Claims for Patent: 7,694,676

Summary for Patent: 7,694,676

Title:	Dry powder inhaler
Abstract:	An inhaler for inhaling powdered pharmaceutical compositions from capsules includes: a lower part; a plate which can be latched to the lower part and with which the lower part can be closed off; a capsule holder for receiving the capsules, this holder being adapted to be lowered into the lower part; a mouthpiece latchable to the plate; a lid which covers the mouthpiece in a closed position and latches it by means of a closure element, the lower part, the plate, the mouthpiece and the lid being hinged together by means of a single joint; and an actuating member which can be moved out a resting position and thereby interacts with at least one pin which can be made to pierce the capsule holder.
Inventor(s):	Wachtel; Herbert (Ingelheim, DE)
Assignee:	Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH (Ingelheim am Rhein, DE)
Application Number:	11/113,091
Patent Litigation and PTAB cases:	See patent lawsuits and PTAB cases for patent 7,694,676
Patent Claims:	1. An inhaler for inhaling powdered pharmaceutical compositions from capsules, comprising: a lower part, a plate which can be latched to the lower part and with which the lower part can be closed off, and a capsule holder for receiving the capsules, this holder being adapted to be lowered into the lower part, a mouthpiece latchable to the plate, a lid which covers the mouthpiece in a closed position and latches it by means of a closure element, the lower part, the plate, the mouthpiece and the lid being hinged together by means of a single joint, and an actuating member which can be moved out a resting position and thereby interacts with at least one pin which can be made to pierce the capsule holder, wherein: the mouthpiece has a gripping aid by means of which the mouthpiece can be flipped open, away to the side, the gripping aid disposed proximate to an edge of the mouthpiece and proximate to the actuating member when the mouthpiece is closed the actuating member is constructed as a double function actuating member by means of which, in a first actuation, the closure element can be released from the lower part in order to swivel the lid, and with which, in a second actuation, the capsule is pierced, the actuating member including a recess to receive and engage the closure element when the lid covers the mouthpiece in the closed position. 2. The inhaler according to claim 1, wherein the double function actuating member is movably mounted on the plate and/or capsule holder. 3. The inhaler according to claim 1 or 2, wherein in order to assist the opening movement by the double function actuating member a spring element is disposed between the plate and lower part. 4. The inhaler according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the double function actuating member is movably mounted on the plate. 5. The inhaler according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the double function actuating member is spring loaded. 6. The inhaler according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the double function actuating member consists of a main body with two parallel guide arms acting thereon. 7. The inhaler according to claim 6, wherein the main body of the double function actuating member comprises an upper rifled surface and at least one lateral rifled surface. 8. The inhaler according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the double function actuating member has on its upper surface a recess which is inclined so as to form a sliding surface for the closure element in the form of a tilting plane. 9. The inhaler according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the piercing of the capsule is effected by one or more, preferably two, laterally offset, parallel extending pins which are moved by the actuation of the double function actuating member and perforate the capsule. 10. The inhaler according to claim 9, wherein the pin or pins are guided through tubular pin guides. 11. The inhaler according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the pin or pins are each guided through a laterally mounted guide arm. 12. The inhaler according to claim 11, wherein the guide arms mounted laterally hold the double function actuating member under pre-tension. 13. An inhaler for inhaling powdered pharmaceutical compositions from capsules, comprising; a lower part, a plate which can be latched to the lower part and with which the lower part can be closed off, and a capsule holder for receiving the capsules, this holder being adapted to be lowered into the lower part, a mouthpiece latchable to the plate, a lid which covers the mouthpiece in a closed position and latches it by means of a closure elemental the lower part, the plate, the mouthpiece and the lid being hinged together by means of a single joint, and an actuating member which can be moved out a resting position and thereby interacts with at least one pin which can be made to pierce the capsule holder, wherein the mouthpiece has a gripping aid by means of which the mouthpiece can be flipped open, away to the side, the gripping aid disposed proximate to an edge of the mouthpiece and proximate to the actuating member when the mouthpiece is closed, the actuating member including a recess to receive and engage the closure element when the lid covers the mouthpiece in the closed position. 14. The inhaler according to claim 13, wherein the gripping aid includes a discontinuity from a smooth contour of the mouthpiece at an upper edge thereof, which forms a projection. 15. The inhaler according to claim 13, wherein the gripping aid is of a size suitable for adult patients. 16. The inhaler according to claim 1 or 13 for inhaling powdered pharmaceutical compositions.