Drug delivery device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11207474-B2
Application number	US-201515327836-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 24, 2015
Priority date	Jul 25, 2014
Publication date	Dec 28, 2021
Grant date	Dec 28, 2021

Abstract

A drug delivery device, in particular a nebulizer or inhaler, for dispensing a fluid includes a cartridge having a collapsible container within which the fluid is disposed, a mechanism to help the collapsing process and to prevent the collapsed container from expanding again, hence preventing the forming of vapor and gas bubbles within, where the mechanism is adapted to pressurize the fluid within the container during withdrawal of the fluid.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A drug delivery device ( 100 ) for a liquid ( 15 ) containing a drug, in solution or suspension, comprising:
a cartridge ( 10 ) comprising a collapsible and/or compressible container ( 16 ) having a variable volume and with the liquid ( 15 ) as content,
a mechanism ( 30 ) operable to collapse and/or compress the container ( 16 ) to urge a reduction in the variable volume of the compressible container ( 16 ) and concurrently to pressurize the content during withdrawal of the content from the container ( 16 ),
wherein the drug delivery device is adapted to be cocked and then released to nebulize a dose of the content from the container ( 16 ) to a patient,
wherein the mechanism ( 30 ) is actuated when the drug delivery device ( 100 ) is cocked, such that the mechanism ( 30 ) only activates the urging in reduction in the variable volume of the compressible container ( 16 ), and pressurizes of the content, when the drug delivery device is cocked during withdrawal of the content from the container ( 16 ), whereby cocking the drug delivery device includes withdrawal of the dose of the content from the container ( 16 ) while the mechanism ( 30 ) facilitates pressurizing the content during such withdrawal,
wherein the mechanism ( 30 ) is adapted to prevent the container ( 16 ) from expanding after collapsing while the drug delivery device is cocked, and
wherein the mechanism ( 30 ) is adapted to compensate the pressure within the cartridge ( 10 ) to decrease pressure within the container ( 16 ) to an atmospheric pressure after release and nebulization of the dose of the content.

2. The drug delivery device according to claim 1 , wherein the mechanism ( 30 ) includes a movable piston within a cylinder.

3. The drug delivery device according to claim 2 , wherein at least one of the piston ( 12 ) and the cylinder comprises a coating in order to reduce friction between the piston ( 12 ) and the cylinder.

4. The drug delivery device according to claim 1 , wherein the container is a collapsible bellows or bag ( 54 ).

5. The drug delivery device according to claim 1 , wherein the mechanism ( 30 ) comprises an air spring.

6. The drug delivery device according to claim 5 , wherein the air spring comprises an air cavity ( 32 ), in which air is compressed when the drug delivery device ( 100 ) is cocked, and in which air is expanded when the drug delivery device ( 100 ) is released.

7. The drug delivery device according to claim 6 , wherein the mechanism ( 30 ) comprises a valve and/or an air leakage pathway associated with the air spring or air cavity ( 32 ) so that the air spring pressurizes the content temporarily during withdrawal of the content from the container ( 16 ).

8. The drug delivery device according to claim 7 , wherein the valve is arranged within the air leakage pathway and/or controls an air flow through the air leakage pathway.

9. The drug delivery device according to claim 5 , wherein the mechanism ( 30 ) comprises a valve and/or an air leakage pathway associated with the air spring such that the air spring pressurizes the content temporarily during withdrawal of the content from the container ( 16 ).

10. The drug delivery device according to claim 9 , wherein the valve is arranged within the air leakage pathway and/or controls an air flow through the air leakage pathway.

11. The drug delivery device according to claim 1 , wherein the mechanism ( 30 ) pushes a cartridge plunger or piston ( 12 ) when the drug delivery device ( 100 ) is cocked.

12. The drug delivery device according to claim 11 , wherein the mechanism ( 30 ) provides a unidirectional friction engagement for pushing the cartridge plunger or piston ( 12 ) and pressurizing the liquid ( 15 ).

13. The drug delivery device according to claim 1 , wherein the mechanism ( 30 ) comprises a friction element having a ball ( 42 ) for acting on a piston ( 12 ) or on the container ( 16 ) when the drug delivery device ( 100 ) is cocked.

14. The drug delivery device according to claim 1 , wherein the mechanism ( 30 ) comprises a ratchet arrangement to prevent the container ( 16 )) from expanding after collapsing while the drug delivery device is cocked.

15. The drug delivery device according to claim 1 , wherein the cartridge ( 10 ) and the mechanism ( 30 ) form a cartridge assembly ( 50 ).

16. The drug delivery device according to claim 1 , wherein the drug delivery device ( 10 ) is or forms a nebulizer ( 101 ).

17. The drug delivery device according to claim 1 , wherein the mechanism ( 30 ) includes a force providing element operating to cause the activation and urge the reduction in the variable volume of the compressible container ( 16 ), and pressurizes of the content, when the drug delivery device is cocked.

18. The drug delivery device according to claim 17 , wherein:
the force providing element engages and moves a wall element of the container in such a way as to provide the urge in reduction in the variable volume of the compressible container ( 16 ), and pressurizes of the content when the drug delivery device is cocked, and
the force providing element disengages from the wall element of the container to permit the pressure within the container ( 16 ) to reduce to atmospheric pressure after release and nebulization of the dose of the content.

19. The drug delivery device according to claim 18 , wherein:
the force providing element is an air spring mechanism including an air cavity ( 32 ) located adjacent to the wall element, where air trapped within the air cavity ( 32 ) is compressed and produces a force that causes the engagement and movement of the wall element to provide the urge in reduction in the variable volume of the compressible container ( 16 ), and pressurizes of the content when the drug delivery device is cocked, and
the air within the cavity ( 32 ) is permitted to expand such that the force is released and the force providing element disengages from the wall element of the container to permit the pressure within the container ( 16 ) to reduce to atmospheric pressure after release and nebulization of the dose of the content.

20. The drug delivery device according to claim 18 , wherein:
the force providing element is a mechanical spring element ( 27 ) located adjacent to the wall element, where mechanical spring element ( 27 ) is compressed and produces a force that causes the engagement and movement of the wall element to provide the urge in reduction in the variable volume of the compressible container ( 16 ), and pressurizes of the content when the drug delivery device is cocked, and
the mechanical spring element ( 27 ) is permitted to expand such that the force is released and the force providing element disengages from the wall element of the container to permit the pressure within the container ( 16 ) to reduce to atmospheric pressure after release and nebulization of the dose of the content.

Assignees

• Boehringer Ingelheim Int

Inventors

• Dunne Stephen Terence

Classifications

• B05B11/1091

  being first hold in a loaded state by locking means or the like, then released (B05B11/1092 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B05B11/028

  Pistons separating the content remaining in the container from the atmospheric air to compensate underpressure inside the container · CPC title

• A61M2205/273

  preventing reuse, e.g. of disposables · CPC title

• B05B11/0054

  Cartridges, i.e. containers specially designed for easy attachment to or easy removal from the rest of the sprayer (attachment arrangements between pump and container B05B11/1043) · CPC title

• A61M16/209

  Relief valves · CPC title