WO2010099911A1

WO2010099911A1 - Inhaler device

Info

Publication number: WO2010099911A1
Application number: PCT/EP2010/001237
Authority: WO
Inventors: Andrea Drollinger; Frank Drollinger
Original assignee: Andrea Drollinger; Frank Drollinger
Priority date: 2009-03-03
Filing date: 2010-03-01
Publication date: 2010-09-10
Also published as: DE102009011315B3

Abstract

An inhaler device (2) for a medium (M) has a storage (18) for receiving the medium (M), and a mouthpiece (10) having a flow connection to the storage (18). According to the invention, the inhaler device (2) has a freely movable hand piece (4), in which the storage (18) is arranged between the mouthpiece (10) and a loading interface (16).

Description

inhaler

description

The invention relates to an inhaler device for a medium, such as a gaseous medium such as oxygen or an aerosol for power or concentration promotion or a stimulant, according to the preamble of claim 1. This inhaler device has a memory for receiving the medium and a mouthpiece for inhaling the Medium or a gas produced by means of the medium on. The mouthpiece is for this purpose connected via a producible or closable flow connection with the memory.

Such inhaler devices can serve to increase physical or mental performance, for example, at work or in sports, or to increase physical well-being or alertness, for example, in the wellness sector or in nursing.

From DE 20 2006 009 690 U1 a leisure / fitness device in the form of a treadmill device with an oxygen supply function is known. For this purpose, an inhaling mouthpiece is provided on an operating and display panel, which is connected to an oxygen generator. By means of a control device also integrated into the device, the user is supplied with oxygen during a physical operation via the mouthpiece. In this way, the physical performance of the user should be increased.

A disadvantage of the known device is that it is firmly integrated into the leisure / fitness facility, in particular due to its complex structure. The oxygen supply function can therefore only be used in the body posture given by the device, whereby the use of the inhaler device is limited to the times of use of the leisure / fitness device. However, there is a certain need to be able to use an inhaler device over longer periods of use and not be tied to a stationary device in order to use this, for example, during work or leisure.

The object of the invention is thus to avoid the disadvantages mentioned in a generic inhaler device and to enable a more flexible application.

This object is achieved by an inhaler device having the features of claim 1. In this case, the inhaler device has a freely movable handpiece, wherein "freely movable" means in particular that the handpiece should not have a permanent connection to other parts of the inhaler device, such as in the form of a line connection By forming such a handpiece, the inhalation function essential parts of the inhaler device can be carried by the user in a handy form and, at least temporarily, independently of the rest of the inhaler device for inhaling the medium or a gas obtained from the medium can be used.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the memory can be closed in a gastight manner in order to be able to use a gaseous medium, in particular oxygen or an aerosol, which can be inhaled directly.

Advantageously, the memory is formed by an oxygen storage suitable in particular for easy acquisition, loss-free storage and residue-free release of oxygen. This makes it possible to use the inhaler for inhaling in particular high-purity oxygen, which exerts a refreshing, invigorating effect on the user. As a result, the inhaler device, for example, on the one hand at work or useful in sports to increase the efficiency of the user. On the other hand, it can also be used for medical purposes, for example, in particular in the case of respiratory problems of the user.

Moreover, it is favorable if the reservoir is formed by a pressure vessel, that is to say a vessel suitable for receiving a medium under multiple atmospheric pressure. This makes it possible even with low storage volume of the handpiece to keep a larger supply of the medium ready and thereby to allow a longer inhalation application, during which the handpiece does not need to be recharged.

Furthermore, it is favorable if a removal valve is provided in the flow connection, which can be brought into an open position in order to allow the user to remove the medium as required.

Advantageously, the extraction valve can be activated via a negative pressure applied to the mouthpiece in order to allow the user a particularly comfortable control of the inhalation by suction on the mouthpiece.

In a further advantageous embodiment, a pressure regulator, in particular in the form of a pressure reducer, is provided on the extraction valve. In this way, it can be ensured that, in the case of a medium which is under increased pressure in the accumulator, the latter exits from the accumulator in terms of quantity and pressure in a manner permitting a comfortable inhalation on the part of the user.

Advantageously, the handpiece has a cigar / cigarette-shaped outer contour. As a result, the handpiece is particularly handy in shape and conveys a habitual hapti- see perception especially in smokers or former smokers. The handpiece can act as cigar or cigarette replacement and thus be used as an aid in smoking cessation. In a particularly advantageous development of the invention, the charging interface can be coupled to a connection interface of a refilling device. For this purpose, an inlet valve is provided at the charging interface, which can be switched by means of appropriately designed means of the connection interface or by a pressure exerted by this pressure between a blocking position and a loading position. As a result, a simple refilling of the memory on a side remote from the mouthpiece side of the handpiece is possible, so that the mouthpiece can remain on the handpiece during the refilling.

It is advantageous if the refill has an outlet valve which can be switched by means of the charging interface between a sealing position and a dispensing position. In this way, when the handpiece is coupled to the connection interface, on the one hand the charging interface is actuated by the refill device and at the same time the connection interface is actuated by the handpiece. This mutual actuation enables a particularly comfortable refilling of the handpiece by the user, who only has to bring both interfaces into contact for this purpose.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the charging interface and the connection interface form a plug connection, whereby a particularly fast and comfortable coupling or decoupling of the handpiece with respect to the refilling device is possible.

