Apparatus and methods for dispersing dry powder medicaments

An apparatus for aerosolizing a powder held in a receptacle having a puncturable access surface, the apparatus comprising:

• a housing;
• a source of pressurized gas;
• a capture chamber attached to the housing;
• and
• a transjector assembly held within the housing, said transjector assembly having a means for piercing the access surface of the receptacle and for receiving pressurized gas to draw powder from the receptacle and into the capture chamber.

An improved method for aerosolizing a powdered medicament, said method being of the type wherein the powder is entrained and suspended in a flowing gas stream, wherein the improvement comprises:

• providing a housing having a pressurization cylinder, a piston slidable within the cylinder, a release valve in communication with the cylinder, and a handle for axially translating the piston and for closing the release valve;
• translating the handle away from the housing to axially translate the piston within the cylinder to a retracted position and to close the release valve;
• translating the handle back toward the housing to translate the piston to a charged position and create a pressurized gas;
• and
• releasing the valve to abruptly discharge the pressurized gas.

A method for aerosolizing a powdered medicament, said method comprising:

• providing receptacles having a receptacle body and a tab extending from the receptacle body, wherein the powdered medicament is held within the receptacle bodies;
• inserting one receptacle into a housing having an aperture, wherein the receptacle body is received within the aperture and at least a portion of the tab remains outside the housing;
• piercing the receptacle body and extracting the powdered medicament in a gas stream that can be inhaled;
• pulling on the tab to remove the receptacle from the housing.