Hand-held inhaler for powder or liq. medical inhalants - which are in dose sized blisters of circular disc blister pack

摘要

Patient can inhale a powder or liq. via mouth or nostril for the treatment of bronchial complaints etc.. The inhaler comprises a shallow, cylindrical box inside which a circular disc blister-pack of plastic ampoules contg. inhalant is supported to be rotatably coaxially with the box. The ampoules are evenly spaced around a circle centred on the axis of disc rotation. The blister-pack is rotated by a plate which sits on top of the pack, engaging each ampoule in a hole in the plate. The plate has an axial button projecting through the lid of the box for turning the plate and blister-pack. The plate has register catches on a pitch circle to locate the plate with each ampoule in turn beneath a spring-loaded plunger which can be depressed to break open the ampoule. Once the inhalant is released, the patient sucks or inhales by nostril from a box outlet pipe. The ampoules are much more stable and have greater shelf life than gelatin capsules, previously used to contain inhalants. The blister-packs are inexpensive to make and easy to store. Several packs can be carried in a false bottom of the inhaler.