Nebulizer and cartridge

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12138381-B2
Application number	US-201816954121-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 18, 2018
Priority date	Dec 21, 2017
Publication date	Nov 12, 2024
Grant date	Nov 12, 2024

Abstract

A cartridge and a nebulizer for nebulizing a fluid as well as a method for fluidically connecting the cartridge to the nebulizer are proposed. The cartridge comprises a closure with a valve, wherein the valve displaces fluid into the nebulizer when opened. Further, the cartridge forms two axially spaced sealings with the nebulizer when connected.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A cartridge ( 3 ) for containing a fluid ( 2 ) to be nebulized by a nebulizer ( 1 ), the cartridge ( 3 ) comprising:
a closure ( 21 ) with an opening ( 23 D) for receiving a connecting element ( 9 ) of the nebulizer ( 1 ) for fluidically connecting the cartridge ( 3 ) to the nebulizer ( 1 ), wherein:
the connecting element ( 9 ) includes a rigid capillary tube, sized and shaped to be received into the opening ( 23 D) when the connecting element ( 9 ) is moved axially onto the cartridge ( 3 ),
the closure ( 21 ) comprises a moveable closure element ( 24 ) forming a valve ( 29 ) that is opened when the rigid capillary tube of the connecting element ( 9 ) is received in order to provide a fluidic connection of the cartridge ( 3 ) or fluid ( 2 ) to the connecting element ( 9 ), wherein the valve ( 29 ) is adapted to stay open as long as the connecting element ( 9 ) is held in the closure ( 21 ) or opening ( 23 D) thereof,
axial movement of the rigid capillary tube against one end of the closure element ( 24 ) causes an opposite end of the closure element ( 24 ) to move axially into the fluid ( 2 ) as the connecting element ( 9 ) is received into the opening ( 23 D), such that the opposite end of the closure element ( 24 ) displaces a displacement volume of the fluid ( 2 ) through an axial channel ( 24 G) within the closure element ( 24 ) and into the rigid capillary tube of the connecting element ( 9 ), and thereafter to a delivery mechanism ( 5 ) of the nebulizer ( 1 ), and
a size of the displacement volume is at least two doses of the fluid ( 2 ) to be nebulized, where one dose of the fluid is defined as an amount of the fluid ( 2 ) that is nebulized out to a user upon one actuation of the nebulizer ( 1 ) by the user.

2. The cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the closure ( 21 ) comprises a closure part ( 23 ) holding the movable closure element ( 24 ).

3. The cartridge according to claim 2 , wherein the closure part ( 23 ) is softer or more flexible than the closure element ( 24 ).

4. The cartridge according to claim 2 , wherein the closure part ( 23 ) forms a sealing (S 1 ) with an integrally formed portion ( 20 B) of an outer container ( 20 ) of the cartridge ( 3 ) as well as a sealing (S 5 , S 6 ) with the connecting element ( 9 ) and/or a holder ( 6 ) thereof.

5. The cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein a channel portion ( 23 K) of the closure ( 21 ) is opened when the connecting element ( 9 ) is received, the channel portion ( 23 K) fluidically connecting the cartridge ( 3 ) to the connecting element ( 9 ).

6. The cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the size of the displacement volume is at least twice a size of one of: (i) 1 μl to 80 μl of the fluid 2 , (ii) at least 5 μl, (iii) at least 10 μl, (iv) at least 20 μl, (v) about 15 μl, and (vi) about 50 μl.

7. The cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the cartridge ( 3 ) is adapted to be filled with the fluid ( 2 ) through the valve ( 29 ) or closure element ( 24 ), wherein the valve ( 29 ) or closure element ( 24 ) is adapted to couple in form-fit manner with a filling element ( 27 ) so that the valve ( 29 ) or closure element ( 24 ) can be closed.

8. The cartridge ( 3 ) of claim 1 , wherein:
the cartridge ( 3 ) includes a container ( 20 ) containing the fluid ( 2 );
the closure ( 21 ) comprises an integrally formed closure part ( 23 ) forming a sealing (S 1 , S 7 ) with an integrally formed portion ( 20 B) of the container ( 20 ) of the cartridge ( 3 ) as well as a sealing (S 5 , S 6 ) with the connecting element ( 9 ),
the cartridge ( 3 ) comprises a securing element ( 30 ) assisting in the sealing (S 1 , S 7 ) by securing and urging the closure ( 21 ) into the container ( 20 ), and
the closure part ( 23 ) is clamped between the securing element ( 30 ) and the container ( 20 ) and thereby is pressed onto and into the container ( 20 ) by way of the securing element ( 30 ).