Advantageously, elastic sealing means are provided on at least one of the interfaces to which the respective other interface can be fixed. In this way, a good seal between the handpiece and the refill device and thus a possible lossless refilling of the memory can be achieved.

In addition, it is advantageous if locking means are provided on the charging interface, which can be latched with counter-locking means of the connection interface. On the- se way can be achieved between the interfaces a particularly good seal and a stable positive connection.

In addition, it is advantageous if the refill is integrated in a workplace. This gives the user the opportunity to use the handpiece and reload it at any time while working to increase their concentration or physical performance.

Alternatively, the refill can be integrated to improve performance in a fitness device, including all known types of sports and wellness equipment are to be understood.

In a further alternative embodiment, the refilling device is integrated into a driver's cab of a means of transport, such as a motor vehicle or an aircraft, in order to be able to maintain the concentration ability of the user, in particular during long journeys or flights.

In the figures, an exemplary embodiment of the invention is shown. Show it:

FIG. 1 shows a view of the inhaler device according to the invention,

FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the inhaler device in the direction II of FIG. 1,

3 shows a longitudinal section through the handpiece of the inhaler device from FIG. 1. FIG

4A shows a section through the refilling of the inhaler device in plane 4A-4A of Fig. 2 and

FIG. 4B shows a section through the refilling device of the inhaler device in plane 4B-4B from FIG. 2. 1 and 2 show an inhaler device 2 with a handpiece 4, which has a housing 6 with a cigar-shaped outer contour and can be conveniently held in the hand of a user (not shown). At a first end 8, the handpiece 4 has a mouthpiece 10, on which at least one outlet opening 12 is embedded. At a second end 14 facing away from the first end 8, the handpiece 4 has a charging interface 16. Further, a memory 18 is provided in the housing 6 between the mouthpiece 10 and the charging interface 16, as can be seen in particular from Fig. 1.

The memory 18 serves to receive a gaseous medium M, for example, in particular a highly pure oxygen or aerosol under multiple atmospheric pressure. The memory 18 is for this purpose designed as a pressure vessel, and made of a material such as stainless steel, which allows a hygienic use of the inhaler device 2.

To charge the memory 18, the handpiece 4 can be connected via the second end 14 with a refill device 20, as shown by arrow V. This wiestes this purpose a connection interface 22, which forms 16 parts of a plug-in connection together with the charging interface.

As can be seen from Fig. 1, the refill device 20 is disposed on a housing 24, which may be part of a workplace, a fitness equipment or a vehicle / aircraft cab, for example. The refill device

20 is connected to a connection 26 of a supply unit 28, which is exemplified as a reservoir, in the form of a gas cylinder or a cartridge. Alternatively, it is also possible that the supply unit 28 is formed by a supply line.

As can be seen from FIG. 3, a removal valve 32 is provided at a mouthpiece-side end 30 of the accumulator 18. The extraction valve 32 has a biased by a spring element F in a closed position on a valve seat 34 closing element 36. In addition, a pressure regulator 38 in the form of a pressure reducer is provided on the extraction valve 32 only schematically, by means of which the pressure with which the stored medium M is present at the extraction valve 32 is reduced to a value which is smaller than the spring force F. the extraction valve 32 is held in the unloaded state of the mouthpiece 10 in a closed position. Furthermore, the housing 6 forms a chamber 40 between the extraction valve 32 and the at least one outlet opening 12.

At an interface-side end 42 of the memory 18, an inlet valve 44 is further provided, which may be formed for example as a check valve. This is held in the normal position by the pressure of the medium M in a blocking position to complete the memory 18 gas-tight. Further locking means 46 are formed on the inlet valve 44, on which correspondingly shaped counter-latching means 48 of the refill device 20 can be latched.

The counter-latching means 48 are, as can be seen from FIGS. 4A and 4B, formed as elastic latching hooks which project into the connection interface 22. In addition, a resilient sealing means 52 may be provided in the form of a sealing ring on a bottom 50 of the connection interface 22, on which a trained by the second end 14 of the handpiece 4 edge 54 can be applied.

Furthermore, the connection interface 22 has a centrally disposed outlet valve 56 with a closing body 58 and an actuating tappet 60, which is guided in an outlet opening 62 of the refilling device 20 with play. The closing body 58 is pressed in the normal position of the outlet valve 56, that is, in the separated state of the handpiece 4 and refill device 20, from the pending pressure of the supply unit 28 in an illustrated sealing position in which it closes the outlet opening 62.

It is emphasized that the illustrated embodiments of the interfaces 16, 22 and valves 32, 44, 56 are shown by way of example only. In addition to the shown Embodiments, alternatively, all other known and suitable interfaces and valves are known, which are known for example in the medical field, in the exchange port or any other area of the gas or oxygen supply technology. In addition, at the interfaces 16, 22 magnetic holding means H may be provided, which are provided for exchangeable fixation of the valves 44, 56.

