Patent ID: 6871646
Filing Date: 2005-03-29
Classification: A61M,G06M

Abstract:
1. A method of de-agglomerating dry powder from a breath-actuated dry powder inhaler prior to inhalation of the dry powder by a patient, comprising: directing a first breath-actuated air flow for entraining a dry powder from an inhaler into a first end of a chamber extending along a longitudinal axis from the first end to a second end, the first air flow directed in a longitudinal direction; directing a second breath-actuated air flow in a substantially transverse direction into the first end of the chamber such that the first and the second breath-actuated air flows collide and substantially combine; deflecting a first portion of the combined air flows off vanes non-rotationally fixedly attached to the first end of the chamber and extending at least in part radially outwardly from the axis of the chamber, wherein each of the vanes has an oblique surface facing at least in part in a direction transverse to the axis, such that the first portion of the combined air flows is deflected in a substantially longitudinal direction towards the second end of the chamber; directing a second portion of the combined air flows in a spiral path towards the second end of the chamber; and delivering all the combined air flows and any dry powder entrained therein through an outlet port in the second end of the chamber to a patient's mouth.