초록 ▼

A method for aerosolizing a powdered medicament comprises coupling a powder inlet end of a feed tube with a penetration in a receptacle containing the powder. Powder is drawn upward through the tube and dispersed in a high pressure gas stream flowing past a portion of the feed tube. Apparatus compri

A method for aerosolizing a powdered medicament comprises coupling a powder inlet end of a feed tube with a penetration in a receptacle containing the powder. Powder is drawn upward through the tube and dispersed in a high pressure gas stream flowing past a portion of the feed tube. Apparatus comprise the feed tube mounted within a base enclosure proximate a holder for one or more receptacles, which may be in the form of a cartridge containing a plurality of receptacles formed in a continuous web. The cartridge may be reciprocated relative to the feed tube and a separate piercing mechanism in order to sequentially piercing the receptacle and thereafter couple the feed tube through the resulting penetration for extracting the powder. Alternatively, penetration(s) through the receptacle may be formed as the feed tube is coupled, or some penetrations formed prior to coupling with other penetrations formed at the time of coupling.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] An apparatus for aerosolizing a powder held in a receptacle having a puncturable access surface, the apparatus comprising:a housing;a source of pressurized gas;a capture chamber attached to the housing; anda multi-flow ejector assembly held within the housing, said multi-

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] An apparatus for aerosolizing a powder held in a receptacle having a puncturable access surface, the apparatus comprising:a housing;a source of pressurized gas;a capture chamber attached to the housing; anda multi-flow ejector assembly held within the housing, said multi-flow ejector assembly having an air inlet path with a penetrating structure and an outlet path with a penetrating element, wherein the penetrating structure and the penetrating element are each adapted to pierce the access surface of the receptacle and wherein the multi-flow ejector assembly includes a gas flow passage which converges with the outlet path at an oblique angle, and wherein the gas flow passage is adapted to receive pressurized gas from the gas source to draw powder from the receptacle, through the outlet path and into the capture chamber.