US3831606A - Auto inhaler - Google Patents

Abstract

An improved device and process for the oral inhalation of medicaments in finely divided form is disclosed. The device has a hollow elongate housing having one end adapted for insertion into the oral or nasal cavity of a user, this end having at least one air passageway therein. There is at least one other air passageway near the other end of the housing. A propeller attached to a medicament container is rotatably mounted in the housing. Piercing members are provided for perforating the medicament container. There is also a self-contained power source for rotating the propeller and the medicament container to dispense the medicament in a positive pressure airstream. Optionally, the device contains an atomizer rotatably mounted in the housing intermediate the medicament container and the medicament dispensing end of the device.

Description

United States Patent [191 amani 1 1 AUTO INHALER [22] Filed: Oct. 24, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 409,243

Related 1.1.8. Application Data [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 117,015, Feb. 19, 1971,

abandoned.

[52] 11.8. CI 128/266, 128/208, 222/193 [51] Int. Cl. A61m 15/08, A61m 13/00 [58] Field of Search 128/266, 265, 173 R, 185, 128/188, 195, 196, 198201, 205, 206, 208, 142.3; 222/193; 46/10, 68

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,272,283 7/1918 Madden 222/193 1,526,096 2/1925 Sims 128/266 1,864,188 6/1932 Deutsch 128/173 R 2,147,435 2/1939 Gehrcke 128/266 2,163,185 6/1939 Belstrup 46/68 2,483,148 9/1949 Nicolle 222/193 2,693,805 11/1954 Taplin et a1 128/266 3,378,005 4/1968 Smith, Jr 128/188 3,535,707 10/1970 Greenlee l28/143.3 3,696,973 10/1972 Cottell 222/193 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 2,023,891 ll/l970 Germany 128/266 Primary Examiner-Richard A. Gaudet Assistant Examiner-.1. C. McGowan Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Thomas E. Ciotti; Edward L. Mandell; Paul L. Sabatine ABSTRACT An improved device and process for the oral inhalation of medicaments in finely divided form is disclosed. The device has a hollow elongate housing having one end adapted for insertion into the oral or nasal cavity of a user, this end having at least one air passageway therein. There is at least one other air passageway near the other end of the housing. A propeller attached to a medicament container is rotatably mounted in the housing. Piercing members are provided for perforating the medicament container. There is also a self-contained power source for rotating the propeller and the medicament container to dispense the medicament in a positive pressure airstream. Optionally, the device contains an atomizer rotatably mounted in the housing intermediate the medicament container and the medicament dispensing end of the device.

4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTED 35831 @606 INVENTOR NALINKANT C. DAMANI AUTO INHALER This is a continuation; of application Ser. No. 117,015, filed Feb. 19, 1971, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to the administration of drugs to a patient via inhalation through the oral and/or nasal passages, and more especially to a device which propels a uniform dosage of finely divided medicament into the lungs through the aforementioned passages.

In the past, administration of medicaments for the alleviation of ailments of the lungs has been carried out using plastic squeeze bottles or aerosol cans to deliver drugs through the oral and/or nasal cavities. Devices of this type have not been entirely satisfactory because they do not allow the user to properly control the medicament concentration or dosage. Furthermore, significant problems arise as a result of the variation in particle size of the medicament spray delivered from these devices. Thus, it is not always possible with these devices to dispense a medicament in the form of very fine and uniform particle size or mist which can be readily inhaled by the user. Sonic generators have proven to be the only truly effective devices for accomplishing complete control of both medicament dosage and particle size; however, these are extremely large and can be used only in a hospital, doctors office, clinic, etc. There have also been attempts to provide smaller, pocket-sized inhalation devices which may be used in any location to supply the necessary medication. Many of these personal sized devices are based upon aerosol principles (see for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,183,907, 3,456,645, and 3,456,646 and of necessity suffer from the aforementioned disadvantages associated with aerosolized atomizers. Most recent endeavors in the area of pocket size atomizers are exemplified by U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,507,277 and 3,518,992 wherein the medicament is placed in the inhaler in capsulized form, made of gelatin or other material, and thereafter the capsule is perforated in situ to render the medicament available immediately prior to its contemplated use. The user then inhales through the device which causes an internally contained propeller, well as the punctured capsule, to rotate thereby dispensing the medicament from the device and into the oral or nasal passages ofthe user. While these latter type of devices may solve the heretofore mentioned medicament dosage and particle size problems, they too are rendered not wholly effective because typically those people having ailments necessitating the subject medication, as for example asthmatic patients, cannot efficiently draw air through their oral or nasal passages, and, as a result, they often cannot administer to themselves the entire medicament dosage. In fact, those persons most in need of the drug are those who are least able to draw air, and hence medicament. through the device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is a primary object of this invention to provide an inhalation device which is capable of dispensing a precise quantity of medicament in extremely uniform particle size to any patient regardless of his ability to inhale.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved inhalation device which can deliver in uniform particle size a medicament in either liquid, microencapsulated, or dry power form without the use of Freon or similar aerosolizing material.

