Systems devices and methods for opening receptacles having a powder to be fluidized

A method for aerosolizing a powder, the method comprising:

• providing a receptacle having a cover with an exterior surface and an interior surface covering a cavity that contains a powder;
• providing a cutting mechanism having at least one outer blade and a plurality of inner blades;
• piercing the cover with the outer blade and the inner blades;
• moving the outer blade through the cover to cut a portion of the cover and to create an outer opening in the cover, with the cut portion being removed onto the exterior surface and away from the cavity as the opening is created, and simultaneously moving the inner blades through the cover to cut an inner opening in the cover;
• and
• drawing air through the outer opening, through the cavity and out the inner opening to extract the powder from the receptacle and to aerosolize the powder.

A method for forming an opening in a receptacle, the method comprising:

• providing a receptacle having a cover with an exterior surface and an interior surface covering a cavity;
• providing a tubular body having a distal end with a plurality of inwardly directed and outwardly facing blades;
• piercing the cover with the blades;
• rotating the tubular body to form an opening in the cover.

A hole forming device, comprising:

• a support member;
• a plurality of outer blades extending downward from the support member at an angle in the range from about 50 degrees to about 80 degrees;
• and
• a tubular member extending downward from the support member, with the tubular member being surrounded by the outer blades, wherein a distal end of the tubular member includes a plurality of inwardly directed and outwardly facing blades.

An aerosolizing apparatus comprising:

• a housing that is adapted to receive a receptacle having a cover with an exterior surface and an interior surface covering a cavity that contains a powder;
• a hole forming device disposed within the housing, wherein the hole forming device is adapted to form at least one inlet opening and an outlet opening in the cover;
• an aerosolizing system that is adapted to extract the powder from the receptacle by drawing air through the inlet opening, through the receptacle and out the outlet opening;
• wherein the hole forming device comprises a support member having at least one outer blade extending downward from the support member at an angle in the range from about 50 degrees to about 80 degrees and at least one inner blade, and a moving mechanism to move the support member relative to the receptacle to move the outer blade through the cover and cause a cut portion of the cover to be removed onto the exterior surface and away from the cavity to form an inlet opening, and to cut an outlet opening with the inner blade.

An aerosolizing system comprising:

• at least one receptacle comprising a receptacle body having a cover with an exterior surface and an interior surface covering a cavity that contains a powder;
• an aerosolizing apparatus comprising a housing that is adapted to receive the receptacle;
• a hole forming device disposed within the housing, wherein the hole forming device is adapted to form at least one inlet opening and an outlet opening in the cover;
• a gas flow system that is adapted to extract the powder from the receptacle by drawing air through the inlet opening, through the receptacle and out the outlet opening;
• wherein the hole forming device comprises a support member having at least one outer blade extending downward from the support member at an angle in the range from about 50 degrees to about 80 degrees and at least one inner blade, and a moving mechanism to move the support member relative to the receptacle to move the outer blade through the cover and cause a cut portion of the cover to be removed onto the exterior surface and away from the cavity to form an inlet opening, and to cut an outlet opening with the inner blade.