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EP0488609A1 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Powder inhaler

Assignee: Novartis AG
•
Filing: 1991-11-25
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2011-11-25
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Abstract

Abstract A powder inhaler comprising a housing defining a storage chamber for holding powder, a dispensing chamber from which powder can be drawn by inhalation, and means for transferring a measured dose of powder from the storage chamber to the dispensing chamber characterised in that the means for transferring a measured dose of powder from the storage chamber to the dispensing chamber comprises a metering member (20) having a recess (44) of predetermined volume and being reciprocally movable between a first position in which powder from the storage chamber (14) can enter the recess and a second position in which powder in the recess is transferred to the dispensing chamber and wherein the metering member is movable by means of a plunger (16) movable at right angles to the metering member and having a cam surface (72) engaging the metering member so that depression of the plunger causes the metering member to move from its first to its second position, the metering member being spring biased to return to its first position on release of the plunger.

Inventors

  • 👤 David Reed
  • 👤 Christopher Pallender

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-26 04:33
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M15/00; A61M15/0065; A61M15/0068; A61M15/007; A61M15/0071; A61M15/0075; A61M2202/00; A61M2202/06; A61M2202/064

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim 176 words
A powder inhaler comprising a housing defining a storage chamber for holding powder, a dispensing chamber from which powder can be drawn by inhalation, and means for transferring a measured dose of powder from the storage chamber to the dispensing chamber characterised in that the means for transferring a measured dose of powder from the storage chamber to the dispensing chamber comprises a metering member (20) having a recess (44) of predetermined volume and being reciprocally movable between a first position in which powder from the storage chamber (14) can enter the recess and a second position in which powder in the recess is transferred to the dispensing chamber and wherein the metering member is movable by means of a plunger (16) movable at right angles to the metering member and having a cam surface (72) engaging the metering member so that depression of the plunger causes the metering member to move from its first to its second position, the metering member being spring biased to return to its first position on release of the plunger.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 41 words
A powder inhaler as claimed in claim 1 characterised in that a scraper member (26) is provided which engages in the recess as the metering member moves to its second position to scoop powder from the recess into the dispensing chamber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 59 words
A powder inhaler as claimed in claim 1 or 2 characterised in that the recess has an open end nearest the dispensing chamber and a keeper member (46) is provided which closes the open end of the recess when the metering member is in its first position and is retracted as the metering member moves to its second position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 89 words
A powder inhaler as claimed in claim 1 characterised in that an agitator member (60) is provided and which, in the first position of the metering member covers the recess in the metering member and which is movable to uncover the recess as the metering member moves from its first position towards its second position, the agitator member having at least a portion within the storage chamber so that movement of the agitator assists the flow of powder from the storage chamber into the recess in the metering member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 74 words
A powder inhaler as claimed in claim 1 characterised in that the metering member is formed in two parts one being stationary and one being reciprocally movable between the first position and the second position and having an aperture therethrough forming the recess, the aperture being so positioned as to carry powder from the storage chamber to the dispensing chamber which is formed by a depression in the stationary part of the metering member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 33 words
A powder inhaler as claimed in claim 5 characterised in that a dose slide agitator (78) is provided for agitate the movable part to assist the powder to deposit in the dispensing chamber.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 50 words
A powder inhaler as claimed in claim 1 characterised in that the metering member is movable horizontally in a lower part of the housing, a mouthpiece extends upwards from the dispensing chamber, the storage chamber extends upwards alongside the mouthpiece and the plunger is movable vertically alongside the storage chamber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 18 words
A powder inhaler as claimed in claim 1 characterised in that the housing contains a desiccant chamber (76).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 25 words
A powder inhaler as claimed in claim 1 characterised in that the plunger is provided with an indicator for indicating the number of doses used.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2587215A Cited

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