# US 10,441,734 B2 · Inhaler > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,441,734 B2 - Document ID: US10441734B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/423,799 - Filed: 2013-08-27 - Published: 2015-10-22 - Granted: 2019-10-15 - Earliest claimed: 2012-08-28 - Assignees: Kind Consumer Limited - Applicants: Kind Consumer Limited - Inventors: Alex Hearn - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10441734B2 ## CPC - A61M 15/06: Inhaling appliances shaped like cigars, cigarettes or pipes - A24F 40/485: Valves; Apertures - A24F 42/20: Devices without heating means - A24F 42/60: Constructional details - A61M 11/001: {Particle size control} - A61M 11/002: {by flow deviation causing inertial separation of transported particles} - A61M 15/002: {with air flow regulating means} - A61M 15/0021: {Mouthpieces therefor} - A61M 15/009: {using medicine packages with incorporated spraying means, e.g. aerosol cans (pocket atomiser of the injector type A61M11/08)} - A61M 15/0093: {without arming or cocking, e.g. acting directly on the delivery valve} - A24F 40/10: Devices using liquid inhalable precursors - A61M 2206/10: Flow characteristics - A61M 2209/02: Equipment for testing the apparatus - A61M 2209/045: for filling, e.g. for filling reservoirs - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} - A24F: SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES (inhaling appliances for medical purposes, shaped like cigars, cigarettes or pipes A61M15/06) ## Abstract An inhaler comprising a source of inhalable composition. An outlet flow path is provided for the composition from the source to a composition outlet at an outlet end of the inhaler. Means are provided to generate a flow of composition from the source along the outlet flow path and out of the composition outlet when suction is applied to the outlet end. A pair of air outlets at the outlet end are arranged on opposite sides of the composition outlet through which air is drawn in respective air jets when suction is applied to the outlet end. The composition and air outlets are arranged such that, in use, the pair of air jets impinge on the composition plume. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An inhaler comprising: a source of inhalable composition; an outlet flow path for the composition from the source to a composition outlet, at an outlet end of the inhaler, means to generate a flow of composition from the source along the outlet flow path and out of the composition outlet when suction is applied to the outlet end; and a pair of air outlets at the outlet end arranged on opposite sides of the composition outlet through which air is drawn in respective air jets when suction is applied to the outlet end, the composition and air outlets being arranged such that, in use, the pair of air jets impinge on the composition plume, wherein the composition outlet and the air outlet being arranged such that the inhalable composition and the air leave the inhaler separately. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An inhaler according to claim 1, wherein there are only two air outlets. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) An inhaler according to claim 1, wherein additional outlets are present in at least one additional opposed pair. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) An inhaler according to claim 1, wherein the air outlets are angled towards the composition outlet such that the air jets converge towards the composition plume. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) An inhaler according to claim 1, where the pressure drop across the air outlets as measured with air outlets of 1 mm diameter is 3 kPa-4 kPa. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) An inhaler according to claim 1, wherein the source of inhalable composition is a pressurised reservoir, and means to generate the flow of the composition is a breath operated valve. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) An inhaler according to claim 6, wherein the air outlets are associated with one or more air inlets spaced from the outlet end such that there is a through flow path from the air inlets to the air outlets. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) An inhaler according to claim 6, wherein the pair of air outlets are associated with air flow paths which at least partially operate the breath operated valve. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) An inhaler according to claim 8, wherein the breath operated valve comprises: a valve element biased by a biasing force into a position in which it closes the outlet flow path for the composition; a flexible diaphragm arranged to move the valve element; a first flow path partly defined by one side of the diaphragm; and a second air flow path partly defined by the opposite side of the diaphragm, each flow path having an opening at the outlet end, wherein the air flow paths are arranged such that suction at the outlet end causes a reduction pressure in the first air flow path and a relative increase in pressure in the second air flow path, creating a pressure differential across the diaphragm that moves the diaphragm and hence moves the valve element against the biasing force to open the outlet flow path for the composition, wherein the pair of air outlets provide the opening at the outlet end of the second air flow path. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) An inhaler according to claim 1, where upon a standard inhalation, the flow through all of the air outlets in total is 0.5 l/m to 60 l/m. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The inhaler according to claim 10, where upon a standard inhalation, the flow through all of the air outlets in total is 1.0 l/m to 5 l/m. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The inhaler according to claim 10, where upon a standard inhalation, the flow through all of the air outlets in total is 1.5 l/m. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) An inhaler according to claim 1, wherein the diameter of an exit of the composition outlet is 0.1 mm to 1 mm and the diameter of each of the pair of outlets is 0.1 mm to 1.2 mm. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The inhaler according to claim 13, wherein the diameter of the exit of the composition outlet is 0.2 mm and the diameter of each of the pair of air outlets is 0.4 mm. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) An inhaler according to claim 1, wherein the ratio of cross-sectional area of an exit of the composition outlet to the total cross-sectional area of air outlets is between 16:1 and 1:1. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The inhaler according to claim 15, wherein the ratio of cross-sectional area of the exit of the composition outlet to the total cross-sectional area of air outlets is between 4:1 and 1:1. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) An inhaler according to claim 1, wherein the total cross sectional exit area of the composition outlet is 0.008 mm2 to 0.8 mm2 and the total cross-sectional area of air outlets is from 0.14 mm2 to 1.0 mm2 wherein the ratio of the two areas is 2:1 to 8:1, and gives a droplet size of 5 microns as a D50. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The inhaler of claim 17 wherein the total cross-sectional exit area of the composition outlet is 0.07 mm2 to 0.2 mm2 and gives a droplet size of 0.6 microns. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) An inhaler according to claim 1, wherein the pressure drop across the air outlets as measured with twin air jets is 0.5-4 kPa. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) An inhaler according to claim 19, where the pressure drop as measured with twin air jets is 2-4 kPa.