WO1982001133A1

WO1982001133A1 - Inhalation device

Info

Publication number: WO1982001133A1
Application number: PCT/EP1981/000157
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gulden Lomberg Chem Fab Gmbh Byk
Original assignee: Byk Gulden Lomberg Chemische Fabrik GmbH
Current assignee: Takeda GmbH
Priority date: 1980-10-08
Filing date: 1981-10-06
Publication date: 1982-04-15
Anticipated expiration: 1983-04-08
Also published as: JPS57501518A; EP0049514A1; ZA816901B; DE3037917A1

Abstract

The use properties of a known inhaling apparatus with breath-controlled release of the active ingredient are improved by sound-damping and movement-damping measures on the trigger mechanism.

Description

Inhalation Device

Technical Field

The invention relates to an inhaling apparatus with breath-controlled release of the active ingredient, having improved properties in use. Prior Art

In German Offenlegungsschrift 2,055,734, an inhaling apparatus is described which, under the action of the suctionproduced onbreathing in, administers to a patient via a metering valve a measured quantity of a medicament from an aerosol container. The aerosol is released automatically at the start of breathing in, so that the active ingredient is available for inhalation at the correct point in time. A corresponding apparatus containing hexoprenaline as the active ingredient has in the meantime been introduced to the market, under the name Dosier-Aerosol-Synchron-Inhalator [Aerosol-Metering Synchronous Inhalator]. The mode of functioning of the inhaling apparatus is described below by reference to Figure 1. An exact description can be found in German Offenlegungsschrift 2,055,734. Figure 1 shows a longitudinal section through the inhaling apparatus and represents only the functional parts. As far as possible, the modes of marking and the reference symbols used for the individual parts correspond to those in German Offenlegungsschrift 2,055,734.

In a casing 22 with a lid 134 which can be tilted open by pivoting at 132, there is an aerosol container 28 with a metering valve 36 which is inserted into a mouthpiece 42. A fork-type trigger 130 extends upwards from the lid 134 into the trigger chamber 92. The fork part 140 of the trigger 130 engages on a pin 144 of a pawl 112 which is pivotable about 114. When the lid 134 is closed, the fork part 140 moves the pawl 112 from the end position shown in Figure 1 into a second end position in which the pawl, by means of hooks 118, engages on the shaft 102, which is flattened on one side, thus locking the latter. At the same time, the lever 124 acts on the filling lever 82, which is pivotable about 84, and pivots it upwards against the pressure of the spring 72, the ram 74 being displaced upwards. At the same time, the control flap 100 which is pivotable about the shaft 102 is pivoted into its right-hand end position (drawn in dashes). When the suction produced on breathing in is applied to the mouthpiece 42,thecontrolflap 100 ismoved into its left-hand end position by the reduced pressure acting thereon via the channel 44, the hooks 118 of the pawl 112 being disengaged from the shaft 102, whereby the pawl 112, the filling lever 82 and the ram 74 are brought into the position shown in Figure 1, by the pressure of the spring 72. The aerosol container 28 is thus forced against the seat of the valve shaft 52, and the quantity of aerosol preparation, measured in the metering valve 36, is released. The inhalator is ready for use again by closing the lid 134. When this inhalator according to German Offenlegungsschrift 2,055,734 was used, it was found that the clicking noise and the movement impulse, which can be perceived on the mouthpiece on actuation of the triggering mechanism, was felt as a severe irritation by many patients. Expecting the disagreeable sensations associated with the triggering, many patients show a cramped reaction, and this has an adverse effect on the distribution of the active ingredient in the respiratory tract, because breathing-in is not sufficiently deep and relaxed. Moreover, the loud clicking noise makes it impossible to use the inhaling apparatus discreetly.

It was the object of the present invention to eliminate this considerable disadvantage of the inhalator with the least possible expense. Description of the Invention In accordance with the invention, this object was achieved when the pawl 112 is provided, on its narrow side 112a facing the aerosol container 28, with a covering 112b of a damping material and/or the bottom 28a of the aer container 28 is provided with a covering 28b of a damping material and/or the ram 74, on its end bearing against the aerosol container 28, is provided with a carrier 74a which, at least in the zone below the pawl 112, is coated with a damping material 74b.

It was found that the acceptance of the inhaling apparatus was greatly increased by these inexpensive damping measures.

The invention therefore relates to an inhaling apparatus according to German Offenlegungsschrift.2,055,734, which is characterized in that sound-damping and movement- damping measures are provided.

Figure 1 diagrammatically shows the inhaling apparatus according to German Offenlegungsschrift 2,055,734. Figure 2 and Figures 3a, 3b and 3c show embodiments of the sound-damping and movement-damping measures proposed according to the invention.

In a preferred embodiment, the pawl 112 is provided on its narrow side 112a with a covering of a damping material. Many soft-elastic materials can be used as the damping material. In addition to materials of the felt, cork and rubber types, these are in particular foamed plastics. Figure 2 shows the pawl 112 with a damping covering 112b on the concave narrow side 112a. This covering is fitted by glueing. The selection of the particular adhesives which can be used is known to those skilled in the art. In the case of foamed plastics, a bond between the damping covering 112b and the pawl 112 is preferably produced by glueing or welding, which are in themselves known, in particular by ultrasonic welding or high-frequency welding. The thickness of the damping covering is about 0.5 to 10 mm, preferably 5 to 8 mm.

