RESERVOIR FOR AN INHALATION DEVICE

Abstract

The invention relates to the field of inhalation devices for medically active liquids. In particular, the invention relates to a cartridge containing said liquid for such an inhalation devices. A cartridge (1) for the storage of a medically active liquid (L) and for supply of the same to a pumping unit of an inhalation device comprises an outer container (3) enclosing a collapsible inner bag (4), and a cap (5) which is capable of closing the container (3), the cap (5) further providing an openable access opening (6) to the inner bag (4), wherein further, the container (3) of the cartridge (1) has a pressure compensation opening (7), and wherein said pressure compensation opening (7) is located in a region (8) which is covered by the cap (5). In a method for providing a pressure compensation to the collapsible inner bag-containing interior of the outer container (3) of a cartridge (1), initially, before the cartridge (1) is connected to a holder (2), the pressure compensation opening (7) is closed, and subsequently, when the cartridge (1) is connected to the holder (2), by way of mechanically deforming (i) a pressure compensation opening comprising region of the outer container (3) and/or (ii) a compensation opening covering region of the cap (5), an air gap (9) is provided which allows for a pressure equalization of the bag-containing interior with the ambient pressure.

Claims

1. Cartridge for the storage of a medically active liquid and for supply of the same to a pumping unit of an inhalation device, said inhalation device comprising a housing, a pumping unit which can be fluidically connected with said cartridge, a holder for said cartridge, and a nozzle which is fluidically connected downstream of said pumping unit, wherein, when the pumping unit is fluidically connected to the cartridge, the pumping unit is capable of generating a negative gauge pressure such as to draw medically active liquid from the cartridge into the pumping unit, and of generating a positive gauge pressure such as to press said liquid from said pumping unit into and through the nozzle such as to atomize said liquid, wherein the cartridge comprises an outer container enclosing a collapsible inner bag, and a cap which is capable of closing the container, the cap further providing an openable access opening to the inner bag, wherein further, the container of the cartridge has at least one pressure compensation opening, and wherein said at least one pressure compensation opening is located in a region of the container which is covered by the cap.

2. Cartridge according to claim 1, wherein, in a state when the cartridge is disconnected from the holder, the at least one pressure compensation opening is covered by the cap, while in a state when the cartridge is connected to the holder, said pressure compensation opening is open.

3. Cartridge according to claim 2, wherein, in a state when the cartridge is disconnected from the holder, the at least one pressure compensation opening is covered airtight by the cap.

4. Cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the cap and/or at least a cap connection region of the outer container are made of a deformable material, and can be deformed such that an air gap is provided between the inside surface of the cap and the outside surface of the outer container which faces the cap.

5. Cartridge according to claim 4, wherein the cap is deformable by a radial compression force.

6. Cartridge according to claim 4, wherein at the outer circumference of the cap, and/or at the inner circumference of the holder, at least one protrusion is present, which, in the connected state of the cartridge, causes the cap to be deformed such as to provide said air gap.

7. Cartridge according to claim 6, wherein the cap and/or the holder have a plurality of evenly spaced protrusions.

8. Cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the container of the cartridge has a plurality of pressure compensation openings.

9. Cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the container of the cartridge has two pressure compensation openings.

10. Holder for the cartridge as defined in claim 1, wherein the holder is adapted to releasably connect to the cartridge by clamping its cap.

11. Holder according to claim 10, wherein the cap of the cartridge and/or at least a cap connection region of the outer container of the cartridge are made of a deformable material, and can be deformed such that an air gap is provided between the inside surface of the cap and the outside surface of the outer container which faces the cap, and wherein, by way of a connection of the holder with the cartridge, the air gap can be provided.

12. Holder according to claim 11, wherein, when the cap is connected to the holder, the holder is configured to exert a compression force onto the cap.

13. Inhalation device for delivering a medically active liquid in the form of an aerosol, said inhalation device being adapted for holding or receiving the cartridge according to claim 1 and comprising a holder adapted to releasably connect to the cartridge by clamping its cap for holding said cartridge.

14. Inhalation device for delivering a medically active liquid in the form of an aerosol, said inhalation device comprising a cartridge: (a) a cartridge for the storage of a medically active liquid and for supply of the same to a pumping unit of an inhalation device, said inhalation device comprising a housing, a pumping unit which can be fluidically connected with said cartridge, a holder for said cartridge, and a nozzle which is fluidically connected downstream of said pumping unit, wherein, when the pumping unit is fluidically connected to the cartridge, the pumping unit is capable of generating a negative gauge pressure such as to draw medically active liquid from the cartridge into the pumping unit, and of generating a positive gauge pressure such as to press said liquid from said pumping unit into and through the nozzle such as to atomize said liquid, wherein the cartridge comprises an outer container enclosing a collapsible inner bag, and a cap which is capable of closing the container, the cap further providing an openable access opening to the inner bag, wherein further, the container of the cartridge has at least one pressure compensation opening, and wherein said at least one pressure compensation opening is located in a region of the container which is covered by the cap; and a holder adapted to releasably connect to the cartridge by clamping its cap for holding said cartridge.

15. Method for providing a pressure compensation to the collapsible inner bag-containing interior of the outer container of the cartridge as defined in claim 4, wherein initially, before the cartridge is connected to a holder adapted to releasably connect to the cartridge by clamping its cap, the pressure compensation opening is closed, and wherein subsequently, when the cartridge is connected to the holder, by way of mechanically deforming a pressure compensation opening comprising region of the outer container and/or a compensation opening covering region of the cap, an air gap is provided which allows for a pressure equalization of the bag-containing interior with the ambient pressure.

