초록 ▼

The subject invention provides a powder inhaler enabling the user to complete powder drug inhalation with fewer steps, for improved user convenience. A powder inhaler of the present invention comprises: a housing 1A having an admission port 2f on one end;a supplier having a drug-discharging hole, pr

The subject invention provides a powder inhaler enabling the user to complete powder drug inhalation with fewer steps, for improved user convenience. A powder inhaler of the present invention comprises: a housing 1A having an admission port 2f on one end;a supplier having a drug-discharging hole, provided inside the housing 1A with a capacity sufficient to contain plural doses of a fine powder drug;a drug carrier having a measurement concave portion for receiving a single dose of a drug from the drug-discharging hole, the drug carrier being supported inside the housing 1A while being movable between a drug-receiving position for allowing drug supply from the drug-discharging hole to the measurement concave portion, and a drug-inhalation position for allowing drug inhalation from the measurement concave portion through the admission port;a cover cap C2 pivotably mounted to the housing 1A; anda vibrating means 60 brought into operation by pivoting the cover cap C2 so as to vibrate the supplier.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A powder inhaler, comprising: a housing having an admission port on one end;a supplier having a drug-discharging hole, provided inside the housing with a capacity sufficient to contain plural doses of a fine powder drug;a drug carrier having a measurement concave portion for receiving a single do

1. A powder inhaler, comprising: a housing having an admission port on one end;a supplier having a drug-discharging hole, provided inside the housing with a capacity sufficient to contain plural doses of a fine powder drug;a drug carrier having a measurement concave portion for receiving a single dose of the drug from the drug-discharging hole, the drug carrier being supported inside the housing while being movable between a drug-receiving position for allowing drug supply from the drug-discharging hole to the measurement concave portion, and a drug-inhalation position for allowing drug inhalation from the measurement concave portion through the admission port;a cover cap pivotably mounted to the housing;at least one first engagement section formed on the cover cap; andat least one second engagement section formed on the housing to transmit vibration to the supplier, and that is engaged with the first engagement section by pivoting the cover cap and thereby vibrating the supplier,wherein the supplier and the drug carrier are arranged such that the vibration transmitted to the supplier makes the fine powder drug travel from the supplier to the measurement concave portion; andthe first engagement section and the second engagement section each have at least one convex portion, the supplier vibrates as a result of moving the convex portions in contact with each other. 2. A powder inhaler according to claim 1, wherein the first engagement section is provided on an inner side of the cover cap. 3. A powder inhaler according to claim 1, wherein the first engagement section is provided on an inner side of the cover cap, and the second engagement section is provided on an external lateral face of the housing. 4. A powder inhaler according to claim 3, wherein the first engagement section is pivotably connected to the inner side of the cover cap, and the housing includes a guide member for pivoting the first engagement section while pivoting the cover cap, and guiding the first engagement section to the second engagement section. 5. A powder inhaler according to claim 1, further comprising: an elastic member provided in the housing, to bias the drug carrier from the drug-inhalation position to the drug-receiving position;a lock mechanism for locking the drug carrier in the drug inhalation position; anda lock-releasing mechanism for unlocking the lock mechanism in response to a closing movement of the cover cap. 6. A powder inhaler according to claim 4, further comprising: an elastic member provided in the housing, to bias the drug carrier from the drug-inhalation position to the drug-receiving position;a lock mechanism for locking the drug carrier in the drug-inhalation position; anda lock-releasing mechanism for unlocking the lock mechanism in response to a closing movement of the cover cap,wherein:the lock-releasing mechanism includes a lock-releasing member, which is connected to the first engagement section and is guided by a guide section to a lock-releasing position. 7. A powder inhaler according to claim 1, the second engagement section is mounted to a component incorporated in the housing, wherein the component can transmit vibration to the supplier. 8. A powder inhaler, comprising: a housing having an admission port on one end;a supplier having a drug-discharging hole, provided inside the housing with a capacity sufficient to contain plural doses of a fine powder drug;a drug carrier having a measurement concave portion for receiving a single dose of the drug from the drug-discharging hole, the drug carrier being supported inside the housing while being movable between a drug-receiving position for allowing drug supply from the drug-discharging hole to the measurement concave portion, and a drug-inhalation position for allowing drug inhalation from the measurement concave portion through the admission port;a cover cap pivotably mounted to the housing; anda vibrating means brought into operation by pivoting the cover cap so as to vibrate the supplier,wherein the supplier and the drug carrier are arranged such that the vibration of the supplier makes the fine powder drug travel from the supplier toward the measurement concave portion; andthe vibrating means has at least one pair of convex portions, the supplier vibrates as a result of moving the convex portions, in contact with each other. 9. A powder inhaler according to claim 8, wherein the vibrating means includes at least one first engagement section mounted to the cover cap; and at least one second engagement section provided on the housing, and that is engaged with the first engagement section. 10. A powder inhaler according to claim 8, wherein the vibrating means includes at least one first engagement section mounted to the cover cap; and at least one second engagement section provided on the supplier, and that is engaged with the first engagement section.