Abstract
An inhaler for administering powdery dry substances comprises two substance carrying disks (2, 3). Each disk has a cavity filled with a powdery dry substance. The substance carrying disks (2, 3) are rotatably arranged about a common axis of rotation such that the cavities are opposite each other. The inhaler further has an airway (4) having a piercing nozzle (41). The piercing nozzle is disposed between the substance carrying disks (2, 3).
Claims
1.-11. (canceled)
12. An inhaler for administration of a powdery dry substance, the inhaler comprising: a first substance carrier disk comprising first cavities filled with the powdery dry substance and a second substance carrier disk comprising second cavities filled with the powdery dry substance; wherein the first and the second substance carrier disks are rotatably arranged about a common axis of rotation; wherein the first cavities are positioned opposite the second cavities, respectively; an air channel comprising a piercing nozzle arranged between the first and the second substance carrier disks.
13. The inhaler according to claim 12, wherein the first substance carrier disk comprises a first circumferential wall surface and a first cam groove arranged at the first circumferential wall surface, wherein the second substance carrier disk comprises a second circumferential wall surface and a second cam groove arranged at the second circumferential wall surface, wherein a first cam groove guide pin engages the first cam groove, and wherein a second cam groove guide pin engages the second cam groove.
14. The inhaler according to claim 13, wherein the first cam groove and the first cam groove guide pin are configured to effect a linear displacement of the first substance carrier disk along the common axis of rotation and a rotational movement of the first substance carrier disk, and wherein the second cam groove and the second cam groove guide pin are configured to effect a linear displacement of the second substance carrier disk along the common axis of rotation and a rotational movement of the second substance carrier disk.
15. The inhaler according to claim 13, wherein the first cam groove is configured to limit a number of rotations of the first substance carrier disk, and wherein the second cam groove is configured to limit a number of rotations of the second substance carrier disk.
16. The inhaler according to claim 12, further comprising an actuation element, wherein the actuation element comprises the first and second cam groove guide pins.
17. The inhaler according to claim 16, wherein the first and second cam groove guide pins are arranged at a resilient end of the actuation element, respectively.
18. The inhaler according to claim 16, wherein the first and second cam groove guide pins are arranged at the actuation element such that the first and second cam groove guide pins effect a synchronous movement of the first and second substance carrier disks upon actuation of the actuation element.
19. The inhaler according to claim 12, further comprising a first cover foil sealing the first cavities at the first substance carrier disk and a second cover foil sealing the second cavities at the second substance carrier disk.
20. The inhaler according to claim 12, further comprising a piercing nozzle comprising a first hollow nozzle and a second hollow nozzle, wherein the first hollow nozzle is facing the first substance carrier disk and the second hollow nozzle is facing the second substance carrier disk.
21. The inhaler according to claim 20, wherein the piercing nozzle comprises first piercing elements and second piercing elements, wherein the first hollow nozzle and the first piercing elements are facing the first substance carrier disk, and wherein the second hollow nozzle and the second piercing elements are facing the second substance carrier disk.
22. The inhaler according to claim 12, further comprising a mouthpiece, wherein the air channel comprises an outlet nozzle, and wherein the outlet nozzle is connected to the mouthpiece.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0025] An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings and will be explained in more detail in the following description.
[0026] FIG. 1 shows an exploded illustration of an inhaler according to an embodiment of the invention.
[0027] FIG. 2 shows a side view of an inhaler according to an embodiment of the invention.
[0028] FIG. 3 shows in isometric illustration of an actuation element of an inhaler according to an embodiment of the invention.
[0029] FIG. 4 shows in isometric detail view how a cam groove guide pin engages in a cam groove of a substance carrier disk of an inhaler according to an embodiment of the invention.
[0030] FIG. 5 shows in an isometric detail view the arrangement of a piercing nozzle relative to cavities in the substance carrier disks of an inhaler according to an embodiment of the invention.
