Dispenser with encoding means

Abstract

Disclosed is a nebulizer having attached housing, which is attached in a way that permits removal, which housing holds containers of liquid medication for dispensing via nebulization, which nebulizer is constructed to allow containers holding the medication to be used and held within the housing provided that such containers match or conform to the certain mechanical requirements of the nebulizer and housing.

Claims

1. A portable inhaler (1) for a liquid (2), into which a container (3) holding the liquid (2) can be inserted, wherein the inhaler (1) has a pressure generator (5) for nebulizing the liquid (2) to form an inhalable aerosol suitable for administration of a medicament wherein the pressure generator comprises a drive spring, and a housing part (18) which is removable from the inhaler (1) for the replacement of the container (3), wherein the container (3) is connected to the housing part (18) in fixed manner, wherein the inhaler comprises first coding component (25;30;31) which first coding component is in the form of one or more projections and the housing part (18) comprises second coding component (26;27;32) which second coding component is in the form of one or more grooves or indentations, wherein the first coding component (25;30;31) and the second coding component (26;27;32) cooperate such that the container (3) can only be inserted into the portable inhaler (1) or used therewith when the first coding component (25;30;31) and the second coding component (26;27;32) have matching codes and the first coding component can be inserted into the second coding component, wherein at least one of the first coding component (25;30;31) and the second coding component (26;27;32) can be mounted in different positions such that in each position a different coding is obtained in which the first coding component (25;30;31) and the second coding component (26;27;32) match one another.

2. The portable inhaler (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the second coding component (26) associated with the removable housing part (18) is configured in the manner of part of the wall of an imaginary hollow cylinder (H), the wall having at least one freely passable groove (260) extending in the direction of an axis of symmetry (S) of the imaginary hollow cylinder (H), and the first coding component (25) associated with the portable inhaler (1) is of ring-like configuration, with at least one nose-like projection (251) for displaceable engagement in the groove (260), the ring-like first coding component (25) comprising a plurality of openings (252) on one end face and a plurality of pin-like projections (250) on an opposite end face.

3. The portable inhaler (1) according to claim 2, characterised in that the second coding component (26) associated with the removable housing part (18) comprises a plurality of grooves (260,261), of which one groove (260) is freely passable and the other grooves (261) are blocked in their continuity by transverse walls (262).

4. The portable inhaler (1) according to claim 2, characterised in that two second coding components (26) are associated with the removable housing part (18) and two first coding components (25) are associated with the portable inhaler (1).

5. The portable inhaler (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the second coding component (27) associated with the removable housing part (18) comprises at least two walls each configured in the manner of part of the wall of an imaginary hollow cylinder, which are offset from one another by about 180, the walls each having at least one groove (270) extending in the direction of insertion of the container (3) and the walls being integrally connected to one another and the first coding component (30) associated with the portable inhaler (1) being of sleeve-like configuration, while the walls of the second coding component (27) associated with the removable housing part (18) radially surround, at least in parts, the first coding component (30) associated with the portable inhaler (1) and at the same time guide means (270,301) for both the first and second coding components (27,30) engage with one another.

6. The portable inhaler (1) according to claim 5, characterised in that the second coding component (27) associated with the removable housing part (18) can be brought into a position in which it can be rotated freely within the housing part (18) at least over a limited angular range and by further insertion into the housing part (18) can be moved into a position in which it is no longer rotatable.

7. The portable inhaler (1) according to claim 5, characterised in that the first coding component (30) associated with the portable inhaler (1) can be brought into a position in which it is freely rotatable on the portable inhaler (1) at least over a limited angular range and by being pushed further onto the portable inhaler (1) can be moved into a position in which it is no longer rotatable.

8. The portable inhaler (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that both the first and the second coding components (31,32) with an annular outline are provided, each of which has openings (310, 320) or pin-like projections on their end faces, uniformly distributed about the circumference, which cooperate respectively with pin-like projections (241, 181) or openings provided on the portable inhaler (1) or the removable housing part (18), the second coding component (32) associated with the removable housing part (18) having at least one projection (321) extending in the direction of insertion (E) of the container (3) and the first coding component (31) associated with the portable inhaler (1) having at least one recess (311) extending in the direction of insertion (E) of the container (3) which is configured to receive the projection (321).

