Inhalation device and method

A puncturing device comprising:

• a substantially longitudinal prong comprising a distal end, a proximal end, and a periphery;
• a puncturing surface disposed on the distal end of the prong;
• a primary cutting edge disposed on the periphery of the prong and terminating at the puncturing surface;
• a face disposed on the periphery of the prong opposite of the primary cutting edge;
• wherein the prong is configured to create an opening in a wall by forming a hanging chad in the wall, the hanging chad having a free end formed by the puncturing surface and the primary cutting edge and a hinge coupled to the wall formed by the face.

A puncturing device comprising:

• a substantially longitudinal prong comprising a distal end, a proximal end, and a periphery;
• a puncturing surface disposed on the distal end of the prong;
• a primary cutting edge disposed on the periphery of the prong and terminating at the puncturing surface;
• a face disposed on the periphery of the prong opposite of the primary cutting edge;
• wherein the prong is configured to form a hanging chad in a wall of a receptacle having a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the prong and a minor axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the hanging chad being opened to an angle of at least 30 degrees with respect to the minor axis.

A device for administering powder, comprising:

• a first casing portion;
• a cylindrical chamber, defined by a straight wall of circular cross-section, coupled to said first casing portion, said chamber having a proximal end and a distal end, said chamber comprising a ring circumferentially coupled to an inner surface of said chamber;
• a second casing portion removably coupled to said first casing portion, said second casing portion comprising an inhalation portion disposed at the proximal end of said chamber when said first and said second casing portions are coupled, said inhalation portion comprising a hemispheric region defining a plurality of apertures configured to emit powder therethrough;
• a substantially longitudinal prong coupled to the first casing portion for puncturing a receptacle containing the powder, the prong having a distal end, a proximal end, and a periphery;
• a puncturing surface disposed on the distal end of the prong;
• a primary cutting edge disposed on the periphery of the prong, running from the proximal end of the prong to the distal end of the prong, and terminating at the puncturing surface;
• and
• a substantially planar face disposed on the periphery of the prong opposite of the primary cutting edge and running from the proximal end of the prong to the distal end of the prong.

A device for emitting powder, comprising:

• a first casing portion;
• a cylindrical chamber, defined by a straight wall of circular cross-section, coupled to said first casing portion, said chamber having a proximal end and a distal end, said chamber comprising a ring circumferentially coupled to an inner surface of said chamber;
• a second casing portion removably coupled to said first casing portion, said second casing portion comprising an emitter portion disposed at the proximal end of said chamber when said first and said second casing portions are coupled, said emitter portion defining at least one aperture configured to emit powder therethrough;
• a substantially longitudinal prong coupled to the first casing portion for puncturing a receptacle containing the powder, the prong having a distal end, a proximal end, and a periphery;
• a puncturing surface disposed on the distal end of the prong;
• a primary cutting edge disposed on the periphery of the prong, running from the proximal end of the prong to the distal end of the prong, and terminating at the puncturing surface;
• a substantially planar face disposed on the periphery of the prong opposite of the primary cutting edge and running from the proximal end of the prong to the distal end of the prong.

A device for emitting powder, comprising:

• a casing, said casing comprising at least one aperture configured to emit powder therethrough;
• a cylindrical chamber, defined by a straight wall of circular cross-section, disposed in said casing, said chamber having a proximal end and a distal end, said chamber comprising a ring circumferentially coupled to an inner surface of said chamber;
• a substantially longitudinal prong coupled to the casing for puncturing a receptacle containing the powder, the prong having a distal end, a proximal end, and a periphery;
• a puncturing surface disposed on the distal end of the prong;
• a primary cutting edge disposed on the periphery of the prong, running from the proximal end of the prong to the distal end of the prong, and terminating at the puncturing surface;
• and
• a substantially planar face disposed on the periphery of the prong opposite of the primary cutting edge and running from the proximal end of the prong to the distal end of the prong.

An indicating device comprising:

• a casing;
• a body disposed within the casing and reversibly moveable between a first position and a second position;
• an indicator reversibly moveable between a rest position and an indicating position;
• and
• a means for coupling the body and the indicator;
• wherein upon a first movement of the body from the first position to the second position the means for coupling couples the body and the indicator, and upon a second movement of the body from the second position to the first position the indicator moves from the rest position to the indicating position.

