MXPA96005598A - Inhaler for po - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for delivering independent doses of a medicament in powder form from a container, which has a plurality of openings, each of which houses a respective one of the doses, and is sealed by two opposed seals, the device comprises a housing for holding the container, the housing has an outlet and an air passage communicating with the outlet, and is configured to allow the container to move relative thereto to bring each opening in succession into the register with the passage of air, characterized in that the device includes a pierced member that can be moved from a retracted position, in which it is positioned outside the container, to its extended position in which it extends through the opening, the movement causes the pierced member to break the seals and where the pierced member has a relatively small cross-sectional area compared to that of each opening, so that the movement of the pierced member essentially does not eject medicament from the opening

Description

DUST INHALER Field of the Invention This invention relates to dispensing devices, in particular to devices for dispensing single doses of a medicament, and to a cartridge for use in such a device.

Background of the Invention It is known to treat certain respiratory problems, particularly asthma, with a pharmacologically active compound which is in a finely divided particulate form, and which is administered by inhalation. A known inhaler for dispensing such material is known from the British Patent Specification No. GB2178965 (Glaxo Group Limited), and comprises a circular carrier which includes a number of ampoules in each of which a respective dose of material is encapsulated. When a dose is to be administered, a user moves a slide that operates the graduation means to place the ampoules in succession to registration with an airway. The user REF: 23365 then pivots a separate handle, which breaks the ampule to register with an airway, to allow the medication in it to be self-administered by the user, inhaling through a mouthpiece that communicates with the via of air. However, if a user operates the perforation and grading mechanisms a number of times, without inhaling through the mouthpiece, the medication may accumulate in the airway, which results in the user taking too much of a dose. great when he inhales immediately over the mouthpiece. In addition, the need to operate the graduation means and the drilling mechanism separately can make the device difficult to use.

Compendium of the Invention According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a device for dispensing single doses of a finely divided solid medicament, from a container having a plurality of openings, each of which maintains a respective one of said doses, and it is sealed by two opposed seals, the device comprises a housing for holding the container, the housing has an outlet and an airway communicating with the outlet, and which is configured to allow the container to move relative to. this, to put each opening in succession to registration with the airway, wherein the device includes a drilling member movable from a retracted position in which it is placed clear of the openings, in an extended position in which it is Extending through an opening, said movement causes the piercing member to break the first and then the other of the opposed seals, while not expelling substantially medicament from that opening. Thus, if the user operates the device to pierce the seals of an opening, but does not inhale through the mouthpiece when that opening is in register with the airway, the material will tend to remain in the opening. This material will not subsequently reach the mouthpiece when a dose is being administered from another opening, since the first opening will no longer be registered with the airway.

Preferably, the piercing member comprises a spike which can advantageously be hollow. In the latter case, the forward end of the spike is preferably shaped to create in the seals flaps that can be moved in a hinge away from their respective opening, to allow the contents of that opening to be discharged. The housing can advantageously include the means that hinge the flaps back toward the opening, as it is moved out of register with the airway, thereby further reducing the tendency for any material remaining in that opening to not be subsequently expelled. . If the spike is hollow, it preferably has an axial groove at its forward end, so that the leading end of the spike is substantially C-shaped., when the spike is observed from the end. The device conveniently includes the graduation means for placing each opening in succession to registration with the airway, and a common operating member attached to the indexing means and to the piercing means for extending and retracting the spike so that the manipulation of the member operated by the user operates the graduation means and breaks the seals of an opening. The common drive member thus facilitates the operation of the device. Preferably, the spike so placed is to break the seals of an opening while the latter is in register with the airway. According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a device as mentioned above and a container having a plurality of sealed openings, each maintaining a respective dose of medicament, the container is held within the housing of the device and is movable for to place each opening in succession to register with the airway and the perforation means which is capable of breaking the seals of each opening, while subsequently not issuing medicament therefrom. Preferably, the openings are all sealed by two opposing pieces of sheet material attached to the container. Preferably, where the piercing member is operable to create the flaps in the sheet material, each opening is flattened in the region where the hinges for the flap are formed.

