Claims for Patent: 6,748,947

Summary for Patent: 6,748,947

Title:	De-agglomerator for breath-actuated dry powder inhaler
Abstract:	A de-agglomerator is provided for use with a breath-actuated dry powder inhaler for breaking up aggregates and micronizing particles of dry powder prior to inhalation of the powder by a patient using the inhaler. The de-agglomerator includes an inner wall defining a swirl chamber extending along an axis from a first end to a second end, a dry powder supply port, an inlet port, and an outlet port. The supply port is in the first end of the swirl chamber for providing fluid communication between a dry powder delivery passageway of an inhaler and the first end of the swirl chamber. The inlet port is in the inner wall of the swirl chamber adjacent to the first end of the swirl chamber and provides fluid communication between a region exterior to the de-agglomerator and the swirl chamber. The outlet port provides fluid communication between the second end of the swirl chamber and a region exterior to the de-agglomerator, whereby a breath induced low pressure at the outlet port causes air flows into the swirl chamber through the dry powder supply port and the inlet port. The air flows collide with each other and with the wall of the swirl chamber prior to exiting through the outlet port, such that any powder entrained in the air flows is broken down and micronized. The de-agglomerator further includes vanes at the first end of the swirl chamber for creating additional collisions and impacts of entrained powder.
Inventor(s):	Keane; Laurence (Aldwick, GB), O'Leary; David (Essex, GB)
Assignee:	Norton Healthcare, Ltd. (London, GB)
Application Number:	09/888,281
Patent Claims:	1. A de-agglomerator for use with a breath-actuated dry powder inhaler including a dry powder delivery passageway and a dry powder reservoir for exposing a predetermined amount of dry powder to the dry powder delivery passageway, the de-agglomerator comprising: an inner wall defining a swirl chamber extending along a longitudinal axis from a first end to a second end; a dry powder supply port in the first end of the swirl chamber for providing fluid communication between a dry powder delivery passageway of an inhaler and the first end of the swirl chamber; at least one inlet port in the inner wall of the swirl chamber adjacent to the first end of the swirl chamber providing fluid communication between a region exterior to the de-agglomerator and the first end of the swirl chamber, wherein the at least one inlet port extends in a direction substantially transverse to the axis, an outlet port providing fluid communication between the second end of the swirl chamber and a region exterior to the de-agglomerator; and vanes non-rotationally fixedly attached to at the first end of the swirl chamber extending at least in part radially outwardly from the axis of the chamber, each of the vanes having an oblique surface facing at least in part in a direction transverse to the axis; whereby a breath induced low pressure at the outlet port causes air flows into the swirl chamber through the dry powder supply port and the inlet port. 2. A de-agglomerator according to claim 1, wherein the vanes comprise four vanes extending from a hub aligned with the axis to the wall of the swirl chamber. 3. A de-agglomerator according to claim 1, wherein the swirl chamber includes cross-sectional areas arranged transverse to the axis, the cross-sectional areas decreasing from the first end to the second end of the swirl chamber. 4. A de-agglomerator according to claim 3, wherein the cross-sectional areas of the swirl chamber decrease monotonically. 5. A de-agglomerator according to claim 1, wherein the inner wall of the swirl chamber is convex. 6. A de-agglomerator according to claim 1, wherein the dry powder supply port faces in a direction substantially parallel to the axis. 7. A de-agglomerator according to claim 1, wherein the outlet port extends substantially transverse to the axis. 8. A de-agglomerator according to claim 1, wherein the swirl chamber includes generally circular cross-sectional areas coaxially arranged about the axis, and the at least one inlet port extends substantially tangential to the circular cross-sectional areas. 9. A de-agglomerator according to claim 8, wherein the at least one inlet port comprises two diametrically opposed inlet ports. 10. A de-agglomerator according to claim 1, wherein the vanes include an anti-static additive. 11. A de-agglomerator according to claim 1, assembled from a cup-like base closed with a cover, wherein the base defines the inner wall, the second end of the chamber and the outlet port, the cover defines the first end of the chamber, the vanes and the supply port, and the inlet port is defined by both the base and the cover. 12. A breath-actuated dry powder inhaler including a de-agglomerator according to claim 1, and further comprising: a dry powder delivery passageway providing fluid communication between a region exterior to the inhaler and the dry powder supply port of the de-agglomerator; and a dry powder reservoir for exposing a predetermined amount of dry powder to the dry powder delivery passageway; whereby an air flow through the dry powder delivery passageway and the dry powder supply port will entrain dry powder from the dry powder reservoir into the swirl chamber. 13. An inhaler according to claim 12, wherein the dry powder delivery passageway includes a venturi adjacent the dry powder reservoir. 14. An inhaler according to claim 12, further including dry powder in the dry powder reservoir. 15. An inhaler according to claim 12, wherein the dry powder comprises a medicament composition having at least one active agent medicament adhered to a particulate carrier.