Dry powder delivery device and methods of use

A breath actuated dry powder delivery device for delivering a dry powder as a plume of particles to a pulmonary system of a subject, the device comprising:

• a housing comprising a mouthpiece located at an airflow exit side of the housing, and a laminar flow element;
• a cartridge disposed within or removably attached to the housing, for receiving a volume of powder;
• a powder dispersion mechanism, the powder dispersion mechanism comprising an energy source configured to generate and disperse a plume of particles from the volume of powder received in the cartridge;
• at least one differential pressure sensor positioned between the powder dispersion mechanism and the airflow exit side within the housing;
• the at least one differential pressure sensor configured to activate the energy source of the powder dispersion mechanism upon sensing a pre-determined pressure change within the housing to thereby generate the plume of particles;
• the laminar flow element located at an airflow entrance side of the housing, wherein the housing, the laminar flow element, and the mouthpiece are configured to facilitate laminar airflow across an exit side of the powder dispersion mechanism and to provide sufficient laminar airflow through the housing during use;
• the dry powder delivery device configured such that the plume of particles are directed into and through the housing at an approximate 90 degree change of trajectory prior to expulsion from the housing;
• the powder dispersion mechanism configured to generate the plume of particles wherein at least about 70% of the particles in the plume of particles have an average particle diameter of less than about 6 microns;
• and
• wherein the energy source comprises a compressed gas source.