U.S. patent number 3,918,451 [Application Number 05/506,611] was granted by the patent office on 1975-11-11 for inhalator for pulverulent substances.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Paul Ritzau Pari-Werk KG. Invention is credited to Emeram Steil.
United States Patent |
3,918,451 |
Steil |
November 11, 1975 |
Inhalator for pulverulent substances
Abstract
An inhalator the case of which is provided with a reception
space in its outer peripheral surface for insertably carrying a
capsule containing a substance to be inhaled. An outer cover is
mounted on the case and is movable with respect to the case between
specified positions under the action of a spring bias. In one
position the cover exposes the reception space to permit insertion
and removal of capsules at which position the cover is interlocked
with the case. Upon insertion of a capsule the cover is
automatically unlocked from the case and moves under the spring
bias to a position to cover the capsule and to a further position
at which cutting members coupled to the cover move into the
reception space to open the capsule.
Inventors: |
Steil; Emeram (Starnberg,
DT) |
Assignee: |
Paul Ritzau Pari-Werk KG
(DT)
|
Family
ID: |
5892931 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/506,611 |
Filed: |
September 16, 1974 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
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Sep 18, 1973 [DT] |
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2346914 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
128/203.21 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61M
15/0033 (20140204); A61M 15/004 (20140204); A61M
15/0028 (20130101); A61M 2202/064 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61M
15/00 (20060101); B67D 005/54 (); A61M 013/00 ();
A61M 015/06 () |
Field of
Search: |
;128/266,208
;222/193 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Medbery; Aldrich F.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Hill, Gross, Simpson, Van Santen,
Steadman, Chiara & Simpson
Claims
I claim:
1. An inhalator for pulverulent substances comprising an inhalator
case having an inlet and an outlet for passing respiratory air, a
reception space formed on the outer periphery of the case for
insertably receiving a rupturable capsule containing a pulverulent
substance, means for mounting a cover portion on the inhalator case
for movement with respect thereto between a first position whereat
the cover portion encloses the capsule in the reception space and a
second position at which the cover portion uncovers the capsule in
the reception space to permit removal and replacement thereof.
2. An inhalator as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for
mounting the cover portion is rotatable, and is arranged on the
outer surface of said inhalator case, said cover portion having an
aperture for traversal by the capsule from and to said reception
space.
3. An inhalator as claimed in claim 1, wherein a stop pin is guided
in a longitudinal displaceable manner within said case and a
notched portion is provided in said cover portion so that in said
second position of the cover portion the stop pin engages the
notched portion and immobilises the cover portion in said second
position.
4. An inhalator as claimed in claim 3, wherein an ejector member
rigidly coupled to said stop pin is displaceably arranged within
the inhalator case, and first spring means is coupled to the
ejector means to constantly urge the ejector member to eject a
capsule from the reception space, and concomitantly move said stop
pin into the notched portion of the cover portion whereby during
insertion of a capsule into the reception space, the ejector member
is moved out of the reception space against the force of said
spring means, the stop pin concomitantly cancelling said
immobilisation of said cover portion.
5. An inhalator as claimed in claim 1, further comprising opening
means to open a capsule in the reception space, said opening means
being mounted to said cover portion to be moved together therewith
into said reception space.
6. An inhalator as claimed in claim 5, wherein said opening means
comprises two blades which cut the capsule open vicinal to its
extremities.
7. An inhalator as claimed in claim 6, wherein said means for
mounting said cover portion on the inhalator case for movement with
respect thereto includes a spring member under the biasing force of
which said cover portion is moved from said first position, into
said second position and also into a third position at which said
opening means enters said reception space.
8. An inhalator as claimed in claim 1, wherein said reception space
communicates with the inside of the inhalator case via an air inlet
and an air outlet opening.
9. An inhalator as claimed in claim 8, wherein the blades of said
opening means are moved into the reception space through said air
inlet and air outlet openings.
10. An inhalator as claimed in claim 9, wherein the blades of said
opening means are movable in slots of the walls of said inhalator
case.
