WO1999049922A1 - One-way inhalator for inhaling volatile substances - Google Patents

Abstract

A one-way inhalator (10) for inhaling volatile substances through the nose (32), comprising at least one tubular sleeve (12, 14) with a first (16) and second end (18). The sleeve (12, 14) can be inserted into the nose (32) for inhalation. The sleeve (12, 14) is made from a thin paper-like or fabric base material which is provided with areas containing the active substance.

Description

 Disposable inhaler for inhaling volatile substances

The invention relates to a disposable inhaler for inhaling volatile active substances through the nose, with at least one tubular sleeve which has a first and a second end, the sleeve for inhalation being insertable into the nose with its first end. The invention further relates to a paper or tissue-like carrier material for forming such a tubular disposable inhaler.

Disposable inhalers are known from German utility models DE 88 00 218 Ul and DE 88 01 258 Ul.

The inhaler according to DE 88 00 218 Ul is used for inhaling volatile substances, in particular for the care of the mouth and throat. It consists of a tubular sleeve, namely a cigarette tube, one end of which is closed with a cigarette filter and the other end with a plug made of cellulose or cotton wool. In the interior of the cigarette tube there are fillers which contain volatile, inhalable substances, preferably essential oils. For intended use, this inhaler is "smoked" like a cigarette, but without being lit, i.e. the patient pulls on one of the two stoppers, preferably on the cigarette filter, and thus draws in an air stream which volatilizes or entrains the volatile substances contained in the packing. In this way, the vapors of the volatile substances get into the mouth or throat.

The disadvantage of this known inhaler is that you have to "pull" on it to inhale the active ingredients like a cigarette. This inevitably requires more inhalation than with normal, natural breathing movements. In the case of inhalation that lasts longer, for example up to 20 minutes, this can lead to hyperventilation, ie to an acceleration or deepening of breathing that goes beyond the body's needs. However, such hyperventilation is unhealthy as it changes the natural ratio of oxygen to carbon dioxide in the blood. This in turn can lead to muscle cramps and, in extreme cases, to fainting.

Another disadvantage of this known inhaler is that, because of the strong inhalation required, it can only be used for inhalation through the mouth. There is no provision for active substances to be introduced into the nose, for example to improve nasal breathing, to reduce the swelling of the mucous membranes in the event of a runny nose or to relieve pain in the event of inflammation.

The inhaler described in DE 88 01 258 Ul is used to inhale refreshing agents. It also includes a tubular sleeve, but which is made of synthetic resin. A mouthpiece with a suction channel located therein is detachably attached to one end of the sleeve. The other end of the sleeve is provided on the end face with an end wall which has a ventilation opening in the center. The diameter of the ventilation opening is small compared to the diameter of the sleeve. The sleeve itself is filled with synthetic resin fibers impregnated with an aqueous solution of peppermint or a similar refreshing fragrance. Furthermore, this known inhaler includes a cap which, when not in use, is placed over the mouthpiece like a cap of a fountain pen, and a stopper which can be inserted into the ventilation opening at the second end of the sleeve for the same reason. When the cap mentioned is placed on the mouthpiece, this known inhaler resembles a fountain pen in appearance. This inhaler known from DE 88 01 258 Ul also has the disadvantages already mentioned. Although it has a ventilation opening in the end wall at the second end, it also lacks a continuous, free suction channel, since in this case too the sleeve is completely filled with synthetic resin fibers. In spite of the ventilation opening, a comparatively strong and deep inhalation is therefore also required here to inhale the active substances contained in the inhaler.

In addition, because of its construction, which, as I said, resembles a fountain pen or another capped pen, this inhaler has a comparatively large weight, so that for this reason it is also suitable for permanent inhalation through the nose, as is the subject of the present application is not suitable.

Another disadvantage of this known inhaler is that it is made almost entirely of synthetic resin, which, when used as a disposable inhaler, can lead to disposal problems.

The object of the present invention is therefore to create a disposable inhaler of the type mentioned at the outset which is light, has a simple structure and is suitable for inhaling active substances through the nose.

This object is achieved in that the sleeve consists of a thin, paper or fabric-like carrier material which is provided with the active substance at least in some areas. This measure has the advantage that it is now possible to dispense with the use of fillers or fibers for taking up the active ingredient. This also eliminates the need to design the sleeve as a container for receiving fillers or fibers. As a result, end walls or plugs are no longer required.

This in turn has the significant advantage that a continuous hollow suction channel through the sleeve is provided, which offers a low air resistance. Although webs can be provided in or on the sleeve of the inhaler according to the invention, these then serve for mechanical stabilization or for the intended regulation of the amount of air flowing through the sleeve.

Another advantage of this measure is that the disposable inhaler according to the invention consists of fewer individual components than the known inhalers, since, as already mentioned, additional walls or plugs can be dispensed with. This in turn leads to the fact that the manufacture of such inhalers is simplified and of course also cheaper.

