Dry powder inhaler
AssigneePhilip Morris Products S.A.
InventorsJames Tibbatts, Robin Craig Cocker, Ben Alexander King, Christopher Iain Davidson, Paul Mutti, Alex Stenzler, Steve Han
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention provides in part dry powder inhaler (DPI) devices for dispensing dry powder and methods for using the same. The DPI devices feature exchangeable cartridges having drum mechanisms that prepare metered doses of dry powder, and are able to direct air in a turbulent manner sufficient to entrain and deagglomerate a dose of dry powder for delivery into a user's lungs. The DPI devices feature a reservoir of dry powder advanced by a plunger, as well as a gauge that advances with the plunger to indicate the amount of dry powder remaining in the reservoir.
Claims20
A dry powder cartridge device, comprising:
- an elongate body having an anterior end and a posterior end;
- a delivery lumen positioned at the anterior end of the body;
- a powder reservoir positioned at the posterior end of the body;
- a powder metering drum assembly positioned anterior to the powder reservoir, the powder metering drum assembly comprising a cylindrical outer drum and a cylindrical inner drum insert having a curved exterior, wherein the cylindrical outer drum is rotatable along the curved exterior of the inner drum insert;
- and
- an actuating cap positioned at the anterior end of the body mechanically engaged to the powder metering drum;
- wherein an amount of powder within the powder reservoir is advanced towards the powder metering drum by a piston.
A dry powder inhalation system, comprising:
- a dry powder inhaler casing device;
- at least one cartridge insertable in the dry powder inhaler casing device, the cartridge comprising:
- an elongate body having an anterior end and a posterior end;
- a powder reservoir disposed within the elongate body;
- and
- a powder metering drum assembly disposed anterior to the powder reservoir, the powder metering drum assembly comprising a cylindrical outer drum and a cylindrical inner drum insert;
- and
- an actuating cap positioned at the anterior end of the body mechanically engaged to the powder metering drum assembly and constructed to rotate the cylindrical outer drum;
- and
- at least one amount of powder.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.