An aerosolization apparatus comprises a housing defining a chamber having one or more air inlets. The chamber is sized to receive a capsule which contains an aerosolizable pharmaceutical formulation. The aerosolization apparatus further comprises a puncturing mechanism within the housing. The puncturing mechanism comprises an alignment guide and a puncture member, wherein the alignment guide comprises a surface adapted to contact the capsule while the puncture member is advanced into the capsule to create an opening in the capsule. At least a portion of the surface is sloped relative to the longitudinal axis of the capsule. Alternatively or additionally, the surface may comprise one or more protrusions. An end section is associated with the housing. The end section is sized and shaped to be received in a user's mouth or nose so that the user may inhale through the end section to inhale aerosolized pharmaceutical formulation that has exited the capsule through the opening created in the capsule. The alignment guide allows for more consistent puncturing of the capsule and a longer lifetime of the apparatus.

An inhaler comprising a housing defining a chamber to receive a strip having a plurality of blisters each containing a dose of medicament for inhalation by a user is disclosed. It comprises an actuating lever and a blister strip drive member rotatably mounted in the chamber to sequentially move each blister into a blister opening position. The blister strip drive member and the actuating lever comprise a drive gear and a drive gear element, respectively, that cooperate to effect rotation of the blister strip drive member in response to rotation of the actuating lever. The drive gear and drive gear element are disposed on the outside of the housing remote from the chamber.

According to some embodiments there is provided a device configured for releasing at least one substance from source material, comprising: a housing; a plurality of source material sections positioned at fixed locations with respect to the housing; a plurality of airflow paths, each airflow path associated with at least one source material section; each airflow path associated with at least one blocking element which prevents flow of air through the path; and an actuator operably coupled to the blocking element, the actuator configured for unblocking the airflow path of at least one selected source material section to allow flow of air to and through source material within the selected section.

A nebulizer comprising a nebulizing chamber with a vibrating mesh grid having a plurality of precision openings and said chamber with a liquid pharmaceutical product in a cartridge contacting the mesh grid for producing particle sizes of two (2) to four (4) microns; and an entrainment port for drawing air into the nebulizing chamber and through the grid. A control circuit, a source of electrical energy in said circuit such as two 1.5 volt lithium titanate batteries connected to said grid for producing vibration. A switch to turn said grid off and on and means for providing a first measured time period of four seconds for taking a first breath of air through the entrainment port and grid and through the thousands of passageways into the lungs and bloodstream of an individual. A second time period during which no vibration occurs. The grid is also self-cleaning as described.

A system and method suitable for monitoring user technique of an inhaler device configured for delivery of a medicament is provided. The system may include a microphone adapted for sensing sound made during operation of the inhaler device and processing circuitry operable to process a data signal obtained from the microphone, wherein the data signal includes acoustic information sensed. The processing circuitry is adapted to determine inhalation and exhalation breath characteristics that occur during use, by analyzing the temporal and spectral components of the acoustic information sensed and processed to differentiate between an inhalation and an exhalation, based on both the temporal and spectral components. This information can be processed to determine user technique adherence to inhaler or respiratory device protocol. The analysis of temporal and spectral components can determine the impact of user technique errors on the quantity and the deposition of medicament delivered into the user's airways.

A fluid dispenser device including a body, an elongate flexible strip supporting a plurality of reservoirs, each containing a dose of fluid or powder; an reservoir-opening mechanism for opening a reservoir on actuation; a first displacement mechanism for causing the flexible strip to advance before, during and/or after actuation, so as to bring a full reservoir into register with the reservoir-opening mechanism; and a second displacement mechanism for displacing a full reservoir against the opening mechanism each actuation. The leading end of the flexible strip is fastened to a rotary receiver element, the receiver element including a set of peripheral teeth that co-operates with a movable traction member, a stressed spring acting on the movable traction member so as to displace it, the displacement of the movable traction member causing the receiver element to turn, such that the receiver element exerts a traction force on the elongate strip.

A fluid dispenser, including a cover element; a blister strip; a blister opening mechanism; a first displacement mechanism having an indexer wheel; a second displacement mechanism pivoting between a non-dispensing position and a dispensing position; a cocking member for urging the second displacement mechanism towards the dispensing position, the cocking member spring-loaded by opening the cover; a blocking mechanism for retaining the second displacement mechanism in the non-dispensing position; a trigger mechanism for releasing the blocking mechanism; a slidable carriage displaceable between a non-indexing position and an indexing position and including an actuator co-operating with the indexer wheel; a connection mechanism activated during inhalation that connects the carriage with the cover, so as to displace said carriage towards its indexing position when the cover element is brought towards its closed position, and so as to displace said carriage towards its non-indexing position when brought towards its open position.

The invention relates to a powder inhaler with at least one specially sharpened needle, to ensure the precise piercing or cutting open of capsules and hence the optimum delivery of powdered medicament compositions, medicament formulations or medicament mixtures, as well as ensuring that little effort is needed to perforate or cut open the capsule.

A dry powder inhaler includes a powder storage element configured to hold a powdered medicament and an inlet channel receives powdered medicament from the powder storage element that is entrained in an airflow. The inlet channel has a first diameter and defines an opening. The inhaler includes a dispersion chamber that receives the airflow and the powdered medicament from the opening. The dispersion chamber has a second diameter. The inhaler includes an actuator housed within the dispersion chamber. The actuator oscillates within the dispersion chamber when exposed to the airflow to deaggregate the powdered medicament entrained by the airflow passing through the dispersion chamber. A ratio between the first diameter and the second diameter is between about 0.40 and 0.60 such that an audible sound is produced as the actuator oscillates. The inhaler includes an outlet channel through which the airflow and powdered medicament exit the inhaler.

A dry powder inhaler for providing pharmaceutically active particles includes a mouthpiece portion removably coupled to a distal end portion. The mouthpiece portion extends between the mouthpiece end and a first mating end. The distal end portion extends between a second mating end and the distal end. A capsule cavity is defined within the first mating end. An airflow element is disposed within the distal end portion and extends a longitudinal length to the capsule cavity. The airflow element includes an airflow channel extending the longitudinal length of the airflow channel and non-parallel with the longitudinal axis, the airflow channel directs inlet air into the capsule cavity, and a resealable membrane configured to reseal when a piercing element is withdrawn from the resealable membrane.