It has been found that this reduces the amount of residual material left in an opening, after the respective dose has been dispensed, and thus the waste is reduced. The container may be constituted by a substantially flat plate, or may be cylindrical. Where the container is cylindrical, the actuating member preferably comprises a rotating member, the rotation of which alternatively causes the indexing means to rotate the container within the device, and the pin breaks the seals of an opening. Preferably, the device includes the stop means for defining the maximum extent of the allowable rotation of the rotating member. Conveniently, the rotation of the rotary member from one of the two positions defined by the end stops causes the pin to pierce a seal, while the rotation of the rotary member in the opposite direction towards a position causes the means of Graduation rotate the container. The graduation means preferably comprises a ratchet action mechanism operable to rotate the container in one direction, solely in response to the rotation of alternating movement of the rotating member. Preferably, with a cylindrical container loaded in the device, the pin is located in use within the volume defined by the internal periphery of the container. Preferably, the graduation means is connected to the rotating member through a lost movement means, thus accommodated to prevent the graduation means from moving the tubular container while the piercing member is being inserted and / or removed from a compartment. Preferably, the rotating member is connected to an axle which is in turn connected to the pin through joining means comprising a lever arm pivotably coupled to the pin, so that rotation of the axle causes the substantially linear movement of the pin. the spike. The invention also resides in a cartridge for use in a device as mentioned above, the cartridge comprising a container for containing said doses, and can incorporate at least one of the perforation and graduation means.

The invention also lies in a device for dispensing single doses of a powdered medicament from a container having a plurality of sealed compartments, each containing a respective dose of medicament to be discharged through an outlet passage of the device, the The device comprises the operable graduation means for placing the exit passage and the successive compartments in register with each other, and the perforation means operable to break the seal on each compartment in succession, to enable the material to be discharged from the same, wherein the drilling means and the grading means are connected to a manually operable common operating member, by means of which the drilling means and the grading means are operated. The common drive member makes it possible for the device to be of relatively compact design, and allows the device to be used more easily than would otherwise be the case if, for example, a separate drive means were required for each of the means of graduation and the medium of drilling.

Brief Description of the Drawings The invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show two embodiments of the dispenser according to the invention, one of which has a cartridge assembly (which includes a tubular container) mounted within of a lodging, and in which; Figure 1 is an isometric view partly in section of the first mode of the dispenser; Figures 2-5 are exploded isometric views of various components of the cartridge for that jet; Figure 6 shows the cartridge when it is mounted; Figure 7 is a partially exploded, diagrammatic view of the cartridge and the housing; Figures 8A-8F are diagrammatic sectional views illustrating the operation of part of the device, at various stages during the operation cycle of the device; Figures 9A-9F are sectional views illustrating the operation of other parts of the device in corresponding stages in the operation cycle thereof; Figures 10A-10H are simplified diagrams showing various stages of a method of making a tubular container; Figures 11A-11E show components of an alternative type of tubular container, which can be filled by the method illustrated in FIGS.

Figures 10A-H, figure HE shows the container when it is assembled; Figure 12 is a sectional, diagrammatic side view of the apparatus for filling the containers shown in Figures 10 and 11, in the course of a method step; Figure 13 shows the apparatus of Figure 12 when used to seal one side of the container, in accordance with a subsequent step of the method; Figure 14 is a sectional side view of the second mode of the spout; Figure 15 is a side view of the component of both modes of the dispenser; Figure 16 is an end view of the component shown in Figure 15; Figures 17A and 17B show a container respectively from the front and from one side, for use with the dispenser; Figure 17C shows a part of the container as shown in Figure 17A at an enlarged scale; Figures 18-22 are views corresponding to Figure 14, and which show the spout (with a container therein) at various stages in its operation cycle; and Figure 23 is an exploded perspective view of the second embodiment, showing a slight modification to a part thereof.

