MXPA00005436A - Dry powder inhaler - Google Patents

Abstract

A dry powder inhaler (20) with a slider (24) for incrementally advancing a blister disk (34), for providing doses of dry powder medicament, with the blister disk (34) rotatably supported by a spindle (48) on a deck plate (42) of the inhaler (20). The deck plate (42) has a powder port (94), an advance slot (44), and a lifter slot (46) extending through the deck plate (42). The slider (24) attached to the deck plate (42) is movable between an open, and closed position. When the slider (24) opens, the lifter (50) moves up the ramp (72) of the slider (24) shearing open a blister (39), the blister (39) contents mix with air, and are then inhaled by a patient. As the slider (24) moves back to the closed position, the lifter (50) withdraws, and an advancing finger (84) turns the blister disk (34) to the next blister (39), positioning the blister (39) for opening, to provide the next dose to the patient. A turbine (230) spins up to a high speed driven by the flow of the patient's inhalation. The turbine (230) is connected to a shaft (246) to turn a propeller (226) located within a mixing chamber (224).

Description

DRY POWDER INHALER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The field of the invention is inhalers for delivering dry powder drugs to the lungs. Inhalers have long been used to deliver drugs to a patient's lungs. Typically, an inhaler provides a mixture of drugs and air or driving gases. The mixture is supplied by the patient inhaling from a mouthpiece over the inhaler, for treatment of various conditions, such as, for example, bronchial asthma. However, the supply of drugs by inhalation can be used for many other treatments, including those not related to lung diseases. Dosage dose inhalers (DIs) have been widely used for many years. MDI's typically deliver a single dose of a drug along with a booster gas, with each device actuation. However, the driving gases have been related to the destruction of the earth's ozone layer. In addition, with MDI's, the drug is usually released with the action of the device, regardless of whether the patient is inhaling adequately during the release. The patient may therefore not receive a full dose unless the patient coordinates the inhalation with the action of the device. Achieving this coordination can be difficult for young children, or for patients with disabilities or under duress. Dry powder inhalers, on the other hand, do not have those disadvantages. However, with dry powder inhalers, technical challenges remain to provide a reliable and simple device that can consistently deliver correct doses of drugs. A well-known dry powder inhaler, the Diskhaler, described in U.S. Patent No. 4,627,432, uses individual drug doses sealed within bubbles on a bubble disk. A plunger breaks the bubbles, to release each dose. The disc is advanced by a knob with each successive dose. The Spiros inhaler described in the U.S.A. No. 5,622,166 (incorporated herein by reference) is a dry powder inhaler that also utilizes a bubble disc. The bubbles are opened by cutting tabs on the bubble disk. The disc is advanced to provide the next dose by sliding the nozzle cover between open and closed positions. Although these types of devices may have met varying degrees of success, they remain disadvantages for indexing or advancing a bubble disc inside an inhaler, with the opening of the bubbles to access the drug contents, and with the reliable proportion of the designed dosages, and in other areas. Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved dry powder inhaler.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION For these purposes, a drug dose carrier, such as a bubble disk, is advantageously rotatably supported on or in a dry powder inhaler for pharmaceuticals. A slider is preferably adhered to an housing or cover plate of the inhaler, and is movable between open and closed positions. The slider can advantageously contain batteries or other electronic components electrically linked to components placed in the main body of the inhaler by means of a flexure circuit. The movement of the slider between the open and closed positions, in a preferred embodiment, opens a container on the carrier disc to release a pharmaceutical powder for inhalation. Preferably, this movement also advances the carrier, in preparation for the delivery of a subsequent dose. In a second aspect of the invention, an impeller rotates within a mixing chamber and is rotated by a turbine driven by the inhalation of the patient.