Abstract: A device for dispensing single doses of powdered medicament has a housing for holding a container which has a number of sealed apertures containing individual encapsulating doses of medicament. The container can move relative to the housing to allow each aperture in succession to be brought into registry with an airway which communicates with a mouthpiece. The device includes a piercing member, such as a pin, which can be inserted into a selected aperture to break its respective seals. The configuration and movement of the pin are such that this action expels substantially no powder from the aperture.

Abstract: A filter of the type incorporating a porous filter membrane 1. Frequently such membranes are very fragile, and the invention describes an improved way of mounting them within the housing. Attached to a perimeter portion of the membrane 1 is a thin strip 8 of flexible material such as polypropylene. The strip 8 is attached, on the one hand, to the base 4 of the filter housing by a first joint 10 and, on the other hand, to the perimeter of the membrane by a second joint 9. Between the two joints is a region of flexure which enables the membrane to float relative to the housing, thus isolating the membrane from relative movement between the membrane and the housing.