Patent US4476039A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0506293A1
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Inhaler
Assignee: Rhone Poulenc Rorer Ltd
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Filing: 1992-03-18
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2012-03-18
Abstract
Abstract An inhaler for powdered medicament in capsules has a swirling chamber which can be opened to allow access of a closed capsule into the swirling chamber for operation of capsule-opening means in the swirling chamber. Access to the swirling chamber is gained by a pivoting cover member (22) which is provided with interlock means associated with the capsule-opening means to ensure that the capsule opening means cannot be operated while the cover member is in its open position to allow access of the user's fingers to the region (28) of the swirling chamber (26,28) where the capsule-opening pins (30) could damage the user's finger.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert Stanley c/o RHONE-POULENC RORER LTD. Cook
- 👤 Michael A. c/o Rhone-Poulenc Rorer Ltd Hobbs
- 👤 Ann-Marie c/o RHONE-POULENC RORER LTD Leighton
- 👤 Gordon T. c/o RHONE-POULENC RORER LTD Simpkin
- 👤 Roy c/o RHONE-POULENC RORER LTD Trunley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 04:06
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M15/00; A61M15/0028; A61M11/00; A61M11/001; A61M11/003; A61M15/0001; A61M15/0005; A61M15/0006; A61M15/0008; A61M15/003; A61M15/0033; A61M2202/00; A61M2202/06; A61M2202/064; A61M2205/00; A61M2205/02; A61M2205/0233
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
120 words
An inhaler (2) for inhaling powdered medicament from capsules which are opened in the inhaler, comprising:-a swirling chamber for holding a capsule from which the powdered medicament is extracted by rotation of the opened capsule in the inhalation airflow through the swirling chamber; means (30) in the swirling chamber for opening a capsule having been inserted in the swirling chamber ready for inhalation; and a closure member (22) movable between a first position (22) closing the swirling chamber and a second position (22′) providing access to the swirling chamber for insertion of a capsule, characterized by interlock means (38, 46, 48) responsive to positioning of the closure member in said second position for inhibiting operation of said closure opening means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
38 words
An inhaler according to claim 1, characterized in that said capsule opening means comprise at least one pin (30) drivable for piercing the capsule to provide an opening through which the powdered medicament can be released during swirling.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
An inhaler according to claim 2, characterized in that there are two of said pins (30) and they are mounted to approach one another colinearly for piercing the domed ends of an elongate capsule, and in that the swirling chamber includes a recess (28) to support the said elongate capsule during operation of said pins.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
An inhaler according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said closure member (22) is movable from said first position (22) to said second position (22′) by pivoting.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
71 words
An inhaler according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said interlock means (38, 46, 48) are responsive to arrival of said closure member at said first position (22) for liberating the capsule-opening means for operation while said closure member is in said first position, and are effective to inhibit operation of said capsule-opening means (30), both in said second position (22′) and in all intermediate positions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
83 words
An inhaler according to claim 5, wherein said closure member (22) is movable from said first position to said second position by pivoting, and characterized in that said closure member comprises a pair of ears (48) each having an aperture (46) for registration with a stud (38) of said interlock means whereby said stud (38) is unable to move in the direction corresponding to operation of said capsule-opening means until said holes (46) in the ears are in register with said studs (38).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
95 words
An inhaler according to claim 6, characterized in that said ears (48) are flexible and each include a respective pivot lug (54) for engagement with a pivot recess of the body of the rest of the inhaler, whereby said ears may be deflected either towards or away one another in order to permit entry of said pivot lugs into said pivot recesses by deformation of the ears during assembly of the inhaler, whereupon the ears then spring back to their relaxed configurations to hold the closure member connected to the rest of the inhaler body.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
65 words
An inhaler according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the chamber is non-circular and is able to allow the capsule to rotate freely about its transverse axis under the influence of the inhaled airflow but otherwise to impact against said at least one further wall in order to increase the likelihood of ejection of the medicament from within the capsule.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4069819A
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GB2061735A
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EP0129985A1
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EP0147755A2
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EP0406893A1
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