Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for aerosolizing a pharmaceutical formulation. According to one method, respiratory gases are prevented from flowing to the lungs when attempting to inhale. Then, respiratory gases are abruptly permitted to flow to the lungs. The flow of respiratory gases may then be used to extract a pharmaceutical formulation from a receptacle and to place the pharmaceutical formulation within the flow of respiratory gases to form an aerosol.

Abstract: An inhalation device for administering a powdered medicament by inhalation including a suction tube through which the medicament is drawn on inhalation by a user, a blister pack, a housing which carries the blister pack and has housing surfaces, the suction tube being removably connected to the housing and having a distal end which can interact with the blister pack and a proximal end through which the user inhales, and a resilient member that resiliently biases the suction tube into a position where it is spaced from the housing surfaces to facilitate grasping of the suction tube by the user when the inhalation device is ready for use.

Abstract: A breath-actuated inhaler for delivery of a medicament by inhalation from a canister (2) which is compressible to deliver a dose of medicament. The inhaler comprises a housing (1) for holding a canister (2) and including a mouthpiece (5) for delivery of a dose of medicament from a canister (2) held in the housing; and an actuation mechanism (6) for compressing a canister (2) held in the housing (1) in response to inhalation at the mouthpiece (5). The housing includes two separable portions (19, 20). The first housing portion (19) mounts the actuation mechanism (6). The second housing portion (20) houses the mouthpiece (5) and a duct (24) shaped to direct an inhalation flow from the mouthpeice (5) to the first housing portion (19) for triggering the actuation mechanism (6). The duct (24) and the mouthpiece (5) are integrally formed and separable from the second housing portion (20).

Abstract: A powder inhaler comprises a medicament container (1), a rotatable metering disc (7) extending into the interior of the medicament container (1) and an air channel through which air is drawn via a mouthpiece (2). The metering disc (7) has one or more peripherally located dosing grooves (9) extending axially through the metering disc (7). The dosing grooves (9) are filled with a metered dose of the medicament while being inside the medicament container (1) and are transferred to the air channel wherein the stream of inhaled air discharges the dose of the medicament directly from the dosing groove (9).

Abstract: An actuator for an inhaler for delivering medicament by inhalation, comprising: a housing (22) which defines a cavity (34) for receiving a canister (8) which comprises a body (10) which defines a chamber containing medicament and a valve stem (13) which extends from the body (10), the body (10) and the valve stem (13) of the canister (8) being relatively movable between a first, non-actuated position in which the canister (8) is closed and a second, actuated position in which the canister (8) is open; a nozzle block (24) for receiving the valve stem (13) of the canister (8); a mouthpiece (21) for providing medicament from the nozzle block (24) to the mouth of a user; a locking mechanism (16) for selectively locking the canister (8) in the non-actuated position, which locking mechanism (16) when released allows for the actuation of the canister (8); and a loading mechanism (18) which comprises a biasing element (134) for loading one of the body (10) or the valve stem (13) of the canister (8) with an actuating

Abstract: A dry powder delivery system and method for use, the system having an elongated tube containing a matrix having a measured amount of dry particles of a therapeutic compound and a porous element having a desiccant therein. The porous element with the desiccant can be combined with the powder-containing matrix or it can be two separate elements. The pressure drop induced by inhalation of the user causes air to flow through the tube and into contact with the particles of dry powder for discharging the particles for inhalation by the user.

Abstract: An inhalator including an inhalator body including a powder receiving chamber for receiving a powder, an air-powder mixture reservoir for temporarily storing an air-powder mixture flowing from the powder receiving chamber, and a diluent air passage for introducing a diluent air into the air-powder mixture reservoir. The air-powder mixture is formed within the powder receiving chamber when an air is introduced into the powder receiving chamber. The air-powder mixture within the air-powder mixture reservoir is admixed with a diluent air introduced thereinto through the diluent air passage. The diluted air-powder mixture is discharged from an air-powder mixture outlet into a user's oral or nasal cavity. A powder composition for inhalators includes at least two kinds of fine particles different in particle diameter.

