Patent Grant
8985103
The present invention relates to inhalers, and may be particularly suitable for dry powder inhalers.
Dry powder inhalers (DPIs) are an alternative to pMDI (pressurized metered dose inhaler) devices for delivering drug aerosols without using propellants. Typically, DPIs are configured to deliver a powdered drug or drug mixture that includes an excipient and/or other ingredients. Generally described, known single and multiple dose dry powder DPI devices use: (a) individual pre-measured doses in blisters containing the drug, which can be inserted into the device prior to dispensing; or (b) bulk powder reservoirs which are configured to administer successive quantities of the drug to the patient via a dispensing chamber which dispenses the proper dose.
In operation, DPI devices strive to administer a uniform aerosol dispersion amount in a desired physical form of the dry powder (such as a particulate size or sizes) into a patient's airway and direct it to a desired internal deposit site(s).
There remains a need for alternative inhalers and/or dose containment devices that can be used to deliver medicaments.
Embodiments of the present invention provide dry powder inhalers with reciprocating inner and outer piercing mechanisms that facilitate the use of dose rings or disks having dose containers arranged in concentric rows. According to some embodiments, a dry powder inhaler includes a dose container disk having a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart dry powder dose containers arranged in first and second concentric rows of different radius, and a piercing mechanism that is configured to sequentially open a dry powder dose container on the first row then open a dry powder dose container on the second row. The piercing mechanism includes first and second elongate piercing members in adjacent radially spaced-apart relationship. Each piercing member is capable of reciprocal movement between piercing and non-piercing positions, and includes a distal piercing portion and a proximal head portion. The first piercing member is configured to pierce the sealant of a dose container in the first row, and the second piercing member is configured to pierce the sealant of a dose container in the second row.
According to some embodiments, a dry powder inhaler includes a dose container disk having opposing upper and lower primary surfaces, a first row of circumferentially spaced apart dose containers at a first radius and a second row of circumferentially spaced apart dose containers at a second radius so that the first and second rows are concentric with respect to a center of the disk. The dose containers have dry powder therein. A first flexible sealant resides over apertures in the upper surface, and a second flexible sealant resides over apertures in the lower surface to contain the powder within the dose containers.
A piercing mechanism is operably associated with the dose container disk and is configured to pierce the first and second sealants that seal a dose container. The piercing mechanism includes two reciprocating piercers that serially alternate between the two rows of dose containers in the dose container disk. Each elongate piercing member is extended and retracted to pierce the first and second sealants of a dose container in a respective row. Each elongate piercing member includes a distal piercing portion and a proximal head portion. In some embodiments, the distal piercing portion can be a solid piercer configured to pierce the sealants. In some embodiments, the distal piercing portion can be a corkscrew piercer configured to pierce the sealants with a straight vertical non-rotational movement. In some embodiments, the distal piercing portion can have a fluted piercer, for example with three or four lobes, that is configured to pierce the sealants.
Each elongate piercing member is capable of reciprocal movement between piercing and non-piercing positions. In the piercing position, the piercing member distal piercing portion extends through the first and second sealants of a dose container. In a retracted position, the distal piercing portion is retracted above a dose container, such that the dose container is free to rotate. A biasing member is configured to urge each of the piercing members toward retracted positions.
A rotatable ramp disk includes first and second sets of circumferentially spaced-apart ramp elements in staggered, concentric relationship. The ramp disk rotates only in one direction, and is driven by an actuator mechanism, which is moved forward by the user, and returned backward by the user action of closing the mouthpiece cover of the inhaler. When the ramp disk is rotated as a result of the user moving the actuator mechanism, the first set of ramp elements are configured to move the first piercing member between retracted and extended positions, and the second set of ramp elements are configured to move the second piercing member between retracted and extended positions. The ramp elements are staggered such that piercing alternates between dose containers in the first and second rows. Each ramp element in the first and second sets includes a first inclined portion, a plateau portion, a second inclined portion, and a shelf portion.
The actuator mechanism is movable between first and second positions by a user. Movement of the actuator from the first position to the second position causes the ramp disk to rotate such that a ramp element in the first set causes the first piercing member to pierce the sealants over and under a dose container in the first row. Subsequent movement of the actuator from the first position to the second position (i.e., the next time the inhaler is used) causes the ramp disk to rotate such that a ramp element in the second set causes the second piercing member to pierce the sealants over and under a dose container in the second row. This alternating piercing scheme is repeated as the inhaler is used. In some embodiments, movement of the actuator from the first position to the second position causes a piercing member to pierce the sealants over and under a dose container, and then partially retract therefrom.
Inhalers, according to embodiments of the present invention have numerous advantages over conventional inhalers. For example, the use of two piercing members takes away the need to tightly control the position and actions of a single, moving piercer. Moreover, by using two piercing members, wear can be significantly reduced for each piercing member. As such, a less expensive material may be utilized for the piercing members than may otherwise be necessary if only a single piercing member were to be utilized. In addition, the configuration of the two piercing members allows more flexibility for the design of a spring used to urge the piercing members to a retracted position. For example, the spring is not required to be positioned under the piercing members. As such, inhaler devices with less height requirements than conventional inhaler devices can be achieved.