In attaining the objects of this invention, one feature resides in a device for the oral inhalation of medicaments in finely divided form which comprises a hollow elongate housing having one end adapted for insertion into the oral or nasal cavity of a user. The end soadapted is provided with at least one air passageway therein, and there is provided at least one other air passageway near the other end of the housing. Inside the housing there is rotatably mounted a propeller means, and attached thereto is a mounting means for receiving a container of medicament. The device also contains one or more piercing members for perforating the container while it is contained in the aforementioned mounting means, such piercing members typically being spring-biased or loaded. The device is particu- Iarly characterized by a self-contained power source for operating the propeller means via external manual manipulation by the user. One such power source comprises an electric motor, battery and external switch combination, while an alternative embodiment includes a threaded plunger arrangement. In a further embodiment the device contains an atomizing means rotatably mounted inside the housing intermediate the medicament container mounting means and the housing end adapted for insertion into the oral or nasal cavity of a user. This atomizer is employed when the medicament is present in other than dry particulate form. In a typical embodiment, the spring-loaded piercing members include exteriorly located push button means attached thereto allowing the user to press the piercing members into the medicament container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an oral inhalation device according to this invention wherein the power source is an electric motor;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the present invention wherein a plunger is employed as the power source; and

FIG. 3 is a view along the line 3-3 in FIG. 2 illustrating an atomizer disc which may optionally be included in the devices of this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In one embodiment in accordance with this invention, as illustrated in FIG. 1, anoral inhalation device 10 is comprised of a rigid, hollowcylindrical housing 12 having its upper end adapted for insertion into the oral or nasal cavity of a user. Located in the upper end wall are a plurality of passageways 14 communicating with the inside of the housing and allowing free passage of air and medicament therethrough. Near the lower endof thehousing 12 are located another series ofsimilar passageways 16 providing for the ingress of air into the inhalation device. Propeller 18 is rotatably mounted on shaft 19 inside ofhousing 12. Immediately above propeller l8 and likewise connected to shaft 19 is a cup-like mounting means 20 for receiving a con-. tainer of medicament such as capsule 22. This entire assembly comprised of mounting means 20, propeller l8 and shaft 19 is driven by a small battery poweredelectric motor 24 secured tohousing 12 immediately beneath the indicated assembly. Abattery 26, typically size N or smaller, is also contained withinhousing 12 and is connected tomotor 24 throughconductors 28 and 29. Selective operation ofmotor 24 is achieved through operation ofpush button 30 located on the ex terior ofhousing 12 adjacent tobattery 26.

In the sidewall portions ofhousing 12 immediately adjacent medicament container mounting means are located two spring-loadedpiercing members 31 and 32 by means of which the user may pierce the medicament container 22, while in its supporting member 20. immediately prior to desired use of the device. The piercing members are conveniently actuated by thepush button members 33 and 34 connected thereto on the external side ofhousing 12; however, other actuating means may also be employed for this purpose. For purposes of illustration, one assembly is shown in the non-piercing posit-ion whereas the other assembly is shown with the tip ofpiercing member 31 having pierced capsule 22. Preferably, the perforating ends ofpiercing members 31 and 32 are sharpened with a plane face at an acute angle, and furthermore, the acute angled plane face desirably faces away from propeller 18. Actuation of the piercing members advantageously provides one or more holes, suitably of about 0.6 to 0.65 mm. in diameter, in the capsule wall. It will of course be appreciated that any other suitable medicament container piercing assembly may be employed in the device of this invention, for example, one such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,518,992.

