Patent · US Expired

Dry powder inhaler

US6273085A · kind A · utility

84Cited by
22References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 5, 1999
Grant dateAug 14, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 5, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61M2016/0024
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A dry powder inhaler has a lid pivotally attached to an inhaler housing. A medicine containing cartridge is attached to the top of the housing and includes a cartridge ring with apertures for holding dry powdered medicine. A slide-groove assembly located on the underside of the lid advances the cartridge ring to a next aperture when a user first opens, then closes the lid. A venturi air passageway assembly is contained within the housing of the dry powdered inhaler. The venturi air passageway assembly includes a tapered inlet section, a throat section, and a tapered outlet section. A pressure switch is advantageously located within the housing for actuating the mixing process within the mixing chamber. During inhalation, the pressure switch contained within the housing actuates the motor driven impeller within the mixing chamber of the inhaler when the pressure within the venturi air passageway reaches a predetermined level. The pressure at which the pressure switch closes corresponds to a specifically calibrated inhalation flow rate.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.