Other advantages of inhaler devices according to embodiments of the present invention is provided by the use of a separate ramp disk and actuator mechanism. Because indexing of a dose container assembly is driven by the ramp disk, the indexing mechanism can be moved to the interior of the inhaler where more space is available, thereby helping to reduce the overall size of the inhaler. Because the ramp disk and actuator mechanism are separate components, the material selection of each can be optimized. For example, material with better friction properties can be selected for the ramp disk, and materials with strength and cosmetic features can be selected for the actuator mechanism.
It is noted that aspects of the invention described with respect to one embodiment may be incorporated in a different embodiment although not specifically described relative thereto. That is, all embodiments and/or features of any embodiment can be combined in any way and/or combination. Applicant reserves the right to change any originally filed claim or file any new claim accordingly, including the right to be able to amend any originally filed claim to depend from and/or incorporate any feature of any other claim although not originally claimed in that manner. These and other objects and/or aspects of the present invention are explained in detail in the specification set forth below.
The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying figures, in which embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. In the figures, certain layers, components or features may be exaggerated for clarity, and broken lines illustrate optional features or operations unless specified otherwise. In addition, the sequence of operations (or steps) is not limited to the order presented in the figures and/or claims unless specifically indicated otherwise. Features described with respect to one figure or embodiment can be associated with another embodiment of figure although not specifically described or shown as such.
It will be understood that when a feature, such as a layer, region or substrate, is referred to as being “on” another feature or element, it can be directly on the other feature or element or intervening features and/or elements may also be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on” another feature or element, there are no intervening elements present. It will also be understood that, when a feature or element is referred to as being “connected”, “attached” or “coupled” to another feature or element, it can be directly connected, attached or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when a feature or element is referred to as being “directly connected”, “directly attached” or “directly coupled” to another element, there are no intervening elements present. Although described or shown with respect to one embodiment, the features so described or shown can apply to other embodiments.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.
Spatially relative terms, such as “under”, “below”, “lower”, “over”, “upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if a device in the figures is inverted, elements described as “under” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “over” the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term “under” can encompass both an orientation of over and under. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly. Similarly, the terms “upwardly”, “downwardly”, “vertical”, “horizontal” and the like are used herein for the purpose of explanation only unless specifically indicated otherwise.
It will be understood that although the terms first and second are used herein to describe various regions, layers and/or sections, these regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Thus, a first region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second region, layer or section, and similarly, a second region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a first region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the present invention. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.
Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the specification and relevant art and should not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein. Well-known functions or constructions may not be described in detail for brevity and/or clarity.
In the description of the present invention that follows, certain terms are employed to refer to the positional relationship of certain structures relative to other structures. As used herein, the term “front” or “forward” and derivatives thereof refer to the general or primary direction that the dry powder travels to be dispensed to a patient from a dry powder inhaler; this term is intended to be synonymous with the term “downstream,” which is often used in manufacturing or material flow environments to indicate that certain material traveling or being acted upon is farther along in that process than other material. Conversely, the terms “rearward” and “upstream” and derivatives thereof refer to the direction opposite, respectively, the forward or downstream direction. The term “deagglomeration” and its derivatives refer to processing dry powder in the inhaler airflow path to inhibit the dry powder from remaining or becoming agglomerated or cohesive during inspiration.
The inhalers and methods of the present invention may be particularly suitable for holding a partial or bolus dose or doses of one or more types of particulate dry powder substances that are formulated for in vivo inhalant dispersion (using an inhaler) to subjects, including, but not limited to, animal and, typically, human subjects. The inhalers can be used for nasal and/or oral (mouth) respiratory inhalation delivery, but are typically oral inhalers.
The terms “sealant”, “sealant layer” and/or “sealant material” includes configurations that have at least one layer of at least one material and can be provided as a continuous layer that covers the entire upper surface and/or lower surface or may be provided as strips or pieces to cover portions of the device, e.g., to reside over at least a target one or more of the dose container apertures. Thus, terms “sealant” and “sealant layer” includes single and multiple layer materials, typically comprising at least one foil layer. The sealant or sealant layer can be a thin multi-layer laminated sealant material with elastomeric and foil materials. The sealant layer can be selected to provide drug stability as they may contact the dry powder in the respective dose containers.
The term “reciprocating” means the piercing members travel up and down to open respective dose containers.
The sealed dose containers can be configured to inhibit oxygen and moisture penetration to provide a sufficient shelf life.
The term “primary surface” refers to a surface that has a greater area than another surface and the primary surface can be substantially planar or may be otherwise configured. For example, a primary surface can include protrusions or recessions, such as where some blister configurations are used. Thus, a disk can have upper and lower primary surfaces and a minor surface (e.g., a wall with a thickness) that extends between and connects the two.
The dry powder substance may include one or more active pharmaceutical constituents as well as biocompatible additives that form the desired formulation or blend. As used herein, the term “dry powder” is used interchangeably with “dry powder formulation” and means that the dry powder can comprise one or a plurality of constituents or ingredients with one or a plurality of (average) particulate size ranges. The term “low-density” dry powder means dry powders having a density of about 0.8 g/cm3 or less. In particular embodiments, the low-density powder may have a density of about 0.5 g/cm3 or less. The dry powder may be a dry powder with cohesive or agglomeration tendencies.
