Patent ID: 8720497

Claim:
An apparatus for dispensing a defined amount of dry powder concurrently to a plurality of spaced apart dose receiving containers, comprising: a dosing head comprising a body with a plurality of spaced apart downwardly extending elongate channels having a channel length with an upper end defining an entry port and a lower end defining an exit port, wherein the channels are sized and configured to prevent a free flow of dry powder therefrom; a dry powder bed residing above and in communication with the dosing head; and at least one vibration source in communication with the dosing head channels configured to controllably apply a vibration flow signal, wherein, in use, the vibration flow signal is applied to the dosing head channels for a defined time so that dry powder from the dry powder bed flows through the elongate channels and out the exit ports in a defined dose amount, and when the vibration flow signal is removed from the dosing head channels, dry powder does not flow out of the exit ports, wherein the vibration source comprises a substantially cylindrical body actuator mechanism with a radially extending skirt having an array of circumferentially extending apertures extending therethrough, and wherein the apparatus further comprises a tube plate with an array of upwardly extending tubes having upper and lower ends, the tube plate positioned between the actuator body skirt and the dose head body so that upper ends of the tubes are in communication with dry powder in a dry powder hopper and lower ends of the tubes reside proximate the dosing head channels.