Blister track inhaler device having a separate end path and methods of use thereof

Abstract

Embodiments of an inhaler device include a housing, a withdrawing assembly disposed within the housing for facilitating withdrawal of medicament from a target blister of a blister strip, the withdrawing assembly including an opening element adapted for opening the target blister of the blister strip while the target blister is positioned in the withdrawing assembly, and a dispensing element adapted for directing the withdrawn medicament toward the exterior of the inhaler device. A blister track is disposed within the housing for guiding each blister of the blister strip to the withdrawing assembly in succession, an advancing mechanism for advancing the blister strip by a predetermined distance each time the advancing mechanism is engaged, and an engaging element for engaging the advancing mechanism to advance the blister strip. The blister track includes a primary coil structure, a secondary coil structure, and a tertiary coil structure.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An inhaler device, comprising:
 a housing;   a withdrawing assembly disposed at least partially within the housing, the withdrawing assembly being adapted for facilitating withdrawal of medicament from a target blister of a blister strip and conveying the medicament toward an exterior of the inhaler device, wherein the withdrawing assembly comprises:   an opening element adapted for opening the target blister of the blister strip while the target blister is positioned in the withdrawing assembly, wherein the opening element is operable by a user; and   a dispensing element adapted for directing the withdrawn medicament toward the exterior of the inhaler device;   a blister track disposed within the housing, the blister track being adapted for guiding each blister of the blister strip to the withdrawing assembly in succession and storing the blister strip prior to, during, and after use of blisters of the blister strip, wherein the blister track comprises:   a primary coil structure comprising a first radius;   a secondary coil structure comprising a second radius, a third radius, and a fifth radius; and   a tertiary coil structure comprising the second radius, the fourth radius, and the fifth radius;   an advancing mechanism disposed within the housing, the advancing mechanism being adapted for advancing the blister strip by a predetermined distance each time the advancing mechanism is engaged; and   an engaging element adapted for engaging the advancing mechanism to advance the blister strip, the engaging element being operable by the user.   
     
     
         2 . The inhaler device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the blister strip comprises a plurality of blisters, and wherein the blister strip is discontinuous and has a consistent pitch between centers of adjacent blisters. 
     
     
         3 . The inhaler device as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the advancing mechanism comprises a track wheel positioned at a predetermined distance from the blister track and adapted for advancing the blister strip along the first radius of the primary coil structure. 
     
     
         4 . The inhaler device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the dispensing element comprises at least one fluid configuration component adapted for conveying the withdrawn medicament of the target blister toward the user. 
     
     
         5 . The inhaler device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the engaging element comprises a moveable cap adapted for covering a mouthpiece, and wherein the engaging element and the opening element are interlocked such that the engaging element engages the advancing mechanism when the moveable cap is transitioned from an open position to a closed position only after the opening element has been operated. 
     
     
         6 . The inhaler device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the opening element comprises:
 a hollow piercing element adapted for piercing the target blister and allowing withdrawal of medicament from the target blister through the piercing element toward the dispensing element; and   an operating element adapted for causing the piercing element to engage the target blister upon operation of the operating element.   
     
     
         7 . The inhaler device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the path of the blister track is configured for providing a substantially consistent resistance to movement of the blister strip therethrough. 
     
     
         8 . The inhaler device as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the user experiences about an equal amount of resistance to operation of the engaging element regardless of which blister of the blister strip is positioned as the target blister in the withdrawing assembly. 
     
     
         9 . The inhaler device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein an amount of resistance to operation of the engaging element for advancing the blister strip past a first blister is about equal to an amount of resistance to operation of the engaging element for advancing the blister strip past a final blister. 
     
     
         10 . The inhaler device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the blister track comprises:
 a feeding path adapted for storing the blister strip prior to blisters of the blister strip passing through the withdrawing assembly; and   a return path adapted for storing the blister strip after blisters of the blister strip have passed through the withdrawing assembly,   wherein a portion of the feeding path is shared by a portion of the return path.   
     
     
         11 . The inhaler device as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the blister track is configured to allow for a consistent torque profile while the advancing mechanism pulls blisters of the blister strip from the feeding path and pushes blisters of the blister strip toward the return path. 
     
     
         12 . The inhaler device as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the return path comprises one or more splines adapted for easing movement of the blister strip into and through curvature changes of the one or more splines. 
     
     
         13 . The inhaler device as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the curvature of each of the one or more splines is constant at a transition point and gradually tightens or loosens after the transition point. 
     
     
         14 . The inhaler device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the fifth radius is greater than the first radius, wherein the first radius is greater than the fourth radius, wherein the fourth radius is greater than the third radius, and wherein the third radius is greater than the second radius. 
     
     
         15 . An inhaler device comprising
 a housing;   a withdrawing assembly disposed at least partially within the housing, the withdrawing assembly being adapted for facilitating withdrawal of a medicament from a target blister of a blister strip and conveying the medicament toward an exterior of the inhaler device; and   a blister advancing mechanism disposed within the housing and adapted for advancing the blister strip from an initial position where a leading edge of the blister strip is positioned in a primary coil, to a final position where the leading edge of the blister strip is positioned in a secondary coil, wherein at least the leading edge of the blister strip passes through the starting position of a trailing edge of the blister strip along the primary coil when the blister strip is advanced from the initial position to the final position.