Blister advancement mechanism comprising an actuator plate

Abstract

The present invention relates to improvements made in the blister advancement mechanism of dry powder inhaler devices. A dry powder inhaler device mechanism comprising an actuator plate and a transmission wheel is provided.

Claims

1. A dry powder inhaler device comprising a body, a trigger moving on an axial/linear direction in the body, a main drum into which a blister strip having drug-carrying cavities is placed, a gear set, wherein the gear set enables a drug in the next cavity of the blister strip to be administered by rotating the main drum and around which a protective layer or cover of the blister strip is wound, and additional gears in connection with the main drum and around which a main layer of the blister strip is wound, said device further comprising an actuator plate having a first end connected to the trigger and a second end comprising a socket with a size sufficiently large to receive a transmission wheel therein, a series of teeth which are aligned in the socket of the actuator plate on the axial/linear direction in which the trigger is moved, and a transmission wheel connected to the teeth provided in the socket for converting the axial/linear motion of the trigger into a rotational motion of the transmission wheel and transferring this rotational motion to the main drum, wherein the main drum is disposed on and substantially coaxially with the transmission wheel, wherein the transmission wheel meshes with the series of teeth aligned in the socket of the actuator plate.

2. The dry powder inhaler device according to claim 1, comprising barriers on the inner surface of the body to restrict the amount of displacement of the actuator plate.

3. The dry powder inhaler device according to claim 1, wherein the transmission wheel further comprises a toothless surface section.

4. The dry powder inhaler device according to claim 1, wherein the actuator plate is disposed between the main drum and the trigger.

5. The dry powder inhaler device according to claim 1, comprising a pretensioned spring which restores the trigger to its initial position after the trigger is pushed in axially/linearly and released by a user.

6. The dry powder inhaler device according to claim 1, wherein the series of teeth aligned in the socket of the actuator plate is located along a first edge of the actuator plate, and the actuator plate further comprises a toothless edge substantially opposite to the first edge.

7. The dry powder inhaler device according to claim 1, wherein during a movement of the trigger axially/linearly in and out of the inhaler device, the transmission wheel rotates in two directions at different times and the main drum rotates in one direction.

8. The dry powder inhaler device according to claim 7, further comprising a pretensioned spring which restores the trigger to its initial position after the trigger is pushed in axially/linearly and released by a user.

9. The dry powder inhaler device according to claim 1, wherein the transmission wheel further comprises teeth that mesh with the series of teeth aligned in the socket for converting the axial/linear motion of the trigger into a rotational motion of the transmission wheel.

10. The dry powder inhaler device according to claim 1, wherein the transmission wheel further comprises a central cylindrical member comprising two curved elements substantially opposite to each other.

11. The dry powder inhaler device according to claim 7, wherein the transmission wheel further comprises a central cylindrical member comprising two curved elements substantially opposite to each other.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

(1) FIG. 1 is an illustration of an exemplary embodiment according to the present invention.

(2) FIG. 2 is a representative embodiment of an outer body and an inner body according to the present invention.

(3) FIG. 3 is a representative embodiment of the outer body, inner body, and a mechanism according to the present invention.

(4) FIG. 4 is a representative embodiment of the outer body and the mechanism according to the present invention.

(5) FIG. 5 is a representative embodiment of the outer body and the mechanism according to the present invention.

(6) FIG. 6 is a representative embodiment of the mechanism according to the present invention.

(7) FIG. 7 is a representative embodiment of the mechanism according to the present invention.

(8) FIG. 8 is a representative embodiment of the mechanism according to the present invention.

(9) FIG. 9 is a representative embodiment of the trigger with actuator plate according to the present invention.

(10) FIG. 10 is a representative embodiment of the inner body according to the present invention.

(11) FIG. 11a is a representative embodiment of a main drum and the transmission wheel according to the present invention.

(12) FIG. 11b is a representative embodiment of a main drum according to the present invention

(13) FIG. 12a is a representative embodiment of a transmission wheel according to the present invention.

(14) FIG. 12b is a representative embodiment of a transmission wheel according to the present invention.

