Claims for Patent: RE47526

Summary for Patent: RE47526

Title:	Aerosolization apparatus with air inlet shield
Abstract:	An aerosolization apparatus comprises a housing defining a chamber having a plurality of air inlets. The chamber contains an aerosolizable pharmaceutical formulation or is sized to receive a receptacle which contains an aerosolizable pharmaceutical formulation. A shield covers at least one of the air inlets or a portion of at least one of the air inlets. The shield prevents blockage of the air inlet by a user grasping the apparatus and inadvertently covering the air inlet. An end section is associated with the housing. The end section is sized and shaped to be received in a user's mouth or nose so that the user may inhale through the end section to inhale aerosolized pharmaceutical formulation that has exited the receptacle.
Inventor(s):	Dunkley; Michael John (Nottingham, GB), Tuckwell; Jon David (Cambridgeshire, GB), Vernon-Harcourt; Edward William (Cambridge, GB), Shirgaonkar; Sameer (London, GB)
Assignee:	BGP Products (Allschwil, CH)
Application Number:	14/098,403
Patent Claims:	1. .[.A handheld .]. .Iadd.An .Iaddend.aerosolization apparatus comprising: a housing having .[.at least two .]. air inlets, the inlets configured .[.and dimensioned .]. to produce a swirling airflow; an endpiece comprising a .[.perforated member and an aerosolized pharmaceutical formulation outlet.]. .Iadd.partition having one or more outlets.Iaddend., the endpiece being connectable to the housing to define a chamber, the chamber being sized to receive a capsule which contains an aerosolizable pharmaceutical formulation, the endpiece further comprising a shield which covers at least .[.one air inlet.]. .Iadd.two but not all of the air inlets.Iaddend., wherein the shield comprises at least one covering portion, whereby the covering portion prevents blockage of at least one air inlet by a user grasping the apparatus; and a puncturing mechanism disposed within the housing for creating one or more openings in .Iadd.only one end of .Iaddend.the capsule, the puncturing mechanism comprising .[.an alignment guide .]. .Iadd.a seating member .Iaddend.and a puncture member, wherein the .[.alignment guide.]. .Iadd.seating member .Iaddend.comprises a surface which advances to contact and .[.align .]. .Iadd.secure .Iaddend.the capsule .Iadd.between the seating member and the partition .Iaddend.while the .[.alignment guide and .]. puncture member .[.are .]. .Iadd.is .Iaddend.advanced into the capsule to create an opening in the capsule.[., and wherein the surface comprises one or more protrusions for contacting the capsule.].. 2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the shield comprises at least two covering portions intermediate to two open portions. 3. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the shield comprises at least four covering portions intermediate to at least four open portions. 4. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the shield covering portions .[.and open portions .]. are displaced from said air inlets. 5. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the endpiece is removably connected to the housing and wherein the endpiece may be removed from the housing to provide access to the chamber. 6. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the shield extends longitudinally along the apparatus. 7. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the shield extends transversely along the apparatus. 8. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the chamber is elongated and wherein the capsule .[.is .]. .Iadd.may be .Iaddend.received lengthwise within the elongated chamber. .Iadd.9. An apparatus according to claim 1 in combination with the capsule wherein the capsule contains an aerosolizable pharmaceutical formulation comprising an active agent. .Iaddend. .Iadd.10. An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the active agent comprises tobramycin. .Iaddend. .Iadd.11. An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the active agent comprises ciprofloxacin. .Iaddend. .Iadd.12. An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the active agent comprises amphotericin B. .Iaddend. .Iadd.13. An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the active agent comprises an anti-infective. .Iaddend. .Iadd.14. An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the active agent comprises an anti-asthma agent. .Iaddend. .Iadd.15. An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the active agent comprises a bronchodilator. .Iaddend. .Iadd.16. An aerosolization apparatus comprising: a housing having air inlets; an endpiece comprising a partition having one or more outlets, the endpiece being connectable to the housing to define a chamber, the chamber being sized to receive a capsule which contains an aerosolizable pharmaceutical formulation, the endpiece further comprising a shield which covers at least two but not all of the air inlets, wherein the shield prevents blockage of at least one air inlet by a user grasping the apparatus; and a puncturing mechanism disposed within the housing for creating one or more openings in only one end of the capsule, wherein the endpiece is sized and shaped to be received in a user's mouth or nose so that the user may inhale through the end section to aerosolize the pharmaceutical formulation. .Iaddend. .Iadd.17. An apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the shield comprises at least two covering portions intermediate to two open portions. .Iaddend. .Iadd.18. An apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the shield comprises at least four covering portions intermediate to four open portions. .Iaddend. .Iadd.19. An apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the inlets are configured to produce a swirling airflow. .Iaddend. .Iadd.20. An apparatus according to claim 16 in combination with the capsule wherein the capsule contains an aerosolizable pharmaceutical formulation comprising tobramycin. .Iaddend. .Iadd.21. An apparatus according to claim 16 in combination with the capsule wherein the capsule contains an aerosolizable pharmaceutical formulation comprising ciprofloxacin. .Iaddend.