# US 8,539,947 B2 · Powder inhaler > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,539,947 B2 - Document ID: US8539947B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/669,187 - Filed: 2008-07-17 - Published: 2010-11-04 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2007-07-20 - Assignees: Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH - Applicants: Rolf Kuhn; Burkhard Peter Metzger; Torsten Kuehn; Heinrich Kladders; Joern-Eric Schulz - Inventors: Rolf Kuhn; Burkhard Peter Metzger; Torsten Kuehn; Heinrich Kladders; Joern-Eric Schulz - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8539947B2 ## CPC - A61M 16/00: Devices for influencing the respiratory system of patients by gas treatment, e.g. ventilators (iron lungs A61H31/02); Tracheal tubes - A61M 15/0026: {Hinged caps} - A61M 15/0028: {using prepacked dosages, one for each application, e.g. capsules to be perforated or broken-up} - A61M 15/0035: {Piercing means} - A61M 15/0041: {with movable piercing or cutting means} - A61M 2202/064: Powder - 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 An inhaler for inhaling powdered medicaments from capsules, having: a lower part which is cup-shaped, a plate latched to the lower part to close off the lower part, a capsule holder arranged on the underside of the plate, a mouthpiece that can be latched to the top of plate, and an actuating member for interacting with at least one pin for piercing a capsule in the capsule holder, where the actuating member includes a larger outer actuating member and a smaller inner actuating member, the outer actuating member forms a user-operated push-button, the inner actuating member contacts and holds the pin below a suspension element of the outer actuating member from the plate, and the point of application of force by the user onto push-button is lower than the inner actuating member. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An inhaler for inhaling powdered medicaments from capsules, comprising a lower part (6) which is cup-shaped, a plate (3) latched to the lower part (6), by means of which the lower part (6) can be closed off, and a capsule holder (5) that is arranged on the underside of the plate (3), wherein the lower part (6) accommodates the whole of the capsule holder (5), a mouthpiece (2) that can be latched to the top of plate (3), and an actuating member which can be set in motion from a resting position and interacts with at least one pin (8, 11), that can be pushed into the capsule holder (5) in order to pierce a capsule in the capsule holder, wherein the actuating member is in two parts of an outer actuating member (7) and an inner actuating member (10) and wherein the outer actuating member (7) is larger than the inner actuating member (10), the outer actuating member (7) forms a push-button that is operated by the patient and is moveably suspended from the plate (3) by means for suspension (20, 22), the inner actuating member (10) contacts and holds the at least one pin and is situated below the means for suspension (20, 22) of the outer actuating member (7) from the plate (3), and the point of application of force by the user onto the outer actuating member push-button is lower than the inner actuating member (10). ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The inhaler according to claim 1, wherein 10-25 Newtons have to be applied in order to perforate the capsule by pushing the outer actuating member (7). ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The inhaler according to claim 1, wherein the actuating member (7, 10) is spring-loaded so that after actuation the actuating member (7, 10) is returned to its rest position. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The inhaler according to claim 1, wherein the inner actuating member (10) is attached to the outer actuating member (7) and the inner actuating member contains guide arms (15) for guiding the at least one pin (8, 11) into the capsule holder. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The inhaler according to claim 1, wherein the outer actuating member (7) is grooved and comprises at least one lateral grooved surface (28). ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The inhaler according to claim 1, wherein the inhaler has a cover (1) which covers the mouthpiece (2) in a closure position and latches by means of a closure element (14) and that the outer actuating member (7) has, on its upper side, a recess (26) which is inclined so as to form a sliding surface for the closure element (14) in the form of a sloping plane. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The inhaler according to claim 1, wherein the piercing of the a capsule is carried out by two or more perpendicularly offset, parallel pins (8, 11) that are moved by the actuation of the outer actuating member (7) which moves the inner actuating member (10) which contacts the pins and pushes them into the capsule holder (5) to perforate the capsule. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The inhaler according to claim 7, wherein the inhaler has two or more tubular pin passages (18, 19) provided in the capsule holder (5) and that upon actuation the pins (8, 11) are passed through these tubular pin passages. ### Claim 9 (depends on 4) The inhaler according to claim 4, wherein the guide arms (15) are provided with end stops at their end remote from the main body, wherein the end stops abut on the capsule holder (5) in the resting position of the actuating member (7, 10). ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The inhaler according to claim 1, which further contains a plastic capsule containing a powdered medicament in the capsule holder (5). ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The inhaler according to claim 1, wherein, upon actuating by pushing on the outer actuating member (7), the outer actuating member (7) moves along a part of a circle around the means for suspension (20, 22) and presses onto the inner actuating member (10) such that the inner actuating member (10) moves in a linear manner and pushes the pins into the capsule holder. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The inhaler according to claim 11, wherein the inner actuating member (10) is attached to the outer actuating member (7) by a suspension means attaching at recess (16) which is in the form of an elongate hole, such that the attachment allows the inner actuating member (10) to move in a linear manner as a result of the outer actuating member (7) moving along a part of a circle around the means for suspension (20, 22). ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The inhaler according to claim 1, wherein the inner actuating member (10) is attached to the capsule holder (5).