Dispensing device

Abstract

A device for dispensing individual doses of powder from respective pockets of a disc-shaped carrier by outwardly rupturing a lidding foil by means of pressure on an opposite side surface, the device providing individual respective deaggregation flow paths for each pocket, split airstreams allowing improved entrainment of powder, a cam mechanism for outwardly rupturing the pockets, an indexing mechanism linked to the cam mechanism and a dose counter.

1 . A device for dispensing individual doses of powder from respective pockets of a carrier, the device including: a support for a carrier having a plurality of pockets containing respective doses of powder; and a mouthpiece through which to inhale an airstream carrying a dose of powder; the device further including: walls for defining individual respective first flow paths downstream of each respective pocket of a supported carrier wherein each individual respective first flow path is defined entirely by respective walls unique to that individual respective first flow path, is for connecting the corresponding respective pocket to the mouthpiece and is for deaggregating powder in the airstream. 
     
     
         2 . A device for dispensing individual doses of powder from respective pockets of a carrier, the device including: a support for a carrier having a plurality of pockets containing respective doses of powder; and a mouthpiece through which to inhale an airstream carrying a dose of powder; the device further including: walls for defining individual respective first flow paths downstream of each pocket of a supported carrier for connecting the pockets to the mouthpiece and deaggregating powder in the airstream; and an arrangement for moving individually each pocket from a respective storage position to a respective discharge position, wherein each pocket, in the respective discharge position, forms an integral part of the individual respective first flow path. 
     
     
         3 . A device according to  claim 2  for use with a carrier having pockets provided with a lidding sheet, the device allowing the lidding sheet to be ruptured as a consequence of moving a pocket from a respective storage position to a respective discharge position. 
     
     
         4 . A device according to  claim 1  further including: walls defining a second flow path connecting with the mouthpiece and bypassing the pockets. 
     
     
         5 . A device according to  claim 4  wherein: with the device configured to dispense a dose of powder from one of the pockets of the supported carrier, the respective first flow path connects with the second flow path downstream of the bypass and at an angle such that substantially no powder impacts with the walls defining the second flow path. 
     
     
         6 . A device according to  claim 5  wherein: where the respective first flow path connects with the second flow path, the angle between the flow paths is less than 45 degrees and preferably less than 30 degrees. 
     
     
         7 . A device according to  claim 4  wherein: the support for a carrier and the walls defining the first flow paths are moveable with a supported carrier so as selectively to connect respective first flow paths with the second flow path and hence selectively dispense doses of powder from respective pockets of the supported carrier. 
     
     
         8 . A device according to  claim 4  wherein: the walls defining the first flow paths include, upstream of the pockets, respective portions of relatively reduced cross-sectional area orientated so as to be directed towards respective pockets and direct a relatively high velocity airstream into the respective pockets. 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A device according to  claim 8  wherein: the portion(s) have a cross-sectional area between 50% and 66% of the cross-sectional area of the smallest part of the second flow path. 
     
     
         11 . A device according to  claim 8  wherein: the portion(s) have a cross-sectional area of between 2.0 mm 2  and 10.0 mm 2 . 
     
     
         12 . A device for dispensing individual doses of powder from respective pockets of a pair of carriers, the device including: a support for two disc shaped carriers, each disc shaped carrier having at least one substantially planar first side surface having an annular array of cavities in which respective pockets are formed and a respective first lidding sheet sealed to the first side surface for enclosing the cavities, wherein the supports are for rotatably supporting the carriers about a substantially common axis; a mouthpiece through which to inhale an airstream carrying powder from the carriers; a dispensing mechanism for releasing into the airstream the powder of a respective pocket of a supported carrier; and an indexing mechanism for rotating the carriers relative to the dispensing mechanism so as to enable powder to be released from different pockets. 
     
     
         13 . A device according to  claim 12  wherein: between consecutive dispensing of powder from one of said carriers, the indexing mechanism is operable to rotate both of said carriers relative to the dispensing mechanism. 
     
     
         14 . A device according to  claim 13  wherein: between consecutive dispensing of powder from the other of said carriers, the indexing mechanism is operable to rotate both of said carriers relative to the dispensing mechanism. 
     
     
         15 . A device according to  claim 12  wherein: the dispensing mechanism is operable to release powder from a pocket of each carrier for a single inhalation of both respective powders simultaneously. 
     
     
         16 . A device according to  claim 15  wherein: the dispensing mechanism is operable to release powder from a pocket of each carrier simultaneously. 
     
     
         17 . A device according to  claim 12  wherein: the dispensing mechanism is operable to release powder from a pocket of one of the carriers for inhalation then to release powder from the other of the carriers for inhalation. 
     
     
         18 . A device according to  claim 15  wherein: the dispensing mechanism is operable to release powder from a pocket of one carrier and from a pocket of the other carrier consecutively. 
     
     
         19 . A device according to  claim 12  including two of said disc shaped carriers respectively containing powder of different medicament. 
     
     
         20 . A device according to  claim 12  wherein: between consecutive dispensing of powder, the indexing mechanism is operable to rotate one of said carriers m turn between consecutive dispensing positions before rotating the other of said carriers. 
     
     
         21 .- 53 . (canceled)