MXPA98000024A - Inhaler to administer medicines contained in type ampo packaging - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an inhaler for administering powdered medicaments from strip-shaped blister packs, the ampoule packs each comprising a container film defining a plurality of ampoule cavities, one side of each of the cavities of blister has a generally convex outer surface, the cavities filled with the powdered medicament, and a cover film for enclosing and sealing the plurality of cavities, the inhaler comprises: an elongated housing, the housing having a first and second limb housing: a hinge interconnecting the first and second housing members: the first housing member has a support means for supporting the blister packs, the support means includes a recess, the covering film directly covers the recess when the container of blister is supported in the support means, a nozzle connected to the elongated housing, and an air inlet opening in the elongated housing, a duct that interconnects the nozzle to the air inlet opening, the recess that directly opens in the duct to directly transport the medication from one of the blister cavities inside the duct when the cover film is broken; operably associated with the housing for pressing into one of the blister cavities and for breaking the covering film for transporting the medicament from one of the cavities inside the recess, the plunger includes a concave plunger surface which generally corresponds in shape to the Generally convex outer surface of the blister cavities, the surface of the concave plunger has an edge to contact the convex outer surface generally asymmetrically transverse to the longitudinal axis of the elongate housing by means of which, upon rupture of the cover film, a marking It is formed in the break in the cover film which does not impede the flow of the re in the conduit of ai