The term “filling” means providing a bolus or sub-bolus metered amount of dry powder. Thus, the respective dose container is not required to be volumetrically full.
In any event, individual dispensable quantities of dry powder formulations can comprise a single ingredient or a plurality of ingredients, whether active or inactive. The inactive ingredients can include additives added to enhance flowability or to facilitate aerosolization delivery to the desired target. The dry powder drug formulations can include active particulate sizes that vary. The device may be particularly suitable for dry powder formulations having particulates which are in the range of between about 0.5-50 μm, typically in the range of between about 0.5 μm-20.0 μm, and more typically in the range of between about 0.5 μm-8.0 μm. The dry powder formulation can also include flow-enhancing ingredients, which typically have particulate sizes that may be larger than the active ingredient particulate sizes. In certain embodiments, the flow-enhancing ingredients can include excipients having particulate sizes on the order of about 50-100 μm. Examples of excipients include lactose and trehalose. Other types of excipients can also be employed, such as, but not limited to, sugars which are approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) as cryoprotectants (e.g., mannitol) or as solubility enhancers (e.g., cyclodextrine) or other generally recognized as safe (“GRAS”) excipients.
“Active agent” or “active ingredient” as described herein includes an ingredient, agent, drug, compound, or composition of matter or mixture, which provides some pharmacologic, often beneficial, effect. This includes foods, food supplements, nutrients, drugs, vaccines, vitamins, and other beneficial agents. As used herein, the terms further include any physiologically or pharmacologically active substance that produces a localized and/or systemic effect in a patient.
The active ingredient or agent that can be delivered includes antibiotics, antiviral agents, anepileptics, analgesics, anti-inflammatory agents and bronchodilators, and may be inorganic and/or organic compounds, including, without limitation, drugs which act on the peripheral nerves, adrenergic receptors, cholinergic receptors, the skeletal muscles, the cardiovascular system, smooth muscles, the blood circulatory system, synoptic sites, neuroeffector junctional sites, endocrine and hormone systems, the immunological system, the reproductive system, the skeletal system, autacoid systems, the alimentary and excretory systems, the histamine system, and the central nervous system. Suitable agents may be selected from, for example and without limitation, polysaccharides, steroids, hypnotics and sedatives, psychic energizers, tranquilizers, anticonvulsants, muscle relaxants, anti-Parkinson agents, analgesics, anti-inflammatories, muscle contractants, antimicrobials, antimalarials, hormonal agents including contraceptives, sympathomimetics, polypeptides and/or proteins (capable of eliciting physiological effects), diuretics, lipid regulating agents, antiandrogenic agents, antiparasitics, neoplastics, antineoplastics, hypoglycemics, nutritional agents and supplements, growth supplements, fats, antienteritis agents, electrolytes, vaccines and diagnostic agents.
The active agents may be naturally occurring molecules or they may be recombinantly produced, or they may be analogs of the naturally occurring or recombinantly produced active agents with one or more amino acids added or deleted. Further, the active agent may comprise live attenuated or killed viruses suitable for use as vaccines. Where the active agent is insulin, the term “insulin” includes natural extracted human insulin, recombinantly produced human insulin, insulin extracted from bovine and/or porcine and/or other sources, recombinantly produced porcine, bovine or other suitable donor/extraction insulin and mixtures of any of the above. The insulin may be neat (that is, in its substantially purified form), but may also include excipients as commercially formulated. Also included in the term “insulin” are insulin analogs where one or more of the amino acids of the naturally occurring or recombinantly produced insulin has been deleted or added.
It is to be understood that more than one active ingredient or agent may be incorporated into the aerosolized active agent formulation and that the use of the term “agent” or “ingredient” in no way excludes the use of two or more such agents. Indeed, some embodiments of the present invention contemplate administering combination drugs that may be mixed in situ.
Examples of diseases, conditions or disorders that may be treated according to embodiments of the invention include, but are not limited to, asthma, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), viral or bacterial infections, influenza, allergies, cystic fibrosis, and other respiratory ailments as well as diabetes and other insulin resistance disorders. The dry powder inhalation may be used to deliver locally-acting agents such as antimicrobials, protease inhibitors, and nucleic acids/oligionucleotides as well as systemic agents such as peptides like leuprolide and proteins such as insulin. For example, inhaler-based delivery of antimicrobial agents such as antitubercular compounds, proteins such as insulin for diabetes therapy or other insulin-resistance related disorders, peptides such as leuprolide acetate for treatment of prostate cancer and/or endometriosis and nucleic acids or ogligonucleotides for cystic fibrosis gene therapy may be performed. See e.g. Wolff et al., Generation of Aerosolized Drugs, J. Aerosol. Med. pp. 89-106 (1994). See also U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 20010053761, entitled Method for Administering ASPB28-Human Insulin and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 20010007853, entitled Method for Administering Monomeric Insulin Analogs, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference as if recited in full herein.
Typical dose amounts of the unitized dry powder mixture dispersed in the inhalers may vary depending on the patient size, the systemic target, and the particular drug(s). The dose amounts and type of drug held by a dose container system may vary per dose container or may be the same. In some embodiments, the dry powder dose amounts can be about 100 mg or less, typically less than 50 mg, and more typically between about 0.1 mg to about 30 mg.
