Claims for Patent: 11,000,653

Summary for Patent: 11,000,653

Title:	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.
Inventor(s):	Calderon Oliveras; Enrique (Waterford, IE), Buck; Daniel (Waterford, IE), Kantor; Erica Jamie (Cambridge, GB), Weir; Ross William (Cambridge, GB), Roche; James (Enniscorthy, IE), Gardner; Steven David (Peterborough, GB), Kivlin; Robert Owen (Cambridge, GB)
Assignee:	Norton (Waterford) Limited (Waterford, IE)
Application Number:	15/704,444
Patent Claims:	1. An electronic module for an inhaler, the electronic module comprising: an electronic module cap comprising a slider guide that protrudes from a top inner surface of the electronic module cap; a printed circuit board having a plurality of openings and a switch mounted thereto; a slider configured to engage the slider guide, wherein a distal end of the slider engages a yoke of the inhaler such that vertical movement of the yoke is transferred to the slider; and a slider spring that is received by the slider guide and engages an upper portion of the slider, the slider spring being configured such that the distal end of the slider is in contact with the yoke, wherein the slider is configured to operate the switch when the yoke operates vertically. 2. The electronic module of claim 1, wherein the slider guide comprises: a bore that extends from a distal end of the slider guide to the top inner surface of the electronic module cap, and wherein the bore is configured to accept the slider; and a channel that extends along a side of the slider guide, wherein the channel is configured to accept an arm of the slider, and wherein the channel comprises a clip that is configured to retain the slider in the slider guide. 3. The electronic module of claim 1, wherein the switch is configured to activate and deactivate the electronic module when operated by the slider. 4. The electronic module of claim 3, wherein the switch provides a wake signal to the electronic module when activated, the wake signal changing the electronics module from a first power state to a second power state. 5. The electronic module of claim 1, wherein the slider comprises a spring seat configured to engage the slider spring, the slider comprising a spring cruciform that extends from the spring seat, and wherein the spring cruciform is configured to extend within and captively engage the slider spring. 6. The electronic module of claim 1, wherein the slider guide comprises a stopper configured to engage a clip of the slider, wherein the stopper limits a vertical travel of the slider when the yoke operates vertically. 7. The electronic module of claim 6, wherein the stopper is configured to limit the vertical travel of the slider after the slider activates the switch. 8. The electronic module of claim 1, 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 a mouthpiece of the inhaler. 9. An inhaler comprising: a mouthpiece; a mouthpiece cover; an outer housing; a yoke; a dry powder medicament; and an electronic module comprising: a slider guide that protrudes from a top inner surface of the inhaler; a printed circuit board having a plurality of openings and a switch mounted thereto; a slider configured to engage the slider guide, wherein a distal end of the slider engages the yoke such that vertical movement of the yoke is transferred to the slider; and a slider spring that is received by the slider guide and engages an upper portion of the slider, the slider spring being configured such that the distal end of the slider is in contact with the yoke, wherein the slider is configured to operate the switch when the yoke operates vertically. 10. The inhaler of claim 9, wherein the slider guide comprises a bore that extends from a distal end of the slider guide to the top inner surface inhaler, and wherein the bore is configured to accept the slider. 11. The inhaler of claim 10, wherein the slider guide comprises a channel that extends along a side of the slider guide, and wherein the channel is configured to accept an arm of the slider. 12. The inhaler of claim 11, wherein the channel comprises a clip that is configured to retain the slider in the slider guide. 13. The inhaler of claim 9, wherein the switch is configured to activate and deactivate the electronic module when operated by the slider. 14. The inhaler of claim 13, wherein the switch provides a wake signal to the electronic module when activated, the wake signal changing the electronics module from a first power state to a second power state. 15. The inhaler of claim 9, further comprising a stopper configured to engage a clip of the slider, wherein the stopper is configured to limit the vertical travel of the slider after the slider activates the switch. 16. The inhaler of claim 9, wherein the slider comprises a spring seat configured to engage the slider spring, the slider comprising a spring cruciform that extends from the spring seat, and wherein the spring cruciform is configured to extend within and captively engage the slider spring. 17. The inhaler of claim 9, wherein the electronic module comprises an electronic module cap that is configured to be removably attached to the outer housing of the inhaler; and wherein the outer housing comprises an upper housing and a lower housing, the upper housing being configured to engage the electronic module cap, and the lower housing being configured to engage the mouthpiece and the mouthpiece cover. 18. The inhaler of claim 17, wherein the electronic module cap comprises the top inner surface, and wherein the electronic module cap is configured to be removably attached to the outer housing of the inhaler; and wherein a top surface of the outer housing comprises an orifice configured to allow the slider to protrude into the outer housing. 19. The inhaler of claim 17, 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 opened to an open position such that the mouthpiece is exposed. 20. The electronic module of claim 8, wherein a bellows and a spring are coupled to the mouthpiece cover such that when the mouthpiece cover is moved to expose the mouthpiece the bellows and the spring move in a direction away from the switch. 21. The electronic module of claim 8, 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. 22. The inhaler of claim 20, wherein the slider is configured to contact the switch when the mouthpiece cover is moved from a closed position to an open position to expose the mouthpiece. 23. A method performed by an inhaler, the method comprising: biasing a slider against a yoke using a slider spring such that a distal end of the slider is in contact with the yoke and the vertical movement of the yoke is transferred to the slider; translating the yoke vertically as a mouthpiece cover of the inhaler is opened, the slider engaging a slider guide as the yoke translates vertically, wherein the slider guide protrudes from a top inner surface of an electronic module cap of the inhaler; the slider activating a switch mounted to a printed circuit board of the inhaler in response to opening of the mouthpiece cover; generating a wake message to transition an electronics module of the inhaler to an active state in response to activation of the switch; mixing a dry powder medicament with air pulled through the inhaler as a user inhales through the inhaler; and when the electronics module is in the active state, monitoring one or more parameters associated with the user's usage and operation of the inhaler. 24. The electronic module of claim 1, wherein the electronic module cap is configured to be removably attached to an outer housing of the inhaler. 25. The electronic module of claim 1, wherein the electronic module cap is permanently attached to an outer housing of the inhaler. 26. The electronic module of claim 25, wherein the outer housing comprises an upper housing and a lower housing, the electronic module cap permanently attached to the upper housing, and the lower housing comprising a mouthpiece and a mouthpiece cover.