WO2006027333A1

WO2006027333A1 - Inhaler device

Info

Publication number: WO2006027333A1
Application number: PCT/EP2005/054296
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alfred Von Schuckmann
Original assignee: Alfred Von Schuckmann
Priority date: 2004-09-04
Filing date: 2005-09-01
Publication date: 2006-03-16

Abstract

The invention relates to a hand-held device (1) for the metered discharging of sprayable substances, particularly medicaments that are to be inhaled. Said hand-held device (1) comprises a cartridge (3) which can be brought into the discharging position by being axially displaced in a housing (2), and a step-by-step system (13) that is assigned to said cartridge (3) and is used for registering and indicating the discharging actuations performed. In order to create a hand-held device of said type in a spatially adequate manner and with a simplified and more stable structure that provides for easy cleaning, the entire step-by-step system (13) sits on a base plate (14) which is freely supported by the cartridge (3) by surrounding the same, extends transversal to the housing (2), supports the indexing gear (30), and moves the indexing gear into step-by-step engagement with a switching finger (36) that is fixed to the housing (36)along with the cartridge (3) when the cartridge is actuated for discharging purposes.

Description

Inhale device

The invention relates to a hand-held device according to the preamble of the main claim.

Solutions of this type are known, e.g. by the European patents 986 412 and 1 163 922. In these, the stepper, including scale sits in the vicinity of the depressible against spring action valve tube of the cartridge virtually in the annular space around this valve tube. The entire stepper carrier is clipped to the lower edge of the cartridge. This arrangement in the

Annulus requires relatively small stepper drives and allows only small scales. The arrangement in the annular space also means that the stepping mechanism is located precisely where the device has the largest accumulation of dirt. The clip connection to the cartridge is such that when the cartridge is removed for cleaning purposes, the stepping mechanism and the cartridge are removed from the housing as a coherent unit. By Ent¬ take only the housing space under the cartridge to Mund¬ piece for cleaning free. Cleaning the stepping mechanism brings a considerable risk of damage to the compact stepping mechanism. This is especially true if you make the separation of stepper and cartridge outside of the housing.

In order to achieve larger, readable arranged Schrittschaltwerksskalen it is known from WO 93/24167 to form the scale ring as running around the lateral surface of the cartridge element with an associated viewing window in the housing shell wall. However, these solutions do not work in response to the cartridge output actuation stroke. The associated stepping mechanism is rather controlled by placing a protective cap on the Mund¬ piece of the handset. This leads to uncertainties in the count of the quantities dispensed. The object of the invention has been found to provide a hand-held device of the type in question in a spatially favorable manner with a cleanable, simplified and more stable structure.

This is achieved by the characterization in the main claim. The subclaims represent advantageous developments.

According to this embodiment, the stepper with the corresponding, lying next to the jacket wall of the cartridge base plate is housed so far in a favorable position without significant deterioration of the handling of the device, because it can be configured spatially larger and no longer in or near the dirt collecting area. The cartridge and the stepper with the scale device need largely not be removed for cleaning purposes. The stepper does not necessarily leave the protective housing. Eventually, this can even be forced by a corresponding stop-detent on the inner wall area of the housing. The Betä¬ tigungskala related to the sprocket is large in the smallest footprint.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the attached drawing, which represents single embodiments. It shows:

1 shows in a perspective view the hand-held device according to the invention in a ready position with a cartridge which can be displaced axially in a housing and with a stepping mechanism;

2 shows the housing of the handheld device and the rear derailleur in a perspective exploded view prior to a first use of the handset; FIG. 3 is a perspective view corresponding to FIG. 2, after the switching mechanism has been inserted into the housing prior to the first use of the hand-held device; FIG.

4 shows a further perspective view of the hand-held device before the cartridge is inserted into the housing with the stepping mechanism fixed thereto;

5 shows the cartridge with the stepper mechanism attached thereto in a side view;

FIG. 6 shows the enlarged detailed representation of the area VI in FIG. 5; FIG.