Detailed description With reference to Figure 1, the inhaler comprises a housing 100 having a generally cylindrical portion and which is connected at its lower end to a buccal part 102 that extends substantially radially to the main body of the housing 100. The end The housing opposite 100 includes a rotary member in the form of a cover 104 rotatably mounted on the rest of the housing 100. The cover 104 incorporates a window 106 through which a cartridge 108 contained within the body 100 can be observed. to Figures 2 to 5, the cartridge 108 comprises a hollow cylindrical core 110 which has an upper portion 112 of reduced diameter, in which an upper opening 114 and an integral rabera or tongue 116 are provided. The core 110 also includes a lower portion 118 which is of a larger diameter than the portion 112, and which defines an annular shoulder 120 where it meets the portion n 112. The portion 118 includes a screw thread 122, end, a radial aperture 124 in its upper region, and two lugs or lower legs 126 and 128 extending axially. The core 110 accommodates a vertical axis 130, the upper part of which projects through the opening 114. The upper part of the shaft 130 includes a groove 132 for coupling a protrusion 136 on the underside of the upper part of the cap 104, to provide a rotational entry between the shaft 130 and the cap 104. The bottom of the shaft 130 is provided with a radial crank arm 138 which incorporates a radial slit 140, which slidably engages an emboss 142 connected to the hub. a pin 144 positioned above a plate 146. The pin is in register with an opening (not shown) in the case 110 angularly spaced from the opening 124. The plate 146 is, with the cartridge mounted, coupled to the interior of the core by suitable means (not shown), and the spike 144 and the plate 146 include guiding means ( not shown) arranged so that rotation of the shaft 132 causes axial movement of the spigot 144. With reference to Figure 3, the shoulder 120 supports a sleeve or sleeve 150 which is rotatably mou on the core 110, and which surrounds the upper part 112. The sleeve or sleeve 150 includes inal longitudinal grooves 152 and two diametrically opposed groups of external longitudinal ribs or ribs 154. and 156. With reference to Figure 4, the medicament to be stocked is contained in a tubular container 158 which has side walls which include a number of radially side-by-side holes, helically accommodated, such as 159 (Figures 1 and 9), each of which contains a respective dose of the material. The inner and outer surfaces of the side walls are coated with corresponding sheets of a laminated sheet that seals both ends of each hole. The core 110 extends through the ce of the container 158, which includes a lower end cap 160 having a partial helical notch (not shown) for the engagement of the thread 122, and an upper cover 162 which includes two groups diametrically opposing slits 164 and 166, which engage the rib groups 154 and 156 to provide rotational ilocking between the sleeve 150 and the container 158. The upper portion of the shaft 130 includes a shoulder 133 which supports a ratchet member 168 which is rotatable with respect to the shaft 130. The ratchet member 168 includes a top enhancer 170 which engages an arcuate slide guide (Figure 7) in the bottom portion of the lid 104, to provide a movement connection. lost between the cap 104 and the ratchet member 168. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the cap 104 is removable from the remainder of the housing 100 to enable the assembled cartridge 108 to be a is inserted into the housing 100 until the lower legs 126 and 128 of the core 110 engage corresponding sockets 174-176 (Figure 1) in the bottom of the housing 100, to provide a rotational lock between the core 110 and the housing 100. As illustrated in Figure 7, the housing 100 includes an upper recess 178 which cooperates with a leg projecting in a downward direction (not shown) in the lid 104, to provide stops defining the limits of the allowable rotational movement of the cover 104 relative to the rest of the housing 100. The legs 126 and 128 separate the lower end of the core 110 from the housing 100, thereby making it possible for the iior of the core 110 to communicate with an air inlet 180, provided in the lower side of the mouthpiece 102, which includes an air outlet 182 divided from the inlet 180. The container 158 is spaced apart from the housing 100 to provide a passage of s alida between the vertical inner ribs 182 and 184 (Figure 8a) which communicates with the outlet 182. In this way the inhaler includes an airway, indicated by the arrows marked, extending from the air inlet 180 through the core 110, through the opening 124 and a side-to-side hole containing the dose to register with it, and then through the exit passage down towards the exit 182. In order to take a dose of medication from the inhaler, the user must rotate the cap 104 from one end to the other of its end