Blister pack for use with an inhalation device
An inhalation device is described for use with a medication pack wherein the medication pack is formed by a single sheet folded on itself into several sealed pockets or pleats. Each of the pockets or pleats contains a drug to be aerosolized using a piezoelectric element. The inhaler includes a mechanism to open the blisters by pulling apart the sealed pocket or pleat.
1 . A medication pack for use in an inhalation device comprising:
a sheet of material doubled onto itself to form a least one pleat having facing inside walls, wherein at least a portion of said facing inside walls are affixed to one another to form a pocket for medication.
2 . The pack as claimed in claim 1 , having a drug within said pocket.
3 . The pack as claimed in claim 1 , comprising a single sheet having a plurality of spaced pockets.
4 . The pack as claimed in claim 1 , where said single sheet is formed of a biocompatible material.
5 . The pack as claimed in claim 3 , where each of said pockets holds a measured quantity of a pharmaceutical.
6 . The pack as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the pharmaceutical comprises a dry powder.
7 . A medication pack for use in an inhalation device comprising:
a single elongated tape folded into a plurality of pockets, wherein each said pocket contains a medication.
8 . The pack as claimed in claim 7 , wherein each pocket is sealed adjacent its edges.
9 . The pack as claimed in claim 7 , comprising a plurality of side-by-side pockets.
10 . The pack as claimed in claim 8 , wherein at least some of said plurality of pockets contain different medications.
11 . The pack as claimed in claim 8 , wherein edges of said pockets are sealed.
12 . The pack as claimed in claim 11 , wherein edges of said pockets are heat-sealed.
13 . The pack as claimed in claim 11 , wherein edges of said pockets are adhesively sealed.
14 . The pack as claimed in claim 11 , wherein said tape is a made of a trilaminate.
15 . The pack as claimed in claim 14 , wherein said tape comprises a trilaminate of plastic film and aluminum foil.
16 . The pack as claimed in claim 7 , comprising a plurality of pockets folded accordion style.
17 . The pack as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the medication comprises a dry powder.
18 . A method of manufacturing a drug storage device comprising the steps of:
folding an elongated sheet to form a pocket;
depositing a drug in said pocket;
sealing edges of the pocket to contain the drug.
19 . The method of manufacturing a drug storage device as claimed in claim 18 , wherein the edges of said pocket are sealed using heat or an adhesive.
20 . The method of manufacturing a drug storage device comprising the steps of:
providing an elongated pleated sheet;
disposing a drug within at least one of said pleats; and
sealing edges of the pleat to contain the drug.
21 . An inhalation device for use with a medication pack as claimed in claim 7 , said device comprising:
a chamber equipped with a mechanism for deaggregating said medication;
a mechanism for advancing each pocket to said chamber and for opening said pocket in said chamber; and
an airflow passage to carry deaggregated medication from said chamber.
22 . The inhalation device as claimed in claim 21 , wherein the medication pack is in the form of a wound roll.
23 . The inhalation device as claimed in claim 21 , wherein the medication pack is in the form of a pleated tape.
24 . The inhalation device according to claim 23 , wherein the medication pack is in the form of a cartridge.
25 . The inhalation device according to claim 24 , wherein the cartridge is disposable.
26 . The blister pack according to claim 24 , wherein the cartridge includes a power source.
27 . The inhalation device according to claim 21 , wherein the mechanism for deaggregating the medication comprises a vibrator.
28 . The inhalation device according to claim 27 , wherein the vibrator comprises a piezoelectric vibrator.
29 . The inhalation device according to claim 28 , comprising two or more piezoelectric vibrators.
30 . An inhalation device for use with medication pack as claimed in claim 1 , said device comprising:
a mechanism for receiving and opening the medication pack to expose the drug; and
an air-flow passageway to carry the drug to the patient.
31 . An inhalation device for use with a medication pack as claimed in claim 7 , said device comprising;
a mechanism for advancing each pocket and for opening said pocket to expose to expose medication to a chamber; and
an air-flow passageway in communication with said chamber to carry medication to the patient.