Abstract: A nebulizer has structure for determining the duration of a pulse of atomization during inspiration, the determination structure including components for measuring the tidal volume of a patient, measuring the duration of inspiration, for storing estimates of the volume of a patient's upper airway, and for calculating the duration of the pulse. The duration of the pulse is calculated on the basis of the tidal volume, the duration of inspiration, and the stored estimated volume of patient's upper airway.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an inhalation device for use with an inhaler (5) comprising a dispersion chamber (18) for fluid communication with the inhaler (5) and a suction chamber (19) in fluid communication with the dispersion chamber (18). The suction chamber (19) is constructed to enable the internal volume of the suction chamber (19) to be increased during use thereby producing a negative pressure in the dispersion chamber (18). In this way, the substance to be inhaled can be drawn from the inhaler into the dispersion chamber (18) for subsequent inhalation.

Abstract: An inhaler device and a method in which powder for inhalation is jetted off a prepared device surface containing a defined pre-metered quantity of finely divided powder. The jetting function is obtained by a directed air stream pushing or cutting free a medical powder applied to a carrier surface and by creating a stream of air dispersing the powder into inspiratory air at the moment it is being inhaled. The inhaler device includes active (air permeable) porous walls for preventing finely divided powder from sticking to the inner faces of the inhaler device by creating a pressure gradient across the active wall, thus forcing a small flow of air through the active wall thereby keeping the powder from sticking to the inner faces.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a dual-cannister inhaler for effectively delivering medications by inhalation through the mouth of patients, having a spacer for more effectively mixing the medication and air, and easy to operate lever and canister selection mechanisms. A preferred embodiment of the invention has universal receptors for two metered dose inhaler canisters. A lever arm is provided that is opposed to the body of the inhaler, which allows a patient to use the entire hand to activate the metered dose inhaler canister. A simple and easy to operate sliding selector permits one-handed control of the canister selector. In a preferred embodiment a valve assembly and whistle are included in the inhaler to improve the consistency and effectiveness of delivery of medication to the lungs of a patient.

Abstract: A blister pack assembly for an inhaler for administering powder containing medicament by inhalation, comprising: a suction tube (7) through which powder is in use drawn on inhalation by a user; and a blister pack unit (5) comprising a blister pack element (11) which includes a plurality of blisters (12), each containing a dose of powder containing medicament, and an attachment member (13) disposed to one side of the blister pack element (11) to which the suction (7) is attachable when not in use.

Abstract: There is provided a medicament dispenser comprising a medicament container having a dispensing mechanism, a container seat for receipt of the container; an anchor station; and a coupling between said container seat and said anchor station capable on deformation of moving the container seat relative to the anchor station to actuate the dispensing mechanism. The coupling is reversibly deformable in response to the application of non-mechanical energy thereto, The non-mechanical energy may comprise heat energy, electrical cur-rent energy, electrical field energy or magnetic field energy.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a meter, especially a meter for metering aerosol devices, basically consisting of four disk units that are arranged in a parallel position and located on the same axis.

Abstract: The invention relates to a capsule opening arrangement for a powder inhaler device. The arrangement has a first part and a second part which are relatively movable with respect to one another. The first part has a capsule support including an aperture for supporting at least one severable capsule. The second part contains a capsule severing device fixedly located therein so as to pass across the supporting aperture during relative movement of the first and second parts. The opening arrangement provides particular advantages in that the capsule, after severing, has a large open area from which powder can be extracted without any part of the capsule interfering with the powder flow.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a therapeutic treatment, such as a flow of breathing gas, to a patient at variable treatment levels. A respiratory cycle monitor detects the patient's respiratory cycles and a control unit incrementally adjusts the treatment level from a first predetermined level to a second predetermined level over a first predetermined number of respiratory cycles. The amount of the incremental adjustment and the frequency of such adjustments over the course of the first predetermined number of respiratory cycles can be controlled to achieve a desired change in the therapeutic treatment over the course of the patient's respiration.