9. The portable inhaler (1) according to claim 8, characterised in that the removable housing part (18) comprises an encircling groove (180) and the projection (321) of the second coding component (32) has a radially outwardly directed hook-like nose (322) for engaging in the groove (180).

10. The portable inhaler (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the first coding component (25;30;31) can be mounted on the portable inhaler (1) in different positions and that the second coding component (26;27;32) can be mounted on the removable housing part (18) in different defined positions.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The drawings schematically show:

(2) FIG. 1 a longitudinal section through a known nebuliser in the untensioned state,

(3) FIG. 2 a longitudinal section through the known nebuliser in the tensioned state, rotated through 90 degrees compared with FIG. 1,

(4) FIG. 3 a perspective view of a proposed removable housing part with an active substance container which can be inserted in a proposed nebuliser,

(5) FIG. 4 a partial perspective view of a proposed nebuliser on which the housing-like component according to FIG. 3 can be mounted,

(6) FIG. 5 a longitudinal section through a proposed nebuliser with a releasable lower housing part already fitted,

(7) FIG. 6 a perspective detailed view of a coding means used in the proposed releasable lower housing part,

(8) FIG. 7 a representation of the coding means according to view VII in FIG. 6,

(9) FIG. 8 a perspective representation of two coding means mounted on the proposed nebuliser according to FIG. 4 (upper housing part),

(10) FIG. 9 the perspective view of a proposed releasable lower housing part according to a second embodiment,

(11) FIG. 10a to c the lower housing part according to FIG. 9 in a perspective view, showing different positions of the coding element,

(12) FIG. 11 a perspective sectional view of the lower housing part according to FIG. 9 but without a container,

(13) FIG. 12a to c a perspective partial view of a proposed nebuliser on which the lower housing part according to FIG. 9 can be mounted, having a sleeve-like coding means, in different positions,

(14) FIG. 13 a perspective view of a proposed nebuliser with the lower housing part fitted thereon, in a third embodiment,

(15) FIG. 14 a perspective detailed view of the coding means used in the upper housing part or in the lower housing part of the proposed nebuliser according to FIG. 13,

(16) FIG. 15 a partial section through the embodiment shown in FIG. 13, taken along sectional view XV, and

(17) FIG. 16 a sectional view rotated through 90 degrees in relation to FIG. 15.

(18) In the figures the same reference numerals are used for identical or similar parts, where corresponding or comparable properties and advantages are obtained even though the description has not been repeated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(19) FIGS. 1 and 2 show a known nebuliser 1 for nebulising a fluid 2, particularly a highly effective medicament or the like, in a schematic view in the non-tensioned state (FIG. 1) and in the tensioned state (FIG. 2). The nebuliser 1 is embodied in particular as a portable inhaler and preferably operates without any propellant gas.

(20) When the fluid 2, preferably a liquid, more particularly a medicament, is nebulised, an aerosol is formed that can be breathed in or inhaled by a user (not shown). Usually the inhalation takes place at least once a day, particularly several times a day, preferably at predetermined time intervals.

(21) The nebuliser 1 has an insertable and preferably replaceable container 3 holding the fluid and forming a reservoir for the fluid 2 that is to be nebulised. Preferably, the container 3 contains sufficient fluid 2 for multiple applications, particularly for a predetermined administration period such as one month, or for at least 50, preferably at least 100 doses or sprays.

(22) The container 3 is substantially cylindrical or cartridge-shaped and can be inserted, and optionally replaced, in the nebuliser 1 after the latter has been opened. It is preferably of rigid construction, the fluid 2 preferably being held in a bag 4 within the container 3.

(23) The nebuliser 1 comprises a pressure generator 5 for conveying and nebulising the fluid 2, particularly in a predetermined, optionally adjustable dosage amount. The pressure generator 5 has a holder 6 for the container 3, an associated drive spring 7 (only partly shown) having a blocking element 8 that can be manually operated to release it, a conveying tube 9 with a non-return valve 10, a pressure chamber 11 and an expulsion nozzle 12 in the region of a mouthpiece 13.

