Powder aerosolization apparatus and method

Abstract

An aerosolization device comprises a chamber adapted to contain a powder pharmaceutical formulation, a lid at least partially covering the chamber, at least one piercing element forcible through the lid to provide access to the powder pharmaceutical formulation, and a shapeable surface extending from the chamber, the shapeable surface being adapted to undergo a shape change to form a conduit. The powder pharmaceutical formulation may be extracted from the chamber by a user inhaling through the conduit. In another version, the lid is removable from the chamber without the need for a piercing element.

1 . An aerosolization device comprising:
 a chamber adapted to contain a powder pharmaceutical formulation;   a lid at least partially covering the chamber; and   at least one piercing element connected to the chamber, the piercing element being forcible through the lid to provide access to the powder pharmaceutical formulation,   whereby the powder pharmaceutical formulation may be extracted from the chamber by a user inhaling in proximity to the chamber.   
   
   
       2 . An aerosolization device according to claim I wherein the chamber comprises a cavity formed in a surface. 
   
   
       3 . An aerosolization device according to  claim 2  wherein the piercing element is integrally formed with the surface. 
   
   
       4 . An aerosolization device according to  claim 2  wherein the piercing element is formed in one piece with the surface. 
   
   
       5 . An aerosolization device according to  claim 2  wherein at least a portion of the piercing element is connected to the surface by a perforated portion of the surface. 
   
   
       6 . An aerosolization device according to  claim 2  wherein the piercing element comprises a pointed tab formed from the surface. 
   
   
       7 . An aerosolization device according to  claim 6  wherein the piercing element is located adjacent to the chamber and is bendable to permit the pointed tab to pierce the lid. 
   
   
       8 . An aerosolization device according to  claim 2  wherein the surface has a longitudinal axis and wherein two sides of the surface that lie on opposing sides of the longitudinal axis are bendable towards each other to pierce the lid. 
   
   
       9 . An aerosolization device according to  claim 1  wherein the lid comprises a foil. 
   
   
       10 . An aerosolization device according to  claim 1  wherein the lid and the piercing element lie in a common plane prior to piercing of the lid. 
   
   
       11 . An aerosolization device according to  claim 1  further comprising a conduit extending from the chamber. 
   
   
       12 . An aerosolization device for aerosolizing a powder pharmaceutical formulation contained within a chamber having a lid, the aerosolization device comprising:
 a shapeable surface adapted to undergo a shape change to form a conduit, and   at least one piercing element connected to the shapeable surface, the piercing element being positioned so that is may be forced through the lid to provide access to the powder pharmaceutical formulation,   whereby the powder pharmaceutical formulation may be extracted from the chamber by a user inhaling through the conduit.   
   
   
       13 . An aerosolization device according to  claim 12  wherein the shapeable surface is adapted to undergo a shape change in response to a force being applied thereto by the user. 
   
   
       14 . An aerosolization device according to  claim 12  wherein the shapeable surface includes means for encouraging the surface to form the conduit. 
   
   
       15 . An aerosolization device according to  claim 14  wherein the means for encouraging comprises one or more perforations. 
   
   
       16 . An aerosolization device according to  claim 12  wherein the chamber is removably positionable on the shapeable surface. 
   
   
       17 . An aerosolization device according to  claim 12  wherein the piercing element and the shapeable surface are one-piece. 
   
   
       18 . An aerosolization device according to  claim 12  wherein the piercing element comprises a pointed tab formed from the shapeable surface. 
   
   
       19 . An aerosolization device according to  claim 12  wherein the piercing element and the shapeable surface lie in a common plane prior to piercing of the lid and the formation of the conduit. 
   
   
       20 . A method for aerosolizing a pharmaceutical formulation, the method comprising:
 providing a chamber containing a powder pharmaceutical formulation at least partially covered by a puncturable lid;   providing a surface that is shapeable into the form of a conduit; and   after the lid is punctured, aerosolizing the powder pharmaceutical formulation in response to a user inhaling through the conduit.   
   
   
       21 . A method according to  claim 20  wherein the surface is shapeable into the form of a conduit in response to a force being applied by the user. 
   
   
       22 . A method for aerosolizing a pharmaceutical formulation, the method comprising:
 shaping a shapeable surface into the form of a conduit;   puncturing the lid of a chamber containing a powder pharmaceutical formulation; and   inhaling through the conduit to aerosolize the pharmaceutical formulation.   
   
   
       23 . A method according to  claim 22  wherein the step of shaping comprises bending the shapeable surface. 
   
   
       24 . A method according to  claim 22  wherein the step of shaping comprises bending the shapeable surface about at least one perforation in the surface. 
   
   
       25 . A method for aerosolizing a pharmaceutical formulation, the method comprising:
 puncturing the lid of a chamber containing a powder pharmaceutical formulation, wherein the puncturing is performed with a piercing element attached to the chamber; and   inhaling through a conduit to aerosolize the pharmaceutical formulation.   
   
   
       26 . A method according to  claim 25  wherein the step of puncturing the lid comprises moving the piercing element out of a common plane which contains the lid and the piercing element prior to piercing of the lid and the formation of the conduit. 
   
   
       27 . A method of making an aerosolization apparatus, the method comprising:
 providing a surface;   forming one or more perforations in the surface so that the surface may be shaped into the form of a conduit; and   forming a member in the surface whereby a pharmaceutical formulation may be positioned in proximity to the conduit.   
   
   
       28 . A method according to  claim 27  wherein the member comprises a chamber formed in the surface. 
   
   
       29 . A method according to  claim 27  wherein the member comprises a recess into which a chamber containing the pharmaceutical formulation may be positioned. 
   
   
       30 . A method of making an aerosolization apparatus, the method comprising:
 providing a surface;   forming a chamber in the surface and providing a powder pharmaceutical formulation within the chamber; and   forming at least one piercing element in the surface with which the powder pharmaceutical formulation may be accessed.   
   
   
       31 . A method according to  claim 30  wherein the piercing element is formed by providing one or more perforations in the surface. 
   
   
       32 . A method according to  claim 30  wherein the piercing element may be bent to force the piercing element through a lid covering at least a portion of the chamber. 
   
   
       33 . An aerosolization device comprising:
 a chamber adapted to contain a powder pharmaceutical formulation;   a lid removably covering at least a portion of the chamber; and   a shapeable surface extending from the chamber, the shapeable surface being adapted to undergo a shape change to form a conduit,   whereby the powder pharmaceutical formulation may be extracted from the chamber by a user inhaling through the conduit.   
   
   
       34 . An aerosolization device according to  claim 33  wherein the shapeable surface is adapted to undergo a shape change in response to a force being applied thereto by the user. 
   
   
       35 . An aerosolization device according to  claim 33  wherein the shapeable surface includes means for encouraging the surface to form the conduit. 
   
   
       36 . An aerosolization device according to  claim 35  wherein the means for encouraging comprises one or more perforations. 
   
   
       37 . An aerosolization device according to  claim 33  wherein the surface is substantially flat before undergoing the shape change. 
   
   
       38 . An aerosolization device according to  claim 33  wherein the lid comprises a foil.