Low dose pharmaceutical powders for inhalation

1. A method of delivering an agent to the pulmonary system of a compromised patient, in a single breath-activated step, comprising administering a particle mass comprising an agent from an inhaler containing less than 5 milligrams of the mass, wherein at least about 50% of the mass in the receptacle is delivered to the pulmonary system of the patient and wherein the compromised patient has a peak inspiratory flow rate of about 20 liters per minute.

2. A method of claim 1 , wherein the compromised patient has a peak inspiratory flow rate of about 15 liters per minute.

3. A method of claim 1 , wherein the inhaler contains less than 4 milligrams of the mass.

4. A method of claim 1 , wherein the mass has a tap density of less than about 0.4 g/cm 3 .

5. A method of claim 1 , wherein the mass mean geometric diameter of the mass emitted from the inhaler is between about 3 microns and 15 microns.

6. A method of claim 1 , wherein the mass mean geometric diameter of the mass emitted form the inhaler is between about 3 microns and 10 microns.

7. A method of claim 1 , wherein the mass mean aerodynamic diameter of the mass emitted from the inhaler is between about 1 and 5 microns.

8. A method of claim 1 , wherein the mass mean aerodynamic diameter of the mass emitted from the inhaler is between about 1 and 3 microns.

9. A method of claim 1 , wherein the emitted dose from the inhaler is greater than about 70%.

10. A method of claim 1 , wherein the mass consists essentially of spray-dried particles.

11. A method of claim 1 , wherein the inhaler comprises: a first casing portion; a cylindrical chamber, defined by a wall of circular cross-section, coupled to the first casing portion, the chamber having a proximal end and a distal end, the chamber comprising a ring circumferentially coupled to an inner surface of the chamber; and a second casing portion removably coupled to the first casing portion, the second casing portion comprising an inhalation portion disposed at the proximal end of the chamber when the first and the second casing portions are coupled, the inhalation portion comprising a hemispheric region defining a plurality of apertures configured to emit the mass.

12. A method of claim 11 , wherein the ring is disposed at approximately a midpoint of the chamber.

13. A method of claim 11 , wherein said inhaler further comprises a plurality of slits defined by said wall, said plurality of slits configured for introducing air into said chamber.

14. A method of claim 11 , wherein the inhaler further comprises a movable puncturing tool, disposed in said first casing portion, for puncturing a receptacle containing the mass.

15. A method of claim 11 , wherein the receptacle has a volume of less than about 0.67 cm 3 .

16. A method of claim 11 , wherein the receptacle has a volume of less than about 0.48 cm 3 .

17. A method of claim 1 , wherein the inhaler possesses a resistance of less than about 0.28 (cm H 2 O) 1/2 /L/min.

18. A method of claim 17 , wherein the inhalation volume of the patient is less than 1.0 L or less.