16. Method according to claim 15, wherein the mechanical deformation is effected upon connecting the cartridge to the holder by exerting a radial compression force from the holder to the cap.

17. Method according to claim 15, wherein, upon subsequent detaching the cartridge from the holder, the mechanical deformation is reversed, such that the air gap is closed and the compensation opening is again airtight covered by the cap.

18. A method for the treatment, stabilization or prevention of a pulmonary disease or condition in a subject in need thereof by inhalative administration of a medically active liquid in aerosolized form to said subject, wherein the medically active liquid in aerosolized form is generated and administered to said subject by an inhalation device according to claim 14.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0110] FIG. 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a cartridge according to the invention in a disconnected state;

[0111] FIG. 2 shows this cartridge in a connected state;

[0112] FIG. 3 shows one embodiment of a cartridge with the cap detached from the container;

[0113] FIG. 4 shows this embodiment with both components attached;

[0114] FIG. 5 shows a cartridge detached from a holder; and

[0115] FIG. 6 shows a cut view of a detail of the cartridge according to FIG. 5.

[0116] In FIG. 1, a schematic cross-sectional view of a cartridge 1 according to the invention in a disconnected state is shown. This is the situation when the cartridge 1 is detached from the inhalation device.

[0117] Cartridge 1 comprises a collapsible inner bag 4 which is enclosed by a container 3. An access opening 6 which is sealed by a lid 10 is located in the top (or downstream) region of the container 3, providing (when opened) access to the interior of bag 4 where medically active liquid L is present.

[0118] At the shoulders of container 3, two pressure compensation openings 7 are present. Both pressure compensation openings 7 are located in a region 8 which is (or can be) covered by the cap 5 and are located on opposite sides of the container 3. These openings 7 can provide a connection of the interior of container 3 (but not of bag 4) with the outside. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the cap 5 closes said openings 7 in an airtight manner.

[0119] As can be seen in FIG. 2 which depicts the cartridge 1 in a connected state (holder not shown), the cap 5 is deformed by radially acting compression forces F. Also, seal 10 is broken, so that the liquid L could pass access opening 6.

[0120] Because of the deformation, there is no longer an airtight closure of pressure compensation openings 7 by means of the cap, and an air gap 9 is provided at each opening 7. Thus, a pressure compensation between interior of container 3 and outside becomes possible. If the volume of bag 4 decreases due to the continuous usage of the device leading to a decrease of the amount of liquid L in the inner bag 4, the resulting pressure difference between the interior and the exterior space of the container 3 can be compensated effectively.

[0121] FIG. 3 shows one embodiment of a cartridge 1 with the cap 5 detached from the container 3. The access opening 6 is designed as a long hollow tube which can reach into the barely visible collapsible bag 4, when the cap 5 is attached to the container 3.

[0122] Protrusions 11 are present on the circumference of the outside of cap 5. If forces act onto these protrusions 11, cap 5 deforms in a way such that an air gap (not visible) is provided which allows a fluid connection of the inside of container 3 and the outside through pressure compensation openings 7. This deformation is reversible, such that, when the force is removed, the openings 7 are closed again. In order to allow closure of said openings 7 by cap 5, they are arranged in a region 8 which is (or can be) covered by cap 5.

[0123] As can be seen in FIG. 3 as well, cap 5 is fixed to container 3 by way of a clip closure. The respective geometrical features are present at the top end of container 3 as well as inside the top end of cap 5. If a suitable material is chosen for cap 5 which preferably is elastically deformable, no additional seal or the like is necessary in order to provide an air- and liquid tight closure, neither for the interface of cap 5 and container 3, as well as inside of cap 5 and aforesaid region 8 where the pressure compensation opening 7 are located. This results in a simple setup, requiring a minimal number of components.

[0124] The attached components of FIG. 3 can be seen in FIG. 4. The assembled cartridge 1 can easily be inserted into a holder (not shown), but also shelved for later use. When detached from a holder, pressure compensation opening(s) (not visible) are closed in order to interrupt any gas exchange between inside of the container 3 and outside.

[0125] In FIG. 5, a cartridge 1 detached from a holder 2 is depicted. As can be seen, holder 2 is designed to clamp cartridge 1 by cap 5. Protrusions 11 fit in corresponding recesses 12 which are designed to inhibit rotation of the inserted cartridge 1 and exert compressive forces (not shown) onto said protrusions 11 in order to provide an air gap (not shown) when holder 2 holds cartridge 1. Opening 7 is located in the “neck” region of the cartridge; however, it can also be located in the “shoulder” region as depicted in FIG. 3.

[0126] FIG. 6 shows a detailed sectional view of the cartridge 1 and holder 2. In this drawing, cap 5 is attached to holder 2. Forces (not shown) exert pressure onto the protrusions 11 (one shown). By deformation of cap 5, its inside surface is partially spaced apart from the openings 7 such that an air gap (not shown) is provided for pressure compensation into the container 3 (bag 4 not shown).

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0127] 1 cartridge [0128] 2 holder [0129] 3 container [0130] 4 collapsible inner bag [0131] 5 cap [0132] 6 access opening [0133] 7 pressure compensation opening [0134] 8 region [0135] 9 air gap [0136] 10 lid [0137] 11 protrusion [0138] 12 recess [0139] L liquid [0140] F force