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a perspective view of the inhaler of the invention with the slider in the closed or first position; Figure 2 is a perspective view thereof with the slider in the open or second position; Figures 3A and 3B are perspective top and bottom exploded views of the inhaler shown in Figures 1 and 2; Figures 4A and 4B show enlarged perspective views of components of the inhaler of Figures 3A and 3B; Figure 4C is a perspective view of the elevator shown in Figure 4A; Figure 5 is a top perspective view of the cover plate shown in Figures 3A and 3B; Figure 6 is a bottom perspective view thereof; Figure 7 is a sectional view thereof taken along a lateral center line; Figure 8 is a perspective view of the flexure circuit shown in Figures 3A and 3B; Figures 9 and 10 are perspective views of the disc and cover shown in Figures 3A, 3B and 4A; Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view thereof taken through the anti-return stop shown in Figure 9; Figure 12 is a central cross section thereof; Figure 13 is an exploded perspective view of a bubble disk; Figure 14 is a top view thereof; Figure 15 is a sectional view thereof; Figure 16 is an exploded perspective view of another embodiment having a turbine instead of an electric motor; Figure 17 is a perspective view of the inhaler shown in Figure 16; Figure 18 is a perspective view thereof, also showing internal details of the turbine; Fig. 19 is a schematic view showing the flow of air through the inhaler; and Figure 20 is an enlarged view of details shown in Figure 19.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Turning in detail to the drawings, inhaler 20 includes a nozzle 22, and a slider 24, movable between a closed position, as shown in Figure 1, and an open position as shown in Figure 2. A handle 77 can provided on the slider 24. Returning to Figures 3A, 3B and 5-7, a cover plate 42 has a flat upper surface 26 and a flat lower surface 28. A spindle 48 extends upwardly from the upper surface 26 of the cover plate 42. An elevator slot 46 passes through the cover plate 42. A feed slot 44 extends through the cover plate parallel to the direction of movement of the slider 24. A bubble disk 34 used with the inhaler 20 includes a plurality of drug-containing bubbles 39 mounted on tongues 50, as described, for example, in the US Pat. No. 5,622,166, incorporated herein by reference. Turning momentarily to Figures 13, 14 and 15, the bubble disc 34 is made of a metal foil ring 200 having generally conical bubbles 37 spaced apart radially and likewise. The metal foil ring 200 and a sealing ring 202 are adhered to or attached to a carrier disk 204. The disk 204 is preferably plastic. The carrier disc 204 has tabs 150 pivotably adhered to the disc 204 by flexible links 152. A bubble 39 is aligned on each tab 150. The flexible links 152 contain the tabs 150 in a low, flat position, but allow the tabs 150 pivot near the flexible joints 152, with nominal torque. As shown in Figure 15, the powdered drug 205 is contained within each bubble 39. A cover 32 is adhered on the upper surface of a bubble disc 34 to form an assembly or cover / disc unit 45. The disc Bubble 34 has a central opening 37 so that it can be mounted on and rotated about the axis of the spindle 48 which is normal to the movement of the slider. The cover 32 itself is latched onto the cover plate and does not rotate. The cover 32 holds the bubble disc on the cover as the bubble disc rotates. With reference in particular to Figures 3B and 5-7, a trailing edge 104 extends downwardly from the cover plate 42, opposite from the nozzle 22. A recess 102 in the cover plate 42 and the trailing edge 104 allow movement of a latch 55 to secure the disk assembly. cover 45 over the inhaler 20 when the cover / bubble disc assembly 45 is replaced by the user. A slide guide plate 114 extends downwardly from the lower surface 28 of the cover plate 42. Slider lever guides 112 are similarly positioned on the lower surface 28 of the cover plate 42, parallel to the slot advance 44. The elevator guides 108 forming leg slots 110 are also adhered to the lower surface 28 of the cover plate 42 under the elevator slot 46, as best shown in Figure 6. The leg slots 110 define the degree of freedom for the movement of the elevator. A powder port 94 extends downwardly through the cover plate 42 and into an air passage 92 formed on the underside of the cover plate 42, leading to an aerosolization or mixing chamber 106. The nozzle is advantageously removably adhered to the cover plate 42. The spindle 48, the trailing edge 104, the slide guide plate 114, the lever guides 112, and the elevator guides 108 are preferably integral with the plate. cover.

