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.

Liquid drug cartridges and an associated inhaler are used to deliver one more separate doses of an aerosolized liquid drug. A cartridge includes a container for storing the liquid drug, an end cap having an ejection opening, a filter element, and a piston that is repositionable relative to the container to selectively eject a volume of liquid drug from the ejection opening. The filter element filters the liquid drug prior to ejection from the ejection opening. The liquid drug cartridge can be coupled with an inhaler that includes an aerosol generator. The aerosol generator includes a vibratable membrane onto which the liquid drug is ejected. The liquid drug is aerosolized by the vibration of the membrane for inhalation by a user.

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.

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 pulmonary delivery system includes an elongated body having an openable and closeable portion thereof for receiving an insertable and replaceable container such as a cartridge of pure medical product disposed in a saline solution. The medical product may be epinephrine, insulin or nicotine disposed in a saline solution. The system also incorporates a penetrating element that is disposed in the cylinder to pierce the cartridge and release the nicotine solution into the cylinder and into or on a micron mesh grid. A flow of air created by inhaling through a mouthpiece draws air into an individual's lungs from an entrainment port and onto a grid for atomizing a mist of micron droplets through the grid. It is recognized that the air from the entrainment port further dilutes the concentration of the medical product. The grid is connected to a source of electrical power to vibrate the mesh grid.

Exemplary embodiments include dry powder inhalers (DPIs) and patient interfaces which improve delivery of aerosols to patients, especially children.

A dry powder inhaler includes a dose container assembly having a dose container disk with opposing upper and lower surfaces, a first row of circumferentially spaced apart dose containers at a first radius and a second row of circumferentially spaced apart dose containers at a second radius. The dose containers have dry powder therein and are sealed via a first flexible sealant over apertures in the upper surface and a second flexible sealant over apertures in the lower surface. A piercing mechanism includes two reciprocating piercers that serially alternate between the two rows of dose containers in the dose container disk. A rotatable ramp disk includes first and second sets of circumferentially spaced-apart ramp elements in staggered, concentric relationship that are configured to move the first and second piercing members between retracted and extended positions.

A fluid dispenser device comprising: a dose counter for indicating the number of doses that have been dispensed or that remain to be dispensed, said counter comprising: at least one rotary counter element provided with indicator means, such as digits or numbers, and provided with a first set of teeth and with a second set of teeth; a movable actuator element adapted to co-operate with said first set of teeth of said counter element so as to turn it; and anti-return means adapted to co-operate with said second set of teeth so as to prevent said counter element from turning in the direction opposite to the direction that is imposed by said actuator element; said anti-return means comprising a tip that is substantially V-shaped, and that, after each actuation of the counter, co-operates with a respective tooth of said second set of teeth in a blocking position, said tip comprising a first branch that is adapted to co-operate in the blocking position with a blocking shoulder of said tooth, and a second branch that is plane and adapted to co-operate with a plane surface of said teeth, said plane second branch and said plane surface being coplanar when said tip is in the blocking position, said tip being urged resiliently towards said blocking position so as to ensure accurate positioning of said counter element after each actuation of the counter.

Liquid drug cartridges and an associated inhaler are used to deliver one more separate doses of an aerosolized liquid drug. A cartridge includes a container for storing the liquid drug, an end cap having an ejection opening, a filter element, and a piston that is repositionable relative to the container to selectively eject a volume of liquid drug from the ejection opening. The filter element filters the liquid drug prior to ejection from the ejection opening. The liquid drug cartridge can be coupled with an inhaler that includes an aerosol generator. The aerosol generator includes a vibratable membrane onto which the liquid drug is ejected. The liquid drug is aerosolized by the vibration of the membrane for inhalation by a user.

A capsule for use with an electronic smoking device includes a shell (105) having a lateral wall (101, 102) and an end wall (103), wherein the lateral wall (101, 102) and the end wall (103) defines a cavity (110) open at one end (111). A puncturable membrane (104) seals the open end (111) of the cavity (110). A liquid is contained within the cavity (110) by the shell (105) and the puncturable membrane (104), wherein a liquid transporting element (120) is arranged within the cavity (110) enclosed by the puncturable membrane (104) and immersed in the liquid.