초록 ▼

A medicament container configured to improve entrainment of the medicament in the air and to improve deposition of the medicament in the lungs includes an upper layer and a bottom layer with medicament disposed therebetween. The upper layer is punctured to provide first and second openings to allow

A medicament container configured to improve entrainment of the medicament in the air and to improve deposition of the medicament in the lungs includes an upper layer and a bottom layer with medicament disposed therebetween. The upper layer is punctured to provide first and second openings to allow airflow to enter and exit through the upper layer of the medicament container. In a preferred embodiment, the medicament container has a projection which forms an elbow-shaped medicament containment/flow channel between the upper layer and the lower layer. The medicament container is preferably used in a housing which selectively controls airflow through the medicament container and the housing to improve deep lung deposition of the medicament.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A medicament container for holding medicament to be inhaled by a patient, the medicament container comprising: an upper layer formed from a flexible piece of material which is readily pierced by a lancet; a substantially rigid lower layer disposed below the upper layer, the l

What is claimed is: 1. A medicament container for holding medicament to be inhaled by a patient, the medicament container comprising: an upper layer formed from a flexible piece of material which is readily pierced by a lancet; a substantially rigid lower layer disposed below the upper layer, the lower layer having a plurality of receptacles formed therein for receiving medicament, the plurality of receptacles being spaced apart from each other so as to not share a common sidewall and being connected by a generally horizontal portion of the lower layer; and a plurality of projections maintained below the upper layer and each projection extending downwardly into one receptacle of the plurality of receptacles and extending across said receptacle so as to extend between two opposing sides of said receptacle, and wherein the plurality of projections are configured to divert flow around the plurality of projections. 2. The medicament container according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of receptacles has a generally rectangular opening with four sides closed by the upper layer, and wherein the projection does not contact two opposing sides of the opening. 3. The medicament container according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of receptacles have upper surfaces and wherein the plurality of projections have lower surfaces which are generally parallel to the upper surfaces of the plurality of receptacles so as to form a curved and generally uniform airflow channel. 4. The medicament container according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of receptacles have generally semi-circular vertical cross-sections, and wherein the lower layer is sufficiently rigid to maintain the generally semi-circular vertical cross-sections of the plurality of receptacles during use. 5. A medicament container for holding medicament to be inhaled by a patient, the medicament container comprising: an upper layer formed from a flexible piece of material which is readily pierced by a lancet; a substantially rigid lower layer disposed below the upper layer, the lower layer having at least one receptacle formed therein for receiving medicament and having a generally horizontal section extending from the at least one receptacle; and medicament disposed in the at least one receptacle; a projection maintained below the upper layer and extending downwardly into the at least one receptacle and configured to divert flow around the projection; and wherein the receptacle has a generally triangular vertical cross-section, and wherein the lower layer is sufficiently rigid to maintain the generally triangular cross-section of the receptacle during use. 6. A medicament container for holding medicament to be inhaled by a patient, the medicament container comprising: an upper layer formed from a flexible piece of material which is readily pierced by a lancet; a substantially rigid lower layer disposed below the upper layer, the lower layer having a plurality of receptacles formed therein for receiving medicament, the plurality of receptacles being spaced apart from each other so as to not share a common sidewall; a plurality of projections maintained below the upper layer, each of the projections extending downwardly into one of the plurality of receptacles and configured to divert flow around the projection; and wherein the receptacle has a generally trapezoidal vertical cross-section, and wherein the lower layer is sufficiently rigid to maintain the generally trapezoidal cross-section of the receptacle during use. 7. A medicament container for holding medicament to be inhaled by a patient, the medicament container comprising: an upper layer formed from a flexible piece of material which is readily pierced by a lancet; a substantially rigid lower layer disposed below the upper layer, the lower layer having a receptacle formed therein for receiving medicament; and a projection maintained below the upper layer and extending downwardly into the receptacle and extending across the receptacle so as to extend between two opposing sides of the receptacle and configured to divert flow around the projection, the projection having a first side and a second side; and further comprising at least two holes disposed in communication with the receptacle, and wherein a first hole is disposed on the first side of the projection and the second hole is disposed on a second side of the projection. 8. The medicament container of claim 7, wherein the receptacle, projection, and at least two holes define an air flow channel. 9. The medicament container of claim 8, wherein the air flow channel is defined by the surfaces of the projection and receptacle so as to have a shape selected from the group consisting of rounded, angular, V-shaped, elbow-shaped, and semi-circular. 