Abstract: The present invention provides an inhalation device which has two pumps, one providing a nebulizer flow and the other providing a support flow. The nebulizer flow passes through a nebulizing nozzle to generate an aerosol flow from a liquid. The aerosol flow and the support flow are combined to provide a total flow through a mouthpiece to a patient. The device can be configured specifically for pediatric use by removing the support flow pump. The invention also provides a method of providing a flow of aerosol and / or air to a patient using the device, in particular a device which provides a defined volume of air and aerosol as a bolus at a defined flow rate on each inhalation.

Abstract: A dry powder inhaler which contains a blister pack, such as a blister strip, is provided. The blister pack has a plurality of blisters, and a blister, or group of blisters, provides a dose of powdered medicament for inhalation. The blister pack has non-numerical indicia which encode an individual, unique number that is associated with each dose. The inhaler is adapted for mounting a monitor. The monitor comprises one or more sensors, such as optical sensors, for reading the non-numerical indicia on the blister pack.

Abstract: The invention provides a unit dose dispenser in the form of a blister containing a dry powder for inhalation. The blister comprises a base material in which a cavity is formed comprising a bowl that contains the powder and a channel that opens into the bowl. The channel contains a tube that has separate sections that provide an air outlet and an air inlet. The air outlet is further from the bowl than the air inlet. The upper side of the tube is flat and level with the top of the channel A lid material, such as a foil or foil laminate, seals the cavity. The blister has a detachable portion which, when removed, exposes the air inlet and the air outlet. A process for making the unit dose dispensers is also provided, which is based on the conventional process for manufacturing blister strips for dry powder inhalers.

Abstract: A process for producing a blister strip is provided. The blister strip contains two or more different formulations of powdered medicament for inhalation. The blister strip has a base in which blister cavities are formed. A first set of cavities each contain a first medicament formulation and are covered by a first lid material. A second set of cavities each contain a second medicament formulation and are covered by a second, separate lid material.

Abstract: A dry powder inhaler is provided. The inhaler is adapted for detachably mounting a compliance monitor having a pressure sensor. The inhaler has a housing comprising first and second shell parts, and a mouthpiece which defines an inhalation passage. An external surface of the housing has an orifice. A conduit from the orifice to the inhalation passage is formed by a channel in one of the shell parts and a corresponding channel cover in the other shell part. When the compliance monitor is mounted on the housing, the pressure sensor is adjacent to the orifice and is in fluid communication with the inhalation passage via the conduit.

Abstract: A dry powder inhaler and an adherence and/or compliance monitor for use with the inhaler are provided. The inhaler has a cover which is pivotable relative to its housing in order to expose a mouthpiece. The monitor has one or more sensors. The inhaler and the monitor have formations for mounting the monitor onto the inhaler. The inhaler and monitor are designed so that when the monitor is mounted onto the housing of the inhaler and the cover is opened, the cover at least partially covers and protects the monitor.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: The present invention provides a single-use, pre-packaged, sealed container (1) for use with a nebulizer device having an aerosol generator comprising a membrane, the container containing a cleaning liquid (3) and being configured to fit onto the nebulizer device, so that the container is held in place on the nebulizer device and the membrane is immersed in the liquid. The invention also provides a strip comprising a plurality of containers (10), wherein each container is detachable from the rest of the strip; a pack comprising a multi-day supply of a drug and containers; and a method for cleaning the membrane of a nebulizer device using the container.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A dry powder inhaler with a blister folding device can include a housing to receive a single blister containing a dose of medicament for inhalation by a user, and a mouthpiece through which a dose of medicament is inhaled by a user and a blister opening device. The blister opening device can include a blister support element for supporting a blister containing a dose of medicament for inhalation by a user, and a blister folding element co-operable with the blister support element. The blister folding element and the blister support element can be movable relative to each other between a first position, for insertion of the 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.

Abstract: An inhaler comprising a housing defining a chamber to receive a strip having a plurality of blisters each containing a dose of medicament for inhalation by a user is disclosed. It comprises an actuating lever and a blister strip drive member rotatably mounted in the chamber to sequentially move each blister into a blister opening position. The blister strip drive member and the actuating lever comprise a drive gear and a drive gear element, respectively, that cooperate to effect rotation of the blister strip drive member in response to rotation of the actuating lever. The drive gear and drive gear element are disposed on the outside of the housing remote from the chamber.

Abstract: An inhaler comprising a housing defining a chamber to receive a strip having a plurality of blisters each containing a dose of medicament for inhalation by a user is disclosed.