Abstract: A cartridge for an inhaler includes a cartridge assembly including bottle and a collapsible bag, the bag configured to contain liquid and sealingly contained within the bottle, the bottle having a container hole to allow gases to pass into the bottle, an outer casing contains the cartridge assembly sealed therein, the outer casing comprising a vent hole for gases to pass into the outer casing; a sealing assembly that closes the vent hole, the sealing assembly having an open position, and a closed position where it seals the vent hole, the sealing assembly configured so that when the cartridge is used in an inhaler, actuating the inhaler opens the sealing assembly to allow the passage of gases; the outer casing and inner cartridge assembly further configured so that there is a gas path between the container hole and the vent hole.

Abstract: A dry powder inhaler includes a tray including a slitting chamber for accommodating a spherocylindrical capsule; a main body configured to receive the tray; the tray and main body moving in use between an open and a closed position; the tray and main body further configured so that as the tray and main body move to the closed position, a capsule in the slitting chamber is squeezed across its length to an oval cross-sectional shape by converging walls; the tray further including a blade adapted to slit or pierce the capsule in the tray when the tray is at or close to the closed position, the blade engaging the capsule surface at a position having a radius of curvature smaller than that of the capsule before the capsule was squeezed.

Abstract: A method for testing the functionality of a liquid delivery device includes (i) fluidically connecting a liquid delivery device (or part thereof) to a pumping system; (ii) connecting the pumping system to a fluid reservoir; (iii) running the pumping system so that fluid from the reservoir is forced through the liquid delivery device (or part thereof) under pressure; (iv) measuring the pressure of the fluid as the fluid passes into the liquid delivery device (or part thereof); (v) comparing the plotted pressure with the test results for a nominal or within specification liquid delivery device (or part thereof).

Abstract: A method of pre-preparing a liquid delivery device valve includes (i) fluidically connecting at least that part of the liquid delivery device that contains the valve to a pumping system; (ii) connecting the pumping system to a fluid reservoir; (iii) running the pumping system so that fluid from the reservoir is forced through the valve under pressure, at a rate of flow that will cause necessary deformation and bedding-in of the valve.

Abstract: An inhaler comprises a nozzle retaining structure comprising a nozzle retainer, the nozzle retainer comprising: a main body forming a central bowl comprising a rim, an aperture formed substantially at the well of the bowl, the aperture passing through the main body from one side to the other; the nozzle retaining structure and nozzle retainer configured so that a recess is formed between the nozzle retainer and the remainder of the nozzle retaining structure; at least one passage extending outwards towards the rim of the bowl from an inwards opening at or close to the well of the bowl, the passage comprising an at least partly open-topped channel formed through the wall of the central bowl.

Abstract: A dry powder inhalation device has a means to aerosolize powdered medicament and introduce the aerosolized medicament to an airflow directed to a user outlet. The device has a primary deagglomeration structure in the form of a baffle through which the airflow passes downstream of the means to aerosolize the powdered medicament and a secondary deagglomeration structure which is a tortuous passage through which the airflow passes downstream of the primary deagglomeration structure. The deagglomeration structures cause disruption to the airflow in their vicinity whereby the particles of the aerosolized powdered medicament are deagglomerated due to the primary deagglomeration structure and the secondary deagglomeration structure. The insert defines a tortuous passage which has a trajectory with a centre line, whereby the centre line has two or more major bends, involving a first point of inflection between a pair of adjacent bends of the two or more major bends.