MOBILE INHALER AND A CONTAINER FOR USING THEREWITH

Abstract

A mobile inhaler is provided and a container for using therewith. The mobile inhaler comprises: a mouthpiece comprising at least one inhaling opening; a body element connected to the mouthpiece and comprising a housing for holding a DC power source; a power conversion unit comprising an inverter operative to convert a DC voltage provided by a DC power source, into a higher AC voltage; a nebulizer comprising an ultrasonic vibrator and a mesh, wherein the ultrasonic vibrator is activated by the AC voltage, and wherein the nebulizer is adapted to enable converting into aerosol droplets at least part of a liquid comprised in an enclosure, and the aerosol droplets to be directly inhaled from the mouthpiece; and an enclosure adapted to enable holding a liquid, and characterized in that it provides a connection to enable fluid transfer from the enclosure to the nebulizer.

Claims

1. A mobile inhaler, comprising: a mouthpiece comprising at least one inhaling opening; a body element connected to the mouthpiece and comprising a housing for holding a DC power source; a power conversion unit comprising an inverter operative to convert a DC voltage provided by a DC power source, into a higher AC voltage; a nebulizer comprising an ultrasonic vibrator and a mesh, wherein said ultrasonic vibrator is activated by said AC voltage, and wherein said nebulizer is adapted to enable converting into aerosol droplets at least part of a liquid comprised in an enclosure, and the aerosol droplets to be directly inhaled from said mouthpiece; and an enclosure adapted to enable holding a liquid, and characterized in that it provides a connection to enable fluid transfer from said enclosure to the nebulizer.

2. The mobile inhaler of claim 1, wherein the enclosure includes a mechanism to enable fluid transfer from said enclosure to the nebulizer, irrespective of a spatial angle at which it is being hand-held.

3. The mobile inhaler of claim 1, wherein said liquid is in a contact with a wick and wherein said wick is in a contact with the mesh, direct contact between the mesh and the liquid comprised within said enclosure.

4. (canceled)

5. The mobile inhaler of claim 1, characterized in that the mobile inhaler is configured to enable inhaling aerosol droplets derived from over 60% of an initial volume of the liquid held within said enclosure.

6. The mobile inhaler of claim 1, wherein the mouthpiece is detachably connected to the body element, and wherein the nebulizer is comprised within the mouthpiece.

7. (canceled)

8. The mobile inhaler of claim 1, wherein the mesh is fixedly positioned in said mobile inhaler, and wherein said ultrasonic vibrator is operative to enable conveying liquid held in the enclosure towards said mesh.

9. The mobile inhaler of claim 1, wherein the mesh comprised in said nebulizer comprises a plurality of openings and a dome shaped portion and is further configured to be operable by activating the ultrasonic vibrator.

10. (canceled)

11. The mobile inhaler of claim 1, wherein said mesh comprises a plurality of openings, and wherein the dimensions of at least two of the openings included in said plurality of openings, are different from each other.

12. The mobile inhaler of claim 1, further comprising an electrical circuit for increasing AC voltage provided to said ultrasonic vibrator, and wherein: the electrical circuit optionally enables controlling an amount of liquid converted into aerosol droplets, by changing the level of the AC voltage provided, and the electrical circuit optionally comprises at least one member of the group that consists of a resonant circuit and a phase-locked loop (PLL).

13. (canceled)

14. (canceled)

15. The mobile inhaler of claim 1, further including a vacuum sensor configured to affect operation of said mobile inhaler, wherein: said vacuum sensor optionally controls an amount of aerosol being inhaled by a user of said mobile inhaler, and wherein the amount of liquid converted into aerosol droplets depends optionally on a vacuum level at said mobile inhaler.

16. (canceled)

17. (canceled)

18. The mobile inhaler of claim 1, further comprising a heating means adapted to enable increasing aerosol temperature prior to its egress via the mouthpiece.

19. The mobile inhaler of claim 1, wherein the mouthpiece is movable between a rest position and a use position, wherein in the rest position, the mouthpiece is at least partially accommodated into the body element.

20. The mobile inhaler of claim 1, further including a communication interface for transferring and receiving information between the mobile inhaler and a remote electronic device.

21. The mobile inhaler of claim 1, further comprising a control unit.

22. The mobile inhaler of claim 1, further including audio and/or visual means for providing information to a user of said mobile inhaler.

