This invention relates to methods and apparatus for dispensing medicament contained in one or more sealed cavities.
Today supply and distribution of medicament is accomplished in many different ways. Within health care more and more is focused on the possibility to dose and distribute medicaments in the form of powder directly to the lungs of a user by means of a dispensing device, for example an inhalation device, to obtain an efficient and user friendly administration of the specific medicament. In most cases, some form of dosing process is used for preparing the dose to be inhaled. Usually, the doses of medicament are provided in packs having several cavities for housing a dose of medicament. The cavities filled with a dose is subsequently sealed by a sealing shee,t for example a foil of aluminium. These packs are loaded into a dispensing device, in which the foil above the cavity is penetrated and the dose of medicament is released for inhalation by the user. By this sealing, the medicament is well protected before inhalation. There are also other cases where it is suitable to provide doses of medicament in packs having cavities for housing a dose of medicament, which cavities are sealed by a foil.
One aspect of the present invention features an arrangement for opening a cavity sealed by a sealing sheet, such as a foil, in which cavity a medicament is housed, which can be used for opening different kinds of cavities or blisters covered by a foil, which opens the cavity or blister without impairing the medicament trough pressure or contamination, completely removes the loose foil parts of the ruptured foil, completely opens the cavity of blister for enabling a completely free release of the medicament, presents a low failure risk, and is easy and inexpensive to produce. Further, another aspect provides a pack for doses of medicament, and a dispensing device for dispensing doses of medicament making use of the arrangement above.
Implementing these aspects can be achieved by providing a medicine dose dispenser including a pack with sealed cavities housing a medicament. A separating element can be bonded to the sealing sheet above the cavity opening. The dispenser may also include an actuating device arranged to posh the separating element towards the cavity and then to pull the separating element away from the cavity. The sealing sheet covering the cavity can be separated from the remainder of the sealing sheet when the separating element is pushed towards the cavity. Then, the separating element and the severed portion of the sealing sheet can be pulled away from the cavity allowing the exposed medicament to be dispensed. In some embodiments, the base of the separating element may have overall lateral dimensions sized to cause the sealing sheet to be severed at the edges of the opening when the separating element is pushed toward the cavity. In some embodiments, the actuating devices is arranged to push the separating element into the cavity. In some embodiments, the actuating device and the separating element may include a latch member or assembly or complimentary locking members configured to engage the other to pull the separating element away from the cavity.
In some embodiments, the medicine dose dispenser may be in the form of an inhaler and include a mouth piece and an actuating device configured to pull the separating element away fan the medicament cavity to expose the medicament for inhalation through the mouth piece.
Another aspect of the invention features a medicine pack including a dose of medicament housed in a sealed cavity. A separating element may be bonded to the sealing sheet above the cavity opening and may have overall lateral dimensions sized to cause the sealing sheet to be severed at the edges of the opening when the separating element is forced toward the cavity. In some embodiments, the separating element may be arranged to be pushed into the cavity. Advantageously, the separating element may include a base facing the sealing sheet and having dimensions complementary to the dimensions of the cavity opening. In addition, the separating element may include a latching device for engaging an actuating device configured to pull the separating element away from the cavity opening. In one embodiment, the separating element may include opposing fingers extending away from the cavity and configured to latch onto a cam member prior to being pulled away from the cavity opening.
Another aspect of the invention features a method of dispensing a dose of medicament by grasping a dispenser including a separating element bonded to a sealing sheet above a cavity opening, forcing the separating element into the cavity, pulling the separating element and a severed portion of the sealing sheet away from the cavity to expose the medicament, and then dispensing the medicament from the cavity. The use of the separating element may facilitate opening of a package, for example when used by a user with weak hands, like an old or a rheumatic person. In some embodiments, the separating element may be bonded to the sealing sheet above the cavity opening before forcing the separating element into the cavity, e.g., by the user. In some embodiments, the separating element may be bonded to the sealing sheet by a manufacturer of the dispenser. In some embodiments, the method includes inhaling the dispensed medicament through a mouth piece of the dispenser.
Another aspect of the invention features a method of producing a medicine pack by bonding a sealing sheet across the opening of a cavity housing a dose of medicine and attaching a separating element to the sealing sheet above the opening. The separating element may be configured to sever the sealing sheet at the edges of the opening when pushed toward the cavity.
Some embodiments include packs containing multiple discrete doses of medicine in sealed cavities and multiple separating elements bonded to the sealing sheet above each cavity opening.
Various embodiments described herein provide an effective means of opening of a cavity or blister, without impairing the medicament through pressure or contamination, during which the loose parts of the ruptured sealing sheet are completely removed, whereby no pocket geometries are created which can retain medicament. The arrangement can be used for opening different kinds of cavities or blisters having various designs, even asymmetrical or irregular cavities. Further, the arrangement may present a low failure risk, and can be easy and inexpensive to produce. The cavity can house a powdered, a solid or a liquid medicament. The cavity can be injection moulded or formed as a blister. The separating element can be bonded to the outer surface of the sealing sheet by gluing, induction welding, traditional contact heat welding, ultrasonic welding, or by any suitable method providing a sufficient tensile strength. Advantageously, the sealing sheet can be a foil made of aluminium or plastic, or any other suitable material.
The details of one or more embodiments of the invention are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.
a-4d are schematic side views of a first embodiment of
a-4d show the opening process of a cavity 1 by means of the arrangement of
A number of embodiments of the invention have been discribed. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the separating element and actuating device may be injection moulded as a single piece. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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0501010-3 | May 2005 | SE | national |
This application is a continuation-in-part of PCT International Application No. PCT/SE2006/000520, filed Apr. 28, 2006, incorporated herein by reference, which claims the priority of Swedish Patent Application No. 0501010-3, filed on May 2, 2005.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | PCT/SE2006/000520 | Apr 2006 | US |
Child | 11934557 | US |