An indicating device comprising:

• a casing;
• a body disposed within the casing and reversibly moveable between a first position and a second position;
• an indicator reversibly moveable between a rest position and an indicating position;
• a lip coupled to the indicator;
• and
• a flange coupled to the body for engaging the lip;
• wherein the flange engages the lip upon a first movement of the body from the first position to the second position, and wherein the engagement of the flange to the lip causes the indicator to move from the rest position to the indicating position upon a second movement of the body from the second position to the first position.

A device for emitting powder, comprising:

• a casing, said casing comprising at least one aperture configured to emit powder therethrough;
• a cylindrical chamber, defined by a straight wall of circular cross-section, disposed in said casing, said chamber having a proximal end and a distal end, said chamber comprising a ring circumferentially coupled to an inner surface of said chamber;
• a body disposed within the casing and reversibly moveable between a first position and a second position;
• an indicator reversibly moveable between a rest position and an indicating position;
• and
• a means for coupling the body and the indicator;
• wherein upon a first movement of the body from the first position to the second position the means for coupling couples the body and the indicator, and upon a second movement of the body from the second position to the first position the indicator moves from the rest position to the indicating position.

A device for emitting powder, comprising:

• a casing, said casing comprising at least one aperture configured to emit powder therethrough;
• a cylindrical chamber, defined by a straight wall of circular cross-section, disposed in said casing, said chamber having a proximal end and a distal end, said chamber comprising a ring circumferentially coupled to an inner surface of said chamber;
• a body disposed within the casing and reversibly moveable between a first position and a second position;
• an indicator reversibly moveable between a rest position and an indicating position;
• a lip coupled to the indicator;
• and
• a flange coupled to the body for engaging the lip;
• wherein the flange engages the lip upon a first movement of the body from the first position to the second position while the indicator remains in the rest position, and wherein the engagement of the flange to the lip causes the indicator to move from the rest position to the indicating position upon a second movement of the body from the second position to the first position.

A method for indicating the readiness of a device for dispensing a medicament, comprising:

• providing a device for dispensing a medicament, the device comprising
• a casing comprising at least one aperture configured to emit powder therethrough,
• a body coupled to said casing and reversibly moveable between a first position and a second position, and
• an indicator coupled to said casing and reversibly moveable between a rest position and an indicating position;
• applying an axial force to said body to move said body from said first position to said second position, which readies the powder for dispensing and couples said body to said indicator;
• and
• releasing said axial force from said body to allow said body to move from said second position to said first position, which moves said indicator to said indicating position.

A method of indicating that a device for dispensing a medicament has been used, comprising:

• providing a device for dispensing a medicament, the device comprising
• a casing comprising at least one aperture configured to emit a medicament therethrough,
• a body coupled to said casing and reversibly moveable between a first position and a second position, and
• an indicator coupled to said casing and reversibly moveable between a rest position and an indicating position;
• applying an axial force to said body to move said body from said first position to said second position, which couples said body to said indicator;
• dispensing the medicament from the device;
• releasing said axial force from said body to allow said body to move from said second position to said first position, which moves said indicator to said indicating position to indicate that the device has been used.

An inhalation device for administering a dose of powder contained in a receptacle, comprising:

• a chamber configured to hold the receptacle, said chamber defined by a wall and having a proximal end, a distal end, and an inner surface, said wall defining a plurality of vents;
• and
• an inhalation portion coupled to said proximal end of said chamber, said inhalation portion defining at least one aperture configured to emit powder therethrough;
• wherein the inhalation device is configured to have a resistance of at most 0.28 (cm H2O)1/2/L/min and to provide an emitted dose of at least 85% when the dose of powder is up to 20 mg and when the device is operated at a peak inspiratory flow rate of 25 L/min or less and at an inhalation volume of 0.75 L or less.

An inhalation device for administering powder contained in a receptacle, comprising:

• a first casing portion;
• a cylindrical chamber for holding the receptacle, said chamber defined by a straight wall of circular cross-section coupled to said first casing portion, said chamber having a proximal end and a distal end, said chamber comprising a ring circumferentially coupled to an inner surface of said chamber, said wall defining a plurality of vents;
• a second casing portion removably coupled to said first casing portion, said second casing portion comprising an inhalation portion disposed at the proximal end of said chamber when said first and said second casing portions are coupled, said inhalation portion comprising a hemispheric region defining a plurality of apertures configured to emit powder therethrough,
• wherein the inhalation device is configured to have a resistance of at most 0.28 (cm H2O)1/2/L/min and to provide an emitted dose of at least 85% when the dose of powder is up to 20 mg and when the device is operated at a peak inspiratory flow rate of 25 L/min or less and at an inhalation volume of 0.75 L or less.