Abstract: A breath actuated metered dose inhaler may comprise a canister fire system configured to fire a medicament containing canister in response to patient inhalation. The canister fire system may comprise a pneumatic force holding unit and having a rest configuration in which a metering valve of the canister is in a refill configuration; a prepared configuration in which a canister actuation force is retained by the pneumatic force holding unit and the canister fire system is actuatable by patient inhalation induced airflow; and a fire configuration in which the metering valve is in a dose delivery position. When in the prepared configuration, the force retained by the pneumatic force holding unit may be reduced by less than about 6% over a period of 5 minutes, preferably less than about 3% over a period of 5 minutes.

Abstract: An inhaler may include a housing that comprises a mouthpiece, a medication canister, and an airflow channel formed between an air inlet and the mouthpiece. The inhaler may also include a pressure sensor configured to measure pressure (e.g., or alternatively, an acoustic sensor to measure acoustic sound waves). The pressure sensor may be attached to the medicament canister of the inhaler. The pressure sensor may be configured to be in a first position relative to the airflow channel when the medication canister is not actuated, and in a second position relative to the airflow channel when the medication canister is in an actuated position. The inhaler may also include a processor that is configured to receive pressure measurements from the pressure sensor, and detect whether an inhalation occurs prior the medication canister being depressed to release medication based on the pressure measurements (e.g., only the pressure measurements).

Abstract: 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 posit

Abstract: Provided is a pharmaceutical composition comprising an oral corticosteroid for use in post-exacerbation treatment of a respiratory disease in a subject, which post-exacerbation treatment includes an initial dose of the oral corticosteroid. The post-exacerbation treatment being continued until fulfilment of an inhalation parameter criterion by one or more post-exacerbation inhalations performed by the subject with at least one inhaler and/or fulfilment of a rescue inhaler usage criterion relating to post-exacerbation usage of a rescue inhaler configured to deliver a rescue medicament to the subject, at which point the dose of the oral corticosteroid is changed from the initial dose. Further provided are systems and methods for determining whether the inhalation parameter criterion is fulfilled and for comparing a post-exacerbation value of an inhalation parameter to a baseline value of the inhalation parameter.

Abstract: A compliance monitoring module for an inhaler comprising: a miniature pressure sensor, a sensor port of said sensor being configured to be pneumatically coupled to a flow channel of said inhaler through which a user can inhale; a processor configured to: receive data from a sensing element of the pressure sensor; receive data from a mode sensor configured to detect when the inhaler changes from an inactive mode to an active mode; and based on said data from said pressure sensor sensing element and said data from said mode sensor, compile a compliance report; and a transmitter configured to issue said compliance report.

Abstract: An inhaler (10) has a main body for accommodating a medicament reservoir (84), a canister fire system for moving a canister (50) to release a dose in response to air flow, a cap housing (12) for enclosing the canister fire system and canister within an interior chamber defined by the main body (14) and a cap housing, wherein a lock system (250) is provided for locking the cap housing on the main body.

Abstract: This invention relates to a fixed-dose dry powder inhalation formulation comprising fluticasone propionate and albuterol sulfate, together with an ?-lactose monohydrate carrier. In the formulation, the albuterol sulfate stabilises fluticasone propionate.

Abstract: 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 posit

Abstract: A nasal inhaler for the inhalation of inhalable substances comprise: a canister having an interior reservoir containing pressurised inhalable substances including fluid; a metering valve including a metering chamber and a valve stem defining a communication path between the metering chamber and the interior reservoir, the communication path including an opening configured to permit flow between a transfer space inside the valve stem and the interior reservoir, the interior reservoir being arranged for orientation above the metering chamber whereby gas located within the metering chamber is replaced with liquid from the interior reservoir.

Abstract: Disclosed is a dry powder inhaler for delivering medicament from at least one blister pack, each blister pack having a plurality of spaced-apart blister pockets containing doses of the medicament. The inhaler comprises: a housing for accommodating unused and used portions of the at least one blister pack together with a dispensing mechanism for simultaneously opening at least two blister pockets at a time; and a manifold component through which air can be drawn in use of the inhaler.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to improved methods for the manufacture of inhalation powders. More particularly, aspects of the disclosure relate to methods for in-line monitoring of powder blending by Raman spectroscopy.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of testing an inhaler based on performing an optical analysis of a dry powder medicament plume discharged from the inhaler upon actuation. More particularly, embodiments of the invention comprise illuminating the dry powder plume with a source of electromagnetic radiation and capturing one or more images of a pattern of radiation reflected or diffracted by the illuminated plume. The images are subsequently processed to determine and/or analyse one or more geometric and/or dynamic characteristics of the plume.

