Inhaler
There is described a delivery device which comprises a reservoir, a delivery passage for the delivery of material and a metering member characterised in that the delivery device is provided with a plurality of reservoirs and that the metering member is provided with a plurality of measuring cups adapted to transfer one or more measured doses of material from one or more of the reservoirs to the delivery passage. A method of administering a dry powder and a method and especially a method of treatment of a patient with a bronchial disorder are also described.
1. A delivery device which comprises a plurality of reservoirs, two delivery passages for the delivery of material and a metering member, wherein the metering member is a frusto conical member provided with a plurality of measuring cups adapted to transfer one or more measured doses of material from one or more of the reservoirs to the delivery passages.
2. A delivery device according to claim 1 characterised in that the plurality of reservoirs comprises a dual reservoir.
3. A delivery device according to claim 1 characterised in that the plurality of reservoirs comprises a bulk reservoir.
4. A delivery device according to claim 1 characterised in that the material is a medicament.
5. A delivery device according to claim 4 characterised in that the medicament is a dry powder.
6. A delivery device according to claim 4 characterised in that the device is an inhaler.
7. A delivery device according to claim 6 characterised in that the inhaler is a dry powder inhaler.
8. A delivery device according to claim 1 characterized in that the metering member is adapted to transfer a plurality of measured doses of medicament from the plurality of medicament reservoirs to an inhalation passage.
9. A delivery device according to claim 1 characterised in that the metering member is provided with a dual set of measuring cups.
10. A delivery device according to claim 1 characterised in that the measuring cups form two rows of chambers around the outer surface of the metering member.
11. A delivery device according to claim 10 characterised in that the measuring cups in the rows are aligned to form columns each comprising two measuring cups.
12. A delivery device according to claim 1 characterised in that the metering member comprises a first and second substantially frusto conical member each of which is provided with a single row of measuring cups.
13. A delivery device according to claim 12 characterised in that the substantially frusto conical members are adjacent to one another and the rows of measuring cups are aligned.
14. A delivery device according to claim 12 characterised in that the frusto conical metering members are positioned with the closed frusto conical ends facing each other.
15. A delivery device according to claim 12 characterised in that the open ends facing each other.
16. A delivery device according to claim 12 characterised in that the first and second substantially frusto conical members are each rotatable about separate axles.
17. A delivery device according to claim 1 characterised in that metering member is rotatable about a central axis.
18. A delivery device according to claim 1 characterised in that the measuring cups are aligned coplanar with an axis of rotation of the metering member.
19. A delivery device according to claim 1 characterised in that the measuring cups are aligned perpendicular to an axis of rotation.
20. A delivery device, according to claim 1 characterised in that it is adapted to operate by the administration of a plurality of medicaments at the same time.