7 shows the stepping mechanism in a perspective exploded view with associated cartridge;

8 shows the stepping mechanism in a perspective detail view;

9 shows the stepper mechanism in a further perspective detail view;

10 shows the stepper mechanism in a front view;

11 shows the stepper mechanism in a side view;

12 shows the section along the line XII - XII in Fig. 1;

Fig. 13 is a rear view of the handset in the direction of arrow XIII in Figure 12 at partial opening of the housing. Fig. 14 is a representation corresponding to FIG. 12, but after an axial

Downward displacement of the cartridge within the housing for release of a drug shock and this accompanying action of the stepper mechanism;

FIG. 15 shows a rear view corresponding to FIG. 13 against the stepping mechanism during an actuation of the cartridge according to FIG. 14.

16 is a representation we Figure 3, but with a stop-stop 39,

Fig. 17 is a detent position as Figure 14, but with the stop-stop.

The hand-held device 1 serving for the portioned dispensing of sprayable substances, in particular aerosol inhalation medicaments, is composed essentially of a housing 2 and a cartridge 3 axially displaceable in this housing 2, as shown in particular in FIG. 1. The latter is in the region of a cartridge head 4 with a central, extending coaxially to the cartridge extend¬ the valve 5 in the form of a loaded by cushioning in the closed position tube. About the latter, a drug delivery is achieved by an axial relative movement between the cartridge 3 and housing 2.

The valve stem having a valve 5 is supported here on a zuge¬ arranged support portion 6 within the housing 2, this with free axial movement of the cartridge 3 within the surrounding the cartridge 3 housing section 7. From this the cartridge 3 comprehensive housing section 7 protrudes from the, the support portion 6 facing closed end portion of the Ge housing 2 from a mouthpiece 8 from which can be closed with an attachable cap 9.

The support section 6, which receives the valve 5 of the cartridge 3 in a clamping manner, is further provided with a flow channel 10, which is flow-resistant. nisch is in communication with the shaft of the valve 5, wherein the valve 5 facing away from the end of the flow channel 10 in the direction of the mouthpiece 8 has.

The upper end of the cartridge 3, which faces away from the valve 5, is free to move towards the housing end, for which purpose the housing 2 has finger-well-like, open-edged recesses 11 at the end region of the housing section 7. The axially opposite in the axial direction, the inside wall of the support portion 6 having end portion is formed concave. According to these embodiments, the hand-held device 1 can be grasped in the simplest manner by one hand, placing the hand-held device 1 in the region of the concave shape on the inside of the thumb while simultaneously applying the index finger 3 to the end of the cartridge by means of the index finger, whereafter Zeigefin¬ gerbetätigung the cartridge 3 can be displaced relative to the housing 2 in the axial direction, which causes about the valve 5 and the flow channel 10 a portionier¬ te output of the sprayable substance.

To count and display the executed output operations, the handset 1 is provided with a stepper 13. This stepping mechanism 13 is supported by the cartridge 3 in the position of use of the handheld device 1. Before a first use of the cartridge 3, the stepping mechanism 13 can be fixed to this, if necessary already factory. However, it is also conceivable to arrange the stepping mechanism 13, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, in a position-oriented manner in the housing 2 before a first use, after which the stepping mechanism 13 is secured against rotation in the housing 2 and possibly held by frictional engagement. Now, if the housing 2 equipped with the cartridge 3 in a conventional manner by inserting the same, then the cartridge 3 connects to the stepper mechanism unit 13, for example by locking the cartridge 3 with the noses 27th The stepping mechanism 13 initially has a base plate 14, which in plan view is elongate plan and rectangular. This Grund¬ plate 14 carries in the region of its upper edge portion at a right angle to the base plate extension aligned ceiling portion 15 with a projection in this ceiling section 15 open-edged, concave recess 16. The radius of this receiving recess 16 is adapted to the radius of the cartridge. 3

At the ceiling portion 15, a ring 17 is fixed, with an inner diameter, which is adapted to the outer diameter of the cartridge 3. In a cross section of this ring 17 is C-shaped with radially outward wei¬ send C-webs. Between these two C-webs of the ring 17, a sprocket 18 is freely rotatable relative to the C-leg of the ring 17, with a cover section 15 of the base plate 14 facing away, the circumferential spur toothing 19. In the base plate 14 facing area is the Un¬ tere C-web of the ring 17 to expose the spur toothing 19 interrupted.