23. The mobile inhaler of claim 1, further comprising locking means to prevent unauthorized use of the mobile inhaler.

24. The mobile inhaler of claim 1, further comprising: at least one additional enclosure for holding at least one additional liquid, and a vaporizer operative to optionally vaporize one or more of the at least one additional liquid.

25. (canceled)

26. The mobile inhaler of claim 1, wherein said enclosure is configured to enable holding a container that comprises the liquid into said mobile inhaler, wherein said enclosure or said container which is detachably associated with said enclosure, optionally includes a piston, wherein the container is optionally located at least partially inside the mouthpiece and is disposable, and wherein the nebulizer mesh is optionally comprised within said container.

27. (canceled)

28. (canceled)

29. The mobile inhaler of claim 26, further comprising a communication interface for receiving information stored in said container.

30. (canceled)

31. The mobile inhaler of claim 26, further comprising t means operative to enable biasing the container and/or the nebulizer towards each other.

32. (canceled)

33. (canceled)

34. (canceled)

35. (canceled)

36. (canceled)

37. (canceled)

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0094] For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference is now made to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

[0095] FIG. 1—is a schematic exploded sectional view of an inhaler according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0096] FIG. 2A—is a top view of the nebulizer of the FIG. 1;

[0097] FIG. 2B—is a side view of the nebulizer of the FIG. 1;

[0098] FIG. 3—is a schematic sectional view of a container according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0099] FIG. 4—is a schematic sectional view of an alternative container according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[0100] FIG. 5—is a simplified sectional view of a mouthpiece with a heating coil;

[0101] FIG. 6—is a schematic sectional view of an inhaler according to yet another embodiment of the present invention;

[0102] FIG. 7—is a schematic sectional view of an inhaler according to a further embodiment of the present invention;

[0103] FIG. 8—is a schematic sectional view of still another embodiment of the present invention; and

[0104] FIG. 9—is a schematic view illustrating another embodiment of the present invention, where the mobile inhaler is a single integral device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0105] In this disclosure, the term “comprising” is intended to have an open-ended meaning so that when a first element is stated as comprising a second element, the first element may also include one or more other elements that are not necessarily identified or described herein, or recited in the claims.

[0106] In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a better understanding of the present disclosure by way of examples. It should be apparent, however, that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details.

[0107] As a general remark, it is noted that for sake of clarity, in the present description and the drawings, the same reference numerals are used for corresponding elements of different embodiments.

[0108] FIG. 1 illustrates an exploded view of a mobile inhaler construed according to an embodiment of the present invention. The mobile inhaler comprises a mouthpiece 1 and a body element 2 which, when joined together form an elongated housing. The housing exemplified herein is in the shape of an e-cigarette with a substantially cylindrical shape.

[0109] Mouthpiece 1 and body element 2 according to this embodiment are screwed together. Alternatively, the mouthpiece 1 and the element 2 may be attached together through magnets or a bayonet mount to assemble an inhaler, or by implementing any other method known in the art per se.

[0110] Nebulizer 3 is arranged inside the mouthpiece 2 and is described in more details hereinafter when referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B.

[0111] Liquid container 4 is arranged, when the mouthpiece 1 and the body element are assembled to form the mobile inhaler, in a receptacle 5 of the mouthpiece 1 and/or body element 2. The container 4 is described in more details hereinafter when describing FIGS. 4 and 5.

[0112] In body element 2 there are arranged a power conversion circuit 6, a vacuum sensor 7, a control unit 8, a battery 9, a charging circuit 10 and a charging port 11.

[0113] In this embodiment, the nebulizer 3 is arranged in the mouthpiece 1 adjacent to inhaling opening 12 of mouthpiece 1. An inhaling channel 13 is schematically indicated by the dotted lines.

[0114] Nebulizer 3 is shown in more details in the FIGS. 2A and 2B. The nebulizer 3 is of the active mesh type and comprises a vibrating plate 14 in a shape of a disc. Mesh plate 14 has a central, dome-shaped circular region 15 provided with a plurality of openings. Mesh plate 14 is attached to a lower side of an annular piezo-electric vibration generator 17, wherein the dome-shaped region is aligned with the central hole of the vibration generator 17. Power supply cables 18 are connected with the vibration generator 17 and, upon assembly of the mouthpiece 1 with the body element 2, provide a connection with the power conversion unit 6 arranged in the body element 2.

