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.
Claims3
An apparatus, comprising:
- a body having an upper portion and a lower portion, the body defining a toroidal disaggregation chamber, a bottom portion of the toroidal disaggregation chamber being within the lower portion and containing a dry powder drug;
- 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 toroidal 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 toroidal disaggregation chamber when the partition is removed;
- and
- an exit passageway configured to place the external volume in fluid communication with the toroidal disaggregation chamber when the partition is removed such that upon inhalation by the patient on the exit passageway, air is drawn from the air intake passage to the toroidal disaggregation chamber and on to the exit passageway to convey the dry powder drug via the exit passageway to a patient.
A method of using a single-dose inhalation device to deliver a pre-metered dry powder drug, comprising:
- removing a protective overwrap packaging from the inhalation device;
- removing a partition of the inhalation device by pulling an end of the partition toward the patient, the partition disposed within a body of the inhalation device between an upper portion of the inhalation device and a lower portion of the inhalation device, the end of the partition extending beyond the body of the inhalation device before the removing;
- placing the exit passageway in a mouth of the patient;
- and
- inhaling the dry powder drug.
A method of manufacturing an inhalation device, comprising:
- constructing a body, a partition, an air intake passage, and an exit passageway by at least one of injection molding, thermoforming, pressure forming, blow molding, cold forming, die cutting, stamping, extruding, machining, drawing, casting, laminating, or glass blowing;
- and
- joining the body, the partition, the air intake passageway, and the exit passageway by at least one of heat sealing, heat staking, ultrasonic welding, radio frequency welding, snap fits, friction fits, press fits, adhesive, heat activated adhesive, or laser welding.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.