Patent ID: 6626173
Filing Date: 2003-09-30
Classification: A61M,B05B

Abstract:
A dry powder inhaler operable with a source of pressurized air, comprising:aâ€”a base substrate having top and front surfaces with an exit channel in the form of a trough defined in said top surface and extending lengthwise to and intersecting said front surface; bâ€”a sheet of flexible material overlying said top surface of said base substrate; câ€”a dose storage substrate overlying said sheet, said dose storage substrate containing at least one single unit dose of agglomerated medicament powder, said dose storage substrate having a bottom surface adjacent said sheet, at least one chamber defined therein to contain said unit dose, and an opposite top surface, dâ€”an air inlet substrate overlying said dose storage substrate and including at least one passageway for directing pressurized air from a source onto said top surface of said dose storage substrate, said pressurized air forcing said dose from said chamber, said sheet being deformed by said pressurized air downward into said trough, thus providing a discharge passage along said top surface of said sheet, and said dose being driven downward by application of said pressurized air, and forced against said sheet, said sheet vibrating so as to deagglomerate and fluidize said dose and meter the flow of powder through said trough, said dose being carried in a fluidized form through said trough, and said dose exiting from said front surface of said base substrate.