AUTOMATIC DOSING OF MEDICAMENTS IN ATOMIZERS

Abstract

A nebulizer unit for use in a nebulizer includes an aerosol generator, a housing, a medication reservoir and a cap. The aerosol generator having a supply side and a discharge side, which is retained between a sealing ring at the supply side and a retaining structure at the discharge side. The housing encloses the aerosol generator, the sealing ring and the retaining structure. The medication reservoir is integrated into the housing and includes an interior hollow volume, into which the medication liquid is introduced. The cap seals the reservoir, and includes a closure pin that subdivides the interior space of the reservoir into a first partial volume another partial volume. The liquid-tight closure being formed by the complementary partial surfaces. At least one of the two complementary partial surfaces of the closure pin and of the inner space of the reservoir having a rubber or silicone covering.

Claims

1-14. (canceled)

15. A nebulizer unit with a medication reservoir for use in a nebulizer, comprising: an aerosol generator for atomizing a medication liquid having a supply side, which is in contact with the medication liquid present there, and a discharge side, at which a mist formed is emitted and which is retained between a sealing ring at the supply side and a retaining structure at the discharge side; a housing, which encloses the aerosol generator, the sealing ring and the retaining structure; the medication reservoir integrated into the housing at the supply side of the aerosol generator, the medication reservoir having an interior hollow volume, into which the medication liquid is introduced; and a cap, which tightly seals the reservoir, wherein: the cap includes a closure pin, which extends into the interior space of the reservoir; a portion of the surface of the closure pin and a portion of the inner surface of the reservoir being formed complementary to one another and, when the cap is firmly fitted, form a liquid-tight closure, by means of which the inner space of the reservoir is subdivided into a first partial volume, which is delimited at one side by the aerosol generator and on another side by an end surface or a partial surface of the closure pin, as well as at least one further partial volume; the liquid-tight closure being formed by the complementary partial surfaces being close to one another, one on top of the other, or are pressed against one another; and at least one of the two complementary partial surfaces of the closure pin and of the inner space of the reservoir having a rubber or silicone covering.

16. The nebulizer unit according to claim 15, wherein the complementary partial surfaces of the closure pin and of the reservoir are not in contact with one another even when the cap is firmly closed, but a narrow gap remains open between them.

17. The nebulizer unit according to claim 15, wherein the closure pin is cylindrical, and/or is hollow or solid.

18. The nebulizer unit according to claim 15, wherein the closure pin comprises a rotationally symmetrical, in particular a conical or truncated-conical lower end.

19. The nebulizer unit according to claim 15, wherein the inner space of the reservoir contains a section that is complementary to at least a portion of the tip of the closure pin, of which section the inner surface of the cap, when completely closed, conforms in a form-fitting manner circumferentially to the tip of the closure pin, and thus achieves an at least almost complete spatial separation of the first partial volume, which is closed off at one side by the aerosol generator, from a second partial volume.

20. The nebulizer unit according to claim 15, wherein in the interior space of the reservoir, an essentially planar stepped surface is present, which has an opening to a partial volume that is delimited at a different side from the aerosol generator, and the closure pin has an end surface that is larger than the opening in the stepped surface and covers and seals the latter when closed.

21. The nebulizer unit according claim 15, wherein the opening or the end surface of the closure pin is disposed relative to an axis of rotation of the cap, such that a rotation entirely or partly releases the opening.

22. The nebulizer unit according to claim 15, wherein the closure pin has a variable volume.

23. The nebulizer unit according to claim 22, wherein the volume of the closure pin is variable by means of a bolt that is guided in a thread in the cap.

24. A nebulizer unit with a medication reservoir for use in a nebulizer, comprising: an aerosol generator for atomizing a medication liquid having a supply side, which is in contact with the medication liquid present there, and a discharge side, at which a mist formed is emitted and which is retained between a sealing ring at the supply side and a retaining structure at the discharge side, a housing, which encloses the aerosol generator, the sealing ring and the retaining structure; the medication reservoir being integrated into the housing at the supply side of the aerosol generator, the medication reservoir having an interior hollow volume, into which the medication liquid is introduced; and a cap, which tightly seals the reservoir, wherein: the cap includes a closure pin, which extends into the interior space of the reservoir; a portion of the surface of the closure pin and a portion of the inner surface of the reservoir being formed complementary to one another and, when the cap is firmly fitted, form a liquid-tight closure, by means of which the inner space of the reservoir is subdivided into a first partial volume, which is delimited at one side by the aerosol generator and on another side by an end face or a partial face of the closure pin, as well as at least one further partial volume; the liquid-tight closure being formed by the complementary partial surfaces being close to one another, one on top of the other, or pressed against one another; and the closure pin being made entirely of silicone and, as a stiffening feature, comprising stiffening ribs running in a longitudinal direction of the closure pin and/or as shape-retaining feature, comprising shape-retaining rings running transverse to the longitudinal direction.

