A method is provided that includes intranasally dispensing nasal wash fluid into a nasal cavity of a subject such that the nasal wash fluid washes biological material into an oropharynx of the subject from (a) the nasal cavity, (b) a nasopharynx of the subject, or (c) the nasal cavity and the nasopharynx. The method further includes, thereafter, collecting a specimen sample that passed out of an anterior opening of an oral cavity of the subject and contains at least a portion of the biological material washed into the oropharynx by the nasal wash fluid. Thereafter, information is derived from extracellular vesicles present in the specimen sample. Other embodiments are also described.

An atomiser, in particular an inhaler, for atomising a liquid active agent to form an aerosol, having, inter alia, an active agent reservoir, an atomiser nozzle and a pump arrangement, wherein a suction side of the pump arrangement leads into the active agent reservoir and a pressure side of the pump arrangement leads into the atomiser nozzle, and wherein the pump arrangement has a plunger that can be adjusted in a cylinder in the axial direction of the cylinder. A corresponding method is also described.

According to the invention there is disclosed a dispenser device for dispensing a medicament, the device comprising at least one component having a coating that comes into contact with the medicament during storage or use of the device on at least one surface thereof, the coating comprising a cross-linked non-diamond like carbon layer comprising 50 At % hydrogen or less and having an interface with the underlying surface of the component.

A pulmonary drug delivery system is disclosed, including a breath-powered, dry powder inhaler, with or without a cartridge for delivering a dry powder formulation. The inhaler and cartridge can be provided with a drug delivery formulation comprising, for example, a diketopiperazine and an active ingredient, including, small organic molecules, peptides and proteins, including, hormones such as insulin and glucagon-like peptide 1 for the treatment of disease and disorders, for example, diseases and disorders, including endocrine disease such as diabetes and/or obesity.

The present disclosure provides a metered dose inhaler (MDI) comprising an API formulation suitable for administration to a patient in need thereof by inhalation, as well as methods and uses of the MDI.

An aerosol-generating device includes a pump. The pump includes a first pump chamber and a second pump chamber on opposing sides of a separation element. Each of the first pump chamber and the second pump chamber have an inlet valve and an outlet valve configured to establish a pumping direction. The pump also includes a first actuator and a second actuator. The first actuator is associated with the first pump chamber and the second actuator is associated with the second pump chamber. The first actuator and the second actuator are each configured to change a chamber volume of the respective pump chamber. The pump further includes a common inlet, and a common outlet. The common inlet and common outlet are in fluid communication with the first pump chamber and the second pump chamber and are configured to establish a flow direction. The pumping direction is aligned with the flow direction.

The present invention is a fluid dispensing apparatus, and method of use, e.g. for mouthwash and medicine, for dispensing a sterile liquid in single doses to prevent bacterial growth from un-used portions pored back into the apparatus. The apparatus has a hollow flexible cap enclosure surrounding a one-way valve inside of a bladder and a push rubber surface for liquid release. When the cap is removed, both the container body and the cap remain sealed from exposure to contaminates. Liquid is first dispensed from the container by inverting the container until a quantity of sterile liquid collects in the cap. The container is then positioned in an upright position and the fluid filled cap is removed from the container. The cap is then inverted again and a pushbutton pressed to dispense sterile liquid from a cap spray nozzle without requiring the user's lips to touch the cap.

Methods and apparatus for assembling dispensing devices and/or for dispensing a medicament include a sealing element fixed in a receiving space of the dispensing device with a specific assembly parameter. A plurality of sealing elements is produced in batches, and all sealing elements of a batch are fixed with the same assembly parameter.

A method for determining an aerosol dose rate of an aerosol stream by a sensor module includes providing the aerosol stream to a patient by an inhalation device. The sensor module and the method allow an accurate determination of the aerosol dose rate actually received by the patient from the aerosol stream when using the inhalation device, the inhaled dose per breath, and the total inhaled dose per application. The sensor module can be used with existing or new inhalation devices which benefit from the determination of the actually received aerosol dose rate while the patient can maintain using the familiar inhalation device.

Disclosed is a ratchet mechanism having ratchet ring and a chassis. The ratchet ring is rotatable about an axis relative to the chassis, with a general direction of rotation determined by teeth of the ratchet mechanism. The ratchet ring has a first set of teeth arranged regularly around the ratchet ring and protruding in a first axial direction from the ratchet ring and a second set of teeth arranged regularly around the ratchet ring and protruding in a second opposite axial direction from the ratchet ring. The chassis has a third set of teeth arranged regularly and protruding in the second axial direction and generally opposed to the first set of teeth, and a fourth set of teeth arranged regularly and protruding in the first axial direction and generally opposed to the second set of teeth.