Inhaler for powdery, in particular, medical substances

Abstract

Inhaler ( 1 ) for powdery, in particular medical substances ( 10 ), having a suction air channel ( 12 ) leading to the mouthpiece ( 3 ), and a storage chamber ( 11 ) for a substance ( 10 ). A linearly moving dosing chamber ( 26 ) apportions a specific amount of substance from the storage chamber ( 11 ) into the region of a transfer point to a suction air stream (S) of the air channel. A component of the suction air stream (S), that lies in the direction in which the dosing chamber ( 26 ) extends, empties the dosing chamber ( 26 ).

1 - 27 . (canceled)  
     
     
         28 . Inhaler ( 1 ) for powdery, in particular medical substances ( 10 ), comprising: a mouthpiece ( 3 ) and a suction air channel ( 12 ) leading to the mouthpiece ( 3 ), a storage chamber ( 11 ) for the substance ( 10 ) and a linearly moving dosing chamber ( 26 ) for apportioning a specific amount of substance from the storage chamber ( 11 ) into a region of a transfer point (Ü) to a suction air stream (S) within the air channel ( 12 ); wherein a component of the suction air stream (S) that lies in the direction in which the dosing chamber ( 26 ) extends empties the dosing chamber ( 26 ).  
     
     
         29 . Inhaler according to  claim 28 , further comprising a spindle ( 25 ), and wherein the dosing chamber ( 26 ) is disposed in the spindle ( 25 ) and is configured as a transverse bore of the spindle ( 25 ), which chamber ( 26 ) can be displaced by the spindle ( 25 ) in dependence on a closure cap of the inhaler.  
     
     
         30 . Inhaler according to  claim 29 , wherein the transverse bore is conical.  
     
     
         31 . Inhaler according to  claim 29 , further comprising an air passage ( 40 ) adjoining the suction air stream (S), the air passage ( 40 ) being associated with the dosing chamber ( 26 ).  
     
     
         32 . Inhaler according to  claim 31 , wherein the air passage ( 40 ) is respectively provided upstream of each of two openings of the dosing chamber ( 26 ).  
     
     
         33 . Inhaler according to  claim 29 , wherein the transverse bore has a portion of larger diameter and a portion of smaller diameter, and that associated with a larger clear diameter end of the dosing chamber ( 26 ) is an air passage ( 40 ) of a smaller diameter than it and associated with a smaller clear diameter end is an air passage ( 40 ) of a larger diameter than it.  
     
     
         34 . Inhaler according to  claim 33 , wherein the air passages ( 40 ) are formed on a cup-shaped rotary part ( 22 ) guiding the spindle ( 25 ) and are in flow communication with air inlets ( 42 ) in the lateral wall ( 37 ) of the mouthpiece ( 3 ).  
     
     
         35 . Inhaler according to  claim 33 , wherein the air passages ( 40 ) are disposed axially offset in relation to the air inlets ( 42 ) lying closer to the mouthpiece ( 3 ).  
     
     
         36 . Inhaler according to  claim 34 , wherein the rotary part ( 22 ) forms with its cup base the top ( 23 ) of the storage chamber ( 11 ), the center of which has a guiding opening ( 24 ) for the spindle ( 25 ) acting as a plunger slide.  
     
     
         37 . Inhaler according to  claim 34 , wherein the spindle ( 25 ), which is pointed at the end in the plunging direction in the manner of a screwdriver blade, is rotationally connected to the rotary part ( 22 ) by means of radial fins ( 33 ).  
     
     
         38 . Inhaler according to  claim 37 , wherein a cup wall ( 35 ) of the cup-shaped rotary part ( 22 ) has axial guiding slots ( 34 ) in which the fins ( 33 ) are guided.  
     
     
         39 . Inhaler according to  claim 29 , further comprising an extension limiting stop ( 36 ) of the spindle ( 25 ) that is provided by the mouthpiece ( 3 ), defining the ready-to-empty position of the dosing chamber ( 26 ), which with its base wall portion provides the transfer point (Ü).  
     
     
         40 . Inhaler according to  claim 29 , further comprising a docking point ( 28 ) between the spindle ( 25 ) and a closure cap ( 4 ) that lies on the mouthpiece side and disengages if overloaded.  
     
     
         41 . Inhaler according to  claim 34 , wherein the rotary part ( 22 ) has a rotor (R) with which a stator (St) is associated, with a scooping effect acting so as to carry substance into the dosing chamber ( 26 ) when the rotary part ( 22 ) is reversed in its rotation.  
     
     
         42 . Inhaler according to  claim 34 , further comprising web-carried rotor blades ( 47 ) extending from an annular disk ( 49 ) of the base of the rotary part ( 22 ).  
     
     
         43 . Inhaler according to  claim 42 , wherein the rotor blades ( 47 ) have a sickle-shaped outline.  
     
     
         44 . Inhaler according to  claim 42 , wherein there are two of the rotor blades ( 47 ) lying opposite each other.  
     
     
         45 . Inhaler according to  claim 42 , wherein the rotor blades ( 47 ) extend substantially on a quarter sector, with a flank ( 50 ) directed radially toward the center of the spindle ( 25 ) and a blade flank ( 51 ) lying approximately at right angles thereto in tangential alignment with the spindle ( 25 ) in such a way as to leave a gap.  
     
     
         46 . Inhaler according to  claim 45 , wherein the flanks ( 50 ) lie in a common diametral line (y-y).  
     
     
         47 . Inhaler according to  claim 41 , wherein the rotor (R) engages under the stator (St) in such a way that the stator (St) is formed as a projection protruding radially inward from an inside wall of the storage chamber ( 11 ) and extending freely into a rotational path ( 54 ) of the rotor (R).  
     
     
         48 . Inhaler according to  claim 47 , wherein the stator (St) has a trapezoidal outline with a base in the inside wall of the storage chamber ( 11 ).  
     
     
         49 . Inhaler according to  claim 47 , wherein the rotational path ( 54 ) is axially limited by the underside of an annular disk ( 49 ) of the rotary part ( 22 ) and an inner side of the rotor blades ( 47 ) facing it.  
     
     
         50 . Inhaler according to  claim 49 , wherein the stator (St) lies in outline beneath the quarter sector, leaving an interspace ( 55 ) between two rotor blades ( 47 ).  
     
     
         51 . Inhaler according to  claim 36 , wherein the guiding opening ( 24 ) within the rotary part ( 22 ) is lined by a sealing bush ( 56 ) enclosing the cylindrical portion of the spindle ( 25 ).  
     
     
         52 . Inhaler according to  claim 34 , further comprising a sealing ring ( 58 ) inserted with preloading between an inside wall of the storage chamber ( 11 ) and a rotary part ( 22 ).  
     
     
         53 . Inhaler according to  claim 52 , wherein the sealing ring ( 58 ) is snap-fitted in annular grooves ( 59 ,  60 ) of both parts, the annular groove ( 59 ) located on the rotary part ( 22 ) taking the form of a V-shaped notched groove and the annular groove ( 60 ) of the storage chamber ( 11 ), lying at the same height as said notched groove, being of a semicircular form.  
     
     
         54 . Inhaler according to  claim 28 , further comprising a closure cap ( 4 ) that is formed as a screw cap and interacts with the mouthpiece ( 3 ) via co-rotating means ( 45 / 46 ).