Patent ID: 8109267

Claim:
A dry powder inhaler suitable for pulmonary or nasal delivery, comprising: (a) an inhaler body having a mouthpiece, an opening in the body, and a body front inlet extending from the mouthpiece to the opening in the body for providing fluid communication therebetween; and (b) a cartridge movably mounted in the opening in the body and having at least one powder compartment formed therein which includes a compartment front inlet; the cartridge being movable relative to the inhaler body between at least a first position in which the compartment front inlet of the at least one powder compartment is offset from the body front inlet so as to isolate the contents of the powder compartment from the mouthpiece, and a second position in which the compartment front inlet of the at least one powder compartment is aligned with the body front inlet; each of the inhaler body and the cartridge being of unitary construction such that the inhaler is formed of only two separate parts which are moveable relative to each other; and the cartridge being a close tolerance fit in the opening in the body such that in the first position of the cartridge, the compartment front inlet is closed by the body so as to prevent the contents escaping therefrom; the inhaler body further includes a body rear inlet extending therethrough to the opening in the inhaler body and each powder compartment further includes a compartment rear inlet, wherein, in the first position of the cartridge, the compartment rear inlet is closed by the body so as, in use, to prevent the contents of the compartment from escaping therefrom, and in the second position of the cartridge, the compartment rear inlet aligns with the body rear inlet so as to create an air flow path through the compartment to the mouthpiece, such that the compartment forms a dispersion chamber for delivering the contents of the compartment to the mouthpiece.