Inhalation device

Abstract

An actuator for an inhaler for administering medicament by inhalation, comprising: a main body ( 102 ) comprising an elongate tubular member ( 108 ) for receiving a canister ( 107 ) containing medicament and having a valve stem ( 111 ) extending therefrom, the tubular member ( 108 ) including a lateral opening ( 114 ) at one end thereof; and an outlet assembly ( 104 ) comprising a mouthpiece for guiding medicament to the mouth of a user and a nozzle block ( 120 ) for receiving the valve stem ( 111 ) of the canister ( 107 ) and delivering medicament from the canister ( 107 ) into the mouthpiece, the outlet assembly ( 104 ) being detachably mounted, through the lateral opening ( 114 ), to the main body ( 102 ) at an angle transverse to the length of the tubular member ( 108 ); characterized in that one of the main body ( 102 ) and the outlet assembly ( 104 ) further comprises at least one resiliently biased member, which is configured to engage with at least one part of the other of the main body ( 102 ) and the outlet assembly ( 104 ) and thereby hold the outlet assembly ( 104 ) to the main body ( 102 ), and at least one release component which in use is acted upon to enable release of the outlet assembly ( 104 ) from the main body ( 102 ).

1 . An actuator for an inhaler for administering medicament by inhalation, comprising: 
 a main body ( 102 ) comprising an elongate tubular member ( 108 ) for receiving a canister ( 107 ) containing medicament and having a valve stem ( 111 ) extending therefrom, the tubular member ( 108 ) including a lateral opening ( 114 ) at one end thereof; and    an outlet assembly ( 104 ) comprising a mouthpiece for guiding medicament to the mouth of a user and a nozzle block ( 120 ) for receiving the valve stem ( 111 ) of the canister ( 107 ) and delivering medicament from the canister ( 107 ) into the mouthpiece, the outlet assembly ( 104 ) being detachably mounted, through the lateral opening ( 114 ), to the main body ( 102 ) at an angle transverse to the length of the tubular member ( 108 );    characterized in that one of the main body ( 102 ) and the outlet assembly ( 104 ) further comprises at least one resiliently biased member, which is configured to engage with at least one part of the other of the main body ( 102 ) and the outlet assembly ( 104 ) and thereby hold the outlet assembly ( 104 ) to the main body ( 102 ), and at least one release component which in use is acted upon to enable release of the outlet assembly ( 104 ) from the main body ( 102 ).    
     
     
         2 . The actuator according to    claim 1   , wherein the tubular member ( 108 ) includes a further opening ( 110 ) at the other end thereof through which a canister ( 107 ) is in use fitted.  
     
     
         3 . The actuator according to    claim 1    or    2   , wherein the main body ( 102 ) further comprises a foot ( 112 ) at the one end of the tubular member ( 108 ) which is configured such that, with a canister ( 107 ) fitted therein, the actuator will stand unsupported with the tubular member ( 108 ) extending generally vertically.  
     
     
         4 . The actuator according to    claim 3   , wherein the bottom surface of the foot ( 112 ) includes a recess ( 112   a ) for receiving a thumb or a finger of a user.  
     
     
         5 . The actuator according to    claim 4   , wherein the recess ( 112   a ) is concave.  
     
     
         6 . The actuator according to    claim 3   , wherein the bottom surface of the foot ( 112 ) is flat.  
     
     
         7 . The actuator according to any of    claims 1    to    6   , further comprising a breath actuation mechanism.  
     
     
         8 . The actuator according to any of    claims 1    to    7   , further comprising a compliance monitor, in particular a dose counter.  
     
     
         9 . The actuator according to    claim 7    or    8   , wherein the main body ( 102 ) comprises one or both of the breath actuation mechanism and the compliance monitor.  
     
     
         10 . The actuator according to    claim 9    when appendant upon any of    claims 3    to    6   , wherein the foot ( 112 ) comprises one or both of the breath actuation mechanism and the compliance monitor.  
     
     
         11 . The actuator according to any of    claims 1    to    10   , wherein the main body ( 102 ) and the outlet assembly ( 104 ) are composed of materials having different constitution.  
     
