PORTABLE DEVICE FOR ADMINISTERING A PHYSIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE LIQUID

Abstract

Embodiments herein describe a portable device for administering a physiologically active liquid that includes a container for holding the liquid, pressurizing means for applying pressure to the liquid, an atomizer for atomizing the liquid, and an applicator for administering atomized liquid. The atomizer includes at least one nozzle through which liquid can be ejected from the container and an impact element on the nozzle outlet side that is functionally combined with the nozzle. Moreover, the atomizer is configured in such a way that, in a pressure range that can be generated with the pressurizing means, liquid emerging from the nozzle breaks up into droplets prior to striking the impact element.

Claims

1. A portable device for administering a physiologically active liquid, comprising: a container for holding the liquid; pressurizing means for applying pressure to the liquid; an atomizer for atomizing the liquid; and an applicator for administering atomized liquid, wherein the atomizer comprises at least one nozzle through which the liquid can be ejected from the container, and an impact element on a nozzle outlet side that is functionally combined with the nozzle, and wherein the atomizer is configured such that, in a pressure range generated with the pressurizing means, the liquid emerging from the nozzle breaks up into droplets prior to striking the impact element.

2. The portable device according to claim 1, further comprising a collection device for collecting excess liquid dripping or running from the impact element.

3. The portable device according to claim 2, wherein the collection device and the applicator are integrated into a common component.

4. The portable device according to claim 2, wherein the collection device and the impact element are integrated into a common component.

5. The portable device according to claim 2, wherein the collection device comprises a collection reservoir.

6. The portable device according to claim 5, wherein the collection reservoir comprises an absorbent material.

7. The portable device according to claim 2, wherein the portable device is configured to supply at least part of the excess liquid to the atomizer for re-atomizing.

8. The portable device according to claim 1, wherein the container is a pressure tank having a gas compartment filled with compressed gas and a liquid compartment filled with the liquid, wherein the atomizer has a valve such that the liquid can be ejected from the liquid compartment through the nozzle when the valve is open, in that the gas compartment increases proportionally to the quantity of liquid ejected by expansion of the compressed gas and the liquid compartment thereby decreases by the volume of the liquid ejected, such that a maximum possible change in volume of the gas compartment or the liquid compartment compared to an initial filling state of the gas compartment or the liquid compartment, respectively, defines a maximum ejection quantity of the liquid for the initial filling state.

9. The portable device according to claim 8, wherein the valve is configured as a regulating valve configured to regulate a volume flow of the liquid being ejected.

10. The portable device according to claim 8, wherein the pressure of the compressed gas in the initial filling state is such that the pressure in the liquid compartment does not fall below 13 bar (1.3 MPa) until the maximum ejection quantity of the liquid has been successfully ejected.

11. The portable device according to claim 8, wherein the pressure of the compressed gas in the initial filling state is at least 18 bar (1.8 MPa).

12. The portable device according to claim 8, further comprising a transmission which increases the pressure in the liquid compartment compared to the pressure in the gas compartment.

13. The portable device according to claim 12, wherein the transmission has a gas piston delimiting the gas compartment on one side with a gas compartment piston surface on a gas compartment side and a liquid piston delimiting the liquid compartment on one side with a liquid compartment piston surface on a liquid compartment side, wherein a surface area of the liquid compartment piston surface is smaller than a surface area of the gas compartment piston surface.

14. The portable device according to claim 13, wherein the surface area of the liquid compartment piston surface is smaller than or equal to half the surface area of the gas compartment piston surface.

15. The portable device according to claim 1, wherein the pressurizing means comprises a hand pump or an electrically operated pump.

16. The portable device according to claim 1, wherein the pressurizing means comprises a spring system.

17. The portable device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one nozzle is manufactured lithographically.

18. The portable device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one nozzle is manufactured by means of sintering ceramic or plastics.

19. The portable device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one nozzle is manufactured by means of electroerosion.

20. The portable device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one nozzle is manufactured by means of laser action.

21. The portable device according to claim 20, wherein a nozzle material is locally exposed to laser action to form the nozzle, and the nozzle material exposed to the laser action is subsequently etched away.

22. The portable device according to claim 1, wherein the portable device is an inhalation device, the liquid is an inhalation liquid, and the applicator comprises at least one of a mouthpiece, a mouth mask, or a nose mask.

23. The portable device according to claim 22, wherein the applicator has the mouthpiece and the inhalation liquid contains nicotine.

24. The portable device according to claim 1, wherein the portable device is an ophthalmic nebulizer and the applicator comprises an eye mask.

25. The portable device according to claim 1, wherein a screen arrangement is arranged upstream to the nozzle on a nozzle inlet side.