(24) During the axial tensioning of the drive spring 7, the holder 6 with the container 3 and the conveying tube 9 is moved downwards, in the drawings, and fluid 2 is aspirated out of the container 3 into the pressure chamber 11 of the pressure generator 5 via the non-return valve 10. As the expulsion nozzle 12 has a very small cross-section of flow and is embodied in particular as a capillary, a throttle effect is produced that is strong enough to reliably prevent any air being sucked in at this point even without a non-return valve.

(25) During the subsequent relaxation after actuation of the locking element 8, the fluid 2 in the pressure chamber 11 is put under pressure by the drive spring 7 moving the conveying tube 9 back upwardsi.e. by spring forceand is expelled through the expulsion nozzle 12 where it is nebulised, particularly into particles in the m or nm range, preferably into particles destined for the lungs measuring about 5 m, which form a cloud or jet of aerosol 14, as indicated in FIG. 1. The conveying and nebulising of the fluid 2 are thus carried out purely mechanically, i.e. without propellant gas and without electrical means.

(26) A user (not shown) can inhale the aerosol 14, while an air supply can be sucked into the mouthpiece 13 through at least one air supply opening 15.

(27) The nebuliser 1 comprises an upper housing part 16 and an inner part 17 which is rotatable relative thereto, on which an in particular manually operable housing part 18 is releasably fixed, particularly fitted on, preferably by means of a retaining element 19. In order to insert and/or replace the container 3, the housing part 18 can be detached from the nebuliser 1.

(28) By manually rotating the housing part 18, the inner part 17 can be rotated relative to the upper housing part 16, by means of which the drive spring 7 can be tensioned in the axial direction by means of a gear (not shown) acting on the holder 6. During tensioning, the container 3 is moved axially downwards until the container 3 assumes an end position as shown in FIG. 2 in the tensioned state. During the nebulising process the container 3 is moved back into its original position by the drive spring 7.

(29) The housing part 18 preferably forms a cap-like lower housing part and fits around or over a lower free end position of the container 3, with which it can be pushed in a direction of insertion E onto or into the upper housing part 16 and attached thereto. As the drive spring 7 is tensioned, the container 3 moves with its end portion (further) into the housing part 18 or towards the end face thereof, while an axially acting spring 20 arranged in the housing part 18 comes to bear on the base 21 of the container and pierces the container 3 or a base seal thereon with a piercing element 22 when the container makes contact with it for the first time, to allow air in.

(30) The nebuliser 1 comprises a monitoring device 23 which counts the actuations of the nebuliser 1, preferably by detecting the rotation of the inner part 17 relative to the upper part 16 of the housing. The monitoring device 23 operates purely mechanically in the embodiment shown.

(31) The construction and mode of operation of a proposed nebuliser 1 and a proposed housing-like component 18 will now be described in more detail. Reference is made to FIGS. 3 to 16. However, only the essential differences from the known nebuliser 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 will be emphasised. The remarks relating to FIGS. 1 and 2 thus apply accordingly or in a supplementary capacity.

(32) Reference will be made first to FIGS. 3 to 5.

(33) These show a first embodiment of a proposed nebuliser 1.

(34) The nebuliser 1 comprises an upper housing part 16 and a lower housing part 18 that can be releasably connected to the upper housing part 16.

(35) A container 3 holding a specific active substance is already fixedly attached within the lower housing part 18, so that the lower housing part 18 forms a retail unit with the container 3.

(36) The lower housing part 18 is provided with a monitoring device 23. In addition, the lower housing part 18 accommodates two coding means, each having a freely passable groove 260 and a plurality of grooves 261 that are not freely passable.

(37) The form and function of the coding means 26 will be explained in more detail hereinafter.

(38) The upper housing part 16, in return, has two identically constructed coding means 25 that are connected to a closure member 24.

(39) Moreover, pin-like projections 250 and a radially projecting nose 251 of the coding means 25 are shown.

