Inhalator and capsule for an inhalator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10220165-B2
Application number	US-201214119279-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 21, 2012
Priority date	May 27, 2011
Publication date	Mar 5, 2019
Grant date	Mar 5, 2019

Abstract

The invention relates to a capsule for receiving a preferably powdered pharmaceutical preparation and an inhaler in which, for inhalation, the preparation is expelled from the capsule through at least one hole. A capsule according to the invention comprises as capsule elements a capsule cap and a capsule body, at least one of which comprises at least one prefabricated hole.
Systems according to the invention comprising inhalers and capsules are described, in which the prefabricated hole in the capsule is sealed off in the transporting state of the system and is open in the usage state. The hole is exposed by actuation of a pushing or pulling mechanism. Prior to this the hole is closed off by part of the capsule itself or by a capsule receptacle belonging to the inhaler.
In one embodiment the capsule may be present in two different states, for example in different insertion positions of the capsule elements. In the first state the prefabricated hole is closed off and in the second it is exposed.
Another system according to the invention consists of a capsule body open at the top and an inhaler, the capsule that is open at the top being filled inside the inhaler.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A capsule for use as a reservoir for a powdered pharmaceutical preparation in an inhaler, the capsule comprising:
a capsule body ( 2 ) having an open end; and a capsule cap ( 1 ) having an open end, where the capsule body ( 2 ) and capsule cap ( 1 ) are sized and shaped to fit into one another telescopically by way of the respective open ends so as to form a cavity, and to result in the capsule having an elongate length, a central tubular section, and opposing rounded ends, wherein at least one of the capsule body ( 2 ) and the capsule cap ( 1 ) comprise at least one prefabricated hole ( 7 , 6 ); and
an annular component ( 22 ) in sliding engagement with, and sliding along at least a portion of, an exterior of at least one of the capsule body ( 2 ) and the capsule cap ( 1 ) such that, as the annular component ( 22 ) slides longitudinally along the elongate length of the at least one of the capsule body ( 2 ) and the capsule cap ( 1 ), in at least one longitudinal position the at least one hole is sealed off,
wherein each of the capsule cap ( 1 ) and the capsule body ( 2 ) comprise at least one prefabricated hole ( 6 , 7 ), which are positioned such that that there is a telescopic insertion position of the capsule body ( 2 ) and capsule cap ( 1 ) in which the prefabricated holes ( 7 , 6 ) are in registry with one another.

2. The capsule according to claim 1 , wherein each of the capsule body ( 2 ) and the capsule cap ( 1 ) is of cup-shaped configuration comprising a capsule casing which forms a cylindrically or elliptically encircling wall.

3. The capsule according to claim 2 , wherein the at least one prefabricated hole ( 7 , 6 ) extends through the encircling wall.

4. The capsule according to claim 3 , further comprising respective alignment elements disposed on the capsule casings of the capsule body ( 2 ) and capsule cap ( 1 ) on regions of the capsule casings that abut on one another such that the capsule body ( 2 ) and capsule cap ( 1 ) may be fitted into one another only in a defined alignment.

5. The capsule according to claim 1 , wherein the prefabricated holes ( 7 , 6 ) are positioned such that there is an alternative telescopic insertion position of the capsule body ( 2 ) and capsule cap ( 1 ) where the prefabricated holes ( 7 , 6 ) are covered and thus the cavity in the capsule ( 11 ) is closed off.

6. The capsule according to claim 5 , wherein the capsule body ( 2 ) and capsule cap ( 1 ) each comprise two prefabricated holes ( 7 a , 7 b, 6 a , 6 b ) in upper and lower regions thereof such that in the telescopic insertion position the capsule ( 12 ) comprises a first pair of prefabricated holes in registration with one another at one end of the capsule and a second pair of prefabricated holes in registration with one another at an opposite end of the capsule.

7. The capsule according to claim 5 , wherein each of the capsule body ( 2 ) and capsule cap ( 1 ) comprise latching elements operating to at least one of: (i) permit telescoping movement of the capsule body ( 2 ) and capsule cap ( 1 ) from an initial position through the alternative telescopic insertion position, but resists any telescoping movement once the telescopic insertion position has been reached; and (ii) prevent separation of the capsule body ( 2 ) and capsule cap ( 1 ) once the telescopic insertion position has been reached.

8. The capsule according to claim 1 , wherein the capsule body ( 2 ) telescopes within the capsule cap ( 1 ), and the prefabricated hole of the capsule body ( 2 ) is at least one of: (i) larger than the prefabricated hole of the capsule cap ( 1 ); (ii) an oblong hole; and (iii) an elliptical hole.

