The present invention relates to a device for the dosed administration of sprayable substances, especially aerosols, including an electronic unit to record the administered doses, and including a first housing part that forms a receptacle for a canister having a valve and containing the sprayable substance.
Such devices for the dosed administration of sprayable substances can especially be configured as inhalers and can be employed in medicine for the treatment of diseases. Such inhalers are suitable, for instance, to treat asthma, allergies or other diseases and, in particular, they serve for the dosed administration of a drug that is delivered via the mouth or nose. In this context, one also speaks of so-called metered-dose aerosols. Especially when it comes to life-threatening diseases, it is important for the user to have information about how much of the substance is still left in the canister. As a rule, this is not visible since the pressurized canister that holds the sprayable substance is usually not made of a transparent material. This underscores the importance of an electronic unit to record the administered doses of the sprayable substance. This unit provides users with reliable information about the amount of sprayable substance that has been administered or that is still left in the canister, so that they can make sure that they always have an adequate supply of the sprayable substance they need.
Devices for the dosed administration of drugs are known in various configurations. For instance, European patent application EP 0 448 204 B1 discloses such a device having a one-piece housing with a receptacle for a canister that holds the sprayable substance. The housing has a hollow mouthpiece that is arranged at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the canister and through which the sprayable substance can be delivered and inhaled when a valve on the canister is actuated. The sprayable substance is administered in that the canister moves towards the housing and, in this process, the valve on the canister is actuated. In order to record the number of administered doses, the prior-art device is provided with an electronic unit that has a switch that is situated directly on the canister and that is actuated by it.
Another inhaler is described in European patent application EP 0 775 499 B1. Here, a unit that is supposed to show the number of administered doses is arranged on the upper end of the housing.
In the case of the inhaler described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,138,669, the number of administered doses is recorded by a sensor that measures the pressure pulse in the transfer channel of the mouthpiece.
Before this background, the invention sets itself an objective of putting forward a device that is easy to operate and that reliably records the number and/or the duration of the administered doses of the sprayable substance.
The present invention provides a generic device for the dosed administration of sprayable substances in that it has a second housing part that can be moved relative to the first housing part and an actuating section that acts upon the valve to cause the valve to deliver the sprayable substance, whereby the electronic unit to record the administered doses of the sprayable substance has a switch that is actuated by the relative movement of the first and second housing parts.
The device according to the invention is advantageous. Thus, the delivery of the sprayable substance is recorded independently of the canister, since the switch is actuated by the relative movement of the first and second housing parts. For this reason, the device can even function irrespective of the precise shape and/or size of the canister being used, so that one and the same device can be used in conjunction with different canisters. Here, the delivery of the sprayable medium can be reliably recorded every time.
The sprayable substance is preferably present in the form of a liquid or a powder. The sprayable substance can also comprise a solution and/or a mixture of various substances. In particular, the sprayable substance can be a therapeutically effective composition such as a drug.
An improvement is achieved in that the first and second housing parts are joined, especially by means of a bayonet lock, in such a way that the first and second housing parts can assume an operating position and a release position with respect to each other, whereby, in the operating position, the first and second housing parts can move in the axial direction with respect to each other and whereby, in the release position, the second housing part can be removed from the first housing part. Therefore, in the operating position, the two housing parts can be moved towards each other in order to actuate the valve of the canister. In the release position, the second housing part can be removed, for example, in order to be cleaned.
Inadvertent actuations during assembly, for example, after cleaning the device, can be prevented since, when the first and second housing parts are in the release position, they cannot be moved axially with respect to each other in such a way that the valve could be actuated by the second housing part.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the switch is a mechanical switch, a proximity switch, an electromagnetic switch and/or an optical switch. In this manner, an electric signal is generated that makes it possible to record the administration of the sprayable medium. A mechanical switch that opens and closes an electric contact can be produced particularly cost-effectively and is especially suitable for disposable products.
Another improvement is achieved in that the switch is configured so that it is not situated on the canister. Then, the switch can be actuated completely independently of the canister, especially independently of its size or shape.
According to the present invention, it can also be provided that the canister, which has a canister body and a canister head with the valve for the dosed administration of the sprayable substance, can be accommodated, at least partially, in the receptacle. In this context, the first housing part can have a hollow shaft in which the canister body can be partially or completely accommodated.
