Receptacle packaging with inhaler-accommodating geometry

Abstract

A packaging for a receptacle loadable into an inhaler for pulmonary delivery of the contents of the receptacle. The packaging includes a base and a cover, which base has a surface defining a well that accommodates the receptacle. The well-defining surface includes a first region and a differently shaped second region, which first surface region is shaped to support the receptacle in alignment within the well, and which second surface region accommodates a first end of the receptacle aligned in the well and has a mouth geometry enlarged from the first surface region to allow a portion of an inhaler to be inserted therein to receive the first end of the receptacle for scooping the receptacle into the inhaler from the well.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention pertains to pharmaceutical packaging, and, in particular, to a packaging for a receptacle loadable into an inhaler and containing a pharmaceutical powder for inhalation. [0002] One manner of introducing a pharmaceutical into a patient is by a pulmonary administration, during which the pharmaceutical is inhaled by the patient through use of an inhaler. For example, the pharmaceutical may be provided in the form of an inhalable powder filled within an interior volume of a receptacle, such as a thin walled, semi-rigid capsule. After dropping the capsule into an inhalation chamber of an inhaler, and then operating the inhaler to open the capsule, such as by piercing, to allow the powder to escape from the capsule interior volume into the inhalation chamber, the user can inhale the pharmaceutical from that chamber, typically through a chamber-capping mouthpiece or nosepiece of the inhaler. After use, the spent or substantially powd...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007] One advantage of the present invention is that a packaging may be provided which allows a user to load an inhaler (or other delivery device) with a pharmaceutical powder-filled receptacle (or other unit dosage form) without manually touching that receptacle.

[0008] Another advantage of the present invention is that a packaging may be provided that has blisters from which receptacles can be easily removed without making the overall packaging undesirably larger, which larger size might thereby waste valuable space in the overall packaging.

[0009] Another advantage of the present invention is that a packaging may be provided a blister shaped to permit an inhaler end to be inserted therein, whereby a receptacle he blister may be scooped directly into an inhalation chamber of the inhaler.

[0010] Yet another advantage of the present invention is that a packaging may be provided that receptacle within a blister of that packaging to be dragged or scooped out therefrom.

Problems solved by technology

This technique may be difficult to accomplish as there may be little space between the capsule and the walls of the blister.

However, these methods also have shortcomings, as the capsule may be lightweight and easily mishandled, and further some patients may be reluctant to touch the capsule with bare hands for fear of, for example, dirtying the capsule.

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