(40) The closure member 24 is held in latching openings 170 of the inner part 17 by latching elements 240.

(41) A locking and unlocking element 242 is integrally connected to the closure member 24.

(42) The locking and unlocking element 242 can be pressed in radially and serves to lock or unlock the releasable lower housing part 18.

(43) FIG. 5 shows that the coding means 26 abut with their outer walls on the inner wall of the lower housing part 18. As will be explained in more detail below, they cooperate with the coding means 25 attached to the upper housing part 16.

(44) The container 3 is fixedly attached to the lower housing part 18 by a base element 28. In particular, the base element 28 comprises several, preferably four, spring-like arms which extend with their ends over a widening base region of the container 3.

(45) The shape and cooperation of the coding means 25 and 26 will now be explained by reference to FIGS. 6 to 8.

(46) Each of the coding elements 26 is configured in the manner of part of the wall of an imaginary hollow cylinder H (cf. dashed curved lines in FIG. 7). The wall of the coding means 26 comprises four grooves 261 and 260, respectively, extending in the direction of an axis of symmetry S of the imaginary hollow cylinder H.

(47) The groove 260 is embodied as a freely passable groove, while the grooves 261 have a transverse wall 262 at least at one end, which blocks free passage.

(48) FIG. 8 is a more detailed view of the coding means 25 that are connected to the upper housing part 16.

(49) The coding means 25 are of identical construction and are annular in shape.

(50) The annular coding means 25 are provided with openings 252 on one end face and with pin-like projections 250 on the opposite side. The openings 252 are configured so that they are able to accommodate the pin-like projections 250, such that the coding means 25 can lie with their end faces against one another (cf. also FIGS. 4 and 5).

(51) In addition, each coding means 25 comprises a nose 251 on its radially outer side.

(52) It is clear that the openings 252 and also the pin-like projections 250 are distributed equidistantly over the circumference of the annular coding means 25. Preferably, twelve openings 252 are provided on one end face and six pin-like projections 250 are provided on the opposite end face. Thus the coding means 25 and hence the noses 251 can be aligned in a plurality of angular positions relative to one another.

(53) The nose 251 is configured so that it can be accommodated in the freely passable groove 260 of the coding means 26 so as to be movable but safely guided.

(54) In the production process, depending on the desired coding, the two coding means 25 are fitted together by their end faces and then attached to the upper housing part 16, particularly on the closure member 24 attached to the inner part 17.

(55) Pin-like projections 241 of the closure member 24 which are provided on the end face engage in the openings 252 of the coding means 25 located above (cf. FIG. 5).

(56) The coding means 26 are latched to the inner wall of the lower housing part 18 in a manner not shown in detail.

(57) It should be mentioned that before the coding, the coding element 26 is configured so that all the grooves 260 and 261 are provided with the transverse walls 262 (located at the top in FIG. 6 and indicated by dashed lines below). The transverse walls 262 each preferably take the form of a kind of frangible point.

(58) For the final coding, each coding means 26 must be provided with a freely passable groove (the groove 260 in the embodiment shown). This is done by removing both transverse walls 262 of a groove. The transverse walls of the other grooves 261 have to retain at least one transverse wall 262 which has to be aligned with the upper housing part 16 (i.e. at the top, as in FIG. 6) in the assembly position of the coding means 26, to provide a clear coding.

(59) If both transverse walls 262 are left in place in the grooves 261 that are not freely passable (in contrast to the embodiment of FIG. 6), this also has the advantage that by swivelling the coding means 26 through 180 without any further modification a different coding can be achieved, as the freely passable groove 260 will then be in a different place.

(60) It will be understood that by the combination of the two coding means 26 with their four respective coding options (grooves) and the two annular coding means 25, a total of 16 possible codes can be obtained. This therefore provides a high degree of flexibility.

(61) Referring to FIGS. 9 to 12, a second embodiment of the proposed nebuliser will now be described.

(62) A coding means 27 which comprises at least two walls each configured in the manner of part of the wall of an imaginary hollow cylinder (comparable with the coding means 26 in FIG. 6) is inserted in the releasable lower housing part 18.

