Claims for Patent: 6,792,945

Summary for Patent: 6,792,945

Title:	Inhalation device
Abstract:	An inhalation device is described for use with a medicament pack in which at least one container for medicament in powder form is defined between two sheets peelably secured to one another. The device comprises means for peeling the sheets apart at an opening station to open the container; and an outlet, communicating with the opened container, through which a user can inhale medicament in powder form from the opened container.
Inventor(s):	Davies; Michael Birsha (Ware, GB), Hearne; David John (Luton, GB), Rand; Paul Kenneth (Letchworth, GB), Walker; Richard Ian (Ware, GB)
Assignee:	Glaxo Group Limited (Greenford, GB)
Application Number:	10/022,072
Patent Claims:	1. An inhalation device for use with a medicament pack to be received in the device, in which pack a plurality of containers for medicament in powder form are defined, wherein the containers are spaced along the length of and defined between two peelable sheets secured to each other, the device comprising a body which is generally circular in plan view and has a circular rim and an axis of general rotation symmetry, and a cover mounted on said body for pivotal movement between a first position and a second position; an indexer for indexing each of the containers successively to an opening station when a medicament pack is received in said device; an opener for opening each of the containers at the opening station, said opener comprising a peeler positioned to engage peelable sheets of a container so as to peel apart the peelable sheets, opening the container; and a mouthpiece formed in said body and located substantially within the generally circular plan view, the mouthpiece communicating with the opened container when an medicament pack is received in said device, through which outlet a user can inhale medicament in powder form from the opened container, the outlet being exposed for use by movement of said cover from said first position to said second position; wherein the cover is mounted on said body for pivotal movement about said axis and comprises a side wall portion lying generally perpendicular to said axis and over an adjacent portion of said body, and an arcuate edge portion which extends from said side wall portion and partially around said rim. 2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the lid is pivotally mounted on the body by means of lugs. 3. A device according to claim 1, further comprising a dose monitor having indicia indicating use of the plurality of medicament containers. 4. A device according to claim 3, wherein the dose monitor is arranged to indicate at least approximately the number of unused medicament containers. 5. A device according to claim 3, wherein the dose monitor is arranged to indicate at least approximately the number of used medicament containers. 6. A device according to claim 3, wherein a window is provided in the body, the said indicia being visible through the window. 7. A device according to claim 6, wherein the window is visible to a user both when the cover is in its first position and when the cover is in its second position. 8. A device according to claim 1, adapted for operation where the medicament containers are disposed in an annular array. 9. A device according to claim 1, in which the said opener is provided with means for puncturing the containers when a medicament pack is received in said device. 10. A combination of an inhalation device and a medicament pack in which a plurality of containers for medicament in powder form reside, wherein the containers are spaced along the length of and defined between two peelable sheets secured to each other, the device comprising a body which is generally circular in plan view and has a circular rim and an axis of general rotation symmetry, and a cover mounted on said body for pivotal movement between a first position and a second position; an indexer for indexing each of the containers successively to an opening station; an opener for opening each of the containers at the opening station, said opener comprising a peeler positioned to engage peelable sheets of a container so as to peel apart the peelable sheets, opening the container; and a mouthpiece formed in said body and located substantially within the generally circular plan view, the mouthpiece communicating with the opened container, through which outlet a user can inhale medicament in powder form from the opened container, the outlet being exposed for use by movement of said cover from said first position to said second position; wherein the cover is mounted on said body for pivotal movement about said axis and comprises a side wall portion lying generally perpendicular to said axis and over an adjacent portion of said body, and an arcuate edge portion which extends from said side wall portion and partially around said rim. 11. A combination according to claim 10, wherein the lid is pivotally mounted on the body by means of lugs. 12. A combination according to claim 10, further comprising a dose monitor having indicia indicating use of the plurality of medica-ment containers. 13. A combination according to claim 12, wherein the dose monitor is arranged to indicate at least approximately the number of unused medicament containers. 14. A combination according to claim 12, wherein the dose monitor is arranged to indicate at least approximately the number of used medicament containers. 15. A combination according to claim 12, wherein a window is provided in the body, the said indicia being visible through the window. 16. A combination according to claim 15, wherein the window is visible to a user both when the cover is in its first position and when the cover is in its second position. 17. A combination according to claim 10, wherein the medicament containers are disposed in an annular array. 18. A combination according to claim 10, in which the said opener is provided with means for puncturing the containers.