The outer ring wall of the ring gear 18 carries a non-rotatably connected with this verbun¬ display ring 20 with a scale 21st

Sprocket 18 and scale 21 are encompassed by another, the ring 17 zu¬ orderly jacket 22, which latter is also on the ceiling portion 15 of the base plate 14 can be fixed. By means of this jacket 22 is the ring gear 18 and the indicator ring 20 receiving C-opening of the ring 17 is closed, being provided for reading the scale 21 in the overlap region to this in the ring 17 and the jacket 22, a viewing window 23. The latter is placed opposite the fixing region of the ring 17 on the base plate 14.

On the underside of the ring 17, that is further suspended from the ceiling portion 15 of the base plate 14 is on the ring 17, a holding basket 24 is formed. This sits three evenly over the circumference of the ring 17 arranged distributed, pa¬ rallel aligned to the ring axis holding webs 25, in the region of the ring 17 facing away from the ends wear a diameter-reduced retaining ring 26, des¬ sen free inner diameter is adapted to the plate diameter of the Kartu- see 3 in the base region of the valve 5 (see FIG. 12).

The step-by-step mechanism can also be located much higher than required in the figures for further removal from the spray area, so that it is even further away from the area in need of cleaning.

The holding webs 25 each have a radially inwardly facing locking cams 27 for locking the entire stepper mechanism 13 to the cartridge 3 by the locking cams 27 engage in a trained in the cartridge head region in the usual manner waist section 28. The locking is only so strong that the resiliently high-speed cartridge 3, the stepper 13, etc. entrains.

The holding webs 25 are further arranged circumferentially of the ring 17 so that one of these holding webs 25 is positioned opposite to the base plate 14. This engages in order to secure the rotation of the indexer 13 in the housing 2 or for correct position assignment in a pocket-like longitudinal slot 29, which is provided inside the housing. This positional orientation is of importance in particular for the correct stepping engagement of the stepping mechanism 13 with respect to a switching finger 36 fixed to the housing.

The in the mounted position in the housing 2 sekantenf örmig to the latter or approximately tangent to the cartridge 3 lying base plate 14 carries on the side facing away from the cartridge 3 broadside a ratchet 30 with a circumferential toothing 31. The axis of rotation x of the ratchet wheel 30 is vertical to the base plate 14, wherein the corresponding axle body 32, the base plate 14 passing through on the opposite, that is on the cartridge 3 zu¬ facing broad side of the base plate 14 another, but with respect to the Ratchet 30 diameter-reduced output gear 33 carries. The diameters of ratchet 30 and driven gear 33 are in a ratio of about 3: 1 to 5: 1.

The output gear 33 is in constant engagement with a transmission gear 34, wel¬ Ches also has a peripheral toothing. The axis of rotation y of this translation wheel 34 extends parallel to the axis of rotation x of the indexing wheel 30.

The gear wheel 34 engages with its circumferential toothing the cut-free portion of the C-bar of the ring 17, passing through into the spur toothing 19 of the ring gear 18. It is thus a gear ratio between ratchet wheel 30 and sprocket 18 created.

As further seen in particular from the illustration in Figure 13, the ratchet wheel is covered by a mounted on the base plate 14 protective cover

35th

In the case of a cartridge actuation by axial displacement within the housing 2, the stepper mechanism 13 is displaced downwards in the axial direction together with the cartridge 3, due to a support of the cartridge head on the retaining ring 26 of the holding basket 24, wherein the ratchet wheel seated on the base plate 30 is moved against a housing fixed adjacent to the support portion 6 arranged shift finger 36, which occurs in the course of the downward displacement of the cartridge 3 in the peripheral teeth 31 and the ratchet 30 further rotatably displaced by a tooth angle (see arrow a in Figure 15). This Drehver¬ storage of the ratchet wheel on the shift finger 36 is transmitted via the driven gear 33 and the gear 34 on the ring gear 18 and thus on the scale 21, which scale 21 through the viewing window 23 and at least in this area held transparent housing section. 7 from the outside by the user is readable. The found new display position is secured by a radially on the ratchet 30 in the peripheral teeth 31 by Federbe- aufschlagung acting latching fingers 37, which is further formed so that this only a rotation of the switching wheel 30 in the desired direction of Pfei¬ les a permits.

In the interaction region of ratchet wheel 30 and shift finger 36 and the latching finger 37, the protective cover 35 is provided with window-like cutouts 38.