(15) FIG. 13a is a representative embodiment of blister cover winding gears according to the present invention.

(16) FIG. 13b is a representative embodiment of a blister cover upper winding gear according to the present invention.

(17) FIG. 13c is a representative embodiment of a blister cover central winding gear according to the present invention.

(18) FIG. 13d is a representative embodiment of a blister cover lower winding gear according to the present invention.

(19) FIG. 14 is a representative embodiment of a blister according to the present invention.

REFERENCE NUMBERS IN FIGURES

(20) 1. Outer body 2. Trigger 3. Cavity 4. Blister 5. Main drum 6. Blister cover upper winding gear 7. Blister cover central winding gear 8. Blister cover lower winding gear 9. First additional gear 10. Second additional gear 11. Inhaler device 12. First end of the actuator plate 13. Second end of the actuator plate 14. Socket 15. Actuator plate 16. Linear/straight teeth 17. Transmission wheel 18. First barrier of the body 19. Second barrier of the body 20. Toothless surface of the transmission wheel 21. Toothed surface of the transmission wheel 22. Spring 23. Inner body 24. Lower reservoir 25. Left medial reservoir 26. Right medial reservoir 27. Upper reservoir

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

(21) In the following detailed description, an inhaler device (11) according to the present invention shall be described illustratively by making references to annexed figures, only to make it clear without imposing any restrictions thereon.

(22) An outer body (1) of the inhaler device (11) according to the present invention as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, 4, 11a, 11b, 12a, 12b is obtained by assembling two compatible parts together. The interior of said parts comprises both fastening tabs to fasten them together, and reservoirs and pins, allowing the placement of the mutually connected main drum and transmission wheel (5, 17) and the mutually connected blister cover winding gear set (6, 7, 8) in the outer body (1). The upper part of the body is provided with a mouthpiece having a drug outlet opening. The lower part of the body is provided with a trigger (2) slid into the body.

(23) An inner body (23) is positioned in the interior of the outer body (1) to place a blister (4) therein, as illustrated in FIG. 10. This single-piece body (23) comprises lower, left and right medial and upper reservoirs (24, 25, 26, 27), respectively, along with recessed surfaces and fastening tabs. An unused blister (4) is stored in the lower reservoir (24), this strip-shaped blister (4) being extended along intermediate channels and subsequently separated into two parts, i.e. a main layer and a protective layer, by means of the mechanism. The main layer with one end fastened to a second additional gear (10) is stored in the left medial reservoir (25) where this second additional gear (10) is positioned. The end of the protective layer, in turn, is fastened to a pin provided on the central winding gear (7).

(24) As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, at the beginning of the blister (4) advancement mechanism is provided a trigger (2), slid into a lower side of said outer body (1). The trigger (2) is capable to perform an axial/linear motion in the inner part of the body (1). A grip surface provided on the exterior of the trigger (2), which is the surface by which a user exerts force to push in said trigger, is formed in an incurved manner to provide ease of use. A spring (22) is positioned between the trigger (2) and an inner surface of the outer body (1), this spring becoming compressed (i.e. loaded) when the trigger (2) is pushed into the body (1). The spring (22) has a helical form.

(25) As illustrated in FIGS. 4, 5, 6, 7 and 11a, an actuator plate (15) is provided having a first end (12) connected to the trigger and a second end (13) comprising a socket (14). This socket is formed with a size which is sufficiently large to receive a wheel therein. Straight teeth (linear teeth) (16) are provided in the socket (14) of the actuator plate (15), these teeth being aligned on the axial/linear direction in which the trigger is moved. The socket has a rectangular form with the teeth being aligned on an upper edge of the socket. A transmission wheel (17) is positioned in the socket. The wheel (17) is connected to a pin fixed to the body in a moving manner from a central point thereof. This connection provides the wheel with a rotational motion only. A section of the periphery of the wheel (17) is provided with a series of teeth, whereas the remaining peripheral surface (20) thereof is toothless. The toothed surface (21) of the wheel meshes with the straight teeth (16) of the actuator plate (15). The toothed surface (21) of the wheel which meshes with the straight teeth provides a rotating function. The toothless surface section (20), in turn, provides for the rotation without contacting any surface within the socket and makes it possible to keep the volume of the socket at an acceptable level. Barriers (18, 19) are formed on the inner surface of the body on both longitudinal edges of the actuator plate. The wheel (17) is engaged to a main drum (5). The main drum (5) is mounted over the wheel (17) so as to move in the same way with the wheel.

