Details for Patent: 8,161,969

Title:	Dry powder dispersing apparatus and methods for their use
Abstract:	The invention provides various apparatus and methods for aerosolizing a powdered medicament. In one exemplary embodiment, an apparatus includes a pressurization cylinder, and a piston which is slidable within the cylinder to pressurize a gas. A handle is coupled to the piston and is movable between an extended position and a home position to pressurize the gas. An aerosolizing mechanism is included and is configured to aerosolize a powdered medicament that is held within a receptacle with pressurized gas from the cylinder. A carriage assembly is included to receive the receptacle and to couple the receptacle to the aerosolizing mechanism. A first and a second interlock are operably engageable with the carriage assembly to prevent coupling of the receptacle with the aerosolization mechanism. The first interlock is released to allow movement of the carriage upon movement of the handle to the extended position. The second interlock remains engaged if the receptacle is only partially inserted into the carriage assembly.
Inventor(s):	Burr; John D. (Redwood City, CA), Smith; Adrian E. (Emerald Hills, CA), Hall; Randy K. (Dublin, GA), Snyder; Herm (Pacifica, CA), Schuler; Carlos A. (Cupertino, CA), Axford; George S. (Pacifica, CA), Ray; Charles (Brentwood, CA)
Assignee:	Novartis AG (Basel, CH)
Filing Date:	Mar 21, 2008
Application Number:	12/077,877
Claims:	1. A system, comprising: a receptacle comprising at least one notch and a cavity that holds medicament; and a device comprising: a housing, the housing having an opening that receives and supports the receptacle; an extraction tube that engages the receptacle; at least one piercing element that cuts the receptacle to create at least one opening in a wall of the receptacle; a first and a second interlock which are operably engageable with a carriage assembly to prevent coupling of the receptacle with the extraction tube; and at least one key that mates with the at least one notch of the receptacle, wherein when the receptacle is inserted into the opening that receives the receptacle and the at least one key mates with the at least one notch of the receptacle, the at least one piercing element is allowed to cut the receptacle, wherein when the receptacle is partially inserted into the opening that receives the receptacle and the at least one key does not mate with the at least one notch of the receptacle, the at least one piercing element is prevented from cutting the receptacle, wherein the first interlock is released to allow movement of the carriage upon movement of a handle to an extended position, and wherein the second interlock is engaged when the receptacle is partially inserted into the carriage assembly. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one notch of the receptacle comprises two notches. 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one piercing element comprises a plurality of piercing elements that cut a plurality of holes in the receptacle. 4. The system of claim 1, wherein when the receptacle is inserted into the opening that receives the receptacle and the at least one key mates with the at least one notch of the receptacle, the cavity of the receptacle is aligned with the at least one piercing element. 5. The system of claim 1, wherein when the receptacle is inserted into the opening that receives the receptacle and the at least one key mates with the at least one notch of the receptacle, the extraction tube is allowed to engage the receptacle. 6. The system of claim 1, wherein when the receptacle is partially inserted into the opening that receives the receptacle and the at least one key does not mate with the at least one notch, the extraction tube is prevented from engaging the receptacle. 7. The system of claim 1, wherein when the receptacle is inserted into the opening that receives the receptacle and the at least one key mates with the at least one notch of the receptacle, a portion of the receptacle remains outside the device. 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the device further comprises a well that receives the receptacle. 9. The system of claim 1, wherein the device further comprises a deagglomeration channel in communication with the extraction tube. 10. The system of claim 1, wherein the device further comprises a check valve that opens when a patient inhales at a threshold pressure. 11. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one opening is an air inlet opening. 12. The system of claim 1, wherein the receptacle comprises a powder-containing receptacle, wherein the extraction tube is structured and arranged to deliver the powder from the receptacle to an outlet, and wherein the piercing element is configured to create at least one opening in the wall of the receptacle by causing a puncture in the wall and causing a tearing of the wall. 13. The system of claim 1, wherein the device further comprises a carriage assembly adapted to receive the receptacle and to couple the receptacle to the extraction tube. 14. The system of claim 13, wherein the device further comprises a fire button that is connected to the carriage assembly to move the carriage assembly toward the extraction tube. 15. The system of claim 1, wherein the device further comprises a capture chamber. 16. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one notch of the receptacle comprises two notches, and wherein the at least one piercing element comprises a plurality of piercing elements that cut a plurality of holes in the receptacle. 17. The system of claim 1, wherein when the receptacle is inserted into the opening that receives the receptacle and the at least one key mates with the at least one notch of the receptacle, the cavity of the receptacle is aligned with the at least one piercing element, and wherein the at least one piercing element comprises a plurality of piercing elements that cut a plurality of holes in the receptacle. 18. The system of claim 1, wherein the device further comprises a deagglomeration channel in communication with the extraction tube, and wherein the at least one piercing element comprises a plurality of piercing elements that cut a plurality of holes in the receptacle. 19. The system of claim 1, wherein the device further comprises a check valve that opens when a patient inhales at a threshold pressure, and wherein the at least one piercing element comprises a plurality of piercing elements that cut a plurality of holes in the receptacle.