Description

INHALER TO ADMINISTER MEDICATIONS CONTAINED IN TYPE AMPOLLA CONTAINERS The invention relates to an inhaler for administering drugs contained in blister packs, in which inhaler the blister cavities are emptied by means of a device for expressing. At present, inhalers for administering drugs to patients in solid form, finely distributed in an air flow, so-called "powder inhalers", are widely used, and there are many embodiments of them in inhalation therapy. They partially replace previously used suspension inhalers, in which the aerosol is produced by a halogenated hydrocarbon as a propellant or propellant gas, and whose use is no longer desirable for reasons of environmental protection. In most known powder inhalers, a device with a relatively complex design is used, whereby the patient self-administers portions (dose) of inhalable powder, by inhalation. One of the possibilities of pre-dosing the medicines is the packaging of suitable portions in the so-called "blister packs" (blister packs), which are also used for example to pack tablets that allow their individual extraction in a hygienic manner. In EP-A-0,469,814 an inhaler is disclosed for administering drugs in the form of powder contained in ampule-shaped containers in the form of strips, in which inhaler a plunger having a flat surface is forcibly carried against the ampoule, whereby the powder is compressed, or, alternatively, a plunger with a flat or curved surface is used to force open the vial at one of its edges; however, in the latter case no provision is made to ensure that the ampoule is really empty, without dust. In EP-B-211,595, GB-A-2,129,691 and GB-A-2,142,246, powder inhalers are disclosed which release the medicament from blister-type containers in which it is confined in a solid form, finely distributed. In the powder inhalers described in EP-B-211,595 and GB-A-2.129.691, a disc-shaped blister-type container is inserted; When the inhaler is used, the powder portion is released by a plunger, and the ampoule disc is replaced by a new one when it has been completely emptied. GB-A-2,142,246 relates to an inhaler for administering drugs in the form of powder contained in strip-shaped blister-type containers, comprising a container film with a row of convex cavities of individual ampoules whose curvature has the configuration of a spherical cap containing the medicament in powder form and a coating foil that seals the cavities, which inhaler has an elongated shaped housing with at least housing portions that are pivotally connected to each other by a joint or hinges, and one of the housing parts has a recess that functions as a support for receiving a strip of ampoules, and the housing has a nozzle on one of its narrow sides, an opening for air intake on the side narrow opposite, and between them, a duct for air that is adapted to directly receive the drug contained in the blister cavities of a strip of am dies inserted in the support, in such a way that the cover foil of the blister strip, inserted, is attached to the air duct and the casing has a tine or spike to expel the powder from the blister and that it is forced to pass to the through the center of the blister cavity, thereby compressing the powder. In document DE-A-44.00.084, published subsequently, an inhaler of easy handling and economic manufacture is described. The inhaler comprises a housing having an elongated interior, it is sealed with respect to the outside, and has a nozzle on a narrow side and an opening for the entrance of air on the opposite side, having regions with blister cavities disposed on at least one main surface of the housing. In one embodiment, the housing comprises an open structure into which one or more strips can be inserted, for example by pushing them or inserting them into a structure that can be brought to an open position by pivoting. In all these embodiments of the inhalers, to open the individual cavities, the user has to press them with the fingers, that is to say, exert a pressure on the dome or dome, curved outwards, in such a way that the thin coating foil tear and stay open, and the medicine can fall inside the case. The disadvantage of these inhalers is that the powder located in the cavities of the ampoules is mechanically loaded and compressed when the cavities are opened by pressure by the finger, so that they can no longer be in a finely distributed state, or they are only insufficiently, in the flow of inhalation. All these powder inhalers have the disadvantage that they are extremely bulky, that is, that the volume of the device is relatively large in relation to the quantity of the dose delivered. Depending on the volume and number of pieces per device, carrying a powder inhaler of known type can be a nuisance for the patient. Moreover, and because of the operating principles, which are different and often complicated, there is a risk that the devices are not handled properly, or even that they can not be manipulated at all in an emergency (for example, an attack of acute asthma) , or in the case that the patient has a very low understanding of the technical aspect of the device. Therefore, the present invention is based on the problem of providing a handy powder inhaler, easily operable, to be used together with blister-type containers, in which the inhaler prevents the compression of the drug in the blister cavities during the operation of the squeezing, in such a way that the drug can be finely dispersed in the flow of inhalation. Said object is achieved by means of an inhaler for administering drugs in the form of powder contained in blister-type containers in the form of strips comprising a container film with a row of individual convex blister cavities whose curvature has the configuration of a spherical shell containing the powdered medicament and a coating foil that seals the cavities, which inhaler has a housing with an elongated configuration with at least two housing parts that are pivotably connected to each other by a seal or hinges, and one of the parts of the casing has a recess as a support for receiving a strip of ampoules and the casing has a nozzle on one of its narrow sides, an opening for the air inlet on the opposite narrow side, and, between them, a air duct that is adapted to directly receive the medicament contained in the blister cavities of an inserted blister strip a on the support, such that the foil covering the blister strip, inserted, is adjacent to the air duct, and the casing has means for squeezing the individual cavities of the blister strip, characterized in that the means for squeezing the individual cavities have at least one plunger with a plunger surface with a concave curvature, which surface corresponds to, or matches, the configuration of the convex cavities of the blisters, which squeezing means are designed in such a manner that the edge of the plunger surface of concave curvature of the at least one plunger is coupled asymmetrically and transversely to the longitudinal axis of the housing in the corresponding curved surface of the convex cavity of the blister, so that the label of the coating foil, cut, is hung without impeding the flow of air in the air duct. In the sub-claims the preferred embodiments of the invention are described. The inhaler according to the invention serves to administer medicaments contained in ampule-type containers. Blister-type containers are containers that comprise a film-container with small depressions or cavities, filled, and a coating foil that seals the depressions. In this case, in the present invention the term "blister-type package" should be considered included in the scope of the present invention, in the broadest sense for packages of this type, regardless of the type of film-container or method for its manufacture The thickness of the film-container in the region of the cavities is such that it is possible to press the cavity inwardly from its exterior, and the coating foil tear and open as a result of the oppression. In the following, the operation of pressing the cavity inward from its exterior, together with the simultaneous tearing and opening of the coating foil and the release of the medicament, will receive the designation "squeezed out". The housing of the inhaler according to the invention preferably has an elongated configuration, and has a nozzle on one of the narrow sides and an opening for air entry, on the opposite narrow side. The ampoule strip that is inserted into the housing has a row of cavities arranged one behind the other. The inhaler is designed in such a way that it can only receive blister strips with a specific amount of cavities, depending on the number of cavities, the type and dosage of the medication to be administered. One of the inhalers that is suitable for many applications, is the one designed to be used with ampoule strips with four cavities. The inhaler has a housing that can be opened by pivoting, and comprises at least two housing parts that are pivotally connected to each other by means of a seal or hinges. For example, the housing may have a lower part and an upper part, which parts are connected to each other so as to be able to pivot, or may still have an additional central part. In the lower part, or central part, of the housing, there is a receiving support with a recess to receive or accommodate the ampoule strip. The upper part of the housing can additionally have nerves or webs, directed inwards, for tightening the blister strip against the receiving support, so as to fix the blister strip in the closed inhaler. The means for squeezing, of the inhaler according to the invention, have at least one plunger with a plunger surface, of concave curvature, adapted to the configuration of the blister cavities. Since conventional blister packs have cavities whose curvature has the configuration of a spherical cap seen from the outside, the curvature of the engaging surface of the plunger is usually designed to be complementary to a spherical cap. The concave curvature of the engaging surface of the plunger prevents the drug from being compressed within the cavities when they are squeezed, whereby the medicament is still able to be sufficiently dispersed in the air flow. It is advantageous if the means for squeezing are integrated in the housing. In order to open and empty the cavity of a blister by means of the squeezing means, the user has to press certain parts of the squeezing means, or all of the squeezing means, with his fingers or with the whole hand. In this case, the transmission of the plunger force of the squeezing means, whose surface engages in the blister cavity, curved outwards, can take place directly, or by means of a transmission lever. In the case of the means with a lever effect, they can be designed in the form of a plurality of individual levers, each of which has a squeezing plunger, or in the form of a single lever with a squeezing plunger, displaceable and coupling In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the squeezing means are integrated in the upper part of the housing and act without a transmission lever. Particularly advantageous is a constructive design of the squeezing means, with four squeezing pistons that are mounted on the upper part of the housing by gripping plates and, when desired, said plungers are pressed downwards by the user, one after the other, to Effects of emptying the blister cavities. In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the upper part of the housing itself, forms the means for squeezing. Particularly advantageous is the design of the upper part of the housing in the form of a single lever with a displaceable, coupling squeezing piston. As an alternative to this, the upper part of the housing can also be formed from a plurality of individual levers which are pressed down one after the other for use. The pressure due to the surface of the plunger on the cavity, has as a consequence that the thin covering foil of the blister-type container tear and open and that the medication is still remaining in the cavity due to the adhesion forces or falls directly into the cavity. the dust duct, the casing. During the inhalation by suction on the mouthpiece of the inhaler, the user generates a slight negative pressure in the air duct, which causes the medication still remaining in the cavity, to be transported in the duct and for the air to enter the duct to through the opening for air intake. Moreover, since the air flow in the duct generates a partial negative pressure when it flows beyond the open cavity (injection effect), the drug is widely extracted by suction, from the cavity, without leaving any residue. The flow of air then leaves the inhaler through the mouthpiece, taking the medication with you, and is inhaled by the user, so that the medication can pass to the lungs. In order to achieve a favorable air conduction in the air duct, the cover foil of the blister-type container is torn or cut, in a defined manner, remaining open. To that end, the part of the coating foil that originally sealed the cavity, protrudes into the interior of the duct after the opening, as a label space that is fixed at a point only, the intention being that the label be aligned in parallel with the air flow. This is facilitated by using, for example, specially designed blister packs. For example, the individual cavity may be partially surrounded by an annular bead, as a result of which the coating foil is cut or separated, during squeezing, in the region of the cord, and, in the region in which the cord is attached. interrupted, remains connected to the remaining coating foil; or, the coating foil is provided with predetermined tear points. Similarly, the asymmetric design of the cavities, for example with a configuration that is chamfered on one of the sides, leads to a defined tear and opening of the covering foil. In order to achieve the desired tearing and opening of the coating foil when the usual blister packs are used, the plunger is asymmetrically coupled in the ampoule cavity during the squeezing operation. This is achieved, for example by providing the squeezing piston itself with an asymmetric cross-section, that is, the edge of the curved surface the plunger extends in a plane that, at an angle not equal to ninety degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis of the Plunger, intersects a perpendicular plane that extends in the longitudinal direction of the housing, such that the plunger is first engaged on one of the sides of the blister cavity curved outward, when depressed. The coating foil is then torn open by opening first in this contact region, while remaining connected to the remaining coating foil on the opposite side of the cavity. A similar asymmetric coupling of the plunger in the blister cavity is achieved in a symmetrically designed squeezing piston if the latter is connected to the housing laterally by means of a lever arm in such a way that the plunger, when pressed downwards by the user , carries out a movement along an arc around the pivot of the casing part, and that the coupling in the cavity of the ampule takes place first on one of the sides. The squeezing piston of asymmetric cross section in the longitudinal direction can also be combined with the arrangement of the lever. Of course, the blister-type containers with asymmetric cavities, just described, can also be used in an inhaler in which the squeezing device is asymmetrically coupled in the blister cavity.

