The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 16, 2000
Filed:
Oct. 28, 1997
David Howlett, Norfolk, GB;
Bespak plc, , GB;
Abstract
The invention relates to inhaler products, such as medicaments, and particularly to an inhaler for transferring to a patient a metered dose of medicament contained in a pressurized dispensing container. The inhaler includes a housing for receiving a pressurized dispensing container of medicament and a mouthpiece for insertion into the mouth or a user of the inhaler. An outlet in the housing communicates with the mouth piece via a duct ending in an outlet. At least one air inlet is provided for allowing air into the inhaler. The air inlet(s) being positioned downstream relative to the duct outlet. A restricted airflow passage is provided between the air inlet(s) and a location adjacent to the outlet of the duct. The inhaler also includes a vortex generating arrangement positioned in the restricted airflow passage, such that, in use, when a user inhales through the mouthpiece, a swirling airflow is created from the inlet(s) to the mouthpiece along the passage towards the duct outlet. The swirling airflow exits the restricted airflow passage to create a swirling airflow in the neck region of the duct outlet that swirls about a central axis of the duct outlet and the swirling airflow has a component directed in reverse to the airflow form the duct outlet of the mouthpiece for reducing the velocity of medicament dispensed from the pressurized dispensing container via the duct and duct outlet.