Medicament containing capsule 22 can be a standard capsule of gelatin or other material having'the medicament contained therein in either dry powder, microencapsulated, or liquid form. After piercing of the capsule walls has taken place, medicament will be forced out of the capsule into the positive pressure air stream created by propeller 18 as a result of the forces created by the rotational movement of the capsule itself.

When the medicament in capsule 22 is in liquid form, and in certain other instances, it is desired to further employ anatomizing disc 36 between the medicament container mounting means 20 and the medicament dispensing end of the device. Theatomizing disc 36 is secured toshaft 17 and the resultant assembly is likewise secured to inverted cup-like member 21 which may be removably engaged over cup-like mounting member 20 which receives and holes the medicament capsule 22. Thus, inverted cup-like member 21 rotates together with mounting means 20, and as a result, atomizingdisc 36 is likewise caused to rotate. For support and stabilization,shaft 17 loosely engages with bearing member 15 contained inhousing 12. Inverted cup-like member 21 advantageously is of a cage-like configuration having only a few relatively narrow support members (preferably having no two support members lying on any one diameter across member 21) thereby providingopenings 23 around substantially the entire circumference ofmember 21 to facilitate easy entrance by piercingmembers 31 and 32.

A planar view ofatomizer disc 36 is illustrated in FIG. 3. The disc contains a plurality ofapertures 37 uniformly distributed thereover, the same being for the purpose of assuring substantially uniform medicament particle size when capsule 22 contains medicament in the form of a liquid or any other form which is likely to agglomerate.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is illustrated an alternative embodiment of the oral inhalation device of the invention. The portion of the device extending from propeller 18 to the medicament dispensing end of the device is essentially identical to the corresponding portion of the device illustrated in FIG. 1. In FIG. 2, a spring-loaded plunger assembly is employed as the power source in lieu of the battery operated electric motor illustrated in FIG. 1. The plunger assembly consists ofplunger 40 slidably mounted in sleeve 42 at the lower end wall ofhousing 12.Plunger 40 is biased downwardly byspring 43 and retained in the device by cooperation offlange 44 with sleeve 42. Near the upper end ofplunger 40 are located a plurality ofball bearings 45 which are freely rotatable and cooperate withthreads 46 contained on the lower portion of shaft 19. Thus, whenplunger 40 is depressed intohousing 12,ball bearings 45 travel upwardly inthreads 46 causing rotation of shaft 19 and hence propeller 18, medicament container support 20 and optionally atomizingdisc 36. It will be appreciated that suitable gearing linkages may be incorporated into the plunger assembly to selectively vary the amount of rotation generated by each depression ofplunger 40.

In operation, the two sections ofhousing 12 are separated and a container of medicament, such as a capsule, is placed into support 20. At this time, the atomizer disc assembly may be inserted or removed as desired. The housing is again closed, and the device may now be carried by the user for an indefinite period of time without deterioration or loss of medicament. When the administration of medicament is required, the user depresses push-buttons 33 and 34 to puncture the capsule in situ, and thereafter places the dispensing end of the device into his oral or nasal cavity, whereupon medicament may then be dispensed by either activation ofelectric motor 24 viapush button 30 or depression ofplunger 40.

The drug present in capsule 22 may be either a single or multiple dosage. For a single dosage, the device is constructed so that all of the medicament is delivered with a single push of theplunger 40 or depression ofswitch 30. In the case of a multiple dosage containing capsule, the device may be designed to administer only a single dose on each push ofplunger 40 or timed depression ofbutton 30. Repetition of this action similarly delivers the second and subsequent doses of the medicament. The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2 is especially suited for such a modification.

Thus, the invention provides an oral inhalation device suitable for the administration of exact dosages of medicaments in finely divided form for the alleviation of ailments of the bronchial tract and of the lungs. The device may also be used for the administration of medicaments having systemic action, for example, it may be used for the administration of an antidote to poisonous substances. The device provides a simple method of carrying medicaments which require rapid or emergency usage, and moreover the device assures that a uniform dosage of such a medicament is administered regardless of the users ability to properly inhale.

