Nebulizer and cartridge

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11883580-B2
Application number	US-201716470298-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 21, 2017
Priority date	Dec 21, 2016
Publication date	Jan 30, 2024
Grant date	Jan 30, 2024

Abstract

A nebulizer for nebulizing a fluid from a cartridge and a cartridge for such a nebulizer is proposed. The cartridge comprises a container containing the fluid to be nebulized and is fluidically connected to the nebulizer by inserting a connecting element of the nebulizer for conveying the fluid out of the container. The cartridge is preferably adapted to sealingly receive the connecting element and can optionally comprise a membrane or sealing wall which seals the cartridge initially and is piercable or breakable by the connecting element upon insertion. The cartridge can further comprise an at least partially flexible and/or bendable tube for conveying the fluid out of the container. The tube is preferably wettable with the fluid and/or comprises an at least partially hydrophilic and/or polar surface. Further, the tube can at least partially be shaped as a helix. When the cartridge is connected to the nebulizer, the tube and the connecting element preferably form a continuous capillary and/or an at least essentially constant flow area.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A cartridge ( 3 ) for a nebulizer ( 1 ) for nebulizing of a fluid ( 2 ), the fluid ( 2 ) being a pharmaceutical composition/formulation and/or a liquid medicament, the cartridge ( 3 ) comprising:
a container ( 4 ) containing the fluid ( 2 ) to be nebulized,
a tube ( 25 ) disposed within the container ( 4 ) for conveying the fluid ( 2 ) out of the container ( 4 ), and being at least partially flexible and/or bendable,
a closure ( 7 ) with a connection port ( 9 ) cooperating with an opening of the container ( 4 ) for fluidically and/or sealingly connecting the container ( 4 ) to a nebulizer ( 1 ),
an adapter ( 26 ) mechanically and/or fluidically connecting the tube ( 25 ) to the connection port ( 9 ) of the closure ( 7 ) by sealingly receiving the connection port ( 9 ) therein, such that the container ( 4 ) is in fluidic communication with a connecting element ( 14 ) of the nebulizer ( 1 ), and
a rigid intermediate piece ( 29 ) to fluidically connect the tube ( 25 ) to the connecting element ( 14 ), wherein
the intermediate piece ( 29 ) is axially moveably, and axially pushable, into or onto or together with the tube ( 25 ) by the connecting element ( 14 ) in order to compensate length tolerances of the connecting element ( 14 ).

2. The cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the connection port ( 9 ) of the closure engages an axial/fixed end ( 25 A) of the tube ( 25 ) in a center area of the container ( 4 ) such the connection port ( 9 ) is fluidically and/or sealingly connected to the tube ( 25 ).

3. The cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of:
the tube ( 25 ) is constructed as a capillary tube,
the tube ( 25 ) comprises an inner diameter of less than 1 mm,
the tube ( 25 ) comprises an inner diameter of less than 0.8 mm,
the tube ( 25 ) comprises an inner diameter of less than 0.7 mm,
the tube ( 25 ) comprises an inner diameter of less than 0.5 mm,
the tube ( 25 ) comprises an inner diameter of more than 0.1 mm, and
the tube ( 25 ) comprises an inner diameter of more than 0.2 mm.

4. The cartridge according to claim 3 , wherein the tube ( 25 ) is constructed such that in a delivery state of the cartridge ( 3 ) and/or when opening the cartridge ( 3 ), the tube ( 25 ) is at least partially immersed in the fluid ( 2 ) and/or a fluid level within the tube ( 25 ) is equal to or above a fluid level outside the tube ( 25 ).

5. The cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the tube ( 25 ) is at least one of shorter than a height of the container ( 4 ) and completely arranged within the container ( 4 ), such that a free end ( 25 B) of the tube ( 25 ) can reach outermost areas of the container ( 4 ), including upper and lower axial ends of the container ( 4 ).

6. The cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the tube ( 25 ) is made of at least one of: plastic, thermoplastics, thermoplastic elastomers, polyamide, polyethylene, polypropylene, polybutylene terephthalate, and polyether block amide.

7. The cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of:
the tube ( 25 ) is surface treated in order to increase its surface energy,
the tube ( 25 ) is corona treated in order to increase its surface energy,
the tube ( 25 ) plasma treated in order to increase its surface energy,
the tube ( 25 ) is flame treated in order to increase its surface energy, and
the tube ( 25 ) is coated, in order to increase its surface energy.