11. An inhalator as claimed in claim 10, wherein said cover portion
is held in an axial direction on the inhalator case by the blades
engaging said slots.
12. An inhalator as claimed in claim 1, wherein said inhalator case
is cylindrical and said cover portion is mounted for slidable
movement therearound.
13. An inhalator as claimed in claim 12, wherein said cover portion
is a cylindrical sleeve partially surrounding the inhalator
case.
14. An inhalator as claimed in claim 13, wherein said cylindrical
sleeve has a base which surmounts the inhalator case at one end
thereof.
15. An inhalator as claimed in claim 14, wherein said spring member
is a spring coil, a stud member being provided on the base of said
sleeve to seat the coil spring which engages co-axially in the
case.
16. An inhalator as claimed in claim 15, wherein said coil spring
is seated on the base of the sleeve in a pot engaging in the case
and with its extremities protruding radially in limb-like manner is
engaged through an opening in the side wall of the pot and into a
recess in the wall of the inhalator case.
17. An inhalator as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cover portion
is removable.
18. An inhalator as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cover portion
is transparent.
Description
The invention relates to an inhalator for pulverulent substances
contained in capsules insertible into the inhalator case, with an
inlet and an outlet for the respiratory air. An inhalator of this
type, which is applied in medicine for example, is already known.
It offers the advantage that, by the insertion of a capsule, a
precisely dosed quantity of the substance which is to be inhaled is
present within the apparatus, so that when it is needed, e.g.
during acute asthmatic attacks, no harmful excess dosage can be
inhaled. It is handy moreover, and may easily be stowed inside a
pocket.
The inhalator of the kind described in the foregoing is so formed
that the capsule is pushed into a rotatably installed cylindrical
sleeve which may be placed in wobbling rotary motion when a flow of
air is drawn through a suction via the mouthpiece installed on the
apparatus, by means of propeller blades arranged thereon. The
pulverulent substance present within the previously pierced capsule
is concomitantly raised from the latter by turbulence, whereupon it
penetrates the patient's mouth via the mouthpiece, together with
the air sucked in. It is a disadvantage of this apparatus, that it
must be disassembled into three parts when fitting each capsule,
and that it must be serviced approximately once a week, i.e.
dismantled, cleaned and oiled. The reliability is inadequate
moreover, so that the makers recommend that a replacement apparatus
be kept in readiness at all times. The object of the present
invention is to eliminate these disadvantages and to provide an
uncomplicated and reliably operated inhalator, which is handy,
requires no maintenance and is reliable. In accordance with the
invention, this problem is resolved in that the capsule reception
space is situated at the periphery of the case with a side open at
the periphery and is equipped with a cover movably arranged
thereon, and which uncovers the capsule reception space in a
filling and emptying position and covers it in another position.
This cover may be rotatably arranged, and may comprise an aperture
acting as a passage for traversal by the capsule. The cover may be
stopped at the filling and emptying position by means of a stop pin
guided in longitudinally displaceable manner with respect to a
notch of the cover. This stop pin may have connected to it an
ejector for capsules present within the reception space, in such
manner that it is insertable into the reception space under the
force of a spring and at the same time moves the stop pin into the
notch of the cover. During the pressing of a capsule into the
reception space, the ejector and the stop pin are then pushed into
the inside of the case, the latter concomitantly cancelling the
immobilisation. A spring member may then automatically move the
cover into the idle position. The cover may be equipped with a
device for opening capsules, for example in the form of two small
blades, which under a force acting against the spring as described
in the foregoing, may be pushed into the reception space of the
capsule. The cover may be formed in a variety of ways, e.g. as a
cylindrical sleeve partially surrounding the apparatus, as a
slider, or as a removable lid. The cover is preferably produced in
transparent form, so that the blades and capsule remain permanently
visible, in order to show whether a new unopened capsule has been
inserted.
According to the invention therefore there is provided an inhalator
for pulverulent substances comprising an inhalator case having an
inlet and an outlet for passing respiratory air, a reception space
formed on the outer periphery of the case for insertably receiving
a capsule containing a pulverulent substance, means for mounting a
cover portion on the inhalator case for movement with respect
thereto between a first position whereat the cover portion encloses
the capsule in the reception space and a second position at which
the cover portion uncovers the capsule in the reception space to
permit removal and replacement thereof.