Referring again to Figures 3A, 3B, 4A and 4B, the slider 24 includes a slider structure 70 adhered to a lower plate 90, forming a battery compartment 76. An elevator ramp 72 is adhered or formed along the length of one side of the lower slider plate 90. An elevator 50, as shown in Figure 4A, is slidably adhered to the ramp 72. The elevator 50 includes L-shaped legs 52 to support the elevator 50 on edges 74 on the ramp 72 and to retract the elevator 50. from its elevated position. The lifter 50 has a flat upper surface 51 and an angled surface 54. The elevator ramp 72 passes under the elevator 50 as the slider 24 moves in and out. The elevator ramp 72 defines the cam profile that induces vertical movement in the elevator 50 as a result of the horizontal movement of the slider 24. With reference to Figures 3A, 4A and 4B, the cover plate 80 of the slider is adhered to the structure of slider 70, at the front or outer end 78 of the slider. A leg 82 on the slider cover plate 80 extends inwardly towards the rear end 86 of the slider 24. A spring-loaded or flexible advancing detent 84 having a flat rear surface 85 and an angled front surface 87 protrudes upwardly. from leg 82. A button for checking the battery extends through an opening 88 in the rear end 86 or lower side 90 of the slider. As shown in Figures 3A and 3B, a rear housing section 88 and a front housing section 40 are adhered to the lower surface of the cover plate 42, on either side of the slider 24, to enclose the inhaler and capture the inhaler. slider in its guides, allowing only a degree of freedom. The leading end 78 and the trailing end 86 of the slider are preferably formed to match the contour of the inhaler. A mechanical stop 134 on the slider engages a shoulder 136 on the cover plate, to limit sliding movement away from the slider. The retaining edges or holding features 75 may be provided on the lower part of the slider, as shown in Figure 3B. With reference to Figures 3A, 3B and 8, a flex circuit 36 includes a battery plate 120 having battery slots 122. A circuitry area 126 is electrically connected to the battery plate 120 by a flexible beam 128 A switch 124 protrudes from the battery plate 120. A LDE plate 130 and a motor terminal tab 132 are provided as part of the circuitry area 126. A microprocessor 160 and a memory chip 162 are provided on the circuitry area. . Turning to Figures 9-12, a bubble crushing rib 170 projects downwardly from the bottom of the cover 32. The crushing rib 170 is positioned such that when the cover / bubble disk assembly 45 is assembled on the inhaler 20, the rib 170 is aligned just behind the powder port 94. A tab return spring 35 extends downwardly within the cover 32. The tab return spring 35 pushes down on the lower end of the tab. the tab on the bubble disc 34, which is aligned on the elevator 50 and the elevator slot 46. An anti-retraction detent 33 also extends downwardly within the cover 32. The retainer 33 has a leg 175 with a surface flat front 177 and a rear surface 179 angled or ramp. Disk fasteners 176 having angled faces facing down are spaced around the interior of the cover 32, on a cylindrical edge wall 186. A front latch 180 and a rear latch 182 are provided to attach the cover 32 to the inhaler 20. Various latch designs may be used. Returning momentarily to figure 3A, the front latch adjusts or couples an elevated area 30 between the nozzle 22 and the disk assembly 45. With reference to FIGS. 10 and 12, a central hub 188 extends down from the central interior surface of the cover 32. A disc of bubbles 34 and a cover 32 are adhered together to form an assembly 45 aligning the central opening 37 or disk hub 190 of the disk with the hub 188 on the cover, and then pressing the disk into the cover. As this occurs, the fasteners 176 bounce lightly to one side, due to the natural flexibility of the cover material, and then bounce back into place, thereby holding the disk and cover together. Once they are adjusted together, they are substantially permanently adhered, however rotating, to each other. As shown in Figure 12, the disk 34 may have a perimeter recess 208, so that the disk clamps 176 hold on a perimeter edge 210 around the outer side of the disk. As shown in Figure 12, the disk hub 190 and the cover hub 188 are generally aligned but not necessarily mated with one another. Disk 34 floats in some way on the deck. When installed, the disc centers on itself on the spindle 48. Referring again to FIGS. 3A and 3B, an electric motor 60 is connected to batteries 62 on the slider 24 by the battery plate 120, stringer 128 and area of the battery. circuitry 126 and motor terminal tabs 132, which have electrical conductors therein. A commutator or sensor 64 operated by respiration also adhered to the cover plate 42 and the flexure circuit detect pressure in the nozzle 22, and in response to detected inhalation send a signal to a microprocessor 160, which turns on the motor 60. motor 60 rotates an impeller inside the mixing chamber 106, as described in the US Pat. 5,577,497, incorporated herein by reference. A label 100, shown in dotted line in Figure 2, may be adhered to the top of the cover 32, to identify its contents, and to close the openings where the retainer 33 and the return spring 25 adhere to the cover.

