Patent · US Active

Dry powder inhalers with rotating piercing mechanisms and related devices and methods

US8646446B2 · kind B2 · utility

4Cited by
59References
31Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 25, 2009
Grant dateFeb 11, 2014
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 10, 2030

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61M2202/064
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Dry powder inhalers with rotatable piercing mechanisms facilitate the use of dose container assemblies having dose containers arranged in concentric rows. A piercing mechanism is operably associated with the dose container assembly and is configured to pierce sealants that seal a dose container. The piercing mechanism is rotatable such that it can serially alternate between the two rows of dose containers. The piercing mechanism includes a rotatable drum, an elongate piercing member, and a biasing member operably associated with the piercing member. The rotatable drum has an open end, an opposite closed end, and a cylindrical wall that extends from the closed end and terminates at the open end. The closed end includes an aperture formed therein in a location adjacent to the wall. The elongate piercing member is extended and retracted through the aperture to pierce the sealants of a dose container.

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