CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a National Phase Entry of PCT/EP2017/078635, filed Nov. 8, 2017, which claims the benefit of priority to TR Patent Application No. 2016/16027, filed Nov. 9, 2016, and TR Patent Application No. 2016/19235, the teachings of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties for all purposes.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a device providing the administration of dry powder inhalation medicament. The present invention particularly relates to advancements in the locking clip structure of dry powder inhaler devices.

PRIOR ART

Despite the advances in diagnosis and treatment in recent years, diseases such as asthma, bronchitis and COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) decrease the quality of life of humans. The administration of medicaments by means of inhalers is recommended for optimizing the treatment of these types of diseases. The treatment by means of inhalers is the most preferred treatment type and is expected to be the first option in the future. The most important advantage of using medicaments by means of inhalation is to provide a more efficient treatment by using less medicaments, to administer medicaments in a higher concentration the respiratory tract and in particular to decrease the systemic side effects of medicaments. Despite the presence of very efficient treatments for respiratory tract diseases, the most significant reasons of failing to properly control patients are stated as noncompliance with the treatments recommended by the physicians and incoordination due to the improper use of inhalers.

In recent years, various inhalation devices have been developed for administering inhalation medicaments. These devices are basically categorized into two types: metered-dose inhalers and dry powder inhalers. These types of devices structurally comprise basic components such as mechanism, counter, body, lid, lock, etc. In addition, powder inhalation medicaments are preserved in carriers such as blister, capsule, etc. Blisters are composed of two basic components, namely the main layer with cavities for carrying the medicament and the strippable lid layer.

The type of dry powder inhaler devices with blisters comprises a mechanism that moves the blister forward and provides the sequential use of cavities in the blister. The patient uses an arm or a trigger to move said mechanism. This type of devices has main components such as advancement mechanism, counter and lock and mechanism that form the same.

In the state of the art inhaler devices, various types of locks providing the operational safety are used. In patents no. EP2239001 B1 and EP2239002B1, locking mechanisms used in inhaler devices are disclosed.

The locking mechanism of the blister inhaler devices disclosed in the state of the art patents operates in the following manner.

Following the opening of the lid of the device, the user applies force onto the pushing member. Afterwards, the pushing member is guided by means of the rails in the body and on the pushing member itself so as to be slid into the housing section. The linear gear disposed at the upper section of the pushing member transmits this movement to other gears, thus providing the operation of the mechanism. As a result of the sliding of the pushing member into the outer body, the tab retaining housing arranged on the pushing member fixedly engages with the beak-shaped locking clip front locking tab disposed right thereabove, providing the administration of the single dose medicament by means of the mouthpiece. As the user continues to make the pushing movement until said locking position, the blister is enabled to be completely stripped and the proper administration of required dose of medicament is assured. As a result of said locking, the pushing member is fixed and is deactivated for a short period. Moreover, said pushing movement causes the helical spring to be compressed between the inner section of the outer body and the pushing member. After the user closes the lid following the use of the powder medicament, the pressing surface at the end portion of the lid applies pressure onto the rear section of the locking clip and lifts the end, thus separating the clip front tab and the tab retaining housing from each other. Consequently, the compressed spring pushes the pushing member backwards and the device becomes ready for use without the need for the user to wind up the same. When the housing of the pushing member, which moves up to the backmost position possible, is aligned with the clip rear locking tab, the housing and the tab engage with each other. Thus, the pushing member is locked at the backmost position thereof. This operation is realized by means of a single-piece clip. In light of the description given herein, it is clear that the device can be used only with a single pushing movement by the user. With the closing of the lid, the device is automatically wound up and the device becomes ready for reuse. During the rewinding operation when said device becomes ready for reuse, a problem is encountered in bringing the pushing member to the pushing position. When closed, the lid of the device applies pressure to the rear side of the beak-shaped clip, the front end is lifted up like a seesaw by means of the pin passing through the housing at the center thereof, and thus, the pushing member moves backwards with the effect of the compressed spring. However, since the single-piece rear end/section of the clip is squeezed from above by the lid of the device during this operation, said pushing member rubs against the clip and cannot be easily moved backwards/brought to the wind-up position, and is jammed. This jamming causes the breaking and wearing of the pushing member and of the clip. Moreover, if the pressure is higher, the locking in the reuse position cannot be properly realized.

Consequently, in the relevant technical field, an efficient, low-cost and practical novelty providing operation with the desired precision and usage advantages is required in order to eliminate said problems in the inhaler devices.

AIMS AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an improved inhaler device and lock used in dry powder inhalation operation, that eliminate all the above-mentioned problems and that provide advantages to the relevant technical field.

With respect to the state of the art, the principal aim of the present invention is to provide a dry powder inhaler device that operates with the desired precision, that enables the blisters to be stripped and used and that realizes this operation in an error-free manner with respect to the precedent devices.

Another aim of the present invention is to provide an inhaler device assembly providing that each medicament-carrying blister cavity about to be used can be properly stripped by means of a locking mechanism having a pushing member that can move in a predetermined movement distance.

Yet another aim of the present invention is to prevent the inhaler device from being used involuntarily by means a clip that is disposed in the device and that enables the same to be locked in the positions where the device is ready for use and the lid thereof is closed.

Yet another aim of the present invention is to reduce the pressing force required to be applied onto the trigger of the device and the spring force required for automatic rewinding in order to provide the operation of said device.

Yet another embodiment of the present invention is to prevent breaking and wearing by reducing the contact force between the trigger/pushing member and the locking clip.

In order to attain all the aims that are described above and that may arise from the below detailed description, a novelty is developed at the clip that is disposed in the lock section of the dry powder inhaler devices and that has a beak-shaped first end with a retaining tab at the end thereof, a housing through which a pin connected to the device body at the center section thereof passes, and a second tab at the second end thereof.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, said novelty is realized by providing the second end of said clip as a two-piece component, namely an upper piece and a lower piece and by joining said pieces at the beak-shaped first end.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, said upper and lower pieces move independently of each other.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, said upper and lower pieces are angularly positioned with respect to each other.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, said upper and lower pieces are positioned parallel to each other.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, said upper and lower pieces are flexible.