In use, the bubble disc 34 is provided as an assembly 45 with the cover 32 adhered. The cover 32 captures the bubble disc 34 and secures them together. Therefore, the cover 32 and the bubble disc 34 are handled as a unit or assembly by the patient. The cover protects the top and sides of the bubble disc 34 from damage during handling. The patient attaches the cover / disc assembly 45 to the inhaler 20 via a bayonet, latch, oscillator or other adhesion feature, such as latches 180, 182. The cover 32 allows the bubble disc 34 to rotate on the spindle 48 while the The cover itself is adjusted by jumping non-rotatably on the cover plate. The cover is oriented so that the tongue return spring 35 is located on the elevator slot. With the cover unit / bubble disc 45 secured to the inhaler 20 on top of the cover plate 42, the inhaler 20 is ready for use. In patient pushes the slider 24 from the first or closed position shown in figure 1 to the second or open position shown in figure 2. The sliding movement of the slider is guided by the lever guides 112 and the slider guide 114 and the covers 40 and 38. Retainer fasteners 76 or a handle 77 may be provided on the slider 24 to better facilitate pushing the slider outwards. The slider 24 moves outwardly until the mechanical stop 134 on the slider structure 70 contacts the stop or edge 136 on the cover plate 42.

As the slider 24 is retracted, the lifter 50, which is held in position by the elevator guides 108, is raised on the elevator ramp 72. This ramp-up movement causes the angled upper surface 54 of the elevator 50 to rise and protrude through the elevator slot 46 in the cover plate 42. The flat upper surface 51 of the elevator 50 pushes against the underside of a tongue 150 on the bubble disk 34, causing a bubble placed on the tongue to be open cut, as the tongue pivots about flexible joints 152 which adhere the tongue to the disc 34. As the tongue pivots, the angled surface 54 of the elevator engages the tongue and continues to pivot around the joints 132. As the bubble is cut open , the powdered pharmaceutical 205 contained within the bubble falls into the powder port 94 and air duct 92, as described in FIG. E.U.A. No. 5,622,166. As the slider 24 is pushed into the open position, the feed detent 84 also moves downwardly under the cover plate 42 as it recedes from the feed slot 44. The elevator 50 is restricted against lateral or longitudinal movement by the engagement of the legs L around the edges 74 on the elevator ramp 72 and by the elevator guides 108. Accordingly, the elevator 50 can be moved only vertically upwards or downwards.

The patient then inhales on the nozzle 22. Inhalation is detected by the pressure switch 64 which turns on the motor 60. The motor rotates the impeller inside the mixing chamber 106 creating an aerosol of air and drug powder, as described in FIG. described in the US patent No. 5,577,497. The inhalation pulls substantially all of the drug from the powder port 94 and the air passage 92 into the mixing chamber 106, for inhalation. When the inhalation is complete, the pressure switch 64 turns off the motor 60. Inhalation preferably occurs when the slider is in the "out" position, when the bubble is open and the inhaled air flow can pull any remaining drug out of the air. the bubble. The patient then moves the slider 24 from the open position shown in Figure 2 back to the closed position shown in Figure 1. This movement is achieved by pushing the forward end 78 of the slider. As the slider moves back to the closed position, the elevator 50 is pushed down on the ramp 72. The upper surface 51 of the elevator 50 is retracted to a level or low level position with the upper surface of the cover plate 42. The cam profile of the ramp 72 of The elevator is designed to allow the elevator 50 to return to its neutral position (bottom) before the bubble disk is advanced in an increased manner. The tongue return spring 35 exerts a downward force on the tongue to push the tongue back into a horizontal orientation. The tongue return spring also helps keep the disc flat against the cover, exerting a spring force down on the disc. The cover cube 188 also exerts a downward force on the disc as well. At the same time, the advancing retainer 84 moves towards the advancing groove 44 and flexes or bounces upwards. The flat rear surface 85 of the advancing retainer protrudes upwardly through the advancing groove 44 and extends towards a tongue groove 154 on the bubble disc 34. The continuous closing movement of the slider 24 drives the advancing retainer for rotate the disk 34. The bubble crushing rib 170 crushes the conical point of the bubble. This provides a visual indication through the transparent cover that the dose in that bubble has been used and allows the patient to easily check visually the number of remaining doses on the disc. With the slider 24 fully moved back to the closed position, the advance detent 84 rotates the disc 34 through an angle that brings the next subsequent bubble tab 150 in alignment with the elevator slot 46 and powder port 94. As the disc advances through a position, the leg 175 of the anti-return stop 174 rises up and out of the slot 154 and then falls back into the next slot. Flat front surface 177 of the leg prevents reverse movement (clockwise when seen from above), while ramp 179 on the rear surface allows the leg and retainer to be temporarily deflected to allow the disc to advance in the forward direction.