     
         12 . The actuator according to    claim 11   , wherein the main body ( 102 ) and the outlet assembly ( 104 ) are of different colour.  
     
     
         13 . The actuator according to any of    claims 1    to    12   , wherein the outlet assembly ( 104 ) is formed as a single integral moulding.  
     
     
         14 . The actuator according to any of    claims 1    to    13   , wherein the nozzle block ( 120 ) includes a bore ( 140 ) having an opening for receiving the valve stem ( 111 ) of a canister ( 107 ) and a spray orifice ( 142 ) configured to direct a spray into the mouthpiece.  
     
     
         15 . The actuator according to any of    claims 1    to    14   , wherein the outlet assembly ( 104 ) comprises first and second resiliently-biased arms ( 124 ,  126 ) which each support a catch member ( 128 ,  130 ) and the main body ( 102 ) comprises first and second projections ( 116 ) which extend inwardly from an inner surface thereof, the catch members ( 128 ,  130 ) on the first and second arms ( 124 ,  126 ) and the projections ( 116 ) on the main body ( 102 ) being arranged to engage one another when the outlet assembly ( 104 ) is inserted fully into the main body ( 102 ).  
     
     
         16 . The actuator according to    claim 15   , wherein the first and second arms ( 124 ,  126 ) are radially opposed.  
     
     
         17 . The actuator according to    claim 15    or    16   , wherein the first and second arms ( 124 ,  126 ) extend rearwardly.  
     
     
         18 . The actuator according to any of    claims 1    to    17   , wherein the main body ( 102 ) includes at least one opening ( 113   a,    113   b,    113   c ) for accessing the at least one release component.  
     
     
         19 . The actuator according to    claim 18    when appendant upon any of    claims 3    to    6   , wherein the at least one opening ( 113   a,    113   b,    113   c ) is provided in the foot ( 112 ) of the main body ( 102 ).  
     
     
         20 . The actuator according to    claim 18    or    19   , wherein the at least one release component comprises a part which extends into or through the at least one opening ( 113   a,    113   b,    113   c ).  
     
     
         21 . The actuator according to    claim 20   , wherein the at least one release component comprises first and second projections ( 132 ,  133 ) disposed on an interconnecting element ( 131 ) which interconnects the catch members ( 128 ,  130 ) on the first and second arms ( 124 ,  126 ) such that when the projections ( 132 ,  133 ) on the interconnecting element ( 131 ) are acted upon the catch members ( 128 ,  130 ) on the first and second arms ( 124 ,  126 ) are disengaged from the respective projections ( 116 ) on the main body ( 102 ) so as to allow withdrawal of the outlet assembly ( 104 ) from the main body ( 102 ).  
     
     
         22 . The actuator according to any of    claims 15    to    21   , wherein the outlet assembly ( 104 ) further comprises a further resiliently-biased arm ( 144 ) which extends at an angle downwardly from the nozzle block ( 120 ), the distal end of the further arm ( 144 ) including a catch member ( 146 ) which, when the outlet assembly ( 104 ) is inserted fully into the main body ( 102 ), engages behind a part of the tubular member ( 108 ) defining the lateral opening ( 114 ).  
     
     
         23 . The actuator according to    claim 22   , wherein the further arm ( 144 ) extends forwardly.  
     
     
         24 . The actuator according to    claim 22    or    23   , wherein the at least one release component further comprises a projection ( 145 ) which extends downwardly from the further arm ( 144 ).  
     
     
         25 . The actuator according to any of    claims 15    to    24   , wherein the outlet assembly ( 104 ) further comprises a second further resiliently-biased arm ( 134 ) which supports a catch member ( 135 ) which, when the outlet assembly ( 104 ) is inserted fully into the main body ( 102 ), engages behind a part of the tubular member ( 108 ) defining the lateral opening ( 114 ).  
     
     
         26 . The actuator according to    claim 25   , wherein the second further arm ( 134 ) extends rearwardly.  
     
     
         27 . An inhaler comprising the actuator according to any of    claims 1    to    26    and a canister ( 107 ) containing medicament.  
     
     
         28 . The inhaler according to    claim 27   , wherein the inhaler is a pressurised metered dose inhaler.