Inhaler to deliver substances for prophylaxis or prevention of disease or injury caused by the inhalation of biological or chemical agents

1. A dry powder inhaler system, comprising:

a receptacle containing an amount of powdered medicament effective for treating exposure to particular biological and chemical agents;

an elongate inlet channel that is adapted to receive air from an air source and powdered medicament from the receptacle, wherein the inlet channel defines an inlet and further defines an outlet with a first diameter;

a grid positioned between the receptacle and the inlet channel at a position near the inlet of the inlet channel;

a chamber defined by a chamber wall, the chamber having a second diameter and a length along a longitudinal axis that is adapted to receive air and powdered medicament from the inlet channel, wherein the inlet channel comprises continuous interior walls that extend from the grid to the chamber such that air is prevented from entering the inlet channel except through a proximal end of the inlet channel;

an actuator movably contained within the chamber, wherein the actuator has an actuator diameter between 0.5 and 15 mm; and

an outlet channel through which air and aerosolized medicament leave the chamber to be delivered to a patient;

wherein the outlet of the inlet channel comprises a bottom surface that is disc shaped such that it is perpendicular to the chamber wall, wherein a ratio of the second diameter to the first diameter is about 1.1 to about 3, and wherein the length of the chamber is about 1.5 to about 3 times the actuator diameter to generate a flow profile that causes the actuator to oscillate freely within a frequency range in a generally axial direction along the longitudinal axis of the chamber, thus enabling the oscillating actuator to effectively disperse powdered medicament passing through the chamber to be aerosolized and entrained by the air and delivered to the patient through the outlet channel.

2. The dry powder inhaler system of claim 1 , wherein the actuator is adapted to be coated with particular medicament effective for treating exposure to biological and chemical agents.

3. The dry powder inhaler system of claim 1 , further comprising a piercing member configured to perforate the receptacle to transfer air and powdered medicament to the inlet channel.

4. The dry powder inhaler system of claim 1 , wherein the receptacle is selected from one of: a capsule; a blister; and a powder reservoir.

5. The dry powder inhaler system of claim 1 , a retaining member disposed at an end of the chamber opposite the inlet channel, the retaining member having one or more openings sized to permit air and powdered medicament to pass through the retaining member, and to prevent the actuator from exiting the dispersion chamber.

6. The dry powder inhaler system of claim 1 , wherein the length of the chamber is about 2 to about 2.5 times the actuator diameter.

7. The dry powder inhaler system of claim 1 , wherein the frequency range is between about 100 and about 500 Hz.

8. The dry powder inhaler system of claim 1 , wherein the continuous interior walls are continuous from the grid to an end of the chamber nearest the outlet channel.

9. The dry powder inhaler system of claim 1 , wherein the continuous interior walls are continuous from the grid to an outlet end of the outlet channel.

10. A dry powder inhaler, comprising:

an elongate inlet channel that is adapted to receive air from an air source and powdered medicament from a receptacle containing an amount of powdered medicament, wherein the inlet channel defines an outlet with a first diameter, wherein the inlet channel further defines an inlet;

a grid coupled with the inlet of the inlet channel;

a chamber defined by a chamber wall, the chamber having a second diameter and a length along a longitudinal axis that is adapted to receive air and powdered medicament from the inlet channel, wherein the inlet channel comprises continuous interior walls that extend from the grid to the chamber such that air is prevented from entering the inlet channel except through a proximal end of the inlet channel;

an actuator movably contained within the chamber, wherein the actuator has an actuator diameter between 0.5 and 15 mm; and

an outlet channel through which air and aerosolized medicament leave the chamber to be delivered to a patient;

wherein the outlet of the inlet channel comprises a bottom surface that is disc shaped such that it is perpendicular to the chamber wall, wherein a ratio of the second diameter to the first diameter is about 1.1 to about 3, and wherein the length of the chamber is about 1.5 to about 3 times the actuator diameter to generate a flow profile that causes the actuator to oscillate freely within a frequency range in a generally axial direction along the longitudinal axis of the chamber, thus enabling the oscillating actuator to effectively disperse powdered medicament passing through the chamber to be aerosolized and entrained by the air and delivered to the patient through the outlet channel; and

wherein the chamber has a top end that is in communication with the outlet channel, wherein the top end is larger in size than the actuator.