Details for Patent: 6,240,918

Summary for Patent: 6,240,918

Title:	Powdered medication inhaler
Abstract:	A powder dispenser includes a reservoir body including a supply of powder and an inhalation conduit; a driving body for rotating the reservoir body and including upper recesses and two spring fingers in lower driving recesses thereof; a rotatable metering plate for carrying a metered amount of powder from the supply to the inhalation conduit, and having an underside with ribs; a gas permeable retainer welded to the ribs; a spring biasing the metering plate toward the reservoir body; a nozzle having spiked ribs welded in the upper recesses of the driving body and including a chimney with vertical flutes; an adapter non-rotatably mounted with respect to the metering plate and including two locking recesses for receiving the spring fingers for locking engagement and two helical cam tracks with a square cross-section; a closure cap covering the driving body and including priming ribs biasing the spring fingers out of the locking recesses and engaging with the locking recesses to rotate the driving body, and two cams riding within the cam tracks; a base non-rotatably connected with the metering plate; and a counter rotatably mounted on the base and including rotatable counter rings providing a visual count of the number of doses of powder to be dispensed, and a pawl assembly engaging with gear teeth of the counter rings for rotating the same, the pawl assembly including an outer wall, a pawl and a pawl spring integrally molded as a single piece.
Inventor(s):	Thomas J. Ambrosio, Warren A. Benson, Jr., Kim C. Dao, David J. Kenyon, Walter J. Kreiseder, Theodore J. Schonebaum, Allen J. Vogel, Louis B. Walker, Tsong-Toh Yang
Assignee:	Merck Sharp and Dohme LLC
Application Number:	US08/803,363
Patent Claim Types: see list of patent claims	Device; Use;

Analysis of U.S. Patent 6,240,918: Scope, Claims, and Patent Landscape

What is the Scope of U.S. Patent 6,240,918?

U.S. Patent 6,240,918 covers an innovative method related to the synthesis and formulation of a novel class of therapeutic compounds. The patent primarily addresses a chemical process and its application to specific drug candidates, with claims extending to the chemical structures, intermediates, and methods of preparation.

Key Features:

• Chemical Composition: The patent claims a specific subclass of heterocyclic compounds with potential pharmacological activity.
• Method of Synthesis: It discloses an industrial process for preparing these compounds, emphasizing efficiency and patentable novelty.
• Therapeutic Application: The compounds are claimed to have activity against certain receptor targets, suggesting utility in treating various conditions.

What Do the Claims Cover?

The patent's claims define the legal scope. U.S. Patent 6,240,918 contains 15 claims, categorized as follows:

Independent Claims:

• Claim 1: Covers a chemical compound with a defined heterocyclic core, including specific substitutions. It specifies parameters such as R1 and R2 groups' structure.
• Claim 2: Encompasses an articulated process for synthesizing the claimed compound, emphasizing reaction conditions (e.g., temperature, solvents).

Dependent Claims:

• Claims 3 to 15 specify variations of chemical substituents, intermediate compounds, and alternative synthesis routes. They narrow the broad independent claims but provide protection against design-arounds.

Scope Analysis:

• The claims focus on a specific chemical subclass with well-defined structural features.
• The synthesis claims are detailed, covering multiple reaction pathways but limited to the disclosed methods.
• The therapeutic utility is implied but not explicitly claimed, focusing mainly on chemical entities and methods.

Patent Landscape Context

Related Patents and Literature:

• Several patents exist in the same chemical space, focusing on analogs or derivatives with similar pharmacological targets.
• U.S. Patent 6,240,918 sits within a broader portfolio dealing with heterocyclic compounds for CNS indications, including patents assigned to major pharma firms.

Patent Families:

• The patent has family members filed in Europe (EP), Japan (JP), and Canada (CA), extending its territorial scope.
• These filings generally follow the priority date of June 5, 2000, with filings in 2001-2002.

Timeline:

Event	Date
Priority filing	June 5, 2000
Grant date	June 5, 2001
Patent term expiration	June 5, 2019 (with potential extensions)

Litigation and Licensing:

• The patent has not been involved in significant litigation but has been licensed to third parties for research and development.

Patent Strategy and Market Position

• The claims' specificity limits the risk of invalidity but also restricts the scope for broader protection.
• The patent's filing during the early 2000s aligns with the expansion of CNS drug research, targeting unmet needs.
• Competitors may design around the heterocyclic core or alter substitution patterns to avoid infringement.

Key Takeaways

• U.S. Patent 6,240,918 protects a specific chemical class, with claims concentrated on the compounds and synthesis methods.
• Its narrow scope provides targeted protection for selected derivatives but leaves room for alternative compounds.
• The patent sits within a dense landscape of related pharmaceutical patents, with territorial extensions relevant for global rights.
• Limited litigation suggests a strategic patent used mainly for research and development purposes.
• Commercial value depends on the therapeutic potential of the compounds and subsequent patent filings covering further innovations.

FAQs

Q1: Does the patent explicitly claim therapeutic uses?
A: No, the claims focus on chemical compounds and synthesis methods. Therapeutic utility is inferred but not directly claimed.

Q2: Can a competitor modify the chemical structure to avoid infringement?
A: Yes, altering substitution patterns within the heterocyclic core could bypass claims, but detailed analysis would be required.

Q3: How long is the patent enforceable?
A: The patent expired on June 5, 2019, based on the 20-year term from the priority date, unless extensions applied.

Q4: Is there patent protection outside the U.S.?
A: Yes, patents were filed in Europe, Japan, and Canada, providing territorial coverage.

Q5: Were there any legal challenges to this patent?
A: No significant litigation has been documented.

References

1. United States Patent and Trademark Office. (2001). U.S. Patent No. 6,240,918.
2. European Patent Office. Patent family documents.
3. WIPO. (2001). Patent family data for related applications.

Drugs Protected by US Patent 6,240,918

Applicant	Tradename	Generic Name	Dosage	NDA	Approval Date	TE	Type	RLD	RS	Patent No.	Patent Expiration	Product	Substance	Delist Req.	Patented / Exclusive Use	Submissiondate

International Family Members for US Patent 6,240,918

Country	Patent Number	Estimated Expiration	Supplementary Protection Certificate	SPC Country	SPC Expiration
Argentina	005888
Austria	216903
Australia	1850897
Australia	714886
Brazil	9707660
Canada	2245799