Abstract: In a method of and a device for providing a predetermined constant medicament dose for an inhalational administration at a low inhalation flow rate, a closed container 11 is provided which is reducible in terms of volume and comprises a mouthpiece 12 for receiving a predetermined volume of a quantity of medicated aerosol, which is preferably inhalable in one breath, wherein the container 11 is compressed under air-flow control in a direction towards the mouthpiece 12 for preparation of the filling operation, subsequently a means for powder aerosol production is connected to the mouthpiece 12, and finally the container is filled at a high flow rate by air-flow controlled expansion of the container for the introduction of air through the powder aerosol generator.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a spacer for children primarily intended to be used in conjunction with a metered dose inhaler (MDI), said spacer having a generally oblong shape and being rotationally symmetrical around a central, longitudinal axis and being provided with an opening at each end located centrally in said axis for connection of an meterd dose inhaler respectively of a mouth-piece or similar. The spacer has a small total volume which is in the range between 50 and 400 ml, and the material in the spacer has a surface resitivity which is lower than 109 Ohm, preferably lower than 106 Ohm.

Abstract: A device for inhaling healing active substances and medications includes a housing containing an active substance carrier therein, this housing having at least two permanent openings for the passage of air; and one of the two permanent openings being an inhaling mouth opening and is equipped with a mouthpiece for directly holding the device with the mouth.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus to identify alveolar opening and collapse of a lung. To automatically generate the settings of ventilator parameters in a simple and gentle way, the hemoglobin oxygen saturation and/or the endtidal CO2 concentration and/or the CO2 output are-measured and processed to detect alveolar opening and closing. From the knowledge of the corresponding airway pressures, a central processing unit may generate the settings of ventilation parameters such that gas exchange is maximal while the mechanical stress of the lung tissue is minimal.

Abstract: There is provided a dispenser suitable for dispensing medicament, particularly medicament for use in the treatment of respiratory disorders. The dispenser comprises a housing (1) having a support (5); a container (2), locatable within said housing (1), having an outlet member, wherein said container (2) is movable relative to the housing (1) to enable dispensing therefrom and said outlet member is connectable with said support (5) to prevent relative movement there-between; and a dose indicator (13, 43), locatable within said housing (1). The container (2) and dose indicator (13, 43) are reversably removable from the housing (1) as a single unit.

Abstract: A dry powder inhaler has a dispersion chamber containing beads. A dose of dry powder is released into the chamber, or into an inlet tangentially joining into the chamber. As the patient inhales on a nosepiece or mouthpiece, air moves circularly through the dispersion chamber to drive the beads. The beads roll, bounce, and collide repeatedly with the drug particles on the chamber surfaces or on the beads. The smaller active drug particles are separated from the larger carrier particles and from each other, and a powder aerosol is created and inhaled by the patient. The beads are preferably lightweight, so that they can be rapidly accelerated and moved, even with nominal inspiration. The flow resistance of the inhaler is also reduced via the beads, allowing greater air flow and powder dispersion, without any increased effort by the patient.

Abstract: A medicament delivery device for administering a medicament to a user includes a medicament reservoir and an entrance port and an exit port each disposed adjacent the reservoir. A gas chamber disposed adjacent the entrance port. The device includes a pressurizing mechanism operable to pressurize said gas chamber to at least a prescribed pressure. A first frangible membrane extends across the entrance port and separates the reservoir from the gas chamber. A second frangible membrane extends across the exit port. When the pressurizing mechanism is attached, at least one of the first and second membranes is responsive to the prescribed pressure in the gas chamber to burst to allow gas to flow through the entrance port and the reservoir and to carry the medicament through the exit port.

Abstract: A pre-metered dose assembly for consistently supplying precise doses of medicament is provided for a breath-actuated dry powder inhaler. The assembly includes a cap defining a dry powder delivery passageway for providing air to a dry powder supply port of a swirl chamber of a breath-actuated dry powder inhaler, and a magazine including a plurality of reservoirs for holding pre-metered doses of dry powder. One of the magazine and the cap is movable with respect to the other of the magazine and the cap for sequentially positioning the reservoirs within the delivery passageway of the cap. A breath-induced low pressure at an outlet port of the swirl chamber of the inhaler causes an air flow through the dry powder delivery passageway of the assembly and into the dry powder supply port of the swirl chamber that entrains dry powder from the reservoir positioned in the passageway for inhalation by a patient using the inhaler.