[0031] FIG. 6 shows a side view of a substance carrier disk of an inhaler according to an embodiment of the invention.
[0032] FIG. 7 shows in isometric section illustration a substance carrier disk in an inhaler according to an embodiment of the invention that comprises a cover foil.
EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0033] FIGS. 1 and 2 show an inhaler according to an embodiment of the invention that can be manufactured of only ten parts. They can be produced of a thermoplastic plastic material in an injection molding process. The housing of the inhaler is comprised of a first housing half 11 and a second housing half 12. When they are assembled, a cover 13 is attached to the two housing halves 11, 12 such that it encloses them. A first lid 14 is attached from the side of the first housing half 11 onto the cover 13. A second lid 15 is attached from the side of the second housing half 12 onto the cover 13. In this way, the cover 13 is fixed on the two housing halves 11, 12.
[0034] In the housing, a first substance carrier disk 2 and a second substance carrier disk 3 are arranged. They are arranged rotatably on a common axis of rotation about which also the cover 13 is pivotable. An air channel 4 that comprises a piercing nozzle 41 and an outlet nozzle 42 is arranged in the housing such that the piercing nozzle 41 is positioned between the cavities of the two substance carrier disks 2, 3. The outlet nozzle 42 which is arranged at the end of the air channel 4 facing away from the piercing nozzle 41 faces an opening in the housing. A mouthpiece 5 is attached to this opening.
[0035] An actuation element 6 is arranged in such a way in the inhaler that it is contacting both housing halves 11, 12. As illustrated in FIG. 3, it is of a circular arc shape and comprises two resilient ends 61, 62 that are separated by a gap from each other and extend parallel. At each resilient end 61, 62, a cam groove guide pin 611, 621 is arranged, respectively, in such a way that it projects into the housing. In this context, the first cam groove guide pin 611 engages a first cam groove at the circumferential wall surface of the first substance carrier disk 2 and the second cam groove guide pin 621 engages a second cam groove at the circumferential wall surface of the second substance carrier disk 3. While the cam groove guide pins 611, 621 project into the interior of the circular segment formed by the actuation element 6, a connection element 63 projects from the circular segment to the exterior. It engages from the interior in a receptacle of the cover 13 provided for this purpose. When a user rotates the cover 13 about the common axis of rotation, he moves in doing so also the two cam groove guide pins 611, 621 about the common axis of rotation. This movement is transmitted onto the two substance carrier disks 2, 3.
[0036] FIG. 4 shows the first cam groove 21 of the first substance carrier disk 2 and the second cam groove 31 of the second substance carrier disk 3. Moreover, it is illustrated how the first cam groove guide pin 611 engages the first cam groove 21. The grooves of the first cam groove 21 are shaped such that the first cam groove guide pin 611 in a rest position is resting in a groove of the first cam groove 21 formed by an undercut. When the first cam groove guide pin 611 is now moved along the axis of rotation, it glides along a slant in the first cam groove 21 and pushes the first substance carrier disk 2 in this way along the longitudinal axis toward the piercing nozzle 41. After this slant has been overcome, the cam groove guide pin is continued to be guided in the next groove of the cam groove. As soon as it engages it, the first substance carrier disk 2 returns along the axis of rotation into its initial position. When the user now releases the cover 13, the actuation element 6 springs back into its initial position, exerts in doing so pressure against the groove in rotational direction of the first substance carrier disk 2, and rotates the first substance carrier disk 2 thereby farther by one groove. The first cam groove 21 is designed such that one cam groove is provided, respectively, for each cavity in the first substance carrier disk 2. Due to the rotational movement, the first substance carrier disk 2 is therefore rotated farther by one cavity. A symmetric movement along the axis of rotation and a symmetric rotation in the same rotational direction is triggered simultaneously by the second cam groove guide pin 621 in interaction with the second cam groove 31 at the second substance carrier disk 3.
[0037] The connection between cover 13 and the actuation element 6 is realized in this context such that the cover 13 in the rest position of the actuation element 6 covers the mouthpiece 5 and protects it in this way from contaminants.
