MXPA01003001A - Improved inhaler - Google Patents

Abstract

A breath actuated inhaler for delivering medicament by inhalation, comprising a housing having a mouthpiece and defining an air flow path extending from the mouthpiece through the housing;the housing holding a replaceable canister of medicament actuatable to deliver a dose of medicament into the air flow path, wherein the housing defines an opening in the air flow path and the opening is closed by a closure element connected to and replaceable with the canister. The closure element acts as a safety feature because it is only closed when the inhaler is used with a canister to which a closureelement is connected the closure element carries an indication of the type of medicament in the canister to allow the user to recognise the type of medicament. A plurality of inhalers may be provided in which each given inhaler has an opening with a different shape and has a closure element with a shape which conforms with the opening of the given inhaler but which does not conform with the openings of the other inhalers.

Description

- - INHALER IMPROVED TO SUPPLY A MEDICINE The present invention describes an inhaler for the delivery of a medicament by means of inhalation, particularly but not exclusively for an inhaler operated by respiration. Inhalers are commonly used to supply a wide range of medications. The inhaler houses a can or can of medicine which is operated to deliver a dose of medication through a mouthpiece. Desirably the can or can is replaceable so that the inhaler is reused after the can or can is empty or can be used with different drugs. However, this advantage can create security problems. In particular, it is difficult to control the type of medication provided by inhalers. For example, users can insert a can or can containing an inappropriate medication when different medications are commonly administered in cans or similar cans. Users may not know if a supplied inhaler which is on hand will supply the desired medication. Such problems are particularly serious when the inhaler needs REF. DO NOT. 127947 provide a particular medication urgently in an emergency. The present invention has the purpose of improving safety in an inhaler with a can or replaceable can. According to the present invention, there is provided an inhaler for delivering a medicament by means of inhalation, comprising a housing having a nozzle and defining an air flow path extending from the nozzle through the housing; the housing holds a can or replaceable medicament can that is activated to deliver a dose of medicament in an air flow path, wherein the housing defines an opening in the air flow path and this is closed by means of an element closure connected to and replaceable with the can or can. The closure element acts as a safety device since it only closes when the inhaler is used with a can or can to which a closure element is connected. This allows a better control over the type of medicament to be supplied in cans or valid cans can be provided with closure elements connected thereto. The absence of the closure element can be recognized by the user in the insertion. Conveniently, the closure element carries an indication of the type of medicament in the can or can. In this way, the closure element can provide the advantage that it allows the type of medication to be easily recognized by a user. It is particularly convenient that the indication is provided in an element connected to the can or can so as to reduce the risk of confusion. The indication can be printed information, such as different colors, patterns, texts or numbers or the color of the closure element. Desirably, the indication is on a tangible surface, for example a pattern embossed or serrated. This allows a user with a poor sight scope to recognize the type of medication, which could not otherwise be possible, particularly in the case of a visible indication, that is, through a window. Preferably, the opening is defined on the outer surface of the housing. This allows the presence or absence of the closure element that is clearly visible to a user of the inhaler with the can or can adjusted. Desirably, the opening is adjacent to the mouthpiece. This allows the closure element to be easily formed with a connection to the can or can which is normally adjacent the nozzle to allow engagement or engagement in a block of the nozzle directing the medicament out of the nozzle. This also helps to make the indication visible because in normal use the inhaler will remain with the mouthpiece in view, in front of the user. Security can be further enhanced if the present invention is applied to a breathing-powered inhaler further comprising its actuating mechanism arranged to be operated to operate the can or can by means of a flow through the airflow path , the opening is fixed, when opened, to output the flow sufficiently to prevent the operation of the drive mechanism. In this way, the inhaler will not provide medication if it is inserted with a can or can without a closure element, potentially containing an inappropriate medication, or if the can or can is inserted in the wrong position. This improves safety and provides the inhaler with better control over the proper use of the inhaler.

