Patent ID: 8360057

Claim:
A multiple dose medication inhaler comprising: an inhaler body having: at least first and second axially aligned medication container chambers, the first medication container chamber for receiving a first medication container and the second medication container chamber for receiving a second medication container, at least one air passage connecting the first and the second medication container chambers with external air, and a mouthpiece axially engageable with the inhaler body and having: a mouthpiece chamber for communication with a patient's respiratory system, and a hollow medication delivery needle communicating with the mouthpiece chamber and extending toward the first and the second medication container chambers, the needle having at least first and second air/medication ports spaced along a sidewall of the medication delivery needle and formed in a surface of the sidewall for passing exterior air and medication from interior spaces of the first and the second medication containers, through the needle and to mouthpiece chamber when the first and second medication containers are located within the respective first and the second medication container chambers, the mouthpiece engaging with the inhaler body in a first position in which the needle extends toward the first and the second medication container chambers short of the first and the second medication containers located in the respective first and the second medication container chambers, and in a second position in which the needle axially traverses both the first and the second medication containers so that the at least first air/medication port in the needle is located within and communicates with the at least one air passage and the interior spaces of the first medication container when the first medication container is located in the first medication container chamber, and the at least second air/medication port in the needle is located within and communicates with the at least one air passage and the interior spaces of the second medication container, when the second medication container is located within the second medication container chamber.