Dry powder inhaler
AssigneeVectura Delivery Devices Limited
InventorsRoger Clarke, Peter Wilson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A dry powder inhaler with a blister folding device can include a housing to receive a single blister containing a dose of medicament for inhalation by a user, and a mouthpiece through which a dose of medicament is inhaled by a user and a blister opening device. The blister opening device can include a blister support element for supporting a blister containing a dose of medicament for inhalation by a user, and a blister folding element co-operable with the blister support element. The blister folding element and the blister support element can be movable relative to each other between a first position, for insertion of the blister into or onto the blister support element, and a second, burst, position in which the blister folding element has co-operated with the blister support element.
Claims20
A dry powder inhaler comprising a housing to receive a single blister containing a dose of medicament for inhalation by a user, said blister comprising a blister lid attached to a blister bowl, said blister having a middle portion and two spaced apart portions, said blister bowl having a circumference, a mouthpiece through which the dose of medicament is inhaled by the user and a blister opening device, the blister opening device comprising a blister support element for supporting the middle portion of the blister containing the dose of medicament for inhalation by the user, and a blister folding element co-operable with the blister support element, the blister folding element and the blister support element being moveable relative to each other between a first position, for insertion of said middle portion of the blister into or onto the blister support element, and a second position in which the blister folding element has co-operated with the blister support element, movement from the first position to the second position causing the two spaced apart portions of said blister to fold relative to the middle portion of the blister along two respective fold lines and against the blister support element to produce two spaced apart openings, each opening extending along a portion of the circumference of the blister bowl, beginning and terminating at points located on the respective fold line such that, when the user inhales through the mouthpiece, an airflow through the blister via the two openings is generated to entrain the dose contained therein and carry the dose out of the blister and via the mouthpiece into the user's airway, wherein the blister folding element is not configured to cut, slice or pierce the blister, and wherein the two spaced apart openings are formed between the blister lid and the blister bowl and are formed by separation of the blister lid from the blister bowl.
A dry powder inhaler comprising a housing to receive a single blister containing a dose of medicament for inhalation by a user, said blister comprising a blister lid attached to a blister bowl, said blister having a middle portion and two spaced apart portions, said blister bowl having a circumference, a mouthpiece through which the dose of medicament is inhaled by the user and a blister opening device, the blister opening device comprising a blister support element for supporting the middle portion of the blister containing the dose of medicament for inhalation by the user, and a blister folding element co-operable with the blister support element, the blister folding element and the blister support element being moveable relative to each other between a first position, for insertion of said middle portion of the blister into or onto the blister support element, and a second position in which the blister folding element has co-operated with the blister support element, movement from the first position to the second position causing two spaced apart portions of said blister to fold relative to the middle portion of the blister along two respective fold lines and against the blister support element to produce two spaced apart openings, each opening extending along a portion of the circumference of the blister bowl, beginning and terminating at points located on the respective fold line such that, when the user inhales through the mouthpiece, an airflow through the blister via the two openings is generated to entrain the dose contained therein and carry the dose out of the blister and via the mouthpiece into the user's airway, wherein the blister folding element is not configured to cut, slice or pierce the blister, wherein the two spaced apart openings are formed between the blister lid and the blister bowl are formed by separation of the blister lid from the blister bowl, wherein the blister support element comprises a blister seat to support a blister bowl and a blister support surface to support the periphery of the blister surrounding said blister bowl, and wherein the blister seat further comprises two depressible end portions adjacent to and on either side of a central portion of the blister seat.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.