The inhalation of a sprayed substance is facilitated in that the second housing part has a first section to accommodate the canister head and a hollow second section that runs especially at an angle relative to the first section. Here, it has proven advantageous for the hollow second section to be configured as a mouthpiece and/or nosepiece.
In particular, it is easier to clean the device if the second housing part can be removed. Then, after this housing part has been removed, it can be cleaned separately, for example, under running water.
Advantageously, the electronic unit to detect the administered doses records the number and/or the duration of the administered doses. If the canister is one with a metering valve that releases a uniform amount of the substance every time it is actuated, the number of actuations can already indicate the amount that is left in the canister.
If the electronic unit to record the administered doses has an electronic computing unit and an electronic data storage unit, than the administered doses recorded by the switch can be counted in a particularly simple manner. As a result, the unit can easily determine the remaining amount, provided that information about the maximum number of administered doses had been previously stored.
According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the electronic unit to record the administered doses has a visual display that can show information about the number of administered doses and/or the number of doses remaining. Examples of displays are inexpensive LCDs or some other type of display.
A further improvement is achieved in that the electronic unit to record the administered doses has an acoustic signal transmitter. In this case, the user can be informed, for example, about erroneous operation. It is likewise conceivable to employ such a signal transmitter in order to remind the user that it is time for the next inhalation of the substance.
Advantageously, the electronic unit having the switch to record the administered doses is arranged on or in the first or second housing part and the switch is actuated by an actuation element provided on the other housing part when the first and second housing parts move with respect to each other. Preferably, the electronic unit is arranged on or in the first housing part since then the second housing part is easy to clean without interfering with the electronic unit.
According to the invention, it can also be provided that the device is configured as an inhaler, especially for a drug.
In the finished product, it can be provided that a canister filled at least partially with the sprayable substance is accommodated in the receptacle. In this context, the sprayable substance preferably can be a drug or another therapeutically effective composition.
The administration of the sprayable substance is particularly simple if the substance is kept under excess pressure in the canister.
Dosing is simple and precise if the valve of the canister is configured as a metering valve that delivers a uniform amount—especially in the form of a pulse—of the sprayable substance every time it is actuated.
Additional objectives, features, advantages and application possibilities of the present invention ensue from the description below of an embodiment making reference to the drawings. In this context, all of the features described and/or depicted, either on their own or in any combination, constitute the subject matter of the invention, also independently of their being combined in the individual claims or of their reference back to other claims.
The following is shown:
a: an enlarged depiction of the detail K from
a: an enlarged depiction of the detail J from
a: a section along the line E-E from
a: a section along the line F-F from
The figures show a device for the dosed administration of sprayable substances, which is configured as an inhaler. This inhaler serves to administer liquid or solid substances, especially as aerosols, via the respiratory tract. Sprayable substances, especially drugs or other therapeutically effective substances, can be delivered by means of the device.
The device shown in the figures has a first housing part 1 and a second housing part 2. A canister 3 that holds the sprayable substance is accommodated in the first and second housing parts 1, 2.
It can be seen especially in
The valve 5 is configured as a metering valve that delivers a constant amount, especially in the form of a pulse—of the sprayable substance—when it is actuated. In this manner, the user can dose the sprayable substance simply by actuating the valve 5 one or more times. The valve 5 has a protruding hollow valve pin 11 by means of which the valve 5 can be actuated. In this process, the valve 5 is held in the closed position by a spring (not shown here) and can be moved into the open position when pressure is exerted on the movable valve pin 11.
The first housing part 1 forms a receptacle 13 for the canister body 7 and, for this purpose, has an elongated hollow shaft 4.