8. The cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the tube ( 25 ) contains at least one additive in order to increase its surface energy.

9. The cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein a surface energy of the tube ( 25 ) is greater than or equal to a surface tension of the fluid ( 2 ).

10. The cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of:
the tube ( 25 ) is at least partially wettable with the fluid ( 2 ) in such a way that the tube ( 25 ) is at least partially immersed in the fluid ( 2 ),
the tube ( 25 ) is wettable with the fluid ( 2 ) in such a way that a contact angle between a drop of the fluid ( 2 ) and the surface of the tube ( 25 ) is less than one of: 70°, 60°, 50°, 30°, and 20°.

11. The cartridge according to claim 10 , wherein an inner surface of the container ( 4 ) is at least less wettable with the fluid ( 2 ) than the tube ( 25 ) with the fluid ( 2 ).

12. The cartridge according to claim 11 , wherein a surface energy of the inner surface of the container ( 4 ), is smaller than a surface energy of the tube ( 25 ) and/or smaller than a surface tension of the fluid ( 2 ).

13. The cartridge according to claim 12 , wherein a contact angle between the inner surface of the container ( 4 ) and a drop of the fluid ( 2 ) is greater than one of: 70°, 90°, 100°, 110°, 130°, 140°, and a contact angle between a surface of the tube ( 25 ) and a drop of the fluid ( 2 ).

14. The cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the cartridge ( 3 ) comprises an immersion element ( 27 ) attached to or formed by the tube ( 25 ).

15. The cartridge according to claim 14 , wherein the immersion element ( 27 ) is attached to or formed by a free end ( 25 B) of the tube ( 25 ) opposite a fixed end ( 25 A) of the tube ( 25 ) at the connection port ( 9 ).

16. The cartridge according to claim 15 , wherein the immersion element ( 27 ) is adapted such that at least the free end ( 25 B) of the tube ( 25 ) is kept in the fluid ( 2 ).

17. The cartridge according to claim 14 , wherein the immersion element ( 27 ) has a tube-like or conical shape and encompasses the tube ( 25 ) at least in part.

18. The cartridge according to claim 14 , wherein a surface energy of the immersion element ( 27 ) is greater than or equal to a surface tension of the fluid ( 2 ).

19. The cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the tube ( 25 ) or an immersion element ( 27 ) thereof comprises an at least partially hydrophilic and/or polar surface, and the fluid ( 2 ) is aqueous and/or comprises an aqueous solution and/or water as solvent.

20. The cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the container ( 4 ) comprises an at least partially hydrophobic and/or non-polar inner surface or layer, and the fluid ( 2 ) is aqueous and/or comprises an aqueous solution and/or water as solvent.

21. The cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the fluid ( 2 ) contains at least one of: (i) at least one additive, and (ii) benzalkonium chloride, in order to decrease its surface tension.

22. The cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the tube ( 25 ) has at least partially a shape of a helix, which is a conical helix and/or is tapered towards a fixed end ( 25 A) of the tube ( 25 ) at the connection port ( 9 ), opposite a free end ( 25 B) of the tube ( 25 ).

23. The cartridge according to claim 22 , wherein a largest diameter of the helix at a free end ( 25 B) opposite the fixed end ( 25 A), is at least 5% or 10% smaller than the inner diameter of the container ( 4 ).

24. The cartridge according to claim 22 , wherein at least one of:
the helix is compressible,
an axial length of the helix is adaptable according to a level of the fluid ( 2 ), and
the cartridge ( 3 ) comprises a piston ( 35 ) which is movable within the container ( 4 ), with the free end ( 25 B) of the helix or the tube ( 25 ) being attached or fastened to the piston ( 35 ).

25. The cartridge according to claim 22 , wherein at least one of:
the free end ( 25 B) of the helix or tube ( 25 ) is located at or adjacent to a lowest point of t

Assignees

• Boehringer Ingelheim Int

Inventors

• Dunne Stephen Terence
• Eicher Joachim Carl Herbert
• Graessl Herbert
• Jung Andree
• Wuttke Gilbert

Classifications

• B05B11/1091

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

• B05B11/026

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

• A61M11/007 Primary

  Syringe-type or piston-type sprayers or atomisers · CPC title

• A61M15/0065

  Inhalators with dosage or measuring devices (A61M15/0028 takes precedence; dosage devices incorporated in aerosol cans B65D83/52) · 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