The opening can be positioned and dimensioned to prevent operation in the absence of a closure element at an inhalation level above the expected rate or flow rate at the nozzle. For example, the operation can be prevented at a flow rate of at least 8 times a standard inhalation flow rate or rate. Conversely, it is unnecessary for the closure element when the opening is completely closed as long as it closes the opening sufficiently to allow operation of the inhaler. Typically, in a breath-operated inhaler wherein the drive mechanism includes a trigger positioned in the air flow path that responds to the flow to cause operation of the drive mechanism, for example, by comprising a pre-charge mechanism arranged for store a loading force to drive the can or can, the trigger is arranged to release the stored force. The trigger is preferably a paddle arranged to be physically moved by means of a flow through the path of the air flow, although an electronic trigger detects the Flow is a conceivable alternative. The present invention is particularly adapted to a simple, common form of the inhaler operated by breathing in which the housing has exterior walls defining a space constituting the path of the air flow. Desirably, the opening is placed in the path of the air flow between the trigger and the nozzle. This is a convenient structure, because the inhalation flow generated by the inhalation in the nozzle is drawn through the opening without limiting the flow produced within the path of the air flow in the trigger to prevent the operation of the trigger. Preferably the housing defines an inlet opening for the air flow path having an opening area smaller than the opening. This increases the resistance of the air flow in the opening in relation to the opening which helps in ensuring that the inhalation flow leaves through the opening in preference to the inlet opening, therefore allowing the opening to prevent the operation of the drive mechanism. According to a second aspect of this invention, a plurality of inhalers are provided according to the first aspect wherein each given inhaler has an opening with a different shape and has a closure element with a shape which fits with the opening of the given inhaler but which does not conform with the openings of the other inhalers. This provides recognition of inhalers with a can or can shape. Inhalers are used exclusively with cans or cans that have a closing element with a tight opening. The use of cans or cans in inhalers that do not have a tight opening can be recognized by the different shapes and can be prevented by the shapes of the opening and the closing element of a given inhaler preventing the adjustment of the closure element in an inhaler other than the inhaler provided. Alternatively, the different forms of the inhalers may further comprise a drive mechanism arranged to be operated by actuating the can or can by means of a flow through the path of the air flow and the shape of the closure element of an inhaler provided is such that when the closing element is adjusted in another Inhaler different from the provided inhaler leaves the opening of the other inhaler open enough to prevent the operation of the other inhaler's drive mechanism. Accordingly, the second aspect of the present invention makes it possible to control the use of cans or cans in particular inhalers. For example, different shapes of the opening and closure elements can be used for the respective types of medication to reduce the opportunity for cross-contamination between inhalers for different medications. With any aspect of the present invention, the can or can and the closing element are connected by means of a connector which is arranged to prevent reconnection after separation of the can or can and the closing element, for example by means of the connector is formed with a portion weak disposed so that it breaks in the presence of the rest of the connector in the application of a force to separate the can or can and the closing element. This further increases the safety of the present invention because it prevents a closing element of an efficient can or can being removed and attached to a new can or can.

