Details for Patent: 8,584,668
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| Title: | Inhalation device |
| Abstract: | Actuator for an inhaler for delivering medicament by inhalation. The actuator comprises a main body comprising a tubular member for receiving a canister containing medicament and having a valve stem extending therefrom, and an outlet assembly, as a part formed separately of the main body, comprising a mouthpiece for guiding medicament to the mouth of a user and a nozzle block for receiving the valve stem of the canister and delivering medicament from the canister into the mouthpiece. At least a part of the outlet assembly is configured so as to deform and optionally break on withdrawal of the outlet assembly from the main body so as to prevent re-use of the outlet assembly. |
| Inventor(s): | Hodson; Darren (Shropshire, GB), Rasmussen; Jorgen (Struer, DK) |
| Assignee: | AstraZeneca AB (Sodertalje, SE) |
| Filing Date: | Feb 03, 2006 |
| Application Number: | 11/346,573 |
| Claims: | 1. An actuator for an inhaler for delivering medicament by inhalation, the actuator comprising: a main body comprising a tubular member for receiving a canister containing medicament to be dispensed through a valve stem extending from the canister; and an outlet assembly formed separately and moveable relative to the main body, the outlet assembly comprising a mouthpiece for guiding medicament to the mouth of a user, a nozzle block for receiving the valve stem of the canister and delivering medicament from the canister into the mouthpiece, a first connecting element extending between a first end of the mouthpiece and a first end of the nozzle block, and a second connecting element extending between a second end of the mouthpiece and a second end of the nozzle block, said first connecting element being configured to break or permanently deform upon removal of the outlet assembly from the main body; wherein the main body is provided with an outlet opening for receiving the outlet assembly in a position wherein the mouthpiece extends outside the outlet opening and the nozzle block is inserted through the outlet opening and arranged in position for receiving the valve stem of the canister. 2. The actuator according to claim 1, wherein the shape of the outlet opening is complementary to a tubular section of the outlet assembly mouth piece. 3. The actuator according to claim 1, wherein the main body comprises guide means for guiding the outlet assembly to the correct position during insertion. 4. The actuator according to claim 1, wherein the outlet assembly comprises a radial outwardly directed peripheral stop flange. 5. The actuator according to claim 2, wherein the part of the outlet assembly to be inserted through the outlet opening at least partly is of general conical shape, with a leading end of small cross-sectional area, compared to the outlet opening, followed by a gradually larger section terminated by the mouth piece, to facilitate the insertion. 6. The actuator according to claim 1, wherein the outlet assembly is formed as a single integral moulding. 7. The actuator according to claim 1, wherein the nozzle block includes a bore having an opening for receiving the valve stem of a canister and a spray orifice configured to direct a spray into the mouthpiece. 8. The actuator according to claim 1, wherein the main body and the outlet assembly are configured so as to snap-fit together in that they are provided with complementary snap catch members. 9. The actuator according to claim 8, wherein the snap catch members of both the main body and the outlet assembly are arranged inside the actuator in the assembled state. 10. The actuator according to claim 1, wherein the nozzle block is connected and supported by the mouthpiece providing an essentially free flow of air about the nozzle block. 11. The actuator according to claim 1, wherein the tubular member of the main body has an end surface adjacent to the outlet opening and wherein the nozzle block is supported by said end surface. 12. The actuator according to claim 11, wherein the end surface is provided with an alignment and support member for guiding the nozzle block to the correct position and for supporting the same in the generally vertical direction of the tubular member. 13. The actuator according to claim 12, wherein the outlet assembly comprises a nozzle block alignment and support member that is complementary to the alignment and support member of the main body, the complementary support members being so arranged to take up the transversal force applied on the nozzle block during actuation of a canister. 14. The actuator according to claim 11, wherein the end surface is formed as a foot which is configured such that, with a canister fitted therein, the actuator will stand unsupported with the tubular member extending generally vertically. 15. The actuator according to claim 14, wherein the foot has a bottom surface which includes a recess for receiving a thumb or a finger of a user. 16. The actuator according to claim 15, wherein the recess is concave. 