Inhale Therapeutic Systems, Inc.

Shirley W Lyons

Marc S Gordon

Keith A Johnson

Robert M Platz

Adrian Edward Smith

John D Burr

George S Axford

Jeffery W Etter

The invention provides an agglomerate composition composed of units of aggregated fine particles and methods for its manufacture and use. The agglomerate composition units are composed of fine particles having a mean particle size in the range of 1 .mu.m to 5 .mu.m, and usually includes a medicament powder. The agglomerate units have a mean size in the range from 200 .mu.m to 500 .mu.m and have a friability index in the range from about 10 to 60.

Methods and system for processing dispersible fine powders

A method for aerosolizing a powdered medicament comprises coupling a powder inlet end of a feed tube with a penetration in a receptacle containing the powder. Powder is drawn upward through the tube and dispersed in a high pressure gas stream flowing past a portion of the feed tube. Apparatus comprise the feed tube mounted within a base enclosure proximate a holder for one or more receptacles, which may be in the form of a cartridge containing a plurality of receptacles formed in a continuous web. The cartridge may be reciprocated relative to the feed tube and a separate piercing mechanism in order to sequentially piercing the receptacle and thereafter couple the feed tube through the resulting penetration for extracting the powder. Alternatively, penetration(s) through the receptacle may be formed as the feed tube is coupled, or some penetrations formed prior to coupling with other penetrations formed at the time of coupling.

Method and apparatus for dispersion of dry powder medicaments

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Sunnyvale, CA, United States of America

Shirley W Lyons