Patent ID: 7032594

Claim:
A device for dispensing doses of particulate material, the device comprising an airway having a wall, an inlet means and an outlet through which the doses are dispensed, a receiver for receiving and retaining a dose of material in an ejection zone in registry with the airway, from which ejection zone, in use, a dose travels though the airway to the outlet, wherein the inlet means includes at least one inlet which surrounds the ejections zone, and hence a dose therein, and is so positioned as to direct a flow of air into the airway at a region between a dose exiting the ejection zone and the wall of the airway, thereby providing, in use, a jacket of air, flowing from the ejection zone to the exit, which prevents particles of the ejected dose from impinging on the airway walls, the inlet means also including a further inlet situated behind the ejection zone so that the latter is interposed between the further inlet and the outlet, wherein, in use, the pressure of air passing through the further inlet ejects the dose from the ejection zone.