10. The medicament container of claim 7, wherein the lower layer comprises a generally horizontal portion and further comprising a plurality of receptacles and a plurality of projections corresponding to the plurality of receptacles, the plurality of receptacles being spaced apart from each other so as to not share a common sidewall and being connected by the generally horizontal portion of the lower layer. 11. The medicament container of claim 7, wherein the at least two holes are defined, in part, by angled side walls. 12. A medicament container for holding medicament to be inhaled by a patient, the medicament container comprising: an upper layer formed from a flexible piece of material which is readily pierced by a lancet; a substantially rigid lower layer disposed below the upper layer, the lower layer comprising a generally horizontal layer having a receptacle formed therein for receiving medicament; and a projection maintained below the upper layer, the projection extending across the receptacle so as to extend between two opposing sides of the receptacle and extending downwardly into the receptacle and configured to divert flow around the projection. 13. The medicament container according to claim 12, further comprising a middle layer, and wherein the middle layer comprises a first and second opening. 14. The medicament container according to claim 13, wherein the first and second openings comprise, at least in part, angled side walls. 15. The medicament container according to claim 12, further comprising a middle layer, and wherein the middle layer forms the projection. 16. The medicament container according to claim 15, wherein the middle layer further comprises a first and second opening disposed on opposite sides of the projection. 17. A medicament container for holding medicament to be inhaled by a patient, the medicament container comprising: an upper layer formed from a flexible piece of material which is readily pierced by a lancet; a substantially rigid lower layer disposed below the upper layer, the lower layer having a plurality of receptacles formed therein for receiving medicament, the plurality of receptacles being spaced apart from each other so as to not share a common sidewall and connected by a generally horizontal portion of the lower layer; and a middle layer disposed between the upper layer and the lower layer and having at least two holes disposed in communication with each receptacle. 18. The medicament container according to claim 17, wherein the middle layer is generally rigid. 19. The medicament container according to claim 17, wherein the medicament container further comprises a medicament carrying tray disposed between the middle layer and the lower layer and having a plurality of receptacles for holding medicament formed therein. 20. The medicament container according to claim 19, wherein the upper layer, the middle layer, and the medicament carrying tray are attached to one another. 21. The medicament container according to claim 17, wherein the middle layer comprises a plurality of projections disposed between the upper layer and the plurality of receptacles formed in the lower layer to define an airflow channel through the receptacle. 22. The medicament container according to claim 21, wherein the plurality of projections extend downwardly into the plurality of receptacles. 23. The medicament container according to claim 22, wherein each of the plurality of projections has a lower surface, and each of the plurality of receptacles has an upper surface, and wherein the lower surface of the plurality of projections and the upper surface of the plurality of receptacles are generally parallel. 24. The medicament container according to claim 21, wherein an area of the medicament container between the lower layer and each projection of the plurality of projections defines a medicament containment area which forms part of a flow channel. 25. The medicament container according to claim 24, wherein each of the medicament containment areas forms part of a flow channel which is bounded by the lower layer and a projection such that the channel is generally elbow-shaped. 26. The medicament container according to claim 21, wherein two of the at least two holes are disposed on opposite sides of the receptacles. 27. The medicament container according to claim 26, wherein at least one of the at least two holes is defined by an angled sidewall. 28. The medicament container according to claim 26, wherein a first hole and a second hole are defined by an angled sidewall and wherein the angled sidewalls of the first hole and the second hole are disposed opposite one another. 29. A medicament container for holding and dispensing medicament, the container comprising: a lower layer having a receptacle formed therein for holding medicament, the receptacle having an upper surface; a projection attached to the lower layer and disposed so as to extend downwardly into the receptacle, the projection having a shape corresponding to the shape of the receptacle such that the projection has a lower surface which is generally parallel and generally equidistant to the upper surface of the receptacle to thereby form a generally uniform airflow channel between the receptacle and the projection; and an upper layer disposed above the projection and lower layer for holding medicament in the receptacle prior to opening of the upper layer. 30. The medicament container according to claim 29, further comprising medicament disposed in the airflow channel, the medicament being configured for entrainment into airflow through the channel. 31. The medicament container according to claim 29, wherein the lower layer is generally rigid, and wherein the receptacle has a vertical cross-sectional shape selected from the group consisting of triangular, trapezoidal, semi-circular and semi-elliptical. 32. The medicament container according to claim 29, wherein the medicament container further comprises a medicament carrying tray disposed between the lower layer and the projection. 33. The medicament container according to claim 32, wherein the medicament carrying tray and the upper layer are removable from the lower layer. 