Pen-shaped inhaling device for dispersing powdered medicaments through the respiratory tract

Abstract

This invention consists of an inhaler capable of administering powdered medicaments contained in a capsule through the respiratory tract. It's a pen-shaped device formed by a container that preserves the capsules, arranged in vertical parallel lines, and a block comprising two or more separated elements inside which one capsule is placed in order to be cut or perforated by a cutting element. The powder of the capsule is so released into a chamber with a grid lower surface that keeps the pieces of the case inside and lets only the powder pass through. Once the capsule is placed into its compartment in order to be cut, it will be sufficient to rotate an element on the other ones by means of a support. Then the user places the mouthpiece of the inhaler, separated by the container, into his/her mouth and breathes in, so that the powdered drug dispersed into the chamber can reach the lungs.

1 . A pen-shaped inhaling device for dispersing powdered medicament contained in one or more capsules through the respiratory tract, comprising: 
 an elongated container having a substantially pen shaped body member defining an internal area for storing one or more capsules; and    an upper assembly attached to said elongated container, said upper assembly including means for holding a capsule, means for opening the capsule held by said means for holding and means for housing powdered medicament released by the opening of the capsule by said means for opening prior to dispersion into the respiratory tract.    
   
   
       2 . (canceled)  
   
   
       3 . The pen-shaped inhaling device of  claim 36  wherein said means for capturing comprises a grid surface disposed within said at least one chamber.  
   
   
       4 . The pen-shaped inhaling device according to  claim 38 , further comprising a porous filter placed within said at least one chamber near the mouthpiece of the inhaling device to help prevent or reduce the released powdered medicament from aggregating.  
   
   
       5 - 6 . (canceled)  
   
   
       7 . The pen-shaped inhaling device according to  claim 34  further comprising means for rotating said middle portion with respect to said cover and said lower portion.  
   
   
       8 . The pen-shaped inhaling device according to  claim 7 , wherein said means for rotating said middle portion comprises an elongated support member connected to said middle portion of.  
   
   
       9 - 33 . (canceled)  
   
   
       34 . The pen-shaped inhaling device of  claim 1  wherein said upper assembly having a cover, a central portion, and a lower portion; wherein said means for holding is a compartment defined by said cover; wherein when the capsule is positioned within said compartment a lower portion of the capsule is disposed within an opening defined by said central portion; wherein said means for opening the capsule is a rough surface provided on at least a portion of the inner wall of the opening of said central portion; wherein upon rotation of said central portion with respect to said cover and said lower portion the rough surface rubs an abutting portion of the capsule to cause the capsule to open and release the powdered medicament into said means for housing.  
   
   
       35 . The pen-shaped inhaling device of  claim 34  wherein said means for housing is at least one chamber defined by said lower portion.  
   
   
       36 . The pen-shaped inhaling device of  claim 35  further comprising means for capturing any loose pieces of the capsule after the capsule has been opened.  
   
   
       37 . The pen-shaped inhaling device of  claim 35  further comprising means for delivering the powdered medicament released into the at least one chamber.  
   
   
       38 . The pen-shaped inhaling device of  claim 37  wherein said means for delivering comprising a mouthpiece associated with an external end of said lower portion from which a user can directly inhale the powdered medicament released into the at least one chamber.  
   
   
       39 . The pen-shaped inhaling device of  claim 36  wherein said means for capturing dividing said at least one chamber into a first chamber and a second chamber; wherein said second chamber is substantially half-conically shaped.  
   
   
       40 . The pen-shaped inhaling device of  claim 39  wherein said second chamber in communication with a mouthpiece associated with an external end of said lower portion from which a user can directly inhale the powdered medicament disposed within the second chamber.  
   
   
       41 . The pen-shaped inhaling device of  claim 1  wherein said upper assembly having a cover and a lower portion; wherein said means for holding is a compartment defined by said cover; wherein when the capsule is positioned within said compartment a lower portion of the capsule is disposed adjacent to said means for opening; wherein said means for opening the capsule is a cutting element disposed within said lower portion; wherein upon rotation of said cover with respect to said lower portion the cutting element cuts at least a portion of the capsule to cause the capsule to open and release the powdered medicament into said means for housing.  
   
   
       42 . The pen-shaped inhaling device of  claim 41  wherein said means for housing is at least one chamber defined by said lower portion.  
   
   
       43 . The pen-shaped inhaling device of  claim 42  further comprising a grid surface disposed within said lower portion for capturing any loose pieces of the capsule after the capsule has been opened, said grid surface dividing said at least one chamber into a first chamber and a second chamber; wherein said second chamber is substantially half-conically shaped.  
   
   
       44 . The pen-shaped inhaling device of  claim 42  further comprising means for delivering the powdered medicament released into the at least one chamber.  
   
   
       45 . The pen-shaped inhaling device of  claim 44  wherein said means for delivering comprising a mouthpiece associated with an external end of said lower portion from which a user can directly inhale the powdered medicament released into the at least one chamber.  
   
   
       46 . The pen-shaped inhaling device of  claim 43  wherein said second chamber in communication with a mouthpiece associated with an external end of said lower portion from which a user can directly inhale the powdered medicament disposed within the second chamber.  
   
   
       47 . The pen-shaped inhaling device according to  claim 46 , further comprising a porous filter placed within said at least one chamber near the mouthpiece of the inhaling device to help prevent or reduce the released powdered medicament from aggregating.  
   
   
       48 . The pen-shaped inhaling device according to  claim 41 , further comprising an elongated support member connected to said cover for rotating said cover with respect to said lower portion.