The volatile active substance present on the carrier material evaporates and is evenly mixed with the air drawn through the tube in the middle and diluted by it. This process can be carried out with a normal breathing process, without having to "suck" in particular.

The weight of the inhaler is considerably reduced due to the reduction in the number of individual components. This is in With regard to the use for inhalation through the nose advantageous, so that the inhaler can be used in the sitting or standing position without having to be held by hand and yet not slipping off the nose.

All in all, the disposable inhaler according to the invention thus offers the advantages of lower air resistance, lower weight and simplified manufacture. This makes it suitable as a disposable inhaler for inhaling active ingredients through the nose.

The object set at the outset is thus completely achieved by the invention.

In one embodiment of the invention, the sleeve has a free suction channel, the clear diameter of which corresponds approximately to the diameter of the sleeve.

This measure has the advantage that the suction or air resistance of such an inhaler is extremely low. This eliminates the risk of hyperventilation.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the carrier material of the sleeve is provided with the active ingredient to be inhaled only in the region of the second end.

This measure has the considerable advantage that the evaporating active substance travels a certain distance in the suction channel before it enters the nose. He mixes increasingly with the air sucked in through the sleeve, and it is avoided that the active ingredient in too high concentrations is inhaled. In addition, it is avoided that the active ingredient comes into direct contact with the nasal mucosa. Overall, it is thus possible to insert the sleeve of the disposable inhaler into an nostril for one application, for example, for up to 20 minutes, without this leading to irritation or even burns during inhalation.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the active ingredient is applied to the carrier material in an ointment preparation.

This measure has the advantage that the active substance can be applied to the carrier material very easily in this way. Furthermore, the inhaler according to the invention can thereby also be used for inhaling active substance preparations which are already commercially available and are available in ointment preparation.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the carrier material is impregnated or impregnated with a solution containing the active ingredient.

This measure also offers the advantage that the inhaler can be provided with the active ingredient very easily, and it is also possible to use commercially available inhalation preparations.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the first end of the sleeve is shaped to fit the nose for insertion into the nose. This measure has the advantage that it is easy to insert the inhaler into the nose and injuries to the nasal mucosa or the nasal septum are avoided. In addition, the measure has the advantage that the sleeve is not uncomfortable or painful for the user, even with prolonged inhalation through the nose.

In a further, particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the sleeve is rolled from a flat, sheet-like carrier material.

Overall, this offers the great advantage that the sleeve is very easy to manufacture, since it can be provided with the active ingredient to be inhaled before it is rolled up. In addition, this measure offers the essential advantage that the inhaler according to the invention can also be sold in the form of leaves which have not yet been rolled up but are already provided with the active ingredient to be inhaled. A user can then roll up the flat, sheet-like carrier material even immediately before inhalation in such a way that the diameter of the sleeve is matched to the size of its nostrils. In addition, due to this measure, the inhaler according to the invention can also be packed in large quantities in a space-saving manner.

In a further development of this measure, the sleeve is secured against unrolling by a fixation.

This measure is particularly advantageous if the disposable inhaler according to the invention is rolled from a flat, sheet-like carrier material, but is already sold in rolled form as a sleeve. This measure ensures that the sleeve does not unroll before it is used. Of course, this measure can also be done in Connection with the sleeves to be rolled by the user.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the carrier material of the sleeve consists of an air-permeable material.

This measure has the particular advantage that the air resistance of the sleeve is reduced again, since air is also sucked in through the side walls of the sleeve. Another important advantage is that the dilution of the active ingredient to be inhaled by this air sucked in from the side is even greater, and an active ingredient to be inhaled can thus be applied at the end of the sleeve in a higher and thus a larger active ingredient depot concentration without the Users run the risk of being injured, especially at the beginning of the application, by an excessively high concentration of active substance.

In a further embodiment of this measure, the carrier material of the sleeve consists of cellulose. This material is particularly well suited for the inhaler of the present invention due to its air permeability, absorbency and environmental compatibility.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the inhaler comprises two of the sleeves mentioned, which are held together by a holding clip.

This measure has the advantage that the two sleeves for simultaneous inhalation of active ingredients in both nostrils 10

be fixed. The measure has a particularly advantageous effect if the two sleeves are held in an anatomically adapted shape by the clip.

As already mentioned, the invention also relates to a paper or tissue-like flat carrier material for forming a tubular disposable inhaler according to the invention described above.

This applies in particular in view of the fact that the inhaler according to the invention, as also already mentioned, can also be sold in sheet form, so that the sleeve required for inhalation is only rolled up by the user immediately before inhalation. The corresponding paper or tissue-like carrier material is a roll-up sheet with an edge length of a few centimeters, preferably up to about 10 cm, and this sheet is provided with the active ingredient to be inhaled at least in some areas.

