Nicotine powder inhaler
This disclosure relates to nicotine powder inhalers where the nicotine powder is delivered at air flow rates that mimic a smoking regime.
1. A powder inhaler comprising:
a body extending between a proximal mouthpiece end and a distal end, the proximal mouthpiece end comprising an outlet;
a swirl generator element disposed in the body and constructed to induce rotational movement in the airflow moving through the body;
an airflow channel extending along the body, the airflow channel comprising a plurality of inlet channels extending to the swirl generator and an outlet airflow channel extending parallel to a longitudinal axis of the body from the swirl generator to the outlet at the proximal mouthpiece end; and
a nicotine powder receptacle disposed along the airflow channel, the swirl generator disposed adjacent to the nicotine powder receptacle;
wherein the inhaler is constructed to deliver a dose of powder via air flow created by inhalation at the proximal mouthpiece end at an inhalation rate of less than about 5 L/min.
2. A powder inhaler according to claim 1 , wherein the outlet channel has a volume being greater than a volume of the airflow channel.
3. A powder inhaler according to claim 1 , wherein the airflow channel comprises three inlet channels.
4. A powder inhaler according to claim 1 , comprising a cylindrical mouthpiece portion.
5. A powder inhaler according to claim 1 , wherein the receptacle defines a cylindrical shape.
6. A powder inhaler according to claim 1 , wherein the body has a transverse cross-section shape having a major axis and a minor axis, and the major axis is longer than the minor axis.
7. A system for providing powder, the system comprising the powder inhaler of claim 1 and further comprising a capsule containing nicotine powder within the nicotine powder receptacle.
8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the capsule further comprises a flavourant powder.
9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the capsule further comprises an active agent.
10. The system of claim 7 , wherein the powder has a mean average particle size in a range from 1 micrometer to 7 micrometers.
11. The system of claim 10 , wherein at least 90% of the powder has a particle size of 7 micrometers or less.
12. The system of claim 7 , wherein the powder comprises L-Leucine.
13. The system of claim 7 , wherein the nicotine powder comprises nicotine bitartrate.
14. The system of claim 7 , wherein the nicotine powder comprises nicotine glutamate.
15. The system of claim 7 , wherein powder comprises an amount of powder sufficient to deliver from 10 to 30 inhalations of powder.
16. A method of inhaling powder into lungs of a user:
inhaling air through the system of claim 7 at a flow rate of less than about 2 L/min to deliver powder into lungs of a user.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the inhaling air through the system induces rotational movement of air flowing through the powder inhaler.
18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the inhaling air through the system induces rotational movement of air flowing through the powder inhaler and delivers nicotine powder and flavourant powder into lungs of a user.
19. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of inlet channels extends from the distal end to the swirl generator element.