In some embodiments, such as for pulmonary conditions (i.e., asthma or COPD), the dry powder can be provided as about 5 mg total weight (the dose amount may be blended to provide this weight). A conventional exemplary dry powder dose amount for an average adult is less than about 50 mg, typically between about 10-30 mg and for an average adolescent pediatric subject is typically from about 5-10 mg. A typical dose concentration may be between about 1-5%. Exemplary dry powder drugs include, but are not limited to, albuterol, fluticasone, beclamethasone, cromolyn, terbutaline, fenoterol, β-agonists (including long-acting β-agonists), salmeterol, formoterol, cortico-steroids and glucocorticoids.
In certain embodiments, the administered bolus or dose can be formulated with an increase in concentration (an increased percentage of active constituents) over conventional blends. Further, the dry powder formulations may be configured as a smaller administrable dose compared to the conventional 10-25 mg doses. For example, each administrable dry powder dose may be on the order of less than about 60-70% of that of conventional doses. In certain particular embodiments, using the dispersal systems provided by certain embodiments of the DPI configurations of the instant invention, the adult dose may be reduced to under about 15 mg, such as between about 10 μg-10 mg, and more typically between about 50 μg-10 mg. The active constituent(s) concentration may be between about 5-10%. In other embodiments, active constituent concentrations can be in the range of between about 10-20%, 20-25%, or even larger. In particular embodiments, such as for nasal inhalation, target dose amounts may be between about 12-100 μg.
In certain particular embodiments, during inhalation, the dry powder in a particular drug compartment or blister may be formulated in high concentrations of an active pharmaceutical constituent(s) substantially without additives (such as excipients). As used herein, “substantially without additives” means that the dry powder is in a substantially pure active formulation with only minimal amounts of other non-biopharmacological active ingredients. The term “minimal amounts” means that the non-active ingredients may be present, but are present in greatly reduced amounts, relative to the active ingredient(s), such that they comprise less than about 10%, and preferably less than about 5%, of the dispensed dry powder formulation, and, in certain embodiments, the non-active ingredients are present in only trace amounts.
In some embodiments, the unit dose amount of dry powder held in a respective drug compartment or dose container is less than about 10 mg, typically about 5 mg of blended drug and lactose or other additive (e.g., 5 mg LAC), for treating pulmonary conditions such as asthma. Insulin may be provided in quantities of about 4 mg or less, typically about 3.6 mg of pure insulin. The dry powder may be inserted into a dose container/drug compartment in a “compressed” or partially compressed manner or may be provided as free flowing particulates.
Some embodiments of the invention are directed to inhalers that can deliver multiple different drugs for combination delivery. Thus, for example, in some embodiments, some or all of the dose containers may include two different drugs or different dose containers may contain different drugs configured for dispensing substantially concurrently.
In some embodiments, a dose container disk for an inhaler device may include a first row of circumferentially spaced apart dose containers at a first radius and a second row of circumferentially spaced apart dose containers at a second radius so that the first and second rows are substantially concentric. In some embodiments, the same drug may be included in all of the dose containers. In other embodiments, a first drug may be included within the dose containers of the first row, and a second drug, different from the first drug, may be included within the dose containers of the second row.
The inhalers can be configured to provide any suitable number of doses, typically between about 30-120 doses, and more typically between about 30-60 doses. The inhalers can deliver one drug or a combination of drugs. In some embodiments, the inhalers can provide between about 30-60 doses of two different drugs (in the same or different unit amounts), for a total of between about 60-120 individual unit doses, respectively. The inhaler can provide between a 30 day to a 60 day (or even greater) supply of medicine. In some embodiments, the inhalers can be configured to hold about 60 doses of the same drug or drug combination, in the same or different unit amounts, which can be a 30 day supply (for a twice per day dosing) or a 60 day supply for single daily treatments.
Certain embodiments may be particularly suitable for dispensing medication to respiratory patients, diabetic patients, cystic fibrosis patients, or for treating pain. The inhalers may also be used to dispense narcotics, hormones and/or infertility treatments.
The dose container assembly and inhaler may be particularly suitable for dispensing medicament for the treatment of respiratory disorders. Appropriate medicaments may be selected from, for example, analgesics, e.g., codeine, dihydromorphine, ergotamine, fentanyl or morphine; anginal preparations, e.g., diltiazem; antiallergics, e.g., cromoglycate, ketotifen or nedocromil; antiinfectives e.g., cephalosporins, penicillins, streptomycin, sulphonamides, tetracyclines and pentamidine; antihistamines, e.g., methapyrilene; anti-inflammatories, e.g., beclomethasone dipropionate, fluticasone propionate, flunisolide, budesonide, rofleponide, mometasone furoate or triamcinolone acetonide; antitussives, e.g., noscapine; bronchodilators, e.g., albuterol, salmeterol, ephedrine, adrenaline, fenoterol, formoterol, isoprenaline, metaproterenol, phenylephrine, phenylpropanolamine, pirbuterol, reproterol, rimiterol, terbutaline, isoetharine, tulobuterol, or (−)-4-amino-3, 5-dichloro-{acute over (α)}-[[6-[2-(2-pyridinyl) ethoxy]hexyl]methyl] benzenemethanol; diuretics, e.g., amiloride; anticholinergics, e.g., ipratropium, tiotropium, atropine or oxitropium; hormones, e.g., cortisone, hydrocortisone or prednisolone; xanthines, e.g., aminophylline, choline theophyllinate, lysine theophyllinate or theophylline; therapeutic proteins and peptides, e.g., insulin or glucagon. It will be clear to a person of skill in the art that, where appropriate, the medicaments may be used in the form of salts, (e.g., as alkali metal or amine salts or as acid addition salts) or as esters (e.g., lower alkyl esters) or as solvates (e.g., hydrates) to optimize the activity and/or stability of the medicament.