Preferred embodiments of the inhaler according to the invention have a nozzle, inside which a cyclone chamber with tangential grooves for air intake is arranged, in which secondary air can enter through an appropriate duet. When, after opening the cavity of a blister, the user sucks in the mouthpiece, the medication passes through the duet to the mouthpiece, in which, due to the cyclone effect, it is dispersed together with the secondary air entering tangentially, so it is more easily inhaled. This secondary air, suctioned to aid in the dispersion of the powder, is preferably about 75% of the total air flow. This means that approximately 25% of the total air flow is conducted through the pipeline. Thanks to this flow of air, the medicament is transported from the cavity, through the air duct, through a corresponding opening, perpendicularly on a baffle and then tangentially through another opening in the cyclone chamber. In order to prevent the medication from falling through the opening of the air inlet once the cavity of a blister has been squeezed, due to the fact that the inhaler is held vertically, the space located directly behind the opening can be provided with built-in nerves that deflect the air path and extend them in the form of a labyrinth. In addition, in order to prevent the medicament from being carried out of the inhaler by the air blown into the nozzle, the opening for the air inlet, for the powder duct, is preferably provided with a non-return valve that opens under a slight negative pressure inside the housing and which closes under normal pressure or under an overpressure, inside the housing. A suitable non-return valve is a diaphragm-type valve in which the diaphragm is disposed on the inner side of the casing, which diaphragm covers the inlet opening and is placed against the end face, under an overpressure in the housing, and closes the entrance opening. To close the air inlet opening, spring-loaded ball valves or other non-return valves can also be used. The housing of the inhaler according to the invention may have one or more individual recesses or chambers for receiving one or more ampule type containers. The inhaler is preferably made of a plastic material; Among the suitable materials we have for example thermoplastic materials such as polyoxyethylene (polyacetal), polycarbonate, polymethylmethacrylate, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer (ABS), individually. or in the form of a combination. The elastomeric polymers with spring-like elastic characteristics are suitable for designing the ribs to fix the blister strip. Blister-type containers of various materials can be used in the inhaler of the present invention. The material of the container film is preferably a thermoplastic polymer, such as polypropylene, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, or a metal that can have a deep-drawn, such as aluminum, also with a laminated polymer. Other customary thermo-formable materials are also suitable for blister-type containers. The parts configured with depressions produced by the thermoforming, are container film whose walls have a constant thickness, both on the areas of the depressions, and on the other areas. However, it can also be used as a material for the container film, an injection-moldable material or other moldable material, or a material that can be processed by blow-molding, for example a thermoplastic material. and the part configured with the depressions can be produced in correspondence by injection molding or by another molding method or by blow molding. In this case, the thickness of the wall of the container film can be optionally varied in several areas. The coating foil is preferably made of metal, for example aluminum, or aluminum alloys, with a laminated polymer. Other materials can also be used, including those that are common and known for blister-type containers. The coating foil can be connected to the container film, in various ways, for example by welding or using an adhesive, which is the usual. In the inhaler according to the invention, it is also possible to use blister-type containers in which the individual cavities are surrounded by an annular bead molded in the container film. These blister-type containers have the advantage of further reducing the mechanical load on the medicament during squeezing. By means of the present invention, a powder inhaler is provided for use with ampule-type containers, which inhaler is easy to operate and provides the medication to the user in a sufficiently dispersed and therefore inhalable form. The invention will be described with reference to different embodiments illustrated in the Figures. In Figure 1 is shown, in a perspective illustration, an inhaler with a means for squeezing, designed as a simple lever. In Figure 2 a cross section of the inhaler illustrated in Figure 1 is shown, with the casing pivoted in its closed position, and with the cavity of a blister, seen in cross section. Figure 3 is a cross-section of the inhaler illustrated in Figure 3, the housing being pivoted in its closed position, and the cavity of an ampoule having been inserted. Figure 4 shows a cross section of the inhaler of Figure 1, with a single film in its lower position. Figure 5 shows, seen in perspective, an inhaler with four individual squeezing levers, pivoted in their open position, and the lower part of the casing being pivoted in its open position. In Figure 6 a cross section of the inhaler illustrated in Figure 5 is shown, the housing being closed, and a strip of ampoules having been inserted. In figure 7 there is shown, in perspective view, an inhaler with four central devices to assist in the squeezing, and the upper part of the casing being pivoted in its open position. In Figure 8 a longitudinal section of the ampoule inhaler illustrated in Figure 7 is shown, the housing being assembled, and a strip of ampoules having been inserted. In Figure 9 a cross-section of the inhaler illustrated in Figure 8 is shown. Figure 10 shows the inhaler of Figure 9, with a squeezer plunger, pressed downwardly. All the inhalers shown are intended for the use of ampoule strips with four successively arranged cavities that are successively emptied by the user and whose contents are inhaled. In the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in Figure 1, the juicing device is designed as a simple lever 2 which at the same time constitutes the upper part 2 of the casing.