For cleaning purposes, the cartridge can be pulled up including stepper. In this case, it is possible to stop the stepping-out of the stepping mechanism or even the base plate etc. from the protective housing 2 by passing over the upper edge of the housing with a finger of the holding hand. Upon further pulling on the cartridge then releases the locking of the lugs 27 and the cartridge is released. This separation can also be achieved by a stop detent 39 on the housing inner wall, at least at the upper housing edge. This (see FIGS. 16, 17) reliably avoids unintentional pulling out of the sensitive stepping mechanism. It is only taken out by intervention in the ring gear 18 controlled. The insertion is facilitated by the inlet slope 40th

The stepper 13 may be factory set so that the maximum number of strokes of the cartridge 3 is displayed by spielsweise 200 strokes through the viewing window 23 on the scale 21. With each actuation of the cartridge 3, the ring gear 18 is rotated further in the circumferential direction of the cartridge 3, wherein by the chosen translation - resulting from the different

Diameters of ratchet wheel 30, driven gear 33 and gear 34 - not every tooth feed on the ratchet wheel 30 causes a rotational displacement of the ring gear 18 to an entire sector gear. Rather, the ratio depending on the number of teeth of the ring gear 18 can be selected so that only two or more output operations and associated Schaltrad- Applying a rotary displacement of the ring gear 18 to cause an entire sector gear.

The scale 21 may be formed as a color gamut, wherein before the cartridge contents are depleted, the region of the scale 21 visible in the viewing window 23 is colored red, for example. Also, a number scale is conceivable, for example, at maximum 200 strokes on the scale, for example, only every fifth stroke is quantified. Such a numerical scale can be combined, in particular, in the direction of zero, with a color scale. Accordingly, the area of, for example, the last twenty strokes can be underlined with a signal color.

All disclosed features are essential to the invention. The disclosure content of the associated priority documents (copy of the prior application) is hereby also incorporated in full in the disclosure of the application, also for the purpose of including features of these documents in claims of the present application.

Claims

1. Hand device (1) for the portioned dispensing of sprayable substances, in particular inhalers medicaments, with a displaceable by pressing in a housing (2) in the dispensing opening position cartridge (3) and ei¬ nem while in the outward and Return stroke of the cartridge mitgehimmem Schritt¬ switching mechanism (13) for registering and displaying the performed Ausga¬ be actuations, which step-switching mechanism is actuated by a housing-fixed shift finger (36), characterized in that the step switching mechanism (13) on a sitting on the cartridge shell wall and arranged tangentially thereto base plate (14) sits the cantilever ei¬ nen the cartridge shell wall comprehensive ring gear (18) carries wel¬ chem on the outside at the level of a viewing window (23) an output actuation scale (21 ) assigned.

2. Hand tool according to claim 1, characterized in that the ring gear (18) in a groove of the cartridge (3) comprehensive ring (17) superimposed.

3. Hand tool according to one or more of the preceding claims or in particular according thereto, characterized in that the ratchet wheel (30) and the tooth engagement on the ring (17) on different sides of the base plate (14) are arranged.

4. Hand tool according to one or more of the preceding claims or in particular according thereto, characterized in that the scale on the Man¬ telaußenwandung of the ring gear (18) is applied.

5. Hand device according to one or more of the preceding claims or in particular according thereto, characterized by a viewing window ring (22), wherein the housing (2) in the overlap region to the viewing window (23) of the

Ring (17) is transparent.

6. Hand tool according to one or more of the preceding claims or in particular according thereto, characterized in that the ring (17) carries a cartridge head (4) comprehensive holding basket (24).

7. Hand tool according to one or more of the preceding claims or in particular according thereto, characterized in that the ratchet wheel (30) is über¬ catch of a on the base plate (14) attached protective cover (35) in the Zusammenwirkungsbereichen of ratchet (30) and shift finger (36) and latching fingers (37) window-like cutouts (38).

8. Hand tool according to claim 1, or in particular according thereto, characterized gekenn¬ characterized in that the housing (2) in the region of the inner wall, preferably near the nigh of the upper edge has a stop-latch (39) for separating the latching connection (27 ) of the stepper mechanism of the cartridge (3) hen Herauszie¬ the cartridge (3).

9. Hand tool according to claim 8, or in particular according thereto gekenn¬ characterized in that the stop-latch (39) has an inlet slope (40).