Some particular embodiments of the dose container assembly and/or inhaler include medicaments that are selected from the group consisting of: albuterol, salmeterol, fluticasone propionate and beclometasone dipropionate and salts or solvates thereof, e.g., the sulphate of albuterol and the xinafoate of salmeterol. Medicaments can also be delivered in combinations. Examples of particular formulations containing combinations of active ingredients include those that contain salbutamol (e.g., as the free base or the sulphate salt) or salmeterol (e.g., as the xinafoate salt) in combination with an anti-inflammatory steroid such as a beclomethasone ester (e.g., the dipropionate) or a fluticasone ester (e.g., the propionate).
Some attributes of DPI devices, according to embodiments of the present invention, can be: 1) the ability to protect the dry powder from moisture ingress; 2) the number of doses contained within the inhaler; and 3) the overall size of the inhaler. In addition, it may be advantageous to fit the largest practical number of doses within the smallest possible inhaler. However, it may be necessary for individual doses to be spaced apart from each other to allow sufficient seal area and material thickness for moisture protection of the powder. One solution may be to use a dose ring with dose containers spaced equidistant from each other at two different radii, also referred to as a “staggered concentric” arrangement of doses.
Unfortunately, a challenge with a staggered concentric dose ring can be how to access each dose container for opening and inhalation. If all of the outer dose containers are opened first, followed by all inner dose containers, this may require an indexing device that will index a “half step” in order to effect the transition from the outer to inner ring of dose containers, but index a “full step” for all other dose containers. This indexing functionality may be difficult to achieve in inhaler devices. An alternative may be to create dose rings with a special arrangement of dose containers on the dose ring. Unfortunately, this may complicate the automated handling and filling of the powder into the dose ring.
Turning now to the figures,
As shown, the dose container assembly 20 includes a lower airway disk 40 and an upper airway disk 50. In other embodiments, the dose container assembly 20 can include the dose container disk 30 and only one of the lower airway disk 40 or the upper airway disk 50. In such a configuration, another type of airway can be used for the other side of the disk 30, such as, but not limited to, a fixed or “global” upper or lower airway can be used with the individual airways provided by either an upper or lower airway disk 50, 40. Also, it is contemplated that the upper and lower airway disks 50, 40 described herein can be reversed for normal operation (or inadvertently for atypical operation) so that the lower airway disk is the upper airway disk and the upper airway disk is the lower airway disk.
As shown in
In some embodiments, the airway channels 41, 51 can define airways that are not able to release dry powder residing in a respective airway channel to a user once the inhaler is indexed again to another position so that the respective airway channel is no longer in communication with the inhalation port 10p. The channels can be configured to have “sink traps” to inhibit spillage according to some embodiments of the present invention to provide overdose protection (unless the dual use configuration is used whereby only a single other dose may be released using that airway channel(s) as noted above).
Where two airway disks are used, e.g., both the lower and upper disks 40, 50, the inhaler device 10 can be configured to operate even when inverted and have the same overdose protection feature. Spillage of dry powder from the dose container 30c as the dose container 30c is opened can be influenced by gravity. For example, for a conventional obround or elliptical mouthpiece shape, there are two primary device orientations (right-side-up and upside-down), embodiments of the invention allow for operation of the inhaler device in both orientations. In the embodiment shown, for example, in
As shown in
The dose container disk 30 can have an outer diameter of between about 50-100 mm, typically about 65 mm and a thickness (
Similar to the embodiment shown in
Embodiments of the invention provide a dose container assembly 20 that can provide a suitable seal and facilitate attachment of the airway disks 40, 50 to the dose ring or disk 30. In some embodiments, the dose container disk 30 contains sealants 36, 37 which may be a continuous layer over the upper and lower (primary) surfaces of the dose disk 30 and the upper and lower airway disks 50, 40 can contact the respective sealant and abut the dose disk to allow for a tight fit. The exemplary attachment features shown in
As also shown in
The upper and lower airway disks 50, 40 (where both are used) can be attached to the dose container disk 30 so as to reduce any gaps in the airway path defined thereby. The disk 30 can be a stop for attachment features on the airway disks 40, 50. The disk 30 with the sealants 36, 37 can have substantially planar upper and lower primary surfaces without requiring any attachment features. The lower portion of the upper airway disk 50 and the upper portion of the lower airway disk 40 can snugly reside against the respective opposing primary surfaces of the dose container disk 30 so that the attachment features/components are only on the upper and lower disks 50, 40 allowing for a snug and sufficiently air-tight interface between the disks 30, 40, 50 without gaps created by tolerances in other build configurations. The press-fit attachment without use of adhesives while providing for the substantially air-tight interface can be advantageous and cost-effective. However, as noted above, other attachment configurations may be used, including, for example, ultrasonic welding, adhesive, laser weld, other friction fit and/or matable configurations, the use of seals (O-rings, gaskets and the like) between the connection regions of the walls of the airway channels facing the dose container 30c and the sealant layers 36, 37 over and/or under the dose containers 30c of the disk, including combinations thereof, and the like.
