Abstract: An inhaler (1) for producing an inhalable aerosol of powdered medicament is disclosed. The inhaler (1) comprises an aerosolising device having a cyclone chamber (45) of substantially circular cross-section, inlet (24) and outlet (25) ports at opposite ends of the chamber (45) for the flow of drug laden air through the chamber (45) between said ports (24, 25) and, a bypass air inlet (46) for the flow of clean air into the chamber (45). The bypass air inlets (46) are configured so that air entering the chamber (45) through said inlet (46) forms a cyclone in the chamber (45) that interacts with the drug laden air flowing between the inlet (24) and outlet (25) ports. The inhaler (1) may have a tapered drug laden air flow conduit (70) to accelerate the flow prior to entry into the chamber (45) and/or an impaction element (81, 84, 92, 105) to deagglomerate drug particles.

Abstract: An inhaler is disclosed. It comprises a housing to receive a strip of blisters each having a puncturable lid and containing a dose of medicament for inhalation by a user, a mouthpiece through which a dose of medicament is inhaled by a user and, an actuator operable to sequentially move each blister into alignment with a blister piercing member. The actuator is also operable to cause the blister piercing element to puncture the lid of a blister such that, when a user inhales through the mouthpiece, an airflow through the blister is generated to entrain the dose contained therein and carry it out of the blister and via the mouthpiece into the user's airway.

Abstract: An inhaler (1) is disclosed. It comprises a housing (2) to receive a strip (6) of blisters (6a) each having a puncturable lid (6c) and containing a dose of medicament for inhalation by a user, a mouthpiece through which a dose of medicament is inhaled by a user and, an actuator (3) operable to sequentially move each blister into alignment with a blister piercing member (7, 9). The actuator is also operable to cause the blister piercing element to puncture the lid of a blister such that, when a user inhales through the mouthpiece, an airflow through the blister is generated to entrain the dose contained therein and carry it but of the blister and via the mouthpiece into the user's airway.

Abstract: An inhaler comprising a housing to receive a strip having a plurality of blisters, each blister having a puncturable lid and containing a dose of medicament for inhalation by a user, a mouthpiece through which a dose of medicament is inhaled by a user, a cap to cover the mouthpiece and, a blister piercing element to pierce the lid of a blister is disclosed. The cap is rotatable to drive the strip to sequentially move each blister into alignment with the blister piercing element and an actuator is operable in response to rotation of the cap to cause the blister piercing element to puncture the lid of an aligned blister such that, when a user inhales through the mouthpiece, an airflow through the blister is generated to entrain the dose contained therein and carry it out of the blister and via the mouthpiece into the user's airway.

Abstract: A passive inhaler (1) for delivery of a powder-form inhalation formulation from a blister strip (2) with a plurality of blister pockets (3) is proposed. The inhaler comprises an impaction element (31) onto which the air stream can impact together with entrained inhalation formulation for better deagglomeration. Alternatively, the inhaler comprises an oscillating and/or vibrating device (35) for better de-agglomeration of the inhalation formulation. Alternatively or additionally, the inhaler comprises one or two mixing means for generating swirls, preferably with opposite rotation directions.

Abstract: An Inhaler for delivering an aerosolised dose of a powdered drug for inhalation by a user is disclosed. The inhaler comprises a drug entreinment device to a receive a package having a piercable lid containing a dose to be delivered, the device including a drug outlet tube terminating with a primary piercing element to pierce an opening in said lid when a package is located in the inhaler, a secondary piercing member to pierce a plurality of peripheral openings in said lid and, an airflow path to enable the supply of a charge of gas into the package via said peripheral openings to scour the interior of a pierced package such that all or substantially all of the dose is entrained in the gas and flows out of the package via the drug outlet tube. A medicament pack is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of coiling a strip of blisters for insertion into an inhalation device is disclosed. The method includes the steps of taking a preformed strip of blisters in which each blister contains a dose of medicament for inhalation by a user, manipulating the strip to impart a continuous curvature or a series of discrete creases to the strip; that allow the strip to form into a coiled shape. A strip which has been coiled according to the method is also disclosed, as is an inhalation device incorporating means for coiling a strip of blisters according to the invention.

Abstract: An inhaler for producing an inhalable aerosol of powdered medicament is disclosed. The inhaler includes an aerosolising device having a chamber of substantially circular cross-section, inlet and outlet ports at opposite ends of the chamber for the flow of drug laden air through the chamber between said ports and, a bypass air inlet for the flow of clean air into the chamber. The bypass air inlet is configured so that air entering the chamber through said inlet forms a cyclone in the chamber that interacts with the drug laden air flowing between the inlet and outlet ports.

Abstract: An inhaler is disclosed. It comprises a housing to receive a strip having a surface and a plurality of blister pockets depending from said surface. Each blister pocket contains a dose of medicament for inhalation by a user. The inhaler has a blister strip drive mechanism including a blister strip drive member shaped to contact the strip along a line defined by the crease between a blister pocket and said surface, to drive said strip.

Abstract: A passive inhaler for delivery of a powder-form inhalation formulation from a blister strip with a plurality of blister pockets is proposed. The inhaler has a flow resistance of at least 75000 Pa1/2s/m3.

Abstract: An inhaler is disclosed. It comprises a housing to receive a strip having a plurality of blisters, each blister having a breachable lid and containing a dose of medicament for inhalation by a user, an indexing wheel mounted in the housing rotatable to drive a strip to sequentially move blisters into alignment with a blister piercing member, a control element pivotally mounted to the housing and a drive mechanism configured to couple the control element to the indexing wheel during part of the rotation of the control element by a user so that the indexing wheel rotates together with the control element.

Abstract: An inhaler (1) for delivery of a powder-form inhalation formulation from a blister strip (2) with a plurality of blister pockets (13) is proposed. The used part of the blister strip (12) is wound up and/or kept taut and/or free of loops by means of a spring (15).

Abstract: An inhalation device comprising a base having a slot for insertion of a single blister containing a dose of medicament to be inhaled into the base is disclosed. The inhaler has a mouthpiece pivotally mounted to the base which carries a blister piercing element operable to pierce a blister received in said slot when the mouthpiece is pivoted relative to the base. When a user inhales on the mouthpiece, the dose is entrained in an airflow and flows out of the blister through the mouthpiece and into the user's airway.

Abstract: An inhaler for delivering a powdered inhalation formulation from a blister strip having a plurality of blister pockets. The used part of the blister strip with emptied blister pockets is coiled by a clock spring or pushed into a helical channel. This results in a simple construction, in which the used blister strip is kept separate from the part that has not yet been used.