Abstract: A new and improved inhaler includes an accurate and consistent mechanical dose metering system that dispenses dry powdered medicament in discrete amounts or doses for patient inhalation, a pressure relief system that manages pressure within a medicament reservoir of the inhaler to ensure consistently dispensed doses, and a dose counting system indicating the number of doses remaining in the inhaler.

Abstract: A process for producing uniform small doses of finely divided substances that consists of forming a well mixed dispersion of a finely divided substance in a liquefied gas and then metering precise quantities of the mixture onto the surface of a containment vessel. A major application involves the packaging of fine pharmaceutical powders into small unit doses for inhalation therapy. Liquid nitrogen is the preferred liquefied gas. A liquefied noble gas may be employed as a dispersing medium for sensitive or highly reactive substances. Powder particle size reduction may be carried out in the liquid nitrogen medium with little or no damage to sensitive pharmacological materials. The atmosphere of the seated containment vessel is easily pressurized with nitrogen. The containment vessel may be seated prior to the total evaporation of the liquefied gas dispersing medium.

Abstract: An inhalant medicator includes a medicator body 1 which is formed therein with a cylindrical fit hole 2, an inhalant port 3, an inflow air passageway 5, and an outflow air passageway 6, and a medical powder storage cylindrical member 8 which is installed or fitted into the cylindrical fit hole 2 in a manner so as to open or close the air passageways 5 and 6 with respect to a medical powder storage chamber 12. The inhalant medicator is constructed by two component parts, namely the medicator body 1 and the medical powder storage cylindrical member 8, thus ensuring simplified structure and reduced production costs. Additionally, powder-and-granular medicine or medical powder 16 is tightly encapsulated within the medical powder storage chamber 12 by means of the medical powder storage cylindrical member 8, thus preventing loss of flow of the medical powder 16.

Abstract: For discharging a medium, such as a powder, a film/foil seal (16) of a reservoir chamber (24) is pierced by a tool (40) in a first axial movement, after which the medium is suctioned via an orifice (9) in feeding a delivery flow via passageways (55) from the chamber (24). On completion of a return stroke and twisting the tool (40) relative to the reservoir body (6) a further chamber (24) may be emptied in the same way, thus enabling e.g. a pharmaceutical active substance to be administered in two individual doses as expedient for nasal treatment.

Abstract: There is provided a dispenser suitable for dispensing medicament, particularly medicament for use in the treatment of respiratory disorders. The dispenser comprises a housing (1) having a support (5), a container (2), locatable within said housing (1), having an outlet (3), wherein said container (2) dispenses through said outlet (3) in response to movement of the container (2) relative to the housing (1) and an actuation indicator having an indexing mechanism (13,43) actutable by movement of the container (2) relative to the housing (1). The indexing mechanism (13, 43) includes a coupling element to compensate for excess movement of the container (2) relative to the housing (1).

Abstract: A device for use with metered dose inhalers includes a housing configured with a void to receive a metered dose inhaler, an actuator assembly which is configured to selectively apply force to the metered dose inhaler to cause the metered dose inhaler to release medicament, and a cocking mechanism for placing the actuator assembly in an armed configuration. The device is configured to actuate the metered dose inhaler as the user inhales, thereby ensuring improved medicament delivery. Additionally, the device is configured to prevent the metered dose inhaler from remaining in a vented position.

Abstract: A device intended for the dispensing of a powdered medication by inhalation. The device includes a powder container (1), and air channel (2), and a metering strip (4) equipped with a dosing recess (3). The metering strip (4) can be moved along a flat surface (5) from a filling position, in which the dosing recess (3) is filled with powder coming from the container (1), to an inhalation position, in which the dosing recess (3) is in the air channel (2).

Abstract: An inhaler device for administration of a dry powder to a patient includes a package containing a dose of the dry powder and a magnetic field generator, which produces a magnetic field in a vicinity of the package. The magnetic field causes motion of particles of the powder so as to deaggregate the powder in the package, whereby the powder is inhaled by the patient. Preferably, the package includes walls made of a flexible material, which vibrate under the influence of the magnetic field so as to impart the motion to the particles.