[0115] The vibrating plate 14 is provided with 1,900 openings, each having an egress diameter of between 2.0 μm and 3.0 μm, wherein the dome-shaped region 15 has a diameter of about 4 mm.

[0116] FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic view of an embodiment of the present invention of container 4.

[0117] Container 4 comprises a body 19 defining a cavity with an aperture 21. In this cavity, wick 22 (made for example of Japanese cotton or polymeric fibres) is arranged. The wick 22 extends over substantially the whole length of the body 19 from aperture 21 to the bottom of the body 19, which is closed by a plug 23. The wick 22 itself forms a cavity and a support structure 24 is arranged in the cavity for supporting wick 22. The support structure is preferably made of a polymer e.g. polycarbonate or nylon. Such an arrangement allows using the mobile inhaler where the container is comprised, irrespective of the spatial angel at which the mobile inhaler is held.

[0118] The cavity can be filled with a liquid to be inhaled. For filling the cavity, plug 23 and a spring 25 are removed or not yet assembled respectively. After the liquid is inserted into the cavity, it is sealingly closed with plug 23. The plug 23 is attached to the body 19 through a snap-fit. The spring 25 therefore biases the support structure 24 and the wick 22 towards aperture 21.

[0119] FIG. 4 illustrates schematically an alternative container 4 according to another embodiment of the invention. The embodiment of FIG. 4 is similar to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3 but comprises a piston 26 instead of an extended wick 22 (and a support structure 24).

[0120] Spring 25 is arranged between the piston 26 and the plug 23. After the cavity 20 is filled with liquid (not shown), piston 26 is inserted into the cavity and the cavity is then closed with the plug 23. The spring 25 biases the piston 26 towards the aperture 21.

[0121] In both embodiments, aperture 21 may be further closed by using a membrane (not shown) for sealing the container, which membrane may be peeled off by a user before inserting container 4 into the mobile inhaler, or perforated or otherwise removed/damaged (e.g. while closing the device or as a result of inserting the container in the mobile inhaler's enclosure, and the like) in order to assure a fluid connection between the content of container 4 and nebulizer 3.

[0122] When the inhaler is assembled with a container 4 (a capsule) located inside the receptacle of the mouthpiece 1 and the body element 2, aperture 21 is located adjacent to nebulizer 3, more precisely, adjacent to the nebulizer mesh.

[0123] Wick 22 is soaked with the liquid and ensures that the vibrating mesh plate 14 and in particular the dome-shaped region 15 is in fluid connection with the content of container 4. In the case of container 4 of FIG. 3, spring 25 ensures that wick 22 is pushed towards vibrating plate 14. In the case of container 4 of FIG. 4, the piston assembly ensures, over the spring 25 that nebulizer 3 is always provided with liquid. In both cases vibrating plate (mesh) 14 can produce an aerosol irrespective of the spatial orientation of the mobile inhaler.

[0124] When the inhaler is assembled and a user starts inhaling through inhaling opening 12 of mouthpiece 1, the pressure inside the housing decreases. This pressure decrease is detected by vacuum sensor 7 and communicated to control unit 8, which in turn activates nebulizer 3 for a given time interval, and/or as long as the pressure within the housing is less than the atmospheric pressure. Air from the environment may enter the housing over charging port or special made holes, in order to compensate the pressure decrease. Container 4, power control circuit 6, vacuum sensor 7, control unit 8, battery 9 and charging circuit 10 are arranged within the housing such that air can flow past them from charging port 11 to the inhaling opening 12.

[0125] Due to the air flow passing by nebulizer 3, the aerosol produced by nebulizer 3 is inhaled by the user through the inhaling channel 12 and the inhaling opening 13.

[0126] FIG. 5 illustrates an alternative embodiment of a mouthpiece 1 that comprises a heating coil 27. The heating coil 27 is schematically shown being able to heat the aerosol produced by a nebulizer 3 flowing through the inhaling channel 13. When the inhaler is assembled, the heating coil 27 is connected with a power source and control unit 8, and is only activated when a user is inhaling the aerosol. Heating coil 27 is configured to ensure that the aerosol which eventually be inhaled by the user, is heated up to a predetermined temperature, while ensuring that no change occurs in the chemical properties of the substance being inhaled. The predetermined temperature is less than 100° C., and preferably it is one that is comfortable for the user body, e.g. 37° C.±4° C.

