Inhaler

Abstract

The introduction of electronics into a drug delivery device may introduce certain technical challenges, such as durability, electro-mechanical integration, and drug delivery performance. The present disclosure provides solutions for inclusion of an electronics module with an inhaler. For example, heat stakes may be used to secure a printed circuit board (PCB) to an electronics module's housing. Also for example, a slider may be used to transfer vertical movement of an inhaler's yoke to an electronics module's switch. Also for example, certain seals may be used when interfacing the electronics module to other portions of the device's housing to achieve a desired performance.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . An inhaler comprising:
 a housing comprising a mouthpiece and medicament;   a yoke, wherein movement of the yoke is configured to cause a dose of the medicament to be made available to an air flow path that extends through the mouthpiece;   an electronics module comprising a processor and a switch; and   a slider configured to engage a slider guide, wherein a distal end of the slider contacts the yoke such that movement of the yoke is transferred to the slider to cause the slider to operate the switch.   
     
     
         2 . The inhaler of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a slider spring that is received by the slider guide, wherein the slider spring is configured to engage a portion of the slider and to bias a distal end of the slider into contact with the yoke.   
     
     
         3 . The inhaler of  claim 2 , wherein the slider guide comprises a stopper configured to engage a clip of the slider, wherein the stopper is configured to limit travel of the slider during movement of the yoke. 
     
     
         4 . The inhaler of  claim 3 , wherein the stopper is configured to limit the travel of the slider after the slider activates the switch. 
     
     
         5 . The inhaler of  claim 1 , wherein the slider guide comprises a stopper configured to engage a clip of the slider, wherein the stopper is configured to limit travel of the slider during movement of the yoke. 
     
     
         6 . The inhaler of  claim 1 , wherein the switch is configured to change a power state of the processor when operated by the slider. 
     
     
         7 . The inhaler of  claim 6 , wherein the slider is configured to contact the switch when a mouthpiece cover of the inhaler is moved from a closed position to an open position to expose the mouthpiece of the inhaler. 
     
     
         8 . The inhaler of  claim 7 , wherein the mouthpiece cover is operably coupled to the slider via the yoke such that the switch is operated by the slider when the mouthpiece cover is moved to the open position to expose the mouthpiece. 
     
     
         9 . The inhaler of  claim 1 , further comprising an electronic module cap is configured to house the electronics module, wherein the electronics module cap is configured to be attached to the housing of the inhaler. 
     
     
         10 . The inhaler of  claim 9 , wherein the electronics module cap is configured to be removably attached to the housing of the inhaler. 
     
     
         11 . The inhaler of  claim 9 , wherein the slider is configured to extend from the housing into the electronics module cap through an orifice in the housing. 
     
     
         12 . The inhaler of  claim 9 , wherein the housing comprises an upper housing and a lower housing, the electronic module cap permanently attached to the upper housing, and the lower housing comprising the mouthpiece and a mouthpiece cover. 
     
     
         13 . The inhaler of  claim 9 , wherein the electronics module comprises a printed circuit board that comprises the processor and the switch; and
 wherein the electronics module cap comprises a plurality of heat stakes that protrude or extend from a top inner surface of the electronics module cap and that are configured to be partially deformed to secure the printed circuit board to the electronics module cap.   
     
     
         14 . The inhaler of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of heat stakes are configured to secure the printed circuit board to the electronics module cap without the use of additional fasteners. 
     
     
         15 . The inhaler of  claim 9 , wherein a mechanical interface exists between the housing and the cap, the mechanical interface configured such that an air flow rate measured at the pressure sensor is within 2% of an air flow rate measured at an opening of the mouthpiece. 
     
     
         16 . The inhaler of  claim 1 , wherein the electronics module further comprises a battery, a transmitter, and a sensor, wherein the sensor is configured to provide information to the processor about a user's inhaler through the inhaler. 
     
     
         17 . The inhaler of  claim 16 , wherein the sensor comprises a pressure sensor configured to measure pressure changes within the housing. 
     
     
         18 . The inhaler of  claim 16 , wherein actuation of the switch causes the processor and sensor to change power states. 
     
     
         19 . The inhaler of  claim 18 , wherein the slider is configured to contact the switch when a mouthpiece cover of the inhaler is moved from a closed position to an open position to expose the mouthpiece of the inhaler; and
 wherein the mouthpiece cover is operably coupled to the slider via the yoke such that the switch is operated by the slider when the mouthpiece cover is moved to the open position to expose the mouthpiece.   
     
     
         20 . An inhaler comprising:
 a housing comprising medicament and a mouthpiece;   a printed circuit board comprising a processor, a battery, a wireless communication circuit, and a plurality of openings; and   a cap configured to be secured to the housing and to hold the printed circuit board, wherein the cap comprises a plurality of heat stakes that protrude or extend from a top inner surface of the cap through the plurality of opening, and that are configured to be partially deformed to secure the printed circuit board to the cap.