Inhaler

Abstract

A passive inhaler ( 1 ) for delivery of a powder-form inhalation formulation from a blister strip ( 2 ) with a plurality of blister pockets ( 3 ) is proposed. The inhaler comprises an impaction element ( 31 ) onto which the air stream can impact together with entrained inhalation formulation for better deagglomeration. Alternatively, the inhaler comprises an oscillating and/or vibrating device ( 35 ) for better de-agglomeration of the inhalation formulation. Alternatively or additionally, the inhaler comprises one or two mixing means for generating swirls, preferably with opposite rotation directions.

1 . Inhaler ( 1 ) for delivery of an inhalation formulation from a preferably band-shaped blister strip ( 2 ) with a plurality of blister pockets ( 3 ) containing the inhalation formulation in doses, comprising:
 preferably a conveyor ( 5 ) for stepwise onward movement of the blister strip ( 2 ), and/or   preferably a piercing member ( 7 ) to puncture a lid ( 27 ) of an aligned blister pocket ( 3 ),   the inhaler ( 1 ) being designed such that—preferably by breathing in during inhalation—an air stream ( 9 ) of ambient air can be sucked or delivered in order to discharge the respective dose from an opened blister pocket ( 3 ) and to deliver it with the ambient air as an aerosol cloud ( 11 ),   characterized in   that the inhaler ( 1 ) comprises an impaction element ( 31 ) for impaction and/or deflection of the air stream ( 9 ) with entrained inhalation formulation.   
     
     
         2 . Inhaler according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the inhaler ( 1 ) comprises a mouthpiece ( 8 ) and that the impaction element ( 31 ) is located within the mouthpiece ( 8 ). 
     
     
         3 . Inhaler according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the inhaler ( 1 ) comprises a feeding path ( 20 ), preferably an at least essentially straight channel ( 28 ), fluidically connectable to an opened blister pocket ( 3 ) or connected to or formed by the piecing member ( 7 ) or an insert ( 17 ). 
     
     
         4 . Inhaler according to  claim 3 , characterized in that the impaction element ( 31 ) is located within or at the end or downstream the feeding path ( 20 ). 
     
     
         5 . Inhaler according to  claim 3 , characterized in that the impaction element ( 31 ) is located centrally and in alignment with the feeding path ( 20 ). 
     
     
         6 . Inhaler according to  claim 3 , characterized in that the impaction element ( 31 ) covers the feeding path ( 20 ) radially or transversally to the main or outlet direction of the feeding path ( 20 ) or mouthpiece ( 8 ). 
     
     
         7 . Inhaler according to  claim 3 , characterized in that the impaction element ( 31 ) comprises an impaction surface ( 32 ) inclined to the main or outlet direction of the feeding path ( 20 ) or mouthpiece ( 8 ). 
     
     
         8 . Inhaler according to  claim 3 , characterized in that the inhaler ( 1 ) comprises a bypass path ( 21 ) for ambient air, the inhaler ( 1 ) being designed such that by breathing in during inhalation a feeding air stream ( 23 ) of ambient air can be sucked in through an opened blister pocket ( 3 ) and through the feeding path ( 20 ) preferably into a mouthpiece ( 8 ) to discharge the respective dose where it is mixed in a mixing zone ( 22 ) preferably within the mouthpiece ( 8 ) with a bypass air stream ( 24 ) of ambient air ( 9 ) sucked through the bypass path ( 21 ). 
     
     
         9 . Inhaler according to  claim 8 , characterized in that the impaction element ( 31 ) is located within or adjacent to the mixing zone ( 22 ). 
     
     
         10 . Inhaler according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the impaction element ( 31 ) is stationary. 
     
     
         11 . Inhaler according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the impaction element ( 31 ) comprises an at least essentially conical impaction surface ( 32 ). 
     
     
         12 . Inhaler ( 1 ) for delivery of an inhalation formulation from a preferably band-shaped blister strip ( 2 ) with a plurality of blister pockets ( 3 ) containing the inhalation formulation in doses, preferably according to  claim 1 , comprising:
 preferably a conveyor ( 5 ) for stepwise onward movement of the blister strip ( 2 ),   preferably a piercing member ( 7 ) to puncture a lid ( 27 ) of an aligned blister pocket ( 3 ),   a mouthpiece ( 8 ),   a feeding path ( 20 ) fluidically connectable to an opened blister pocket ( 3 ) or connected to or formed by the piecing member ( 7 ), and/or   a bypass path ( 21 ) for ambient air ( 9 ),   the inhaler ( 1 ) being designed such that—preferably by breathing in during inhalation—a feeding air stream ( 23 ) of ambient air can be sucked in or delivered through an opened blister pocket ( 3 ) and through the feeding path ( 20 ) preferably into the mouthpiece ( 8 ) to discharge the respective dose where it is mixed in a mixing zone ( 22 ) preferably within the mouthpiece ( 8 ) with a bypass air stream ( 24 ) of ambient air ( 9 ) sucked or delivered through the bypass path ( 21 ),   characterized in   that the inhaler ( 1 ) comprises a first mixing means for generating a swirl or cyclone ( 34 ) in the feeding path ( 20 ), the bypass path ( 21 ), and/or the mixing zone ( 22 ).   
     
