Dry powder inhaler with aeroelastic dispersion mechanism

Abstract

A dry powder inhaler for delivering medicament to a patient includes a housing defining a chamber for receiving a dose of powdered medicament, an inhalation port in fluid communication with the chamber, at least one airflow inlet providing fluid communication between the chamber and an exterior of the housing, and an aeroelastic element in the chamber and associated with a dose of powdered medicament. A tensioning assembly is configured to apply a first amount of tension to the aeroelastic element such that the aeroelastic element is capable of vibrating in response to airflow through the chamber so as to aerosolize the dose of powdered medicament.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A dry powder inhaler for delivering medicament to a patient, the inhaler comprising:
 a housing defining a chamber for receiving a dose of powdered medicament;   an inhalation port in fluid communication with the chamber;   at least one airflow inlet providing fluid communication between the chamber and an exterior of the housing; and   a strip of material having a generally flat top surface, a generally flat bottom surface, and a plurality of recesses in the top surface, wherein the recesses are each configured to hold a metered dosage of a powdered medicament, the strip of material being positioned between the inhalation port and the at least one airflow inlet such that a flow of air generated by a user via the inhalation port is configured to move the medicament that is released from one of the recesses through the chamber as an aerosolized dose.   
     
     
         22 . An inhaler as in  claim 21 , wherein the recesses are cup shaped in geometry. 
     
     
         23 . An inhaler as in  claim 21 , wherein the recesses are serially aligned along the strip. 
     
     
         24 . An inhaler as in  claim 21 , further comprising an actuator that is actuatable to make contact with the strip of material to thereby disperse the medicament from the recess. 
     
     
         25 . An inhaler as in  claim 24 , wherein the actuator is actuatable by the user inhalation that causes air to act on the actuator. 
     
     
         26 . The inhaler of  claim 24 , wherein the actuator comprises an aeroelastic element, and further comprising at least one tensioning member configured to hold the aeroelastic element at a tension that produces a desired vibrational response to airflow ranges of a patient. 
     
     
         27 . The inhaler of  claim 26 , wherein the tensioning member is adjustable to change the desired vibrational response. 
     
     
         28 . The inhaler of  claim 24 , wherein the actuator comprises one of a membrane, a reed, a sheet, a panel, and a blade. 
     
     
         29 . The inhaler of  claim 24 , wherein the actuator is made of a material comprising at least one of a polymer, a metal, and a metal-coated polymer. 
     
     
         30 . The inhaler of  claim 24 , further comprising a powder dose applicator, the powder dose applicator being configured to dispense the dose of powdered medicament to the recesses prior to inhalation by a patient. 
     
     
         31 . The inhaler of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 a mouthpiece including the inhalation port; and   a nozzle between the chamber and the inhalation port.   
     
     
         32 . The inhaler of  claim 21 , wherein the inhalation port is at a first end of the housing and said at least one airflow inlet is at a second end of the housing substantially opposite the first end of the housing. 
     
     
         33 . A method for delivering medicament to a patient comprising:
 providing an inhaler comprising a housing defining a chamber, an inhalation port in fluid communication with the chamber, and at least one airflow inlet providing fluid communication between the chamber and an exterior of the housing;   providing a strip of material having a generally flat top surface, a generally flat bottom surface, and a plurality of recesses in the top surface, wherein the recesses each hold a metered dosage of a powdered medicament, wherein the strip of material is positioned between the inhalation port and the at least one airflow inlet; and   inhaling from the inhalation port to draw the medicament that is released from one of the recesses through the chamber as an aerosolized dose.   
     
     
         34 . A method as in  claim 33 , further comprising contacting the strip to dispense the medicament from the recess. 
     
     
         35 . A method as in  claim 34 , wherein the inhaler includes an actuator, and wherein inhaling from the inhalation port actuates the actuator to contact the strip. 
     
     
         36 . A method for metering dosages of a dry powder medicament, the method comprising:
 providing a strip of material having a generally flat top surface, a generally flat bottom surface, and a plurality of recesses in the top surface, wherein the recesses are each configured to hold a metered dosage of a powdered medicament, the strip of material being configured to be positioned within an inhaler such that a flow of air generated by a user via an inhalation port of the inhaler is configured to aerosolize the powdered medicament; and   using a powder dose applicator, dispensing a dose of powdered medicament to the recesses.   
     
     
         37 . A method as in  claim 36 , wherein the powder dose applicator comprises a dispensing chute having a top end and a bottom end, and a wheel at the bottom end, and further comprising rotating the wheel to dispense the powder from the bottom end and into one of the recesses. 
     
     
         38 . A method as in  claim 36 , wherein the recesses are cup shaped in geometry. 
     
     
         39 . A method as in  claim 36 , wherein the recesses are serially aligned along the strip, and further comprising advancing the strip and dispensing powder into the next recess.