This configuration is very space-saving. The sheet-like carrier material can be welded into a film which is torn open, the sheet is removed and rolled into a tube. In this form, the inhaler can be given as an insert in magazines or advertising brochures, or laid out and offered for sale in pharmacies or drug stores and displays.

In one embodiment, the sheet is approximately rectangular and is provided with the active ingredient to be inhaled along an edge. 1 1

This measure has the advantage that the corresponding sheet is particularly easy to manufacture and rolling up the sheet along the edge provided with the active ingredient leads to a sleeve which, according to the advantageous embodiment already mentioned, only in the area of the second end distant from the nostril with the active ingredient to be inhaled.

Overall, a disposable inhaler according to the present invention in its various configurations is excellently suitable for nasal cold inhalation of active ingredients, for example for the inhalation of essential oils. Cold inhalation means that the active ingredients for inhalation do not first have to be evaporated by heating, but can already be inhaled together with the breathing air at normal room temperature. Such nasal inhalation with suitable active ingredients improves nasal breathing, facilitates gas exchange during breathing and finally stimulates the blood flow to the nasal mucosa.

The active substance applied to the carrier material of the sleeve reaches the nose with the inhaled air and, moreover, also in the upper airways with the pharynx, paranasal sinuses and even the bronchi.

The areas of use for an inhaler according to the invention described here are accordingly infectious, allergic or atrophic rhinitis, sinusitis, bronchitis or also aromatherapy.

Due to the construction of the inhaler according to the invention, a pleasant air flow results, which corresponds to the selected one 12

Active ingredient is enriched and which flows through the mucous membrane areas of the nose. Depending on the active ingredient selected, an anti-inflammatory or decongestant effect can be achieved.

Due to the low air resistance offered by the disposable inhaler according to the present invention, normal, natural breathing is practically not hindered. Because of this and because of its ease of use, it can be used anywhere, e.g. at home, at work or when traveling. Continuous inhalation, for example up to 20 minutes, is even possible without any problems.

In comparison with hot inhalation, the cold inhalation possible with the inhaler according to the invention is significantly more gentle on the mucous membrane and skin.

It goes without saying that the features mentioned above and those yet to be explained below can be used not only in the combination specified in each case, but also in other combinations or on their own without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The inhaler according to the invention can also be used for oral inhalation.

The invention is described and explained in more detail below on the basis of a few selected exemplary embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Show it: 13

1 is a schematic representation of a disposable inhaler according to the invention consisting of two sleeves which are inserted into the nostrils of a nose,

2 shows a sheet-like, flat carrier material for shaping an inhaler according to the invention,

3 the rolling up of the flat, sheet-like carrier material to form a sleeve,

Fig. 4 shows a sleeve for use as a disposable inhaler, which is secured with a fixation against unrolling and

Fig. 5 shows a sleeve for use as a disposable inhaler, which is fixed against unrolling.

In Fig. 1, a disposable inhaler according to the invention is designated in its entirety with the reference number 10.

In the exemplary embodiment shown here, the disposable inhaler 10 comprises two sleeves 12, 14, each having a first end 16 and a second end 18. Each of the two sleeves 12, 14 surrounds a suction channel 20. The two ends 16, 18 of the sleeves 12, 14 are each open and form a first opening 22 at the first end 16 and a second opening 24 at the second end 18. The diameter 26 of the suction channel 20 corresponds to the clear diameter 28 of the sleeve 12, 14.

The first end 16 of each sleeve 12, 14 is inserted into a nostril 30 of a nose 32. 14

In the area of their second end 18, the sleeves 12, 14 are provided with an active ingredient 34 to be inhaled. A holding clip 36 holds the two sleeves 12, 14 together in an anatomically advantageous manner.

During normal inhalation through the nose 32, air 38 is sucked in through the opening 24 at the second end 18 of the sleeves 12, 14. This flows past the area of the sleeve 12, 14 provided with the active substance 34 and takes away molecules or particles of the evaporating active substance 34. These are transported into the nose 32 together with the intake air 38 in the suction channel 20 of the sleeves 12, 14.

According to the advantageous embodiment of the invention already described, the carrier material of the sleeves 12, 14 here consists of an air-permeable material, namely cellulose. As a result, air 40 can also enter the sleeves 12, 14 laterally. The air 40 mixes in the suction channel 20 of the sleeves 12, 14 with the air 38 sucked in through the opening 24, which pulls the active substance 34 with it. This mixing reduces the concentration of the active substance 34 to such an extent that irritation or corrosion of the nasal mucous membranes of the nose 32 is avoided.

The first ends 16 of the sleeves 12, 14 are shaped in a manner which is not visible here, in a manner appropriate for the nose. This can be, for example, a taper adapted to the shape of the nasal cavities. In addition, the ends 16 of the sleeves 12, 14 can be provided from a thicker layer of the carrier material or, for example, also with an additional, additional material layer 15

to record a possible nasal flow, especially with long-term inhalation.