To allow a better understanding, an inhaler which includes the present invention will be described by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES Figure 1 is a front view of the inhaler held by a hand; Figure 2 is a side view of the inhaler; Figure 2A is a side view of the inhaler without a tight closure element; Figure 3 is a side view of the inhaler with a lower portion of the housing that is removed; Figure 4 is a side view of an upper portion of the inhaler housing with a can or can being removed; Figure 5 is a side view of an alternative form of the collar for connecting the closure element to the can or can; Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VI-VI in Figure 5; Figure 7 is a side view of the assembly arrangement of the can or can and the drive mechanism; Figure 8 is a rear and side view of the drive mechanism; Figure 9 is a rear and side view opposite of figure 8 of the drive mechanism; Figure 10 is a front view of the arrangement for loading the drive mechanism; Figure 11 is a side view of an alternative form of button arrangement for loading the drive mechanism; Figure 12 is a view of certain parts of the front and side drive mechanism; Figures 13 to 16 are schematic views of the drive mechanism illustrating respective states over a complete cycle of operation; and Figure 17 is a view of the electronic chronometer circuit. An inhaler 1 which includes the present invention is illustrated in figures 1 and 2, respectively showing the front view of the inhaler 1 held by a user's hand and a side view of the inhaler. The inhaler has a housing 2 comprising a portion 3 of the upper housing and a portion 4 of the lower housing which are coupled together. The portions of the upper and lower housings 3 and 4 have outer walls which are hollow to define a space to accommodate a can or can 5 of medicament and an operable mechanism 6 operable to drive the can or can 5 to deliver a dose of medicament. The portion 3 of the upper housing has opposite side walls 7 joined by a flat front wall 8, a curved rear wall 9 and an upper wall 10. The portion 3 of the lower housing has opposite side walls 11 adjusted to level with the side walls 7 of the portion 3 of the upper housing and a curved rear wall 12 adjusted to level with the rear wall 9 of the portion 3 of the upper housing. The rear walls 12 and 9 together form a curved surface comfortably received in the palm of the user's hand as illustrated in Figure 1. A nozzle 13 projecting from the lower housing portion 4 and which can be protected by a hinged lid 14 to the member 4 of the lower housing so that it can be opened as illustrated in Figure 2. The front of the member 4 of the lower housing between the side walls 11 is open to define an opening 15 in the outer surface of the housing 2 adjacent to the mouthpiece 13 between portions of the upper and lower housing 3 and 4. The opening 15 is closed by a closing element 16 adjusted level with a front wall 8 of the portion 3 of the upper housing to form part of the outer wall of the housing 2. The members of the upper and lower housing are joined by a coupling 17 allowing the lower housing member 4 to slide as illustrated in Figure 3. The can or can 5 fits into the upper housing portion 3 and can be slid off for replacement as illustrated in Figure 4. The can or can 5 comprises a generally cylindrical body 18 and a valve stem 19 which are compressed together to deliver a dose of medicament from the valve stem 19. The can or can is of a known type that includes a dosing chamber which captures a defined volume of medicament from the body 18 of the can or can 5., such a volume of medicament is supplied as a metered dose of the stem of the valve 19 in the compression of the stem 19 of the valve relative to the body 18. The stem 19 of the valve is diverted slightly outwards for the restoration of the valve. can or can 5 after compression to fill the dosing chamber. The stem 19 of the valve is received in a nozzle block 20 which is arranged to direct a dose of medicament supplied from the valve stem 19 out of the inhaler 1 through the nozzle 13. The closure element 16 is connected to the can or tin 5 by means of the collar 21 fitted around a recessed portion 22 of the body of the can or can 18. The collar 21 is permanently attached to the closure element 16 and can be integral with it. The collar 21 is restricted by the recessed portion 22 of the can or can 5 such that the closure element 16 is removed and replaced together with the can or can 5 as illustrated in Figure 4. The can or can 5 and the collar 21 they have a degree of movement in small relation along the axis of the can or can 5. This allows the driving of the can or can by means of the compression of the body 18 of the can or can towards the stem 19 of the valve when the shank 19 of the valve is fixed in relation to the inhaler 1 in the block 20 of the mouthpiece and the collar 21 is also fixed by means of the closing element 16 being fitted as part of the housing 2 of the inhaler 1. Figures 5 and 6 respectively illustrate a side view and a cross sectional view and an alternative collar 23 for connecting the closure element 16 to the can or can 5. The collar 23 includes a cylindrical portion 24 held in the recessed portion 22 of the