positions and back again, causing the spike 144 to break the sheet sheet seal for a hole from side to side, and causing the hole side by side is subsequently moved to register with the exit passage. This operation will now be described in more detail with reference to Figures 8A-8F and Figures 9A-9F. Figure 8A shows the spout in an initial condition in which spigot 134 is retracted, and all compartments are sealed. The rotation of the button 104 in a clockwise direction as indicated by the arrow 184 of Figure 8B, causes a corresponding rotation of the axis 130 which, in turn, rotates the crank arm 138 to extend the pin 144 until it penetrates the internal seal of a cavity 186 (Figure 9B). During this process, the slit 172 travels relative to the pin 170 to prevent rotation of the ratchet member 168, until the pin 170 engages the rear end of the slot 172. Additional rotation of the button 104 in the same direction causes then also a corresponding rotation of the member 168, which can rotate relative to the sleeve 150 in a clockwise direction, only. As this happens, the coupling of the tongue 116 with the internal fluted edge of the jacket 150, prevents the latter turning in a counter-clockwise direction. When the allowable movement limit for clockwise is reached, member 168 is in the position shown in Figure 8C, and pin 144 is in the position shown in the Figure. 9C in which it extends through and beyond the orifice 186 to pierce the inner and outer seals. The knob or button 104 is then rotated in the opposite direction, as shown in Figure 8d, causing the pin 144 to be removed from the hole 186. During removal of the spike 144, the slit 172 moves relative to the relief 170. to prevent the corresponding movement of the jacket 150 (and hence of the container 158) until the spike 144 has been completely removed. The additional counterclockwise rotation of the button 104 rotates the member 168, through the coupling of the rim 117 and the slit 172, in turn causing the rotation of the liner 150. Since the latter is rotationally locked at the vessel 158, this movement causes the container 158 to rotate about the lower portion 118 of the core 110, which in turn moves the holes from side to side including the orifice 186 along a partial helical path, as a result of the coupling of the cover 160 with the screw thread 122. By the time the button 104 has reached the allowable counter-clockwise rotation limit, as illustrated in Figure 8F, the orifice 186 is in register with the exit passage (Figure 9F). If the user then inhales through the outlet 182 of the mouthpiece 102, the consequent airflow through the device expels the medication through the orifice 186, into the outlet chamber and out through the outlet 182. With reference to Figure 1, the mouthpiece 102 also includes a grid 190 for capturing any loose fragments of the sealing sheet which become jammed during inhalation. The spike 144 is shown in greater detail in Figures 15 and 16. The spike comprises a hollow cylindrical body 301, having an inclined leading edge 302, and an upper axial slit 303, extending from the upper part of the rim 302. As it can be seen from Figure 16, the edge 302 is substantially C-shaped, when viewed from the end. In use, the bottom of the edge 302 is the first portion of the tang 301, to penetrate the sheet seals as the tang 301 is extended. The leading edge 302 creates a partial circular incision in each of the foil seals to define two flaps. The portions of the sheet aligned with the slit 303 are not cut, and therefore each defines a hinge connection of a respective flap to the remainder of the sheet seal. As the flap is created, the spike301 pushes the outer radial flap outward as it is extended, and with retraction, pulls the inner radial flap inwardly, so that the flaps are moved away from the dose to be stocked During the insertion of the pin 301 into a hole, little or none of the dose of the material in the hole is expelled by the pin. The danger of a user inadvertently taking an overdose by operating the cap a number of times before inhaling, is avoided, since the material is ejected to the exit passage only when the user inhales, and only from the hole in register with the passage. With reference to Figures 10A-H, the container comprises a body 201 which includes a number of side-by-side holes, for example 202 to contain a respective dose of medicament. For purposes of clarity, the body illustrated in Figures 10A-H has only 16 such holes from side to side, although in practice a larger number of side-to-side holes may be present in the body 201. With the container mounted, the body 201 is of a generally cylindrical shape, the holes being radially positioned, and the holes from side to side are sealed by an outer sheet 204 and an inner sheet 206 laminated film attached to the body 201. With reference to Figure IOA, the body 201 is formed of a rectangular plate, also denoted by the reference number 201, a plastic material, the