2 shows a flat, sheet-like carrier material for forming a tubular disposable inhaler 10. The sheet 42 is provided with the active ingredient 34 to be inhaled along an edge 44. This can be done, for example, by applying the active ingredient 34 in an ointment preparation or by impregnating or impregnating the sheet 42 with a solution containing the active ingredient 34. The sheet 42 is approximately rectangular.

For hygienic reasons and during storage, the sheet 42 is sealed in an airtight packaging, for example in a film, which has been removed beforehand.

Transversely to the edge 44, the sheet 42 has a fixing tab 46 provided with a pressure-sensitive adhesive, by means of which the sheet 42 can be secured against unrolling after being rolled up.

FIG. 3 shows how the sheet 42 can be rolled up in the direction of the arrows 48 to form a sleeve 12, 14.

Fig. 4 shows a resulting sleeve 12, which is secured by means of the fixing tab 46 against unrolling. Alternatively, this can be an adhesive surface to be activated by moisture, as is known, for example, from cigarette paper for rolling cigarettes yourself. Because of the fixing tab 46, the sleeve remains in the rolled-up state and forms the diameter 26 that is then fixed 16

Suction channel 20. As a result, it can be adapted to the respective size of the nostril 30, that is to say whether, for example, a child or an adult is using the inhaler.

In this illustration, the layers of the sheet 42 which are wound one above the other and which are visible at the opening 22 are shown for clarity at a greater distance from one another than this actually results when a sheet 42 is wound up. In fact, with a suitably thin blade 42, the diameter of the suction channel 20 formed within the sleeve 12 will approximately correspond to the diameter 28 of the sleeve 12. If the inhaler is offered as a separate sleeve 12, this is also provided by the manufacturer with a protective cover which is removed before use.

Fig. 5 shows a sleeve 12 which is rolled from a sheet 42 without a fixing tab 46. Due to the lack of fixation, the sheet 42 will attempt to unroll in the direction of the arrows 50, 52. As already mentioned above, the force effect on which this process is based can be used to hold the sleeve 12 in place when it is inserted into the nostril 30.

In addition to the embodiment of a disposable inhaler according to the invention shown in FIG. 1, in which two sleeves 12, 14 are held by means of the holding clip 36 and can thus be inserted into one of the two nostrils 30, a disposable inhaler according to this invention can of course also be made from a sleeve alone 12 exist. This can, for example, be rolled out of a sheet 42 in accordance with FIG. 4 or FIG. 5.

Claims

17 patent claims 1. Disposable inhaler for inhaling volatile active substances through the nose (32), with at least one tubular sleeve (12, 14) which has a first (16) and a second end (18), the sleeve (12, 14) for Inhaling can be inserted into the nose (32) with its first end (16), characterized in that the sleeve (12, 14) consists of a thin, paper or tissue-like carrier material which is provided with the active substance at least in some areas. 2. Disposable inhaler according to claim 1, characterized in that the sleeve (12, 14) has a free suction channel (20) whose inside diameter (26) corresponds approximately to the diameter (28) of the sleeve (12, 14). 3. Disposable inhaler according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the carrier material of the sleeve (12, 14) is provided only in the region of the second end (18) with the active ingredient to be inhaled (34). 4. Disposable inhaler according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the active ingredient (34) is applied to the carrier material in an ointment preparation. 5. Disposable inhaler according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the carrier material is impregnated or impregnated with a solution containing the active ingredient (34). 18th 6. Disposable inhaler according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the first end (16) of the sleeve (12, 14) for insertion into the nose (32) is shaped to suit the nose. 7. Disposable inhaler according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the sleeve (12, 14) is rolled from a flat, sheet-like carrier material (Fig. 3). 8. Disposable inhaler according to claim 7, characterized in that the sleeve (12, 14) is secured with a fixation (46) against unrolling (50, 52). 9. Disposable inhaler according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the carrier material of the sleeve (12, 14) consists of an air-permeable material. 10. Disposable inhaler according to claim 9, characterized in that the carrier material of the sleeve (12, 14) consists of cellulose. 11. Disposable inhaler according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the inhaler comprises two of the said sleeves (12, 14) which are held by a holding clip (36). 12. Paper or tissue-like flat carrier material for forming a tubular disposable inhaler (10), characterized in that the paper or tissue-like carrier material is a roll-up sheet (42) with an edge length of up to a few centimeters, preferably approximately up to 19 10 cm, and that this sheet (42) is at least partially provided with the active ingredient (34) to be inhaled. 13. paper or tissue-like carrier material according to claim 12, characterized in that the sheet (42) is approximately rectangular and is provided along an edge (44) with the active ingredient to be inhaled (34).