Title:  Inhaler

United States Patent:  6,234,169

Assignee:  Slutsky; Arthur (Toronto, CA); Zamel; Noe (Willowdale, CA)

Filed:  August 14, 1998

An inhaler for use by an individual to inhale a particulate medicament from a reservoir comprises a chamber having a first end connectable to the reservoir to be in air flow communication therewith, a second end for delivering the medicament to the individual upon inhalation and a conduit defining an air flow path extending between the first end and the second end; and, an orifice in the chamber between the first end and the second end, the orifice utilizing the Coanda Effect when the reservoir is in air flow communication with the chamber and upon inhalation by the individual to draw medicament from the reservoir into the air flow path.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

In accordance with one embodiment of this invention, there is provided an inhaler for use by an individual to inhale a medicament from a reservoir comprising:

(a) a chamber having a first end connectable to the reservoir to be in air flow communication therewith, a second end for delivering the medicament to the individual upon inhalation and a conduit defining an air flow path extending between the first end and the second end; and,

(b) an orifice in the chamber between the first end and the second end, the orifice utilizing the Coanda Effect when the reservoir is in air flow communication with the chamber and upon inhalation by the individual to draw medicament from the reservoir into the air flow path.

In accordance with another embodiment of this invention there is provided an inhaler for use by an individual to inhale a medicament from a reservoir comprising:

(a) a chamber having a first end connectable to the reservoir to be in air flow communication therewith, a second end for delivering the medicament to the individual upon inhalation and a conduit defining an air flow path extending between the first end and the second end;

(b) the conduit including a first portion adjacent the first end, the first portion having an upstream end adjacent the first end and an opposed downstream end, the cross sectional surface area of the first portion decreasing from the downstream end of the first portion to the upstream end of the first portion; and,

(c) an orifice positioned between the first end and the second end for introducing undirected air into the chamber upon inhalation by the individual.

The orifice may be positioned in the chamber adjacent the first portion. Alternately, the orifice may be positioned in the first portion. The cross sectional area preferably decreases continuously from the downstream end of the first portion to the upstream end of the first portion. More preferably, the first portion is frusto-conical in shape.

The inhaler may include a seal between the first end and the reservoir when the reservoir is connected to the inhaler, and rupturable by relative movement between the reservoir and the first end.

The inhaler may include a connector which connects the reservoir and the first end of the chamber together when the inhaler is used such that the interior of the reservoir is open to the first end of the chamber but otherwise the reservoir substantially seals the first end of the chamber. The connector may comprise a second portion of the inhaler slidably engaged in relation to the chamber between a first position and a second position, the interior of the reservoir being open to the first end of the chamber in the second position. Alternately, the reservoir may be releasably sealed in the first position and openable by the first end of the reservoir as the second portion is moved from the first position to the second position. In a more preferred embodiment, the reservoir is formed of a folded strip of material sealed at its edges between a closed end and an openable end, the openable end being releasably sealed.

In one embodiment the inhaler resembles a cigarette, the reservoir contains a nicotine formulation and the orifice is located so that the nicotine formulation is withdrawn over a number of inhalations to approximate the nicotine delivery of smoking a cigarette.

In another embodiment, the inhaler further comprises at least one by pass air passage so that the orifice supplies the primary air of inhalation and the by pass passage supplies supplemental air to the reservoir. Preferably, the by pass air passage directs air at the medicament in the reservoir to assist the primary air to remove the medicament from the reservoir.

One advantage of the instant invention is that it provides an inhaler suitable for delivering a dosage of a medicament, preferably a particulate or a powdered medicament, over several inhalations and therefore better simulates the action of smoking. A further advantage is that the inhaler is uncomplicated and simple to use.