The advantages of the present invention consist in that as a
consequence of the incorporation of the capsule reception space at
the periphery of the case, in combination with a removable cover, a
new capsule may be inserted without dismantling the case. The
spring arrangement of the cover has the result that the cover moves
automatically to the idle position and thus eliminates confusion
between the opening and the idle or operating positions, which
exists in the known systems. The ejector arranged under spring
loading considerably simplifies the handling of the apparatus. The
omission of a turbo impeller wheel simplifies the operation and
improves the reliability of the apparatus.
The invention will be better understood from the following
description taken with reference to the drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 shows an overall view of the apparatus in the operating or
idle position,
FIG. 2 shows a cross-section of the apparatus in the filling and
emptying position, along the line II--II in FIG. 1,
FIG. 3 shows a cross-section of the apparatus in the operating or
idle position, along the line III--III in FIG. 1,
FIG. 4 shows a cross-section of the apparatus in the pricking-open
position, along the line III--III in FIG. 1.
With reference to the drawings an inhalator comprises a cylindrical
case 2 and is equipped with a mouth piece 17 at its one terminal
extremity. An aperture 4 of a cover 3 may be brought into the
filling and emptying position shown in FIG. 2, against the spring
force of a spring member 16. A stop pin 6 which is guided within
the case in a perforation 7 and rigidly coupled to an ejector 10 is
then pushed into a then available notch 8 of the cover 3 as a
consequence of the spring force of another spring member 9, and
immobilises the cover. In this position, a capsule 11 may be pushed
into a reception space 1 of the inhalator against the ejector 10
projecting into the same, in such manner that the stop pin coupled
to it is released at the same time, the cover 3 concomitantly being
displaced by means of the spring member 16 shown in FIG. 1 into an
idle and operating position, in which the capsule 11 is covered by
the cover 3 within the outwardly open peripherally situated
reception space 1.
By moving the cover 3 in a direction away from the filling and
emptying position, a cutting device comprising two small blades 12,
fastened on the cover 3 and guided in slots 18 of the case, engages
the reception space 1 and cuts or pricks two small holes 13 into
the capsule 11 situated therein, close to the two extremities of
the capsule. The blades 12 movable in slots 18 incorporated along
the periphery simultaneously act as axial bearers for the
cylindrical sleeve of the case, which is constructed as a cover.
The pricking-open position of the inhalator is shown in FIG. 4.
As a consequence of the spring force of the spring member 16,
acting at two sides, the cover 3 is moved automatically into the
idle and operating position after it has been released. During
inhalation, the pulverulent substance present within the capsule 11
is sucked into the mouth as a consequence of the holes 13, via the
mouthpiece 17, an inlet opening 14 connected to the reception space
1 and an outlet opening 15 which is open towards the mouthpiece 17,
as illustrated in FIG. 1. To eject the empty capsule 11, the cover
3 is brought into the filling and emptying position against the
spring force of the spring member 16, the stop pin 6 and the
ejector 10 then being moved towards as a consequence of the spring
force of the spring member 9, and the ejector ejects the capsule
automatically.
The bottom of the inhalator, which is not shown in the drawings, is
equipped with air entry slots for the inlet opening 14 and is inset
into the cylindrically formed cover 3, may be constructed in
pot-like form close to the axis and may be equipped with a groove
in order to act as a receptor and partially as an entraining
element for the spring member 16. The cover 3 is transparent thus
making it possible to ascertain directly whether a fresh unopened
capsule has been inserted. Moreover, it becomes immediately
apparent whether the cover 3 is being displaced in the right
direction.
In another example of an embodiment which is not illustrated, the
cover may be constructed as a closed slide matching the shape of
the case. This slider may be displaced either in the direction
along the periphery or in axially parallel direction.
In another example of an embodiment which is not illustrated, the
cover may also be made in the form of a lid which is removable or
secured by hinges.
* * * * *