INHALER ARTICLE WITH TANGENTIAL AIRFLOW END ELEMENT

Abstract

An inhaler article includes a body extending along a longitudinal axis from a mouthpiece end to a distal end, a capsule cavity defined within the body and a tubular element extending from the distal end towards the capsule cavity. The tubular element defines a central passage extending from the distal end towards the capsule cavity. The tubular element includes at least one air inlet allowing air to enter into the central passage. The at least one air inlet extends in a direction that is tangential to the central passage.

Claims

1. An inhaler article comprising: a body extending along a longitudinal axis from a mouthpiece end to a distal end; a capsule cavity defined within the body; a tubular element extending from the distal end to the capsule cavity, the tubular element defining a central passage having a uniform open diameter extending from the distal end to the capsule cavity, the tubular element comprising at least one tangential air inlet for allowing air to enter into the central passage, the at least one tangential air inlet extending in a direction that is tangential to the central passage.

2. The inhaler article according to claim 1, wherein the at least one tangential air inlet is proximate to the distal end of the inhaler article body.

3. The inhaler article according to claim 1, wherein the central passage comprises a first end defining an upstream boundary of the capsule cavity and a second opposing end defining the distal end of the inhaler article body.

4. The inhaler article according to claim 3, wherein the second opposing end defines an open distal end of the of the inhaler article body.

5. The inhaler article according to claim 1, wherein central passage extends along the longitudinal axis of the body of the inhaler article and defines an opening at the distal end of the body of the inhaler article that is coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the body of the inhaler article.

6. The inhaler article according to claim 1, wherein a lateral distance between the at least one tangential air inlet and the capsule cavity is greater than a lateral distance from the distal end of the inhaler article body to the at least one tangential air inlet.

7. The inhaler article according to claim 1, wherein the tubular element comprises at least two air inlets, the at least two air inlets extend in a direction that is tangential to the central passage.

8. The inhaler article according to claim 1, wherein the tubular element comprises at least three air inlets, the at least three air inlets extend in a direction that is tangential to the central passage.

9. The inhaler article according to claim 1, wherein the tubular element is formed of a cellulose acetate material.

10. The inhaler article according to claim 1, wherein the tubular element is formed of polylactic acid material.

11. The inhaler article according to claim 1, further comprising a capsule retained within the capsule cavity.

12. The inhaler article according to claim 11, wherein the tubular element central passage has a diameter in a range from about 50% to about 90% of a diameter of the capsule.

13. An inhaler system comprising: the inhaler article according to claim 1, and a capsule disposed within the capsule cavity; and a holder receiving the inhaler article, the holder comprising: a housing comprising a housing cavity for receiving an inhaler article; and a sleeve configured to retain an inhaler article within the housing cavity, the sleeve comprising a sleeve cavity and being movable within the housing cavity along a longitudinal axis of the housing, wherein the sleeve comprises a first open end and a second opposing end, the first open end is configured to receive an inhaler article and the second opposing end of the sleeve is configured contact the distal end of the inhaler article.

14. The inhaler system according to claim 13, wherein the sleeve second opposing end is configured to direct substantially all inhalation air to flow through the inhaler article at least one tangential air inlet extending in a direction that is tangential to the central passage.

15. The inhaler system according to claim 13, further comprising a piercing element fixed to and extending from a housing inner surface, the piercing element being configured to extend through the second opposing end of the sleeve and into the capsule cavity to pierce the capsule along a longitudinal axis of the housing.

16. The inhaler system according claim 13, wherein the capsule contains pharmaceutically active particles comprising nicotine, the pharmaceutically active particles having a mass median aerodynamic diameter in a range from about 0.5 micrometres to about 4 micrometres.

17. The inhaler system according to claim 13, wherein the tubular element retains the capsule within the capsule cavity.

18. The inhaler system according to claim 17, wherein the tubular element central passage has a diameter in a range from about 50% to about 90% of a diameter of the capsule.

19. The inhaler system according to claim 13, wherein the tubular element central passage has a diameter in a range from about 50% to about 90% of a diameter of the capsule.

20. The inhaler system according to claim 13, wherein the tubular element central passage comprises a first end defining an upstream boundary of the capsule cavity and a second opposing end defining the distal end of the inhaler article body.

Description

[0105] The invention will now be further described with reference to the figures in which:

[0106] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional diagram of an illustrative inhaler article along a longitudinal axis;

[0107] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional diagram of another illustrative inhaler article along a longitudinal axis;

[0108] FIGS. 3-6 are cross-sectional schematic diagrams of illustrative tubular elements with one to four tangential air inlets;

[0109] FIG. 7A is a side elevation schematic diagram of an illustrative flat holder useful with an inhaler article;

[0110] FIG. 7B is a top elevation schematic diagram of the illustrative flat holder of FIG. 7A; and

[0111] FIG. 7C is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the illustrative flat holder of FIG. 7B taken along line A-A.

[0112] The schematic drawings are not necessarily to scale and are presented for purposes of illustration and not limitation. The drawings depict one or more aspects described in this disclosure. However, it will be understood that other aspects not depicted in the drawing fall within the scope and spirit of this disclosure.

[0113] FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate exemplary inhaler articles 110. The inhaler article 110 may include a capsule 160 disposed within inhaler article 110.

[0114] The inhaler article 110 includes a body 112 extending along a longitudinal axis “A” from a mouthpiece end 113 to a distal end 114. The mouthpiece end 113 forms a downstream end and distal end 114 forms an upstream end of the inhaler article 110. In other words, the mouthpiece end 113 is downstream from the distal end, as indicated with arrows. A capsule cavity 116 is defined within the body 112. A tubular element 130 extends from the distal end 114 towards the capsule cavity 116.