34. A medicament container for holding and dispensing medicament, the container comprising: a lower layer having a receptacle formed therein for holding medicament and having a width, the lower layer having a generally planar portion extending away from the receptacle; and a projection attached to the lower layer and disposed so as to extend downwardly into the receptacle, the projection having a shape which is similar to the shape of the receptacle such that an airflow flow channel having a generally uniform cross-section is formed between the projection and the receptacle; and wherein the medicament container further comprises a first opening and a second opening, the first and second openings being disposed on opposing sides of the projection. 35. The medicament container according to claim 34, wherein the medicament container comprises a middle layer disposed between the upper layer and the lower layer, the middle layer forming the projection and having the first and second openings formed therein. 36. The medicament container according to claim 34, wherein the lower layer comprises a plurality of receptacles which are spaced apart from each other, the plurality of receptacles being connected by a generally planar portion. 37. The medicament container according to claim 34, wherein the first and second opening are defined, in part, by angled walls, and wherein the angled walls are disposed opposite one another. 38. A medicament container for holding and dispensing medicament, the container comprising: a lower layer having a receptacle formed therein for holding medicament; a projection attached to the lower layer and disposed so as to extend downwardly into the receptacle; and an upper layer disposed above the projection and lower layer for holding medicament in the receptacle prior to opening of the upper layer; and wherein the projection and the lower layer form a medicament containment/flow channel which is generally elbow shaped. 39. A medicament container comprising: a lower layer having a plurality of receptacles, the plurality of receptacles being connected together and spaced apart from each other so as to not share a common sidewall, the lower layer having a generally planar portion extending outwardly from at least a portion of each of the plurality of receptacles; a generally planar middle layer, the middle layer being attached to the generally planar portion of the lower layer, the middle layer having a plurality of holes disposed in communication with the plurality of receptacles, the plurality of holes being disposed such that at least two holes are in communication with each receptacle; and an upper layer formed from a flexible material readily pierced by a lancet, the upper layer being attached to the middle layer. 40. The medicament container of claim 39, wherein the lower layer comprises a plurality of receptacles and the middle layer comprises a plurality of projections, one of the plurality of projections extending downwardly into each of the plurality of receptacles. 41. The medicament container of claim 40, further comprising medicament disposed in the plurality of receptacles. 42. The medicament container of claim 39, further comprising a plurality of projections extending downwardly into the plurality of receptacles. 43. The medicament container of claim 42, wherein the plurality of receptacles have two opposing sides, and wherein each of the plurality of projections extend between two opposing sides of a corresponding one of the plurality of receptacles. 44. The medicament container of claim 43, wherein the plurality of projections have lower surfaces and wherein the plurality of receptacles have upper surfaces, and wherein the lower surfaces of the plurality of projections have shapes similar to the upper surfaces of the plurality of receptacles so as to form generally uniform flow channels between the plurality of projections and the plurality of receptacles. 45. The medicament container of claim 39, wherein the plurality of receptacles have generally triangular vertical cross sections. 46. A medicament container comprising: a lower layer having a generally planar portion and having at least one receptacle, the generally planar portion being disposed in the same plane as the opening of the at least one receptacle and extending outwardly from the at least one receptacle beyond the sidewalls of the at least one receptacle; a generally planar middle layer, the middle layer being attached to the generally planar portion of the lower layer; and an upper layer formed from a flexible material readily pierced by a lancet, the upper layer being attached to the middle layer; and wherein the middle layer further comprises at least one projection extending downwardly into each of the at least one receptacle. 47. The medicament container of claim 46, wherein the middle layer further comprises a plurality of holes disposed such that each receptacle is in communication with a first hole disposed on a first side of the projection which extends downwardly into the receptacle and a second hole disposed on the second side of the projection. 48. The medicament container of claim 46, wherein at least one generally curved air flow channel is defined by the surfaces of the at least one projection and at least one receptacle and formed between the at least one receptacle and the at least one projection. 49. The medicament container of claim 48, further comprising medicament disposed in the at least one generally curved air flow channel, the medicament configured for entrainment into air flowing through the at least one air flow channel. 50. The medicament container of claim 46, wherein the at least one receptacle has an upper surface and the at least one projection has a lower surface, and wherein the lower surface of the at least one projection is generally parallel and generally equidistant to the upper surface of the at least one receptacle to form a generally uniform flow channel. 51. The medicament container of claim 46, wherein the at least one receptacle has a generally triangular vertical cross section. 52. The medicament container of claim 46, wherein the at least one receptacle has two generally opposite sides, and wherein the at least one projection extends only between said two sides of the at least one receptacle. 53. The medicament container of claim 46, further comprising medicament disposed in the at least one receptacle.