The flex circuit 36 provides electrical connections between the batteries 62, motor 60, switch 64, and other components, such as lamp indicators, microprocessor, memory chips, etc. The spar 128 on the flex circuit 36 allows the batteries and slider to remain electrically connected to the other fixed components, as the slider 24 is moved between the open and closed positions. This movement can also be achieved with flexible cables or wires. The microprocessor controls the motor by means of the respiration sensor; count the doses supplied; indicates low battery voltage; Check the battery voltage, and control LEDs that indicate the conditions of use of the inhaler. The movement in and out of the slider is simple and easily achieved by almost all patients. It also provides a reliable and compact design. The unnoticed drive is also greatly eliminated. Turning now to FIG. 16, a turbine-driven inhaler 210 has a nozzle 214 adhered to a body 212. A nozzle cover 216 is adhered to the nozzle 214 by a hinge 215. The nozzle cover 216 can be pivoted open or removed. during inhalation, or for cleaning. A bubble disc 218 having a transparent cover 220 is mounted on a disc plate 222 adhered to the body 212. An aerosolization chamber 224 is formed in the front wall of the body 212. These characteristics can be similar to those shown in the figure 4C. A turbine 230 supported on the underside of the disc plate 222 has a turbine shaft 246 extending forward towards the aerosolization chamber 224. A pusher 226 is mounted on the forward end of the turbine shaft 246 in the chamber. of aerosolization 224. A lower housing 232 encloses the lower section of the disk plate 222. A plunger 234 extends through the lower housing 232, to open bubbles on the bubble disk 218. The body 212 and the lower housing 232 form an inhaler housing 211. The design and operation details of the inhaler 210 are similar to the inhalers described in the US patent No. 5,622,166. However, the inhaler 210 has no motor, batteries, switch or circuitry. Rather, the rotary impeller 226 is powered only by the turbine 230. Referring to FIGS. 17-20, the turbine 230 has a turbine cylindrical housing 240. A stator 52 is attached to the turbine housing 240 near the turbine inlet 242. A turbine outlet 244 is preferably located on one side of the turbine cylindrical housing 240, at the outlet end 45 of the turbine 230. The arrow of turbine 246 is rotatably supported within the turbine housing 240 by a bushing 248 near the outlet end 245, and by a needle bearing 250 near the inlet end 242. A rotor 254 having inclined turbine blades 256 is adhered and centered on the turbine shaft 246 adjacent the stator 252. Returning to FIGS. 19 and 20, an air inlet path 236 extends from the external environment to the inhaler 210, and to the inlet end 244 of the turbine 230 A turbine outlet duct or path 260 runs from the turbine outlet 44 to a landfill chamber 262 in the body 212 of the inhaler 210. A duct 264 of aerosolization chamber. n extends from the landfill chamber 262 to the aerosolization chamber 224. A chamber wall 215 in the nozzle 214, as shown in Figure 16, forms the front wall of the aerosolization chamber 224, when the nozzle 214 is adhered on the body 212. The openings in the chamber wall 215 allow the drug / air mixture to flow from the aerosolization chamber 224 through the nozzle 214 to the patient. In use, a dose of dry powder drug is delivered to the landfill chamber 262 from the bubble disk 218, as described in the US patent. No. 5,622,166. The patient places the lips on the mouthpiece 214 and inhales. With inhalation, the ambient air flows through the inlet air path 236 to the inlet end 242 of the turbine 230. Air flowing at right angles to the rotor plane 254 rapidly rotates the rotor and turbine shaft 246 , simultaneously rapidly rotating the impeller 226 which is mounted directly on the front end of the turbine shaft 246. The rotor arrows are inclined so that the air flow through the turbine, parallel to the axis of the arrow of turbine, exerts torque, causing the rotor to rotate. Air flows out of the turbine outlet 244 to the landfill chamber 242. The dried powder pharmaceutical particles are trapped in the air flow and carried through the aerosolization duct 264 into the aerosolization chamber 224. The particles they are deagglomerated and mixed in the aerosolization chamber 224. Air and particles pass out of