Manifold for use in Medicament Dispenser

Abstract

A manifold for use in a medicament dispenser device for the delivery of medicament powder from an open blister pocket of a blister pack comprises a body defining a chimney having a chimney inlet and a chimney exit, and defining a chamber having a chamber inlet and a chamber exit, wherein the chimney exit and said chamber inlet lie side-by-side such that when the open blister pocket is positioned adjacent thereto airflow is directed from the chimney exit to the chamber inlet via the open blister pocket, and wherein one or more bleed holes are provided between the chimney and the chamber such that bleed airflow is able to be directed into the chamber to disruptively impact the airflow that transports the entrained medicament powder.

1 . A manifold for use in a medicament dispenser device for the delivery of medicament powder from an open blister pocket of a blister pack, the manifold comprising
 a body,   said body defining a chimney having a chimney inlet and a chimney exit for directing airflow from said chimney inlet to said chimney exit;   the body further defining a chamber having a chamber inlet and a chamber exit,   wherein the chimney exit and said chamber inlet lie side-by-side each other such that when said open blister pocket of said blister pack is positioned adjacent thereto said airflow is directed from the chimney exit to the chamber inlet via the open blister pocket to entrain said medicament powder and enable transport thereof in the airflow from the chamber inlet to said chamber exit,   and wherein one or more bleed holes are provided between the chimney and the chamber such that bleed airflow is able to be directed into the chamber to disruptively impact the airflow that transports the entrained medicament powder.   
     
     
         2 . A manifold according to  claim 1  for use in a medicament dispenser device for the delivery of medicament powder from an open blister pocket of each of plural blister packs, the manifold comprising plural pairings of chimney exit and chimney inlet, each said pairing in use associated with an open blister pocket of a different one of said plural blister packs. 
     
     
         3 . A manifold according to  claim 1 , wherein the manifold is arranged such that in use, from 3 to 50% of the total airflow entering the manifold through the chimney inlet is directed via the or each chimney exit towards an open blister pocket and from 97 to 50% of the total airflow is directed through the one or more bleed holes into the chamber. 
     
     
         4 . A manifold according to  claim 3 , wherein the manifold is arranged such that in use, from 5 to 25% of the total airflow entering the manifold through the chimney inlet is directed via the or each chimney exit towards an open blister pocket and from 95 to 75% of the total airflow is directed through the one or more bleed holes into the chamber. 
     
     
         5 . A manifold according to  claim 1 , wherein the manifold provides an airflow resistance of from 1 to 5 kPa for a total airflow entering the manifold through the chimney inlet at a rate of 60 litres/minute. 
     
     
         6 - 56 . (canceled)