NOZZLE FIXTURE FOR AN INHALATION DEVICE

Abstract

The invention relates to the field of inhalation devices for liquids. In particular, the invention relates to a fixture for a nebulizing nozzle to be used in such an inhalation device. A nozzle fixing assembly (1) for an inhalation device, comprising an elastically deformable seal element (2), having a continuous opening (3) capable of receiving a nozzle body (4), said seal element (2) and said nozzle body (4) each having a high pressure side (2A, 4A) and an outlet side (2B, 4B); and a pressure element (5) with a high pressure side (5A), said side being arranged to face the high pressure side (2A) of the seal element (2); wherein (i) the high pressure side (2A) of the seal element (2) is substantially flat, and (ii) the high pressure side (5A) of the pressure element (5) is chamfered in a way that, in the assembled state, the distance between these high pressure sides (2A, 5A) is higher in a central region (C) than in a peripheral region (P).

Claims

1. A medical inhaler or a nebulizer for medical fluids comprising a nozzle fixing assembly, the assembly being adapted to be substantially pressure tight when a nozzle body is inserted, comprising: an elastically deformable seal element, having a continuous opening capable of receiving a nozzle body, said seal element and said nozzle body each having a high pressure side and an outlet side; a pressure element with a high pressure side, said side being arranged to face the high pressure side of the seal element; wherein (i) the high pressure side of the seal element is substantially flat and lies in a plane being perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the seal element, wherein said longitudinal axis follows said continuous opening, and (ii) the high pressure side of the pressure element is inclined or sloped in a way that, in the assembled state, the distance between the surface of the high pressure side of the pressure element and the high pressure side of the seal element decreases from the center to the corners or circumference of the surface, wherein said central region is a region facing said continuous opening when following said longitudinal axis.

2. Inhaler comprising a nozzle fixing assembly according to claim 1, additionally comprising the nozzle body, wherein the nozzle body is inserted in the continuous opening.

3. Inhaler comprising a nozzle fixing assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a holder with a recess inside which the seal element and the pressure element are arranged, the holder comprising (i) a low pressure surface which is, in the assembled state, in contact with the outlet side of the nozzle body, and (ii) an inside contour matching an outside contour of the seal element, and (iii) a high pressure end, containing at least the high pressure side of the pressure element.

4. Inhaler comprising a nozzle fixing assembly according to claim 1, wherein, in the assembled state, the high pressure side of the pressure element is at least partially in physical contact with the high pressure side of the seal element.

5. Inhaler comprising a nozzle fixing assembly according to claim 1, wherein said distance is, in the assembled state, zero at the peripheral region, and larger than zero at the central region.

6. Inhaler comprising a nozzle fixing assembly according to claim 1, wherein, in the assembled state, the high pressure side of the pressure element is spaced apart from the high pressure side of the seal element, such that no physical contact is established.

7. Inhaler comprising a nozzle fixing assembly according to claim 1, wherein, in a cross section along said longitudinal axis, the inclined or sloped surface of the pressure element has a linear, a concave, or a convex profile.

8. Inhaler comprising a nozzle fixing assembly according to claim 1, wherein the high pressure side of the pressure element is inclined or sloped substantially in its entirety, or has a central region which is substantially flat and parallel to the high pressure side of the seal element.

9. Inhaler comprising a nozzle fixing assembly according to claim 1, wherein in the assembled state the pressure element serves as a closure of the holder's high pressure end, or wherein a lid is provided which can be attached to said high pressure end.

10. Inhaler comprising a nozzle fixing assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a washer which is arranged between the two high pressure sides, said washer having one or more continuous openings for fluidic connection between space and nozzle body, wherein the washer has a first side for contacting the high pressure side of the seal element, said first side being substantially flat, and an opposite second side which faces the high pressure side of the pressure element, wherein said second side is inclined or sloped in a way that, in the assembled state, the distance between said second side and the high pressure side of the seal element is higher in a central region than in a peripheral region, and an interspace is provided between the second side of the washer and the high pressure side of the pressure element.

11. Inhaler comprising a nozzle fixing assembly according to claim 10, wherein said interspace is more narrow in its periphery than in its center.

12. Inhaler comprising a nozzle fixing assembly according to claim 10, wherein, in a cross section along said longitudinal axis, the second surface of the washer has a profile resembling the negative of the profile of the inclined or sloped surface of the pressure element.

13. Inhaler comprising a nozzle fixing assembly according to claim 2, wherein the recess and/or the seal element has the shape of a truncated cone.

14. (canceled)

Description

DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

[0056] FIG. 1 shows a schematic cross sectional view of a nozzle fixing assembly known from the art.

[0057] FIG. 2 shows a schematic cross sectional view of a nozzle fixing according to the invention.

[0058] FIG. 3 shows a schematic cross sectional view of another nozzle fixing according to the invention.

[0059] In FIG. 1, a schematic cross sectional view of a nozzle fixing assembly 1 with a seal element known from the art is shown.

[0060] A nozzle fixing assembly 1 comprises an elastically deformable seal element 2 which is known from the art. This seal element 2 has a continuous opening 3 into which a nozzle body 4 is inserted. The depicted nozzle body 4 consists of two halves, drawn in white and black. In the interface between these halves, channel structures are present (not depicted) which connect the upstream end (bottom of the picture) with the downstream end (top of the picture) of nozzle body 4.

