Nebulizer

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9943654-B2
Application number	US-201113702362-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 1, 2011
Priority date	Jun 24, 2010
Publication date	Apr 17, 2018
Grant date	Apr 17, 2018

Abstract

A nebulizer ( 1 ), in particular inhaler, having a pre-installed container ( 3 ) is proposed. The nebulizer comprises a securing member ( 30 ) preventing fluidic connection or opening of the container in a delivery state. The securing member can be manually opened, removed, released or destroyed by torsioning, by opening along a pre-determined breaking line and/or by means of an actuator ( 50 ). This facilitates handling.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A nebulizer forming an inhaler, comprising:
a first housing part and a second housing part forming a housing, where the first and second housing parts are axially slidable in a longitudinal direction relative to one another between a delivery state and an activated state;
a container, containing a fluid, disposed within the housing such that: (i) in the delivery state the first and second housing parts are sufficiently axially separated such that the fluid within the container is not accessed, and (ii) in the activated state the first and second housing parts are sufficiently axially proximate such that the fluid within the container is accessed;
a securing member operating to prevent the first housing part and second housing part to move axially from the delivery state to the activated state, the securing member including an actuator for grasping by a user to open, remove, release or destroy the securing member, and the securing member including a body having a pre-determined, weakened breaking line extending in a continuously curved fashion and including at least one of: (i) a reduction in a thickness of the material of the body, and (ii) a perforation in the material of the body,
wherein the securing member must be manually opened, removed, released or destroyed by tearing the body of the securing member along the breaking line, and thereby permit the first housing part and second housing part to move axially from the delivery state to the activated state, and
wherein the weakened breaking line includes a substantially axially extending section in the longitudinal direction, which transitions to a substantially circumferentially extending section as the weakened breaking line extends in the continuously curved fashion.

2. The nebulizer according to claim 1 , wherein the securing member is molded as one integral piece with the actuator.

3. The nebulizer according to claim 1 , wherein the actuator is non-detachable from the securing member.

4. The nebulizer according to claim 1 , wherein the actuator includes a grasping element, including at least one of a handhold, a grip, a lever, a tag, a flap, a ring, and a clip to facilitate grasping by the user.

5. The nebulizer according to claim 1 , wherein the nebulizer comprises an outlet end or mouthpiece, and the actuator is located adjacent to the outlet end or mouthpiece in the delivery state.

6. The nebulizer according to claim 1 , wherein the nebulizer comprises a mouthpiece cover, and the actuator is located at least one of: adjacent to, at least partially below, and at least partially above the mouthpiece cover in the delivery state.

7. The nebulizer according to claim 1 , wherein the nebulizer comprises a releasing element operating to permit a dose of the fluid to be nebulized, and the actuator is located at least one of: adjacent to, above, and around the releasing element in the delivery state.

8. The nebulizer according to claim 4 , wherein the nebulizer comprises a releasing element operating to permit a dose of the fluid to be nebulized, and the actuator or the grasping element thereof is located at least one of partially above, and on, the releasing element so that the user tends to actuate the actuator before pressing the releasing element.

9. The nebulizer according to claim 1 , further comprising a conveying tube, operating to access the fluid within the container, before or during first use of the nebulizer, when the first and second housing parts are axially located in the activated state by insertion of the conveying element into the container, wherein the conveying tube operates to convey the fluid from the container.

10. The nebulizer according to claim 1 , further comprising a latching means having at least one latching lug for securing the first and second housing parts against detachment when in the delivery state and in the activated state, wherein the first and second housing parts may attain a loading rotational position, differing from a rotational position of the delivery state, whereby the first and second housing parts may be detached for inserting the container.

11. The nebulizer according to claim 1 , wherein the securing member comprises inner radial protrusions or ribs forming axial stops for preventing the first and second housing parts from moving axially towards one another while in the delivery state.

12. The nebulizer according to claim 1 , wherein the securing member forms at least one of a loop, ring, sleeve and banderole.

13. The nebulizer according to claim 1 , wherein the securing member comprises a hinge for opening the securing member.

14. The nebulizer according to claim 1 , wherein the actuator is formed by at least one of: a self-adhesive tap, a self-adhesive tag, a self-adhesive label, a self-adhesive tape, a flexible material, and a foil-like material.

15. The nebulizer according to claim 1 , wherein the actuator includes a ring-shaped hold for grasping by the user to facilitate the opening, removing, releasing or destroying of the securing member along the weakened breaking line.

16. The nebulizer according to claim 1 , wherein the substantially axially extending section and the substantially circumferentially extending section define a helical path as the weakened breaking line extends in the continuously curved fashion.

17. The nebulizer according to claim 1 , wherein the actuator is also continuously curved and complements the continuous curvature of the weakened breaking line.

18. A nebulizer forming an inhaler, comprising:
a first housing part and a second housing part forming a housing, where the first and second housing parts are axially slidable in a longitudinal direction relative to one another between a delivery state and an activated state;
a container, containing a fluid, disposed within the housing such that: (i) in the delivery state the first and second housing parts are sufficiently axially separated such that the fluid within the container is not accessed, and (ii) in the activated state the first and second housing parts are sufficiently axially proximate such that the fluid within the container is accessed;
a securing member operating to prevent the first housing part and second housing part to move axially from the delivery state to the activated state, the securing member including a body having a pre-determined, weakened breaking line extending in a continuously curved fashion and including at least one of: (i) a reduction in a thickness of the material of the body, and (ii) a perforation in the material of the body,
wherein the securing member must be manually opened, removed, released or destroyed by tearing the body of the securing member along the breaking line, and thereby permit the first housing part and second housing part to move axially from the delivery state to the activated state, and
wherein the weakened breaking line includes a substantially axially extending section in the longitudinal direction, which transitions to a substantially circumferentially extending section as the weakened breaking line extends in the continuously curved fashion.

19. The nebulizer according to claim 18 , wherein the securing member is molded as one integral piece with an actuator.

20. The nebulizer according to claim 18 , wherein an actuator is non-detachable from the securing member.

21. The nebulizer according to claim 18 , wherein the securing member includes a grasping element, including at least one of a handhold, a grip, a lever, a tag, a flap, a ring,

Assignees

• Herrmann Frank
• Krenz Holger
• Endert Guido
• Wergen Horst
• Boehringer Ingelheim Int

Inventors

• Herrmann Frank
• Krenz Holger
• Endert Guido
• Wergen Horst

Classifications

• B05B11/1059

  Means for locking a pump or its actuation means in a fixed position (B05B11/1091 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B05B11/108

  Means for counting the number of dispensing strokes · CPC title

• B05B11/1001

  Piston pumps (B05B11/1087, B05B11/1088, B05B11/109 take precedence) · CPC title

• A61M2205/276

  preventing unwanted use · CPC title

• A61M15/0028

  using prepacked dosages, one for each application, e.g. capsules to be perforated or broken-up · CPC title