17. The actuator according to claim 14, wherein the foot has a bottom surface which is flat. 18. The actuator according to claim 1, further comprising one or both of a breath actuation mechanism and a compliance monitor. 19. The actuator according to claim 18, wherein the main body comprises one or both of the breath actuation mechanism and the compliance monitor. 20. The actuator according to claim 19, wherein the tubular member of the main body has an end surface adjacent to the outlet opening and said end surface is formed as a foot configured such that, with a canister fitted therein, the actuator will stand unsupported with the tubular member extending generally vertically, said foot comprising one or both of the breath actuation mechanism and the compliance monitor. 21. The actuator according to claim 1, wherein the main body and the outlet assembly are of different colour. 22. An inhaler comprising the actuator according to claim 1 and a canister containing medicament. 23. The inhaler according to claim 22, wherein the inhaler is a pressurised metered dose inhaler. 24. An inhaler for delivering medicament by inhalation, the inhaler comprising: an actuator main body including a tubular member for receiving a canister having a valve stem for dispensing medicament; and an outlet assembly formed separately of the main body, said outlet assembly comprising a mouthpiece for guiding medicament to the mouth of a user, a nozzle block for receiving the valve stem of the canister and delivering medicament from the canister into the mouthpiece, a first connecting element extending between a first end of the mouthpiece and a first end of the nozzle block, and a second connecting element extending between a second end of the mouthpiece and a second end of the nozzle block, said first connecting element being configured to break or permanently deform upon removal of the outlet assembly from the main body, wherein the tubular member is provided with an outlet opening for receiving the outlet assembly in a position wherein the mouthpiece extends outside the outlet opening and the nozzle block is inserted through the outlet opening and arranged in position inside the tubular member, for receiving the valve stem of the canister, and wherein the outlet opening is a lateral opening at one end of the tubular member and arranged to receive the outlet assembly at an angle transverse to the tubular member. 25. The inhaler according to claim 24, wherein the shape of the outlet opening is complementary to a tubular section of the outlet assembly. 26. The inhaler according to claim 24, comprising guide means for guiding the outlet assembly to the correct position during insertion. 27. The inhaler according to claim 24, wherein it is provided with snap catch members that are complementary to snap catch members on the outlet assembly. 28. The inhaler according to claim 27, wherein the snap catch members are arranged inside the actuator in the assembled state. 29. The inhaler according to claim 24, wherein the tubular member has an end surface adjacent to the outlet opening and wherein the end surface is arranged to support the nozzle block. 30. The inhaler according to claim 29, wherein the end surface is provided with an alignment and support member for guiding the nozzle block to the correct position and for supporting the same in the generally vertical direction of the tubular member. 31. The inhaler according to claim 24, wherein the end surface is formed as a foot which is configured such that, with a canister fitted therein, the actuator will stand unsupported with the tubular member extending generally vertically. 32. The inhaler according to claim 31, wherein the foot has a bottom surface which includes a recess for receiving a thumb or a finger of a user. 33. The inhaler according to claim 32, wherein the recess is concave. 34. The inhaler according to claim 31, wherein the foot has a bottom surface which is flat. 35. An outlet assembly of an actuator for an inhaler for delivering medicament by inhalation, the outlet assembly comprising: a mouthpiece for guiding medicament to the mouth of a user; a nozzle block for receiving a valve stem extending from a canister of the actuator and delivering medicament from the canister into the mouthpiece, a first connecting element extending between a first end of the mouthpiece and a first end of the nozzle block, said first connecting element being configured to break or permanently deform upon removal of the outlet assembly from a separately formed main body of the actuator; and a second connecting element extending between a second end of the mouthpiece and a second end of the nozzle block; wherein the outlet assembly is configured to operatively engage a separately formed main body of the actuator and moveable relative to said main body, wherein the outlet assembly is arranged to be received in a position wherein the mouthpiece extends outside the main body and the nozzle block is inserted inside the main body and arranged in position for receiving the valve stem of the canister, and wherein the nozzle block is arranged to receive the valve stem at an angle transverse to the mouthpiece. 