Fluidizing powder inhaler

摘要

An inhaler (2) is used with dry pharmaceutical-containing capsules (8) carried by a cassette (6) within the body of the inhaler. The inhaler defines an air path from an air inlet (40) to an air/pharmaceutical outlet (36). The air path passes a dispensing position (48) at which capsules are positioned successively. To dispense the pharmaceutical both ends of an elongated capsule are pierced with spikes (44, 46). The patient then places in his or her mouth over the outlet, inhales and draws air through the inlet, axially through and along the breached capsule at the dispensing position and pulls a mixture of air and powdered pharmaceutical through the outlet and into the lungs. To aid entrainment of the dry pharmaceutical (104) into the air stream, a vibration mechanism, such as an imbalanced rotor (24) adjacent the air inlet which rotates and vibrates due to the passing air, is used.