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JP-7855584-B2 - Inhaler system with a single planar perforation element

JP7855584B2JP 7855584 B2JP7855584 B2JP 7855584B2JP-7855584-B2

Inventors

  • カンピテッリ ジェンナーロ
  • ダユオウル オヌル

Assignees

  • フィリップ・モーリス・プロダクツ・ソシエテ・アノニム

Dates

Publication Date
20260508
Application Date
20211209
Priority Date
20201211

Claims (13)

  1. Inhaler system, Housing that defines the housing cavity, A sleeve extending along its longitudinal axis and positioned within the housing cavity, wherein the sleeve is movable within the housing cavity between a first position and a second position, the sleeve extends from an open end to a closed end, defines a cylindrical lumen for receiving an inhaler article, and the open end of the sleeve aligns with an opening in the housing for receiving the inhaler article. A capsule contained within the inhaler article and received within the sleeve, the capsule having a longitudinal axis, and a perforating element comprising only a single shaft extending from a fixed end along the longitudinal axis of the perforating element to its tip, wherein the longitudinal axis of the perforating element is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the sleeve, the perforating element has a diameter in the range of 0.5 to 0.9 mm, the tip of the single perforating element has only a single cross-section, a cross-section angle is defined between the longitudinal axis of the perforating element and the single cross-section, and the cross-section angle is in the range of about 25 degrees to about 35 degrees, wherein the longitudinal axis of the perforating element is offset from the longitudinal axis of the sleeve. An inhaler system in which, when the sleeve moves from the first position to the second position, only a single opening is formed in the capsule.
  2. The inhaler system according to claim 1, wherein the diameter of the perforating element is in the range of 0.7 to 0.9 mm, and the angle of the cutting surface is in the range of about 28 degrees to about 32 degrees.
  3. The inhaler system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the cross-section of the perforating element defines a pointed ellipse.
  4. The inhaler system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the perforating element includes a single solid cylindrical shaft extending from the fixed end to the tip along the longitudinal axis of the perforating element.
  5. The inhaler system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the capsule has a diameter in the range of approximately 5.2 to 6.4 mm.
  6. The inhaler system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the end of the cut surface of the perforating element forms a single opening within the capsule that defines only a single hinge of the capsule material extending into the capsule cavity.
  7. The inhaler system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the force required for the perforating element to perforate the capsule is approximately 5 N or less.
  8. The inhaler system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the perforating element perforates the capsule at the curved end of the capsule in the range of 25% to 90% of the capsule radius away from the longitudinal axis of the capsule, or 33% to 80% of the capsule radius away from the longitudinal axis of the capsule, or 50% to 75 % of the capsule radius away from the longitudinal axis of the capsule.
  9. The inhaler system according to any one of claims 1 to 8 , wherein the closed end of the sleeve comprises an airflow element configured to form a swirling airflow and rotate the capsule around the longitudinal axis of the capsule during use.
  10. The inhaler system according to claim 9, wherein the capsule is contained within an inhaler article that extends along the longitudinal axis of the inhaler article from its distal end to the mouthpiece end, and the sleeve is configured to receive the distal end of the inhaler article and transmit a swirling or rotating inhalation airflow into the distal end of the inhaler article .
  11. The inhaler system according to any one of claims 1 to 10 , wherein the housing cavity includes a spring member that biases the capsule away from the perforation element.
  12. The inhaler system according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the capsule contains pharmaceutically active particles containing nicotine, and the pharmaceutically active particles have an aerodynamic mass median diameter in the range of about 5 micrometers or less, or in the range of about 0.5 micrometers to about 4 micrometers, or in the range of about 1 micrometer to about 3 micrometers.
  13. The inhaler system according to claim 12, wherein the capsule further contains flavor particles having an aerodynamic median mass diameter of about 20 micrometers or more, or about 50 micrometers or more, or in the range of about 50 to about 200 micrometers, or in the range of about 50 to about 150 micrometers.

Description

This invention relates to an inhaler system comprising a single planar perforating element. The perforating element provides comfortable capsule activation and uniform delivery of dry particles over at least five inhalations. Dry powder inhalers are not always perfectly suitable for delivering dry powder particles to the lungs at inhalation volumes or airflows within the range of conventional smoking methods. Dry powder inhalers can be complex to operate or may involve moving parts. Dry powder inhalers are often designed to deliver the entire dry powder dose or capsule load in a single breath. The inhaler article holds capsules containing dry powder. These capsules can be activated by perforating an opening in the capsule wall with a perforating element. The user then inhales (inhales or breathes) the powder from the mouthpiece side of the consumable. This action forces air through the dry powder inhaler. To activate a dry powder capsule, it is necessary to perforate the capsule to form an opening. The dry powder particles can then escape the capsule through the opening during inhalation and consumption by being mixed into the inhaled airflow to the consumer. However, reliably forming an opening on the hemispherical end of the capsule has proven difficult. Perforating elements are known to provide uneven openings. The opening also tends to close again when the perforating element is withdrawn from the capsule, resulting in even more uneven openings. Such uneven openings lead to uneven or even obstructed particle release from the capsule. Therefore, the dry powder delivered to the consumer becomes unpredictable and variable. It is desirable to provide an inhaler system that reliably punctures capsules to form a uniform, single, stable opening. It is also desirable to provide an inhaler system with a simple design that reliably punctures capsules. Furthermore, it is desirable to provide an inhaler system that reliably punctures capsules and provides the user with predictable and uniform dry powder over multiple inhalations. Finally, it is desirable to provide an inhaler system that comfortably punctures or activates capsules containing dry powder particles. According to one aspect of the present invention, an inhaler system is provided comprising a housing defining a housing cavity, a sleeve extending along the longitudinal axis of the sleeve and positioned within the housing cavity, a capsule contained within the sleeve having a longitudinal axis of the capsule, and a perforating element having only a single shaft extending from a fixed end to a tip along the longitudinal axis of the perforating element. The longitudinal axis of the perforating element is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the sleeve. The perforating element has a perforating element diameter in the range of 0.5 to 0.9 mm. The tip of the single perforating element has only a single cross-section, defining a cross-sectional angle between the longitudinal axis of the perforating element and the single cross-section. The cross-sectional angle is in the range of about 25 degrees to about 35 degrees. The sleeve is movable between a first position and a second position within the housing cavity. When the sleeve moves from the first position to the second position, only a single opening is formed in the capsule. The applicant has discovered that by using a perforating element having a single cross-section with a cutting angle in the range of approximately 25 to 35 degrees in combination with a perforating element having a diameter in the range of 0.5 to 0.9 mm, it is advantageous to obtain reliable and repeatable activation of the capsule, resulting in the release of a uniform or constant dose or particles over at least five inhalations of the inhaler system. Furthermore, this combination of perforating elements advantageously provides a comfortable perforation or activation force experienced by the user. This combination of perforating element features also advantageously provides a robust and simple mechanical design that is easy to assemble. According to one aspect of the present invention, an inhaler system is provided comprising a housing defining a housing cavity, a sleeve extending along the longitudinal axis of the sleeve and positioned within the housing cavity, a capsule contained within the sleeve having a longitudinal axis of the capsule, and a perforating element having only a single shaft extending from a fixed end to a tip along the longitudinal axis of the perforating element. The perforating element may be solid . The perforating element may be hollow. The longitudinal axis of the perforating element is parallel to and offset from the longitudinal axis of the sleeve. The perforating element has a perforating element diameter in the range of 0.5 to 0.9 mm. The tip of the single perforating element has only a single cross-section, defining a cross-sectional angle between the longitudinal axis of the perforating element and the sing