25. The nebulizer unit according to claim 24, wherein the complementary partial surfaces of the closure pin and of the reservoir are not in contact with one another even when the cap is firmly closed, but a narrow gap remains open between them.

26. The nebulizer unit according to claim 24, wherein the closure pin is cylindrical, and/or is hollow or solid.

27. The nebulizer unit according to claim 24, wherein the closure pin comprises a rotationally symmetrical, in particular a conical or truncated-conical lower end.

28. The nebulizer unit according to claim 24, wherein the inner space of the reservoir contains a section that is complementary to at least a portion of the tip of the closure pin, of which section the inner surface of the cap, when completely closed, conforms in a form-fitting manner circumferentially to the tip of the closure pin, and thus achieves an at least almost complete spatial separation of the first partial volume, which is closed off at one side by the aerosol generator, from a second partial volume.

29. The nebulizer unit according to claim 24, wherein in the interior space of the reservoir, an essentially planar stepped surface is present, which has an opening to a partial volume that is delimited at a different side from the aerosol generator, and the closure pin has an end surface that is larger than the opening in the stepped surface and covers and seals the latter when closed.

30. The nebulizer unit according claim 24, wherein the opening or the end surface of the closure pin is disposed relative to an axis of rotation of the cap, such that a rotation entirely or partly releases the opening.

31. The nebulizer unit according to claim 24, wherein the closure pin has a variable volume.

32. The nebulizer unit according to claim 30, wherein the volume of the closure pin is variable by means of a bolt that is guided in a thread in the cap.

33. A method of using a nebulizer unit for use in a nebulizer, the nebulizer unit comprising: an aerosol generator for atomizing a medication liquid having a supply side, which is in contact with the medication liquid present there, and a discharge side, at which a mist formed is emitted and which is retained between a sealing ring at the supply side and a retaining structure at the discharge side; a housing, which encloses the aerosol generator, the sealing ring and the retaining structure; the medication reservoir integrated into the housing at the supply side of the aerosol generator, the medication reservoir having an interior hollow volume, into which the medication liquid is introduced; and a cap, which tightly seals the reservoir, wherein: the cap includes a closure pin, which extends into the interior space of the reservoir; a portion of the surface of the closure pin and a portion of the inner surface of the reservoir being formed complementary to one another and, when the cap is firmly fitted, form a liquid-tight closure, by means of which the inner space of the reservoir is subdivided into a first partial volume, which is delimited at one side by the aerosol generator and on another side by an end surface or a partial surface of the closure pin, as well as at least one further partial volume; the liquid-tight closure being formed by the complementary partial surfaces being close to one another, one on top of the other, or are pressed against one another; and wherein: at least one of the two complementary partial surfaces of the closure pin and of the inner space of the reservoir having a rubber or silicone covering; or the closure pin being made entirely of silicone and, as a stiffening feature, comprising stiffening ribs running in a longitudinal direction of the closure pin and/or as shape-retaining feature, comprising shape-retaining rings running transverse to the longitudinal direction the method comprising: completely filling the reservoir with a medication solution from a transport container; fastening the cap to the reservoir, wherein only a desired dose of medication is provided for inhalation; connecting a mouthpiece and a control unit; and inhaling until the medication solution is consumed.

34. The method according to claim 33, further comprising: metering out a second medication dose by taking off or rotating the cap entirely or partially, wherein the medication liquid present in the second partial volume flows into the first partial volume until the latter is completely filled; forming a separation of the two partial volumes using the cap; and inhaling the medication liquid in the first partial volume.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0049] Wherein:

[0050] FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal section through a basic version of a nebulizer unit according to the invention with two-part medication reservoir.

[0051] FIG. 2 shows a longitudinal section through an embodiment with two-part medication reservoir in which the size of the first partial volume can be varied.

[0052] FIG. 3 shows two longitudinal sections through an embodiment of the present invention in which an areal fit takes place.

[0053] FIG. 4 in two partial figures shows embodiments of the closure pin of the nebulizer according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

[0054] FIG. 1 shows the longitudinal section through a preferred embodiment of the nebulizer unit according to the present invention, in which a two-part medication reservoir is present, the separation of the two partial volumes 110, 111 from one another taking place by means of a form fit between the tip of one of the cylindrical closure pins 131 and a region of the reservoir 11 that is of complementary shape.

