Disclosed is an elongate form medicament carrier and a medicament dispenser. The medicament carrier has a first end, a second end, and a central portion, and carrying multiple distinct medicament dose portions, the medicament dose portions consisting of a first set and a second set of medicament dose portions, the first set of medicament dose portions distributed in a first portion of the elongate form medicament carrier between the first end and the central portion of the elongate form medicament carrier and containing a medicament active, or a mixture of medicament actives, and the second set of medicament dose portions distributed in a second portion of the elongate form medicament carrier between the second end and the central portion of the elongate form medicament carrier and containing a medicament active, or a mixture of medicament actives, wherein the dose portions in the second set of medicament dose portions are different from the dose portions in the first set of medicament dose portions.

Disclosed is an elongate form medicament carrier carrying multiple distinct medicament dose portions. The said carrier has a first end, a second end, a central portion extending across the width of the elongate form medicament carrier, a first portion between the first end and the central portion and containing a medicament active, or a mixture of medicament actives, and a second portion between the second end and the central portion and containing a medicament active, or a mixture of medicament actives. The central portion of the carrier has a first end region, a unified length and a second end region, the unified length has a trailing end connecting to the first portion of the carrier via the first end region and connecting to the second portion of the carrier via the second end region, and the unified length has a leading end connecting to a loop of the central portion of the carrier.

The present invention provides an inhaler comprising a housing which contains a blister strip having a plurality of blisters which contain powdered medicament for inhalation; a mouthpiece through which the medicament is inhaled by a user; an indexing wheel for indexing the blister strip; an opening mechanism for opening the blisters; an actuator which is movable between a first position and a second position in order to operate the indexing wheel and the opening mechanism; and a coupling mechanism for coupling the actuator to the indexing wheel so that the indexing wheel rotates together with the actuator during part of the motion of the actuator; characterized in that the coupling mechanism comprises a shuttle that rotates on the same axis as, and translates axially relative to, the indexing wheel.

An inhaler is provided, comprising a housing which contains a blister strip having a plurality of blisters which contain powdered medicament for inhalation; a mouthpiece mounted on the housing through which the medicament is inhaled by a user; an actuator; a blister piercing member; an indexing wheel for sequentially moving each blister into alignment with the blister piercing member when the user operates the actuator; an actuator gear, mounted for rotation about a first axis, which is driven by the actuator and which comprises an actuator gear element; and a drive gear for driving the indexing wheel, mounted for rotation about a second axis, which engages with the actuator gear element. The inhaler is characterized in that the gear ratio between the actuator gear element and the drive gear varies as they rotate during operation of the actuator.

The present invention provides an inhaler comprising a housing which contains a blister strip having a plurality of blisters which contain powdered medicament for inhalation, a mouthpiece mounted to the housing through which the medicament is inhaled by a user, an indexing and opening mechanism for indexing the blister strip and for opening the blisters which is operated by an actuator, wherein the blister strip is indexed by forward motion of the actuator from a first position to a second position, such as by opening a cover, and is also indexed in the same direction by reverse motion of the actuator from the second position to the first position, such as by closing the cover.

A dry powder inhaler (10) having a chamber (26) divided into first and second blister compartments (28, 30) for storing unused and used portions (34, 36) of a blister strip (12) is provided. A moveable dividing wall (32) separates the first and second blister compartments. One or more arcuate supporting surfaces (38, 40, 42) are disposed in either the first and/or the second blister compartments and these surfaces support the used or unused blister strip during successive actuations of the inhaler. Use of the arcuate supporting surfaces facilities compact coils of unused and used portions of blister strip, thereby reducing the size of the chamber required for the inhaler.

A multi-dose dry powder inhaler with a blister folding device is provided. The inhaler comprises a housing containing a blister strip, and a blister opening device. The blister strip comprises a plurality of individual blisters, each blister containing a dose of medicament for inhalation by a user. The blister opening device comprising a blister support element for supporting one of said blisters, and a blister folding element co-operable with the blister support element, the blister folding element and the blister support element being movable relative to each other between a first position, permitting movement of said blister into or onto the blister support element, and a second, burst, position in which the blister folding element has co-operated with the blister support element. Movement from the first position to the second position causes two spaced apart portions of said blister to each fold relative to the remainder of the blister to produce two spaced apart openings, each opening extending along the circumference of the blister bowl, beginning and terminating at points located on the fold line No piercing of the blister at any stage is required.

A dry powder inhaler (10) having a chamber (26) divided into first and second blister compartments (28, 30) for storing unused and used portions (34, 36) of a blister strip (12) is provided. A moveable dividing wall (32) separates the first and second blister compartments. One or more arcuate supporting surfaces (38, 40, 42) are disposed in either the first and/or the second blister compartments and these surfaces support the used or unused blister strip during successive actuations of the inhaler. Use of the arcuate supporting surfaces facilities compact coils of unused and used portions of blister strip, thereby reducing the size of the chamber required for the inhaler.

A dry powder inhaler (10) having a chamber (26) divided into first and second blister compartments (28, 30) for storing unused and used portions (34, 36) of a blister strip (12) is provided. A moveable dividing wall (32) separates the first and second blister compartments. One or more arcuate supporting surfaces (38, 40, 42) are disposed in either the first and/or the second blister compartments and these surfaces support the used or unused blister strip during successive actuations of the inhaler. Use of the arcuate supporting surfaces facilities compact coils of unused and used portions of blister strip, thereby reducing the size of the chamber required for the inhaler.

A multi-dose dry powder inhaler with a blister folding device is provided. The inhaler comprises a housing containing a blister strip, and a blister opening device. The blister strip comprises a plurality of individual blisters, each blister containing a dose of medicament for inhalation by a user. The blister opening device comprising a blister support element for supporting one of said blisters, and a blister folding element co-operable with the blister support element, the blister folding element and the blister support element being movable relative to each other between a first position, permitting movement of said blister into or onto the blister support element, and a second, burst, position in which the blister folding element has co-operated with the blister support element. Movement from the first position to the second position causes two spaced apart portions of said blister to each fold relative to the remainder of the blister to produce two spaced apart openings, each opening extending along the circumference of the blister bowl, beginning and terminating at points located on the fold line No piercing of the blister at any stage is required.