U.S. patent application number 11/904338 was filed with the patent office on 2008-04-03 for dry powder inhaler.
Invention is credited to Dimitrios Pentafragas.
Application Number | 20080078689 11/904338 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36693732 |
Filed Date | 2008-04-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080078689 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Pentafragas; Dimitrios |
April 3, 2008 |
Dry powder inhaler
Abstract
An inhalation device for the uptake of medicaments that are in
the form of dry powder contained in the blisters of specially
designed single dose blister strips. The device is comprised of a
mouthpiece (A), a strip support surface area (B), and one or more
storage areas (C). Furthermore, the single dose blister strip is
described. It is comprised of two sheets (17, 20) that are fixed in
such a manner so that when they get separated the powder becomes
available for inhalation.
Inventors: |
Pentafragas; Dimitrios;
(Pikermi, GR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Ladas & Parry LLP
26 West 61st Street
Newyork
NY
10023
US
|
Family ID: |
36693732 |
Appl. No.: |
11/904338 |
Filed: |
September 27, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10506940 |
Sep 8, 2004 |
7318435 |
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PCT/GR02/00050 |
Sep 25, 2002 |
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11904338 |
Sep 27, 2007 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
206/530 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61M 15/0043 20140204;
A61M 15/0081 20140204; A61M 15/0025 20140204; A61M 2202/064
20130101; A61M 15/0028 20130101; A61M 2206/16 20130101; A61M
15/0031 20140204; A61M 15/0021 20140204 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/530 |
International
Class: |
B65D 83/04 20060101
B65D083/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 29, 2002 |
GR |
20020100159 |
Claims
1-7. (canceled)
8. A single dose medicament pack for use with a dry powder
inhalation device, comprising a base sheet (17) and a cover sheet
(20), said sheets being air tightly sealed to one another, whereby
said base sheet defines a powder containing blister (18) and that
the cover sheet (20) covers the base sheet around the blister and
can be detached from the base sheet wherein said base sheet further
comprises an attachment formation.
9. A blister strip support surface of a dry powder inhalation
device suitable for use with a blister strip as claimed in claim 8
comprising an attachment point, a cavity which accommodates the
blister and strip guides.
10. A single dose blister strip according to claim 8, wherein the
attachment formation is a hole.
11. A blister strip support surface according to claim 9 wherein
the attachment point is a protrusion.
Description
[0001] This application is a divisional of co-pending application
Ser. No. 10/506,940 filed on Sep. 8, 2004, which is 371 of
International Application No: PCT/GRO2/00050 filed on Sep. 25,
2002, which designated the U.S., claims the benefit thereof and
incorporates the same by reference.
[0002] The present invention refers to an inhaler for the uptake of
medicaments in the form of dry powder and to specially designed
single dose blister strips that are used with the said inhaler.
[0003] The inhaling devices currently used can be separated into
two categories:
[0004] 1. Those where the pharmaceutical powder is stored in a
container out of which a measured amount of powder can be released
via specific mechanisms. EP0069715 for example, describes a device
in which the powder is metered in given dosages through apertures
located in a rotatable disc, these apertures being introduced into
an airduct or channel through which air is inhaled, by rotating the
disc.
[0005] 2. Those where measured amounts of pharmaceutical powder can
be stored separately in special containers. GB2242134 for example,
describes a device which uses a flexible strip defining a plurality
of pockets each of which contains a dose of medicament which can be
inhaled. The device contains a chamber in which the strip is
housed, an opening station which contains means for peeling the two
sheets or the strip apart, and an outlet through which the user can
inhale the medicament.
[0006] The major disadvantages of these and other similar devices
are that a. the user cannot visually verify whether he has received
the entire dose of the medicament, and b. they function through
complicated internal mechanisms.
[0007] The advantage of the present invention is that the user can
visually check the presence of the medicament in the blister of the
strip prior to inhalation and verify after the inhalation that he
has received the entire dose of the medicament. Additionally, the
device is simple to manufacture and easy to operate.
[0008] The device of the present invention is comprised of three
parts: the mouthpiece, through which the powder is inhaled, the
blister strip support surface and the strip storage compartment(s),
which house(s) a large number of blister strips. The three parts
are connected to each other and can be independently opened. The
support surface contains an attachment point, where the blister
strip is attached with the help of an attachment formation; a
cavity, which accommodates the blister of the strip; and strip
guides, which secure the proper and firm placement of the strip on
the surface.
[0009] The single dose blister strip is comprised of two sheets
that can be pealed away from each other. The base sheet has a
blister which contains the powder, and an attachment formation
which fits to the attachment point of the support surface. The
cover sheet seals the base sheet only in the area around the
blister.
[0010] The principle of use is that the user securely attaches the
blister strip on the attachment surface, pulls away the cover sheet
of the blister by exercising a slight force, checks the content of
the blister, inhales the medicament, and finally verifies that he
has received the entire dose.
[0011] FIGS. 1-9 depict examples of the invention.
[0012] FIG. 1 shows different views of an example of an
inhaler.
[0013] FIG. 2 shows the mouthpiece of the device along with its
component parts.
