Inhaler for administering medicaments from blister packs

An inhaler for administering powdered medicaments from strip shaped blister packs, said blister packs each comprising a container film defining a plurality of blister cavities, one side of each said blister cavity having a generally convex outer surface, said cavities filled with powdered medicament, and a covering film for enclosing and sealing said plurality of cavities, said inhaler comprising:

• an elongated housing, said housing having first and second housing members;
• a hinge interconnecting said first and second housing members;
• said first housing member having a support means for supporting said blister pack, said support means including a recess, said covering film directly overlaying said recess when said blister pack is supported on said support means;
• a mouthpiece connected to said elongated housing;
• and an air inlet opening in said elongated housing;
• a duct interconnecting said mouthpiece and said air inlet opening, said recess directly opening into said duct for directly conveying the medicament from one of said blister cavities into said duct when said covering film is ruptured;
• a plunger operably associated with said housing for pressing on one of said blister cavities and for rupturing said covering film to convey said medicament from said one cavity into said recess, said plunger including a concave plunger surface generally corresponding in shape to said generally convex outer surface of said blister cavities, said concave plunger surface having an edge for contacting said generally convex outer surface asymmetrically transversely to the longitudinal axis of said elongated housing whereby, upon the rupturing of said covering film, a tag is formed at the rupture in said covering film which does not impede the flow of air in said air duct.