Device intended for measuring a dose of powered medicament for inhalation

Abstract

The invention relates to a device intended for measuring a dose of powdered medicament for inhalation, including a medicament container (1), through which extends a shaft (3) provided with at least one dosage recess (5). Container (1) is provided with at least one flap-like sweeper element (4), resting on shaft (3) in alignment with the dosage recess and having one of its ends rotatable around shaft (3), the other end of said flap dragging along the shaft surface, whereafter said shaft (3) is displaceable in this longitudinal direction relative to container (1) so as to bring dosage recess (5), along with a dose of the medicament carried therein, outside container (1). The invention relates also to the measuring of a dose of powdered medicament for inhalation by using the device described above.

I claim: 
     
       1. A device intended for measuring a dose of powdered medicament for inhalation, comprising a medicament container (1), through which extends a shaft (3) provided with at least one dosage recess (5), characterized in that said container (1) is provided with at least one flap-shaped sweeper element (4) having opposite ends, resting on shaft (3) in alignment with the dosage recess and having one of its ends rotatable around said shaft (3), the other end of the flap dragging along the shaft surface, said shaft (3) being displaceable in its longitudinal direction relative to said container (1) so as to bring said dosage recess (5) along with its dose of medicament outside said container (1). 
     
     
       2. A device as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that one of the ends of sweeper element (4) is fastened to the wall of container (1), said container being rotatable around shaft (3). 
     
     
       3. A device as set forth in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said shaft (3) is at least partially hollow. 
     
     
       4. A device as set forth in claim 3, characterized in that said dosage recess (5) is in communication with the hollow section of shaft (3). 
     
     
       5. A device as set forth in claim 3, characterized in that the wall of shaft (3) is provided with a recess (5) opening into the hollow space and that the hollow space includes a stationary tube (9), which extends into medicament container (1) to the proximity of its other wall past recess (5), said shaft (3) being pushable relative to the container and said fixed tube (9) through such a distance that said recess (5) is brought outside container (1). 
     
     
       6. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said medicament container (1), together with its flap-shaped sweeper element (4) and lead-in sealings (8), is replaceable. 
     
     
       7. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the device is provided with a limiter for the direction of container rotation, said limiter preventing the rotation of container (1) in a wrong direction. 
     
     
       8. An inhalation apparatus, provided with a device as claimed in claim 1 intended for measuring a dose of powdered medicament for inhalation. 
     
     
       9. An inhalation apparatus as set forth in claim 8, characterized in that it is provided with a one-way valve (32) for preventing exhalation through the apparatus. .Iadd. 
     
     
       10.  A device for measuring a dose of powdered medicament and mixing the dose of powdered medicament with a stream of air for inhalation, the device comprising: a first portion having a shaft secured thereto, the shaft having a dosage recess;   a second portion relatively rotatable with respect to the first portion, the second portion including an inhalation chamber having an inlet through which air is drawn connected to an outlet through which a mixture of air and a powdered medicament is inhaled, the second portion also including a powdered medicament container disposed adjacent the inhalation chamber;   one of said first and second portions including a projecting stud and the other of said portions including a slot which receives the stud, the slot engaging the stud to move said first and second portions away from each other upon relative rotation of said portions;   wherein the shaft is relatively longitudinally displaceable with respect to the medicament container and the inhalation chamber of the second portion along a longitudinal axis of the shaft by relative rotation of said first portion and said second portion, the rotation permitting placement of the shaft dosage recess within the inhalation chamber of said second portion;   whereby positioning the dosage recess of the shaft within said medicament container fills the dosage recess with a dose of powdered medicament, and subsequent longitudinal displacement of said shaft with respect to the second portion by relative rotation of said first and second portions positions the filled dosage recess of said shaft within said inhalation chamber to permit inhalation of a mixture of air and powdered medicament by a user..Iaddend..Iadd.11. A device according to claim 10, wherein the shaft is fixed to said first portion, and said second portion is rotatable around said shaft to move the medicament container and inhalation chamber longitudinally relative said shaft..Iaddend..Iadd.12. A device according to claim 10, wherein said powdered medicament container is removable from the second portion to facilitate removal and replacement of said container..Iaddend.