Dry powder inhaler
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.
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.
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.
The inhaling devices currently used can be separated into two categories:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The inhaler (
The mouthpiece (
Part 1 is the external part of the mouthpiece, and may have air openings at its base.
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.
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.
The single dose blister strip is placed on the attachment surface of part B (
The lower portion of part B can be used as a storage compartment for the blister strips.
The strip storage part C (
The blister strip (
The process by which the blister-contained powder is exposed takes place in two stages (
During the first stage (
During the second stage (
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 (
During the process of inhalation (
Another example of the invention is shown in
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.
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.
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.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 27, 2007
Publication Date: Apr 3, 2008
Inventor: Dimitrios Pentafragas (Pikermi)
Application Number: 11/904,338
International Classification: B65D 83/04 (20060101);