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US 8,146,588 B2Granted
Unit dose capsules and dry powder inhaler
AssigneeMannKind Corporation
InventorsSolomon S. Steiner, Robert Feldstein, Per B. Fog, Trent A. Poole
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Described are dry powder inhalers composing an intake section, a mixing section and a mouthpiece. The mixing section can accommodate a capsule having a top keying portion and containing a dry powder medicament. The top keying portion of the capsules may fit within complementary keying structures in inhaler mixing sections.
Claims28
A dry powder inhaler comprising:
- an intake section;
- a mixing section;
- and
- a mouthpiece portion;
- wherein the intake section and mouthpiece portion each have a longitudinal axis, and air flows through a passage extending from the intake section through the mixing section through the mouthpiece portion, and wherein the mouthpiece portion is structurally configured to engage with the intake section and the mouthpiece portion is movable relative to the intake section, and
- wherein the inhaler further comprises a joint engaging the mouthpiece portion to the intake section, wherein the mixing section is a chamber which comprises a holder for a capsule having a top keying portion, and the holder is nested inside the chamber, wherein the holder grips the bottom portion of the capsule, and the holder opens the capsule when an angle defined by the longitudinal axis of the intake section and the longitudinal axis of the mouthpiece portion and the joint vertex is a first fixed number of degrees and closes the capsule when the angle defined by the longitudinal axis of the intake section and the longitudinal axis of the mouthpiece and the joint vertex is a second fixed number of degrees.
3 more elements
A dry powder inhalation system, comprising:
- a dry powder inhaler;
- and a capsule containing a medicament;
- wherein the dry powder inhaler comprises an intake section;
- a mixing section, and a mouthpiece portion;
- the intake section, the mixing section and the mouthpiece portion have an air flow passage extending from the intake section through the mixing section and the mouthpiece portion, and the mixing section comprises a cover, a mixing chamber and a capsule holder;
- wherein the capsule comprises a top half having at least one aperture and a bottom half having one or more additional apertures;
- and the bottom half is fitted into the top half and each of the top or bottom half has a key configured to engage with the dry powder inhaler;
- and
- wherein the mouthpiece portion is configured to engage and rotate about a swivel joint relative to the intake section.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.