FOLDABLE INHALER

Abstract

A device for inhaling an active agent is provided that can be moved from a first configuration to a second configuration. The device comprises two flexible substrates and a membrane (40) located between the two flexible substrates, and the two flexible substrates being connected at two opposing edges and unconnected at two further opposing edges. An active agent provided on the membrane may be inhaled by a user when the device is in the second configuration.

Claims

1. A device comprising two flexible substrates and a membrane located between the two flexible substrates, each of the two flexible substrates comprising at least one deformable element, the two flexible substrates being connected at two opposing edges and unconnected at two further opposing edges, wherein the device is configured to move between a first configuration where the two flexible substrates are substantially flat and in contact with one another, and a second configuration where the two flexible substrates are flexed such that a channel is formed between the two flexible substrates, wherein the membrane is configured to span the channel between the two flexible substrates when the device is in the second configuration, such that an active agent provided on the membrane may be inhaled by a user when the device is in the second configuration, wherein the at least one deformable element of each flexible substrate biases the device into a second configuration where a first opening of the channel formed between the two flexible substrates is substantially regular in shape, and a second opening of the channel formed between the two flexible substrates is substantially irregular in shape.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the two flexible substrates are rectangular.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one deformable element of each flexible substrate is a scored line along at least a portion of the flexible substrate, a flexible line extending along at least a portion of the flexible substrate, or a crease in the flexible substrate.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one deformable element comprises a first portion and a second portion.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the first portion is linear or straight.

6. The device according to claim 4, wherein the second portion is curved.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first flexible substrate comprises at least two deformable elements and the second flexible substrate comprises at least two deformable elements.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the device further comprises at least one locking formation.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the membrane is mounted within the channel on a support.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the support comprises an aperture and the membrane spans the aperture to thereby occlude the channel.

11. The device according to claim 9, wherein the support comprises at least one fold such that when the device is in the first configuration the support is collapsed into a folded state and when the device is in the second configuration the support is expanded into an open state.

12. The device according to claim 11, wherein the support forms an enclosure when in the folded state and the active agent is protected within the enclosure.

13. The device according to claim 1, wherein the height of the channel is greater at the second opening than at the first opening and the width of the channel is greater at the first opening than at the second opening.

14. The device according to claim 1, wherein the shape of the device is “trumpet-like”.

15. A method of using a device according to claim 1, the method comprising the steps: (i) providing a device according to claim 1; (ii) applying pressure to the two opposed connected edges of the two flexible substrates of the device to thereby move the device from the first configuration, to the second configuration; and (iii) inhaling adjacent to an opening of the device in the second configuration to thereby inhale an active agent from the membrane of the device through the channel and into the lungs.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the user contacts their mouth to device adjacent to the first opening of the device in the second configuration to thereby form a seal around the first opening before inhaling through the device.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein the device is locked into the second configuration when the device is moved from the first configuration to the second configuration.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0120] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0121] FIG. 1: a device according to an embodiment showing the device A) in the first configuration and B) in the second configuration;

[0122] FIG. 2: a device according to an embodiment in the second configuration A) viewed from the front (outlet end) and B) viewed from behind (inlet end);

[0123] FIG. 3: a membrane support according to an embodiment A) in a flat configuration and B) in a folded configuration;

[0124] FIG. 4: a membrane support according to an embodiment A) in a flat configuration and B) in a folded configuration;

[0125] FIG. 5: a side view of a membrane support according to an embodiment in a folded configuration;

[0126] FIG. 6: a membrane support according to an embodiment A) in a flat configuration and B) in a folded configuration;

[0127] FIG. 7: a view of a device according to an embodiment from A) a top view, B) a side view, and C) a perspective view; and

[0128] FIG. 8: a schematic side view of a section of a device according to an embodiment A) before and B) during inhalation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0129] While the making and using of various embodiments of the present invention are discussed in detail below, it should be appreciated that the present invention provides many applicable inventive concepts that can be embodied in a wide variety of specific contexts. The specific embodiments discussed herein are merely illustrative of specific ways to make and use the invention and do not delimit the scope of the invention.

[0130] To facilitate the understanding of this invention, a number of terms are defined below. Terms defined herein have meanings as commonly understood by a person of ordinary skill in the areas relevant to the present invention. Terms such as “a”, “an” and “the” are not intended to refer to only a singular entity, but include the general class of which a specific example may be used for illustration. The terminology herein is used to describe specific embodiments of the invention, but their usage does not delimit the invention, except as outlined in the claims.

[0131] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is provided a device 1 comprising a first flexible substrate 2 and a second flexible substrate 4. The first flexible substrate 2 and the second flexible substrate 4 are rectangular. The first flexible substrate 2 and the second flexible substrate 4 are connected to one another along a first edge 6 and along a second edge 8 opposed to the first edge 6. The first flexible substrate 2 and the second flexible substrate 4 are not connected to one another along a third edge 10 and along a fourth edge 12 opposed to the third edge 8.

[0132] The first flexible substrate 2 comprises a first scored line 14 (acting as a first deformable element) and a second scored line 16 (acting as a second deformable element). The first scored line 14 comprises a linear portion 18 (acting as a first portion of the first deformable element) and a curved portion 20 (acting as a second portion of the first deformable element). The second scored line 16 comprises a linear portion 22 (acting as a first portion of the second deformable element) and a curved portion 24 (acting as a second portion of the second deformable element). The first scored line 14 and the second scored line 16 are arranged symmetrically about a central axis 26 running along the length of the first flexible substrate 2. The curved portion 24 of the first scored line 14 extends from the linear portion 22 to a first corner 28 of the first flexible substrate 2. The curved portion 24 of the second scored line 16 extends from the linear portion 22 of the second scored line 16 to a second corner 30 of the first flexible substrate 2.