     
         13 . Inhaler according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the impaction element ( 31 ) is located downstream the mixing means. 
     
     
         14 . Inhaler according to  claim 13 , characterized in that the mixing means comprises at least one or two bypass channels ( 29 ) feeding tangentially bypass air into the mouthpiece ( 8 ), an outlet channel ( 30 ) of the bypass path ( 21 ), the mixing zone ( 22 ) and/or the feeding path ( 20 ). 
     
     
         15 . Inhaler according to  claim 12 , characterized in that the first mixing means is adapted to generate a swirl or cyclone ( 34 ) with a first direction of rotation, and that the inhaler ( 1 ) comprises a second mixing means for mixing the feeding air stream ( 22 ) with a second bypass air stream ( 41 ) and generating a swirl or cyclone ( 40 ) with a second direction of rotation opposite the first one. 
     
     
         16 . Inhaler according to  claim 15 , characterized in that the second mixing means comprises two second bypass channels ( 42 ) feeding tangentially bypass air into the feeding path ( 20 ) or a mixing zone or chamber ( 22 ). 
     
     
         17 . Inhaler according to  claim 15 , characterized in that the first and second mixing means are located one after the other or one above the other. 
     
     
         18 . Inhaler according to  claim 12 , characterized in the feeding path ( 20 ) comprises or consists of or forms an preferably at least essentially straight channel ( 30 ) and/or a mixing chamber ( 22 ), preferably wherein the first and/or second mixing means are connected thereto. 
     
     
         19 . Inhaler ( 1 ) for delivery of an inhalation formulation from a preferably band-shaped blister strip ( 2 ) with a plurality of blister pockets ( 3 ) containing the inhalation formulation in doses, preferably according to  claim 1 , comprising:
 preferably a conveyor ( 5 ) for stepwise onward movement of the blister strip ( 2 ), and/or   preferably a piercing member ( 7 ) to puncture a lid ( 27 ) of an aligned blister pocket ( 3 ),   the inhaler ( 1 ) being designed such that—preferably by breathing in during inhalation—an air stream ( 9 ) of ambient air can be sucked or delivered in order to discharge the respective dose from an opened blister pocket ( 3 ) and to deliver it with the ambient air as an aerosol cloud ( 11 ) preferably via a mouthpiece ( 8 ),   characterized in   that the inhaler ( 1 ) comprises an oscillating and/or vibrating device ( 35 ) separate from the blister strip ( 2 ) for supporting de-agglomeration of the inhalation formulation and/or for vibrating at least part of the blister strip ( 2 ) and/or a piercing member ( 7 ) or any other component of the inhaler ( 1 ).   
     
     
         20 . Inhaler according to  claim 12 , characterized in that the first mixing means is located upstream the oscillating and/or vibrating device ( 29 ). 
     
     
         21 . Inhaler according to  claim 19 , characterized in that the oscillating and/or vibrating device ( 35 ) is operated by the air stream ( 9 ). 
     
     
         22 . Inhaler according to  claim 19 , characterized in that the oscillating and/or vibrating device ( 35 ) is located within the mouthpiece ( 8 ), within a feeding path ( 20 ) or downstream thereof. 
     
     
         23 . Inhaler according to  claim 19 , characterized in that the oscillating and/or vibrating device ( 35 ) comprises or is formed by an oscillating element ( 36 ), in particular a ball. 
     
     
         24 . Inhaler according to  claim 23 , characterized in that the oscillating element ( 36 ) forms an impactor or deflector for the air stream ( 9 ) and/or entrained inhalation formulation. 
     
     
         25 . Inhaler according to  claim 23 , characterized in that the oscillating element ( 36 ) oscillates by moving back and forth in the main flow direction of the feeding path ( 20 ) or mouthpiece ( 8 ). 
     
     
         26 . Inhaler according to  claim 23 , characterized in that the oscillating element ( 36 ) is moveable freely in a chamber ( 37 ) preferably connected to or formed by the feeding path ( 20 ). 
     
     
         27 . Inhaler according to  claim 19 , characterized in that the oscillating and/or vibrating device ( 35 ) uses the Bernoulli effect. 
     
     
         28 . Inhaler according to  claim 19 , characterized in that the inhaler ( 1 ) is designed such that the oscillating and/or vibrating device ( 35 ) or its oscillating element ( 36 ) oscillates or vibrates with a frequency of 20 Hz to 5000 Hz, preferably 50 Hz to 500 Hz. 
     
     
         29 . Inhaler according to  claim 19 , characterized in that the oscillating and/or vibrating device ( 35 ) is located downstream of the mixing of a feeding air stream ( 23 ) with a bypass air stream ( 24 ). 
     
     
         30 . Inhaler according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the inhaler ( 1 ) comprises a preferably molded and/or unitary insert ( 17 ) preferably holding or forming the piercing member ( 7 ), preferably wherein the insert ( 17 ) contains, comprises or forms the impaction element ( 31 ), the vibrating device ( 35 ) and/or the first and/or second mixing means.