# US 11,998,684 B2 · Dosing system for a nebulizer

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- Number: US 11,998,684 B2
- Document ID: US11998684B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/624,334
- Filed: 2018-06-19
- Published: 2020-05-14
- Granted: 2024-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2017-06-21
- Assignees: Vectura Delivery Devices Limited
- Applicants: Vectura Delivery Devices Limited
- Inventors: Paul Goodwin; Andreas Mark Meliniotis; Roger William Clarke; Tobias Kolb
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11998684B2

## CPC

- A61M 15/0028: {using prepacked dosages, one for each application, e.g. capsules to be perforated or broken-up}
- A61M 15/0065: {Inhalators with dosage or measuring devices (A61M15/0028 takes precedence; dosage devices incorporated in aerosol cans B65D83/52)}
- A61M 15/0085: {using ultrasonics (spraying or atomising liquids using ultrasonic vibrations in general B05B17/06)}
- A61M 11/005: {using ultrasonics (spraying or atomising liquids using ultrasonic vibrations in general B05B17/06)}
- A61M 2202/0468: non-physiological
- 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)}

## Abstract

The invention provides a dosing system for an inhalation device, comprising a filling chamber (10); a reservoir chamber (31) which supplies liquid (3) to an aerosol generator (301); and a plunger (20) which includes an overflow chamber (25) and which is pivotable about a hinge (50). The filling chamber has an inner wall (12) which is higher on the side adjacent to the hinge than on the opposite side. When the filling chamber is filled with liquid and the plunger is pivoted into the filling chamber, part of the liquid is displaced over the lower side (17) of the inner wall into the reservoir chamber and some or all of the remaining liquid is displaced into the overflow chamber. The invention also provides an inhalation device comprising the dosing system and a method for dosing liquid to the inhalation device.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A dosing system for an inhalation device, comprising:
(a) a filling chamber for receiving a liquid to be aerosolized, the filling chamber having a first outer wall, a base and a first inner wall, the filling chamber further having an outlet opening which is defined by the inner wall of the filling chamber,
(b) a reservoir chamber for supplying the liquid to an aerosol generator positioned at a first end of the filling chamber, wherein the reservoir chamber is operatively connected to the outlet opening, and
(c) a plunger which is mounted on a hinge which includes an overflow chamber, said plunger being configured to be inserted into the filling chamber and said overflow chamber being configured to receive at least a portion of the liquid from the filling chamber when the plunger is inserted into the filling chamber, wherein a first portion of the inner wall of the filling chamber proximate to the hinge is higher than a second portion of the inner wall of the filling chamber distal from the hinge with respect to the first portion of the inner wall of the filling chamber so that when the filling chamber is filled with liquid and the plunger is inserted into the filling chamber by pivoting the plunger about the hinge, part of the liquid is displaced by the plunger over the second portion of the inner wall of the filling chamber and into the reservoir chamber via the outlet opening, and some or all of the remaining liquid is displaced by the plunger from the filling chamber into the overflow chamber.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The dosing system of claim 1, further comprising a cap positioned at a second end of the filling chamber opposite from the first end and configured to obstruct the outlet opening at the second end to prevent the liquid from being supplied directly into the reservoir chamber.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The dosing system of claim 2, further comprising a partition located within the outlet opening of the filling chamber, wherein the partition extends into the reservoir chamber, wherein the cap is formed as an extension of the partition.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The dosing system of claim 1, wherein the plunger further comprises a second inner wall and a second outer wall, and wherein at least part of the first inner wall and first out wall of the filling chamber and the second inner wall and second outer wall of the plunger are curved.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The dosing system of claim 1, further comprising a partition located within the outlet opening of the filling chamber, wherein the partition extends into the reservoir chamber.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The dosing system of claim 1, wherein the overflow chamber further comprises a cover which is configured to close the top of the overflow chamber on a side adjacent to the hinge.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The dosing system of claim 1, wherein the plunger further comprises a lid.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The dosing system of claim 7, further comprising an opening between the lid and a top end of the overflow chamber.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The dosing system of claim 7, wherein the overflow chamber and the lid are separately pivotable.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The dosing system of claim 9, wherein the overflow chamber and lid each comprise clip formations configured to attach the lid to the overflow chamber when the lid is closed.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The dosing system of claim 1, wherein the overflow chamber corresponds to the size and shape of the filling chamber, so that the plunger occupies the whole of the filling chamber when inserted into the filling chamber.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The dosing system of claim 1, wherein the filling chamber and the plunger are made from a rigid material.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The dosing system of claim 1, wherein the filling chamber and the plunger are made from a rigid plastic.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

An inhalation device comprising the dosing system of claim 1.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The inhalation device of claim 14, further comprising an aerosol head comprising the dosing system and a base unit, wherein the aerosol head and base unit are detachably connected with each other, and wherein the aerosol head and base unit have complementary male and female features which interlock to provide a recognition system.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The inhalation device of claim 15, wherein the base unit comprises the male features and the aerosol head comprises the female features, wherein the male features comprise two pegs of different sizes and the female features comprise two holes sized to correspond with the different sizes of the two pegs, respectively.

### Claim 17 (depends on 14)

A method for dosing liquid to an inhalation device of claim 14, the method comprising supplying the liquid to be aerosolized to the filling chamber, and inserting the plunger into the filling chamber so that a first part of the liquid is displaced over the first portion of the inner wall of the filling chamber into the reservoir chamber and a second part of the liquid is displaced into the overflow chamber.