Dry powder inhalation device
AssigneeConcentrx Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
InventorEric Carl Richardson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Taught herein is a disposable breath actuated dry powder drug inhalation device having a powderized drug storage chamber with integral toroidal geometry and air flow pathways for entraining and breaking up powder aggregates prior to delivery to the patient. The toroidal chamber is fluidly connected by one or more air inlets directed in a non-tangent manner toward the powder to loft and set up an irregular-rotational flow pattern. Also, in fluid connection with the toroidal chamber is a centrally or near centrally located air and powder outlet consisting of one or more holes forming a grid in fluid connection with a channel providing a passageway for powder flow to the patient.
Claims18
An apparatus, comprising:
- a body having an upper portion and a lower portion, the body defining a disaggregation chamber, a bottom portion of the disaggregation chamber being within the lower portion and containing a dry powder drug, the lower portion including a raised section extending from an inner surface of the disaggregation chamber, the raised section configured to guide a flow of the dry powder drug within the disaggregation chamber;
- a removable partition disposed between the upper portion and the lower portion, the partition retaining the dry powder drug within the bottom portion of the disaggregation chamber when the upper portion and lower portion are coupled together;
- an air intake passage configured to place an external volume in fluid communication with the disaggregation chamber when the partition is removed;
- and
- an exit passageway configured to place the external volume in fluid communication with the disaggregation chamber when the partition is removed such that upon inhalation by a patient on the exit passageway, air is drawn from the air intake passage to the disaggregation chamber and on to the exit passageway to disaggregate the dry powder drug within the disaggregation chamber and convey the dry powder drug via the exit passageway to the patient.
A method of using an inhalation device to deliver a single dose of a pre-metered dry powder drug, comprising:
- removing the inhalation device from within a protective overwrap packaging, the inhalation device including a body having an upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portion of the body defining a chamber, the body defining an intake channel and an exit channel, the exit channel fluidically coupled to the chamber via an exit opening at a first end portion of the body, the intake channel fluidically coupled to the chamber via an intake opening at a second end portion of the body;
- removing a partition of the inhalation device by pulling an end of the partition, the partition disposed between the upper portion of the inhalation device and the lower portion of the inhalation device to retain the dry powder drug within the chamber before the removing, the end of the partition extending beyond the first end portion of the body of the inhalation device and obstructing a mouthpiece before the removing;
- placing, after the removing the partition, a portion of the mouthpiece where air exits the exit channel in a mouth of a patient;
- and
- inhaling on the mouthpiece such that intake air is drawn through the intake channel to produce a flow of intake air within the chamber to disaggregate the dry powder drug, the disaggregated dry powder drug exiting the inhalation device via the exit channel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.