[0055] The housing 10 can further be seen, which encloses the aerosol generator 101, which comprises the membrane, the sealing ring 102 and the retaining structure 103 and a mouthpiece connection at the membrane-output side, as well as a medication reservoir 11 at the membrane input side. The latter can be closed by means of a tightly closing cap 13, which is provided with the closure pin 131 according to the invention in the form of a cylinder with a truncated conical tip. When the cap 13 is tightly closed, as illustrated, a form fit between this truncated conical tip of the closure pin 131 and a region in the interior of the reservoir 11 is produced, so that the subdivision into the two partial volumes 110, 111 takes place. After completion of an inhalation, that is to say when the first partial volume 110, is completely emptied, a second inhalation with medication dosing that is also precise can take place simply by removing the cap 13 entirely or partially, so that the medication can flow from the second partial volume 111 into the first partial volume 110 and then the cap 13 can be tightly put on again.

[0056] FIG. 2 shows a longitudinal section through a different embodiment of the nebulizer unit of the present invention, in which a form fit between the tip of the closure pin 131 and a region of the medication reservoir 11 is also produced. In addition to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, however, the cap 13 is designed in two parts. It thus consists of the actual cover 134 and a bolt 133, which can be screwed therein by screw thread, of which the tip can project to a more or less extent into the first partial volume 110, so that its remaining effective residual volume can be varied. As in the nebulizer unit shown in FIG. 1, a connection 12 for a mouthpiece is also provided here.

[0057] FIG. 3 shows, in two partial views, longitudinal sections through a third preferred embodiment of the present invention, in which not a form-fit but an areal fit takes place between an end surface of the closure pin 131 as well as a stepped surface in the interior of the reservoir 11, which is tightly sealed by means of a sealing ring 132 that is mounted at the closure pin side 132.

[0058] In the section shown in partial figure A, the cap 13 with closure pin 131 is firmly put on the medication reservoir 11 and sealed. By means of area connection between an end surface of the closure pin 131 with a stepped surface in the interior of the reservoir 11, a subdivision into two mutually separated partial volumes 110 and 111 is produced. The tightness of the areal fit is ensured by means of a sealing ring 132 fastened at the closure pin side.

[0059] Partial figure B shows the section from partial figure, however here the cover 13 is not firmly closed but rotated through approx. 90 degrees compared to the state shown in partial figure A, as well as displaced axially slightly upward due to the guidance of the cover rim in the screw thread of a screw closure. As can be seen, due to an asymmetric shape of the closure pin 131, as a cylinder with a bevelling at the lower end, it is achieved that, in this position, the opening in the stepped surface, which is adjacent to the partial volume 110, is released. The liquid-tight separation of the two partial volumes 110, 111 is thus eliminated; a liquid exchange can take place if required.

[0060] FIG. 4 shows possible embodiments of a one-piece solid closure pin according to the present invention.

[0061] The pin 131 from partial figure A is retained by means of a double collar 131 in an opening in cap 13. The shank of the pin has, as shaping features, a row of circumferential beads 1312, transverse to the longitudinal axis of the pin 1312. These have the effect that the pin is not so easily bent on axial compression. That part 1313 of the pin 131 that effects closure of opening 1100 and cooperates with the inner surface of reservoir 11 is designed as an upwardly tapering truncated cone. A different shape, for example with a curved instead of straight profile of the sides would also be conceivable.

[0062] In partial figure B, the pin 131 additionally has a displacer tip 1314, which starts at the base of the closure part 1313 and projects into the partial volume 110, and reduces the volume thereof corresponding to the volume of the tip By this means, smaller medication doses can be administered in comparison to the embodiment from partial figure A.

[0063] Partial figure C shows a schematic longitudinal section through the nebulizer unit from partial figure A.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

[0064] 1 Nebulizer unit [0065] 10 Housing [0066] 101 Aerosol generator [0067] 102 Sealing ring [0068] 103 Retaining structure [0069] 11 Reservoir [0070] 110 First partial volume [0071] 1100 Opening [0072] 111 Further partial volume [0073] 12 Connecting means for mouthpiece [0074] 13 Cap [0075] 131 Closure pin [0076] 1311 Double collar [0077] 1312 Shape-retaining ring [0078] 1313 Closure part [0079] 1314 Displacer tip [0080] 132 Sealing ring [0081] 133 Screw-in bolt [0082] 134 Cover [0083] 2 Mouthpiece

[0084] Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described with reference to preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.