Patent ID: 7258118

Claim:
Pharmaceutical powder cartridge adapted to be inserted into a powder inhaler, said cartridge holding a pharmaceutical depot for storing a large number of pharmaceutical powder doses, said cartridge having a storage space for storing pharmaceutical powder and an integrated metering member operatively associated with said storage space, said integrated metering member comprising at least one metering slide, a metering slide channel, and a stationary contact surface associated with said metering channel, said metering slide defining a dosing cavity, said metering slide having filling and dispensing positions, said metering slide movable in said metering slide channel from said filling position to said dispensing position in a direction which is substantially transverse to the direction of flow of the pharmaceutical powder out of said storage space, a seal member operatively associated with said metering slide, said seal member seating against said stationary contact surface in the filling position of said metering slide and thereby sealing said metering slide channel, said dosing cavity, and said storage space from the environment in said filling position of the metering slide to thereby prevent moisture from the environment from entering and adversely affecting said stored pharmaceutical powder in both said dosing cavity and said storage space.