Abstract: Provided is a system comprising an inhaler. The inhaler comprises a use determination system. The use determination system is configured to determine at least one first value of a usage parameter relating to use of the inhaler. A processing module is configured to receive the at least one first value. The processing module is also configured to receive a second value indicative of whether the subject is also suffering from a viral respiratory infection. The processing module then determines the level of acute risk based on the at least one first value and the second value. Also provided is a system for determining a probability that a subject having a chronic respiratory disease also has a severe acute respiratory syndrome. The system comprises a first inhaler for delivering a rescue medicament prescribed for the chronic respiratory disease. The first inhaler has a use determination system configured to determine a rescue inhalation performed by the subject using the first inhaler.

Abstract: Provided is a system for providing an output for warning of a respiratory disease exacerbation in a subject. The system comprises a first inhaler for delivering a rescue medicament to the subject. The system optionally includes a second inhaler for delivering a maintenance medicament to the subject during a routine inhalation. A sensor system is configured to measure a parameter relating to airflow during the rescue inhalation and/or during the routine inhalation, when the second inhaler is included in the system. The system further comprises a processing module configured to monitor a frequency of the determined rescue inhalations. The processing module also monitors the parameter as a function of time.

Abstract: An inhaler includes a mouthpiece cover, a pressure sensor, a first indicator and a second indicator. The first indicator may be configured to indicate based on a state of the cover, and the second indicator may be configured to indicate based on an output of the pressure sensor. For example, when the mouthpiece cover opens, the first indicator may illuminate and a dose of medication may be transferred from a reservoir to a dosing cup. The second indicator may illuminate if an amount of inhaled medication reaches a predetermined threshold for successful inhalation.

Abstract: This invention relates to a fixed-dose dry powder inhalation formulation comprising fluticasone propionate and albuterol sulfate, together with an ?-lactose monohydrate carrier. In the formulation, the albuterol sulfate stabilises fluticasone propionate.

Abstract: Provided is a blister pack for a dry powder inhaler, which dry powder inhaler is configured to deliver a first powder medicament and a second powder medicament different from the first powder medicament. The first and second powder medicaments are contained within blister pockets defined in a strip. A series of blister pockets is defined in the strip, which series extends linearly along the length of the strip. The first and second powder medicaments are contained in blister pockets, e.g. respective blister pockets, of the series. Alternatively or additionally, each of the blister pockets is elongated such as to have a largest dimension parallel with the length of the strip. These measures, either individually or in combination, enable minimizing of the width of the strip in spite of the strip accommodating both the first and second powder medicaments.

Abstract: A system may include an external device and an inhaler. The external device may include a processor, a communication circuit, and memory. The inhaler may include a mouthpiece, medicament, a mechanical dose counter, and an electronics module comprising a processor and a communication circuit. The electronics module may record a dosing event when the inhaler is actuated, such as when the mouthpiece cover is opened, and send a signal indicating the dosing event to the external device. The external device may receive a mechanical dose reading of the mechanical dose counter, determine an electronic dose reading based on the signal indicating the dosing event, determine that a discrepancy between the mechanical dose reading and the electronic dose reading exceeds a threshold, and notify the user of the discrepancy, for example, by providing a notification to the user by way of a mobile application residing on the external device.

Abstract: An inhaler (10) for the inhalation of inhalable substances comprise: a canister (50) having an interior reservoir (84) containing pressurised inhalable substances including fluid; a metering valve (52) including a metering chamber (82) and a valve stem (54) defining a communication path between the metering chamber and the interior reservoir, the communication path (86) including an opening (106) configured to permit flow between a transfer space inside the valve stem and the interior reservoir, the interior reservoir being arranged for orientation above the metering chamber whereby gas such as air located within the metering chamber is replaced with liquid from the interior reservoir.