[0127] Another embodiment of the present invention of a mobile inhaler is schematically presented in FIG. 6.

[0128] The mobile inhaler comprises a mouthpiece 1 having an inhaling opening 12 which is slidably arranged in a body element 2 between a rest position (not shown) and an inhaling position. The body element is designed as a handheld device that can be easily held in a user's hand.

[0129] The inhaler also comprises two receptacles 5 and 5′, each for a respective container 4 and 4′ containing a liquid drug solution.

[0130] Each of the containers 4 is in fluid connection with respective nebulizers 3 and 3′ of the active mesh type as described above and shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. The nebulizers 3 and 3′ are arranged between the respective container 4 and 4′ and mouthpiece 1. An inhaling channel 13 connects the flow paths of the two nebulizers 3 and 3′ and leads to an inhaling opening 12 of mouthpiece 1.

[0131] The inhaler also comprises a power conversion circuit 6, a vacuum sensor 7, a control unit 8, a battery 9, a charging circuit 10 and a charging port 11.

[0132] The inhaler of this example further comprises a communication unit 28, a speaker 29 and a display 30, being in data communication with control unit 8.

[0133] The inhaler is generally operated as explained hereinabove with respect to the mobile inhaler of the FIG. 1, but may be more suitable for the inhalation of different drugs according to a predefined medication scheme.

[0134] Communication unit 28 enables communication of different data between the mobile inhaler and a remote device.

[0135] A possible mode of operation of the mobile inhaler will now be described. Since the principle of operation is similar, the invention will be described with reference to container 4. However, it should be understood that the same also applies to the use of container 4′ mutatis mutandis, as well as for enclosures which do not have a detachable container comprised therein (i.e. in cases where liquid is inserted directly to the enclosure).

[0136] First, container 4 is inserted into the inhaler. The container 4 contains information about the content of the container, concentration of the drug, etc. This information is transmitted to the mobile inhaler by means of e.g. an RFID system (not shown) or a barcode (not shown) or an electronic storage (e.g. as in a credit card) and is stored in a memory of the mobile inhaler.

[0137] A health professional such as a physician or a pharmacist can then program the predefined medication scheme into the mobile inhaler via communication unit 28. In addition, progress reports and updates may be sent to the user's physician and/or insurance company.

[0138] In this example, let us assume that the medication scheme comprises two scheduled inhalations of a predetermined dose of the drug during the day at predefined times (e.g. 8 AM and 8 PM).

[0139] When control unit 8 detects that the scheduled inhalation should be performed, it triggers an alert for the user, so that by hearing a tone emitted by speaker 29, the user becomes aware that it is time for him/her to carry out the inhalation procedure.

[0140] As soon as mouthpiece 1 is moved from its rest position to the inhaling position, the mobile inhaler is activated from a standby mode and is ready for operation.

[0141] The user then starts inhaling and, as described above with respect to the inhaler of FIG. 1, nebulizer 3 is triggered by control unit 8 to emit a predefined quantity of aerosol. The quantity of aerosol produced by nebulizer is calculated by the control unit 8 such that the predefined drug dose is inhaled. After the predefined dose of the drug has been inhaled, speaker 29 emits a tone, notifying the user that he may stop inhaling.

[0142] The user then slides the mouthpiece 1 back to the rest position and consequently the device enters a standby mode.

[0143] Data which relates to the inhalation procedure that took place, such as inhaling time, inhaled quantity, etc. is then stored in the memory of the mobile inhaler and is then transmitted (at some stage) via communication unit 28 to a remote device. Thus, it is possible for the physician either in real-time or by checking the stored data during the patient visit, to check whether the patient has been following the medication scheme prescribed or not. In addition, the concern of overdosing or wrong dosing of the drug can be eliminated since it is not possible for a user to inhale two times a dose within a period of time shorter than the one determined for him/her.

[0144] This procedure is then repeated every day at 8 AM and 8 PM, as long as the predefined medication scheme has not been terminated.

[0145] Moreover, it should be understood that carrying out a mixed medication scheme of administering a first drug contained in container 4 and a second drug contained in the container 4′, is also possible. Furthermore, both drugs may be inhaled simultaneously, where each nebulizer 3 and 3′ is triggered independently in order to deliver the predetermined drug dose.

