Patent ID: 6881398
Filing Date: 2005-04-19
Classification: A61M,A61P

Abstract:
1. A method of administering a medication dose of therapeutic dry powder to a user through inhalation, comprising the steps of: providing a metered dose of the therapeutic dry powder on a surface of a substrate, the metered dose being arranged on the surface so as to have an elongated shape; providing an inhaler constructed to receive the substrate, the inhaler being constructed and arranged so as to allow relative movement between a nozzle and the substrate at a predefined speed along a path that follows a length of the elongated metered dose, so that the nozzle passes by the metered dose; and having the user inhale through a mouthpiece connected to the nozzle while the nozzle moves with respect to the substrate so as to release, de-aggregate, disperse into air, and deliver the therapeutic dry powder to the airways of the user over a predefined interval; wherein the therapeutic dry powder comprises at least one finely divided, pharmacologically active substance; wherein the pharmacologically active substance as it is delivered to the user comprises at least 50% fine particle fraction, with fine particle fraction defined as a fraction of the delivered pharmacologically active substance by mass with a maximum aerodynamic particle size of 5μm, where aerodynamic particle size is defined as a diameter of a spherical particle having a density of 1 g/cm