EP0640354A2 — Whirl chamber powder inhaler

USPTO Abstract

Existing systems typically provide a single dose of an aerosol, whereafter a capsule is thrown away, which is harmful to the environment. Inhaler devices, for instance for CNSLD patients, wherein at each inhalation a capsule is placed therein, are frequently used in practice. Inhaler devices for several doses are still only commercially available on a limited scale. There are problems with these known inhaler devices in respect of their manageability and size, the required suction force on a mouth or nose piece and/or the accuracy of dosing. Known inhaler devices for several dosed are awkward to use and/or consist of a relatively large number of components, whereby manufacture becomes time-consuming and expensive. Such an inhaler device is known from EP-A-211595. The present invention provides a device for inhaling an aerosol, comprising: a reservoir (3) for storing a supply of medium for inhaling; an inhaling piece for sucking air (7) along a dose of medium for inhaling; and transporting means (11,55,56) for transporting a dose of medium for inhaling out of the reservoir, wherein a whirl chamber (16) is incorporated in the inhaling piece for taking the medium into the indrawn air with only a small suction force.