(63) In this embodiment, the lower housing part 18 is also already fixedly connected to a container 3 as a retail unit, the container 3 additionally being radially supported via an annular support element 29.

(64) The walls of the coding means 27 are preferably offset from one another by about 180 degrees, the walls each having at least one groove 270 extending in the direction of insertion of the container 3.

(65) The walls are integrally connected to one another, as is clear particularly from FIG. 11.

(66) This figure clearly also shows the base element 28 which serves to attach the container 3 at its base by means of radially inwardly bent arms 281.

(67) Radially outwardly bent arms 280 engage behind the base region of the coding means 27 and hold the latter securely in the lower housing part 18 so that they cannot get lost. In the embodiment shown, the grooves 270 are also offset from one another by about 180 degrees.

(68) As can be seen from FIG. 10 in particular, the two walls of the coding means 27 are provided in the lower region with elongate groove-like indentations 271. Preferably, seven such indentations 271 are provided.

(69) By contrast, the lower housing part 18 comprises, on its inner wall, in the region of the indentations 271, at least one elongate bulge (not shown in detail) which may correspond to at least one of the elongate indentations 271.

(70) Obviously, it is also possible to provide indentations on the lower housing part 18 and bulges on the walls of the coding means 27.

(71) It will readily be understood that the coding element 27 may thus assume seven possible clearly defined positions.

(72) FIGS. 10a to c show how easy it is to fix the final coding of the lower housing part 18 in the manufacturing process.

(73) Thus the lower housing part 18 is in an uncoded state in FIG. 10a. The coding means 27 project from the lower housing part 18 to such an extent that the elongate indentations 271 of the coding means 27 are not in engagement with the elongate bulges in the lower housing part 18.

(74) Therefore the coding means 27 is freely rotatable over a specific angular range about a longitudinal axis L of the container 3 or the lower housing part 18.

(75) In accordance with the seven elongate bulges 271 provided, one of these seven possible positions can thus be selected by free rotation.

(76) In FIG. 10b a possible position has been selected by rotation to the left, a final fixing or coding then being obtained by pushing or pressing the coding means 27 into the lower housing part 18 by the cooperation of the elongate indentations 271 with elongate bulges on the lower housing part 18 (FIG. 10c).

(77) FIGS. 12a to c show the upper housing part 16 corresponding to this embodiment by way of example.

(78) The upper housing part 16 is provided with a sleeve-like coding means 30.

(79) The sleeve-like coding means 30 is pushed over the inner part 17 of the upper housing part 16.

(80) In accordance with the coding on the lower housing part 18 as described above, a final coding can also be produced very late in the manufacturing process with the upper housing part 16 as well.

(81) Thus FIG. 12a shows the coding means 30 in a neutral position in which it has not yet been coded and in particular is still freely rotatable relative to the inner part 17 over a certain angular range about its longitudinal axis L.

(82) In particular, an interstice is thus formed between the locking and unlocking element 242 and the inner part 17 such that the rotation of the coding means 30 is unimpeded.

(83) The coding means 30 also comprises two rib-like projections 301 preferably offset by 180 degrees which are configured to engage in the grooves 270 of the coding means 27 of the upper housing part 18.

(84) The coding means 30, preferably uniformly distributed at four points around the circumference, are also provided with seven elongate recesses 300. The recesses 300 are embodied so as to cooperate with corresponding elongate projections 171 on the inner part 17 which are arranged on the inner part 17, preferably offset by 90 around the circumference.

(85) In FIG. 12b the coding means 30 has been rotated to the right from its neutral position into a possible final position and then in FIG. 12c pushed further onto the inner part, so that one of the elongate recesses 300 can cooperate with one of the elongate projections 171 and thus fix the coding of the upper housing part 16 as well.

(86) Thus, seven possible codes can be produced easily using identical components.

(87) Finally, a third embodiment of the proposed nebuliser 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 13 to 16.

(88) The coding of the nebuliser 1 has only two annular coding elements 31 and 32 in this embodiment.

(89) The annular coding elements 31 and 32 are described in more detail in FIG. 14.