body 18 of the can or can means of a projection 25 formed in the cylindrical portion 24 with a U-shaped cut-out 26. The cylindrical portion 24 has an extension 27 that extends beyond the end of the body 18 of the can or can to protect the stem 19 from the valve . The extension 27 is a reduced diameter relative to the rest of the cylindrical portion 24 of the collar 23. The force that is needed to separate the collar 21 or 23 from the can preferably exceeds the normal force of the fingers or hands of man, so that in normal use the closing element is permanently and effectively connected. The collars 21 and 23 are both formed with a weak portion constituted by two break lines 28 placed on opposite sides of the collar 21 or 23 and arranged to be broken or preferentially separated from the remainder of the collar 21 or 23 in the application of a force to separate the closing element 16 from the can or can 5. After the broken lines 28 have been broken or at least deformed to allow the removal of the can or tin 5, it is impossible to connect the collar 21 or 23 to a different can or can. The outer surface of the closure element 16 carries an indication of the type of medicament in the can or can 5 to which the closure element 16 is connected. The indication can be printed information, a printed form or engraved or marked pattern, or the color of the closure element 16. An entry opening 29 is formed in the portion 3 of the upper housing, in particular in its upper wall 10 and in the front wall 8. The outer walls of the housing defined by the upper and lower portions 3 and 4 and the closing element 16 are sealed together to define a closed space constituting an air flow path extending from the nozzle 13 through from the housing 2 to the inlet opening 29. The inhalation in the nozzle 13 creates a differential pressure that draws air into the inlet opening 29 through the air flow path around the can or can 5 and the drive mechanism 6 which fits into the housing 2. The drive mechanism 6 (described in detail below) has a trigger placed in the portion 4 of the upper housing which, in response to a flow through the air flow path, triggers the drive mechanism 6 to operate the can or can 5. If a can or can without a closing element connected to this is inserted in the housing 2, then the exit or vent 15 will be left open as illustrated in Figure 2A. Consequently, when a user inhales in the nozzle 13, the resistance of the flow through the outlet or vent 15 will be much less than the resistance of the flow through the remainder of the air flow path above the outlet or vent 15 of the inlet opening 29. In this way, the outlet or vent 15 will discharge most of the flow through the nozzle, thereby reducing the flow in the rest of the airflow path in the housing portion. higher. The placement of the outlet or vent 15 in the air flow path within the housing 2 between the nozzle 13 and the trigger reduces the air flow through the trigger. The outlet or vent 15 is positioned and dimensioned so that the flow in the trigger is reduced below the threshold necessary to operate the trigger and therefore prevents the operation of the trigger mechanism. drive 6. To help ensure that the outlet or vent 15 of sufficient outlet to flow, the outlet or vent 15 is provided with a large opening area and therefore has a lower flow resistance than the inlet opening 29. The outlet or vent 15 is dimensioned so that the drive mechanism is not operated in a flow through the nozzle 13 at a level above the maximum expected inhalation, for example in an inhalation of at least 8 times a proportion or need for standard inhalation flow. The trigger mechanism for the drive mechanism 6 is designed taking into consideration the flow generated by a standard inhalation selected by the designer. The inhalation mechanism 6 for driving the can or can 5 to deliver a dose of medicament is illustrated in figures 7 to 9. The elements illustrated in figures 7 to 9 are accommodated in the housing 2 but are illustrated separately for clarity. The can or can 5 is held with its valve stem 19 in a block 20 'of the nozzle connected to the nozzle 13, both fixed relative to the portion 4 of the lower housing. A block 20 'of the nozzle has a structural shape slightly different from the block of the nozzle 20 illustrated in figures 3 and 4 but performs the same function. The body 18 of the can or can 5 is supported by a guide block 30 fixed to the portion 3 of the upper housing having a curved inner surface which fits into the cylindrical surface of the can body 18 or can to allow axial movement of the can body or can 18 inside the housing 2. The actuation mechanism operates to compress the can body or can 18 relative to the valve stem 19 which holds the nozzle block 20 to deliver a dose of medicament. The drive mechanism structure 6 is as follows. The drive mechanism 6 includes a preload mechanism for loading a resilient load element in the form of a coiled load spring 31. The preload mechanism includes the load member consisting of a bar or shaft 32 encircled by the coils of the coil. loading spring 31. The bar or shaft extends and moves in a direction parallel to the cylindrical axis 80 of the can body 18. The bar or shaft 32 of the loading member has an elongated head 33.