Abstract: A device for dispensing medication in an aerosol form from an MDI. The device is pre-loaded so as to automatically discharge the medication upon inhalation on the mouthpiece.

Abstract: A hand-held compressor nebulizer suitable for vaporizing liquid medication, comprising a casing (2) and a motor-driven air pump (5). The nebulizer includes a liquid medication supply unit and a vaporizing unit. The vaporizing unit comprises upper and lower vaporizing chamber (9 and 6), said lower chamber (6) including a reservoir (12) for liquid medication from the liquid medication supply unit. The vaporizing unit includes a hollow conical member located within lower chamber (6) and defining an internal conical passage (11) having a relatively smaller upper end and a relatively larger lower end, said lower end being in communication with the air pump (5) for receiving an upward airflow produced by the air pump (5). The airflow increases in speed in the upward direction and creates a negative pressure upon exit from the upper end of the conical passage (11).

Abstract: A method for producing a nozzle useful in generating a fine aerosol for delivery of a therapeutic or diagnostic agent is provided. The method comprises treating a thin, preferably flexible material having partially formed nozzles with a plasma which alters the size and shape of the nozzles. The pores in the nozzles so formed preferably have an unflexed exit aperture diameter in the range of about 0.5 to about 25 microns, depending on the size of the aerosol particles desired for a given application. The pores in the nozzles can have a variety of shapes and can be distributed in a variety of patterns. An elevated area can be formed around the exit aperture of the nozzle in order to prevent intrusion of liquid back into the nozzle. A method of producing an aerosolization device incorporating such a nozzle is also provided.

Abstract: A disposable inhaler that includes a deagglomeration section is disclosed. The deagglomeration section has a section inlet, a section outlet, and a divider for splitting the stream of air into two flow parts. The divider has a surface that faces the section inlet at an angle substantially perpendicular to the stream of air passing through the section inlet, and the walls of the inhalation channel within the inhaler are shaped so as to cause substantially no resistance to or turbulence in the air flow through the inhaler.

Abstract: A medicament carrier (10) having a first and a second spaced apart screen (12, 14) each of which has surfaces (12B, 14B) defining a plurality of interstices (12A, 14A). The carrier (10) contains powdered agglomerated medicament particles (SM) loaded onto the first screen surface (12B) such that the interstices (12A) of the first screen (12) are at least partially open and free of the agglomerated medicament particles (SM). When an air stream is provided to the carrier to entrain the agglomerated powdered medicament particles (SM) and move them from the first screen (12) through the interstices (14A) of the second screen (14), the agglomerated powdered medicament particles (SM) are sheared by air flow gradients created by the first and second screens (12, 14) and by contact with the surface (14B) of the second screen (14) to create particles of respirable particle size range. The carrier (10) can be used in a dry powder inhalator device.

Abstract: Provided is a powder delivery system which uses mechanical or electrical means to individually release covers that cover powder at a variety of powder aliquot locations on a rigid substrate.

Abstract: An aerosol generator includes a tube having a first and a second end, a heater arranged relative to the tube for heating the tube, a source of material to be volatilized, the second end of the tube being in communication with the source of material, a valve operatively located between the source of material and the tube, the valve being openable and closeable to open and close communication between the source of material and the first end of the tube, and a pressurization arrangement for causing material in the source of material to be introduced into the tube from the source of material when the valve is in an open position. The aerosol generator further includes a source of power for operating the heater and the valve, and a control device for controlling supply of power from the source of power to the heater and the valve. A method of making and a method of using an aerosol generator are also disclosed.

Abstract: An inhalation device (10) for use with an aerosol container comprises a housing (11) for receiving an aerosol container (12) and a spacer member (13) having a mouthpiece (14) defining an outlet (15) through which a user can inhale. The housing and the spacer member are attached together so as to be movable with respect to each other between an inoperative position in which the housing is received within the spacer member and an operative position in which the housing is withdrawn from the spacer member and oriented at a substantial angle thereto. The device further comprises a dispensing member (16) for receiving material to be dispensed from the container and delivering it into the spacer member. The dispensing member (16) is located in the housing and supported spaced from the walls thereof by a plurality of spaced ribs (19).