[0038] FIG. 5 shows how the piercing nozzle 41 is arranged relative to the two substance carrier disks 2, 3. The piercing nozzle 41 comprises two hollow nozzles 411, 412 that are embodied with sharp edges and are positioned orthogonally in relation to the air channel 4. The first hollow nozzle 411 is facing a cavity 22 of the first substance carrier disk 2. The second hollow nozzle 412 is facing a cavity of the second substance carrier disk 3 which is not visible in the view of FIG. 5. Above the first hollow nozzle, a first piercing element 413 is facing the cavity 22 of the first substance carrier disk 2 and, below the first hollow nozzle, a second piercing element 414 faces the cavity 22 of the first substance carrier disk 2. Above and below the second hollow nozzle, a piercing element is also arranged, respectively, that is respectively facing the cavity of the second substance carrier disk 3 that is not visible.
[0039] As illustrated in FIG. 6, the second substance carrier disk 3 at its exterior side that is facing away from its cavities has a cavity designation 7. It begins with the start cavity designation 71 that indicates a first empty cavity. The first empty cavity can be used as a testing cavity in order to test after manufacture of the inhaler its proper function by a first actuation of the actuation element 6. Then active ingredient cavity designations 72, numbered from 30 to 1, follow for the cavities which contain respectively an active ingredient in the form of a powdery dry substance. Following the last active ingredient cavity designation 72 identified by No. 1, an end cavity designation 73 follows. It characterizes also an empty last cavity of the second substance carrier disk 3. The second cam groove 31 comprises between the cavity with the start cavity designation 71 and the cavity with the end cavity designation 73 a discontinuity so that a further rotation of the second substance carrier disk 3 is not possible. Through an opening in the second housing half 12, a user of the inhaler can recognize the active ingredient cavity designation of the respective actual cavity.
[0040] The cavities in FIGS. 1, 4, and 5 are illustrated without cover for ease of understanding. Actually, they each comprise a cover foil, respectively. In FIG. 7, the cover foil 23 of the cavities 22 of the first substance carrier disk is illustrated. It is here an aluminum foil. The latter ensures that the powdery dry substances in the interior of the cavities 22 are closed air-tightly. When the two substance carrier disks 2, 3 are moved toward the piercing nozzle 41, the two hollow nozzles 411, 412 cut with their sharp edges the cover foil 23 of the first substance carrier disk as well as the cover foil of the second substance carrier disk and open thus a connection between the respective cavities and the piercing nozzle 41. Also, the piercing elements 413, 141 cut further openings into the cover foil and enable thus inflow of air into the cavities. This enables a user who breathes in through the mouthpiece 5 to inhale the powdery dry substances from the cavities through the piercing nozzle 41, the air channel 4, and the outlet nozzle 42 whereby they are finally dispersed. Air flows above and below the hollow nozzles 411, 412, respectively, into the cavities so that the cavities can be uniformly and completely emptied.
LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS
[0041] 11: first housing half [0042] 12: second housing half [0043] 13: cover [0044] 14: first lid [0045] 15: second lid [0046] 2: first substance carrier disk [0047] 21: first cam groove [0048] 22: cavity [0049] 23: cover foil [0050] 3: second substance carrier disk [0051] 31: second cam groove [0052] 4: air channel [0053] 41: piercing nozzle [0054] 411: first hollow nozzle [0055] 412: second hollow nozzle [0056] 413: first piercing element [0057] 414: second piercing element [0058] 42: outlet nozzle [0059] 5: mouthpiece [0060] 6: actuation element [0061] 61: first resilient end [0062] 611: first cam groove guide pin [0063] 62: second resilient end [0064] 621: second cam groove guide pin [0065] 63: connection element [0066] 7: cavity designation [0067] 71: start cavity designation [0068] 72: test cavity designation [0069] 73: active ingredient cavity designation