As illustrated in Figure 1 the two buttons 34a and 34b, constitute the contact members that are manually pressed, mounted opposite one another on the side walls 7 of the wall of the portion 3 of the upper housing on the shaft side 80 of the can or can 5 held in the housing 2. The buttons 34 are manually pressed in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis 80 of the can or can 5 which makes them easy to grasp and move with a finger and thumb, as can be see in Figure 1. The buttons 34 load the load member 32 and the loading spring 31 through the arrangement illustrated in Figure 10 comprising two torsion springs 35a and 35b fixed within the upper housing portion. The torsion springs 35a and 35b fit into the elongated head 33 of the load member 32 and one of the respective buttons 34 to convert the lateral force applied to the buttons 34 to a downward force along the axis of the bar and member of the barrel. load 32. An alternative means for converting the lateral force applied to the buttons 34 is illustrated in Figure 11. This consists of a double hinged joint 36 fixed at its upper end 37 to the portion 3 of the upper housing, fixed in its lower end 38 to the elongate head 33 of the load member 32 and fixed in its intermediate joints or junctions 39a and 39b to the respective buttons 34a and 34b. The preload mechanism further includes a lever 40 rotated relative to the housing about a pivot 41. The lever 40 has a flat portion 42 that fits with the can or can connecting the body of the can or can adjacent the pivot 41 with a pair of arms 43 and 44 extending therefrom. An arm 43 engages by means of the loading spring 31 so that the loading spring 31 when loaded, deflects the compression of the can or can through the lever 40 attached to the can or can 5 by means of the fitting portion 42 of the can or can. Since the loading spring 3 is farther from the pivot 41 than the engagement portion 42 of the can or can, this provides an enpalacamiento between the load driving force and the force applied to the can or can 5. The arm 43 has a hole through which extends the bar or shaft 42 load member. The other arm 44 of the lever 43 has a similar hole through which an additional bar or shaft 78 extends to prevent lateral movement of the lever 40.

The drive mechanism further includes a drive mechanism for maintaining the lever 40 against compression of the can or can under the deviation of the spring 31 and for releasing the lever 40 in response to inhalation in the nozzle. The trigger mechanism is constructed as follows. The firing mechanism comprises the first joint or articulated joint 45 having two links 46 and 47 connected on a pivot to each other by a central pivot 50. The upper link 46 is connected on a pivot in both arms 43 and 44 of the lever 40 by means of a pivot 48. The lower link 47 is connected on a pivot to the upper housing portion 3 by means of a pivot 49. Accordingly, the first articulated joint 45 has a closed position as illustrated in FIGS. Figures 7 to 9 where it holds the lever 40 against compression of the can or can 5. In the closed position of the first joint 45 or articulated joint 45, the central pivot 50 is substantially aligned with the pivots 48 and 49 at the ends of the pins. links 46 and 47. As the first articulated joint 45 is connected to the lever at a position away from the pivot 41 after, the pivot fitting portion 42, this provides a mechanical force or enpalacamiento between the closing force provided by the first articulated joint and the force applied to the can or tin 5. This mechanical force or enpalacamiento increases the closing and the firing drive of the firing mechanism. The actuating mechanism further includes a second articulated joint 51 comprising 2 links 52 and 53 connected by means of a central pivot 54. A link 57 of the second articulated joint 51 is connected on a pivot to the portion 3 of the upper housing by means of of a pivot 55 and extends laterally so as to constitute a pallet of the trigger which is moved by means of an air flow thereon. The trigger vane 52 has a counterweight portion 79 (illustrated only in Figure 7) attached to the side opposite the pivot 55 of the laterally extending surface. The counterweight balances the trigger vane so that its center of mass is positioned on the pivot shaft 55. The other link 53 of the second articulated joint 51 extends from the vane 52 of the trigger between the arms 43, 44 of the lever 40 to the link or upper joint of the first articulated joint 45 where it is connected on a pivot by means of the pivot 56. Accordingly, the second joint or articulated joint 51 has a closed position illustrated in Figures 7 to 9. In the closed position of the second articulated joint, the central pivot 54 is substantially aligned with the pivots 55 and 56 and at the ends of the links 52 and 53. The drive mechanism 6 further includes a reset mechanism which is constructed