underside of which includes a number of notches or grooves 208 arranged in a regular parallel arrangement . The notches or grooves 208 divide the plate 201 a number of parallel rigid strips, such as the strip 210 running across the width of the plate, the adjacent pairs of which are connected by the corresponding reduced thickness portions, such as the portion 212. The thickness of the plastic material constituting these portions is such that the adjacent strips are adjacently hinged to one another. The holes from side to side in the plate 201 are all provided in the strips. Returning to Figure 10B, the plate 201 is placed on a bed 214 of a porous material, with the non-threaded or non-scored side of the plate above, and the upper surface of the plate 201 is covered by a plaque of medicament. 216 powder, which covers one end of each of the holes from side to side in the plate 201. With reference to Figure 10c, the air is then extracted from each of the holes from side to side through the bed 214 causing the material 216 to be sucked into each of the holes from side to side. The porosity of the bed 214 is such that it is impermeable to the material 216. As a result, the bed 214 prevents the material 216 from being discharged from the holes from side to side towards the lower end thereof. When the side-to-side holes have been filled with material 216, any excess material that has not been pulled into a side-to-side hole is removed by pulling an elastically flexible blade 218 through the upper surface of the blade. plate 201 (Figure 10D). The sheet 204 is then heat sealed on the upper surface of the plate 201 (Figure 10 E), which is then inverted so that the sheet 206 can be similarly applied to the opposite face of the plate 201 (Figure 1 F). The flexibility provided by the reduced thickness portions between the strips. plate201, makes it possible for the latter to be rolled or rolled (Figure 10G) to a generally cylindrical shape, with the strips extending axially along the cylinder, and notches 208 on the inside surface thereof, to form the body 201. Once the body 201 has been formed, two end caps 220 and 222 in the form of a ring are applied at each end of the cylinder. Each cap includes an annular sliding guide, such as the slide guide 224 within which the strips extend, and in which the strips form an airtight fit. In this way the covers 220 and 222 prevent the body 201 from breaking down or collapsing. The components shown in Figures HA-HE correspond to those shown in Figures 10A-H, and the corresponding components are indicated by the same reference number increased by 30. Thus, the container comprises a cylindrical body 231 formed of a plate (also with reference number 231) that has a number of holes from side to side, for example 232, which are filled with powdered medicament by the same method as that illustrated in Figures 10A-H, and are then sealed on one side by a first sheet of laminated film 234 and on the other side with a second laminated film 236 applied to the body 231 after the latter has been inverted. It will be noted that the body 231 contains a greater number of holes from side to side, for example, 232 than the body 201, and can therefore contain a greater number of doses of medicament than the body 201. In addition, each of the notches or grooves in body 231, for example notch 238, is tapered to facilitate lamination of plate 231. Caps 250 and 252 each include diametrically opposed internal groove arrangements, eg, 256 and 258, which make it possible for the container is rotationally locked to the rotational core or an inhaler in which the container is to be used. As you can see from the Figure HA, the holes from side to side are thus accommodated to lie in a helical path on the body 231, when the container is mounted. With reference to Figure 12, the apparatus for filling the container includes a filling station in which a filling head 260 is provided comprising a rectangular upper plate 262 of dimension corresponding to a plate 264, to constitute a cylindrical body. The vertical peripheral walls 266 extend from the plate 262 to the plate 264, so that the head 260 and the plate 264 define a filling chamber 268. The plate 262 includes a central opening 270, which communicates with an inlet of air 272. The chamber 268"contains a diffuser 274 positioned between the opening 270 and the plate 264. The head includes an additional entrance (not shown) through which the powder material is introduced into the chamber 268 between the diffuser 274 and the plate 26.4. In use, air is drawn into chamber 268 through opening 270, fluidizing the powder material in chamber 268, and increasing the air pressure in the chamber. The increase in air pressure causes air to flow out of the chamber through the holes from side to side on plate 264, and through a porous bed 276 on which plate 264 is supported. air pulls material towards the holes from side to side, with which the last ones are filled.

