by the breath it will partly escape through the frontal air inlet 231, but it will not appreciably reach the plenum chamber, the repeated or excessive exhalation absent within the inhaler. The present inhaler may include design features provided by the knowledge that different powdered drugs have different characteristics. The powder mixtures of the drugs have different particle sizes and distributions, densities, cohesiveness (the tendency for the drug particles to adhere to each other) and adhesive (the tendency for the drug particles to adhere to the surface of the inhaler). Thus, for increased distribution efficiency, the flow parameters of the inhaler must be advantageously adjusted so that the specific drug is distributed. These adjustments can be made by adjusting the rotation speed of the propeller 233, and by varying the air flow through the propeller chamber. The flow of air through the propellant chamber can be controlled by a slit or disk opening 327 that increases or decreases the size of the opening of the air supply orifice 311. Alternatively, the air supply orifice 311 can be punched or perforated to a specific size, dedicated to a specific drug. Accordingly, the inhaler is advantageously provided with a set of speed adjustment circuits for the motor, and an airflow control aperture or air supply orifices sized according to the characteristics of the drug that the inhaler will supply. . The electric scalp in these drawings has not been shown for clarity, since such scalp is already known in the prior art. The drawings show the preferred sizes of inhaler characteristics. An alternative embodiment of inhaler 401, as shown in Figures 38-42, has a housing 403 with a mouthpiece 405 preferably oval. The aerosolization chamber 407 is formed between a front wall 408 and a very thin back wall 409 of the housing 403. An impeller 411 is rotatably mounted on a pin 413 supported by bearings or bushes 415 on the front and rear walls, to rotate inside the aerosolization chamber 407. The outlet gates 417 conformed to the sector around the bushing 415 in the front walls pass through the front wall 408. The radial inlets 425 pass through the housing 403 and enter substantially tangentially into the aerosolization chamber. 407. A loading port 409 passes through the rear wall 409 of the housing 403 to the aerosolisation chamber 407. A blister pack 421 is pivotably supported on a hub or terminal 423 extending from the rear wall 409 of the housing 403. The blister pack 421 has a plurality of equally spaced ampules 422, which maintain a powder drug mixture. The upper or rear part of the ampoule 422 is a dome-shaped concave surface metal foil bowl, plastic, etc. The lower surface of the ampoule is formed by a folded pull tab 426. The pull tab 426 seals the powder drug inside the ampoule. Preferably, the tab 426 is bent backwards and over the blister, and is attached to the upper part of the blister. A support disc 420 can be provided on the back or top of the blister pack to allow it to better maintain its shape and alignment. In use, the blister pack 421 is rotated by the user to align a blister 422 with the loading port 419. Alignment marks or a stop can be provided to facilitate this alignment. The user lifts the tab 426 of the ampule 422, to break the joint, and, so that the pull tab extends radially outwardly. The tongue is then pulled, releasing the folded bottom surface and opening the ampule towards the loading orifice. Some of the contents of the powder drug in the ampoule falls into the aerosolisation chamber 407 via the charging orifice 419. To complete the distribution of the contents 427 of the ampule, the user presses the ampoule 422 in an inward direction, for example. with the user's finger, causing the ampoule to snap into an inverted convex position. This movement causes any remaining content 427 of the ampule is expelled through the loading orifice 429 and into the aerosolization chamber 407. With the dose distributed to the chamber 407, the user inhales from the mouthpiece 405. The inhalation pulls air towards the radial inlets 425 , which pushes against the propeller 411 and leaves the aerosolization chamber 407 through the outlet gates 417. The propeller 411 is precisely positioned within the aerosolization chamber 407 only with a very small clearance between the propeller 411 and the front wall 408, the rear wall 409 and the circumferential wall of the housing 403. The propellant 411 driven by the inhalation rotates at high speed within the aerosolization chamber 407, mixing the powdered drug mixture with the air, and the air carried by the drug exits the exit gates 417 and into the mouth, throat and lungs of the user. In the Figures, the spacing between the propeller 411 and the walls of the chamber, and the wall thickness of the rear chamber, are exaggerated, and several of the tabs are omitted, for clarity of illustration. The 401 inhaler has no motor or external power source. The 411 propeller is driven by the inhalation of the user. As a result, it does not achieve the flow velocity independence of the previously described modes. However, the potential to mix the powder drug and air is present. In addition, the 401 mode without motor is compact, lightweight, simple in design, and does not require batteries or external power source. The device 401 can be advantageously processed as a disposable and inexpensive unit, which is discarded after all the ampoules on the blister pack have been used. Similarly, the propeller 411 in the embodiment shown in Figures 38-42, can be omitted, leaving all the powder / air drug mixture to the air flow and turbulence characteristics generated within the aerosolization chamber by the air flow through it, after inhalation. However, such a non-propellant mode is less preferred, since the benefits of the mixing action of the propellant are not achieved. In another inhaler without motor shown in Figure 14, the back wall 409, the face hole 419 and the hub 23 are omitted, and the blister pack 421 itself is permanently attached or coupled to and forms the rear wall of the housing. In this embodiment, the ampoules are simply sequentially opened by detachment for use, and the powder drug is ejected directly into the aerosolization chamber. The propeller can be toothed to leave free space on the inverted ampoules. The other design features of this mode can be similar to those shown in Figure 42. Similarly, the modes shown in Figures 3 and 30 can be simplified by removing the motor, batteries and propeller, with the flow of air through the aerosolization chamber, after inhalation of the user, which provides the only action of drug / air mixing. Alternatively, a propeller or paddle wheel, without a motor, and with re-entrained air inlet gates can be used to add mechanical mixing. While the invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments, those skilled in the art will be able to make various modifications to the described embodiments, without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Those skilled in the art will appreciate also that the various features described in connection with a modality may be used separately or in combination over any modality.