As shown in
As shown in
After dispensing, the piercing member 220 is fully retracted as shown in
As shown in
Referring now to
The actuator mechanism 306 includes a plurality of spaced-apart, arcuate arms 314 positioned between the first and second ring members 308, 310, as illustrated in
The illustrated actuator mechanism 306 also includes an arcuate body portion 318 that extends radially outward from the second ring member 310. The arcuate body portion 318 includes user lever 320 that extends outwardly from the inhaler so as to be gripped by a user of the inhaler 10. A user moves the actuator mechanism 306 from a first position to a second position via lever 320 to rotate the ramp disk 400 and pierce a dose container 30c, as will be described below. The configuration of the actuator mechanism 306 allows for a relatively short stroke (e.g., 60°) of the lever 320 from the first position (
The actuator mechanism body portion 318 is configured to slide along the piercing frame surface 302 as the actuator mechanism 306 is moved between first and second positions. The piercing frame 300 includes first and second blocking members 322, 324 that extend upwardly from the piercing frame surface 302 and that are configured to limit the rotational movement of the actuator mechanism 306. For example, when the actuator mechanism 306 is in the first position, end 318a of the arcuate body portion 318 abuts blocking member 322. When the actuator mechanism 306 is moved to the second position, end 318b of the arcuate body portion 318 abuts blocking member 324.
In the illustrated embodiment, the illustrated body portion 318 includes a U-shaped guide 326 that slides along a rail 328 associated with the piercing frame 300. The guide 326 and rail 328 are designed to facilitate smooth sliding operation of the actuator mechanism 306 between the first and second positions. In addition, the U-shaped guide 326 and rail 328 can be configured to block the ingress of foreign material into the inhaler 10, and also to block the visibility of internal components of the inhaler 10.
The actuator mechanism 306 can also include a dose container assembly biasing post 360, as illustrated in
As shown in
In some embodiments, the post 360 can communicate with a stationary post 360a on the indexing frame 508 (
The post 360 is typically attached to or in communication with the lever 320 which is accessible by a user. However, the post 360 can be in communication with other mechanisms that cause the post 360 to move in the slot 362 and bias the disk assembly 20 toward the mouthpiece 10m. As shown in
Referring back to
In some embodiments, when the pawl 331 is engaged with teeth 332 in the rack 334 as the actuator mechanism 306 is moved from the first position to the second position, the distal free end 330b of arm 330 is urged inwardly toward the second ring member 310. When the pawl 331 disengages from the teeth 332, the distal free end 330b biases outwardly. The distal free end 330b of arm 330 has a tapered configuration such that when the free end 330b biases outwardly, the tapered configuration causes the free end 330b to slide along an outside wall 336 of the rack 334 such that the pawl 331 cannot engage any of the teeth 332 when the actuator mechanism 306 is returned to the first position. When the actuator mechanism 306 is in the first position, the tapered configuration of the distal free end 330b of arm 330 causes the pawl 331 to again become engaged with the teeth 332 of the rack 334 such that the pawl 331 prevents backward movement of the actuator mechanism 306 between the first and second positions.
Still referring to
A biasing element 230, such as a torsion spring, is secured to the piercing frame 300 and contacts each piercing member 220a, 220b and during operation is configured to urge each piercing member 220a, 220b to a retracted position. Although illustrated as a single biasing element 230, more than one biasing element may be utilized, for example, one or more separate biasing elements for each piercing member 220a, 220b may be utilized. The configuration of the piercing mechanism 200 can allow more flexibility for the design of the spring 230. For example, the spring 230 is not required to be positioned under the piercing members 220a, 220b, but can reside laterally or radially spaced apart from the piercing members 220a, 220b. As such, a device with less height requirements than conventional inhaler devices can be achieved.
Each elongate piercing member 220a, 220b includes a distal piercing portion 221 (
As will be described below, in some embodiments each piercing member 220a, 220b partially retracts from a dose container 30c during a portion of the operation of the inhaler 10 so as to plug the aperture 55 of the upper disk 50 of the inhaler 10 during and/or after drug release/inhalation.
As shown in
Referring now to
The ramp elements 406, 408 are typically substantially identical in configuration, and each have a substantially curvilinear configuration, as illustrated. Each first (outer) ramp element 406 includes a first inclined portion 406a, a plateau portion 406b, a second inclined portion 406c, and a shelf portion 406d. Similarly, each second (inner) ramp element 408 includes a first inclined portion 408a, a plateau portion 408b, a second inclined portion 408c, and a shelf portion 408d. The first set of ramp elements 406 are configured to engage a proximal end 222 of the outer piercing member 220b and move (push) the outer piercing member 220b between retracted and extended (piercing) positions as the ramp disk 400 is rotated in the direction indicated by arrow A2. The second set of ramp elements 408 are configured to engage a proximal end 222 of the inner piercing member 220a and move (push) the inner piercing member 220a between retracted and extended (piercing) positions as the ramp disk 400 is rotated in the direction indicated by arrow A2. The inner ramp elements 408 are spaced apart from each other by about one hundred twenty degrees (120°). Similarly, the outer ramp elements 406 are spaced apart from each other by about one hundred twenty degrees (120°).