[0014] FIG. 3 shows the part of the device that contains the area
on which the blisters are placed.
[0015] FIG. 4 shows the blister storage compartment.
[0016] FIG. 5 shows a single dose blister strip and the way it is
put together.
[0017] FIG. 6 shows the process that reveals the powder in the
blister.
[0018] FIG. 7 shows the flow of air and powder during the
inhalation process.
[0019] FIGS. 8 and 9 are further examples of inhalers based on the
principle of the present invention.
[0020] The inhaler (FIG. 1) includes 3 basic parts, the mouthpiece
A with its cover, part B with the surface on which the blister
strip is placed, and the blister strip storage part C. The parts
are connected to each other and can be opened independently.
[0021] The mouthpiece (FIG. 2) is comprised of parts 1, 2 and 3.
Part 1 locks in part 2 and part 2 locks in part 3.
[0022] Part 1 is the external part of the mouthpiece, and may have
air openings at its base.
[0023] Part 2 is a cylinder with a wider base. The top of the
cylinder has an opening 4, which serves as the exit of the powder
from the device. Inside the cylinder there is formation 5, which
may be of helical or other shape, through which the inhaled powder
containing air exits the device. The end of formation 5 at the base
of part 2 is blocked in half with surface 6.
[0024] Part 3 is also a cylinder, which has a wider top. The
interior of part 3 is divided in chambers 7 and 8, by an upright
flat surface 9. The base of part 3 touches the blister. It has two
holes, 10 and 11, one on each side of dividing part 9. Hole 11 may
contain a sieve, in order to block the passage of larger particles.
Chamber 7 contains hole 10, and is blocked at its top with surface
6. Furthermore, chamber 7 contains hole 12, which serves as the air
entrance.
[0025] The single dose blister strip is placed on the attachment
surface of part B (FIG. 3). This surface has a protrusion 13 that
serves as the attachment point, a cavity 14 which receives the
blister of the strip, and a system of strip guides, 15 and 16 in
the specific example. The protrusion, the cavity and the guides
enable the correct alignment of the strip on the surface of part B
and secure its firm placement during the use of the device.
[0026] The lower portion of part B can be used as a storage
compartment for the blister strips.
[0027] The strip storage part C (FIG. 4) can be of various shapes,
and may contain a grid, depending on the number of strips it
accommodates, e.g. 30 or 60.
[0028] The blister strip (FIG. 5) consists of two sheets (FIG. 5A)
made of suitable material e.g. PVC, aluminium, polyamide, paper,
polyester, vinyl gum. One of the two sheets is the base sheet 17,
which has the blister 18 that contains the powder, and the
attachment hole 19. The other is the cover sheet 20 that is fixed
to the base sheet, e.g. by heat adhesion, and air-tightly seals
only the area around blister 18, as shown in the drawing (FIG. 5B,
darkened area). Sheet 20 is then folded by a 180-degree rotation
around axis DE, revealing hole 19 and covering the flat surface of
blister 18 (FIG. 5C).
[0029] The process by which the blister-contained powder is exposed
takes place in two stages (FIG. 6).
[0030] During the first stage (FIG. 6A) and while the mouthpiece is
open, the user secures the strip on the support surface of part B
by placing hole 19 around protrusion 13. Blister 18 is then placed
in cavity 14 with the assistance of guides 15 and 16.
[0031] During the second stage (FIG. 6B), the user closes the
mouthpiece and pulls cover sheet 20 towards the direction of the
arrow until it is completely detached.
[0032] At this point and after lifting the mouthpiece, the user can
verify that the powder contained in blister 18 has been revealed
and is available for inhalation (FIG. 6C). The user then just
closes the mouthpiece and inhales. Finally, by opening again the
mouthpiece, he can visually check whether he has inhaled the
medicament.
[0033] During the process of inhalation (FIG. 7) the air that is
breathed-in enters the mouthpiece via the air openings, and then
enters chamber 7 through hole 12. From there on and passing through
hole 10, the air carries along the powder which is located in
blister 18 and passing through hole 11 brings it to chamber 8. From
there and through formation 5, the powder exits the device.
[0034] Another example of the invention is shown in FIG. 8. The
attachment point for the blister strip on surface B is cavity 21.
The mouthpiece A contains projection 22 which, when said mouthpiece
is closed, enters cavity 21 and in this way secures the blister. In
this case, the blister is placed on surface B with hole 19 above
cavity 21. Alternatively, blister strip hole 19 could be replaced
by a cavity.
[0035] FIG. 9 shows another embodiment of the invention. In this
case, the attaching component of the blister strip is formation 23
that is placed in the openings 24 of guides 15 and 16 of surface
B.
[0036] It is obvious that there may be variations relating to the
shape and the positions of the attachment point, the cavity and the
guides on surface B, which can achieve appropriate and secure
attachment of the blister. All these different embodiments are also
included in the scope of the present invention.
[0037] A further embodiment of the inhaler would include its use
through the nose. This could be achieved by substituting the
mouthpiece with the appropriate attachment.
* * * * *