as follows. The reset mechanism employs a closing element constituted by means of a third joint or articulated joint 57 comprising an upper link 58 and a lower link 59 connected together on a pivot by means of a central pivot 60. The upper link 58 is connected on a pivot in the portion 3 of the upper housing by means of the pivot 49 in common with the first joint or articulated joint 45. The lower pivot 59 is connected on a pivot to the bar or axle load member 32 by means of a pivot 61 The third joint or articulated joint 57 has a closed position as illustrated in Figures 7 to 9 where the bar or shaft maintains a load member 32 in its loading position as illustrated in Figure 7. In the position closed or secured of the third joint or articulated joint 57, the central pivot 60 is aligned with the pivots 48 and 61 at the ends of the links 58 and 59. The third joint or articulated joint 57 inclined in its closed position by means of a spring 67 connected to the upper housing portion 3. At both the third joint or articulated joint constitutes a closing element which maintains the can or can in a compressed state through the spring 31 and the lever 40 after the complete movement of the lever 40 to compress the can or can 5. The mechanism of readjustment further includes a release member 62 mounted on the bar or load member shaft 32 having an opening through which the bar or shaft 32 extends. The release member 62 moves relative to the bar or shaft 32 between the limits defined by a pin 63 exiting the bar or shaft 32 that engages a slide 64 formed in the release member 62. A spring stopwatch 65, the spirals which surround the bar or shaft 32, are connected between the arm 43 of the lever 40 and the release member 62. The chronometer spring 65 is in a relaxed state in FIG. 7 and is provided for tilting the release member 62 when it is loaded by means of the movement of the lever 40 to compress the can or can 5. A projection 66 extends from the release member 62 (as best seen in the partial view of Figure 12) to engage with the lower link 59 of the third articulated joint 57 when the release member 62 moves with the rod or shaft 32. Such engagement of the projection 56 with the third articulated joint 57 moves the third joint 57 against the inclined spring 67 to break the third articulated joint 67 with which the closing effect of the third articulated joint 57 is released. The bar or shaft 32 is tilted upwardly by means of an adjusting spring 68 which acts between the bar or shaft 32 and the portion of the upper housing 3 for moving the bar or shaft 32 upwardly in the breaking of the third articulated joint 57. The ascending movements of the release member 62 are cushioned by a damping element. 69 which consists of a stator 70 fixed in the upper housing portion 3 and a rotor 71 rotating in a viscous fluid provided between a rotor 71 and the stator 70. The rotor 71 is driven by means of a toothed mechanical rack. 72 connected to the release member 62. The operation of the drive mechanism 6 will be described with reference to figures 13 to 16 which illustrate various parts of the drive mechanism 6 in a schematic form for easy understanding. Figure 13 illustrates the neutral state in which the bar or load member shaft 32 is in its highest position, so that the loading spring 31 is relaxed. In this state, the first and second articulated joints 45 and 51 are both in their closed positions. The counter spring 65 and the reset spring 68 are relaxed. Upon pressing the buttons 34, the bar or load member shaft 32 moves upward to a second position illustrated in Fig. 14 by loading the loading spring 31 which therefore tilts the lever 40 toward compression of the can or can 5. However, the third articulated joint 45 is in its closed position when it holds the lever 40 against the compression of the can or can 5. The third articulated joint 45 is held in its closed position by means of the second articulated joint 51 which is in its closed position. The movement of the member bar or load shaft - twenty-one - 32 also loads the reset spring 68 and brings the third articulated joint 57 to its closed position where it is held by the spring 67. In this state of charge illustrated in FIG. 14, the inhaler 1 is easily loaded to discharge a dose of medicine. Inhalation by the user in the nozzle 13 generates an air flow through the air flow path defined within the housing 2 of the interior opening 29 to the nozzle 13. This air flow acts on the trigger blade 55 of the second articulated joint 51 causing it to move upwardly due to the pressure drop produced by the flow within the housing 2 to the position illustrated in figure 15 where the second articulated joint breaks. This breaks the first articulated joint 45 in its breaking position illustrated in Figure 15 which releases the lever 40 and allows to compress the can or can 5 under the inclination of the loading spring 31.