The first and second sets of ramp elements 406, 408 are angularly separated by an angle indicated as A3. In some embodiments, angle A3 may be between about five degrees and fifteen degrees (5°-15°). In some embodiments, angle A3 may be about eight degrees (8°). Indexing of the dose container assembly 20 (i.e., rotation of the dose container assembly 20 to position a medicament-containing dose container 30c beneath a piercing member 220a, 220b) occurs within this increment indicated by A3. That is, indexing of the dose container assembly 20 occurs when neither ramp elements 406, 408 are in contact with a respective piercing member 220a, 220b. Typically, the dose container assembly 20 cannot be properly indexed (rotated) if a piercing member resides in a dose container 30c.
The ring member 412 that extends outwardly from ramp disk side 404 includes an outer surface 412a and an inner surface 412b, and an end portion 412c. A diameter of the ring member 412 and a diameter of the second ring member 310 of the actuator mechanism 306 (
A plurality of spaced-apart step members 414 extend radially inwardly from the ring member inner surface 412b, as illustrated in
Movement of a piercing member 220a, 220b by a respective ramp element 408, 406 will now be described with respect to a first ramp element 406 and the outer piercing member 220b. Each of the first and second ramp elements 408, 406 cause the same movement of respective piercing members 220a, 220b. When a user opens the cover 11 of the inhaler 10 to the position indicated in
When the actuator mechanism reaches the second position, the proximal end 222 of piercing member 220b is in contact with the shelf portion 406d, which causes the piercing member 220b to remain partially within the aperture 55 of the upper airway disk 50 so as to prevent medicament from falling out of the open dose container 30c prior to inhalation by a user, as described above with respect to
The indexing post 410 includes a plurality of spaced apart ribs 411 extending radially outward from the indexing post, as illustrated in
The illustrated ramp disk ring member 412 includes a plurality of anti-backup catches 420 extending from the outer surface 412a thereof in circumferentially spaced-apart relationship. Each catch 420 includes a recess 420a that is configured to engage a tooth 350a of an anti-backup post 350 on the piercing frame. This engagement of an anti-backup post tooth 350a within a catch recess 420a prevents the ramp disk 400 from rotating in a direction opposite to that indicated by arrow A2 (i.e., prevents the ramp disk from being rotated in the wrong direction, particularly when pawl 316 is deflecting over tapered portion 414b).
Referring now to
Similarly, each second (inner) ramp element 408 of
The indexing post 410 includes a plurality of spaced apart ribs 411 extending radially outward from the indexing post, as illustrated in
The illustrated ramp disk 400 of
Referring to
To index the dose container assembly 20 by a predetermined amount, the ramp disk 400 is rotated via user movement of the actuator mechanism 306 via user lever 320 from the first position to the second position. Rotation of the ramp disk 400 causes the indexing post 410 to rotate which, in turn, causes rotation of the idler gear 514. Rotation of the idler gear 514 rotates the dose container assembly a predetermined amount via the second set of inner perimeter teeth 504 of the lower disk 40. According to some embodiments of the present invention, the actuator mechanism 306 is configured to rotate sixty degrees (60°). This correlates to six degrees (6°) of rotation of the dose container assembly 20 (i.e., 6° between a dose container in one row and a neighboring dose container in the other row).
The indexing mechanism 500, according to embodiments of the present invention, does not require dose container assemblies to have outer peripheral gear teeth. As such, smaller dose container assemblies can be utilized.
Referring back to
The dose window 520 also includes a post 526 extending therefrom that engages the spiral groove 506 in the lower disk 40. The groove 506 and post 526 are configured to maintain the aperture 522 directly over the dose indicia on the lower disk surface 40a as the dose container assembly is indexed. As illustrated in
The post 526 also serves another important function. When all of the doses within the inhaler 10 have been consumed, the post abuts the end of the spiral groove 506 such that the dose container assembly 20 cannot be indexed further. As such, the post 526 serves as an “end of life” stop for the inhaler 10.
Referring to
Referring now to
In
In
In
Also, in
In
The piercing frame 300, actuator mechanism 306, ramp disk 400, piercing mechanism 200, and the various components associated therewith, may be formed from various materials including, but not limited to, polymeric materials. Because two piercing members 220a, 220b are utilized; wear (e.g., caused by lactose in the medicament powder within the dose containers 30c) can be significantly reduced for each piercing member 220a, 220b. As such, a less expensive material may be utilized for the piercing members 220a, 220b than may otherwise be necessary if only a single piercing member were to be utilized.
In addition, because the actuator mechanism 306 and the ramp disk 400 are separate components, different materials may be utilized for each one. For example, cosmetic materials may be utilized for the user lever 320 of the actuator mechanism 306, while a less cosmetic material may be utilized for the ramp disk 400, which cannot be seen by a user of the inhaler 10.