It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known by the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is the conventional one for the manufacture of the objects to which it relates.

Having described the invention as above, property is claimed as contained in the following:

Claims (12)

1. An inhaler for dry powder, characterized in that it comprises: a housing having a front wall, a rear wall, and a circumferential wall forming a disc-shaped mixing chamber; rotatably mounted propeller inside the housing; a plurality of entries aligned with the propeller, and passing through the circumferential wall and into the mixing chamber; a supply gate that passes through the housing and leads to the mixing chamber; a mouth piece attached to the front wall of the housing; and an outlet that passes from the mixing chamber through the front wall and towards the mouthpiece.

2. The dry powder inhaler according to claim 1, characterized in that the inlets extend tangentially through the housing.

3. The dry powder inhaler according to claim 1, further characterized in that it comprises a propeller spigot bearing the propeller in the housing, with the spike parallel to a central longitudinal axis of the mouthpiece.

4. The dry powder inhaler according to claim 1, further characterized in that it comprises a disc rotatably attached to the posterior wall, with the disc having a plurality of ampoules containing a dry powder.

5. The dry powder inhaler according to claim 1, characterized in that the propeller fits tightly inside the mixing chamber on all sides.

6. The dry powder inhaler, characterized in that it comprises: a housing having a front wall, a rear wall, and a circumferential wall forming a disc-shaped mixing chamber; rotatably mounted propeller inside the housing; a plurality of inlets that pass through the circumferential wall towards the mixing chamber, and placed between the front wall and the rear wall, and that enter substantially tangentially towards the mixing chamber, so that the air passing to through the entrances it hits the propeller; a mouth piece on the front wall of the housing; and an outlet that passes from the mixing chamber through the front wall and towards the mouthpiece.

7. The dry powder inhaler according to claim 6, characterized in that the rear wall comprises a plurality of ampoules.

8. The dry powder inhaler according to claim 1, characterized in that the propeller fits tightly inside the mixing chamber on all sides.

9. The dry powder inhaler according to claim 1, characterized because the entrances extend tangentially through the housing.

10. The dry powder inhaler according to claim 1, characterized in that the axis of rotation of the propellant is parallel to a central longitudinal axis of the mouthpiece.

11. The dry powder inhaler according to claim 1, characterized in that the front wall and the rear wall are flat.

12. A dry powder inhaler, characterized in that it comprises: a housing having a front wall, a rear wall, and a circumferential wall, forming a mixing chamber, and a tubular mouthpiece centrally attached to the front wall; a freely rotating flat blade propeller, rotatably mounted within the mixing chamber, on a collinear rotation axis with the mouthpiece; a blister-type packing disc pivotably attached to the back wall of the housing, the disc includes a plurality of separate ampoules, containing a powder drug; a supply gate through the front wall, to allow the drug to move from an ampoule to the mixing gate; a plurality of inlets that extend tangentially through the housing, and into the mixing chamber, the inlets are aligned with the propeller; and a plurality of outlets extending through the front wall, adjacent to the axis of rotation and inside the mouthpiece.