the aerosolization chamber 224 through openings in the walls 215 of the chamber and into the mouth, throat and lungs of the patient. Preferably, the turbine is designed so that the turbine shaft will rotate at 5,000-15,000 rpm with an inspiratory flow rate of 20-40 liters per minute. More preferably, the turbine 30 is designed to rotate up to 10,000 rpm or larger, within 100 milliseconds, with an inspiratory flow rate of approximately 30 liters per minute. The stator 252 may have fixed vanes to better direct the air flow to the rotor 254. Additional rotors 254 may be optionally added to the arrow 246. The air flow through the inhaler 210 is substantially sealed, so that all the air inhaled by the patient passes through the intake air path 236, the turbine 230, the turbine outlet duct 260, the duct 264 of the aerosolization chamber, the aerosolization chamber 224, and outward through nozzle 214. For embodiments that do not have a separate landfill chamber, the air flow outside the turbine can go directly into the aerosolization chamber. Alternatively, a fraction of the total air flow to the patient's lungs may be either directed inwardly or channeled through ducts in the mouthpiece or inhaler to help trap, mix or beneficially guide the charged air mixture. of particles. The turbine 230 can advantageously be provided as a separate subassembly installed in the inhaler 210 during manufacture. As a result, several other components of the inhaler, which do not require the necessary precision tolerances in the turbine, can be manufactured and assembled separately. The turbine is compact, preferably having a housing diameter of 1-2 centimeters. As shown in Figures 19 and 20, the dry powder does not flow through the turbine 230. Rather, the turbine 230 is upstream of the powder. The turbine therefore avoids agglomeration, friction, or bearing failure from the powder particles, since the turbine is upstream of the powder. Although the turbine 230 uses the same air flow that traps the dust, no balance of air flow paths is required, and no coordination or turbine turn timing is required, since the turbine automatically rotates with the inhalation The inhaler 210 consequently provides advantages of a motorized inhaler, without the need for an engine or batteries. If electronics are desired to provide an interface with the patient (for example, to count doses, etc.) then very small batteries may be included to provide the typical low power requirements for said circuitry. It may be desirable to allow the turbine sufficient time to reach an acceptable minimum rotational speed to deagglomerate the drug, before the drug has passed through and out of the aerosolization chamber. One technique for this is to delay the introduction of the pharmaceutical mixture into the aerosolization chamber by measuring the length and diameter of the air path leading to the landfill chamber. This allows the turbine time to reach the minimum desired rotational speed. As an example, if the outlet duct 260 is 1 cm in diameter and 2.5 cm long, during the initial period of inhalation, at a flow rate of 5 liters per minute, the air takes 24 ms to reach the chamber of aerosolization. During that interval the turbine has accelerated at a sufficient minimum speed. Alternatively, the inhaler can be inverted so that the air flowing through the turbine and therefore "over" the well opening containing the bubble must reach a sufficiently high velocity (ie, 223 liters per minute). , depending on how the local geometry is configured) to lift the particles out of the bubble pit due to the Bernoulli principle, rather than the particles that only fall out of the well due to gravity even before the inhalation has started. This could act as a passive method to regulate when the drug is introduced to the system based on the air flow rate. In another embodiment designed to have the drug particles exposed to the rotating impeller in the aerosolization chamber is to place restriction holes, or exit holes, near the center of the chamber rather than at the periphery. This could act as a filter of centrifugal size, that is, the larger particles would be forced to the periphery where the most aggressive deagglomeration takes place until they are small enough to reach the most centered exit holes. The turbine 230 can replace the motor in the inhalers shown in Figs. 1-7 or in the patents of E.U.A. referred to above.

