Patent ID: 7624733

Claim:
A dry powder inhaler for dispensing pharmaceutical grade formulations of inhalable dry powder, comprising: an inhaler housing having a stationary mouthpiece associated therewith, the housing having a longitudinal axis coinciding with a longitudinal axis of the mouthpiece; a slidably extendable forward member that is movable between retracted and extended positions over an outer surface of the inhaler housing, held by the inhaler housing adjacent the mouthpiece, wherein, in the extended position, the forward member extends outward a distance beyond a forwardmost portion of the mouthpiece, and in the retracted position, a forwardmost portion of the forward member is positioned rearward of the forwardmost portion of the mouthpiece with an access portion of the mouthpiece accessible by a user; a blister package held in the housing, the blister package comprising a plurality of spaced apart sealed blisters thereon; and a blade cartridge with a blade held in the inhaler housing, wherein the movement of the forward member is configured to automatically activate the blade cartridge to cause the blade to move lengthwise across a blister held in a dispensing position in the inhaler to thereby open the blister held in the dispensing position.