In a further embodiment, the bottom 28a of the aerosol container 28 is provided with a damping covering 28b. The damping materials which can be used are the same as in the abovementioned embodiment. Preferably, the bottom 28a is coated with the damping material only in a narrow zone which approximately corresponds to the of contact with the narrow side 112a of the pawl 112. In this case, it is appropriate to provide markings, in particular color markings, on the mouthpiece 42 and the aerosol container 28, so that, when an aerosol container 28 is inserted into the inhalator, the damping covering 28b on the bottom 28a of the aerosol container 28 necessarily comes to lie below the pawl 112. Alternatively, the aerosol container 28 and the mouthpiece 42 can be provided with guide devices which permit insertion of an aerosol container 28 only in a particular way.

In a further embodiment, the ram 74 is provided, on its end bearing against the bottom 28a of the aerosol container, with a carrier 74a which, at least in the zone which comes to lie. below the pawl 112, is coated with a covering 74b of a damping material. Various design shapes of the carrier 74a are possible. For example, the carrier 74a extends in a circular shape across the bottom 28a of the aerosol container 28, as shown in plan view in Figure 3a, and in side view in Figure 3b, and it is preferably adapted to the curvature of the bottom 28a. It is, however, also possible to form the carrier 74a onlyin the shape of a semi-circle or a strip on the side facing the pawl 112. If desired, it is also possible, as shown diagrammatically in Figure 3c, to draw the carrier 74a down in the form of a collar over the rim of the bottom 28a of the aerosol container 28 in order to improve the guiding of the aerosol container 28 in this way. In this design, the covering 74b can extend downwards over the edge of the carrier 74a. The carrier 74a is preferably formed integrally with the ram 74.

Depending on the thickness of the carrier 74a, it can be advantageous to provide the latter with reinforcing ribs onits upper side facing away from the bottom 28a, and/or to join it to the ram 74 by reinforcing walls. It is also possible not to form the ram 74 and carrier 74a integrally but, for example, to provide the ram 74 with studs ontowhich the carrier 74a can be placed and, if desired, can be joined irreleasably to the ram 74, for example by welding. In order to prevent lateral yielding of the covering 74b, it is possible to provide boundary ribs on the side of the covering 74b. It is appropriate to select the height of the ram 74 with the carrier 74a to be identical to that of the ram according to German Offenlegungsschrift 2,055,734 or that of the commercially available apparatus, so that an adaptation of the remaining parts of the inhaling apparatus becomes unnecessary. The materials, their thickness and the join between them are selected corresponding to the first-mentioned embodiment. It is also possible to fit the covering 74b of a damping material directly to the ram 74 in the pivoting range of the pawl 112, so that the carrier 74a can be omitted.

It is within the scope of this invention simultaneously to realize two embodiments or all three embodiments, as the case may be.

Claims

Patent Claims

1. Inhaling apparatus with breath-controlled release of the active ingredient, according to German Offenlegungsschrift 2,055,734, characterized in that sound-damping and movement-damping measures are provided.

2. Inhaling apparatus according to Patent Claim 1, characterized in that the pawl (112) is provided, onits narrow side (112a) facing the aerosol container (28), with a covering (112b) of a damping material and/or the bottom (28a) of the aerosol container (28) is provided with a covering (28b) of a damping material and/or the ram (74), on its end bearing against the aerosol container (28), is provided with a carrier (74a) which, at least in the zone below the pawl (112), is coated with a covering (74b) of a damping material.

3. Inhaling apparatus according to Patent Claim 2, characterized in that a foamed plastic is used as the covering (112b, 28b or 74b) of a damping material.

4. Inhaling apparatus according to Patent Claim 3, characterized in that the covering (112b, 28b or 74b) of a damping material is fixed by means of glueing or welding, in particular ultrasonic welding or high-frequency welding.

5. Inhaling apparatus according to Patent Claim 2, characterized in that the carrier (74a) has a circular shape above the bottom (28a) of the aerosol container (28).

6. Inhaling apparatus according to Patent Claim 2, characterized in that the carrier (74a) has a semi-circular shape above the bottom (28a) on the side facing the pawl (112).

7. Inhaling apparatus according to one of Patent

Claims 5 or 6, characterized in that the carrier (74a) is adapted to the curvature of the bottom (28a) of the aerosol container (28).

8. Inhaling apparatus according to one of Patent Claims 5 or 6, characterized in that the carrier (74a) is drawn down in the form of a collar over the rim of the bottom (28a) of the aerosol container (28).

9. Inhaling apparatus according to Claim 7, characterized in that the carrier (74a) is drawn down in the form of a collar over the rim of the bottom (28a) of the aerosol container (28).

10. Inhaling apparatus according to Patent Claim 8, characterized in that the covering (74b) is drawn down over the edge of the carrier (74a).

11. Inhaling apparatus according to Patent Claim 9, characterized in that the covering (74b) is drawn down over the edge of the carrier (74a).