The upper part 2 of the housing is connected to the lower part 3 of the housing by a film hinge, the upper part 2 of the housing engages slightly beyond the lower part 32 of the housing in its assembled state. There is a nozzle 1, configured essentially as a truncated cone, which is fixed to the narrow side of the lower part 3 of the housing. In the individual lever 2 there is a rectangular recess 27 in which the approximately rectangular grip plate 4 of the squeezing piston 10 (not visible in Figure 1) engages. The gripping plate 4 can move in the recess 27, it being possible for said gripping plate to be fixed in a coupling manner in the positions a, b, c or d, by corresponding notches 28. Prior to the operation of the inhalation, the displaceable squeezing piston 10 must be pushed by the gripping plate 4 over the cavity 31 of an ampoule that has not yet been emptied (not visible in Figure 1), that is, the squeezing piston 10 is positioned with the coupling function in one of the four squeezing positions a, b, c or d. By oppressing the upper part (single lever) 2 of the housing, the cavity 31 of the ampoule located below the squeezing piston 10 is squeezed. In this embodiment of the inhaler, the squeezing of the cavity 31 of an ampoule can take place not only with the index and thumb fingers, but also with the entire hand, since the single lever 2 provides a wide application surface. In order to prevent slippage, it is additionally provided on the surface with longitudinally extending gripping slots 35. The arched recess 36 in the upper part 2 of the casing and the gripping slots 35 located in the lower part 3 of the casing, facilitate the opening of the casing. In its assembled state, the housing is kept closed by a pin 42 which engages in a recess 41 in the nozzle 1 and the lower part 3 of the housing. The pin is fixed to the upper part of the housing or single lever, 2, and can be lowered into the cutout 41 when the lever 2 is pivoted. Then, in order to prevent the single lever 2 from pivoting upwards, the nozzle 1, which can be rotated, is rotated by approximately 30 degrees. The wall of the nozzle 1 slides over the end of the pin 42, in such a way that the opening operation is blocked, but nevertheless the single lever 2 can be pressed downwards in order to squeeze the cavity 31. of a blister. To open the housing, the nozzle 1 rotated back in the opposite direction such that the part of the recess 41 in the nozzle 1 exposes the tang 42 in the single film 2, and the single lever 2 can be made pivot up. The interior design of the housing can be seen in the cross-sectional illustrations of Figures 2 to 4. In the lower part 3 of the housing a receiving support 29 is arranged for the ampoule strip 5, the which receiving support comprises two plates that extend longitudinally, directed upwards, in the form of "V". Apart from the longitudinally extending plates which can be seen in the cross-sectional drawings, the receiving support 29 also has two corresponding plates extending transversely, on the short sides of the casing, in such a way that the strip blisters inserted, 5, rests on their sides in the support 29. The plates of the support 29 are slightly widened in their upper region 5 in order to provide a sufficient support surface for the blister strip, 5; moreover, the plates have, at their enlarged upper end, a recess 30 directed inwards, 30, of shallow depth, inside which the strip of ampoules, 5, is inserted and which prevents the strip of blisters, 5, slides inside the support 39. The duct 7 extending longitudinally through the housing, is located in the lower region between the plates of the support 29 arranged in a "V" configuration. The duct 7 connects the nozzle 1, which is visible only in the perspective illustration of Figure 1, to the opening for the air intake, which is not illustrated in this embodiment. The plates of the support 29 enclose, together with the walls of the lower part 3 of the housing, two chambers 34 that extend to the right and to the left in the vicinity of the air duct 7 and in which it is possible to store strips of blisters 5 for later use (called "spare ampoule strips"). The piston 10 having a concave curved piston surface, 37, integrally connected to the grip plate 4, can be seen in Figures 2 to 4. The longitudinally slidable connection with the upper part 2 of the housing, takes place by means of the gripping plate 4. The part 40 of the upper part of the casing next to the film hinge, acts as an internal or integrated lever, for the plunger 10. In Figure 2 the single lever inhaler is shown, with the casing open, that is, the upper part 2 of the housing is pivoted backwards and the blister strip, 5, can therefore be placed in the support 29. In addition to the plunger 10, there are also two thin ribs directed inwards, 6, in the single lever 2 along the long sides of the recess 27 (see Figure 1), the ends of the sixth ribs being remote from the inner surface of the upper part 2 of the housing, curved so as to be coupled about The receiving support 29. There are transverse nerves between the extremities of the end faces, of the nerves 6. The nerves 6 and the transverse nerves are made of a material having the elasticity of a spring, in such a way that they can be deformed ( curve) when the upper part 2 of the housing is pressed down for the coupling of the plunger 10 into the cavity 31 of an ampoule, and, with the force of the spring, press the edge of the blister strip into the support 29.