In the application of the inhaler device 2, the user holds the handpiece 4 in his hand and sucks on the mouthpiece 1. This is in the chamber 40 between see the at least one outlet opening 12 and the bleed valve 32, a negative pressure built up, which together with the pressure regulator 38th discharged pressure of the medium M of the spring F counteracts and thereby lifts the closing element 36 from the valve seat 34 when reaching a certain threshold value, as shown in Fig. 3 by dotted lines.

In this way, the removal valve 32 is moved from its closed position into an open position in which the medium M stored in the reservoir 18 now exits via the pressure regulator 38 and the extraction valve 32 into the chamber 40 and from there via the outlet opening 12 from the mouthpiece 12 can to be inhaled by the user.

After completion of an inhaling train, the negative pressure in the chamber 40 is reduced again by air flowing in via the outlet opening 12, so that the spring F presses the closing element 36 back into the closed position.

At the second end 14, the inlet valve 44 is meanwhile kept permanently in a blocking position by the pressure prevailing in the accumulator 18.

Once the medium M in the reservoir 18 is no longer sufficient for inhalation, the user can refill the handpiece 4 by inserting the second end 14 thereof into the refill device 20, thereby connecting the charge interface 16 to the connection interface 22, as shown in FIG. 4A shown by dotted lines. In this case, first the edge 54 is pressed against the sealing means 52, that deforms in this case and seals the resulting ring contact between the bottom 50 and the edge 54. With sufficient contact pressure also lock the locking means 46 with the counter-locking means 48, whereby the handpiece 4 is securely fixed to the refill 20.

At the same time in this case the actuating plunger 60 is displaced by the charging interface 16 in the direction of the supply unit 28, whereby the closing body 58 is moved from its sealing position into a dispensing position, as shown in Fig. 4A by dotted lines. In this dispensing position, the medium M can now flow out of the supply unit 28 around the closing body 58 and along the actuating tappet 60 through the outlet opening 62 to the charging interface 16.

The thus present at the inlet valve 44 from the outside pending pressure of the medium M spends this from its blocking position to a loading position, provided that the medium M in the supply unit 28 is under a larger pressure than the medium in the memory 18. Thus, the memory 18 again be - fills.

Once the handpiece 4 has been refilled in this way, it can be removed again from the refill device 20. The latching means 46 and counter-latching means 48 can be designed for this purpose such that their separation by applying an increased tensile force or by twisting the handpiece 4 relative to the refilling device 20 is possible.

When removing the handpiece 4, the outlet valve 56 of the refilling device 20 is simultaneously returned to its sealing position by the lack of loading of the actuating tappet 60 or by the prevailing pressure of the medium M. In addition, the inlet valve 44 is moved by the pressure of the medium M in the memory 18 back into the blocking position on the handpiece 4. The handpiece can thus again be handled independently of the refill device 20 and is available for a renewed inhalation application.

Claims

claims

1. Inhaler device (2) for a medium (M)

a reservoir (18) for receiving the medium (M) and a mouthpiece (10) having a closable flow connection to the reservoir (18),

characterized in that the inhaler device (2) comprises a freely movable handpiece (4), in which the memory (18) between the

Mouthpiece (10) and a charging interface (16) is arranged.

2. Inhalator device according to claim 1, characterized in that the memory (18) is gas-tight closable.

3. Inhaler device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the memory (18) is formed by an oxygen storage.

4. Inhalator device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the memory (18) is formed by a pressure vessel.

5. Inhalator device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that in the flow connection an extraction valve (32) is provided, which can be brought into an open position.

6. Inhalator device according to claim 5, characterized in that the removal valve (32) can be activated via a negative pressure which can be applied to the mouthpiece (10).

7. Inhalator device according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that on the removal valve (32), a pressure regulator (38) is provided.

8. Inhaler device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the handpiece (4) has a cigar / cigarette-shaped outer contour.

9. Inhaler device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the charging interface (16) with a connection interface

(22) of a refilling device (20) can be coupled and an inlet valve (44), which is switchable by means of the connection interface (22) between a blocking position and a loading position.

10. Inhaler device according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the refilling device (20) has an outlet valve (56) which can be switched by means of the charging interface (16) between a sealing position and a dispensing position.

11. Inhalator device according to one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the charging interface (16) and the Anschlυssschnitt- point (22) form parts of a plug connection.

12. An inhaler device according to any one of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that on at least one of the interfaces (16; 22) elastic sealing means (52) are provided, on which the respective other interface (22; 16) can be fixed.

13. Inhaler device according to one of claims 8 to 12, characterized in that on the charging interface (16) locking means (46) are provided which can be latched with counter-latching means (48) of the connection interface (22).

14. Inhaler device according to one of claims 8 to 13, character- ized in that the refill device (20) is integrated in a workplace.

15. Inhaler device according to one of claims 8 to 13, characterized in that the refill device (20) is integrated in a sports device.

16. Inhaler device according to one of claims 8 to 13, characterized in that the refill device (20) is integrated in a driver's cab of a means of transport.