Inhalation device

Abstract

An actuator for an inhaler for delivering medicament by inhalation, comprising: a housing ( 14 ) for receiving a canister ( 8 ) comprising a body ( 10 ) which defines a chamber containing medicament and a valve stem ( 12 ) which extends from the body ( 10 ); a nozzle block ( 18 ) for receiving the valve stem ( 12 ) of the canister ( 8 ); a mouthpiece for providing medicament from the nozzle block ( 18 ) to the mouth of a user; and at least one actuating member ( 54, 56 ) for manual engagement by a user in applying a force to actuate the canister ( 8 ), wherein the at least one actuating member ( 54, 56 ) is disposed such that the actuating force is applied substantially laterally relative to the longitudinal axis of the canister ( 8 ) and configured when being acted upon to cause relative movement of the body ( 10 ) and the valve stem ( 12 ) of the canister ( 8 ).

1 . An actuator for an inhaler for delivering medicament by inhalation, comprising: 
 a housing ( 14 ) for receiving a canister ( 8 ) comprising a body ( 10 ) which defines a chamber containing medicament and a valve stem ( 12 ) which extends from the body ( 10 );    a nozzle block ( 18 ) for receiving the valve stem ( 12 ) of the canister ( 8 );    a mouthpiece for providing medicament from the nozzle block ( 18 ) to the mouth of a user; and    at least one actuating member ( 54 ,  56 ) for manual engagement by a user in applying a force to actuate the canister ( 8 ), wherein the at least one actuating member ( 54 ,  56 ) is disposed such that the actuating force is applied substantially laterally relative to the longitudinal axis of the canister ( 8 ) and configured when being acted upon to cause relative movement of the body ( 10 ) and the valve stem ( 12 ) of the canister ( 8 ).    
     
     
         2 . The actuator according to    claim 1   , wherein the at least one actuating member ( 54 ,  56 ) is configured when being acted upon to move the body ( 10 ) of the canister ( 8 ) in relation to the valve stem ( 12 ) of the canister ( 8 ).  
     
     
         3 . The actuator according to    claim 1    or    2   , wherein the at least one actuating member ( 54 ,  56 ) includes an outwardly-facing surface ( 62 ,  64 ) for manual engagement by a user and an inwardly-facing surface ( 66 ,  68 ) which in use bears against a surface of the canister ( 8 ).  
     
     
         4 . The actuator according to    claim 3   , wherein the bearing surface of the canister ( 8 ) is a junction between a bottom wall and a side wall of the body ( 10 ) of the canister ( 8 ).  
     
     
         5 . The actuator according to    claim 3    or    4   , wherein the inwardly-facing surface ( 66 ,  68 ) of the at least one actuating member ( 54 ,  56 ) includes an inclined surface portion ( 66   b,    68   b ) over which the bearing surface of the canister ( 8 ) in use progressively slides.  
     
     
         6 . The actuator according to    claim 5   , wherein the inclined surface portion ( 66   b,    68   b ) of the inwardly-facing surface ( 66 ,  68 ) is a substantially planar surface.  
     
     
         7 . The actuator according to    claim 6   , wherein the inclined surface portion ( 66   b,    68   b ) of the inwardly-facing surface ( 66 ,  68 ) encloses an acute angle of more than 45 degrees with the longitudinal axis of the canister ( 8 ).  
     
     
         8 . The actuator according to    claim 7   , wherein the inclined surface portion ( 66   b,    68   b ) of the inwardly-facing surface ( 66 ,  68 ) encloses an acute angle of at least 60 degrees with the longitudinal axis of the canister ( 8 ).  
     
     
         9 . The actuator according to    claim 5   , wherein the inclined surface portion ( 66   b,    68   b ) of the inwardly-facing surface ( 66 ,  68 ) of the at least one actuating member ( 54 ,  56 ) is a curved surface.  
     
     
         10 . The actuator according to    claim 9   , wherein the tangent of the inclined surface portion ( 66   b,    68   b ) of the inwardly-facing surface ( 66 ,  68 ) encloses an acute angle of more than 45 degrees with the longitudinal axis of the canister ( 8 ).  
     
     
         11 . The actuator according to    claim 10   , wherein the tangent of the inclined surface portion ( 66   b,    68   b ) of the inwardly-facing surface ( 66 ,  68 ) encloses an acute angle of at least 60 degrees with the longitudinal axis of the canister ( 8 ).  
     
     
         12 . The actuator according to any of    claims 1    to    11   , wherein the at least one actuating member ( 54 ,  56 ) is hinged.  
     
     
         13 . The actuator according to    claim 12    when appendant upon any of    claims 3    to    11   , wherein the outwardly-facing surface ( 62 ,  64 ) of the at least one actuating member ( 54 ,  56 ) extends a greater distance from the hinge than the inwardly-facing surface ( 66 ,  68 ) of the at least one actuating member ( 54 ,  56 ).  
     
     
         14 . The actuator according to any of    claims 1    to    13   , further comprising a cover member ( 6 ) which comprises a body part ( 38 ) which is movably mounted to the housing ( 14 ) between a first position in which the mouthpiece is disposed therewithin and a second position in which the mouthpiece is exposed.  
     
     
         15 . The actuator according to    claim 14   , wherein the body part ( 38 ) is rotatably mounted to the housing ( 14 ).  
     
     
         16 . The actuator according to    claim 14    or    15   , wherein the body part ( 38 ) includes an opening ( 46 ) through which the mouthpiece extends in the second position of the body part ( 38 ) and the cover member ( 6 ) further comprises a flap ( 48 ) which is movably mounted to the body part ( 38 ) between a first position in which the opening ( 46 ) in the body part ( 38 ) is closed and a second position in which the opening ( 46 ) in the body part ( 38 ) is open.  
     
     
         17 . The actuator according to any of    claims 14    to    16   , wherein the at least one actuating member ( 54 ,  56 ) is integral with the body part ( 38 ).  
     
     
         18 . The actuator according to any of    claims 1    to    17   , comprising first and second actuating members ( 54 ,  56 ).  
     
     
         19 . The actuator according to    claim 18   , wherein the actuating members ( 54 ,  56 ) are oppositely directed.  
     
     
         20 . An actuator for an inhaler for delivering medicament by inhalation, comprising: 
 a housing ( 14 ) for receiving a canister ( 8 ) comprising a body ( 10 ) which defines a chamber containing medicament and a valve stem ( 12 ) which extends from the body ( 10 );    a nozzle block ( 18 ) for receiving the valve stem ( 12 ) of the canister ( 8 );    a mouthpiece for providing medicament from the nozzle block ( 18 ) to the mouth of a user; and    first and second actuating members ( 54 ,  56 ) for manual engagement by a user in applying a force to actuate the canister ( 8 ), wherein the actuating members ( 54 ,  56 ) are opposed and movably mounted relative to the housing ( 14 ).    
     
     
         21 . An inhaler comprising the actuator of any of    claims 1    to    20    and a canister ( 8 ) containing medicament.