[0133] The second flexible substrate 4 comprises a first scored line 32 and a second scored line 34 that correspond to the first scored line 14 and second scored line 16 of the first flexible substrate 2.

[0134] With reference to FIGS. 3A and 3B, the device 1 further comprises a support 36 located between the first flexible substrate 2 and the second flexible substrate 4. The support 36 comprises an aperture 38 that is spanned by a membrane 40. An inhalable form of an active agent 42 is supported on a first side 44 of the membrane 40. As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the support 36 has four folds 46 such that the support 36 can be folded in a concertina-like fashion (see FIG. 3B, for example). The membrane 40 is located centrally on the support 36 with a fold 48 either side of the membrane 40. The support 36 is further folded adjacent to the sides to provide a first attachment surface 50 and a second attachment surface 52 that is used to contact and be fixed to the first flexible substrate 2 and the second flexible substrate 4 respectively. Accordingly, when the support 36 is folded about the four folds 46 the membrane 40 is retained within a pocket 54 (corresponding to an enclosure) such that the active agent 42 supported on the membrane 40 is protected.

[0135] Prior to use the device 1 is in a first configuration 56 where the first flexible substrate 2 and the second flexible substrate 4 are substantially flat and the support 36 is folded between the first flexible substrate 2 and the second flexible substrate 4.

[0136] During use, a user applies force to the first and second edges 6, 8 where the first flexible substrate 2 is connected to the second flexible substrate 4. This application of force flexes the first flexible substrate 2 and the second flexible substrate 4 outward from one another. As the first flexible substrate 2 and the second flexible substrate 4 flex they bend about the first scored line 14 and the second scored line 16 until the device 1 is in the second configuration. Accordingly, a channel 58 is formed between the first flexible substrate 2 and the second flexible substrate 4 having a rectangularly-shaped first end 60 and a biconvex-shaped second end 62 such that the height of the second end 62 is significantly greater that the height of the first end 60, and the width of the second end 62 is significantly less than the width of the first end 60.

[0137] In addition, the support 36 unfolds such that the support 36 spans the channel 58 and is located closer to the first end 60 of the channel 58 than to the second end 62 of the channel 58.

[0138] The user then inserts the first end 60 of the device 1 into their mouth and inhales through the device 1. At least a portion of the active agent 42 supported on the membrane 40 spanning the channel 58 is lifted from the membrane 40 and is inhaled by the user.

[0139] Once the active agent 42 has been inhaled the device 1 may be disposed of by the user. With reference to FIGS. 4A, 4B and 5, in an alternative embodiment the support 100 comprises three folds 102 with a fold running through the middle 104 of the membrane 106 as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B. FIG. 5 shows a side view of the support 100 in a folded configuration 110 attached to the first flexible substrate 112 and the second flexible substrate 114 by welds 116.

[0140] In a further alternative embodiment with reference to FIGS. 6A and 6B the support 200 comprises a first aperture 202a and a second aperture 202b with a first membrane 204 spanning the first aperture 202a and a second membrane 206 spanning the second aperture 202b. The support 200 comprises three folds 208 with a fold located between the first 202a and second 202b apertures and first 204 and second 206 membranes. The first membrane 204 supports a first active agent 210 and the second membrane 206 also supports the first active agent 210. Accordingly, the device is configured to deliver a higher dose of the first active agent 210 than devices having supports comprising a single membrane.

[0141] Alternatively, the first membrane 204 supports a first active agent 212 and the second membrane 206 supports a second active agent 214. Accordingly, the device is configured to deliver two active agents at the same time.

[0142] In a still further embodiment with reference to FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 7C, the device 300 comprises a first locking formation 302 and a second locking formation 304. The first locking formation 302 is formed by a first part 306 of the curved portion 308 of the first scored line 310 of the first flexible substrate 312 and a first part 314 of the curved portion 316 of the first scored line 318 of the second flexible substrate 320. As the device 300 is moved from the first configuration to the second configuration the first locking formation 302 and the second locking formation 304 are pushed by the user until they pop into a locking position. Accordingly, the device is locked into the second configuration such that the user is not required to maintain a force to retain the device 300 in the second configuration.

[0143] The first flexible substrate 312 and the second flexible substrate 320 comprises a gripping portion 322. The gripping portion 322 has a textured surface to enhance the ability of the user to grip the device in the second configuration and may act as an indication to the user where force should be applied to move the device from the first configuration to the second configuration.

[0144] In an alternative embodiment with reference to FIGS. 8A and 8B, a device 400 according to any of the previously described devices further comprises a membrane 402 mounted within a support 404 and a barrier film 406 (acting as a barrier material) located between a first flexible substrate 408 and a second flexible substrate 410. The barrier film 406 is welded to the first flexible substrate 408 at weld 412 and is releasable attached to the second flexible substrate 410 in the first configuration. An active agent 414 is retained between the barrier film 406 and the membrane 402 prior to use. When the device 400 is moved to the second configuration the membrane 402 occludes the channel 416 formed between the first flexible substrate 408 and the second flexible substrate 410 and the barrier film 406 detaches from the second flexible substrate 410. During use the user inhales through the channel 416 and the barrier film 406 pivots about the weld 412 away from second flexible substrate 410 towards the first flexible substrate 408 to thereby release the active agent 414 from the membrane 402 to the user.

[0145] It will be appreciated by the person skilled in the art that the above embodiments are examples and that the features of each disclosed embodiment may be combined with the features of other embodiments. Further variations and modifications are herein contemplated and included in the present invention.