Inhaler

Abstract

An inhaler for delivering metered doses of powdered medicament, the inhaler having a plurality of compartments spaced in an array and each arranged to contain a metered dose of the medicament, a lever to displace the compartments one by one into line with an inhalation aperture that constitutes a mouthpiece, each compartment including inner and outer edges, the plurality of compartments being closed by a sealing layer, the inhaler further having a mechanism adapted to lift the sealing layer off the inner and outer edges of the compartment to open an air passageway defined by the compartment and the sealing layer so that, in use, on inhalation through the mouthpiece, air flow in the air flow passageway picks up and entrains the powder in the compartment to be drawn with the air out of the inhaler through the mouthpiece.

1 . An inhaler for delivering metered doses of powdered medicament, the inhaler having a plurality of compartments spaced in an array and each arranged to contain a metered dose of the medicament, a lever to displace the compartments one by one into line with an inhalation aperture that constitutes a mouthpiece, each compartment including inner and outer edges, the plurality of compartments being closed by a sealing layer, the inhaler further having a mechanism adapted to lift the sealing layer off the inner and outer edges of the compartment to open an air passageway defined by the compartment and the sealing layer so that, in use, on inhalation through the mouthpiece, air flow in the air flow passageway picks up and entrains the powder in the compartment to be drawn with the air out of the inhaler through the mouthpiece.  
   
   
       2 . The inhaler according to  claim 1  wherein the compartments are spaced in an annular array and the means to lift the sealing layer lifts the inner and outer edges of the sealing layer.  
   
   
       3 . The inhaler according to  claim 1  wherein each compartment is covered by a perforated layer and the sealing layer covers the perforated layer with the lifting means lifting the inner and outer edges of the sealing layer from the perforated layer.  
   
   
       4 . The inhaler according to  claim 1  wherein the lever is moveable from an inoperative position to an operative position in which one compartment is indexed to align with the inhalation aperture and the inner and outer edges of the sealing layer are lifted off the compartment, the lever being returnable to the operative position.  
   
   
       5 . The inhaler according to  claim 4  wherein the inhaler has a sealing bar that pushes down the inner and outer edges of the compartment as the lever is returned to the inoperative position.  
   
   
       6 . The inhaler according to  claim 1  wherein the inhaler comprises a body adapted to receive a cartridge that carries the compartments, the inhalation aperture being provided in the body in a position aligned with an outlet aperture in the cartridge, and the lever being mounted on the body to be displaceable from the inoperative position to the operative position in which a fresh compartment is displaced and opened so that the opened compartment is aligned with the inhalation aperture.  
   
   
       7 . The inhaler according to  claim 6  wherein the lever includes a component that closes the inhalation aperture in the inoperative position and opens the aperture in the operative position.  
   
   
       8 . The inhaler according to  claim 5  wherein the body defines a compartment into which the cartridge is located, a lid being pivoted to the body to close off the compartment.  
   
   
       9 . The inhaler according to  claim 8  wherein the lid includes an air entry aperture.  
   
   
       10 . The inhaler according to  claim 9  wherein the lid includes indicator means to provide a visual indication that air has been drawn through the inhaler.  
   
   
       11 . The inhaler according to  claim 10  wherein the indicator means comprises a member displaceable in response to a minimum air flow.  
   
   
       12 . The inhaler according to  claim 11  wherein the member is displaceable from a start position to a finish position, the finish position reflecting minimum air flow.  
   
   
       13 . The inhaler according to  claim 5  wherein the cartridge comprises a disc assembly mounted within upper and lower covers, the disc assembly being axially rotatable relative to the lower cover.  
   
   
       14 . The inhaler according to  claim 13  wherein the disc assembly comprises the array of spaced compartments sealed by a disc shaped sealing layer.  
   
   
       15 . The inhaler according to  claim 14  wherein the array of compartments are formed in a metal foil disc shaped sheet that is positioned on a similarly formed disc shaped base member.  
   
   
       16 . The inhaler according to  claim 13  wherein the lower cover has a pair of spaced projections that extend past slots in the disc assembly to engage the underside of the sealing layer whereby rotation of the disc assembly past the projections causes the projections to lift the sealing layer off the inner and outer edges of the compartments one by one as the compartments move over the projections.  
   
   
       17 . The inhaler according to  claim 13  wherein the upper cover is capable of oscillating relative to the lower cover, the oscillation causing rotation of the member to the start position.  
   
   
       18 . The inhaler according to  claim 1  wherein the mechanism comprises a flip top member secured to the sealing layer and having portions adapted to flex upwardly relative to the compartment to lift the sealing layer off the inner and outer edges of the compartment.  
   
   
       19 . The inhaler according to  claim 18  wherein the inhaler includes means to flex the portions upwardly as the compartment is displaced relative to the inhaler.  
   
   
       20 . The inhaler according to  claim 1  wherein the mechanism comprises an opener in the form of wedge shaped members mounted spaced apart on a plate which is positioned beneath the array of compartments, the wedge shaped members engaging the underside of the sealing layer, the plate being fixed relative to the inhaler so that displacement of the array of compartments relative to the inhaler causes each compartment to move past the wedge shaped members to lift the sealing layer off the inner and outer edges of the compartment.  
   
   
       21 . The inhaler according to  claim 1  wherein the inhaler has a one way valve that allows air to be drawn in through the inhaler and out of the mouthpiece but prevents flow of air in the reverse direction.  
   
   
       22 . The inhaler according to  claim 1  wherein ten compartments are spaced in an array.  
   
   
       23 . A disposable cartridge adapted to be received in a body of an inhaler, the cartridge having a plurality of compartments spaced in an array and each arranged to contain a metered dose of medicament, the compartments being displaceable one by one into line with an outlet aperture, each compartment including inner and outer edges, the plurality of compartments being closed by a sealing layer, and a mechanism adapted to lift the sealing layer off the inner and outer edges of the compartment to open an air passageway defined by the compartment and the sealing layer so that, in use, air flow in the air flow passageway picks up and entrains the powder in the compartment to be drawn with the air out of the cartridge through the outlet aperture.  
   
   
       24 . An inhaler for delivering metered doses of powdered medicament, the inhaler comprising a body adapted to receive a disposable disc shaped cartridge, the cartridge having a plurality of compartments spaced in an annular array and each arranged to contain a metered dose of the medicament, a lever to displace the compartments one by one into line with an inhalation aperture positioned in the body to constitute a mouthpiece, each compartment including inner and outer edges, the plurality of compartments being closed by a sealing layer, the inhaler also being provided with a mechanism adapted to lift the sealing layer off the inner and outer edges of the compartment to open an air passageway defined by the inner and outer edges, the compartment and the sealing layer so that, in use, on inhalation through the mouthpiece, air flow in the air flow passageway picks up and entrains the powder in the compartment to be drawn with the air out of the inhaler through the mouthpiece.