26. The portable device according to claim 1, wherein the atomizer comprises more than one nozzle which are excludable from the supply of the liquid individually or in groups.

Description

[0067] The invention is explained in more detail herein-below in an exemplary manner with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings. The drawings are not to scale; in particular, for reasons of clarity, the proportions of the individual dimensions to one another sometimes do not correspond to the dimensional relationships in actual technical implementations. Several preferred embodiments are described, to which the invention is not limited.

[0068] In principle, every variant of the invention described or indicated in the context of the present application can be particularly advantageous, depending on the economic, technical and possibly medical conditions in the individual case. Unless stated otherwise, or as far as technically feasible in principle, individual features of the embodiments described are interchangeable or can be combined with one another as well as with features known per se from the prior art.

[0069] In the drawings

[0070] FIG. 1a is a cross-sectional representation of a device according to the invention, designed as an inhaler with a tubular applicator, having a bag-shaped liquid compartment, wherein the sectional plane of FIG. 1a is indicated in FIG. 1b as a dashed line B-B′,

[0071] FIG. 1b is a part of a cross-sectional view of the inhaler from FIG. 1a at an angle of 90 degrees to FIG. 1a, wherein the sectional plane of FIG. 1b is indicated in FIG. 1a as a dashed line A-A′,

[0072] FIG. 2 is a detailed cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 1b, but the applicator of the inhaler is designed in the form of a mask,

[0073] FIG. 3a shows the schematic structure of a device according to the invention, in which the impact element and nozzle are made as one piece as a common component, and the collection reservoir and an inhalation mask are each removable,

[0074] FIG. 3b shows a schematic structure similar to FIG. 3a, wherein the impact element and collection reservoir are made as one piece as a common component separate from that of the nozzle, and the inhalation mask is removable,

[0075] FIG. 4a shows the schematic structure of a device according to the invention similar to FIG. 3a, in which the impact element and nozzle are made as one piece as a common component, and the collection reservoir and an eye mask are also made as one piece as a common component,

[0076] FIG. 4b shows a schematic structure similar to FIG. 4a, wherein the impact element and eye mask are combined as a common component separate from the nozzle, and the collection reservoir contains a sponge,

[0077] FIG. 5 is the cross-sectional view of an inhaler according to the invention similar to FIG. 1, but wherein a transmission which applies a pressure on the liquid compartment that is higher than that of the gas compartment is provided,

[0078] FIG. 6 is the cross-sectional view of an alternative inhaler having a bag-shaped liquid compartment,

[0079] FIG. 7 is a detailed cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 2, but wherein an alternative atomizer having several nozzle openings is provided,

[0080] FIG. 8 is a detailed cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 1b, but wherein an alternative atomizer having several nozzle openings and additionally a slider for the variable covering of a part of the nozzle openings is provided, and

[0081] FIG. 9 is the cross-sectional view of an alternative inhaler similar to FIG. 6, but wherein the liquid compartment is separated from the gas compartment by means of a movable piston.

[0082] Corresponding elements are denoted by the same reference signs in the drawings.

[0083] The inhaler shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b has a pressure tank 1 which is divided by the flexible bag 2 into the gas compartment 3 filled with compressed gas and the liquid compartment 4 containing inhalation liquid, for example brine. The bag 2 is connected, for example welded or glued, to the inlet connection 5 of the atomizer/applicator unit 6a, 6b. Instead of a bag, a separate piston can also separate the gas compartment 3 from the liquid compartment 4, for example.

[0084] The valve of the atomizer 6a is similar to conventional valves and has a valve housing 8 which is sealed by the sealing ring 9 made of an elastomer such as rubber or silicone rubber. The spring 10 inserted into the valve housing presses the sealing capsule 11 against the sealing ring 9. By compressing the hollow plunger 12 and pressure vessel 1 relative to one another, the hollow plunger 12, which is beveled at the bottom, pushes the sealing capsule 11 downward in such a way that inhalation liquid can enter the supply channel 13 of the nozzle unit 14 through the valve housing 8 and hollow plunger 12.

[0085] The atomizer/applicator unit 6a, 6b is held on the pressure tank 1 by means of a ring 15 having latching lugs 16 evenly distributed around the circumference of the ring. The latching lugs 16 engage in a circumferential constriction 18 of the pressure vessel 1 below the collar 17. The ring 15 is rotatably connected via the thread 19 to the wall of the supply channel 13 seated on the hollow plunger 12. As a result of the pin 21, which engages displaceably in the blind hole 20 of the wall of the supply channel 13 and is welded to the pressure vessel 1, the wall of the supply channel 13 and thus the applicator 6b firmly connected to the wall is non-rotatable relative to the pressure vessel 1. By rotating the ring 15, the wall of the supply channel 13 can be moved up and down together with the hollow plunger 12 in a controlled manner, thus causing the hollow plunger 12 and pressure vessel 1 to be pressed together relative to one another.