Claims (22)

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION CLAIMS

1. - An inhaler for pharmacists, comprising: a housing; a slider on the housing; a ramp on the slider; and an elevator on the housing that moves to open a pharmaceutical container as the slider slides in and out of the housing.

2. The inhaler according to claim 1 further characterized in that it further comprises a battery compartment in the slider.

3. The inhaler according to claim 2 further characterized in that it further comprises a flex circuit having a battery plate in the battery compartment of the slider, which connects to an area of circuitry adhered to the housing, by a bending beam .

4. The inhaler according to claim 3 further characterized in that the flexure circuit includes electrical conductors extending through the battery plate, spar, and circuitry area, thereby providing continuous electrical contact between the area of circuitry and the battery plate.

5. - The inhaler according to claim 1 further characterized in that it further comprises an advancement catch on the slider for advancing a bubble disc on the inhaler as the slider moves in and out of the housing.

6. The inhaler according to claim 1 further characterized in that it additionally includes a cover plate adhered to the housing and having an upper surface and a lower surface, a spindle that extends upwardly from the upper surface to mount a carrier disk , and a slider guide extending downward from the bottom surface, to guide the slider.

7. The inhaler according to claim 6 further characterized in that it further comprises an elevator guide on the lower surface of the cover plate, the elevator guide restricts the elevator in position, except along its path of movement.

8. The inhaler according to claim 3 further characterized in that it further comprises a mixing chamber in the housing, a motor in the housing, with the motor connected electrically to the flexure circuit.

9. The inhaler according to claim 6 further characterized in that it further comprises a first mechanical stop and a second mechanical stop on the housing to limit the travel of the slider in and out of the housing.

10. - The inhaler according to claim 1 further characterized in that it further includes: a ramp and an advancement catch adhered to the slider with the elevator slidably adhered to the housing and to the ramp; and a cover plate in the housing, the cover plate includes a feed slot and an elevator slot, with the feed stopper passing through the feed slot when the slider is in an outward position, and with the elevator passing through the elevator slot, when the slider is in an inward position.

11. The inhaler according to claim 1 or 6 further characterized in that it further includes a feed arm for converting the linear movement of the slider to an increased pivoting movement of a bubble disc, mounted on the housing.

12. The inhaler according to claim 1 or 11 further characterized in that it further includes a cam profile on the ramp, with the elevator slidably attached to the ramp and following the cam profile as the slider moves in and outside the inhaler.

13. An inhaler comprising: a housing; a camera inside the housing; an impeller inside the camera; a turbine attached to the impeller, the turbine has an input side and an output side; a first air path extending from an air inlet in the housing to an inlet side of the turbine; and a second air path extending from the outlet side of the turbine to the chamber.

14. The inhaler according to claim 13 further characterized in that it additionally comprises a stator on the turbine and a rotor on the turbine shaft.

15. The inhaler according to claim 13 further characterized in that the turbine outlet is oriented at an angle to the turbine inlet.

16. The inhaler according to claim 13 further characterized in that the turbine is configured to rotate the turbine shaft from 5000 to 15000 rpm with a flow rate of 20-40 liters / minute of air flowing through the turbine.

17. The inhaler according to claim 13 further characterized in that it additionally comprises a landfill area in the second air path, between the turbine outlet and the chamber.

18. A method for dispersing a dry powder pharmacist, comprising the steps of: providing a dry pharmaceutical powder in a chamber in an inhaler; moving air through a turbine in the inhaler, thereby rotating an impeller in the chamber; Mix air and dry pharmaceutical powder in the chamber using the rotary impeller.

19. - The method according to claim 18 further characterized in that the air is moved through the turbine in a direction perpendicular to the plane of a rotor in the turbine.

20. The method according to claim 18 further characterized by additionally comprising the step of moving air out of the turbine and through a landfill area containing a dose of a pharmacist.

21. The method according to claim 20 further characterized in that the pharmaceutical powder is mixed with air flowing out of the turbine, to prevent the powder from contacting the turbine.

22. The inhaler according to claim 13 further characterized in that it additionally comprises a rotor adhered to the turbine shaft, with the turbine shaft and rotor having an axis of rotation parallel to the direction of air flow through the turbine. .