Delivery system

Abstract

There is described a medicament delivery device which comprises a medicament reservoir, a medicament delivery passage and a metering member adapted to transfer a measured dose of medicament from the medicament reservoir to the delivery passage characterized in that the device is provided with a moisture proof barrier. The medicament delivery device is especially suited for use as an inhaler. There is therefore also described an inhaler which provides improved airflow for the dispersion of medicament, and a method of treating patients suffering from a respiratory disorder.

1 . A medicament delivery device which comprises a medicament reservoir, a medicament delivery passage and a metering member adapted to transfer a measured dose of medicament from the medicament reservoir to the delivery passage characterised in that the device is provided with a moisture proof barrier. 
     
     
         2 . A medicament delivery device according to  claim 1  characterised in that the moisture proof barrier is a moisture proof sealing means. 
     
     
         3 . A medicament delivery device according to  claim 1  characterised in that the moisture proof barrier is positioned to prevent ingress of moisture into the medicament reservoir. 
     
     
         4 . A medicament delivery device according to  claim 1  wherein the sealing means is adapted to move from an inoperable position in which the medicament reservoir is sealed, to an operable position in which the seal is broken so that measurement and/or delivery of a dose of medicament may take place. 
     
     
         5 . A medicament delivery device according to  claim 1  wherein the sealing means comprises a resilient sealing member positioned at the end of the medicament reservoir adjacent the metering member. 
     
     
         6 . A medicament delivery device according to  claim 5  wherein the metering member is biased towards the sealing member. 
     
     
         7 . A medicament delivery device according to  claim 1  characterised in that the delivery device is an inhaler. 
     
     
         8 . A medicament delivery device according to  claim 7  characterised in that the inhaler is a dry powder inhaler. 
     
     
         9 . A medicament delivery device according to  claim 4  characterised in that the metering member is rotatable from an operable to an inoperable position. 
     
     
         10 . A medicament delivery device according to  claim 1  characterised in that the metering member comprises a combination of a dispensing member and an outer sleeve. 
     
     
         11 . A medicament delivery device according to  claim 10  characterised in that the outer sleeve is a moisture resistant sleeve. 
     
     
         12 . A medicament delivery device according to  claim 10  characterised in that the outer sleeve is a moisture resistant sleeve that is adapted to act as a medicament measuring device. 
     
     
         13 . A medicament delivery device according to  claim 10  wherein the outer sleeve is a moisture resistant sleeve that is adapted to act as a medicament measuring device and has the form of a frusto hemispherical cone. 
     
     
         14 . A medicament delivery device according to  claim 1  characterised in that the device may be moved to a first position in which the medicament is transferred to a measuring chamber, the device is then moved to a second position in which medicament is transferred to a dispensing chamber and to a third position where medicament is delivered into the delivery passage. 
     
     
         15 . A medicament delivery device which is an inhaler and comprises a medicament reservoir, an inhalation passage and a metering member provided with at least one dispensing cup and adapted to transfer a measured dose of medicament from the medicament reservoir to the inhalation passage characterised in that the dispensing cup is provided with an air duct. 
     
     
         16 . An inhaler according to  claim 15  characterised in that the device is provided with a moisture proof barrier. 
     
     
         17 . An inhaler comprising a medicament reservoir, an inhalation passage for the delivery of the medicament and a metering member adapted to transfer a measured dose of medicament from the medicament reservoir to the inhalation passage characterised in that the metering member comprises a measuring member adapted to measure a pre-defined dosage of medicament and moveable from a measuring to a non-measuring position; and a dispensing member adapted to receive the measured dosage of medicament from the measuring member and to deliver the medicament to the inhalation passage, the dispensing member being moveable from a medicament receiving position to a medicament delivering position. 
     
     
         18 . An inhaler according to  claim 17  wherein the second member is provided with one or more medicament receiving cups, said cups being provided with an air duct so as to provide a flow of air through the passage and the cup into the inhalation passage upon operation of the device. 
     
     
         19 . An inhaler comprising a medicament reservoir, an inhalation passage for the delivery of the medicament and a metering member adapted to transfer a measured dose of medicament from the medicament reservoir characterised in that the metering member is provided with a duct to allow air to be sucked through the metering member upon inhalation by a patient. 
     
     
         20 . An inhaler according to  claim 19  characterised in that the metering member comprises an outer sleeve and a dispensing member. 
     
     
         21 . A medicament delivery device according to  claim 20  characterised in that the duct is part of a measuring cup in the dispensing member. 
     
     
         22 . A method of administering a medicament by inhalation which comprises the use by a patient of an inhaler according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         23 . A method of administering a dry powder inhalation medicament using an inhaler according to  claim 7 . 
     
     
         24 . A method of treatment of a patient with a respiratory disorder which comprises the administration of a combination of medicaments using an inhaler according to  claim 7 .