[0086] The inhalation liquid is atomized into the interior of the applicator 6b through the nozzle openings of the nozzle body 14 closing the supply channel 13. As can be seen in conjunction with FIG. 1b, the applicator 6b can be designed to be essentially tubular, such that the open end 22 of the tube is enclosed by the mouth of the user for inhalation.

[0087] By means of selective laser exposure and subsequent etching of the exposed regions (selective laser-induced etching), a nozzle plate 14a having a central outlet opening and an impact element 24 arranged opposite the outlet opening are formed in the nozzle body 14 made of quartz glass with a cylindrical basic shape, and a screen body 14b having a large number of screen openings, the diameter of which corresponds at most to the diameter of the outlet openings, in order to keep blockages away from said outlet openings.

[0088] In the present example, the impact element 24 is held by three struts 14c integrated into the nozzle body at a distance d from the outlet opening (only two of the struts 14c are visible in FIGS. 1a and 1b), wherein a different number of struts can of course be selected in the design. Using design experiments, the container pressure (preferably 13 bar or less in the liquid compartment 4), the diameter of the outlet opening in the nozzle plate 14a, and the distance d to the impact element 24 have been matched such that the liquid jet discharged from the outlet opening in the nozzle plate 14a undergoes a free drop break-up prior to striking the impact element 24.

[0089] The nozzle body 14 can be cast as a one-piece plastics cast part comprising the wall of the supply channel 13 and the applicator 6b, but said nozzle body can also be glued or clamped between two components if the wall of the supply channel 13 and the applicator 6b are not made as one piece together.

[0090] If the bag 2 has completely collapsed due to the successful ejection of the maximally ejectable quantity of inhalation liquid, the gas in the gas compartment 3, which then has its maximum volume, has a residual pressure selected according to the desired design.

[0091] FIG. 1b shows the inhaler from FIG. 1a in another sectional plane which is orthogonal to FIG. 1a. The sectional plane of FIG. 1b is indicated in FIG. 1a as a dashed line A-A′, and the line of sight of the observer is indicated by arrows. Correspondingly, the sectional plane of FIG. 1a is indicated in FIG. 1b as a dashed line B-B′, and the line of sight of the observer is again indicated by arrows.

[0092] Opposite the open end 22 of the applicator 6b, said open end being enclosed by the mouth of the user for inhalation, a one-way valve or gas-permeable plug 23 closes the other end of the applicator 6b.

[0093] As can be when FIGS. 1a and 1b are viewed together, the applicator has a groove 25 on its lower face which deepens in the direction of the plug 23 and flattens out in the direction of the open end 22. The groove 25 is used as a collection reservoir for liquid dripping from the impact element 24 and is closed on the side of the plug 23.

[0094] FIG. 2 shows, in a broken perspective view, an inhaler similar to FIG. 1b, but with an applicator 6b designed as a mask 26 at its free end. The mask 26 (shown in a broken perspective view) can be placed over the mouth and nose of the user for inhalation and is preferably wholly or partially made of a flexible plastics or silicone material. A groove 25, which is recessed in the direction of air-permeable plug 23, is again provided as a collection reservoir for unused inhalation liquid.

[0095] In contrast to FIGS. 1a and 1b, the impact element 24 is not formed as one piece with the nozzle body 14 but is integrated into the wall of the applicator 6b. Furthermore, the nozzle body 14 contains more than one, for example two, as shown, outlet openings. The number of outlet openings is an additional parameter that can be used to adjust the pressure loss and fluid flow rate.

[0096] Different arrangement variants of a device according to the invention constructed similarly to FIG. 2 are shown in FIGS. 3a, 3b, 4a and 4b.

[0097] In FIG. 3a, the impact element 24 is again integrated into the nozzle body 14. The inhalation mask 26 (mouth and nose mask) is attached, or screwed, glued or welded, to the applicator tube 6b. The collection reservoir 25 arranged below the impact element 24 is detachably connected (for example by a plug, screw or bayonet connection) or permanently connected (for example by welding or gluing) to the applicator tube 6b. Above all, if the applicator is to be designed to be reusable, a detachable connection between the applicator tube 6b and the collection reservoir 25 can be advantageous.

[0098] The embodiment in FIG. 3b corresponds to the embodiment from FIG. 3a, but the impact element 24 is not integrated into the nozzle body 14 but rather into the applicator tube 6b by means of several struts 24c.

