US 6,401,712 B1Granted

Inhaler

AssigneeAstraZeneca AB

InventorAlfred von Schuckmann

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Abstract

An inhaler having an inhaler body extending between two ends, an outlet at one of said two ends, a succion tube at the other of said two ends and an inhalation channel within the body providing fluid connection between the suction tube and the outlet, the suction tube being shaped and dimensioned for insertion into a blister containing powder such that the drawing of air through the inhaler body will draw powder from the blister through the suction tube and inhalation channel and out of the outlet, a channel inlet being provided in the suction tube and a cutter being provided around only part of the channel inlet to cut a fin cover of a blister around only part of the channel inlet, at least one inlet passage extending between a passage inlet at a position along the length of the suction tube and a passage outlet adjacent the channel inlet to allow air into a blister and blister packs which are distinguishable according to their orientation and/or contents.

Claims53

Dependent claims

An inhaler for administering dry powder, the inhaler comprising:

an inhaler body (S) extending between two ends;
an outlet (17) at one of said two ends;
a suction tube (19,20) at the other of said two ends;
and
an inhalation channel (31) within said body (S) providing fluid connection between said suction tube (19,20) and said outlet (17);
wherein
the suction tube (19,20) is shaped and dimensioned for insertion into a blister pack containing powder such that inhalation through the inhaler body (S) will draw powder from the blister through the suction tube (19,20) and inhalation channel (31) and out of the outlet (17);
the inhaler further comprises a support unit (V, G) for supporting a blister pack (2), the support unit (V,G) including respective guide portions (L) for each blister of a supported blister pack (2), each guide portion (L) being for guiding said suction tube (19,20) into a respective blister and supporting the inhaler body (S) with said suction tube (19,20) so guided;
a substantially planar surface having a series of depressions (10) forming respective blisters, the support (V,G) including a guide wall (6) to be positioned adjacent said substantially planar surface opposite said depressions and having a series of apertures (15,16) for alignment with the series of depressions, the guide wall (6,36) extending away from said substantially planar surface so as to form said guide portions (L,36);
and
wherein the suction tube has an inlet section configured for successive removal from and insertion into the blister pack, the blister pack having a plurality of blisters, each aperture serving to guide the inlet section of the suction tube into a respective blister of the blister pack and supporting the suction tube when so guided from blister to blister by a user of the inhaler.

8 more elements

An inhaler for administering dry powder, the inhaler comprising:

an inhaler body (S) extending between two ends;
an outlet (17) at one of said two ends;
a suction tube (19,20) at the other of said two ends;
and
an inhalation channel (31) within said body (S) providing fluid connection between said suction tube (19,20) and said outlet (17);
wherein
the suction tube (19,20) is shaped and dimensioned for insertion into a blister pack containing powder such that inhalation through the inhaler body (S) will draw powder from the blister through the suction tube (19,20) and inhalation channel (31) and out of the outlet (17);
the inhaler further comprises a support unit (V, G) for supporting a blister pack (2), the support unit (V,G) including respective guide portions (L) for each blister of a supported blister pack (2), each guide portion (L) being for guiding said suction tube (19,20) into a respective blister and supporting the inhaler body (S) with said suction tube (19,20) so guided;
a substantially planar surface having a series of depressions (10) forming respective blisters, the support (V,G) including a guide wall (6) to be positioned adjacent said substantially planar surface opposite said depressions and having a series of apertures (15,16) for alignment with the series of depressions, the guide wall (6,36) extending away from said substantially planar surface so as to form said guide portions (L,36);
wherein the support unit (V) includes a housing (1) within which the blister pack (2) may be contained, the guide wall (6) being a wall of said housing (1);
and
the support unit (V) includes a support member (3) having a series of depressions (12) for receiving the series of depressions of the blister pack, in use, each depression (12) of the support member (3) being located opposite a respective one of said series of apertures (15) in said guide wall (6).

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.