Inhaler

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025374968-A1
Application number	US-202318876554-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 24, 2023
Priority date	Sep 6, 2022
Publication date	Dec 11, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

An inhaler according to an embodiment includes a stick including a chamber configured to accommodate a capsule containing powder and a piercing hole that opens toward the chamber, a holder including an insertion groove into which the stick is inserted in a first direction, a piercing member provided in the insertion groove and configured to crush the capsule through the piercing hole when the stick is inserted into the insertion groove, and a vibrating member configured to provide vibration to the piercing member.

First claim

1 . An inhaler comprising:
a stick comprising a chamber configured to accommodate a capsule containing powder and a piercing hole that opens toward the chamber; a holder comprising an insertion groove into which the stick is inserted in a first direction; a piercing member provided in the insertion groove and configured to crush the capsule through the piercing hole when the stick is inserted into the insertion groove; and a vibrating member configured to provide vibration to the piercing member.

2 . The inhaler of claim 1 , wherein the vibrating member is configured to vibrate the piercing member in a direction substantially parallel to the first direction.

3 . The inhaler of claim 1 , wherein the vibrating member is configured to vibrate the piercing member in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

4 . The inhaler of claim 1 , wherein the vibrating member is configured to vibrate the piercing member in a direction substantially parallel to the first direction and in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

5 . The inhaler of claim 1 , further comprising:
a puff sensor configured to sense airflow inside the stick; and a processor configured to receive a sensing result from the puff sensor and control vibration of the vibrating member based on the sensing result.

6 . The inhaler of claim 1 , further comprising:
a sub-vibrating member configured to provide vibration to the chamber.

7 . The inhaler of claim 6 , further comprising:
an elastic member provided in the insertion groove and configured to be pressed by the stick when the stick is inserted into the insertion groove, wherein the sub-vibrating member is configured to provide vibration to the chamber of the stick through the elastic member.

8 . The inhaler of claim 6 , wherein the sub-vibrating member is configured to vibrate the chamber in a direction substantially parallel to the first direction.

9 . The inhaler of claim 6 , wherein the sub-vibrating member is configured to vibrate the chamber in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

10 . The inhaler of claim 6 , wherein the sub-vibrating member is configured to vibrate the chamber in a direction substantially parallel to the first direction and in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

11 . The inhaler of claim 6 , further comprising:
a puff sensor configured to sense airflow inside the stick; and a processor configured to receive a sensing result from the puff sensor and control vibration of the vibrating member and the sub-vibrating member based on the sensing result.

12 . The inhaler of claim 1 , wherein the stick comprises:
a mouthpiece provided on an end portion opposite to the chamber; an airflow channel configured to provide fluid communication between the chamber and the mouthpiece; and a mesh arranged between the airflow channel and the chamber.

13 . The inhaler of claim 1 , wherein the stick further comprises a sealing member configured to seal the piercing hole and be crushed by the piercing member when the stick is inserted into the insertion groove.

14 . The inhaler of claim 1 , wherein the stick comprises a door configured to selectively open and close the piercing hole.

15 . The inhaler of claim 14 , further comprising:
an insertion detection sensor configured to detect whether the stick is inserted into the insertion groove; a door hinge configured to move the door; and a processor configured to receive a detection result from the insertion detection sensor and open and close the door by controlling the door hinge based on the detection result.

Assignees

• Kt & G Corp

Inventors

• Kim Min Kyu
• Sunwoo Paul Joon
• Lee Won Kyeong

Classifications

• A24F40/42

  Cartridges or containers for inhalable precursors · CPC title

• A24F40/20

  Devices using solid inhalable precursors · CPC title

• A24F40/485

  Valves; Apertures · CPC title

• A24F40/05

  Devices without heating means · CPC title

• A61M15/0066

  with means for varying the dose size · CPC title