36. The outlet assembly according to claim 35, wherein the mouthpiece comprises a tubular section with a shape that is complementary to an outlet opening formed in the main body. 37. The outlet assembly according to claim 35, comprising a radial outwardly directed peripheral stop flange. 38. The outlet assembly according to claim 35, wherein the part to be inserted through an outlet opening of the main body has a generally conical shape, with a leading end of small cross-sectional area, compared to the outlet opening, followed by a gradually larger section terminated by the mouthpiece, to facilitate the insertion. 39. The outlet assembly according to claim 35, being formed as a single integral moulding. 40. The outlet assembly according to claim 35, wherein the nozzle block includes a bore having an opening for receiving the valve stem of a canister and a spray orifice configured to direct a spray into the mouthpiece. 41. The outlet assembly according to claim 35, further comprising snap catch members that are complementary to snap catch members of the main body. 42. The outlet assembly according to claim 41, wherein the snap catch members are arranged so that they are situated inside the actuator in the assembled state. 43. The outlet assembly according to claim 35, wherein the nozzle block is connected and supported by the mouthpiece providing an essentially free flow of air about the nozzle block. 44. The outlet assembly according to claim 35, wherein the tubular member of the main body has an end surface adjacent to an outlet opening of the main body and wherein the nozzle block is arranged to be supported by said end surface. 45. The outlet assembly according to claim 44, wherein the end surface is provided with an alignment and support member for guiding the nozzle block to the correct position and for supporting the same in the generally vertical direction of the tubular member. 46. The outlet assembly according to claim 45, wherein the outlet assembly comprises a nozzle block alignment and support member that is complementary to the alignment and support member of the main body, the complementary support means being so arranged to take up the transversal force applied on the nozzle block during actuation of a canister. 47. An outlet assembly of an actuator for an inhaler for delivering medicament by inhalation, the outlet assembly comprising: a mouthpiece for guiding medicament to the mouth of a user; a nozzle block for receiving a valve stem extending from a canister of the actuator and delivering medicament from the canister into the mouthpiece; a first connecting element extending between a first end of the mouthpiece and a first end of the nozzle block, said first connecting element being configured to break or permanently deform upon removal of the outlet assembly from a separately formed main body of the actuator; and a second connecting element extending between a second end of the mouthpiece and a second end of the nozzle block; wherein the outlet assembly is configured to operatively engage the main body of the actuator and moveable relative to said main body, wherein the outlet assembly is arranged to be fitted in an outlet opening of the main body such that the mouthpiece extends outside the outlet opening and the nozzle block is inserted through the outlet opening and arranged in position for receiving the valve stem of the canister, and wherein the nozzle block is arranged to receive the valve stem at an angle transverse to the extension of the mouthpiece. 48. An outlet assembly of an actuator for an inhaler for delivering medicament by inhalation, the outlet assembly comprising: a mouthpiece for guiding medicament to the mouth of a user; and a nozzle block for receiving a valve stem extending from a canister of the actuator and delivering medicament from the canister into the mouthpiece; a first connecting element extending between a first end of the mouthpiece and a first end of the nozzle block, said first connecting element being configured to break or permanently deform upon removal of the outlet assembly from a separately formed main body of the actuator; and a second connecting element extending between a second end of the mouthpiece and a second end of the nozzle block; wherein the outlet assembly is configured to operatively engage the main body of the actuator and moveable relative to said main body, and wherein the nozzle block is arranged to receive the valve stem at an angle transverse to the mouthpiece, the part to be inserted through the outlet opening at least partly being of general conical shape, with a leading end of small cross-sectional area, compared to an outlet opening in the main body, followed by a gradually larger section terminated by the mouthpiece, to facilitate the insertion. 49. The actuator according to claim 18, wherein said compliance monitor is a dose counter. |