(90) It is apparent that the coding elements 31 and 32 each have a substantially L-shaped cross-section, the coding element 31 preferably having twelve through-openings 310 on the end face (i.e. located in the horizontal region of the arm of the L), which are distributed equidistantly over the circumference.

(91) Similarly, the coding element 32 preferably has twelve through-openings 320 on its end face, distributed equidistantly over the circumference.

(92) For matching the code, the coding means 32 is provided with a rectangular projection 321 which extends in a direction of insertion E (cf. FIG. 15) of the container 3 towards the upper housing part 16 or the inner part 17.

(93) In corresponding manner the coding means 31 is provided with a rectangular recess 311 which is configured so that it can cooperate in mating manner with the projection 321.

(94) FIGS. 15 and 16 in particular show that the coding means 31 is connected to the upper housing part 16 and the coding means 32 is connected to the lower housing part 18.

(95) Specifically, the coding means 31 with its through-openings 310 in a selection position is pushed onto the pin-like projections 241 of the closure member 24 (in comparable manner to the upper ring 25 in FIG. 5), the closure member 24 having been attached to the inner part 17 of the upper housing part 16.

(96) The coding means 31 are thus fixed in a defined position.

(97) The coding means 32 are pushed onto pin-like projections 181 of the lower housing part 18 by means of the through-openings 320 and thus held in a defined position as well.

(98) The rectangular projection 321 is additionally provided, at its upper end, with a radially outwardly directed nose 322 which, in the assembly position of the coding means 32, engages behind a radially encircling groove 180 of the lower housing part 18.

(99) Thus the projection 321 is securely held in the lower housing part 18 without being able to shift radially inwards and prevent the lower housing part 18 and upper housing part 16 from being joined together when their codes match.

(100) If the codes do not match, i.e. if the projection 321 on the one hand and the recess 311 on the other hand in the lower housing part 18 and upper housing part 16, respectively, are each in a different angular position, it is not possible to fit the housing parts 16 and 18 together completely.

(101) In particular, the projection 321 has a height h which is such that the conveying tube 9 contained in the upper housing part 16 cannot pass far enough into the container 3 to cause contamination of the conveying tube 9 with the active substance held in the container 3.

(102) Both the pin-like projections 241 of the closure member 24 which is annular in this region, and the pin-like projections 181 of the lower housing part 18 are distributed equidistantly around the circumference in the same way as the through-openings 310 and 320. Thus the coding means 31 and 32 can be mounted in defined manner in a number of different positions in the upper housing part 16 and in the lower housing part 18.

(103) The embodiments described hereinbefore, especially individual elements and aspects of the embodiments, may be combined with one another and/or reversed in their kinematic operation, as necessary. In particular, the number and arrangement of the defined selectable positions of the coding means may be varied as necessary and adapted to the particular conditions.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(104) 1 nebulizer 2 fluid 3 container 4 bag 5 pressure generator 6 holder 7 drive spring 8 blocking element 9 conveying tube 10 non return valve 11 pressure chamber 12 expulsion nozzle 13 mouthpiece 14 aerosol 15 air supply opening 16 upper housing part 17 inner part 170 latching openings 171 elongate projections 18 releasable housing part (lower part) 180 encircling groove 181 pin-like projections 19 retaining element 20 spring (in lower housing part) 21 container base 22 piercing element 23 monitoring device 24 closure member with latching elements for securing 240 latching element 241 pin-like projections 242 locking and unlocking element 25 annular coding means 250 pin-like projections 251 nose 252 openings 26 coding means in the removable housing part 260 freely passable groove 261 non-freely passable groove 262 transverse walls 27 coding means in the removable housing part 270 groove 271 elongate indentations 28 base element 280 outwardly bent arms 281 inwardly bent arms 29 annular support element 30 sleeve-like coding means 300 elongate recesses 301 rib-like projection 31 annular coding means 310 through-opening 311 rectangular recess 32 annular coding means 320 through-opening 321 rectangular projection 322 nose E direction of insertion or introduction of the container into the upper or lower housing part h height of the projection H hollow cylinder L longitudinal axis S axis of symmetry of the hollow cylinder