9. The cartridge according to claim 8 , wherein, the sealing (S 1 , S 7 ) with the closure ( 21 ) and the container ( 20 ) of the cartridge ( 3 ) are made by direct abutment of portions of the closure ( 21 ) against the container ( 20 ) both in the axial direction and the radial direction of the cartridge ( 3 ).

10. The cartridge according to claim 9 , wherein the closure ( 21 ) or the closure part ( 23 ) forms a head of the cartridge ( 3 ).

11. The cartridge according to claim 9 , wherein the closure ( 21 ) or closure part ( 23 ) form a sealing against the container ( 20 ) of the cartridge ( 3 ).

12. The cartridge according to claim 9 , wherein the container ( 20 ) forms an outer cylindrical shell of the cartridge ( 3 ).

13. The cartridge according to claim 9 , wherein the container ( 20 ) is of one-piece construction with a portion ( 20 B) holding the closure ( 21 ).

14. The cartridge according to claim 9 , wherein the closure ( 21 ) or its closure part ( 23 ) comprises a circumferential notch or neck ( 23 C) for engagement with the container ( 20 ) and/or forming a sealing (S 1 ) with the container ( 20 ).

15. The cartridge according to claim 9 , wherein the cartridge ( 3 ) comprises a tube ( 25 ) for conveying the fluid ( 2 ), and wherein at least one of: (i) a fixed end ( 25 A) of the tube ( 25 ) is connected to the closure element ( 24 ), and a free end ( 25 B) of the tube ( 25 ) is configured to be immersed in the fluid ( 2 ), and (ii) the tube ( 25 ) flexible.

16. The cartridge according to claim 9 , wherein the closure ( 21 ) or the opening ( 23 D) comprises a first portion ( 23 E) and a second portion ( 23 F) for forming the sealing (S 5 , S 6 ) at the first and second portion ( 23 E, 23 F), respectively, when the connecting element ( 9 ) is received.

17. The cartridge according to claim 16 , wherein the first portion ( 23 E) is tapered and/or in that the second portion ( 23 F) is substantially cylindrical.

18. The cartridge according to claim 9 , wherein the cartridge ( 3 ) comprises a variable or collapsible volume ( 4 ) for the fluid ( 2 ).

19. The cartridge according to claim 8 , wherein the securing element ( 30 ) secures the closure ( 21 ) to the container ( 20 ) in the axial direction.

20. The cartridge according to claim 19 wherein the securing element ( 30 ) is embodied as a crimp cap.

21. The cartridge according to claim 19 , wherein the securing element ( 30 ) is formed ring-like and/or comprises a central recess ( 30 D).

22. The cartridge according to claim 19 , wherein the securing element ( 30 ) of the cartridge ( 3 ) comprises a closure cover ( 21 A), covering the closure ( 21 ) axially and/or on a front side.

23. The cartridge according to claim 8 , wherein the securing element presses the closure part ( 23 ) into the container ( 20 ) in the axial direction, thereby forming the sealing (S 7 ) between the closure part ( 23 ) and outer container ( 20 ) in the axial direction.

24. The cartridge according to claim 9 , wherein the closure ( 21 ) comprises a spherical seal ( 32 ) located, preferably press-fitted, within the opening ( 23 D) sealing the opening ( 23 D) initially before receiving the connecting element ( 9 ).

25. The cartridge according to claim 9 , wherein the closure ( 21 ) comprises a sealing wall ( 33 ) located within the opening ( 23 D) sealing the opening ( 23 D) initially before receiving the connecting element ( 9 ).

26. The cartridge according to claim 25 , wherein the sealing wall ( 33 )

Assignees

• Boehringer Ingelheim Int

Inventors

• Wuttke Gilbert
• Graessl Herbert

Classifications

• A61M15/0025

  with caps · CPC title

• A61M15/0013

  with inhalation check valves · CPC title

• 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

• B05B15/33

  Weighted · CPC title