9. The capsule according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of:
at least one of the capsule body ( 2 ) and capsule cap ( 1 ) are made from a plastics material, polyethylene, polycarbonate, polyester, polypropylene or polyethylene terephthalate, and
the capsule body ( 2 ) and capsule cap ( 1 ) are formed in an injection moulding process such that the prefabricated holes ( 6 , 7 ) are formed in the same injection moulding process.

10. An inhaler, comprising:
a capsule for a powdered pharmaceutical preparation, the capsule comprising: (i) a capsule body ( 2 ) having an open end; and (ii) a capsule cap ( 1 ) having an open end, where the capsule body ( 2 ) and capsule cap ( 1 ) are sized and shaped to fit into one another telescopically by way of the respective open ends so as to form a cavity, and to result in the capsule having an elongate length, a central tubular section, and opposing rounded ends, wherein at least one of the capsule body ( 2 ) and the capsule cap ( 1 ) comprise at least one prefabricated hole ( 7 , 6 ); and
a capsule chamber ( 74 ) for receiving the capsule ( 71 ), wherein the capsule chamber ( 74 ) comprises an air inlet and an air outlet leading towards a mouthpiece ( 78 ); and
a pusher ( 77 ), which when actuated causes movement of an annular component ( 22 ) in sliding engagement with, and sliding along at least a portion of, an exterior of at least one of the capsule body ( 2 ) and the capsule cap ( 1 ), such that, as the pusher ( 77 ) causes the annular component ( 22 ) to slide longitudinally along the elongate length of the at least one of the capsule body ( 2 ) and the capsule cap ( 1 ), in the at least one longitudinal position the at least one prefabricated hole is sealed off and in at least one other longitudinal position the at least one prefabricated hole ( 6 , 7 , 72 a , 72 b ) is exposed
wherein each of the capsule cap ( 1 ) and the capsule body ( 2 ) comprise at least one prefabricated hole ( 6 , 7 ), which are positioned such that that there is a telescopic insertion position of the capsule body ( 2 ) and capsule cap ( 1 ) in which the prefabricated holes ( 7 , 6 ) are in registry with one another.

11. The inhaler of claim 10 , wherein:
the at least one prefabricated hole ( 6 , 7 ) is positioned such that that there is a first telescopic insertion position of the capsule body ( 2 ) and capsule cap ( 1 ) where the prefabricated holes ( 7 , 6 ) are covered and thus the cavity in the capsule ( 11 ) is closed off;
the prefabricated holes are positioned such that that there is a second telescopic insertion position of the capsule body ( 2 ) and capsule cap ( 1 ) in which the prefabricated holes ( 7 , 6 ) are in registry with one another; and
the pusher ( 14 ) operates such that the capsule cap ( 1 ) moves relative to the capsule body ( 2 ) such that the second telescopic insertion position is reached.

12. The inhaler of claim 10 , wherein the pusher ( 77 ) operates such that the annular component can be moved on, or separated from, the capsule ( 71 ), so that at least one prefabricated hole ( 6 , 7 , 72 a , 72 b ) is exposed.

13. The inhaler of claim 12 , wherein after actuation of the pusher ( 77 ) the annular component forms a seal between the pusher ( 77 ) and the capsule chamber ( 74 ).

14. The inhaler of claim 10 , wherein the pusher ( 14 ) cooperates with a spring ( 19 ) such that after actuation the pusher ( 14 ) returns to an original position.

15. The inhaler of claim 10 , wherein the pusher ( 77 ) comprises at least one latching element, including at least one spring arm ( 77 b ), which latches with another component of the inhaler when the pusher ( 77 ) is fully actuated such that the pusher ( 77 ) cannot be non-destructively pushed back into an original position.

16. An inhaler, comprising:
a capsule for a powdered pharmaceutical preparation, the capsule comprising: (i) a capsule body ( 2 ) having an

Assignees

• Dunne Stephen Terence
• Besseler Jens
• Frentzel Beyme Jessica
• Holakovsky Holger
• Kladders Heinrich
• Weiler Claudius
• Zumblick Ole
• Boehringer Ingelheim Int

Inventors

• Dunne Stephen Terence
• Besseler Jens
• Frentzel-Beyme Jessica
• Holakovsky Holger
• Kladders Heinrich
• Weiler Claudius
• Zumblick Ole

Classifications

• A61J3/071

  into the form of telescopically engaged two-piece capsules · CPC title

• A61K9/0075

  for inhalation via a dry powder inhaler [DPI], e.g. comprising micronized drug mixed with lactose carrier particles · CPC title

• A61M15/0035 Primary

  Piercing means · CPC title

• B65D47/283

  between tubular parts · CPC title

• A61M15/0043

  Non-destructive separation of the package, e.g. peeling · CPC title