During compression of the cans or cans, the bar or shaft 32 which is closed in position by means of the third articulated joint 57. This causes the can or can that is maintained in its compression state by means of the bar or shaft 32 act to through the spring 31 and the lever 40, the force of the spring 31 greatly exceeds the internal readjustment tilt of the can or can 5. However, the movement of the lever 40 loads the counter spring 65 which according to the inclination of the member of release 62 ascending. The movement of the member The release 62 is delayed by the damping action of the damping element 69. The projection 66 of the release element 62 engages the third articulated joint 67 after a certain period of time after the actuation of the can or can 5. This time is determined by the force of the counter spring 65 and the damping properties of the damping element 69 is at least 100 ms or 200 ms and up to 1000 ms or 5000 ms to allow the full dose of the drug to be discharged from the can or can 5. Such a snap breaks the third articulated joint 57 in its breaking position as illustrated in Fig. 16. Subsequently, the reset spring 68 moves the load member shaft or bar 32 upward to a neutral position illustrated in Fig. 13. At the same time the bar or shaft 32 lifts the release member 62 which continues to damp by means of the damping 69 so that the readjustment movement is re-damped. The release of the bar or shaft 32 causes the spring 31 to raise the lever 40 which has two effects. First, it allows the can or can to be automatically reset. Secondly, it causes the first and second articulated joints 45 and 51 to straighten, returning to their closed position in the neutral position of the trigger mechanism illustrated in Figure 13. The loading spring 31 and the counter spring 65 are preloaded and they do not work against the resetting movement, so that the reset spring 68 only has to overcome the friction and the weight of the component. The buttons 34a and 34b projecting from the inhaler when the drive is in its relaxed state as shown in FIG. 1 and are pressed to a position at the same level with the side wall 8 of the upper housing portion 3. Therefore, the distance between the extremities of the buttons before pressing them is less than the maximum length of the inhaler 1 in the direction parallel to the axis 80 of the can or can 5 and less than the total length of the can or can 5 that includes the body 18 and the shank of the valve 19. Also, the The total distance over which the two buttons 34 move relative one or the other is greater than the distance by means of which the body 18 and the stem of the valve 19 of the can or can 5 are relatively compressed. This is carried out by means of the mechanical force obtained by the loading spring 31 which engages the lever 40 at a point farther from the pivot 41 than the fitting portion of the can or can 42. The current flow recommended in order to Properly delivering a medication will depend on the way the medication is operated, the position when it can be deposited in the mouth, the user's lungs and how to distribute the medication. Some medications are inhaled as a fine mist and transported along the lungs whereas others are inhaled as a stream of liquid deposited in the person's mouth. These different types of medications require different types of inhalation and therefore different inhalation flows and different user actions. It is possible to adapt to each one a number of different inhalers to be used with a number of different types of medicament by providing in each inhaler an outlet with a different shape and providing forms of different closure elements which are adjusted with a single type of inhaler. For example, a different possible shape is illustrated by the dashed line in Figure 1. In this way the can or can with differently formed closure elements is used exclusively with the inhaler having a fitted outlet. Different forms can prevent a closure element from being adjusted in an inhaler of the inhaler having a tight outlet. Alternatively, the closure element may fail to close the outlet of an inhaler having a differently shaped outlet such that the remaining opening of an outlet to the flow sufficient to prevent operation of the actuating mechanism.

It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method to implement the aforementioned invention, is that which is clear from the manufacture of the objects to which it refers.