In
The inhaler 10 can have a body that is a portable, relatively compact “pocket-sized” configuration. In some embodiments, the inhaler body can have a width/length that is less than about 115 mm (about 4.5 inches), typically less than about 89 mm (about 3.5 inches), and a thickness/depth of less than about 51 mm (about 2 inches), typically less than about 38 mm (about 1.5 inches). The inhaler body can also be configured to be generally planar on opposing primary surfaces to facilitate pocket storage.
The inhaler can include a circuit that can control certain operations of the inhaler 10. The inhaler 10 can include a computer port (not shown). The port may be, for example, an RS 232 port, an infrared data association (IrDA) or universal serial bus (USB), which may be used to download or upload selected data from/to the inhaler to a computer application or remote computer, such as a clinician or other site. The inhaler 10 can be configured to via a wired or wireless communication link (one-way or two-way) to be able to communicate with a clinician or pharmacy for reorders of medicines and/or patient compliance. The inhaler 10 may also include a second peripheral device communication port (not shown). The inhaler 10 may be able to communicate via the Internet, telephone, cell phone or other electronic communication protocol.
In some embodiments, the circuit can include computer program code and/or computer applications that communicate additional data to a user (optionally to the display) as noted above and/or communicate with another remote device (the term “remote” including communicating with devices that are local but typically not connected during normal inhalant use).
In some embodiments, the circuit can be in communication with a vibrator device (not shown). The vibrator device can be any suitable vibrator mechanism. The vibrator device can be configured to vibrate the dry powder in the airflow path. In some embodiments, the vibrator device can comprise a transducer that is configured to vibrate the opened cartridge(s) holding the dry powder. Examples of vibrator devices include, but are not limited to, one or more of: (a) ultrasound or other acoustic or sound-based sources (above, below or at audible wavelengths) that can be used to instantaneously apply non-linear pressure signals onto the dry powder; (b) electrical or mechanical vibration of the walls (sidewalls, ceiling and/or floor) of the inhalation flow channel, which can include magnetically induced vibrations and/or deflections (which can use electromagnets or permanent field magnets); (c) solenoids, piezoelectrically active portions and the like; and (d) oscillating or pulsed gas (airstreams), which can introduce changes in one or more of volume flow, linear velocity, and/or pressure. Examples of mechanical and/or electro-mechanical vibratory devices are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,727,607, 5,909,829 and 5,947,169, the contents of which are incorporated by reference as if recited in full herein. Combinations of different vibrating mechanism's can also be used.
In some embodiments, the vibrator device can include a commercially available miniature transducer from Star Micronics (Shizuoka, Japan), having part number QMB-105PX. The transducer can have resonant frequencies in the range of between about 400-600 Hz.
In certain embodiments, the inhaler 10 can include visible indicia (flashing light or display “error” or alert) and/or can be configured to provide audible alerts to warn a user that a dose was properly (and/or improperly) inhaled or released from the inhaler. For example, certain dry powder dose sizes are formulated so that it can be difficult for a user to know whether they have inhaled the medicament (typically the dose is aerosolized and enters the body with little or no taste and/or tactile feel for confirmation). Thus, a sensor (not shown) can be positioned in communication with the flow path in an inhaler and configured to be in communication with a digital signal processor or microcontroller, each held in or on the inhaler. In operation, the sensor can be configured to detect a selected parameter, such as a difference in weight, a density in the exiting aerosol formulation, and the like, to confirm that the dose was released.
The sealed dose containers 30c can be configured so that the water vapor transmission rate can be less than about 1.0 g/100 in2/24 hours, typically less than about 0.6 g/100 in2/24 hours and an oxygen transmission rate that is suitable for the dry powder held therein. The dose container assemblies 20, 20′ can be configured with a stable shelf life of between about 1-5 years, typically about 4 years.
The dose containers 30c can have a volume (prior to filling and sealing) that is less than about 24 mm3, typically between 5-15 mm3. The powder bulk density can be about 1 g/cm3 while the power nominal density when filled (for reference) can be about 0.5 g/cm3. The maximum compression of a drug by filling and sealing in the dose container 30c can be less than about 5%, typically less than about 2%. The maximum heating of drug during the filling and sealing can be maintained to a desirable level so as not to affect the efficacy of the drug or the formulation.
In some particular embodiments, the airway channels 41, 51 can include alternating short and long channels (see, e.g.,
Certain embodiments may be particularly suitable for dispensing medication to respiratory patients, diabetic patients, cystic fibrosis patients, or for treating pain. The inhalers may also be used to dispense narcotics, hormones and/or infertility treatments.
The foregoing is illustrative of the present invention and is not to be construed as limiting thereof. Although a few exemplary embodiments of this invention have been described, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments without materially departing from the teachings and advantages of this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention as defined in the claims. The invention is defined by the following claims, with equivalents of the claims to be included therein.
This application is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/566,724, filed Sep. 25, 2009, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,381,721, which claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/170,801, filed Apr. 20, 2009; U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/100,482, filed Sep. 26, 2008; and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/148,520, filed Jan. 30, 2009, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference as if set forth in their entireties.
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| Child | 13744923 | US |