Figure 3 shows the inhaler with its closed casing and a strip of ampoules 5 inserted in the first stage of the squeezing operation. It can be seen how the elastic ribs 6 engage the upper ends of the support 29 and the blister strip 5 inserted therein. Since the. user (not illustrated in this case) exerts a pressure on the single lever 2, from above, the ribs 6 are already under tension. The rib 6 is designed in such a way that it presses all four sides of the strip of ampoules under tension, firmly, on the support 29, so as to fix the strip of ampoules, 5, to form a seal against the air. Since the plunger 10 is laterally connected to the lower part 3 of the housing by an inner lever arm, 40, the plunger 10 describes an arc around the pivot of the upper part 2 of the housing when the upper part of the housing is closed, and, as a consequence, the coupling of the edge of the curved surface of the plunger, 37, into the blister cavity 31, curved outwards, takes place in an asymmetric manner, that is, in the first phase of the operation of the oppressed, first on one side only. In the step of the operation of the squeezing, illustrated in Figure 3, the upper part of the casing engages slightly on the lower part 3 of the casing.

In Figure 4 the final phase of the operation of the squeezing is illustrated, with the cavity 31 of an ampoule that has already been opened and emptied. Compared with Figure 3, the ribs 6 are even more stressed, and the upper part 2 of the casing fits even more on the lower part of the casing. The cavity 31 of the ampoule has been squeezed by the plunger 10; the coating foil which previously sealed the cavity 31 of the ampoule, is still connected to the ampoule strip 5, only on one of its sides, and hangs like a label 8, aligned parallel to the air flow, inside the 7. The asymmetric coupling of the piston 10 in the cavity 31 of the ampoule resulted in the covering foil being torn open first on the side where the curved surface 37 of the piston first engaged. In Figure 4, the medicament 38 falls from the open cavity 31 of the ampule, directly into the air duct, 7, from where it is made accessible to the user by the inhalation operation that follows. The bold arrow of Figure 4, is intended to clearly show the extent to which the application of a force by the user, during the operation of the squeeze. Lever transmission means that the effort required to squeeze the cavity 31 from the ampoule, must be about half lower, than in those cases of a direct squeezing operation. When all four cavities 31 of the blister strip, 5, have been emptied, the casing must be opened, and a new strip of ampoules must be inserted, 5. Similarly, Figures 5 and 6 show a shape of embodiment of the inhaler in which the squeezing means act by means of lever arms. However, in this case, there is not only a simple lever arm 2 with a displaceable squeezing piston 10, but there are four individual squeezing levers, 9, each of which has a squeezing piston 10, which plungers are successively driven. to squeeze the four blister cavities, 31. Figure 5 shows the four-lever inhaler, with the casing pivoted in its open position. The lower part 14 of the casing is pivotably connected to the central part 13 of the casing by means of a suitable hinge 17 which is fixed to the long side of the central part 13. The four squeezing levers 9 are pivotably connected similar, to the central part 13 of the housing, by means of a suitable hinge 16 which is located on the opposite long side of said central part 13 of the housing. The upper side of the central part 13 of the housing, serves as a support for the blister strip and has, at its center, a rectangular recess 30 for receiving the blister strip, 5. Formed at the bottom of the recess 30, there are four supply openings, 20, which are not visible in Figure 5 and communicating with the air duct 7 when the housing is closed. Fixed to the narrow side of the central part of the housing, there is a receiving plate 18 for the nozzle 1, and there is a receiving plate 19 for the end piece 15, fixed to the opposite narrow side. There is a cyclone chamber 11 with tangential air inlet slots 12 formed in the receiving plate 18 for the nozzle 1. The block 1, comprising a cylindrical section and a section configured as a truncated cone, is subject to the receiving plate 18, and, with its cylindrical section surrounds the cyclone chamber, 11. In order to allow the secondary air to enter the cyclone chamber 11 through the air inlet slots, 12, the nozzle 1 has a duct for secondary air, not illustrated in this case. The end piece 15 with an air inlet opening, not illustrated in this case, and a diaphragm type valve, are fastened to the receiving plate 19. The air duct, 7, extends on the inner side of the part. bottom pivotable, 14, of the housing, and sealed to the side, in a leak-tight manner, only when the housing is closed by corresponding cords extending longitudinally around the duct. When the lower part 14 of the casing is pivoted to its open position, the duct 7 is open and is therefore easily accessible for cleaning. When the housing is closed, the duct 7 connects the opening for the air inlet, to the nozzle 1, through corresponding openings located in the receiving plates 18 and 19. Once the blister strip 5 has been inserted into the central part 13 of the casing, as shown in Figure 5, the casing is pivoted to its closed position, specifically by the fact that in the foreground the four squeezing levers 9 which somehow form the upper part of the casing , they are pivoted slightly downwards, but without still exerting a pressure on the blister cavities, 3 1, in the process, and the lower part 14 of the casing is then pivoted upwards. In Figure 6 a cross section of the four lever inhaler is shown, pivoted in its closed position. The end of the lower part 14 of the housing opposite the hinge 17 is curved upwards such that, in the pivoted-closed state, it engages around the squeezing levers 9 in its lower part, and the housing remains closed thanks to this coupled connection. The lower part 14 of the housing is curved upwards in such a manner, and the squeezing levers 9 are configured in such a way that the pistons exert a slight pressure on the cavities 31 of the ampoules when the housing is closed, with the which is fixed in the recess 30, but without yet squeezing the cavities 31 of the ampoules. The blister strip, 5, is fixed by the squeezing levers 9 resting therein, so that the strip 5 can not fall or be withdrawn in the closed state of the inhaler. The curvature of the lower part 14 of the cl22 also means that the lower part 14 of the casing only has to be pivoted upwards to close the casing, whereupon the squeezing levers 9 are automatically placed in the position shown in the Figure 6. In Figure 6 it can be easily seen how the duct 7 is sealed laterally by both longitudinally extending cords 25 and pressing against the central part 13 of the casing. If the user then wishes to inhale a dose of the medicine 38 confined in the cavities 31 of the ampoules, he must press one of the four squeezing levers 9, preferably using the lever transmission located at the remote end with respect to the hinge 16; the piston 10 exerts a pressure, through its curved surface 37, on the cavity 31 of the ampule, this being squeezed out. The bold arrow indicates said preferred point for the application of force on lever 9 by the user. As can be seen in Figure 6, also in this embodiment an asymmetric coupling takes place in the cavity 31 of the ampoule, this due