Claims (25)

1. CLAIMS Having described the invention as above, the content of the following claims is claimed as property: 1. An inhaler for the delivery of a medicament by inhalation, characterized in that it comprises: a housing having a nozzle and defining a flow path of air, which extends from the nozzle through the housing, a housing that holds a can or replaceable medicament can that is activated to deliver a dose of medicament in an air flow path, wherein the housing defines an opening in the air flow path and the opening is closed by means of a closure element connected to and replaceable with the can or can. An inhaler according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the closure element carries an indication of the type of medicament in the can or can. 3. An inhaler according to claim 2, characterized in that the indication is on a tangible surface. 4. An inhaler according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the opening is defined on the outer surface of the housing. 5. An inhaler according to claim 4, characterized in that the opening is adjacent to the nozzle. An inhaler according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing has two coupled portions which are separated to allow the insertion of a can or can and in which they are shaped to define the opening between the two portions when they are coupled together. An inhaler according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing has exterior walls that define a space that constitutes the path of the air flow. 8. An inhaler according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises a trigger mechanism arranged to be operated to drive the can or can by a flow through the air flow path, the orifice is arranged, so what when it opens it can exit or vent enough flow to prevent the operation of the drive mechanism. An inhaler according to claim 8, characterized in that the drive mechanism includes a trigger device positioned from the path to the air flow in response to the flow to motivate the operation of the drive mechanism. An inhaler according to claim 9, characterized in that, the actuating mechanism further comprises a preloaded charging mechanism for storing a loading force for driving the can or can, the trigger is arranged to release the stored force . An inhaler according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the trigger is a pallet arranged to be physically moved by a flow through the air flow path. 12. An inhaler according to claim 9 to 11, characterized in that the opening is positioned in the path of the air flow between the trigger and the nozzle. 13. An inhaler according to claim 8 to 12, characterized in that the housing defines an outer opening for the airflow path having an opening area smaller than the opening. An inhaler according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the can or can and the closing element are connected by a connector which is arranged to prevent reconnection after separation of the can or can and the closing element. 15. An inhaler according to claim 14, characterized in that the connector is formed with a fragile portion arranged to be preferably rotated to the rest of the connector in the application of a force to separate the can or can and the closure element. 16. An inhaler according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that, the closure element is connected to a collar fitted around the recessed portion of the can or can as a connector between the can or can and the closure element. 17. A plurality of inhalers each according to any one of the claims above, characterized in that each has an inhaler having an opening with different shape and has a closure element with a shape which matches the opening of the given inhaler but which does not match the opening of other inhalers. 18. A plurality of inhalers according to claim 17, characterized in that the shapes of the opening and the closing element of a given inhaler prevent the fastening of the closure element in an inhaler different from the given inhaler. 19. A plurality of inhalers according to claim 17 or 18, characterized in that the inhalers further comprise a drive mechanism arranged to be operated to the can or can trigger by a flow through the air flow path and the shape of the element of closure of a given inhaler such that when the closure element fixed on the inhaler other than the given inhaler leaves open the other inhaler orifice sufficiently open to prevent operation of the other inhaler drive mechanism. 20. A plurality of inhalers according to any of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the cans or cans kept in different inhalers store different types of medication and the closing elements of the different inhalers carry different indications of the types of medication in the cans or cans to which they are connected. 21. An inhaler for the delivery of a medicament by inhalation, characterized in that it comprises a housing having a nozzle and defining an air flow path extending from the nozzle through the housing, the housing is arranged to maintain a can or replaceable medicatable drug can for delivering the dose of a medicament into the air flow path, wherein the housing defines an opening in the air flow path arranged to be closed by a closure element connected to the can or can. 22. A can or can adapted for use in an inhaler according to claim 21, characterized in that a closure element is connected thereto for closing the opening in the air flow path defined in the inhaler housing. 23. A can or canister inhaler in accordance with claim 22, characterized in that the can or can and the closing element are connected by a connector which is arranged to prevent reconnection after separation of a can or can and the closing element. 24. A can or can inhaler according to claim 23, characterized in that the connector is formed with weak portions arranged to be broken in preference to the rest of the connector in the application of a force to separate the can or can and the closing element . A can or can according to any of claims 21 to 24, characterized in that the closure element is connected to a collar fixed around a recessed portion of the can or can as a connector between the can or can and the closing.