[0099] In the device in FIG. 4a, an eye mask 27 and the collection reservoir 25 are integrated into one piece with the applicator tube 6b as a common component. As in FIG. 3a, the nozzle body 14 has a plurality of struts 14c which hold the impact element 24.

[0100] The device in FIG. 4b differs from the device from FIG. 4a in that the impact element 24 is not integrated into the nozzle body 14 but rather into the applicator tube 6b by means of several struts 24c. The removable collection reservoir 25 contains a sponge 28. The sponge 28 offers the advantage that excess liquid remains securely in the collection reservoir, even if the device is held at an angle or is shaken. Another absorbent material, for example a fleece, woven material, cotton ball, particle collective, etc. can also serve the function of the sponge.

[0101] The connection between the wall of the supply channel 13 to the nozzle 14 and the applicator tube 6b can be fixed or detachable in FIG. 3a-4b.

[0102] In the inhaler shown in FIG. 5, the atomizer/applicator unit 6a, 6b is constructed as in FIG. 1a. Here the liquid compartment 4 is defined by an inner housing 31 and a liquid piston 32 rigidly connected to the gas piston 24. The unit made up of a gas piston 24 and a liquid piston 32 can be displaced in order to eject inhalation liquid.

[0103] Because the liquid piston 32 surface closing the liquid compartment 4 has only approximately half the surface area as the gas piston 24 surface closing the gas compartment 3, the result is a transmission ratio of approximately 2, i.e. the liquid pressure in the liquid compartment 4 is approximately double that of the gas pressure in gas compartment 3 at the same time.

[0104] Immediately before the liquid piston 32 reaches its final position by successfully ejecting the maximally ejectable quantity of inhalation liquid, a residual pressure defined ahead of time by design is present in the liquid compartment 4, for example 13 bar (1.3 MPa).

[0105] The inhaler shown in FIG. 6 has a pressure tank 1 which is divided by the flexible bag 2 into the gas compartment 3 filled with compressed gas and the liquid compartment 4 containing the inhalation liquid. The bag 2 is connected, for example welded or glued, to the inlet connection 5 of the atomizer/applicator unit 6a, 6b (an alternative to the principle shown in FIG. 1).

[0106] The valve of the atomizer 6a is similar to conventional valves and has a valve housing 8 which is sealed by the sealing ring 9 made of an elastomer such as rubber or silicone rubber. The spring 10 inserted into the valve housing presses the sealing capsule 11 against the sealing ring 9. By compressing the hollow plunger 12 and pressure vessel 1 relative to one another, the hollow plunger 12, which is beveled at the bottom, pushes the sealing capsule 11 downward in such a way that inhalation liquid can enter the supply channel 13 of the nozzle unit 14 through the valve housing 8 and hollow plunger 12.

[0107] The atomizer/applicator unit 6a, 6b is held on the pressure tank 1 by means of a ring 15 having latching lugs 16 evenly distributed around the circumference of the ring. The latching lugs 16 engage in a circumferential constriction 18 of the pressure vessel below the collar 17. The ring 15 is rotatably connected via the thread 19 to the wall of the supply channel 13 seated on the hollow plunger 12. As a result of the pin 21, which engages displaceably in the blind hole 20 of the wall of the supply channel 13 and is welded to the pressure tank 1, the wall of the supply channel 13 and thus the applicator 6b firmly connected to the wall is non-rotatable relative to the pressure tank 1. By rotating the ring 15, the wall of the supply channel 13 can be moved up and down together with the hollow plunger 12 in a controlled manner, thus causing the hollow plunger 12 and pressure vessel 1 to be pressed together relative to one another.

[0108] The inhalation liquid is atomized into the interior of the applicator 6b through the nozzle openings of the nozzle body 14 closing the supply channel 13. As in FIG. 1b, the applicator 6b can be designed as a tube, the open end of which is enclosed by the mouth of the user for inhalation.

[0109] By means of selective laser exposure and subsequent etching of the exposed regions (selective laser-induced etching), a nozzle plate 14a having a plurality of outlet openings is formed in the nozzle body 14 made of quartz glass with a cylindrical basic shape, in addition to a screen body 14b having a plurality of screen openings, the diameter of which corresponds approximately to the diameter of the outlet openings, in order to keep blockages away from said outlet openings.

[0110] The nozzle body 14 can be cast into a one-piece plastics cast part comprising the wall of the supply channel 13 and the applicator 6b, but said nozzle body can also be glued or clamped between two components if the wall of the supply channel 13 and the applicator 6b are not made together as one piece.

