Inhalator, a powder composition and a process for administering the powder composition using inhalators

An inhalator for administering an air-powder mixture, comprising:

• a casing including an air intake inlet for introducing an air into the casing, and an air-powder mixture outlet for discharging the air-powder mixture from the casing;
• powder receiving means for receiving a powder within the casing and permitting the powder to be admixed with the air introduced from the air intake inlet;
• air-powder mixture storing means for temporarily storing the air-powder mixture passing through the powder receiving means;
• diluent air passage means for permitting a diluent air to flow into the air-powder mixture storing means;
• and
• air-powder mixture path means for permitting the air-powder mixture to flow from the powder receiving means to the air-powder mixture outlet via the air-powder mixture storing means.

A process for administering a powder composition using an inhalator, comprising:

• preparing the powder composition containing at least two kinds of fine particles selected from a first kind of fine particles having an aerodynamic mean particle diameter of not less than 7 μm, a second kind of fine particles having an aerodynamic mean particle diameter of 5-7 μm, a third kind of fine particles having an aerodynamic mean particle diameter of 3-5 μm, a fourth kind of fine particles having an aerodynamic mean particle diameter of 1-3 μm, and a fifth kind of fine particles having an aerodynamic mean particle diameter of not more than 1 μm;
• supplying the powder composition to the inhalator;
• and
• discharging the powder composition from the inhalator.