An apparatus for delivering a powdered agent into a subject's body may include a first passage for receiving a pressurized gas. The apparatus also may include a container housing a powdered agent. The container may be in fluid connection with the first passage. At least a portion of the pressurized gas is introduced into the powdered agent in the container to fluidize the powdered agent. The apparatus also may include a second passage for receiving the powdered agent from the container. In a first configuration of the apparatus, the second passage may not be in fluid connection with the container. In a second configuration of the apparatus, the second passage may be in fluid connection with the container. The apparatus may be configured to transition between the first configuration and the second configuration.

A vibration conveyor is provided for a capsule-based, single-dose dry powder inhaler of the type comprising an inhaler body comprising a capsule chamber for receiving a dry powder formulation capsule, an inhalation channel in fluid communication with the chamber, and means for piercing a capsule in the chamber to allow outside air flow to be mixed with the contents of said capsule for inhalation thereof, means for monitoring vibrations resulting from inhalation, and means for transferring said vibrations from the inhaler body to the monitoring means. The conveyor comprises a plate interposed between the body and the means for monitoring.

The present invention relates to a vibration head (210) for an aerosol generator (200), the vibration head (210) comprising: a membrane (8); a vibration generating element (4); and a secondary coil (220) configured for providing an inductive coupling with a primary coil (320) being connected with a controller (100) of the aerosol generator (200), the inductive coupling driving the vibration generating element (4) to vibrate the membrane (8) for generating the aerosol.

Methods are provided for acute treatment of agitation, including agitation in patients with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, comprising administering to a subject with agitation an effective dose of a dry pharmaceutical composition comprising olanzapine, wherein the dose is administered by an intranasal delivery device that provides, following intranasal administration, (a) a mean peak plasma olanzapine concentration (C.sub.max) of at least 30 ng/mL, with (b) a mean time to C.sub.max (T.sub.max) of olanzapine of less than 0.5 hours. Dry pharmaceutical compositions and devices suitable for intranasal delivery of olanzapine are provided.

Methods are provided for acute treatment of agitation, including agitation in patients with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, comprising administering to a subject with agitation an effective dose of a dry pharmaceutical composition comprising olanzapine, wherein the dose is administered by an intranasal delivery device that provides, following intranasal administration, (a) a mean peak plasma olanzapine concentration (C.sub.max) of at least 30 ng/mL, with (b) a mean time to C.sub.max (T.sub.max) of olanzapine of less than 0.5 hours. Dry pharmaceutical compositions and devices suitable for intranasal delivery of olanzapine are provided.

The present invention provides for the integration of drug dispersion methods into a drug or medicine delivery system. The drug dispersion methods used include shear (e.g., air across a drug, with or without a gas assist), capillary flow or a venturi effect, mechanical means such as spinning, vibration, or impaction, and turbulence (e.g., using mesh screens, or restrictions in the air path). These methods of drug dispersion allow for all of the drug in the system to be released, allowing control of the dosage size. These methods also provide for drug metering, fluidization, entrainment, deaggragation and deagglomeration. The present invention also provides for the integration of a drug sealing system into the device. The drug sealing system provides a way of blocking the migration of drug from one area of the package to another. The drug seal system can also provide a method of tightly containing the drug until the package is opened, of directing airflow through the package and of managing and containing the drug during the package/device manufacturing process.

In one aspect of the present disclosure, an apparatus for delivering a powdered agent into a subject's body may include a powder chamber housing the powdered agent. The apparatus also may include a chassis in fluid connection with the powder chamber. The chassis may include a first passage for receiving a pressurized gas, a second passage for receiving the powdered agent from the powder chamber, and a junction in fluid communication with the first passage and the second passage. At least a first portion of the pressurized gas is introduced into the powdered agent at the junction to fluidize the powdered agent.

A system may include a mobile application residing on an external device and an inhalation device. The inhalation device may include a mouthpiece, a mouthpiece cover, medicament, and an electronics module comprising a processor. The inhalation device may be configured to both prepare a dose of medicament for delivery to a user and cause the processor to transition between power states when the mouthpiece cover is moved from a closed position to an open position to expose the mouthpiece. The electronics module or the mobile application may be configured to generate usage events based on usage of the inhalation device by the user. The electronics module may also include a pressure sensor, and the electronics module or the mobile application may be configured to determine whether a usage event is a good inhalation event, a fair inhalation event, or a no inhalation event based on feedback from the pressure sensor.

A device for delivering medication to a user may include a main body, an electronics module, and a slider. The main body may include a mouthpiece, a medication reservoir, and a mouthpiece cover, where the mouthpiece cover may be hinged to the main body. The electronics module may include a communication circuit, a pressure sensor, and a switch. The slider may be configured to engage the switch when the mouthpiece cover moves from a closed position to an open position. The switch may be configured to switch the electronics module from an off state or a sleep state to an active state. The electronics module may be configured to never return to the off state after the mouthpiece cover is moved to expose the mouthpiece for the first time by the user.

The present invention provides a device for delivering a predetermined amount of at least one substance to a body orifice of a subject; comprising: a. a container for containing said at least one substance; b. a delivery end for placement in proximity to said orifice, said delivery end being in fluid communication with said container; c. a valve mechanically connectable to said container, characterized by at least two configurations: (i) an ACTIVE CONFIGURATION in which said valve enables delivery of predetermined amount of said substance from said container to said body orifice via said delivery end; and, (ii) an INACTIVE CONFIGURATION, in which said valve prevents delivery of said predetermined amount of said substance from said container to said body orifice; d. a trigger mechanism adapted to reconfigure said valve from said INACTIVE CONFIGURATION to said ACTIVE CONFIGURATION, and vice versa; e. a fluid tight chamber.