[0111] If the bag 2 has completely collapsed due to the successful ejection of the maximally ejectable quantity of inhalation liquid, the gas in the gas compartment 3, which then has its maximum volume, has a residual pressure defined in advance by design, for example 13 bar (1.3 MPa).

[0112] FIG. 7 shows, in a broken perspective view similar to FIG. 2, an inhaler similar to FIG. 6, but with an applicator 6b designed as a mask. The mask can be placed over the mouth and nose of the user for inhalation and is preferably wholly or partially made of a flexible plastics or silicone material.

[0113] FIG. 8 shows, in a broken perspective view, an inhaler similar to FIG. 6. However, here the nozzle plate 14a and the screen body 14b are designed as separate components, which are separately cast, glued or otherwise inserted into the unit consisting of the wall of the supply channel 13 and the applicator 6b. Here, too, the nozzle plate 14a and the screen body 14b can be manufactured from quartz glass by means of selective laser-induced etching, but as a result of the simpler design, other manufacturing methods are also possible, such as drilling by means of (especially femtosecond) lasers, lithographic manufacturing, etc.

[0114] Furthermore, a slider 29 which can be displaced in a sealed gap 28 is provided here. Depending on the positioning of the slide aperture 30, some of the nozzle openings in the nozzle plate 14a are covered. On the one hand, the volume flow of emerging inhalation liquid can be controlled in this way. On the other hand, the droplet size distribution can be changed if the nozzle openings are of different sizes and are arranged in such a way that, depending on the position of the slider 29 or the position of the slider aperture 30, nozzle openings of different sizes are covered or exposed.

[0115] FIG. 9 again shows an alternative inhaler in a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 6. The inhaler shown in turn has a pressure vessel 1, which is divided by the movable piston 24 into the gas compartment 3 filled with compressed gas and the liquid compartment 4 containing the inhalation liquid. The liquid compartment 4 is connected to the valve housing 5 of the atomizer/applicator unit 6a, 6b, which has a conical valve seat 25.

[0116] Raising the hollow plunger 12 relative to the pressure vessel 1 creates a gap between the conical end of the hollow plunger 12 and the valve seat 25 such that inhalation liquid can enter the supply channel 13 of the nozzle unit 14 through the valve housing 8 and hollow plunger 12.

[0117] The atomizer/applicator unit 6a, 6b is held on the pressure tank 1 by means of a two-part ring 15a, 15b having latching lugs 16 evenly distributed around the circumference of the lower part 15b of the ring 15a, 15b. The latching lugs 16 engage in a circumferential constriction 18 of the pressure tank 1 below the collar 17. The upper part 15a of the ring 15a, 15b is rotatably connected via the thread 19 to the wall of the supply channel 13 seated on the hollow plunger 12. As a result of the pin 21, which engages displaceably in the blind hole 20 of the wall of the supply channel 13 and is welded to the pressure vessel 1, the wall of the supply channel 13 and thus the applicator 6b firmly connected to the wall is non-rotatable relative to the pressure vessel 1. By rotating the upper part 15a of the ring 15a, 15b, the wall of the supply channel 13 can be moved up and down together with the hollow plunger 12 in a controlled manner, and thus the valve on the valve seat 25 can be opened and closed in a controlled manner.

[0118] By adjusting the valve gap between the valve seat 25 and the matching conical counter surface at the lower end of the hollow plunger 12 by rotating the upper part 15a of the ring 15a, 15b, the volume flow of emerging inhalation liquid can be regulated.

[0119] The inhalation liquid is atomized into the interior of the applicator 6b through the nozzle opening 26 of the nozzle body 14 closing the supply channel 13. The applicator 6b can again be designed as a tube, as in FIG. 8, the open end of which is enclosed by the mouth of the user for inhalation.

[0120] By means of selective laser exposure and subsequent etching of the exposed areas (selective laser-induced etching), a cylindrical-conical cavity 27 is formed in the nozzle body 14 made of quartz glass with a cylindrical basic shape. On the inlet side, the nozzle body has a screen body 14b having a plurality of screen openings, the diameter of which corresponds approximately to the diameter of the outlet opening 26, in order to keep blockages from said outlet openings. The nozzle body 14 can be cast as a one-piece plastics cast part comprising the wall of the supply channel 13 and the applicator 6b, but said nozzle body can also be glued or clamped between two components if the wall of the supply channel 13 and the applicator 6b are not made as one piece together.

[0121] If the piston 24 has reached its final position by successfully ejecting the maximally ejectable quantity of inhalation liquid, the gas in the gas compartment 3, which then has its maximum volume, has a residual pressure defined in advance by design, for example 13 bar (1.3 MPa).