A breath-powered, dry powder inhaler, a cartridge, and a pulmonary drug delivery system are provided.

An inhaler housing (14) for an inhaler (10) for inhaling inhalable substances, the inhaler having: a body (14) and a dose counter (24) with a return spring (28), wherein a distinct guide surface (162) is provided for guiding the end of the return spring into a recess (152), the distinct guide surface being wider than an entrance mouth (160) of the recess, a dose counter chamber (22) being provided which is separated from a tubular interior space (182) of the inhaler by a barrier (180), the barrier including a stepped upper wall area (184) including at least three steps (186, 188, 190, 192) at different levels, the inhaler having a valve stem block (62) having an inner bore and a valve stem block having a seal (224) in the inner bore with a second diameter which is smaller than a first diameter of the inner bore, the inhaler having a canister (150) being adapted to move during operation between 1 and 4 mm, a drive being arranged to apply a firing force of between 15N and 60N of force to the canister at a position of the canister relative to a valve stem (54) at which the canister fires.

Disclosed herein is an aerosol delivery device including an air inlet a flavoring reservoir arranged to provide release of flavoring material to air passing therethrough; and an aerosol forming member arranged to provide an aerosol in air, wherein the aerosol forming member includes a heating element and an aerosol outlet wherein the air inlet, the flavoring reservoir, the aerosol forming member and the aerosol outlet are arranged in fluid communication in that order; wherein the flavoring reservoir is in conductive thermal communication with the heating element and wherein the flavoring reservoir is arranged at least partially about, or at least partially surrounding, the aerosol forming member.

A nasal fluid-spray device having: a reservoir containing at least one dose (D) of fluid; and a dispenser system that, each time the device is actuated, sprays a dose (D) of fluid through a spray orifice, generating a spray that extends axially from the spray orifice. The device further includes a generator system for generating a secondary flow, which generator system is actuated simultaneously with the dispenser system, the secondary flow generator system having a secondary flow channel provided with an outlet orifice, the outlet orifice arranged downstream from the spray orifice, and the secondary flow extending from the outlet orifice along an axis (B) that forms an angle () relative to the axis (A) of the spray and that intersects the axis (A), thereby deforming and/or deflecting the spray.

The invention related to dry powders that contain a therapeutic agent. The dry powders have characteristics, e.g., they are processable and/or dense in therapeutic agent that provide advantages for formulating and delivering therapeutic agents to patients.

A compact single-nostril atomizer for the inhalation of active ingredients is presented. The atomizer has an elastic U-shaped housing, a first end of which can be introduced into the nostril and a second end of which is formed as a clamping element. In the first end of the housing a cavity for receiving a reservoir is disposed. A reservoir containing an active ingredient can be inserted into the cavity.

A nebulizer system is disclosed, and comprises a first portion and a second portion configured for selectably receiving and electrically connecting to the first portion. The first portion includes a first housing for containing fluid, a vibratable mesh which seals a first outer opening of the first housing and configured to release fluid from the first housing through the first outer opening, first electrical conductors electrically connected to the vibratable mesh, a wick arranged such that vibration of the vibratable mesh causes release of fluid from the wick, and a biasing member compressing the wick against the vibratable mesh. The second portion includes a second housing having a second outer opening, second electrical conductors for contact with the first electrical conductors, and control electronics electrically connected to the second electrical conductors and configured to control the vibratable mesh to cause fluid release from the first housing through the outer openings.

The invention relates to a method of delivering an agent to the pulmonary system of a compromised patient, in a single breath-activated step, comprising administering a particle mass comprising an agent from an inhaler containing less than 5 milligrams of the mass, wherein at least about 50% of the mass in the receptacle is delivered to the pulmonary system of a patient. The invention also relates to receptacles containing the particle mass and the inhaler for use therein.

A dose release firing system (101) for use in a medicinal inhaler (100). The firing system can include a plunger (103), and a stored energy device (109) configured to drive the plunger from a first position to a second position. The firing system can further include a guideway (121) and a projection (114) dimensioned to be received in the guideway, the guideway or the projection being fixedly coupled to the plunger. At least a portion of the guideway can have a helical shape, including a first portion with a first helix angle, and a second portion with a second helix angle, the second helix angle being less than the first helix angle. The projection and the guideway can be movable with respect to one another to cause the projection to be cammed along the guideway when the stored energy device drives the plunger to move from the first position to the second position.

Disclosed herein are diketopiperazine microparticles having a specific surface area of less than about 67 m.sup.2/g. The diketopiperazine microparticle can be fumaryl diketopiperazine and can comprise a drug such as insulin.