The second housing part 2 has a first section 8 to accommodate the canister head 6 and it can be moved relative to the first housing part 1 in the lengthwise direction of the valve pin 11. An actuating section 12 for the valve 5 is formed in the first section 8. The actuating section 12 lies against the valve pin 11 and accommodates the free end of the valve pin 11. A second section 9 of the second housing part 2 is configured so as to be hollow and oriented at an angle relative to the first section 8. In the embodiment shown, the hollow second section 9 forms a mouthpiece. As an alternative, the second section 9 can also be configured, for example, as a nosepiece if the sprayable substance is meant to be administered into the nose. When not in use, the hollow second section 9 is protected by a removable cap 10, as can be seen in
When pressure is exerted on both opposite gripping sections 25, 26, the second housing part 2 is moved towards the first housing part 1 and in this process, the valve pin 11 is pushed by the actuating section 12, as a result of which the valve 5 is opened. A dose of the sprayable substance exits via the hollow valve pin 11 and is deflected by a hole 28 formed in the actuating section 12 in such a way that the sprayable substance can exit from the hollow section 9. Subsequently, the pressure on the gripping sections 25, 26 can be reduced or eliminated, after which the first and second housing parts 1, 2 return to their initial position under the action of the spring of the valve 5. In order to facilitate the return to the initial position, it is also possible to provide a spring element (not shown here) directly between the first and second housing parts 1, 2.
The second housing part 2 can be removed from the first housing part 1 so as to facilitate cleaning. Whereas
a shows an enlarged detail (section along the line E-E from
The device shown in the figures has an electronic unit 16 to record the administered doses of the sprayable substance. This unit comprises a switch 17 that is actuated when the first and second housing parts are moved towards each other in order to actuate the valve 5.
As shown in
The electronic unit 16 has a board 19 that is configured as a printed circuit board to accommodate and electrically connect the requisite components with each other. The switch 17 is likewise arranged on the board 19 and has an electric contact that is opened and closed when the switch is actuated. In the embodiment shown, the board 19 is held securely in the chamber 18 by latching members 21 (see
The switch 17 schematically shown in
The electronic unit 16 in the embodiment shown records the number of administered doses or the number of actuations of the valve 5. Towards this end, the board 19 of the electronic unit 16 has a computing unit, a data storage unit and a source of energy in the form of a battery (not shown in detail) so that the administered doses recorded by the switch 17 during which an electric contact is closed can each be counted. If the maximum number of actuations of the valve 5 (corresponding to the specific holding capacity of the canister 3) in the electronic unit 16 has been stored in advance, the amount of substance left or the remaining number of possible doses of the sprayable substance can be directly ascertained. The specific maximum number of actuations can be entered by storing the applicable values within the scope of a programming operation or else by means of a coding switch or the like.
The acquired information is shown on a small visual display 22 that is configured as an LCD and that can be seen from the outside. Accordingly, the cover 23 of the chamber 18 is made of a transparent material, especially plastic. As an alternative or in addition to the visual display, an acoustic signal transmitter (not shown here) can be provided.
More complex functions are possible if the electronic unit 16 has a clock. In such a case, the user can, for example, be visually and/or acoustically reminded when it is time for the next inhalation of the medication. Furthermore, the expiration date can be displayed to the user or else a warning to this effect can be given. It is also practical to give a warning as soon the remaining quantity of the sprayable substance falls below a certain level. Moreover, the specific points in time for the inhalation or the applicable doses or the number of doses that have been administered can all be stored.
It is likewise possible to configure the electronic unit 16 in such a way that the stored information can be read out via an interface. In this case, for example, it can be checked when and in what dose the drug in question has been taken. For this purpose, the unit 16 is provided with contacts 27. Alternatively, wireless data transmission can be provided.
If the valve 5 is configured as a metering valve, it is not necessary to record the duration of the actuation of the valve 5 since each actuation delivers the a uniform amount of the sprayable substance. However, if a simple valve is employed, the device can also be configured in such a way that it records the duration of the administration of the sprayable substance and in this case, the amount administered can also be ascertained.
The first and second housing parts 1, 2 are injection-molded parts made of plastic. Here, the first housing part 1 is made of transparent plastic so that not only the display 22 but also the information printed on the canister 3 is visible.
The presented device has only a small number of components and can be manufactured cost-effectively. Consequently, it also lends itself for disposable use. In this context, the term disposable use applies when the device is replaced together with the matching canister. Naturally, multiple use is likewise feasible. In this case, a reset switch, for instance, has to ensure that the electronic unit 16 is set to its original state when the canister is replaced.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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10 2006 032 293.2 | Jul 2006 | DE | national |
This claims the benefit of DE 10 2006 032 293.2 filed on Jul. 11, 2006, through PCT/EP2007/006052 filed on Jul. 9, 2007, both are hereby incorporated by reference herein.