[0115] The tubular element 130 defines a central passage 132 extending between a first end 134 and a second opposing end 136 defining a distal end surface 136 of the inhaler article 110, and the first end 134 facing the sleeve cavity 116. The tubular element 130 comprising at least one air inlet 138 allowing air to enter into the central passage 132. The at least one air inlet 138 extending in a direction that is tangential to the central passage 132.

[0116] In this example, the second opposing end 136 is shown as being located directly at the distal end 114 of the body 112. Furthermore, in this example there is no component between the second opposing end 136 and the distal end 114 of the body 112. This simplifies the construction of the inhaler article 110, and facilities air flow through the inhaler article 110. However, it should be appreciated that the tubular element 130 being “at” the distal end 114 should be interpreted as the tubular element 130 being around the same location as the distal end 114. For instance, the tubular element 130 may be offset from the distal end 114 along the longitudinal axis either towards or away from the mouthpiece end 113

[0117] In this example, the second opposing end 136 is shown as being located directly at the distal end 114 of the body 112. However, it should be appreciated that the tubular element 130 being at the distal end 114 should be interpreted as the tubular element 130 being around the same location as the distal end 114. For instance, the tubular element 130 may be offset from the distal end 114 along the longitudinal axis either towards or away from the mouthpiece end 113.

[0118] The tubular element 130, the capsule cavity 116 (and capsule 160 if present), and a porous support element 170 may be axially aligned and serially disposed within the body 112. The tubular element 130 may form an upstream or distal end or boundary of the capsule cavity 116. The capsule cavity 116 may define a space configured to contain the capsule 160. The capsule cavity 116 may have a fixed cavity length bounded on the first end 134 of the tubular element 130 and bounded on the downstream end by the porous support element 170. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the porous support element 170 may be disposed within a mouthpiece air channel portion 133 of the body 110. The mouthpiece air channel portion 133 may extend beyond the porous support element 170 to the mouthpiece end 113.

[0119] The tubular element 130 may be disposed within the distal end 114 of the body 112. The second opposing end 136 of the tubular element 130 may be substantially aligned with the distal end 114 of the body 112.

[0120] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the inhaler article 110 may include an insert body 140 defining the capsule cavity 116 to contain the capsule 160 and provide support and rigidity to the body 112 along the capsule cavity 116. The filter or porous support element 170 extends from the capsule cavity 116 to the mouthpiece end 113.

[0121] FIGS. 3-6 are cross-sectional schematic diagrams of illustrative tubular elements 130 with central passageways 132 with one to four tangential air inlets 138. The inner diameter of the tubular elements 130 may be about 4 mm. FIG. 3 illustrates a single tangential air inlet 138 having a diameter of about 1.45 mm. FIG. 4 illustrates two tangential air inlets 138 each having a diameter of about 1 mm and entering the tubular element 130 at 180 degrees from each other. FIG. 5 illustrates three tangential air inlets 138 each having a diameter of about 0.85 mm entering the tubular element 130 at 120 degrees from each other. FIG. 6 illustrates four tangential air inlets 138 each having a diameter of about 0.6 mm entering the tubular element 130 at 90 degrees from each other.

[0122] With reference to FIGS. 7A-7C, an inhaler system 100 includes the inhaler article 110 and a holder 150. The inhaler article 110 comprises the body 112 defining an inhaler outer surface. The inhaler article 110 may be similar to either exemplary inhaler article 110 of FIG. 1 or FIG. 2. The body 112 extends along an inhaler longitudinal axis from mouthpiece, or proximal end 113 to the distal end 114 a body length.

[0123] The holder 150 for the inhaler article 110 includes, a housing 151 and a piercing element 101. The holder 150 may also include a marking element 190. The housing 151 has a housing outer surface and a housing inner surface. The housing inner surface defines an inhaler article cavity 154 configured to receive the inhaler article 110. The housing 151 extends along a housing longitudinal axis from a distal end 155 to an open proximal end 156 defining a housing length. The open proximal end 156 is configured to receive the distal end 114 of an inhaler article 110 into the inhaler article cavity 154.

[0124] The holder 150 for an inhaler article 110 includes the housing 151 comprises the housing cavity 154 for receiving an inhaler article 110 and a sleeve 201 configured to retain the inhaler article 110 within the housing cavity 154. The sleeve 201 comprises a sleeve cavity and being movable within the housing cavity 154 along the longitudinal axis of the housing. The sleeve 201 comprises a first open end 202 and a second opposing end 203. The first open end 202 is configured to receive the distal end 114 of the inhaler article 110. The second opposing end 203 of the sleeve 201 is configured to contact the distal end 114 of the inhaler article 110. The sleeve second opposing end 203 is configured to direct substantially all inhalation air to flow through the inhaler article 110 at least one air inlet extending in a direction that is tangential to the central passage.

[0125] The piercing element 101 is fixed to and extends from the housing inner surface, into the inhaler article cavity 154 along a piercing element longitudinal axis a piercing element length. The piercing element 101 is recessed from the open proximal end 156 a recessed distance. The piercing element 101 is configured to be movable to extend through the central passage of the tubular element 130 and to the capsule 160 housed within the capsule cavity 116 to pierce the capsule 160. A spring element 200 may bias the inhaler article 110 away from the piercing element 101.

[0126] The exemplary embodiments described above are not limiting. Other embodiments consistent with the exemplary embodiments described above will be apparent to those skilled in the art.