[0146] Display 30 may be used to provide the user with different information such as the status of the mobile inhaler, battery level, countdown until the next inhalation is due, etc.

[0147] The inhaler illustrated in the FIG. 7 is similar to the inhaler shown in FIG. 6 with the exception that capsule 4′ is of a different type as nebulizer 3′ is of the heating coil type. One optional way of implementing this example is when container 4 comprises nicotine solution, and container 4′ comprises aroma agent. By vaporizing the aroma agent comprised in container 4′, the vapours thus obtained may be inhaled together with the nicotine containing aerosol derived from container 4, and consequently the user is subjected to an improved experience due to this combination.

[0148] In FIG. 8 another embodiment of a mobile inhaler construed according to the present invention, is illustrated.

[0149] The mobile inhaler comprises a mouthpiece 1 and a body element 2 which, when joined together form an elongated housing. The housing is preferably in the shape of a pipe and is shown schematically in FIG. 8 by the bend shape.

[0150] Mouthpiece 1 and body element 2 are screwed together. Alternatively, mouthpiece 1 and element 2 may be attached together through magnets or a bayonet mount to assemble the mobile inhaler.

[0151] A liquid container 4 is inserted, when mouthpiece 1 and body element are assembled to form the mobile inhaler, in a receptacle 5 of mouthpiece 1.

[0152] In body element 2 there are also arranged a power conversion circuit 6, a vacuum sensor 7, a control unit 8, a battery 9, a charging circuit 10 and a charging port 11.

[0153] Nebulizer 3 of this example is of the passive mesh type and comprises a transducer horn 31 attached to a piezo-electric vibration generator located within the body element 2, while mesh 14 with a plurality of openings is attached to the container 4 at the end of the container, located near the tip of transducer horn 31 when the mobile inhaler is assembled. Mesh 14 is therefore disposable with the container 4.

[0154] Perforation spikes 32 may optionally be located adjacent to transducer horn 31 such that, when mouthpiece 1 is connected to body element 2, a connection part of container 4 is perforated by perforation spikes 32. The liquid contained in container 4 can therefore fill the space located between transducer horn 31 and mesh plate 14. Since the mobile inhaler is designed as a pipe and is used with container 4 being in a tilted position, liquid contained in container 4 is always provided to transducer horn 31 when the inhaler is operative.

[0155] Container 4 is designed with a ring shaped cross section such that an aerosol channel 34 extending throughout the whole length of the container 4 is formed. The mesh plate 14 is arranged at the end of container 4 not facing the inhaling channel 13 and the inhaling opening 12, and is aligned with the aerosol channel of container 4. The aerosol channel is connected to inhaling channel 13 of mouthpiece 1 leading to inhaling opening 12.

[0156] When the mobile inhaler is activated by inhaling as described above with respect to other embodiments of the present invention, the aerosol generated by nebulizer 3 may flow with air coming from air inlets (not shown) through the aerosol channel 34 and the inhaling channel 13, to the mouth of a user.

[0157] FIG. 9 illustrates an exploded view of a mobile inhaler construed according to another embodiment of the present invention. Unlike the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 wherein the mobile inhaler comprises a mouthpiece 1 and a body element 2 which, when joined together form an elongated housing, the mobile inhaler illustrated in FIG. 9 comprises a single piece that comprises both mouthpiece 1 and body element 2.

[0158] Nebulizer 3 which comprises mesh plate 14 and ultrasonic vibration generator 17 is located at upper part of body element 2 (location indicated by numeral 25) of the mobile inhaler, and liquid container 4 is detachably insertable into a suitable housing of body element 2.

[0159] All examples and conditional language recited herein are intended for assessing the reader in understanding the principles of the invention and the concepts contributed by the inventor to furthering the art, and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions. Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the invention, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass both structural and functional equivalents thereof. Additionally, it is intended that such equivalents include both currently known equivalents as well as equivalents developed in the future, i.e., any elements developed that perform the same function, regardless of structure.

[0160] A person skilled in the art will readily note that other embodiments of the disclosure may be achieved without departing from the scope of the disclosure. All such embodiments are included herein. The scope of the disclosure should be limited solely by the claims thereto.

[0161] In the description and claims of the present application, each of the verbs, “comprise” “include” and “have”, and conjugates thereof, are used to indicate that the object or objects of the verb are not necessarily a complete listing of members, components, elements or parts of the subject or subjects of the verb.