(26) According to the details given above, the operation of the device according to the present invention is as follows. Following the opening of the lid of the device, a force is exerted by the user to the grip surface of the trigger (2). Then the trigger (2) is slid into the interior of the body (1). With the axial/linear motion of the trigger (2), the actuator plate (15) coupled to the trigger is set into motion as well. Thus, the transmission wheel (17) connected to the straight teeth of the actuator plate is set into rotation. With the movement of the wheel (17), the main drum (5) disposed over the wheel is rotated so as to rotate the gears with which it meshes. In this manner, a blister placed on the gears is moved and the cavities (3) of the blister are opened.

(27) As illustrated in detail in FIG. 11a, the main drum (5) moves on a single direction and provides only the advancement of the blister (4). The transmission wheel (17) below the main drum is capable to rotate forward and backward.

(28) The transmission wheel (17) transmits this motion to the main drum (5) and to the first and second additional gears (9, 10). While the transmission wheel and the main drum (17, 5) rotate counterclockwise, the blister cover lower winding gear (8) and the blister cover central and upper winding gears (7, 6) disposed above the lower winding gear rotate clockwise. The blister (4) in contact with these gears is advanced in the channels of the inner body (23), is passed through and stripped or peeled off between the gear sets so that the drug in the respective cavity is released. The main layer of the blister, now separated into two parts, is rolled in the left medial reservoir (25), whereas the protective or cover layer of the blister is wound around the blister cover upper gear (6).

(29) As a result of sliding the trigger (2) into the interior of the outer body (1), a retaining groove provided on the trigger (2) is coupled and fastened to a locking clips lug provided just over the groove, resulting in the administration of a single dose of medicament. Keeping this slide-in action until the locking position is achieved ensures a complete peeling-off of the blister and an accurate administration of the required dosage amount. As a result of this locking effect, the trigger (2) becomes retained and it remains out-of-use for a short period of time. This slide-in action also causes the spring (22) to become compressed between the trigger (2) and the interior of the outer body (1).

(30) After the user inhales the powder drug, he/she closes the lid of the device, so that a tip part of the lid exerts force to a rear part of the locking clips, the tip thereof is lifted above, and the clips lug and the retaining groove are detached from each other. As a result of this, the compressed spring (22) rotates the wheel (17) backward and makes the mechanism move backward too. Thus, the device is restored for the next use without requiring any user intervention. However, the mechanism does not move the blister backward. It can be seen from the disclosure above, that the device according to the present invention can be operated by a simple single push action of the user. When the lid is closed, the device (11) is set up automatically and is restored for the next use.

(31) The linear motion of the trigger is the sliding in-out motion of the trigger on any direction, including those on the x and y axes. This direction is determined according to the design of the device.

(32) The term gear set covers the main drum, transmission wheel, blister cover lower, central, and upper winding gears, and the additional gears, wherein other wheels and gears to be included in the basic elements of the device are also covered under this term.

(33) In result, an inhaler device is obtained with the embodiment disclosed above, this device being extremely accurate, reliably-operating, and providing advantages in terms of cost and volume, wherein the force required to operate the device and exerted to the components of the mechanism thereof is reduced. An actuator plate (15) and a transmission wheel (17) is used in place of a gear set between the trigger (2) and the main drum (5) to provide these advantages. The force transfer generated by means of the actuater plate without leading to any loss provides a substantial advantage in the push force required to slide in the trigger.

(34) The design of components used may be varied in alternative embodiments according to the type of device being produced. In result, the protection scope of the present invention is set forth in appended claims and cannot be restricted to the illustrative disclosures given above, under the detailed description. It is obvious that a person skilled in the relevant art can produce similar embodiments under the light of the foregoing disclosures, without departing from the main principles of the present invention.