to the arrangement of the plunger on an inner lever arm, 40, connected laterally to the central part. 13 of the casing, in order to tear and open the cover foil, 39, at a point in an intentional manner. The medicament then falls through the delivery opening 20 into the duct 7, and is inhaled therefrom. In order to release the next dose of medication, it is necessary to press another squeezing lever. Since the squeezing levers 9 in this embodiment are considerably narrower than the single lever 2 of the embodiment described above, and since they must be operated individually, the squeezing levers 9 must be depressed by the user through the use of a single finger. As in the single-lever design, the effort required in this embodiment to squeeze the cavities 31 from the ampoules is approximately half, due to the direct transmission of the lever, than the effort required in the case of a direct operation of squeezing. A particular advantage of this embodiment is the easy accessibility of the powder duct, 7, and of the supply openings, 20, for cleaning purposes when the housing has been pivoted in its open position. In Figures 7 to 10 another embodiment is shown, consisting of an inhaler with squeezing means that act directly, that is, without a lever transmission. In Figures 7 and 8 it can be seen that the inhaler comprises an elongate lower part 3 of the housing with a nozzle 1 and an end piece 15 and an upper part of the housing, which in this case is described as a housing fin 23, with plunger integrated juicers. With the housing flap, 23, closed, the housing has an essentially tubular configuration. The flap 23 of the housing is connected to the end piece 15 of the lower part 3 of the housing, by means of a hinge 24. Located in the housing. the flap 23 of the casing, there is a rectangular recess 22 in which there are four squeezing pistons 10 mounted with their gripping plates, 4. In the lower part of the casing, 3, there is a similar rectangular recess, 30, by way of blister strip holder, 5. Arranged at the bottom of the recess 30, there are four supply openings, 20, communicating with the powder duct, 7, which is not visible in Figure 7. The fin 23 of the closed casing, engages in the recess 30 of the lower part 3 of the casing, by which fixes the ampoule strip, 5, fixed. Located in the end piece 15, there is an opening 32 for the air inlet, which is provided with a diaphragm-type valve, 21, which allows the air to be sucked in and brought inside the inhaler. The nozzle 1 has a cylindrical section and a section configured as a truncated cone. There is a cyclone chamber, 11, with tangential grooves, for the air intake, 12, integrated in the cylindrical section of the nozzle 1. In use condition, the medicament 38 is carried, by the air flow entered by suction to through the nozzle, through the air duet 7, through an opening 43, over the deflector 44. Here the medicament is disintegrated in the form of smaller particles and then tangentially enters the cyclone chamber, 11. The supply of secondary air in the cyclone chamber 11 through the inlet slits, 12, takes place through the secondary air duct 26, visible only in the longitudinal section illustration of Figure 8 and which is arranged in the fin 23 of the casing and communicating with the interior of the nozzle 1. Although the in Figure 7 shows the embodiment of the inhaler provided with a juicer device that acts directly, with the a23 of the casing, open, and with a depressed plunger, with no ampoule strip having been inserted, 5, the longitudinal section of Figure 8 clearly shows the position of the blister strip in the casing and the manner of functioning of the squeezing media. In order to empty a cavity 23 from an ampule, the user exerts a pressure on one of the gripping plates 4 of the squeezing pistons 10, using a single finger. By direct transmission of the force, the concave curved surface 37 of the plunger engages the cavity 31 of the vial, the coating foil wears and remains open, and the medication 38 falls through the supply opening 20, in duet 7, from which it can be inhaled. The coating foil, torn and open, remains partially connected to the remaining coating foil, 39, and hangs as a label 8, in the supply opening. In Figure 8 it is not illustrated how the individual squeezing pistons 10 with their gripping plates 4 are mounted on the fin 23 of the housing. On the one hand, there is the possibility that the squeezing pistons 10 are arranged loose in the fin 23 of the housing, and that they are held in their upper position only when a strip of ampoules, 5, has been inserted and the curved surfaces of the plungers , 37, rest on the cavities 31 of the blisters. It is quite evident that the squeezing pistons 19 have to be so light that, when they are resting on the blister cavities 31, they do not damage said cavities unless the user exerts a pressure on the gripping plates. to avoid unintentional loading of the cavities 31 of the ampoules, the squeezing pistons 10 can also be maintained in their upper position by coupling connections. When the user exerts a pressure, said coupling connections can be easily released. Another possibility is a spring-like assembly for the squeezing pistons 10. Figures 9 and 10 are cross-sectional illustrations of the inhaler according to Figures 7 and 8, with a squeezing plunger 120 designed to obtain an asymmetric coupling on the tooth cavity. the blister In the longitudinal section of Figure 8 it can not be seen at what angle the edge of the curved surface 37 extends with respect to the longitudinal axis of the plunger 10. If the angle is not equal to 90 degrees, the edge always intersects a plane that is extends perpendicularly with respect to the longitudinal axis of the casing, ie, with respect to the air flow, whereby the cross section of the plunger has an asymmetric design with respect to the longitudinal axis of the casing. Only in this way is it ensured that the cut coating foil, label 8, is aligned parallel to the air flow after the operation of the squeeze and does not impede the flow of air. This will be explained again when referring to Figures 9 and 10. In Figure 9 is shown the inhaler with the flap 23 of the casing, closed, and with the ampoule strip, 5, inserted, achieving the asymmetric cross section of the plunger juicer 10, thanks to the fact that the edge of the curved surface 37 of the plunger 10 extends at an angle different from 90 'with respect to the longitudinal axis of the plunger, and this plane of the edge intersects a perpendicular plane extending in the longitudinal direction of the housing. The curved surface 37 engages more around part of the corresponding surface of the ampoule cavity 31, than around the remaining part, whereby the cover foil 39 is torn and opened by the plunger at a predetermined point. The ampoule strip 5 is pressed on the lower part 3 of the housing by the elastic ribs 6, such that there is an air-tight seal. The squeezing piston 10 is configured asymmetrically in cross section, so that the container film, 33, is stretched to a greater degree on one of its sides during the operation of the squeezing (Figure 10), and the covering foil 39 tears, remaining open, at this point, below the most loaded container film 33, and remains connected to the remaining coating foil 39, on the opposite side. The medicament 38 falls through the supply opening, 20, into the air duct, 7. The tag 8 of the covering foil 39 hangs, aligned with the air flow, within the supply opening 20, extending directly into the the air duct, 7.

List of Reference Hummers 1 Nozzle 2 Single lever (upper part of the housing) 3 Lower part of the housing 4 Squeezing plate of the squeezing plunger 5 Blister strip 6 Nerves to press on the blister strip 7 Air dam 8 Sign 9 Juicer lever 10 Juicer plunger 11 Cyclone chamber 12 Tangential air intake slots 13 Housing center part 14 Pivot lower part of the housing 15 End piece 16 Hinge of the squeezing levers 9 17 Hinge the pivotable lower part 14 of the housing 18 Receiving plate for the nozzle 1 19 Receiving plate for the end part 15 20 Supply opening 21 Diaphragm type valve 22 Entrant on the fin 23 of the housing 23 Housing flap (upper part of the Case) 24 Fin hinge 23 of the housing 25 Cord around the dust duct 7 26 Duet for secondary air 27 Entrant on the single lever 2 28 Slants 29 Frame for blister strip 5 30 Inlet for blister strip 5 31 Blister cavity 32 Opening for air intake 33 Film-container 34 Chamber for replacement blister strips 35 Grip grooves 36 Inlet configured as a circular segment, located in the upper part 2 of the housing 37 Curved surface of the plunger 38 Medicine 39 Covering foil 40 Inner arm of the lever 41 Notch or cutout in the nozzle 1 and lower part 3 of the housing 42 shank 43 Opening towards the cyclone chamber 11 44 Deflector

