Dry powder delivery device and methods of use

Abstract

A dry powder aerosol delivery device and related methods for delivering precise and repeatable dosages to a subject for pulmonary use is disclosed. The dry powder aerosol delivery device includes a housing, a cartridge, and a dry powder dispersion mechanism, and at least one differential pressure sensor. The dry powder delivery device is automatically breath actuated by the user when the differential pressure sensor senses a predetermined pressure change within housing. The dry powder aerosol delivery device is then actuated to generate a plume of particles having an average ejected particle diameter within the respirable size range, e.g., less than about 5-6 μm, so as to target the pulmonary system of the user.

1 .- 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A dry powder delivery device for delivering a dry powder as a plume of particles to a pulmonary system of a subject comprising:
 a housing including an airflow exit;   a dry powder supply disposed within or coupled to the housing;   a powder dispersion mechanism in communication with the supply;   a power source coupled to the powder dispersion mechanism, wherein the powder dispersion mechanism is configured to be energized by the power source and produce a plume of particles from a volume of powder from the dry powder supply;   the plume of particles including a first plurality of particles having a smaller mass mean aerodynamic diameter than a second plurality of particles; and   the housing being constructed so that inertial filtering results in the first plurality of particles passing through the airflow exit and the second plurality of particles failing to pass through the airflow exit.   
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the second plurality of droplet particles has a mass mean aerodynamic diameter greater than 5 μm. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12 , further comprising a laminar flow element within or in communication with the housing. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 11 , further comprising a laminar flow element within or in communication with the housing. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14 , further comprising a mouthpiece at the airflow exit. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 13 , further comprising a mouthpiece at the airflow exit. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 12 , further comprising a mouthpiece at the airflow exit. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 11 , further comprising a mouthpiece at the airflow exit. 
     
     
         19 . A dry powder delivery device for delivering a dry powder as a plume of particles to a pulmonary system of a subject comprising:
 a housing including an airflow exit;   an electronic dry powder dispersion mechanism in communication with a dry powder supply; and   the housing being constructed so that application of airflow through the housing produces inertial filtering that results in a first plurality of particles generated by the dry powder mechanism to pass through the airflow exit while a second plurality of particles fails to pass through the airflow exit, wherein the second plurality of particles has a greater mass mean aerodynamic diameter than the first plurality of particles.   
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 15 , further comprising a mouthpiece at the airflow exit. 
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 20 , wherein the second plurality of particles has a mass mean aerodynamic diameter greater than 5 μm. 
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 21 , further comprising a laminar flow element within or in communication with the housing. 
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein the second plurality of particles has a mass mean aerodynamic diameter greater than 5 μm. 
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 23 , further comprising a laminar flow element within or in communication with the housing. 
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 24 , wherein the laminar flow element is between the airflow exit and the electronic dry powder dispersion mechanism. 
     
     
         26 . A method for delivering dry powder as a plume of particles comprising:
 applying inhaled airflow through a housing including an airflow exit;   supplying a dry powder to a dry powder dispersion mechanism;   energizing the dry powder dispersion mechanism; and   using inertial filtering to cause a first plurality of particles generated by the dry powder dispersion mechanism to pass through the airflow exit while a second plurality of particles fails to pass through the airflow exit, wherein the second plurality of particles has a greater mass mean aerodynamic diameter than the first plurality of particles.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the second plurality of droplet has a mass mean aerodynamic diameter greater than 5 μm. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the housing includes a laminar flow element. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the housing includes a laminar flow element. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising providing a jet of gas to disperse the dry powder in the housing.