The diffuser 274 ensures a uniform flow of air over the powder bed, to avoid any tendency for incoming air to blow a hole in the powder. The diffuser 274 and the bed 276 are of a similar porous material. As shown in Figure 13, the head 260 is then moved laterally away from the plate 264, and a sheet of sealing material in the form of a film or sheet 280 is placed on the plate 264 by means of the film supply means (no shown) an upper heating block 282 also moves to register with the plate 264, and is then lowered vertically on the film 280 and the plate 264, to seal the film 280 on the plate. The apparatus includes the means (not shown) for inverting the plate 264 to enable a sheet of film to be applied to the opposite side in the same manner, and the means for laminating the plate 264, to form a cylindrical body. With reference to Figures 14 and 23, the second embodiment of the spout comprises a housing 304 of rectangular section, which, in both versions, includes a back plate 315 from which a pair of guide rods 337 and 339 project, and a pair of opposite side plates 313 and 315. In the version of the second embodiment shown in Figures 14 and 18 through 22, the housing 304 has a faceplate 317 in which a passage 306 is formed which is sealed in its part upper, and which communicates in its bottom or bottom with a vortex chamber 308, which is part of an oral part 310. The passage 306 is also communicated by an opening 312 partially along its length. As shown in Figure 23, an alternative faceplate 317 for the housing has a recess 319 which accommodates a tube 321 that is part of a separate mouth piece assembly 310 '. The tube 321 has a side opening 323 which corresponds in position and function to the opening 312. The tube 321 is also open in its upper part and communicates with a vertical passage in the plate 317 ', whose passage ends in an opening 325 A plate 327 holds the mouthpiece assembly 310 'on the plate 317'. In all respects the version shown in Figure 23 is the same as that shown in Figures 14 and 18 to 22, and therefore the same reference numbers are used to denote the same components. Each of the side plates 313 and 315 includes a guide rail 314 and 327 respectively, which runs from the top to the bottom of the housing, and which, in use, helps to place a slide, described later. Plates 313 and 315 are also formed with guide rails, one of which is shown at 305- (superimposed on other components in Figures 18 through 22), each of which has a vertical portion 307 and a lower portion in the shape of a circuit 309. Each rail also ends in an inclined portion 311. The housing 304 also accommodates a slider member 316 of hollow rectangular section, which terminates in an upper handle 318. A button 320 is mounted on the base the handle 308, and is biased outwardly, to the position shown in Figure 14, by a compression spring 322. The slide comprises a pair of side plates 341 and 343, each of which has an outer vertical rib , one of which is shown at 345, which is slidably placed in a respective of lanes 314 and 327. Plate 343 has two cam tracks 324 'and 326', each of which is aligned with a cam identical, respective barrel (324 and 325) on plate 341.A bar 347 has an end trim 349, which extends toward the rail 326 'and, at its opposite end, an extension 351 which extends into the rail 326. A drill pin 328, of the type shown in FIGS. and 16, projects from the center of the bar 347, and through a hole 353 in another bar 355. The bar 355 carries positioning pins 330 and 330 'which flank the shank 328. The bar also has opposite end elevations 361 and 363, each of which extends to a respective one of lanes 325 and 324 '. The bars 347 and 355 are both slidably supported on the rods 337 and 339. The slide 316 also carries a pair of index arms 332 and 332 ', which are each pivoted to a respective one of the plates 341 and 343, and one is positioned on one side of the pins 330, 330 ', and the drill pin 328. Each index arm has an external end 334, which includes a finger 336. The outer ends of the graduation arms flank the passage 306, and each arm has an elevation 340 and 340 'respectively, which engages in rail 305 or the corresponding opposite rail in the accommodation plate 313. The housing also contains a central block 365, which has openings through it. which spikes 330, 330 'and 328 may extend. The block also has two opposite side ribs 367 and 369, which act as a guide for a container to be used with the inhaler. For clarity purposes, the sectional views in Figures 18 through 22 are taken in two planes; the sections of the plate 343 and of the arm 332 have been taken in the plane of the plate 343, while the section of the button 318 and the housing 304 is taken in a vertical plane, which bisects the inhaler. In addition, the spike 328 and the bar 347 have been superimposed on the sectional views, as have the bar 355 and the spike 330. The container for use in this spout, comprises a plate 342 which includes a central column of ten. openings 344, each of which contains a respective dose of the material. As can be seen from detail 346, each opening has a flattened edge portion, for example 348. With the container received in the spout, the flattened edge portions constitute the upper portions of the openings. The row of openings 344 is flanked by two rows 340 and 352 of additional openings, which are used by the spout to position and scale the container. Two strips of laminated sheet (not shown) are attached to opposite sides of the container, to seal the openings in the column 344. In order for the dispenser to be capable of receiving the container, the graduation arms 332 and 332 'have to be swung away from the region of the spout to be occupied by the container. To that end, the button 320 is depressed, and the slide 316 is pushed down, which causes the placement of the protrusion on each arm to move along the inclined bottom portion of the respective rail or slide. This in turn causes the graduation arms to pivot in a clockwise direction, until the position shown in Figure 18 is reached, in which the finger, (for example 336) on each arm is laterally spaced from rail 314 and the opposite rail in the housing. The container 342 can then be inserted into the bottom of the housing and pushed along the rails to the position shown in Figure 18.

