Claims for Patent: 11,865,247

Summary for Patent: 11,865,247

Title:	Inhalers and related methods
Abstract:	An inhaler housing (14) for an inhaler (10) for inhaling inhalable substances, the inhaler having: a body (14) and a dose counter (24) with a return spring (28), wherein a distinct guide surface (162) is provided for guiding the end of the return spring into a recess (152), the distinct guide surface being wider than an entrance mouth (160) of the recess, a dose counter chamber (22) being provided which is separated from a tubular interior space (182) of the inhaler by a barrier (180), the barrier including a stepped upper wall area (184) including at least three steps (186, 188, 190, 192) at different levels, the inhaler having a valve stem block (62) having an inner bore and a valve stem block having a seal (224) in the inner bore with a second diameter which is smaller than a first diameter of the inner bore, the inhaler having a canister (150) being adapted to move during operation between 1 and 4 mm, a drive being arranged to apply a firing force of between 15N and 60N of force to the canister at a position of the canister relative to a valve stem (54) at which the canister fires.
Inventor(s):	Daniel Buck, Paul Prendergast, Declan Walsh
Assignee:	Norton Waterford Ltd
Application Number:	US17/847,968
Patent Litigation and PTAB cases:	See patent lawsuits and PTAB cases for patent 11,865,247
Patent Claims:	1. A breath actuated inhaler comprising: a canister housing; a canister displaceable within the canister housing across a travel length between end positions, the canister having a metering valve stem, a metering chamber and a drug reservoir, the metering chamber and the drug reservoir being in fluid communication with each other and the canister being displaced from an end position along the travel length when the canister is in a ready-to-fire position; a dose counter having a dose counter biasing element; a vacuum chamber external to the metering chamber; and a drive coupled to the canister and configured to apply variable forces to the canister that include a ready-to-fire force that is in equilibrium with balancing forces from sources that include the dose counter biasing element and the vacuum chamber, when the canister is the ready-to-fire position. 2. The breath actuated inhaler of claim 1, wherein the variable forces further include a firing force of greater than 35N when the canister is displaced along the travel length to a firing position. 3. The breath actuated inhaler of claim 2, wherein the firing force is less than 60N. 4. The breath actuated inhaler of claim 2, wherein the travel length of the canister is from 1 mm to 4 mm. 5. The breath actuated inhaler of claim 2, wherein in the firing position, the metering chamber is sealed from the drug reservoir. 6. The breath actuated inhaler of claim 2, wherein in the firing position, the metering chamber is exposed to atmosphere. 7. The breath actuated inhaler of claim 1, wherein the canister is displaced between one of the end positions and a firing position when the canister is in the ready-to-fire position. 8. The breath actuated in haler of claim 1 further comprising: a mouthpiece having rotatable cap having a cam surface; and a yoke engageable with the cam surface and the drive wherein the cap, yoke and drive cooperate to cause the canister to travel to the ready-to-fire position when the cap is rotated to an open position. 9. The breath actuated inhaler of claim 8 further comprising: at least one aperture through the canister housing in fluid communication with the mouthpiece; and a valve, pivotable between the canister and the canister housing into an open position at which vacuum is released from the vacuum chamber in response to an inhalation at the mouthpiece, wherein the drive is further configured to drive the canister to a firing position in response to a disruption in the equilibrium. 10. The breath actuated inhaler of claim 9, wherein the canister is displaced between one of the end positions and a firing position when the canister is in the ready-to-fire position. 11. The breath actuated inhaler of claim 9 further comprising: a mouthpiece having rotatable cap having a cam surface; and a yoke engageable with the cam surface and the drive wherein the cap, yoke and drive cooperate to cause the canister to travel to the ready-to-fire position when the cap is rotated to an open position. 12. The breath actuated inhaler of claim 9, wherein the breath actuated inhaler is configured to allow the metering chamber to fill with a predetermined dose of liquid from the drug reservoir when the drug reservoir is oriented above the metering chamber. 13. The breath actuated inhaler of claim 1, wherein the breath actuated inhaler is configured to allow the metering chamber to fill with a predetermined dose of liquid from the drug reservoir when the drug reservoir is oriented above the metering chamber. 14. The breath actuated inhaler of claim 9, wherein the variable forces further include a firing force of greater than 35N when the canister is displaced along the travel length to the firing position. 15. The breath actuated inhaler of claim 14, wherein the firing force is less than 60N. 16. The breath actuated inhaler of claim 14, wherein the travel length of the canister is from 1 mm to 4 mm. 17. The breath actuated inhaler of claim 14, wherein in the firing position, the metering chamber is sealed from the drug reservoir. 18. The breath actuated inhaler of claim 14, wherein in the firing position, the metering chamber is exposed to atmosphere.