Claims for Patent: 6,142,145

Summary for Patent: 6,142,145

Title:	Inhalation device
Abstract:	An inhaler for administering powder by inhalation, including an inhaler body having two ends and a peripheral wall therebetween; an inhalation unit disposed in the inhaler body, the inhalation unit comprising an inhalation channel, the inhalation channel having an air inlet and an outlet; a dosing unit disposed in the inhaler body for providing a dose of powder to the inhalation channel such that a stream of air containing powder may be drawn from the outlet of the inhalation channel on inhalation by a user; a divider having a first surface bounded by a periphery and which substantially closes one end of the inhaler body; a mouthpiece attached to the periphery of the divider, the mouthpiece having a substantially radially directed flange which provides a second surface and which, together with the first surface, defines an air chamber; a first inlet for the air chamber provided in the first surface within the periphery of the divider and in fluid communication with the outlet of the inhalation channel; a second inlet for the air chamber disposed in the first surface within the periphery of the divider and adjacent the first inlet, a stream of supplementary air in use being drawn through the second inlet on inhalation by the user; and a discrete opening in peripheral wall of the inhaler body which is in fluid communication with the second inlet of the air chamber.
Inventor(s):	Dagsland; Allan (Karlshamn, SE), Malmqvist-Granlund; Karin (Kavlinge, SE), Virtanen; Risto (Nurmijarvi, FI)
Assignee:	Astra Aktiebolag (Sodertalje, SE)
Application Number:	09/068,379
Patent Claims:	1. An inhaler for administering powder by inhalation, comprising: an inhaler body having two ends and a peripheral wall therebetween; an inhalation unit disposed in the inhaler body, the inhalation unit comprising an inhalation channel, the inhalation channel having an air inlet and an outlet; a dosing unit disposed in the inhaler body for providing a dose of powder to the inhalation channel such that a stream of air containing powder may be drawn from the outlet of the inhalation channel on inhalation by a user; a divider having a first surface bounded by a periphery and which substantially closes one end of the inhaler body; a mouthpiece attached to the periphery of the divider, the mouthpiece having a substantially radially directed flange which provides a second surface and which, together with the first surface, defines an air chamber; a first inlet for the air chamber provided in the first surface within the periphery of the divider and in fluid communication with the outlet of the inhalation channel; a second inlet for the air chamber disposed in the first surface within the periphery of the divider and adjacent the first inlet, a stream of supplementary air in use being drawn through the second inlet on inhalation by the user; and a discrete opening in peripheral wall of the inhaler body which is in fluid communication with the second inlet of the air chamber. 2. The inhaler according to claim 1, wherein the first and second inlets of the air chamber are disposed in substantially the same plane. 3. The inhaler according to claim 2, wherein the first and second inlets of the air chamber are provided in first and second separate openings in the first surface of the divider. 4. The inhaler according to claim 3, wherein the first and second openings inlets are spaced by a distance equivalent to the internal diameter of the outlet of the inhalation channel. 5. The inhaler according to claim 3, wherein the first and second openings inlets are spaced by a distance equivalent to half of the internal diameter of the outlet of the inhalation channel. 6. The inhaler according to claim 3, wherein the first and second inlets are spaced by a distance equivalent to one-quarter of the internal diameter of the outlet of the inhalation channel. 7. The inhaler according to claim 1, wherein the first and second inlets of the air chamber are provided in a single opening in the divider. 8. The inhaler according to claim 7, wherein the outlet of the inhalation channel extends to the single opening, with the outlet of the inhalation channel defining the first inlet of the air chamber and a space between the outer surface of the inhalation channel and the periphery of the single opening defining the second inlet of the air chamber. 9. The inhaler according to claim 8, wherein the inhalation channel and the single opening are configured such that the space surrounds the outer surface of the inhalation channel. 10. The inhaler according to any of claim 1, wherein the air chamber includes only one inlet through which supplementary air can be drawn. 11. The inhaler according to claim 1, wherein the inhaler body and the divider are formed as a single integral unit. 12. The inhaler according to any of claim 1, further comprising an indicating wheel disposed in the inhaler body for providing an indicating as to the usage of the inhaler, the inhaler body having a central axis substantially parallel to the inhalation channel, the indicator wheel being rotatable within a diametrical plane containing the central axis thereof and the inhaler body including an opening through which at least a part of the indicating wheel is visible. 13. The inhaler according to claim 12, wherein the inhaler body includes a recess, one of the surfaces of which includes the discrete opening which is in fluid communication with the second inlet of the air chamber and wherein one of the surfaces of the recess includes the opening through which at least a part of the indicating wheel is visible. 14. The inhaler according to claim 12, wherein the inhaler body includes a recess comprising first and second opposing surfaces which are substantially parallel to the major surface of the divider and at least first and second side surfaces joining the first and second opposing surfaces, the opposing surface proximate the divider including an opening in fluid communication with the second inlet of the air chamber, the other opposing surface including an opening in fluid communication with the inlet of the inhalation channel and one of the side surfaces including the opening through which at least a part of the indicating wheel is visible. 15. The inhaler according to claim 12, further comprising a storage unit disposed in the inhaler body, the storage unit comprising a storage chamber for storing powder. 16. The inhaler according to claim 15, wherein the inhalation unit and the storage unit are formed as a single integral unit. 17. The inhaler according to claim 15, wherein the storage unit is formed of a transparent material and further comprises a portion which substantially fills the opening through which at least a part of the indicating wheel is visible. 18. The inhaler according to claim 15, wherein the storage unit comprises a supporting member for rotatably supporting the indicating wheel. 19. The inhaler according to claim 15, wherein the divider comprises a supporting member for rotatably supporting the indicating wheel. 20. The inhaler according to claim 1, wherein the inhaler body includes an opening which is in fluid communication with the inlet of the inhalation channel. 21. The inhaler according to claim 1, wherein the inhaler body includes a recess, one of the surfaces of which includes the discrete opening which is in fluid communication with the second inlet of the air chamber. 22. The inhaler according to claim 1, wherein one of the surfaces of the recess includes an opening which is in fluid communication with the inlet of the inhalation channel. 23. The inhaler according to claim 1 further comprising a storage unit disposed in the inhaler body, the storage unit comprising a storage chamber for storing powder. 24. The inhaler according to claim 1 wherein the inhaler body includes a recess in the peripheral wall formed by a plurality of adjoining surfaces, one of the adjoining surfaces of which includes an opening which is in fluid communication with the inlet of the inhalation channel. 25. The inhaler according to any of claims 1 to 19, wherein the inhaler body includes a recess in the peripheral wall formed by a plurality of adjoining surfaces, one of the adjoining surfaces of which includes an opening which is in fluid communication with the inlet of the inhalation channel. 26. The inhaler according to claim 25, wherein one of the adjoining surfaces of the recess includes the opening through which at least a part of the indicating wheel is visible. 27. The inhaler according to any of claims 1 to 14, wherein the inhaler body is substantially cylindrical.