A device for inhaling powder-type substances includes a plurality of substance containers that can be moved successively into an emptying position, wherein the substance containers—which are not connected to one another—are accommodated in direct contact with one another in a guide unit attached to the device and can be moved by contact pressure propagating among the substance containers. The guide unit has a drive wheel with accommodating forms separated by drive teeth. The substance container in the emptying position is located in an accommodating form of the drive wheel. A substance container for a device for inhaling powder-type substances has two sub-regions, each separately having an amount of the substance, and both sub-regions have an openable, pierceable cover. A method for filling a device for inhaling powder-type substances uses a plurality of substance containers that can be moved successively into an emptying position.

An aerosol-generating system is provided, including an aerosol-generating device including a heater element, and an aerosol-generating article configured to engage with the aerosol-generating device, the aerosol-generating article including a medicament source, a volatile delivery enhancing compound source, and at least one frangible barrier sealing the medicament source and the volatile delivery enhancing compound source, the aerosol-generating system further including a rupturing portion forming part of the aerosol-generating device or the aerosol-generating article, the aerosol-generating system being configured to allow relative sliding movement between the rupturing portion and the at least one frangible barrier to rupture the at least one frangible barrier.

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.

A device for accessing dry powder within a sealed chamber is described. The device includes a hollow housing having a proximal end opening, a primary distal end opening and a secondary distal end opening, at least one wing structure extending from the outer surface of the housing that is positioned distally from the primary distal opening. Also described is a dry powder inhaler having a housing, a penetrating component for accessing dry powder within a sealed chamber, and a mouthpiece, where the mouthpiece is connected to the proximal end opening of the penetrating component, and wherein the at least a portion of the distal end of the penetrating component is positioned within the inhaler housing.

An aerosol-generating system is provided, including an aerosol-generating device including a heater element, and an aerosol-generating article configured to engage with the aerosol-generating device, the aerosol-generating article including a medicament source, a volatile delivery enhancing compound source, and at least one frangible barrier sealing the medicament source and the volatile delivery enhancing compound source, the aerosol-generating system further including a rupturing portion forming part of the aerosol-generating device or the aerosol-generating article, the aerosol-generating system being configured to allow relative sliding movement between the rupturing portion and the at least one frangible barrier to rupture the at least one frangible barrier.

An aerosol-generating system is provided, including an aerosol-generating device including a heater element, and an aerosol-generating article configured to engage with the aerosol-generating device, the aerosol-generating article including a medicament source, a volatile delivery enhancing compound source, and at least one frangible barrier sealing the medicament source and the volatile delivery enhancing compound source, the aerosol-generating system further including a rupturing portion forming part of the aerosol-generating device or the aerosol-generating article, the aerosol-generating system being configured to allow relative sliding movement between the rupturing portion and the at least one frangible barrier to rupture the at least one frangible barrier.

A substance delivery module (4) and apparatus (2) for delivering a substance in aerosol form are disclosed. The substance delivery module (4) comprises a substance container (90), a piston (62) and an actuator (100) configured to engage the substance container (90) and urge the substance container (90) onto the piston (62), so dispensing the substance into the through passage (102) of the piston. The actuator (100) and substance container (90) are mounted in the substance delivery module (4) for relative motion, such relative motion bringing the actuator (100) into engagement with the substance container (90). The substance delivery module (4) may be assembled with an aerosol generator (10) and an aerosol delivery conduit (14) to form an apparatus (2) for delivering a substance in aerosol form. The apparatus (2) may further comprise a control module (6).

A substance delivery module and apparatus for delivering substance in aerosol form are disclosed. The substance delivery module includes a plurality of substance containers and a plurality of pistons, with each substance container being mounted in the module for cooperation with a dedicated piston. Another substance delivery module is disclosed that includes a piston defining a delivery axis and a substance container, moveably mounted with respect to the piston. The substance container is moveable along the delivery axis and may, for example, be moved toward and onto the piston. Either of the substance delivery modules may be assembled with an aerosol generator and an aerosol delivery conduit in fluid communication with the aerosol generator to form an apparatus for delivering substance in aerosol form. The apparatus may further include a control module.

An apparatus for aerosolized powder delivery includes first and second chambers containing gas at first and second pressures, respectively, above atmospheric pressure. A powder is contained within the first or second chamber. The first chamber has a first external wall and a separating wall shared with the second chamber. The first external wall or the separating wall is configured to rupture if the pressure difference across it becomes equal to or greater than a threshold pressure difference. Specifically, the apparatus is configured so that the difference between the second pressure and atmospheric pressure is greater than the threshold pressure difference. Initially, the difference between the second and first pressures is less than the pressure difference required to rupture the separating wall, and the difference between the first pressure and atmospheric pressure is less than the pressure difference required to rupture the first external wall.

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.