A disposable package, tape, and cassette are provided which makes it possible to hold and disperse therefrom liquid, flowable formulations including aqueous formulations (solutions or dispersions with particles less than 0.25 microns in diameter) of a pharmaceutically active drug. In one embodiment formulation is packaged in individual dosage unit containers which containers are preferably interconnected. The package is designed to be integrated into a cassette which can be loaded into a dispersing device capable of individually opening dosage unit containers and aerosolizing the contents through a porous membrane, into a mouth piece on the cassette, for delivery to a patient. In addition to and alongside of each porous membrane, the package may include one or more openings through which air is forced in order to aid in avoiding the accumulation of aerosolized particles. The package may be configured so that the formulation is held in a container not positioned directly vertical to and below the porous membrane, thus making it necessary to channel formulation horizontally to the porous membrane and making it possible to include a vibrating mechanism directly below a chamber covered by the porous membrane. Release of aerosolized drug is breath actuated based on simultaneous measurements of inspiratory flow and volume so as to provide for repeatable dosing of drug to the patient.

Systems for the intrapulmonary delivery of aerosolized aqueous formulations

A dry powder inhalation device comprising a housing (1) defining a chamber (3) in communication with a patient port (4) in the form of a mouthpiece or nasal adaptor (5), and an elongate carrier (8) bearing a powdered medicament, the device being constructed and arranged such that areas of predetermined size of the elongate carrier (8) may sequentially be exposed within the chamber (3), the device comprising one or more air inlets (2) such that when a patient inhales through the patient port (4) an air flow is established from the air inlet(s) (2) to the patient port (4) through the chamber (3) such that particles of the powdered medicament of respirable size from said exposed area of the elongate carrier (8) are entrained within the air flow. The elongate carrier conveniently comprises a tape having a surface releasably bearing micronised medicament. The tape may be mounted in a removable cassette in a similar manner to a magnetic tape cassette.

Dry powder inhalation device

An inhalation device for dry powder containing a chamber capable of receiving a dose of powdered medicament. The chamber is in communication with a patient port in the form of a mouthpiece or nasal adapter. The inhalation device also contains a deagglomeration/aerosolization apparatus capable of deagglomerating and/or aerosolizing a dose of powdered medicament and is operable by a patient-independent energy output source. The inhalation device further includes detection apparatus that ascertains patient inspiration through the patient port, and a control apparatus that actuates the deagglomeration/aerosolization apparatus in response to detection of patient inspiration.

Dry powder inhalation device having deagglomeration/aerosolization structure responsive to patient inhalation

An inhaler (10) of the multiple single-dose type for administering doses of medicament in very fine or micronized powder form contained in blisters (30) in a blister sheet (60) comprises means (18) for bringing the blisters (30) of the blister sheet one after another into a piercing position, means (62) for piercing the individual blister, a delivery channel through which the patient exerts the inhalation action, and an air intake which communicates with the delivery channel (82) when a blister has been pierced. The blister sheet (60) is in the form of a strip with the blisters (30) aligned. A connection channel (22) is provided to connect the delivery channel (82) to the air intake (28). The blister (30) when in its piercing position is interposed between the delivery channel (82) and the connection channel (22). In this latter there is provided a cup (46) coaxial with the connection channel (22) and with its concavity facing the blister in the piercing position.

Multiple single-dose inhaler for medicaments in powder form

Liquid, flowable formulations including aqueous formulations of a pharmaceutically active drug are packaged in individual dosage unit containers which containers are interconnected to form a cellular array designed to be integrated into a dispensing device capable of individually opening dosage unit containers and aerosolizing the contents through a nozzle for delivery to a patient. The cellular array is comprised of a plurality of containers with each container having an opening(s) thereon from which a drug-containing formulation may be aerosolized. The dispensing device is a hand-held, self-contained, portable device comprised of a means for removing covers from the containers and automatically dispensing the formulation from individual containers, preferably in response to a signal obtained as a result of measuring the inspiratory flow of a patient. The cellular array is loaded into the dispensing device to form a system which can be used in a method of delivering drugs to a patient via the intrapulmonary route. In a preferred embodiment each container includes an opening covered by a membrane having a plurality of pores therein wherein the pores have a diameter of about 0.5 microns to 50 microns and the dispensing device includes a vibrating device which creates a vibration frequency such that formulation forced through the pores is aerosolized to particles having a diameter of about 1 micron to 100 microns.

Intrapulmonary delivery of aerosolized formulations

A medical nasal inhaler for liberating from microcapsules a measured dose of an active constituent which is volatile or is entrained in a volatile excipient. Dose-sized batches of microcapsules are regularly spaced along a flexible backing strip, e.g. at intervals of 1.5 cm. on a polythene strip which is 7 mm. wide and 130 microns thick. The inhaler has a reservoir for a supply of loaded backing strip and a winding reel to advance the strip to position a batch of microcapsules at a crushing station. The station is in an air passage leading from the exterior to a nasal nozzle.

Medical nasal inhaler for volatile constituents in microcapsules - which are in dose batches evenly spaced along flexible backing strip

Antacid agents containing at least one apatite are new. The duration of neutralisation is similar that of calcium carbonate but the final pH is around 6, which prevents acid hypersecretion. There is less risk of calcium ions passing into the blood due to the low solubility of the apatite in the intestine. Compared with aluminium hydroxide, apatite gives a final pH that is more alkaline, minimising the proteolytic activity of gastric pepsin.

Francis Mayne

Papers

Medical nasal inhaler for volatile constituents in microcapsules - which are in dose batches evenly spaced along flexible backing strip

Antacid formulations contg. an apatite - cause less side effects than conventional antacids

Comparison de trois méthodes d'estimation par microscopie des aires de surface projetée de systèmes dispersés