With reference to figure 19, the slide 316 is then raised, causing the button 320 to trigger as it moves free of the housing 304. As this happens, the protrusion on each graduation arm moves upwards from the lower inclined portion from its respective lane to the right hand side (as seen in the Figures) of lane circuit 309. As a result, both graduation arms pivot in a counter-clockwise direction until the fingers at the ends of the arms are placed in the respective holes in the upper part of the columns 344 and 352 of the container 342. The continuous movement towards above the slide 316 therefore pulls the container 342 above the housing, until the position shown in Figure 19 is reached, in which the upper opening containing the dose, of the column 344, is in register with the spike 328. As the user continues to lift the slide 318, the elevation on each of the graduation arms travels from the circuit portion of their respective lane to the vertical portion thereof, causing the graduation arms to move in a counterclockwise until the fingers on the outer ends of the arms are uncoupled from their respective placement holes. Raising the slide 316 also moves the cam slide guides 324, 324 ',. 326 and 326 'in relation to the bars 347 and 355. As can be seen from the Figures, the shapes of the rails are such that the upward movement of the first slide extends to the positioning pins 330 and 330'. , until they extend into the holes previously occupied by the fingers at the ends of the graduation arms to hold the container in a position in which the upper opening containing the dose is in register with the tang 328 and the opening 312 in passage 306. As the user continues to raise the slide 316, the rails 326 and 326 'cause the drill pin 328 to be extended through the opening containing the dose, thereby piercing the foil seals on each side of it. The user then lowers the slide to the position shown in Figure 22, which returns the enhancements (e.g. 340) on the graduation arms to the positions shown in Figure 14 via the left-hand side of the circuit portions. of their respective rails, so that the fingers on the ends of the graduation arms are coupled to the following positioning holes of those previously coupled. This movement also retracts the pins 328, 330 and 330 '. The user can then administer the dose of material from the first of the central openings by inhalation through the mouthpiece 310. The circuit portions of the rails that move the graduation arms (for example, the rail 305) have a number of one-way gates to ensure that the boom (340, 340 ') of each arm always moves around the respective circuit in the same direction. As the user does this, the air is pulled through the bottom of the housing 304, to the center of the slide 316 and through the opening 312, via the opening containing the dose, to register with it. The whirl chamber 308 helps to provide a reasonably uniform distribution of the medicament in the air flow through the mouthpiece 310.

