Unit dose capsules and dry powder inhaler

Abstract

Described is a dry powder inhaler comprising an intake section; a mixing section, and a mouthpiece.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A joint attached to a mouthpiece and configured to move a cartridge keying surface. 
     
     
         2 . The joint of  claim 1 , wherein the cartridge keying surface is a rectangular orifice. 
     
     
         3 . The joint of  claim 1 , wherein the cartridge keying surface is configured to engage with a keying surface on a lower half of a cartridge, 
     
     
         4 . The joint of  claim 3 , wherein the cartridge keying surface is configured to move the lower half of the cartridge relative to an upper half of the cartridge. 
     
     
         5 . The joint of  claim 1 , wherein the joint is located within a housing. 
     
     
         6 . The joint of  claim 3 , wherein the cartridge includes a medicament. 
     
     
         7 . The joint of  claim 6 , wherein the medicament comprises a dry powder. 
     
     
         8 . The joint of  claim 7 , wherein the cartridge includes protrusions on a surface of the upper half, the lower half, or a combination thereof, thereby providing one or more locking positions. 
     
     
         9 . The joint of  claim 7 , wherein the lower half of the cartridge is fixed to the keying surface and the upper half of the cartridge is fixed to a second keying surface. 
     
     
         10 . A cartridge for a dry powder inhaler, the cartridge comprising:
 an upper half and a bottom half, wherein portions of the upper half and the bottom half are configured to align and form an air inlet including a ratio of long axis to short axis of between 1:1 and 3:1.   
     
     
         11 . The cartridge of  claim 10 , wherein the bottom half has a rectangular cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         12 . The cartridge of  claim 10 , wherein the bottom half has a circular cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         13 . The cartridge of  claim 10 , wherein the top half and the bottom half can move relative to each other. 
     
     
         14 . The cartridge of  claim 13 , wherein the top half and the bottom half can move between a locked position and an unlocked position. 
     
     
         15 . The cartridge of  claim 13 , wherein when the top half and the bottom half are in a locked position, the interior of the cartridge is isolated from outside air. 
     
     
         16 . The cartridge of  claim 10 , wherein the air inlet has an elliptical shape. 
     
     
         17 . The cartridge of  claim 10 , wherein the elliptical shape has a ratio of long axis to short axis of about 2:1. 
     
     
         18 . The cartridge of  claim 10 , wherein the air inlet has chamfered edges. 
     
     
         19 . The cartridge of  claim 10 , wherein the cartridge includes a medicament. 
     
     
         20 . The cartridge of  claim 19 , wherein the medicament is a dry powder.