While the invention has been described and illustrated with reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, changes, omissions and substitutions can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is intended, therefore, that the invention be limited only by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A device for the dispensing of medicament in finely divided form for oral or nasal inhalation which comprises a rigid hollow elongate cylindrical housing having one end adapted for insertion into the oral or nasal cavity of a user, said one end having at least one air outlet passageway therein and there being at least one air inlet passageway near the other end of said housing; shaft means rotatably mounted axially within said housing; airstream generator means in the form of a propeller attached to said shaft; mounting means for receiving a container of medicament attached to said shaft downstream of said propeller; means for perforating holes in said container while said container is in said mounting means; power rotating means contained within said housing and attached to said shaft means for rotating said shaft means, for rotating said propeller means to direct an airstream around said container to said air outlet passageway, and for rotating said mounting means and container to rotationally force medicament out of said container through said holes into said airstream; and atomizing means mounted on said shaft for rotation at a fixed longitudinal position in said housing intermediate the medicament container mounting means and the housing end adapted for insertion into the oral or nasal cavity of a user.

2. A process of dispensing medicament in finely divided form for oral or nasal inhalation which comprises: providing a rigid hollow elongate cylindrical housing having one end adapted for insertion into the oral or nasal cavity of a user; forming at least one air outlet passageway in said end of said housing; forming at least one air inlet passageway near the other end of said housing; rotatably mounting a shaft axially within said housing; attaching a propeller to said shaft; mounting a medicament container in said housing attached to said shaft; mounting an atomizing means on said shaft in said housing intermediate the medicament container and the housing end adapted for insertion into the oral or nasal cavity of a user; perforating said container while the same is mounted in said housing; and power rotating said shaft to drive said propeller such that a positive pressure airstream is created from said air inlet passageway to said air outlet passageway, said powered rotation of said shaft further rotating said container to rotationally force medicament out of said container through said holes into said airstream whereby a dosage of medicament is dispensed for inhalation.

3. The process of claim 2 wherein said power rotating step comprises driving said shaft with a self-contained, batterypowered electric motor.

4-. The process of claim 2 wherein said power rotating step comprises driving said shaft by movement of a plunger assembly.

Claims (4)

1. A device for the dispensing of medicament in finely divided form for oral or nasal inhalation which comprises a rigid hollow elongate cylindrical housing having one end adapted for insertion into the oral or nasal cavity of a user, said one end having at least one air outlet passageway therein and there being at least one air inlet passageway near the other end of said housing; shaft means rotatably mounted axially within said housing; airstream generator means in the form of a propeller attached to said shaft; mounting means for receivinG a container of medicament attached to said shaft downstream of said propeller; means for perforating holes in said container while said container is in said mounting means; power rotating means contained within said housing and attached to said shaft means for rotating said shaft means, for rotating said propeller means to direct an airstream around said container to said air outlet passageway, and for rotating said mounting means and container to rotationally force medicament out of said container through said holes into said airstream; and atomizing means mounted on said shaft for rotation at a fixed longitudinal position in said housing intermediate the medicament container mounting means and the housing end adapted for insertion into the oral or nasal cavity of a user.

2. A process of dispensing medicament in finely divided form for oral or nasal inhalation which comprises: providing a rigid hollow elongate cylindrical housing having one end adapted for insertion into the oral or nasal cavity of a user; forming at least one air outlet passageway in said end of said housing; forming at least one air inlet passageway near the other end of said housing; rotatably mounting a shaft axially within said housing; attaching a propeller to said shaft; mounting a medicament container in said housing attached to said shaft; mounting an atomizing means on said shaft in said housing intermediate the medicament container and the housing end adapted for insertion into the oral or nasal cavity of a user; perforating said container while the same is mounted in said housing; and power rotating said shaft to drive said propeller such that a positive pressure airstream is created from said air inlet passageway to said air outlet passageway, said powered rotation of said shaft further rotating said container to rotationally force medicament out of said container through said holes into said airstream whereby a dosage of medicament is dispensed for inhalation.

3. The process of claim 2 wherein said power rotating step comprises driving said shaft with a self-contained, batterypowered electric motor.

4. The process of claim 2 wherein said power rotating step comprises driving said shaft by movement of a plunger assembly.

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