Fluid product inhaler with device for opening reservoir containing fluid product
An inhaler device having an opening device for opening an individual reservoir containing a single dose of fluid, such as powder, the reservoir including a closure wall, the opening device having hollow perforator mechanism that is adapted to perforate the closure wall of the reservoir, the hollow perforator mechanism being connected to an expulsion channel so as to transport the powder towards a dispenser orifice of the inhaler. The opening device includes at least one air channel connected to the expulsion channel, such that during inhalation, an air flow passing through the at least one air channel mixes, in the expulsion channel, with the air and powder flow leaving the reservoir through the hollow perforator mechanism. The air channel is formed by a through hole made in a wall of the perforator mechanism, the through hole being oriented substantially parallel to the expulsion channel.
1. An inhaler device comprising an opening device for opening an individual reservoir containing a single dose of powder, said reservoir including a closure wall, said opening device comprising hollow perforator means that are adapted to perforate said closure wall of the reservoir, said hollow perforator means being connected to an expulsion channel that, in turn, is connected to and in communication with a dispenser chamber for receiving the dose of powder after the reservoir has been opened and prior to delivering the dose of powder to a dispenser orifice of said inhaler, said opening device including at least one air channel connected to said expulsion channel, such that during inhalation, an air flow passing through said at least one air channel mixes, in said expulsion channel, with the air and powder flow leaving the reservoir through said hollow perforator means, said at least one air channel is formed by a through hole made in a wall of said perforator means, said at least one through hole being oriented substantially parallel to said expulsion channel and said at least one air channel formed in a wall of said perforator means that is perpendicular to said expulsion channel, such that said air flow is oriented in the same direction as said air and powder flow; said perforator means formed at an end of the expulsion channel;
wherein the opening device is fixed so as not to move relative to the body of the inhaler while the reservoir is being opened; the reservoirs are made in the form of an elongate strip comprising a plurality of individual reservoirs disposed one behind another.
2. A device according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one air channel is made in a wall of the perforator means that does not penetrate into the reservoir.
3. A device according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one air channel is substantially rectilinear.
4. A device according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one air channel has a section that is substantially constant along its length.
5. A device according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one air channel has a section that varies along its length.
6. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein said perforator means include two opposite perforator ends that are spaced apart by a distance.
7. A device according to claim 6 , wherein said perforator means include two air channels that are disposed symmetrically between said two perforator ends.
8. A device according to claim 1 , wherein the flow of incoming air penetrates into the open reservoir by passing over the outside of said perforator means.
9. A device according to claim 8 , wherein said perforator means include at least one external projection so as to form at least one passage for the incoming air entering into the open reservoir.
10. The device according to claim 9 , wherein said at least one external projection is a spline.
11. A device according to claim 1 , wherein said opening device is activated by the user inhaling.
12. A device according to claim 11 , wherein during inhalation, a reservoir is moved against said opening device, such that said reservoir is opened while a first inhalation flow enters into the reservoir by passing over the outside of said perforator means, causing the fluid to be expelled towards the expulsion channel by passing into said perforator means, said first inhalation flow mixing, in the expulsion channel, with a second inhalation flow passing through said at least one air channel.
13. An inhaler device comprising an opening device for opening an individual reservoir containing a single dose of powder, said reservoir including a closure wall, said opening device comprising a hollow perforator adapted to perforate said closure wall of the reservoir, said hollow perforator connected to an expulsion channel so as to transport the powder towards a dispenser orifice of said inhaler, said opening device including at least one air channel connected to said expulsion channel, such that during inhalation, an air flow passing through said at least one air channel mixes, in said expulsion channel, with air and powder flow leaving the reservoir through said hollow perforator, said at least one air channel is formed by a through hole made in a wall of said perforator, said at least one through hole oriented substantially parallel to said expulsion channel, said at least one air channel formed in a wall of said perforator that is perpendicular to said expulsion channel, such that said air flow is oriented in the same direction as said air and powder flow, and said opening device configured to be activated by airflow generated by inhalation through the dispenser orifice.