An inhaler configured to dispense a dosage of one or more inhalable therapeutic product to a user, the inhaler comprising; a reservoir configured to contain the product for inhalation by the user; a valve movable between a first configuration configured to prevent release of product from the reservoir and a second configuration configured to release a dose of the product from the revoir; a sensor to detect a mechanical input applied to the inhaler during an instance of use; a controller arranged to determine if one or more parameter of the mechanical input meets a predetermined criterion; the controller arranged to log each instance of use by the user, wherein the controller records an indication of whether the parameter of the mechanical input meets the predetermined criterion with the log for an instance of use.

Vibrational powder applicators and related methods are disclosed. In some embodiments, a vibrational powder applicator may include a powder storage chamber, a powder (e.g., a therapeutic powder) disposed within the powder storage chamber, an actuator operatively coupled to the powder storage chamber and configured to vibrationally agitate the powder when activated, and an outlet in fluid communication with the powder storage chamber. In some embodiments, a vibrational powder applicator may include a flow restrictor and/or a valve.

An apparatus (10) for micronizing an inorganic salt, having a receiving vessel (14) for receiving the salt (46) to be micronized in an interior of the receiving vessel (14); a grinding unit (22) for comminuting the salt (46) to be micronized located in the receiving vessel (14) and for forming micronized salt particles (54); an ascending pipe (24), which is connected fluidically to the receiving vessel (14) and serves to transport the micronized salt particles (54), wherein one end of the ascending pipe (24) has an outlet orifice (38) through which the micronized salt particles (54) can flow out of the apparatus (10); a fan (26) for generating an air stream (40); and a housing (12) with an air outlet (44) and an air duct (42) connecting the fan (26) to the air outlet (44), wherein the air duct (42) is separated by at least one wall from the interior of the receiving vessel (14), such that the air stream (40) generated by the fan (26) does not flow through the interior of the receiving vessel (14), and wherein the air outlet (44) at least partly surrounds the ascending pipe (24) in a region of the outlet orifice (38).

Inhaler for oral inhalation administration of a drug, comprising a housing, a drug chamber in the housing, an air pump configured to pump air through the drug chamber for expulsing the drug through an outlet of a mouthpiece, wherein the air pump comprises a motor coupled to a centrifugal compressor operable to pump air through the drug chamber at a pressure greater than 30 millibars and a flow rate greater than 25 litres per minute.

The invention provides a compact inhalation device (CID) to effectively deliver inhalation mediation to a patient. The CID comprises a mouth piece, a drug chamber and an air flow chamber, wherein the mouth piece, the drug chamber and the air flow chamber are connected to form a cylinder-shaped device, which is similar to a cigarette, and provide at least medication contained in the drug chamber to the patient via the mouth piece. One end of the mouth piece fits a patient's mouth. The other end of the mouth piece is connected to a first end of the drug chamber, and a second end of the drug chamber is connected to a first end of the air flow chamber, wherein the connections between them use a twisted close/open mechanism or a flapped flow close/open mechanism. A second end of the air flow chamber has an opening for ambient air flow.

An aerosol-generating device is provided, including: a housing; a cavity arranged to removably receive an aerosol-generating article; an aperture at least partially defined by the housing, wherein the aperture is positioned at an end of the cavity and configured for insertion of an aerosol-generating article into the cavity through the aperture; and a cover element arranged for rotational movement with respect to the housing, the cover element being rotatable between a closed position in which the cover element entirely covers the aperture and an open position in which the aperture is entirely uncovered, the cover element including a cover portion and a shaft portion extending from the cover portion, the cover portion being arranged to entirely cover the aperture when the cover element is in the closed position, and the shaft portion being received within the housing. An aerosol-generating system including the device and an aerosol-generating article is also provided.

An aerosol-generating device is provided, including: a housing including an end wall; a cavity configured to removably receive an aerosol-generating article; an aperture at least partially defined by the housing and extending through a first portion of the end wall, the aperture being disposed at an end of the cavity and configured for insertion of the article into the cavity through the aperture; and a cover configured for rotational movement with respect to the housing and being rotatable between a closed position entirely covering the aperture and an open position in which the aperture is entirely uncovered and the cover overlies a second portion of the end wall, the cover including a cover portion and a shaft portion extending orthogonally from the cover portion, the cover portion entirely covering the aperture when the cover is in the closed position, and the shaft portion being received within the housing.

A metering device activated by a user induced airstream for an inhalation of a medicinal substance. The device includes: a closure cap; a piston; a mouthpiece; and an annular chamber disposed upstream of the mouthpiece. A storage chamber stores the substance which can be moved out of the storage chamber when the closure cap is removed. A metering rod for removing the medicinal substance out of the storage chamber into an emptying-standby position. In the emptying-standby position, the metering chamber is closed by the piston. The piston is displaceable by airstream into an emptying-release position. In the emptying-release position, a metering chamber is released and the substance removed by the suction airstream. The metering device includes an outer cylinder which accommodates an inner cylinder.

The invention relates to a unit for the micronization of a solid active agent, such as a salt, preferably table salt (NaCI), for inhalation, comprising a micronizer driven by a motor. The unit according to the invention is characterised in that micronization is performed by a unit constituted by a closed rotary drum (2) receiving a solid active agent having the same grain size, preferably 0.1-4 mm, as table salt (NaCI), where the wall surfaces of the micronizer unit are made at least in part of a material having a filtering capacity of 0.1-1000 m, the material preferably being a mesh-like or microperforated material. A further unit according to the invention is characterised in that the micronizer consists of a rotary block (23) made of the active agent, a friction block (24) adapted to be in frictioning relation with the rotary block, and a clamping mechanism (25) adapted for holding the friction block (24) in position and for clamping the friction block (24) to the rotary block (23), the micronizer being disposed in a closed housing (11), and the wall surfaces of the housing (11) being at least in part made of a material having a filtering capacity of 0.1-1000 m.

A dry powder delivery device may be configured to provide micronized dry powder particles to airways of a user. The device may include a cylindrical container delimiting a chamber containing at least one magnetically-responsive object, a motor external to said chamber, a magnet external to the chamber and rotatably coupled with the motor, and an outflow member configured to direct airflow to a user. The magnetically-responsive object may be coated with micronized dry powder particles, and the motor may be operable to rotate the magnet about an axis. Rotation of the magnet creates a magnetic field that causes the magnetically-responsive object to move in response to the magnetic field and collide with a side wall of the container to deaggregate the dry powder particles and aerosolize the dry powder in the chamber.