# US 2016/0354557 A1 · Inhalator and inhalator set > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2016/0354557 A1 - Document ID: US20160354557A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/118,986 - Filed: 2015-02-25 - Published: 2016-12-08 - Earliest claimed: 2014-02-25 - Assignees: PARI Pharma GmbH - Applicants: Pari Pharma GmbH - Inventors: Tom McPherson Allnutt; Wolfgang Achtzehner; Thomas Gallem; Uwe Hetzer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160354557A1 ## CPC - A61M 11/00: Sprayers or atomisers specially adapted for therapeutic purposes (in general B05B; {aerosol containers B65D83/14}) - A61M 11/005: {using ultrasonics (spraying or atomising liquids using ultrasonic vibrations in general B05B17/06)} - A61M 15/0021: {Mouthpieces therefor} - A61M 15/0085: {using ultrasonics (spraying or atomising liquids using ultrasonic vibrations in general B05B17/06)} - A61M 16/04: Tracheal tubes (catheters in general A61M25/00) - A61M 16/06: Respiratory or anaesthetic masks - A61M 15/0015: {located upstream of the dispenser, i.e. not traversed by the product} - A61M 2016/0015: {inhalation detectors} - A61M 2205/35: Communication - A61M 2205/50: with microprocessors or computers - A61M 2205/581: by audible feedback - A61M 2205/586: Ergonomic details therefor, e.g. specific ergonomics for left or right-handed users - A61M 2205/8206: battery-operated - A61M 2209/06: Packaging for specific medical equipment - A61M 2209/10: Equipment for cleaning - B05B 17/0646: {Vibrating plates, i.e. plates being directly subjected to the vibrations, e.g. having a piezoelectric transducer attached thereto} - 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)} - B05B: SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES (spray-mixers with nozzles B01F25/72; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces by spraying B05D) ## Abstract Inhalator (50) comprising an aerosol generator (64) configured to generate an aerosol by nebulizing a fluid and a controller (24) configured to control operation of the aerosol generator and a housing (11, 51) accommodating at least the aerosol generator and the controller, the housing having a base (12) for supporting the housing on a horizontal surface, wherein a portion (35) of the housing accommodating at least a portion of the controller is arranged further away from the base than the aerosol generator as seen in a vertical direction, when the base is supported on the horizontal surface. ## Claims ### Claim 1 Inhalator comprising: an aerosol generator configured to generate an aerosol by nebulizing a fluid; and a controller configured to control operation of the aerosol generator; and a housing accommodating at least the aerosol generator and the controller, the housing having a base for supporting the housing on a horizontal surface, wherein a portion of the housing accommodating at least a portion of the controller is arranged further away from the base than the aerosol generator as seen in a vertical direction, when the base is supported on the horizontal surface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) Inhalator according to claim 1, wherein the aerosol generator has a vibratable membrane with a plurality of apertures through which the fluid is passed for nebulization and said portion of the housing is arranged further away from the base than the membrane as seen in the vertical direction, when the base is supported on the horizontal surface. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) Inhalator according to claim 2, wherein the membrane is oriented substantially parallel to the base of the housing. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) Inhalator according to claim 1, wherein the controller comprises a circuit board, at least a portion of the circuit board being accommodated in said portion of the housing and being arranged further away from the base than the aerosol generator as seen in the vertical direction, when the base is supported on the horizontal surface. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) Inhalator according to claim 1, wherein the aerosol generator is gravity fed in that the fluid is flown to the aerosol generator primarily by gravitational force. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) Inhalator according to claim 1, wherein a fluid container containing the fluid to be nebulized is arranged on an opposite side of the aerosol generator relative to the base and said portion of the housing is arranged further away from the base than the fluid container as seen in the vertical direction, when the base is supported on the horizontal surface. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) Inhalator according to claim 1, wherein the center of gravity of the inhalator is closer to the base than to a top at an opposite side and furthest away from the base. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) Inhalator according to claim 7, wherein the inhalator has a height defined in the vertical direction between the base and the top and the center of gravity is located in the lower third of the height, preferably in the lower quarter of the height. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) Inhalator according to claim 1, wherein said portion of the housing forms a handle for gripping and holding the inhalator during inhalation with the base facing downward. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) Inhalator according to claim 1, further comprising an outlet for delivery of the nebulized fluid to a patient, the outlet being located closer to the base than the aerosol generator and said portion of the housing. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) Inhalator according to claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a first housing accommodating the controller and a second housing accommodating the aerosol generator, the first and second housing being detachably connected. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) Inhalator according to claim 11, wherein one of the first and second housings comprises a socket and the other of the first and second housings comprises a plug detachable from and electrically connected to the socket. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) Inhalator according to claim 12, wherein the first housing comprises the socket and the socket is configured to receive the plug at least in two different orientations. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) Inhalator according to claim 11, wherein the first and second housings are locked to each other by a latch, the latch comprising a lug integral with and extending from one of the first and second housings, the lug having a hole engaged with a protrusion integral with the other of the first and second housings and a flexible area extending a certain distance in a direction, away from the connection to one of the first and second housings towards the hole, so as to enable flexure of the lug in the flexible area relative to the one of the first and second housings, whereby the lug is disengageable from the protrusion. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) Inhalator according to claim 14, wherein the lug remains flexed after disengagement from the protrusion and is again engageable with the protrusion by flexure of the lug in the flexible area relative to the one of the first and second housings. ### Claim 16 Inhalator comprising: a controller unit having a first housing, a controller accommodated in the first housing, and a socket electrically connected to the controller; and an aerosol generator unit having an aerosol generator configured to generate an aerosol by nebulizing a fluid and accommodated in a second housing, and a plug electrically connected with aerosol generator and configured to directly mate with and electrically connect to the socket. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) Inhalator according to claim 16, wherein the socket or the plug is configured to detachably receive the plug or the socket in at least two different orientations for electrical connection between the plug and the socket. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) Inhalator according to claim 16, wherein the socket comprises a circuit board having two opposite sides, each side comprising a conductive path for electrical connection to electrical contacts of the plug. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) Inhalator according to claim 18, wherein the plug comprises electrical contacts extending into a chamber and being flexible in opposite directions, wherein the contacts are configured to respectively electrically connect with the conductive paths on the opposite sides of the circuit board of the socket, when the circuit board inserts between the electrical contacts. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) Inhalator according to claim 16, wherein the first housing has a base for supporting the first housing on a horizontal surface, wherein the socket is located closer to the base of the first housing than to a top of the first housing as seen in a vertical direction, when the base is supported on a horizontal surface. ### Claim 21 (depends on 16) Inhalator according to claim 16, wherein the second housing has a bottom and a top, wherein the plug of the aerosol generator is located closer to the top than to the bottom, when the inhalator is in use. ### Claim 22 (depends on 16) Inhalator according to claim 16, wherein the controller comprises a circuit board, the socket being connected to one side of the circuit board and a power supply being connected to the opposite side of the circuit board each by means of an elastic contact/contact area connection and/or a plug/socket connection. ### Claim 23 (depends on 17) Inhalator set comprising: an inhalator according to claim 17, wherein the plug being part of the aerosol generator unit is electrically connectable to the socket in a first orientation; and a cleaning unit configured to clean the aerosol generator, the cleaning unit having a third housing with a receiving section for receiving the aerosol generator and an opening for giving access to the plug of the received aerosol generator, so that the plug being part of the cleaning unit is electrically connectable to the socket in a second orientation different from the first orientation. ### Claim 24 Inhalator comprising a housing with a first housing part and a second housing part, the first and second housing part being detachably connected by a latch, the latch comprising a lug integral with and extending from one of the first and second housing parts, the lug having a hole engaged with a protrusion integral with the other of the first and second housing parts and a flexible area extending a certain distance in a direction away from the connection to one of the first and second housing parts towards the hole, so as to enable flexure of the lug in the flexible area relative to the one of the first and second housing parts, whereby the lug is disengageable from the protrusion. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) Inhalator according to claim 24, wherein the lug remains flexed after disengagement from the protrusion and is again engageable with the protrusion by flexure of the lug in the flexible area relative to the one of the first and second housings.