The next time a dose is required, the user raises the slide 316, which graduates or the container up through the dispenser, so that the orifice containing the next dose is taken to register with opening 312 and its seals are perforated with the spike 328. This process is repeated until all the doses contained in the container have been inhaled, after which the container can be removed from the upper part of the housing 304. It will be noted that, in use, the button 320 acts as a stop to limit the amount of downward movement of slide 316 when a container is not going to be loaded in the housing It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known by the applicant to carry out the invention, is the conventional one for the manufacture of the objects to which it refers.

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

Claims (15)

1. A device for supplying single doses of a powdered medicament from a container having a plurality of openings, each of which holds a respective one of said doses, and is sealed by two opposed seals, the device comprises a housing for maintaining the container, the housing has an outlet and an airway communicating with the outlet, and is configured to allow the container to move relative to the latter to place each opening in succession upon registration with the airway, characterized by device because it includes a drilling member movable from a retracted position in which it is free from the container to an extended position in which it extends from the opening, said movement causing the piercing member to break the seals , while not expelling medications substantially from the opening.

2. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the piercing member comprises a hollow spike.

3. A device according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the spike is thus shaped to create in the seals, flaps that move hingedly away from the opening, as to allow the contents thereof to be discharged.

4. A device according to claim 3, characterized in that the front end of the spike is substantially C-shaped, when viewed from the end.

5. A device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device includes a common actuating member attached to the piercing member and to the graduation means for placing each opening in succession to register with the airway, the arrangement being such that the manipulation of the actuating member for the user operates the graduation means and breaks the seal of an opening.

6. A device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the piercing member is positioned to break the seals of an opening, while the latter is in register with the airway.

7. The apparatus comprising a device, according to any of the preceding claims and a container having a plurality of sealed openings each maintaining a respective dose of medicament, the container is maintained within the housing of the device, and is movable to place each opening in succession to registration with the airway, the piercing member of the device is operable to break the seals of each opening, while not expelling substantially medicament therefrom.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that the openings are all sealed by two opposite pieces of material in the form of a sheet or sheet attached to a container.

9. The apparatus according to claim 7 or 8, when appended to claim 3, characterized in that each opening in the container is flattened in the region in which the hinges of the flaps are formed.

10. The apparatus according to any of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the container is cylindrical, and the actuating member comprises a rotating or rotating member, the rotation of which reciprocates the container and causes the pin to break the seals of the container. An opening.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that stop means are provided to define the maximum extent of the allowable rotation of the rotating member.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, characterized in that the rotation of the rotating member from one to the other of the two positions defined by the end stops, causes the pin to pierce a seal, while the rotation of the rotary member in the opposite direction to a position, causes the container to be graduated.

13. The apparatus according to any of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that the piercing member is located within the volume defined by the internal periphery of the cylindrical container.

14. The apparatus according to any of claims 10 to 13, characterized in that the rotating member is connected to the container through the lost movement means thus accommodated to prevent the container from being rotated by the rotating member, while the piercing member is being inserted inside or removed from an opening.

15. A cartridge for use in a compliance apparatus of any of claims 10 to 14, characterized in that the cartridge comprises a container for dose containment, and that incorporates the piercing member and the means for graduating the container.