One aspect of the present invention involves a device comprising a chamber of increasing cross sectional area. The larger end is connected to a mouthpiece and, in use, the smaller end is open to a reservoir of a medicament to be inhaled. An orifice is preferably provided in the wall of the chamber near but preferably not at the reservoir. It has been found that on inhalation through such a device, air enters the orifice in the chamber and flows to the mouthpiece. There is no primary airflow through or across the medicament (i.e. as the air does passes through the inhaler from the air entry port to the air exit port, it does not travel in a continuous route so as to entrain the medicament). Instead, a portion of the air that enters through the orifice (eg. about half) moves in a direction opposed to the air exit port of the inhaler as it travels towards the reservoir where it entrains a portion of the medicament. The air with the entrained medicament then doubles back to travel to the air exit port of the inhaler. Over several inhalations, all of the medicament may be inhaled.

Another aspect of the present invention involves the manner in which the reservoir of medicament is attached to the device, including the chamber. In one embodiment, the reservoir is formed of a strip of material, folded over and sealed partway along the edges to create a reservoir. The open end of the reservoir may be temporarily sealed to create a cone that fits over the smaller end of the chamber. The loose ends of the strip of material are attached to a second portion of the device that slides relative to the chamber and mouthpiece. The reservoir may be opened simply by sliding the second portion towards the chamber causing the chamber to open the temporary seal and be inserted into the reservoir. It has been found that such a device is easy to use and may be economically produced.

When smokers attempt to stop smoking the recidivism rate is high due to the negative symptoms of withdrawal from nicotine addiction. Replacement therapy with cigarette substitutes is designed to lessen the impact of nicotine withdrawal and to assist a person in withdrawing from cigarette induced nicotine dependency. Cigarette substitutes are suggested as a replacement for cigarettes during the withdrawal period.

Another aspect of the invention is that it can be used to inhale nicotine medicament and preferably a particulate or a powdered nicotine formulation, in a manner similar to smoking a cigarette, cigar or the like. For example, the device may be made of a similar size and appearance as a cigarette. Further, it may be constructed to feel like a cigarette (i.e. it may have a soft feel).

An advantage of the instant invention is that the inhaler may be constructed so as to it may be handled like a cigarette. For example, the inhaler may be constructed so that the nicotine may be delivered over about the same number of inhalations as are required to smoke a cigarette. Thus, the reservoir may contain a single dose of medicament which is equal to the nicotine present in a single cigarette. Further, tapping the device between inhalations may be used to disturb the nicotine powder in the reservoir and enhance the feel of smoking. In particular, multiple inhalations may be required to inhale all of the medicament in the reservoir and it may be tapped between inhalations, as a smoker would tap a cigarette to get rid of ash from the burning end of a cigarette, to loosen some of the medicament in the reservoir so that it will be entrained in the subsequent inhalation.

Such a device may be used as part or all of a smoking cessation or smoking replacement therapy to reduce or eliminate the use of cigarettes, cigars, pipes and the like by an individual. Successful withdrawal from smoking may require the use of the inhaler of the instant invention over a period of time during which inhalers are used to deliver successively smaller nicotine doses until complete withdrawal may be effected. In some cases, such as when a person is unable or unwilling to stop smoking, an inhaler of the instant invention may be used as a permanent tobacco replacement.

In one embodiment a series of inhalers, each having a predetermined dose of a nicotine formulation, are used. Each inhaler is used at time intervals sufficient to reduce the negative effects of nicotine withdrawal.

Claim 1 of 29 Claims

We claim:

1. An inhaler for use by an individual to inhale a medicament from a reservoir comprising:

(a) a chamber having a conduit having a first end connectable to the reservoir to be in air flow communication therewith and a second end for delivering the medicament to the individual upon inhalation, the conduit defining an air flow path extending between the first end and the second end; and,

(b) an orifice in the chamber for entry of air into the conduit between the first end and the second end, the orifice and the conduit configured to produce in air entering the conduit through the orifice a Coanda Effect whereby air entering the conduit via the orifice travels to the reservoir to draw medicament from the reservoir into the air flow path when the reservoir is in air flow communication with the chamber and upon inhalation by the individual.

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