Claims (11)

R E I V I N D I C AC I O N S

1. - Inhaler for administering drugs in the form of powder contained in blister-type containers configured as strips comprising a container film with a row of individual convex blister cavities whose curvature has the configuration of a spherical shell containing the medicament powder and a foil of coating that seals the cavities, which inhaler has a housing with an elongated configuration with at least two housing parts that are pivotably connected to one another by a seal or hinges, and one of the housing parts has a incoming as a support for receiving a strip of ampoules and the casing has a nozzle on one of its narrow sides, an opening for air entry on the opposite narrow side, and, between them, an air duct which is adapted to directly receive the medication contained in the blister cavities of a strip of blisters inserted in the holder, so such that the foil covering the blister strip, inserted, is adjacent to the air duct, and the casing has means for squeezing the individual cavities of the blister strip, characterized in that the means for squeezing the individual cavities have at least a plunger with a plunger surface with a concave curvature, which surface corresponds to, or matches, the configuration of the convex cavities of the blisters, which squeezing means are designed in such a way that the edge of the surface of the The plunger, of concave curvature, of the at least one plunger, engages asymmetrically and transversally with respect to the longitudinal axis of the housing in the corresponding curved surface of the convex cavity of the blister, in such a way that the label of the coating foil, cut, it hangs without impeding the flow of air in the air duct.

2. Inhaler according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing has an elongated lower part, with a nozzle and an end piece and an upper fin part, which is connected to the end part of the lower part by means of a hinge and the squeezing means have at least one squeezing piston with a plunger surface of convex curvature and a grip plate, at the opposite end of the plunger, in which said squeezing means are integrated in the upper fin portion of the housing and there is no lever-type transmission by which the force can be transmitted to the squeezing piston during the operation of the squeezing.

3. Inhaler according to claim 1, characterized in that the squeezing means are four squeezing pistons that are mounted on the upper part of the housing by means of gripping plates, and, the housing being closed and having a strip of ampoules, inserted. , said squeezing pistons can be pressed individually downwards on the outwardly curved cavities of the blister strip.

4. Inhaler according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing has at least one upper part of the housing and a lower part of the housing, and the upper part of the housing is designed as a squeezing means that has a transmission per lever by means of which the force can be transmitted to the squeezing piston during the operation of the squeezing.

5. Inhaler according to claim 4, characterized in that the squeezing means is formed as a single lever, with a displaceable engaging squeeze piston.

6. Inhaler according to claim 4, characterized in that the squeezing means are a plurality of levers each of which has a squeezing piston.

7. Inhaler according to claim 1, characterized in that there are ribs that are made of a material that has the elasticity of a spring and that are oriented inwardly in the upper part of the housing, to press the strip of ampoules, against the receiving support, in order to fix the strip of blisters, in the recess in the closed inhaler.

8. Inhaler according to claim 1, characterized in that the squeezing piston has a plunger surface with a concave curvature and with an edge extending in a plane, which flat extends at an angle not equal to 90 degrees with with respect to the longitudinal axis of said squeezing piston and in that said edge plane intersects a perpendicular plane extending in the longitudinal direction of the housing, such that the plunger engages asymmetrically in the cavity of an ampoule.

9. Inhaler according to claim 1, characterized in that the squeezing piston has a plunger surface with a concave curvature and with an edge extending in a plane, which plane extends at an angle of 90 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis of said squeezing piston and the plunger is connected laterally to the housing by a lever arm, such that the plunger when pressed by the user, performs a movement along an arc around the pivot of the lever in such a way that the coupling of the edge of the surface in the blister cavity, first takes place on one of the sides.

10. Inhaler according to claim 1, characterized in that the nozzle has a cylindrical section and a section configured as truncated cone, and because inside the cylindrical section has a cyclone chamber with air tangential grooves, and with a duct for the secondary air.

11. Inhaler according to claim 1, characterized in that the opening for the air inlet is provided with a non-return valve. SUMMARY The present invention relates to an inhaler for administering drugs (38) contained in blister packs (5), having a housing with a mouthpiece (1) on one of its sides, an opening for the entrance of the air, (32) at the opposite end, and, between them on the inside, a duct (7) connecting the nozzle (1) with the inlet opening (32), it being possible for at least one strip of blister strip (5) is inserted into the housing so that the covering foil (35) of the inserted blister strip (5) is in a position attached to the duct (7). The housing has means for squeezing the individual cavities (31) of the ampoule strip (5), which means contain at least one plunger (10) with a curved plunger surface, which corresponds to the configuration of the cavities ( 31) of the ampoules, for coupling with the blister cavity.