[0061] Seal element 2 and nozzle body 4 each have a high pressure side 2A, 4A and an outlet side 2B, 4B.

[0062] Further, a pressure element 5 is present with a high pressure side 5A. This side 5A is arranged to face the high pressure side 2A of the seal element as well as the high pressure side 4A of the nozzle body 2. Between said sides 2A/4A and 5A, a space 6 is present which is temporarily loaded with high pressure liquid during actuation of the device (not depicted). Pressure element 5 is configured to allow bypass of the liquid to be vaporized into space 6. In the example, this is achieved by means of a central opening 7.

[0063] In the assembly 1, the high pressure side 2A of the seal element 2 is chamfered. Looking in direction of the longitudinal axis X (dash-dotted line), the individual surfaces of the high pressure side 2B of seal element 2 are all tilted towards this axis, and do not stand perpendicular to the same. At the same time, the high pressure side 5A of the pressure element 5 is flat, i.e. its surface is substantially perpendicular to said axis X.

[0064] In FIG. 2, a schematic cross sectional view of a nozzle fixing assembly 1 according to the invention is shown. Contrary to the assembly of FIG. 1, the high pressure side 2A of seal element 2 is substantially flat, i.e. it lies in a plane being perpendicular to longitudinal axis X of seal element 2. Further, high pressure side 5A of pressure element 5 is chamfered in a way that, in the depicted assembled state, the distance between these high pressure sides 2A, 5A is higher in a central region C than in a peripheral region P. The distance is measured parallel to the direction of longitudinal axis X.

[0065] The depicted embodiment further comprises a pot shaped holder 8 which has a recess. Inside this recess, seal element 2 with nozzle body 4 and pressure element 5 are arranged. Holder 8 comprises a low pressure surface 8B which is in contact with the (low pressure) outlet side 4B of nozzle 4. To minimize the gap surrounding seal element 2 that must be sealed as well, holder 8 has an inside contour matching the outside contour of seal element 2. At its high pressure end 8A, holder 8 contains entire pressure element 5 with its high pressure side 5A.

[0066] As can be seen, high pressure side 5A of pressure element 5 is only in minor physical contact with the high pressure side 2A of the seal element 2 at the outside of periphery P. Thus, pressure element 2 secures seal element 2 in its position. Also, if pressure element 2 is pushed further into the recess (not shown), permanent physical pressure is exerted onto seal element 2, resulting in a deformation thereof (not depicted). But even without any significant physical contact, when a pressure pulse enters space 6, said pulse is becoming more concentrated the farther it travels to the periphery P. Hence, at the periphery P, stronger pressure is exerted than in the center C, temporarily resulting in said deformation again.

[0067] In both cases, the deformation is such that the walls of continuous opening 3 that touch nozzle body 4 are (permanently or temporarily) moved against said body, sealing it against liquid that otherwise might bypass the interior channels of nozzle body 4.

[0068] As can be seen, in the present example, in the depicted cross section which runs along longitudinal axis X, the chamfered surface has a linear shape or profile. However, other profiles are possible as well (not depicted). The effect is maintained as long the rule that the space must be shallower at the periphery than in the center is followed. In the example, the high pressure side 5A of pressure element 5 is chamfered substantially in its entirety.

[0069] If the outer wall of the holder 8 has a thread (not shown), it can be screwed into a matching thread (not shown) of holder 8, such that pressure element 5 serves as a closure of the holder's 8 high pressure end 8A.

[0070] FIG. 3 shows a further example of a nozzle assembly 1, comprising an optional washer 8. Not all reference numerals are given in this figure.

[0071] The washer 9 is arranged between the two high pressure sides 2A, 5A of seal element 2 and pressure element 5, respectively. The washer 9 has one continuous opening (no reference numeral) for fluidic connection of space 6 and nozzle body 4.

[0072] A first side 9B for contacting the high pressure side 2A of the seal element 2 is substantially flat.

[0073] An opposite second side 9A which faces the high pressure side 5A of the pressure element 5 is chamfered in a way that the distance between second side 9A and high pressure side 2A of seal element 2 is higher in a central region C than in a peripheral region P. Therefore, an interspace is provided between second side 9A of washer 8 and high pressure side 5A of pressure element 5. The interspace is more narrow in its periphery P than in its center C. Thus, the aforementioned pressure concentration effect is maintained.

[0074] As can be seen, second surface 9A of washer 9 has a profile resembling the negative of the profile of the chamfered surface of pressure element 5. However, other profile combinations are possible as well, e.g. such combinations where the aforesaid distance is greater in the center, and/or smaller in the periphery than in the depicted example.

LIST OF REFERENCES

[0075] 1, 1 nozzle fixing assembly [0076] 2 seal element [0077] 2A high pressure side [0078] 2B outlet side [0079] 3 continuous opening [0080] 4 nozzle body [0081] 4A high pressure side [0082] 4B outlet side [0083] 5 pressure element [0084] 5A high pressure side [0085] 6 space [0086] 7 central opening [0087] 8 holder [0088] 8A high pressure end [0089] 8B low pressure surface [0090] 9 washer [0091] 9A second side [0092] 9B first side [0093] X longitudinal axis [0094] C central region, center [0095] P peripheral region, periphery