Dry Powder Inhaler

Abstract

A dry powder inhaler including replaceable cartridges containing a dry powder for local or systemic delivery through the pulmonary tract and lungs is disclosed. The inhalers are used with inhalable dry powders, including medicament formulations comprising active agents for local or systemic delivery and for the treatment of diseases such as, pulmonary hypertension, cardiovascular disease, anaphylaxis, diabetes, obesity, cancer, and other diseases, or symptoms associated with these and other diseases, such as nausea, vomiting, pain and inflammation.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A dry powder inhaler comprising:
 a housing, and   a body comprising a mouthpiece integrally configured with the body,   wherein the body comprises a mounting area for a cartridge, and the body and the housing are movable relative to one another linearly and are operably configured to engage one another by insertion to effectuate the cartridge to be reconfigured to attain an airflow pathway for discharging a powder dose upon an inhalation.   
     
     
         2 . The dry powder inhaler of  claim 1 , wherein the mouthpiece has an air inlet for communicating with an interior compartment of the inhaler body. 
     
     
         3 . The dry powder inhaler of  claim 1 , wherein the housing reconfigures the cartridge installed in the inhaler by translation of the housing over the inhaler body from an open configuration to a closed configuration. 
     
     
         4 . The dry powder inhaler of  claim 1 , wherein the movement of the housing relative to the body is facilitated by guide rails structured along a longitudinal axis and extending from right side and/or left side of the inhaler body. 
     
     
         5 . The dry powder inhaler of  claim 1 , wherein the dry powder inhaler is configured to attain an open or loading position, and a closed or dosing position. 
     
     
         6 . The dry powder inhaler of  claim 1 , wherein the housing further comprises a protruding rigid element which pushes the cartridge to a dosing position from a containment configuration. 
     
     
         7 . The dry powder inhaler of  claim 1 , wherein the inhaler is further configured to have rigid flow conduits. 
     
     
         8 . The dry powder inhaler of  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a cover which envelops a portion of the inhaler body. 
     
     
         9 . The dry powder inhaler of  claim 1 , wherein the mouthpiece further has an internal volume extending from the first inlet port to the exit port, wherein the internal volume is greater than 0.2 cubic centimeters. 
     
     
         10 . The dry powder inhaler of  claim 1 , wherein the inhaler body comprises detents which prevent separation of the body from the housing in an assembled inhaler. 
     
     
         11 . The dry powder inhaler of  claim 1 , wherein the housing positions the cartridge to align with the mouthpiece by translation of the housing over the inhaler body from an open configuration to a closed configuration. 
     
     
         12 . The dry powder inhaler of  claim 1 , further comprising a dry powder. 
     
     
         13 . The dry powder inhaler of  claim 12 , wherein the dry powder is a pharmaceutical composition for inhalation. 
     
     
         14 . The dry powder inhaler of  claim 12 , wherein the dry powder comprises 3,6-bis(N-fumaryl-4-aminobutyl)-2,5-diketopiperazine. 
     
     
         15 . The dry powder inhaler of  claim 14 , wherein the dry powder comprises a cannabinoid in an amount from 1% to 40% (w/w). 
     
     
         16 . The dry powder inhaler of  claim 15 , wherein the cannabinoid is tetrahydrocannabinol or cannabidiol. 
     
     
         17 . The dry powder inhaler of  claim 14 , wherein the dry powder further comprises a phospholipid selected from 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine and 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine. 
     
     
         18 . A dry powder inhaler comprising a body, a housing, a cartridge and a mouthpiece, said body having a mounting area for said cartridge and said cartridge comprising a dry powder composition comprising microcrystalline particles of fumaryl diketopiperazine and a drug, and wherein said housing translationally glides over said body in a proximal to distal direction to open the inhaler, or from distal to proximal direction to close the inhaler, wherein when the inhaler is closed the inhaler has one or more rigid air conduits for dispensing the dry powder. 
     
     
         19 . The dry powder inhaler of  claim 18 , wherein the drug is tetrahydrocannabinol or cannabidiol. 
     
     
         20 . The dry powder inhaler of  claim 18 , wherein the dry powder further comprises a phospholipid selected from 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine and 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine.