Multi-carrier drug dispenser

Abstract

The invention disclosed herein relates to a drug dispenser for dispensing drugs from a plurality of elongated drug carriers, the dispenser comprising a dispensing mechanism for dispensing drugs held in the dispenser, wherein the dispensing mechanism is capable of independently advancing each drug carrier held in the dispenser, the dispensing mechanism comprising: a driver; a carrier engaging member for each drug carrier, which is used to individually advance a drug dosage portion of the drug carrier; an advancer for each carrier engaging member; a flow guide capable of dispensing drug doses from a plurality of drug carriers; and a cover for a drug access body, which operates as a component of the dispenser actuating mechanism.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a medicament dispenser for dispensing medicament. Background Art

[0002] A dry powder dispenser device is used to administer medication to a patient by inhalation. The device is commonly referred to as a dry powder inhaler (DPI) and is used to treat and prevent respiratory diseases, including but not limited to asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), bronchitis, lung infections, interstitial pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), cystic fibrosis, non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis, and lung transplantation.

[0003] Generally speaking, dry powder inhalers carry one or more medicines in a dose storage area (e.g., a reservoir such as a capsule or blister pack, and other similar mechanisms that can hold or maintain medicine until the time of distribution). The drug carrier can include a blister strip that contains a number of discrete doses of powdered medicine. The dry powder dispensing device (e.g., inhaler) can include a mechanism to obtain these doses by using a puncture device or a device that peels a cover or cover sheet from a substrate sheet. Then, the powdered medicine can be obtained by the device and inhaled by the user through the device. This mechanism can also be used to distribute medicine in the form of tablets, capsules, pills or discs, wherein the cover sheet is peeled off from the substrate sheet to reveal a specific drug form, such as a tablet that is removed and subsequently consumed, particularly a tablet for oral administration.

[0004] U.S. Patent No. 5,873,360 discloses an inhalation device in which a lid is capable of pivoting between an open position, in which the mouthpiece is exposed, and a closed position, in which it is not. In operation, a user moves the lid to its open position and then presses a finger tab associated with a lever, causing the finger tab to move ("slide") as the lever pivots. As the finger tab slides from one end to the other, a lever associated with the finger tab actuates a gear mechanism. As a result, a blister strip contained within the inhalation device is advanced; a blister is opened and the user can inhale a dose of dry powder medicament contained in a properly aligned blister cavity. The lid remains stationary as the body is rotated counterclockwise. Because the lid of the device is not directly connected to the lever mechanism, the user is required to first move the lid and then move the finger tab and associated lever, thereby requiring multiple steps to operate the device.

[0005] U.S. Patent No. 8,161,968 discloses a drug dispenser capable of containing a plurality of drug carriers of elongated form, wherein the drug dispenser comprises a movable cover for an outlet of a blister strip, the cover being movable from a rest position (in which the cover covers the outlet) to an activated position, and further to an actuated position to expose the outlet. The outlet cover cooperates with a dispensing mechanism such that movement of the outlet cover from the activated position to the actuated position actuates one or more components of the dispensing mechanism, and movement of the cover from the rest position to the actuated position does not actuate any one or more components of the dispensing mechanism.

[0006] U.S. Patent No. 8,746,242 discloses a drug dispenser for use with at least one drug carrier carrying a plurality of different drug portions. The technology discloses a drug dispenser comprising (a) an actuatable dispensing mechanism for dispensing different drug portions carried by at least one drug carrier; (b) a mouth; and (c) a cover for the mouth. The mouth cover is movably mounted to the dispenser for sequential movement from a first position in which the mouth is covered, to a second position in which the mouth is partially covered and partially uncovered, and then to a third position in which the mouth is uncovered; wherein further, the cover is adapted to be coupled to the dispensing mechanism so that movement of the cover from the first position to the second position does not result in actuation of the dispensing mechanism, but rather any further movement of the cover from the second position to the third position results in actuation of the dispensing mechanism.

[0007] U.S. Patent No. 8,511,304 discloses an inhalation device comprising two medicament carriers of elongated form, the medicament dosage portion of one blister strip containing a different medicament active ingredient or a mixture of medicament active ingredients than the medicament dosage portion of the other blister strip; an actuating member for actuating the inhalation device; a dispensing mechanism adapted to act together on each blister strip to dispense a single different medicament dosage portion carried by each medicament carrier, the dispensing mechanism comprising a) at least one receiving place for receiving the blister strip; b) a release portion for releasing a combination of different medicament dosage portions from each blister strip when the receiving mechanism receives actuation; c) an indexer for each medicament carrier for individually indexing its different medicament dosage portions, the indexers being connected to each other; and d) an outlet positioned to communicate with a combination of different medicament dosage portions releasable through the release portion, and a user can inhale from the outlet to simultaneously inhale the different medicament dosage portions releasable through the release portion. Summary of the invention

[0008] The inventors of the drug dispenser described herein have recognized a need in the art for a drug dispenser that includes a minimum number of operating steps in operation. There is also a need for a combination inhalation drug product in which a drug from one or more drug carriers within a dispenser can be inhaled in response to a single operation of the dispenser.

[0009] The invention described herein provides a simple and cost-effective drug dispenser that can be operated by a user with a single hand and has fewer moving parts than prior art devices, and which further allows each drug carrier to be advanced independently of each other within the dispenser, releasing the drug portions sequentially. The dispensing mechanism of the device typically includes, essentially includes, or only includes three steps for operating the drug dispenser: opening, inhalation, and closing.

[0010] According to one aspect, which may be combined with any other aspect, embodiment or combination of aspects and / or embodiments of the present disclosure, the present invention provides a drug dispenser for dispensing a drug from at least one single elongated form of drug carrier, which is typically present in the art as a blister pack or strip bag (but which may incorporate any multiple dose drug carrier, wherein the carrier contains multiple clearly separated drug doses in a form suitable for being contained in the dispenser), the dispenser comprising: a) a dispensing mechanism, which includes: i) a driver, ii) a carrier engaging member, iii) a pusher, iv) a flow guide, v) a first waste collector for collecting a first waste stream, vi) a second waste collector for collecting a second waste stream; b) a drug access body; and c) a cover for the drug access body.

[0011] Another aspect of the present invention, which may be combined with any other aspect, embodiment or combination of aspects and / or embodiments of the present disclosure, is a drug dispenser for dispensing a drug from a plurality of (e.g., two, three or four) elongated drug carriers, each carrier having a plurality of different dosage portions, the dispenser comprising: a) a dispensing mechanism comprising: i) a driver, ii) a carrier engaging member for each drug carrier, which is used to individually advance different drug dosage portions of the drug carrier, iii) an advancer for each carrier engaging member, which is used to rotate the carrier engaging member, iv) a flow guide for dispensing the drug, v) a first waste collector for collecting a first waste stream, vi) a second waste collector for collecting a second waste stream; b) a drug taking body; and c) a cover for the drug taking body.

[0012] Another aspect of the present disclosure, which may be combined with any other aspect, embodiment, or combination of aspects and / or embodiments of the present disclosure, relates to a drug dispenser for dispensing a drug from a plurality of elongated drug carriers, each carrier having a plurality of different dosage portions, the dispenser comprising: a) a dispensing mechanism comprising: i) a driver, ii) a carrier engaging member for each drug carrier, which is used to individually advance different drug dosage portions of the drug carrier, iii) an advancer for each carrier engaging member, which is used to rotate the carrier engaging member, iv) a flow guide member for each drug carrier to dispense the drug, the drug dispenser having a plurality of drug carriers retained therein, v) a first waste collector capable of collecting a first waste stream, and vi) a second waste collector capable of collecting a second waste stream; and b) a drug taking body; and c) a cover for the drug taking body.

[0013] According to one aspect, which can be combined with any other aspect, embodiment or combination of aspects and / or embodiments of the present disclosure, the present invention relates to a waste collector that can be used in the drug dispenser described herein and can collect a waste flow, the waste collector comprising: a) a tensioning mechanism, which includes: i) a seat, and ii) ratchet teeth; and b) a waste capture component, which includes: i) a waste collection surface for receiving a sheet of the drug carrier, ii) internal teeth; and iii) external teeth.

[0014] According to one aspect, which may be combined with any other aspect, embodiment, or combination of aspects and / or embodiments of the present disclosure provided herein, the present invention relates to a flow guide for use in a drug dispenser. According to some embodiments, which may be combined with any other aspect, embodiment, or combination of aspects and / or embodiments, the flow guide may be an element of a dispensing mechanism of a drug dispenser and may provide delivery of a drug in powder form from an open or otherwise available dose storage area (e.g., a blister bag) of a drug carrier having a series of dose storage areas, or from a similar or equivalent open separate compartment or area that keeps the drug in a similar or equivalent drug carrier and is closed unless available for administration. In one aspect, which may be combined with any other aspect, embodiment, or combination of aspects and / or embodiments, the flow guide may include an inlet compartment, an outlet compartment, and a plurality of grilles or similar structures, such as a pair of grilles (e.g., a pair of non-contact grilles), for directing airflow from the inlet compartment to the outlet compartment. In some aspects, which may be combined with any other aspect, embodiment, or combination of aspects and / or embodiments, when used, the grille is associated with an open or otherwise accessible dose storage area of ​​a drug carrier such that when the open or otherwise accessible dose storage area of ​​the drug carrier is positioned adjacent to the grille, an airflow is directed from the inlet compartment through the open dose storage area to the outlet compartment to entrain drug powder in the airflow, enabling the drug in the airflow to be transferred from the inlet compartment to the outlet compartment.

[0015] Another aspect of the present disclosure, which may be combined with any other aspect, embodiment, or combination of aspects and embodiments described herein, relates to a flow guide for use in a drug dispenser for delivering drug powder from an open or otherwise available dose storage area of ​​each drug carrier, the flow guide comprising a pair of inlet compartments, a pair of outlet compartments, and a plurality (e.g., at least two groups of two) of grilles for directing an airflow from the inlet compartment to the outlet compartment. In some aspects, which may be combined with any other aspect, embodiment, or combination of aspects and / or embodiments, a plurality of grilles or a plurality of pairs of grilles are associated in use with an open or otherwise available dose storage area of ​​each drug carrier acted upon by the device; such that when the open or otherwise available dose storage area of ​​each drug carrier is positioned adjacent to each of the plurality of grilles, the airflow is directed from the inlet compartment to the outlet compartment through the open dose storage area of ​​the drug carrier to entrain the drug powder and enable the drug powder in the airflow to be transferred from the inlet compartment to the outlet compartment.

[0016] One aspect of the present disclosure, which may be combined with any other aspect or embodiment of the present disclosure, is a drug dispenser for dispensing a drug from a plurality of elongated drug carriers held therein, each carrier comprising a plurality of dosage portions of one or more drugs, the dispenser comprising:

[0017] a. A dispensing mechanism for dispensing a drug held in a dispenser, comprising:

[0018] i. Driver,

[0019] ii. a carrier engaging member for each drug carrier for individually advancing a drug dosage portion of the drug carrier,

[0020] iii. an impeller for each carrier engaging member, coaxially positioned with the carrier engaging member to rotate the carrier engaging member,

[0021] iv. flow guides; and

[0022] b. Drug receiving body; and

[0023] c. A cover for a drug taking body,

[0024] wherein a medicament access body cover is engaged with a driver, and wherein sufficient movement of the medicament access body cover causes movement of the driver, the driver is directly or indirectly engaged with (one or more) pushers so that sufficient movement of the driver causes movement of the pushers, each pusher is directly or indirectly engaged with a carrier engagement member so that sufficient movement of the pushers causes movement of the carrier engagement member, and further wherein movement of each carrier engagement member causes the medicament carrier to be advanced to a position wherein a medicament dose portion of the medicament carrier (when present) is sufficiently aligned with a guide member so that an airflow directed by the guide member entrains at least one medicament dose portion extracted from a dose storage area, and further wherein the airflow containing the entrained medicament is separated and maintained separately until the medicament leaves the dispenser.

[0025] In one aspect of the disclosure, the invention is a drug dispenser for dispensing a drug from a plurality of elongated drug carriers held therein, each carrier comprising a plurality of dosage portions of one or more drugs, the dispenser comprising:

[0026] a. A dispensing mechanism for dispensing a drug held in a dispenser, comprising:

[0027] i. Driver,

[0028] ii. a carrier engaging member for each drug carrier for individually advancing a drug dosage portion of the drug carrier,

[0029] iii. a pusher for each carrier engaging member, which is positioned coaxially or non-coaxially with the carrier engaging member,

[0030] To rotate the carrier engaging member,

[0031] iv. a flow guide for guiding the air flow within the distributor,

[0032] v. at least one first waste collector, and

[0033] vi. at least one second waste collector; and

[0034] b. Drug receiving body; and

[0035] c. A cover for a drug taking body,

[0036] wherein the medicament access body cover is engaged with the driver, and wherein sufficient movement of the medicament access body cover causes movement of the driver, the driver is directly or indirectly engaged with the pusher, such that sufficient movement of the driver causes movement of the pusher, at least one pusher is directly or indirectly engaged with the first waste collector, and each pusher is directly or indirectly engaged with the carrier engagement member, such that sufficient movement of the pusher causes movement of at least one first waste collector and movement of the carrier engagement member, movement of at least one carrier engagement member causes movement of at least one second waste collector, movement of each carrier engagement member causes the medicament carrier to be advanced to a position wherein a medicament dose portion of the medicament carrier (when present) is substantially aligned with the flow guide member such that a separate airflow directed by the flow guide member entrains at least one medicament dose portion extracted from the current dose storage area, and further wherein the separate airflows containing the entrained medicament are maintained until the medicament leaves the dispenser. In certain embodiments, the airflows each entraining its respective medicament leave the dispenser as a single airflow.

[0037] In one aspect disclosed herein, the invention relates to a drug dispenser for dispensing a drug from a plurality of drug carriers of elongated form held therein, each carrier comprising a plurality of dosage portions of one or more drugs, the dispenser comprising:

[0038] a. A dispensing mechanism for dispensing a drug held in a dispenser, comprising:

[0039] i. a drive directly or indirectly engaged with a plurality of thrusters for movement,

[0040] ii. a pusher for each carrier engaging member for advancing the carrier engaging member, wherein at least one pusher is directly engaged with the driver for movement, and wherein at least one second pusher is indirectly acted upon by movement of the driver through an intermediate member; or, alternatively, a pusher for each carrier engaging member for advancing the carrier engaging member, wherein each of the plurality of pushers is directly engaged with the driver for movement;

[0041] iii. a carrier engaging member for each drug carrier for individually advancing a drug dose portion of the drug carrier, wherein at least one carrier engaging member is movably engaged with the advancer; or, alternatively, wherein each of a plurality of carrier engaging members is movably engaged with the advancer; and

[0042] iv. each propeller is coaxially positioned with the carrier engaging member to rotate the carrier engaging member, or, alternatively, at least one propeller is coaxially positioned with the carrier engaging member to rotate the carrier engaging member and at least one propeller is non-coaxially positioned with the carrier engaging member to rotate the carrier engaging member;

[0043] and

[0044] wherein sufficient movement of the driver results in direct movement of at least the first impeller, movement of each impeller results in movement of each respective carrier engaging member, movement of each carrier engaging member results in advancement of the drug carrier;

[0045] v. A guide member for receiving and guiding airflow,

[0046] wherein, when the dispenser is in use, the separate air stream entrains each of the at least one medicament dose portion available in the dose storage area in the presence of at least one medicament carrier brought into position by the carrier engagement member, wherein the separate air stream containing the entrained medicament is maintained until the medicament leaves the dispenser;

[0047] i. at least one waste collector for collecting drug carrier material after at least one drug dose contained in the drug carrier has been removed; and

[0048] b. a drug taking body for generating an airflow by inhalation by the user and for receiving the drug by the user when the drug leaves the dispenser; and

[0049] c. A cover for the drug receiving body and engaged with the actuator such that sufficient movement of the drug receiving body cover results in movement of the actuator.

[0050] In some aspects of the above embodiments, the separate air streams containing entrained medicament exit the dispenser as a single air stream.

[0051] In one aspect of the invention, the present disclosure relates to a medicament dispenser for dispensing one or more medicaments from a plurality of medicament carriers of elongated form, each carrier comprising a plurality of dosage portions, the dispenser comprising:

[0052] a. Allocation agencies, which include:

[0053] i. Driver,

[0054] ii. a carrier engaging member for each drug carrier for individually advancing a drug dosage portion of the drug carrier,

[0055] iii. an impeller for each carrier engaging member, at least one of the impellers being coaxially positioned with the carrier engaging member to rotate the carrier engaging member,

[0056] iv. a flow guide, wherein, when present for administration, the separate air flow entrains a dose portion of the drug extracted from the dose storage area of ​​the drug carrier, and the separate air flow containing the entrained drug is maintained until the drug leaves the dispenser,

[0057] v. The first waste collector; and

[0058] vi. a second waste collector, and

[0059] b. Drug receiving body; and

[0060] c. A cover for the medicine taking body.

[0061] In one aspect of the present disclosure, the present invention relates to a drug dispenser for dispensing a drug from a plurality of drug carriers of elongated form held therein, each carrier comprising a plurality of dose portions of one or more drugs, the dispenser comprising a dispensing mechanism for dispensing the drug held in the dispenser, further comprising an impeller for each drug carrier held in the dispenser, each impeller:

[0062] a. directly or indirectly engaging an actuator to actuate dispensing of a drug from a dispenser;

[0063] engaging a carrier engagement member for each drug carrier, the carrier engagement member being used to advance the drug dosage portion of the drug carrier individually, the engagement being direct or indirect, wherein within the same dispenser one engagement may be direct, one may be indirect, or both may also or alternatively be direct; and

[0064] At least one of the pushers is coaxially positioned with the carrier engagement member.

[0065] In one aspect of the disclosure, the invention relates to a medicament dispenser for dispensing medicament from a plurality of medicament carriers of elongated form held therein, each carrier comprising a plurality of dose portions of one or more medicaments, the dispenser comprising a dispensing mechanism for dispensing the medicament held in the dispenser, and further comprising at least one waste collector for collecting a portion of the medicament carrier having a dose of the medicament held therein having been dispensed, each waste collector:

[0066] a. comprising a member capable of generating tension on the waste element collected by the waste collector;

[0067] b. comprising a member capable of maintaining tension on the waste element collected by the waste collector;

[0068] c. comprising a component capable of collecting waste elements collected by the waste collector;

[0069] Wherein component (a) and component (b) are located within component (c), and wherein component (a), component (b) and component (c) share a common axis of rotation.

[0070] In one aspect of the present disclosure, the present invention relates to a drug dispenser for dispensing a drug from a plurality of elongated drug carriers held therein, each carrier comprising a plurality of dose portions of one or more drugs, the dispenser comprising a dispensing mechanism for dispensing the drug held in the dispenser, further comprising a flow guide, the flow guide:

[0071] a. receiving an airflow and splitting it into two or more separate airflows, each airflow in a separate inlet compartment;

[0072] b. directing each separate airflow of (a) within a separate inlet compartment so that each separate airflow entrains the drug (if any) held within the dose storage region of the separate drug carrier; and

[0073] c. Maintaining the separation of each airflow until each airflow exits the dispenser, each airflow including entrained drug from the separate dose storage areas.

[0074] In one aspect of the present disclosure, the present invention relates to a drug dispenser for dispensing a drug from a plurality of elongated drug carriers held therein, each carrier comprising a plurality of dose portions of one or more drugs, the dispenser comprising a dispensing mechanism for dispensing the drug held in the dispenser, further comprising a flow guide, with respect to the flow guide:

[0075] a. receiving an airflow and splitting it into two or more separate airflows, each airflow in a separate inlet compartment;

[0076] b. directing each separate airflow of (a) within a separate inlet compartment so that each separate airflow entrains the drug (if any) held within the dose storage region of the separate drug carrier; and

[0077] c. Provide a single outlet for the combined airflow to exit the distributor.

[0078] In one aspect of the present disclosure, the present invention relates to a drug dispenser capable of independently advancing multiple drug carriers at different rates and / or at different times, comprising i) a driver for actuating a dispensing mechanism, ii) a carrier engaging member for each drug carrier, which is used to individually advance different drug dosage portions of the drug carrier, iii) an advancer for each carrier engaging member, iv) a flow guide, wherein separate air flows entrain drugs extracted from separate drugs, v) at least one first waste collector for collecting a first waste stream, vi) at least one second waste collector for collecting at least one second waste stream, b) a drug access body for a user to access the drug retained in the dispenser; and c) a cover for the drug access body, which is used to protect the drug access body and engage with the driver, so that sufficient movement of the drug access body cover causes movement of the driver.

[0079] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the present invention is directed to a method of treating a condition treatable by a drug that can be administered by inhalation, the method comprising administering one or more drugs via a drug dispenser, the administration comprising:

[0080] a. loading a drug dispenser configured to receive a plurality of elongated forms of drug carriers and dispense a drug from the drug dispenser through the plurality of elongated forms of drug carriers, the plurality of elongated forms of drug carriers comprising a plurality of discrete drug doses in powder form;

[0081] b. actuating the medicament dispenser in a manner such that, prior to any advancement of any medicament carrier upon actuation, tension is applied to at least a portion, typically a separable portion, of each elongated form, typically corresponding to a portion of the elongated form corresponding to one of the waste streams formed by the elongated form;

[0082] c. advancing the plurality of drug carriers in the dispenser independently of one another to a generally open position in the dispenser so that the drug dose (if any) in the dose storage location of each drug carrier becomes available for administration; and

[0083] d. The user inhales one or more available doses of the drug through the drug access body, and the airflow generated by the inhalation separately entrains the drug of each available dose of the drug and keeps them separate from each other until the airflow leaves the dispenser and reaches the user through the drug access body, or alternatively, they are combined so that a single airflow entraining all the dispensed drugs leaves the dispenser and reaches the user through the drug access body.

[0084] In another aspect of the present disclosure, the present invention relates to a method for administering multiple medicaments by inhalation by an individual from a medicament dispenser, the medicament dispenser containing the medicaments and including an orifice for delivering the medicaments to a user, the multiple medicaments being maintained in separate airflows before reaching the orifice and the user, the method comprising administering the multiple medicaments to the individual through the dispenser, the dispenser having any combination of the various aspects or embodiments described herein and above.

[0085] According to an independent embodiment of the present invention, the invention described herein provides a collection system for capturing and storing elongated media, the system comprising (a) a tensioning engagement component for applying an initial engagement tension at an end of the media (e.g., a portion of the media that has been processed), (b) a tensioning holding component or device for maintaining tension on the media, and (c) a collection component for collecting the media. In some aspects, the component capable of generating tension on the elongated media and the component capable of maintaining tension on the elongated media are located within the component capable of collecting the elongated media. In some aspects, all three components share a common axis of rotation. In one aspect, the tensioning engagement component includes a mechanical attachment component, such as a slot, a clip, a clamp, a protrusion that engages the media, or a protrusion of a component that engages the media (e.g., a hole, a ring, or a recess in the media), or alternatively, a hole or recess that engages a protrusion in the media. In some aspects, the tensioning engagement component is a column. In some aspects, the column is capable of capturing the end of the media through a ring in the media that can be positioned around the column to secure the end of the media to the collection system. In some embodiments, the collection system also includes or alternatively includes a tensioning and holding component. In some aspects, the tensioning and holding component can be a guide, a clamp or a surface, during which the medium is stretched on the tensioning and holding component, or the medium is positioned against the tensioning and holding component. In some aspects, the component includes a curved wall or a curved plate. In some aspects, the curved wall has a surface that increases the ability of the curved wall to engage with the medium. In some aspects, the surface is a sticky surface, such as a surface with a sticky additive. In some aspects, the surface is a rubber surface. In some aspects, the surface is a serrated surface. In some aspects, the collection system also includes or alternatively includes a collection component for collecting the medium. In some aspects, the collection component includes a surface, and when the collection component moves (e.g., rotates), the elongated medium is wrapped or wrapped around the surface. In some aspects, the collection component can include a medium access point, for example, an opening (e.g., a slit, a slot or a hole) that allows the elongated medium to pass from one side of the collection component to the other side. In certain embodiments, the collection component is a curved wall surface, optionally wherein the tension engaging component and the tension retaining component are located within an area defined in part by the curved wall of the collection component. In some aspects, the media access point is a slit or slot or hole in the curved surface. In some embodiments, when the collection component moves (e.g., rotates), the collection component rotates and collects media along a surface (e.g., an outer surface) of the collection component while the tension retaining component maintains tension on the elongated media. According to certain aspects of the invention, the collection system is capable of collecting waste streams, such as waste streams generated within a medication dispenser, when the elongated medication media is processed by the dispenser.

[0086] Any of the foregoing embodiments and aspects may be combined with any other appropriate aspects or embodiments described above and may incorporate any corresponding features and characteristics described below in the detailed description section of the present disclosure.

[0087] Detailed Description

[0088] According to certain embodiments, which may be combined with any other aspect, embodiment or combination of aspects and / or embodiments described herein, the invention described herein provides a simple and cost-effective drug dispenser having fewer moving parts than the prior art devices, and which can be operated by a user using a single hand. In one aspect, the present invention provides a drug dispenser that allows each drug carrier held in the dispenser to be advanced independently of any other drug carrier held in the dispenser. In one aspect, any two or more carrier engagement member components (or carrier engagement members) engaged with a drug carrier can simultaneously advance their individually associated drug carriers, for example, two or more carrier engagement members move simultaneously. In another aspect, the carrier engagement members can also or alternatively be able to sequentially (e.g., continuously) advance their individually associated drug carriers, such that one advances first, and then the second (or more) advances sequentially, and in some embodiments, such engagement is such that there is no substantial overlap or detectable overlap in the movement of at least some, most or all of the carrier engagement members. In another aspect, the carrier engagement members can also advance their individually associated carriers in a manner such that at least one carrier advances first, and then advances the second carrier after completing all discrete doses of the first carrier. In some aspects, the drug dispenser can release the drug portion of the medicine held in each drug carrier substantially at the same time, and the drug portion from any other one or more drug carriers (if there are multiple drug carriers). In some other aspects, the drug dispenser can release the drug portion of the medicine held in each drug carrier in order or continuously, so that a drug portion is released before the drug portion from any other one or more drug carriers (if there are multiple drug carriers). In some aspects, no matter any two or more carrier joints are moved simultaneously or any two or more carrier joints are sequential movements, for example, one completes its movement before the next joint begins its movement, and further no matter any two or more drug portions are substantially released or can be used in sequence at the same time, for example, before opening the second or more drug carriers or before obtaining dosage from these carriers, a drug carrier is opened or dosage can be obtained from this carrier, and dosage can be used in single application (i.e., in the single inhalation of the user) to the user. In some aspects, the advancement of the drug carrier allows to apply dosage continuously to complete a series of applications. In some aspects, the advancement of the drug carrier is performed in a manner such that only one carrier engaging member moves at a time. In some aspects, the advancement of the drug carrier is performed in a manner such that only one carrier engaging member moves at a time, and wherein the second drug carrier is not in motion or is substantially in a stationary position.

[0089] As used herein, the term "substantially simultaneously" means substantially the same time, e.g., without significant or expected difference in time (e.g., within about 5 seconds or less, about 3 seconds or less, about 2 seconds or less, or about 1 second or less, e.g., within about 0.1 to 5 seconds, about 0.1 to 3 seconds, or about 0.1 to 2 seconds).

[0090] As used herein, "series of administrations" is intended to describe the ability to repeatedly use a dispenser to administer a series of doses of a drug retained therein, so as to be able to deliver, for example, once a day, twice a day, three times a day, or more frequently, administration of one or more drugs retained therein for about three days or more, about four days or more, about five days or more, about six days or more, at least about one week, at least about two weeks, at least about three weeks, at least about four weeks, at least about six weeks, at least about eight weeks or more, at least about two months, at least about three months, at least about four months, at least about six months, or more.

[0091] The devices provided herein will generally require relatively fewer components than those systems previously known in the art (e.g., they may require 20 separate components or fewer, 15 components or fewer, 12 components, or even fewer than 10 components involved in the function of the dispensing mechanism of the dispenser). Each component may have features and elements that facilitate its function and allow certain components to combine, engage, or otherwise interact with other components of the dispenser.

[0092] In some aspects, some or all of the components of the dispensing mechanism are common to each drug carrier present in the dispenser; that is, the drug carriers share the functionality of some or all of the components of the dispensing mechanism within the drug dispenser. In some aspects, using two or more identical or substantially similar components to provide similar functions (e.g., gears, tensioning mechanisms, and springs as described herein) can help reduce the number of different individual components required for successful dispenser operation.

[0093] In some aspects, in common embodiments, a common or shared component can be engaged, coupled or otherwise combined with another one or more common components of a dispenser in a movably engaged manner so that movement of the common component causes movement of a plurality of components. Such engagement, coupling or otherwise combining of at least two components by a common component can be achieved in any suitable manner, including mechanical coupling (e.g., interaction of gears, e.g., a toothed wheel present on each component, or by using a coupling arm, rod, pin, etc.). Alternatively, a plurality of components can be electronically coupled, such as by using an electromechanical coupling mechanism. An advantage of such a coupling engagement is that indexing / advancing of each drug carrier can be achieved in a coupled manner.

[0094] In some aspects, some or all of the components of the dispensing mechanism exist separately for each drug carrier present in the dispenser. That is, the number of each component is determined by the number of drug carriers present so that each drug carrier can be advanced separately from any other drug carrier present in the dispenser. In situations where the drug in one carrier includes an administration regimen that is different from the administration regimen of the drug in another or more carriers in the dispenser, it is preferable to use such separate components to handle the different drug carriers.

[0095] According to a general embodiment, one aspect that may be combined with any other aspect, embodiment, or combination of aspects and / or embodiments of the invention is embodied in a drug dispenser for dispensing a drug from a plurality (e.g., two, three, or four) of drug carriers of elongated form, each such carrier having a plurality of different dosage portions, the drug dispenser (sometimes referred to as a "dispenser") comprising:

[0096] a) Allocation agencies, which include:

[0097] i) Driver;

[0098] ii) a carrier engagement member for each drug carrier for individually advancing a different drug dosage portion of the drug carrier;

[0099] iii) a propeller for each carrier engaging member, which is used to rotate the carrier engaging member;

[0100] iv) a flow guide for dispensing the drug;

[0101] v) a waste collector for collecting the first waste stream; and

[0102] vi) a waste collector for collecting a second waste stream; and further comprising

[0103] b) a drug receiving body; and

[0104] c) A cover for the medicine taking body.

[0105] According to some aspects, it can be combined with any other aspects, embodiments or combinations of aspects and / or embodiments, and the medicine dispenser can be handheld. In certain embodiments, it can be combined with any other aspects, embodiments or combinations of aspects and / or embodiments, and it can be combined with any other aspects, embodiments or combinations of aspects and / or embodiments, and the medicine dispenser can be operated by a single right or left hand of the user. In some aspects, it can be combined with any other aspects, embodiments or combinations of aspects and / or embodiments, and both hands can be used to hold and operate the medicine dispenser.

[0106] According to some aspects, it can be combined with any other aspect, embodiment or combination of aspect and / or embodiment, and medicine dispenser can be able to dispense medicine in powder form. In some aspects, it can be combined with any other aspect, embodiment or combination of aspect and / or embodiment, and medicine dispenser can be able to provide medicine in powder form by suction. In some aspects, it can be combined with any other aspect, embodiment or combination of aspect and / or embodiment, and this suction can be by oral suction. In certain embodiments, it can be combined with any other aspect, embodiment or combination of aspect and / or embodiment, and this suction can be by nasal suction. In some aspects, it can be combined with any other aspect, embodiment or combination of aspect and / or embodiment, and medicine dispenser is an inhalation device. According to specific embodiments, it can be combined with any other aspect, embodiment or combination of aspect and / or embodiment, and medicine dispenser is a dry powder inhaler (DPI).

[0107] In some aspects, which may be combined with any other aspect, embodiment, or combination of aspects and / or embodiments, the drug dispenser described herein may include a shape that provides the user with optimal functionality, ease of use, comfort of use, or any combination thereof. According to certain embodiments, which may be combined with any other aspect, embodiment, or combination of aspects and / or embodiments, the drug dispenser may include any shape that can support optimal performance characteristics, ease of use, user convenience, or any combination thereof, such as, but not limited to, circular, non-circular, squircular, elongated forms, elliptical, oval, oblong, triangular, quadrilateral, pentagonal, or hexagonal, including, but not limited to, square, rectangular, trapezoidal, hourglass, or other shapes and forms that support and / or do not interfere with the operation of the dispenser, and make the shape suitable for a single hand of an ordinary user. As used herein, an "ordinary user" is a human user at least about 10 years old, such as at least about 12 years old, at least about 15 years old, at least about 18 years old, or at least about 21 years old.

[0108] In certain embodiments of the invention, which may be combined with any other aspect, embodiment, or combination of aspects and / or embodiments, the medication dispenser may include one or more flat surfaces. In some aspects, which may be combined with any other aspect, embodiment, or combination of aspects and / or embodiments, one or more of any existing flat surfaces may be a resting surface. In some aspects, which may be combined with any other aspect, embodiment, or combination of aspects and / or embodiments, the resting surface may be a surface capable of maintaining the device in a preferred storage position (e.g., maintained in an upright or stable position) while resting on a flat surface such as a table.

[0109] According to some aspects of the present invention, it can be combined with any other aspect, embodiment or combination of aspect and / or embodiment, and the medicine dispenser can include at least a part of its external form that is shaped to be easy to grasp with the user. In certain embodiments, it can be combined with any other aspect, embodiment or combination of aspect and / or embodiment, and one or more shape elements or parts are added, which are designed to be conducive to the stable grasping of the user, so that the user can easily hold the dispenser and operate the dispenser at the same time. In certain embodiments, it can be combined with any other aspect, embodiment or combination of aspect and / or embodiment, and the element can be comfortable to cooperate with the user when holding the device. In some aspects, it can be combined with any other aspect, embodiment or combination of aspect and / or embodiment, and the element can include but is not limited to one or more curved elements, such as to fit in the curve of the human palm or to partially embed one or more fingers of the person. The element can be a projection, a depression or a curved part, a change in thickness and / or thinness, a change in width and / or height, or any other similar aesthetic and operationally advantageous design element, which contributes to the comfort and stability of the device when it is held in the user's hand.

[0110] Generally speaking, the medicine dispenser of the present invention can be any suitable size and include any suitable size parts. In some aspects, it can be combined with any other aspects, embodiments or aspects and / or embodiments, and the size of the medicine dispenser described herein provides the user with the best functionality and the ease and / or convenience of use. In any particular case, the factors that may affect the optimal size of the dispenser may include but are not limited to the size of the parts contained in the medicine dispenser, the required operating space of these parts or the characteristics determined by the user's preference, such as the ability and convenience of carrying the device in a clothing pocket or a personal carrying device (such as a wallet, a backpack, etc.). In some aspects, it can be combined with any other aspects, embodiments or aspects and / or embodiments, and the device does not have a length greater than 90mm in any direction, such as not more than about 89mm, not more than about 88mm or not more than about 87mm. In some aspects, the device has a height between about 80mm and about 90mm, such as between about 82mm and about 89mm, between about 84mm and about 88mm or between about 86mm and about 88mm, such as about 87mm. In some aspects, the device also or alternatively has a width of no more than about 80 mm, such as no more than about 80 mm, no more than about 78 mm, no more than about 76 mm, no more than about 74 mm, or no more than about 72 mm, such as a width of about 70 mm, about 68 mm, about 66 mm, about 64 mm, about 62 mm, or about 60 mm. In some aspects, the device has a width between about 65 mm and about 75 mm, such as between about 65 mm and 75 mm, between about 66 mm and about 74 mm, between about 67 mm and about 73 mm, between about 68 mm and about 72 mm, between about 69 mm and about 71 mm, or about 70 mm. In some aspects, the device also has or alternatively has a depth of not more than about 40mm, for example, not more than about 40mm, not more than about 38mm, not more than about 36mm, not more than about 34mm or not more than about 32mm, for example, with a width of about 30mm, about 28mm, about 26mm, about 24mm, about 22mm, or about 20mm. In some aspects, the device has a depth between about 26mm and about 38mm, for example, between about 28mm and about 36mm, between about 30mm and about 34mm, or for example, a width of about 32mm. In some aspects, the height of the device is between about 85mm and about 90mm, the width is between about 66mm and about 74mm, and the depth is between about 28mm and about 36mm. In some aspects, the device has a height of about 87mm, a width of about 70mm, and a depth of about 32mm.Thus, in one exemplary aspect, the device has a height of about 80 mm to 90 mm (e.g., about 84 mm to 88 mm), a width of about 65 mm to 75 mm (e.g., about 68 mm to 72 mm), and a depth of about 26 mm to 38 mm (e.g., about 30 mm to 34 mm).

[0111] The drug dispenser of the present invention is designed to dispense one or more drugs contained therein. The drug or drugs may be any one or more drugs contained in one or more drug carriers that can be received by the drug dispenser and contained in the drug dispenser.

[0112] According to certain aspects, it can be combined with any other aspect, embodiment or combination of aspects and / or embodiments, and the medicine dispenser is designed to receive a medicine carrier of elongated form carrying a plurality of different drug dosage portions. In one aspect, it can be combined with any other aspect, embodiment or combination of aspects and / or embodiments, and the medicine dispenser can receive a single medicine carrier of elongated form. In another aspect, the dispenser can receive a plurality of medicine carriers of elongated form. In yet another aspect, the dispenser can receive one to four medicine carriers of elongated form, such as one, two, three or four medicine carriers of elongated form. In one aspect, it can be combined with any other aspect, embodiment or combination of aspects and / or embodiments, and the dispenser can receive two medicine carriers of elongated form. In certain embodiments, which may be combined with any other aspect, embodiment, or combination of aspects and / or embodiments, a drug dispenser may receive a single elongated form drug carrier that contains one, two, three, four, or more different drugs, each drug contained in a different dose shell or dose storage area (e.g., blister pocket), one or more such pockets being positioned so that the pockets are accessible when the elongated drug carrier is properly positioned within the dispenser. According to alternative aspects, which may be combined with any other aspect, embodiment, or combination of aspects and / or embodiments, a drug dispenser may receive a plurality (e.g., two, three, or four) of elongated form drug carriers that may optionally contain one, two, three, four, or more different drugs, each drug dose contained in a different dose shell or dose storage area (e.g., blister pocket), however, one or more dose storage areas are positioned so that they are accessible substantially simultaneously (i.e., at approximately the same time) as one or more dose storage areas of one or more other drug carriers held within the dispenser. In certain aspects, a drug dispenser may advance a plurality of drug carriers substantially simultaneously. In certain other aspects, the drug dispenser can sequentially advance multiple drug carriers, for example, such that there is no substantial overlap or detectable overlap in the movement of two or more drug carrier engagement mechanisms during operation. In another aspect, the carrier engagement members can also advance their individually associated carriers in a manner such that at least one carrier is advanced first, and then a second carrier is advanced after all discrete doses of the first carrier are completed.

[0113] According to certain embodiments, which may be combined with any other aspect, embodiment, or combination of aspects and / or embodiments, the elongated form drug carrier may be any elongated form drug carrier that sequentially holds multiple discrete doses of a drug, such that when positioned in an appropriate position for access by the drug dispenser, a single drug dose within the carrier is available for administration, and with further actuation and positioning additional discrete drug doses are subsequently available for administration. This sequential availability of different drug doses enables the dispenser to provide sequential doses of one or more drugs, such as daily multiple doses of one or more drugs or daily sequential administration of one or more drugs, etc.

[0114] In some embodiments, the drug contained in one or more pharmaceutical carriers comprises one or more active pharmaceutical ingredients (API), and optionally comprises one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers. The active pharmaceutical ingredients and pharmaceutically acceptable carriers may be present in micronized form, non-micronized form, or a mixture thereof.

[0115] According to some embodiments, the drug within each drug storage region of any single drug carrier is the same. In alternative embodiments, the drug within at least one drug storage region is different from the drug within any at least one other drug storage region within the same carrier. In certain aspects, the drug within at least one drug storage region of a first carrier is different from the drug within at least one drug storage region of a second carrier.

[0116] According to certain aspects of the invention, the drug dose portions within any single drug carrier are identical. In alternative aspects, at least one separate drug dose within any single drug carrier is different from at least one other separate separate drug dose within the same single drug carrier. According to yet another aspect, at least one separate drug dose within any one drug carrier is different from at least one separate drug dose within any second or more drug carriers.

[0117] According to one aspect of the invention, one or more active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) useful in the present invention are selected from: analgesics, such as codeine, dihydromorphine, ergotamine, fentanyl or morphine; angina preparations, such as diltiazem; antiallergics, such as cromoglycate (e.g. as sodium salt), ketotifen or nedocromil (e.g. as sodium salt); anti-infectives, such as cephalosporins, penicillins, streptomycins, sulfonamides, tetracyclines and pentamidines, in particular tobramycin, aztreonam, colistin, ceftazidime, gentamicin, levofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, amikacin, vancomycin, rifampicin and isoniazid; mucolytics, such as N-acetylcysteine, carboxymethylcysteine, erdosteine ​​and dornase alfa.

[0118] According to an embodiment, the drugs used in the device may include: agents for treating idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, such as nintedanib and pirfenidone; antihistamines, such as methapyrline; antifungals, such as pumaazole and voriconazole; anti-inflammatory drugs, such as beclomethasone (e.g., as a dipropionate), fluticasone (e.g., as a propionate or furoate), flunisolide, budesonide, roflenide, mometasone (e.g., as a furoate), ciclesonide, triamcinolone (e.g., as an acetonide), or 6α,9α-difluoro-11β-hydroxy-16α-methyl-3-oxo-17α-propionyl-androsta-1,4-diene-17β- S-(2-oxo-tetrahydrofuran-3-yl)thiocarboxylate; antitussives, such as noscapine; bronchodilators, such as salbutamol (e.g., as free base or sulfate), levalbuterol, procaterol, salmeterol (e.g., as xinafoate), ephedrine, epinephrine, fenoterol (e.g., as hydrobromide), formoterol (e.g., as fumarate), arformoterol, clenbuterol, olodaterol, indacaterol, vilanterol, isoproterenol, metaproterenol, phenylephrine, phenylpropanolamine, pirbuterol (e.g., as acetate), theaproterenol (e.g., as hydrochloride), rimiterol, terbuterol talin (e.g., as the sulfate salt), neoproterenol, tulobuterol or 4-hydroxy-7-[2-[[2-[[3-(2-phenylethoxy)propyl]sulfonyl]ethyl]amino]ethyl-2(3H)-benzothiazolone; adenosine 2a agonists, e.g., 2R,3R,4S,5R)-2-[6-amino-2-(1S-hydroxymethyl-2-phenyl-ethylamino)-purin-9-yl]-5-(2-ethyl-2H-tetrazol-5-yl)-tetrahydrofuran-3,4-diol (e.g., as the maleate salt); α4 integrin inhibitors, e.g., (2S)-3-[4-({[4-(aminocarbonyl)-1 -piperidinyl]carbonyl}oxy)phenyl]-2-[((2S-)-4-methyl-2-{[2-(2-methylphenoxy)acetyl]amino}pentanoyl)amino]propionic acid (e.g., as the free acid or potassium salt); diuretics such as amiloride; anticholinergics such as ipratropium bromide (e.g., as the bromide), tiotropium bromide, umeclidinium bromide, aclidinium bromide, glycopyrrolate, atropine or oxitropium bromide; hormones such as cortisone, hydrocortisone or prednisolone; xanthines such as aminophylline, theophylline choline, theophylline lysine or theophylline; therapeutic proteins and peptides such as insulin or glucagon; vaccines, diagnostics and gene therapy. It will be clear to those skilled in the art that, where appropriate, the drug may be used in the form of a salt (e.g., as an alkali metal or amine salt or as an acid addition salt) or as an ester (e.g., a lower alkyl ester) or solvate (e.g., a hydrate) to optimize the activity and / or stability of the drug.

[0119] In some embodiments, the drug can be a monotherapy (e.g., containing a single active drug) product, or it can be a combination therapy (e.g., containing multiple active drugs) product. In certain aspects, the drug carrier can contain a single active drug dosage portion or multiple active drug dosage portions (i.e., two or more APIs). Suitable drugs or drug components of combination therapy products are generally selected from the group consisting of anti-inflammatory agents (e.g., corticosteroids, particularly inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) or NSAIDs), anticholinergic agents (e.g., M 1 、M 2 、M 1 / M 2 or M 3 receptor antagonists, particularly long-acting muscarinic antagonists (LAMAs), other 2 -Adrenergic receptor agonists, especially long-acting beta 2 -agonists (LABAs), anti-infectives (e.g., antibiotics or antivirals), and antihistamines. All suitable combinations are contemplated. In some embodiments, the present invention also provides combination therapy products, such as dual or triple LAMA, LABA, and / or ICS combinations.

[0120] According to certain aspects, suitable anti-inflammatory agents include corticosteroids and NSAIDs. Suitable corticosteroids are those oral and inhaled corticosteroids and their prodrugs with anti-inflammatory activity. Examples of such agents include, but are not limited to, methylprednisolone, prednisolone, dexamethasone, fluticasone propionate, fluticasone furoate, 6α,9α-difluoro-17α-[(2-furancarbonyl)oxy]-11β-hydroxy-16α-methyl-3-oxo-androsta-1,4-diene-17β-thiocarboxylic acid S-fluoromethyl ester, 6α,9α-difluoro-11β-hydroxy-16α-methyl-3-oxo ester, beclomethasone esters (e.g., 17-propionate or 17,21-dipropionate), budesonide, flunisolide, mometasone esters (e.g., furoate), triamcinolone acetonide, roflenone acetonide, ciclesonide, buticotin propionate, RPR-106541, and ST-126. In some aspects, preferred corticosteroids include: fluticasone propionate, fluticasone furoate 6α,9α-difluoro-11β-hydroxy-16α-methyl-17α-[(-4-methyl-1,3-thiazole-5-carbonyl)oxy]-3-oxo-androsta-1,4-diene-17β-carbothioic acid S-fluoromethyl ester and 6α,9α-difluoro-17α-[(2-furancarbonyl)oxy]-11β-hydroxy-16α-methyl-3-oxo-androsta-1,4-diene-17β-carbothioic acid S-fluoromethyl ester, more preferably 6α,9α-difluoro-17α-[(2-furancarbonyl)oxy]-11β-hydroxy-16α-methyl-3-oxo-androsta-1,4-diene-17β-carbothioic acid S-fluoromethyl ester.

[0121] According to some embodiments, suitable NSAIDs include: cromoglycans (e.g., cromoglycate sodium, nedocromil sodium), phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors (e.g., theophylline, PDE4 inhibitors or mixed PDE3 / PDE4 inhibitors), leukotriene antagonists, leukotriene synthesis inhibitors, iNOS inhibitors, tryptase and elastase inhibitors, β2 integrin antagonists and adenosine receptor agonists or antagonists (e.g., adenosine 2a agonists), cytokine antagonists (e.g., chemokine antagonists) or cytokine synthesis inhibitors. Other suitable β 2 -Adrenergic receptor agonists include: salmeterol (e.g., as the xinafoate salt), salbutamol (e.g., as the sulfate salt or free base), formoterol (e.g., as the fumarate salt), vilanterol (e.g., as the trefenamate salt), indacaterol (e.g., as the maleate salt), fenoterol or terbutaline and their salts.

[0122] In some aspects, suitable phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitors include compounds known to inhibit the PDE4 enzyme or discovered to act as PDE4 inhibitors, which are only PDE4 inhibitors, rather than compounds that inhibit other members of the PDE family as well as PDE4. According to certain aspects, it may be preferred to use compounds having an IC of about 0.1 or greater. 50 ratio of PDE4 inhibitors, the IC 50 The ratio is the IC of the PDE4 catalytic form that binds rolipram with high affinity 50 divided by the IC of the form that binds rolipram with low affinity 50 For the purposes of this disclosure, the cAMP catalytic site that binds R and S rolipram with low affinity is designated as the "low affinity" binding site (LPDE 4), and another version of this catalytic site that binds rolipram with high affinity is designated as the "high affinity" binding site (HPDE 4). The term "HPDE4" should not be confused with the term "hPDE4" used to refer to human PDE4.

[0123] To determine IC 50 The method of the ratio is described in US Pat. No. 5,998,428, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety as if set forth herein. See also PCT Application WO 00 / 51599 for another description of the assay.

[0124] In some embodiments, suitable PDE4 inhibitors include those compounds that have a beneficial therapeutic ratio, for example, compounds that preferentially inhibit the catalytic activity of cAMP, where the enzyme is in a form that binds rolipram with low affinity, thereby reducing side effects, which is obviously related to inhibiting the form that binds rolipram with high affinity. Another way to express this is that in some aspects, preferred compounds will have an IC of about 0.1 or greater. 50 ratio, the IC 50 The ratio is the IC of the PDE4 catalytic form that binds rolipram with high affinity 50 divided by the IC of the form that binds rolipram with low affinity 50 .

[0125] A further refinement of this criterion is one in which the PDE4 inhibitor has an IC50 ratio of about 0.1 or greater; said ratio being equal to [ 3 IC of H]R-rolipram for competition with the PDE4 form that binds rolipram with high affinity 50 The values ​​were similar to those of inhibition using 1 μM [ 3 IC of PDE4 catalytic activity in a form that binds rolipram with low affinity using [H]-cAMP as substrate 50 The ratio of values.

[0126] In some embodiments, a suitable agent is IC 50 The preferred compounds are cis-4-cyano-4-(3-cyclopentyloxy-4-methoxyphenyl)cyclohexane-1-carboxylic acid, 2-methoxycarbonyl-4-cyano-4-(3-cyclopropylmethoxy-4-difluoromethoxyphenyl)cyclohexane-1-one and cis-[4-cyano-4-(3-cyclopropylmethoxy-4-difluoromethoxyphenyl)cyclohexane-1-ol]; these are compounds that preferentially bind to the low affinity binding site and have an IC 50 Examples of compounds having a ratio of 0.1 or more.

[0127] According to certain embodiments, other suitable drug compounds include: cis-4-cyano-4-[3-(cyclopentyloxy)-4-methoxyphenyl]cyclohexane-1-carboxylic acid (also known as cilomalast) disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,552,438 and its salts, esters, prodrugs or physical forms; AWD-12-281 from elbion (Hofgen, N. et al. 15th EFMC Int SympMed Chem (Sep. 6-10, Edinburgh) 1998, Abst P. 98; CAS Reference No. 247584020-9); 9-benzyladenine derivatives designated as NCS-613 (INSERM); D-4418 from Chiroscience and Schering-Plough; benzodiazepine PDE4 inhibitors designated as CI-1018 (PD-168787), belonging to Pfizer; Kyowa Benzodiocene derivatives disclosed by Hakko in WO99 / 16766; K-34 of Kyowa Hakko; V-11294A of Napp (Landells, LJ et al. Eur Resp J [Annu Cong Eur Resp Soc (Sep. 19-23, Geneva) 1998] 1998, 12 (Suppl. 28): Abst P2393); Roflumilast (CAS reference number 162401-32-3) and pthalazinone from Byk-Gulden (WO99 / 47505, which is incorporated herein by reference); Pumafentrine, (-)-p-

[0128] [(4aR*,10bS*)-9-ethoxy-1,2,3,4,4a,10b-hexahydro-methoxy-8-methoxy-2-methylbenzo[c][1,6]naphthyridin-6-yl]-N,N-diisopropylbenzamide, a mixed PDE3 / PDE4 inhibitor prepared and released by Byk-Gulden (New Albany); arofylline being developed by Almirall-Prodesfarma; VM554 / UM565 from Vernalis; or T-440 (Tanabe Seiyaku; Fuji, K. et al. J Pharmacol Exp Ther, 1998, 284(1):162), and T2585.

[0129] According to certain embodiments, suitable anticholinergic agents are those compounds that act as muscarinic receptor antagonists, particularly those compounds that act as M1 and M2 receptor antagonists. Exemplary compounds include, but are not limited to, alkaloids of the belladonna plant, such as atropine, scopolamine, homatropine, hyoscyamine; these compounds are usually administered in the form of salts (i.e., tertiary amines).

[0130] In some aspects, particularly suitable anticholinergics can include ipratropium bromide (e.g., as the bromide) (sold under the name Atrovent), umeclidinium bromide (e.g., as the bromide), aclidinium bromide (e.g., as the bromide), glycopyrrolate (e.g., as the bromide), oxitropium bromide (e.g., as the bromide), and tiotropium bromide (e.g., as the bromide) (CAS-139404-48-1). Also of interest in some embodiments are bromophenoxine (CAS-53-46-3), propantheline bromide (CAS-50-34-9), methyloctyl bromide or Valpin 50 (CAS-80-50-2), clarithromycin (Quarzan, CAS-3485-62-9), copyrrolate (Robinul), isoprenaline iodide (CAS-71-81-8), mepentyl bromide (U.S. Pat. No. 2,918,408), tridihexethyl chloride (Pathilone, CAS-4310-35-4), and hexocycliummethylsulfate (Tral, CAS-115-63-9). See also cyclopentolate hydrochloride (CAS-5870-29-1), tropicamide (CAS-1508-75-4), trihexyphenidyl hydrochloride (CAS-144-11-6), pirenzepine (CAS-29868-97-1), telenzepine (CAS-80880-90-9), AF-DX 116 or methotriamine, and the compounds disclosed in WO01 / 04118.

[0131] According to some aspects, suitable antihistamines (also known as H 1 -receptor antagonists) include those known to inhibit H 1-receptor and is safe for human use. All of these agents can be reversible competitive inhibitors of the interaction of histamine with the H1-receptor. Examples of such agents include ethanolamine, ethylenediamine and alkylamines. In addition, other first-generation antihistamines include those that can be described as piperazine- and phenothiazine-based antihistamines. Non-sedating second-generation antagonists have similar structure-activity relationships because they retain the core vinyl (alkylamine) or mimic tertiary amine groups with piperazine or piperidine. Exemplary antagonists are as follows but are not limited to: ethanolamines: carbinoxamine maleate, clemastine fumarate, diphenhydramine hydrochloride and dimenhydrinate. Ethylenediamines: pyrilamine maleate, tripelennamine HCI and tripelennamine citrate. Alkylamines: chlorpheniramine and its salts (such as maleate) and acrivastine. Piperazines: Hydroxyzine HCl, bishydroxynaphthoic acid hydroxyzine, cyclizine HCl, cyclizine lactate, meclizine HCl, and cetirizine HCl. Piperidines: Astemizole, Levocabastine HCl, loratadine or its decarboxylated ethoxy analog, and terfenadine and fexofenadine hydrochloride or another pharmaceutically acceptable salt.

[0132] Azelastine hydrochloride is another H-type inhibitor that can be used in combination with PDE4 inhibitors. 1 Receptor antagonists. In certain aspects, particularly suitable antihistamines include methapyrline and loratadine. For combination products, co-formulation compatibility is generally determined on an experimental basis by known methods and may depend on the type of action of the selected drug dispenser.

[0133] According to certain embodiments, the drug component of the combination product administered by the dispenser described herein is suitably selected from the group consisting of: an anti-inflammatory agent (e.g., a corticosteroid or NSAID), an anticholinergic agent (e.g., an M 1 、M 2 、M 1 / M 2 or M 3 receptor antagonists), other β 2 - adrenergic receptor agonists, anti-infective agents (such as antibiotics or antivirals) and antihistamines. All suitable combinations are contemplated.

[0134] In certain aspects, the co-formulation compatible components include β 2 -Adrenergic receptor agonists and corticosteroids; and incompatible components of the co-formulation include PDE-4 inhibitors, anticholinergics or mixtures thereof. 2-Adrenergic receptor agonists may for example be salbutamol (e.g. as free base or sulfate) or salmeterol (e.g. as xinafoate) or formoterol (e.g. as fumarate). Corticosteroids may for example be beclomethasone ester (e.g. dipropionate) or fluticasone ester (e.g. propionate) or budesonide.

[0135] In one example, the compatible components of the co-formulation include fluticasone propionate and salmeterol, or salts thereof (particularly xinafoate), and the incompatible components of the co-formulation include a PDE-4 inhibitor, an anticholinergic (eg, ipratropium bromide or tiotropium bromide) or a mixture thereof.

[0136] In another example, the co-formulation compatible components include budesonide and formoterol (eg, as fumarate salts), and the co-formulation incompatible components include a PDE-4 inhibitor, an anticholinergic (eg, ipratropium bromide or tiotropium bromide), or a mixture thereof.

[0137] As disclosed herein, the drug dispenser has a variety of structural configurations and can be used to dispense powders, tablets, capsules, pills or pucks, or mixtures thereof, for nasal, pulmonary or oral administration. In particular, the drug dispenser can be used to dispense a powder comprising one or more active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) and optionally one or more micronized or non-micronized pharmaceutically acceptable carriers (one or more) and / or excipients (one or more), wherein the dispensing mechanism includes three steps of operating the drug dispenser: opening, dispensing and closing. The mechanism is described in more detail elsewhere herein.

[0138] Typically, powdered drug particles suitable for delivery to the bronchial or alveolar regions of the lungs have an aerodynamic diameter of less than about 10 microns, preferably less than about 6 microns (e.g., about 0.5-10 microns, about 0.5-6 microns, about 0.5-5 microns, about 0.5-3 microns, about 1-10 microns, about 1-6 microns, or about 1-5 microns). If delivery to other parts of the respiratory tract is desired, such as the nasal cavity, oral cavity, or throat, particles of other sizes may be used. In some aspects, the drug administered by the dispenser of the present invention may be delivered as a pure drug, but in some aspects, it may be more appropriate or preferred that the drug be delivered together with one or more excipients or carriers suitable for inhalation. Suitable excipients or carriers include organic excipients such as polysaccharides (e.g., starch, cellulose, etc.), lactose, trehalose, leucine, trileucine, valeric acid and other polyleucines, glucose, mannitol, amino acids, magnesium stearate and maltodextrin, surfactants (e.g., 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DSPC), 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (DSPE)), perfluorocarbons such as perfluorooctane (perfluorooctyl bromide); and inorganic excipients such as calcium carbonate, calcium chloride, magnesium chloride or sodium chloride. In a specific embodiment, the carrier or excipient is lactose.

[0139] Particles of powdered drugs and / or excipients can be produced by conventional techniques, such as by micronization, grinding or sieving. In addition, drug and / or excipient powders can be designed to have a specific density, size range or characteristics. The particles can contain active agents, surfactants, wall-forming materials or other components that the skilled person deems necessary.

[0140] In some aspects, it can be combined with any other aspect, embodiment or combination of aspects and / or embodiments, and any one or more drug carriers (e.g., one or more elongated drug carriers) to be used with the drug dispenser can be in the form of a blister strip (blister pack), or in a laminated form (e.g., a laminated strip). In some aspects, the carrier can be an elongated carrier to which the drug has been applied or inserted by any suitable process (e.g., printing, painting or vacuum occlusion) to provide discrete doses of the drug. In some aspects, it can be combined with any other aspect, embodiment or combination of aspects and / or embodiments, and if multiple drug carriers are contained in the drug dispenser, all drug carriers have substantially the same design. According to alternative embodiments, when multiple drug carriers are present in the drug dispenser, any one drug carrier can include a design different from any one or more other drug carriers present in the dispenser. In certain aspects, which may be combined with any other aspect, embodiment, or combination of aspects and / or embodiments, any single drug carrier may include multiple different dose storage areas, such as points, bubble pockets, or recessed pockets, or cavities (e.g., blister pockets) within an elongated form (e.g., a strip), wherein each of the different dose storage areas (e.g., each of the multiple blister pockets) includes a drug dose. In certain aspects, when there are multiple drug carriers, for example, if such multiple drug carriers are different in design, the drug dispenser may be able to advance each drug dispenser simultaneously, regardless of their design, for example, multiple drug carrier engagement mechanisms may advance multiple drug carriers so that they move simultaneously or at least substantially simultaneously. In certain other aspects, when there are multiple drug carriers, if such multiple drug carriers are different in design, the drug dispenser may be able to advance each drug carrier in sequence, regardless of their design, for example, multiple drug carrier engagement mechanisms may advance multiple drug carriers one at a time, such that in operation, there is no substantial overlap or no detectable overlap in the movement of any two or more drug carriers. In certain aspects, when a plurality of drug carriers of different designs are processed by the drug dispenser, the drug dispenser is capable of making a drug dose from each such drug carrier available substantially simultaneously. In certain aspects, when processing a plurality of drug carriers of different designs, the drug dispenser is capable of making a drug dose from each drug carrier present available in sequence, making a dose from one drug carrier available before another dose from another drug carrier. In certain embodiments, whether the drug doses from the plurality of carriers are available substantially simultaneously or sequentially, the doses are available for use in the operation of the drug dispenser in a single administration (i.e., by a single inhalation by the user) to be provided to the patient.

[0141] In certain embodiments, the elongated drug carrier can be a blister pack of any suitable length and can include any suitable number of drug blister pockets. In certain aspects, which can be combined with any other aspect, embodiment, or combination of aspects and embodiments described herein, can be a blister strip comprising at least about 7 blister pockets, such as at least about 10 blister pockets or at least about 14 blister pockets, each blister pocket containing a different drug dose (in this context, "different" means separate, but not necessarily distinct, as each pocket can contain the same dose of the same drug or can contain a dose that is different from the contents of other blister pockets and / or a different drug). For example, in certain embodiments, each drug carrier may include at least about 10 bags, at least about 20 bags, at least about 30 bags, at least about 40 bags, at least about 50 bags, at least about 60 bags, at least about 70 bags, at least about 80 bags, at least about 90 bags, or at least about 100 bags, such as at least about 110 bags, at least about 120 bags, at least about 130 bags, at least about 140 bags, at least about 150 bags, at least about 160 bags, at least about 170 bags, at least about 180 bags, at least about 190 bags, or at least about 200 bags. 90 bags, at least about 200 bags, at least about 220 bags, or at least about 240 bags (e.g., about 10 to 200 bags, about 10 to 120 bags, about 20 to 120 bags, about 30 to 120 bags, about 40 to 120 bags, about 50 to 150 bags, or about 40 to 160 bags), such that, for example, the drug dispenser can dispense daily administration of one or more drugs over a period of about one week, about one month, about two months, about three months, about four months, about five months, about six months, or even longer.

[0142] In some aspects, which may be combined with any other aspect, embodiment, or combination of aspects and / or embodiments, each pocket, cavity, or other dose storage area (e.g., each blister pocket) containing a single dose of medication can be made accessible to the medication dispenser by appropriate positioning within the dispenser. According to certain aspects, the medication doses within the dispenser may not be available for dispensing unless they are properly located within the dispenser device ("device"). In some aspects, which may be combined with any other aspect, embodiment, or combination of aspects and / or embodiments, access to medication contained within, for example, a blister pocket of a medication carrier is achieved by any suitable access means, including, for example, piercing or perforating, tearing, or peeling off the blister pocket by a component of the medication dispenser. In one aspect, which may be combined with any other aspect, embodiment, or combination of aspects and / or embodiments, the medication carrier may be in the form of a peelable blister strip. In this aspect, the peelable blister strip may comprise a) a base sheet in which blisters are formed to define pockets therein for containing different drug dosage portions and b) a cover sheet or laminate sheet which, except for the blister area, is hermetically sealed to the base sheet in such a manner that the cover sheet and base sheet are separable, e.g., by peeling.

[0143] In certain embodiments, which may be combined with any other aspect, embodiment, or combination of aspects and / or embodiments, one end of the cover sheet may be in a form that facilitates connecting the end of the cover sheet to a component of a medicament dispenser that will allow the cover sheet to be collected, for example by winding into a roll, when the cover sheet is peeled from the substrate when sequential doses are administered. In some aspects, which may be combined with any other aspect, embodiment, or combination of aspects and / or embodiments, the end of the cover sheet may be in the form of a portion of the cover sheet that is not attached to the substrate and may include a notch, a retaining element (e.g., a cut-out "keyhole" type portion into which a second element may be inserted to connect to the strip) or, for example, a sealing ring at its end that is capable of connecting or contacting a component of a medicament dispenser (e.g., a cover connecting element, such as a post, of a waste collector). In some aspects, which may be combined with any other aspect, embodiment, or combination of aspects and / or embodiments, the cover sheet includes a sealing ring that can be connected to a component within the waste collector (e.g., a winding assembly to be described elsewhere herein) to facilitate applying tension to the cover sheet, winding the cover sheet after removal from the substrate, or applying tension and winding.

[0144] In some aspects, which may be combined with any other aspect, embodiment, or combination of aspects and embodiments described herein, the cover sheet may be peeled off within the medication dispenser by a constant tension torque applied by a component of a waste collector (e.g., a winding assembly as described elsewhere herein). In such aspects, the cover sheet may be wrapped around a component of the waste collector, such as a component of the winding assembly. In some aspects, which may be combined with any other aspect, embodiment, or combination of aspects and / or embodiments, one end of the substrate may be configured to facilitate connection or contact of an end of the substrate to a medication dispenser component, which allows or facilitates advancement of the substrate during sequential dose administration. In some aspects, which may be combined with any other aspect, embodiment, or combination of aspects and / or embodiments, the substrate may be placed in contact with a wrapping wheel of the medication dispenser. In other aspects, the wrapping wheel may include a slit, and the substrate may be placed in the slit so that the substrate is advanced by the wrapping wheel.

[0145] Each dosage / medicine compartment (for example, the blister bag of the drug carrier) on or in the elongated drug carrier may include or form one or more compartments separated. In certain embodiments, it may be combined with any other aspect, embodiment or combination of aspect and / or embodiment, and the single compartment (for example blister bag) of the drug carrier may be divided into two, three, four or more compartments, for example five compartments, six compartments, seven compartments or eight compartments. In such aspect, the compartment may be formed by the partition wall of the segmented blister bag. The blister bag comprising one or more compartments may be covered by any suitable cover sheet. This design may be helpful in the case where a plurality of drugs are applied together, and these drugs are not prepared in a single composition. For example, a single composition may not be easily available, or for example, one or more drugs may have compatibility problems with one or more other drugs, so it may be preferred to keep two or more drugs separated from each other until drug administration.

[0146] In some aspects, the blister bag of elongated form may include a medicine comprising one or more active pharmaceutical ingredients. For example, the blister bag may include a medicine comprising a single active pharmaceutical ingredient. In other examples, the blister bag may include a medicine comprising two, three, four or more active pharmaceutical ingredients. For example, the blister bag may include a medicine comprising two or three active pharmaceutical ingredients. In some aspects, it may be combined with any other aspect, embodiment or combination of aspects and embodiments described herein, and each blister bag may include the same active ingredient as each other blister bag in the same strip and drug carrier (elongated form). In alternative aspects, the active ingredient may change between the blister bags of the same strip or between the drug carriers.

[0147] A plurality of elongated forms of drug carriers can be provided in any suitable configuration. A suitable configuration of the dispensing device and the dispensing method described herein is a "side-by-side" configuration, wherein, for example, two carriers (e.g., two wound blister strips) are arranged to be laterally aligned with each other. Another suitable configuration is a "double-layer" or "overlapping" configuration, wherein, for example, two carriers (e.g., two wound blister strips sharing the same winding axis) are arranged one above the other in the dispenser. A plurality of drug carriers may be a first drug carrier and a second drug carrier, and a third, fourth or more drug carriers in some aspects. In a common embodiment, a plurality of drug carriers may be a first drug carrier and a second drug carrier. In certain embodiments, it may be combined with any other aspect, embodiment, or combination of aspect and embodiment described herein, and a plurality of drug carriers may be separated by one or more layer separators. The layer separator may be used to allow independent movement of each of the plurality of drug carriers, without contact between the drug carriers and without friction due to mutual contact between the drug carriers. The bag of each carrier may contain the same or different drug powders, and the amount (dose portion) in each bag may be the same or different. In some aspects, the same drug powder is contained in each bag of a single carrier, wherein the amount (dose portion) of the drug is the same as other bags in the same carrier. In some embodiments, it can be combined with any other aspects, embodiments or combinations of aspects or embodiments described herein, and a carrier in a plurality of carriers will have at least one active ingredient different from another carrier in its drug powder. Therefore, in use, the patient can inhale a dose portion from each carrier at the same time, and each carrier delivers different active ingredients. In some embodiments, the drug dose portion that can be released from each of a plurality of drug carriers is not combined or mixed in a dispenser. In some aspects, the drug dose portion that can be released from each of a plurality of drug carriers is combined or mixed when the user inhales instead of before. According to some embodiments, the drug dose portion from each of a plurality of drug carriers is inhaled as a combination product. In some aspects, the drug dose portion from each of a plurality of drug carriers is mixed in a dispenser and leaves the dispenser as a single airflow.

[0148] A plurality of different drug dosage portions can be provided to each carrier in a uniform series. According to certain aspects, the interval between each dose storage area of ​​any single drug carrier is substantially the same. In alternative aspects, in a single drug carrier, the interval between at least two dose storage areas is different from the interval or spacing between at least two other dose storage areas. In certain aspects, the interval between any at least two dose storage areas of a first drug carrier is different from the interval between any at least two dose storage areas of a second drug carrier. In particular, the interval (i.e., spacing) between each dose portion can be uniform throughout the series. However, in other aspects, the interval (i.e., spacing) can vary (i.e., uneven) throughout the series. In one aspect, the interval (i.e., spacing) between each dose portion is equal for each carrier of the dispenser. That is, each drug carrier spacing in this embodiment is equal. In other aspects, the interval between each dose portion is unequal for each carrier of the dispenser. This variation in the interval (i.e., spacing) of each carrier can be used to achieve the flexibility of (combination) dosage mode. In a specific example, the interval (i.e., spacing) of the first carrier is arranged to be half of the interval of the second carrier. This arrangement is advantageously employed when the dosing interval (ie, time between doses) of the drug carried by the first carrier is twice the dosing interval of the drug carried by the second carrier (eg, a twice daily / once daily type dosing regimen).

[0149] The medicament dispenser may include a housing, a medicament access body, and a cover for the medicament access body.

[0150] The shell may include a base cover and a top cover for surrounding the drug carrier, a component of an inner housing assembly, a substrate and a dispensing mechanism. The top cover may be permanently locked with the base cover by a permanent bonding method, including but not limited to ultrasonic welding and ultraviolet curing adhesives, etc. Alternatively, the base cover and the top cover may be able to be separated, for example, simply by snapping or by a locking mechanism, so that they can be opened / separated by a trained doctor or practitioner to facilitate, for example, the refilling of a drug dispenser. According to certain embodiments, the shell may provide a mechanism for entering the inside of the dispenser to a user or a trained professional (e.g., a healthcare provider), so that one or more consumed drug carriers can be removed and one or more complete drug carriers can be replaced therein, making the dispenser reusable. This internal passage through the mechanism incorporated into the shell may be any suitable passage, such as a compartment cover through a hinged mouth or a sliding, each having a buckle, a clip or other closure element to keep closed when not in use, a pressure-sensitive (push) clip / buckle door, a channel cover connected using screws, or any such similar or equivalent channel mechanism commonly used to provide a channel to the inside of a device including a shell, such as a channel mechanism to a battery storage device in an electronic instrument.

[0151] Shell can define the shape of medicine dispenser.Shell can be used for surrounding the parts of dispenser.In some aspects, shell can surround the parts of dispenser, and the shape of dispenser can be limited to circular, non-circular, squarish, elongated, elliptical, oval, rectangular, triangular, quadrilateral, pentagonal, hexagonal, including but not limited to square, rectangular and various trapezoidal, hourglass or other shapes.Shell can include flat surface or shelf surface.At least a portion of shell can be shaped so that user's grip, for example include curve and element designed to adapt to people's hand, for example, for making one or more fingers of user at least partially embedded depression, can be comfortably fitted in the area of ​​palm, it can contribute to the ease and comfort of holding device firmly and the ability of dispensing or actuating device easily and comfortably when holding device with for example one hand.

[0152] The medicine dispenser of the present invention may have a component that allows a user to receive one or more medicine doses contained therein. The element may be referred to as a "medicine taking body" in this article. The term "medicine taking body" is used to describe an element comprising an opening through which a patient can inhale a medicine dose portion. In some aspects, the shape of the medicine taking body is such that it promotes efficient cooperation with the nose or mouth of a human user, such as docking, matching, inserting or combining. According to certain embodiments, the medicine taking body can promote inhalation through the nose, such as by incorporating one or more extension nozzles, etc. In one aspect, the medicine taking body can promote inhalation by oral means (e.g., through the mouth). According to one embodiment, it can be combined with any other aspect, embodiment, or combination of aspects or embodiments described herein, and the medicine taking body is a mouth. In this embodiment, the user can place the opening of the medicine taking body (i.e., mouth) in their mouth or on their lips. The opening of the mouth can be aligned and communicated with the opening of the guide. When the patient inhales through the mouth opening, air can enter the guide member of the dispenser with the drug dose portion through the inlet vent and exit the guide member opening through the outlet compartment or outlet channel and enter the user's oral cavity. The design features of the guide member, the inlet vent and the airflow path are described in more detail elsewhere herein. The term "mouth" is generally used in this disclosure, but it should be clear that the drug access body is not limited to the mouth.

[0153] The medicine taking body (for example, mouth) can be designed to snap, clamp or otherwise be fixed on the shell and / or the guide opening of the medicine dispenser. The medicine taking body can be in the form of an extended mouth, to assist the de-aggregation of medicine and to be easy to deliver in the oral cavity. For example, in some aspects, the medicine taking body can include an extended form or can be incorporated with additional components, such as screens, vents, etc., to provide the desired airflow, so that during suction, the powdered medicine sucked from the dose storage area (for example, blister pack) of the drug carrier in the dispenser is effectively distributed in the airflow, and the powder that may be gathered in the dose storage area (for example, blister pack) can be separated for suction. In some aspects, there is no additional vent in the medicine taking body, and the only entry point for entering the dispenser for the important source of external air is the inlet vent of the dispenser passed through when the user sucks, as will be further described elsewhere herein.

[0154] Many or all parts of shell and / or medicine taking body and the dispenser contained in shell can be made of any suitable material, and many such materials are known in the art.In some respects, the common material for forming shell and / or medicine taking body can be plastic material, which is for example formed by common molding technology (such as but not limited to injection molding).In some respects, it may be appropriate or preferred to have parts (such as, another part of dispensing mechanism) made of metal in shell.For example, in one embodiment of the invention, the spring part of the element used as thruster can be advantageously made of metal, such as but not limited to stainless steel.In some respects, the parts of dispenser are usually made of plastic.In some respects, the material that can be used for shell or any parts contained therein can include but is not limited to acetyl (polyoxymethylene (POM)). In some aspects, the housing, mouthpiece, and / or one or more other components of the device include, consist essentially of, consist essentially only of, or consist only of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polycarbonate (PC), polycarbonate / acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene terpolymer blend (PC / ABS), polypropylene (PP), polyoxymethylene (POM), nylon, metal, and silicone rubber. Such materials, while advantageous in certain circumstances, are exemplary, and those skilled in the art will appreciate that many such alternative materials may be appropriately incorporated into components of the device.

[0155] According to an embodiment, the shell may include an inner housing component. The inner housing component may be formed of the same material as the shell, the drug receiving body, or both the shell and the drug receiving body, or it may be formed of a different material than both the shell and the drug receiving body.

[0156] In some aspects, the inner containment component may be incorporated with features for positioning or helping to place one or more drug carriers and one or more components of the dispensing mechanism. The inner containment component may be placed in the base cover by a permanent bonding method, for example, in some aspects, including but not limited to ultrasonic welding and ultraviolet curing adhesives, etc. In some aspects, it can be combined with any other aspects, embodiments, or combinations of aspects and embodiments described herein, and the inner containment component may include a compartment for receiving (one or more) drug carriers and (one or more) unused portions of the substrate. In some embodiments, one or more of a plurality of such compartments may be separated by a wall. According to some embodiments, the inner containment component may include an opening for locating a component of the dispensing mechanism to fix its position. Such an opening may be any appropriate size, shape, or direction that can facilitate the necessary interaction of the dispensing mechanism components required for the successful operation of the dispenser, such as a circular, square, or other shaped hole or cutout, slit, slot, etc. In some aspects, it can be combined with any other aspects, embodiments, or combinations of aspects and embodiments described herein, and the inner containment component may also include a space for locating a flow guide. In some embodiments, the space for locating the flow guide is in the shape of a "V" or a notch. As will be described elsewhere, a flow guide of this shape can provide a favorable airflow pattern for administering inhaled powdered medicament from a dispensing device.

[0157] In some aspects, which may be combined with any other aspect, embodiment, or combination of aspects and embodiments described herein, the lower portion of the inner housing assembly may position the driver, intermediate driver, intermediate gear, secondary intermediate gear, and tertiary intermediate gear on a positioning element, such as a post or stud. These elements are described elsewhere herein. In some aspects, the studs of the inner housing assembly help to maintain the optimal positioning of various components of the dispenser, such as various components having a gear mechanism (e.g., through which one component is movably engaged with a second component or two or more additional components). In some embodiments, the inner housing assembly may include: a first compartment, in which a drug carrier containing a dose portion is initially positioned and dispensed from the first compartment; and a second compartment for receiving a used portion of the substrate after the substrate is advanced and separated from the cover sheet. In some aspects, the inner housing assembly may include another compartment, in which a second drug carrier among a plurality of drug carriers containing a dose portion is initially positioned, and the drug is dispensed from the other compartment. In certain aspects, the inner containment assembly may include another compartment in which each of the plurality of drug carriers containing the dosage portion is initially positioned and from which the drug is dispensed. In some embodiments, the inner containment assembly may include a compartment for receiving a used portion of the substrate from a second drug carrier when present in the dispenser. In some embodiments, the inner containment assembly may include a separate compartment for receiving a used portion of the substrate from each of the plurality of drug carriers when present in the dispenser. According to alternative embodiments, the inner containment assembly may include a single common compartment for receiving used portions of the substrate from all drug carriers present in the dispenser.

[0158] In certain embodiments, the shell may also include a substrate for accommodating a dose indicator and covering the drug carrier on the inner housing assembly. The substrate may be made of any suitable material. In certain aspects, it may be combined with any other aspect, embodiment, or any combination of aspects or embodiments described herein, and the substrate may include a pin for locating a drug taking body cover (e.g., a mouth cover), and an opening for locating a wrapping wheel and a propeller. As further described in the detailed description of the accompanying drawings provided herein, such a pin may be used as, for example, a connection and rotation point for a drug taking body cover (e.g., a mouth cover). The function of the wrapping wheel and the propeller is also further described herein.

[0159] According to certain embodiments, which may be combined with any other aspect, embodiment, or combination of aspects or embodiments described herein, the housing may further include a dispensing mechanism for dispensing the drug from the dispenser. In one aspect, some or all of the components are typically shared between multiple drug carriers. In a general aspect, some or all of the components of the dispensing mechanism are different for each of the multiple drug carriers retained within the device.

[0160] The distribution mechanism may include a driver, a carrier engaging member, a propeller, a first waste collector for collecting the first waste stream, a second waste collector for collecting the second waste stream, and a flow guide. The distribution mechanism may also include an intermediate driver, an intermediate gear, a secondary intermediate gear, and a tertiary intermediate gear.

[0161] A driver may be provided to drive actuation of the dispensing mechanism. According to certain embodiments, the driver may cooperate with movement of the cover of the medication access body to actuate the dispensing mechanism, such that the driver is movably engaged with the medication access body cover in a manner such that movement of the medication access body cover may cause movement of the driver. In turn, the driver may be movably engaged with the pusher.

[0162] In some embodiments, the driver can cooperate with the movement of the rod to actuate the dispensing mechanism so that the driver is movably engaged with the rod in a manner such that movement of the rod can cause movement of the driver. In turn, the driver can be movably engaged with the pusher.

[0163] Thus, according to some embodiments, the driver may be or may be referred to as an actuator. The driver may be any mechanism capable of receiving actuation energy and transferring the activation energy to a second or more mechanisms of the dispenser. According to some aspects, the driver may directly drive the propeller. According to some aspects, the driver may indirectly drive the propeller through an intermediate driver.

[0164] According to certain embodiments, it can be combined with any other aspect, embodiment or aspect or embodiment described herein, and the driver can be in the form of a repositionable engagement unit. This repositionable engagement unit can be any unit that can movably engage with one or more other parts of dispenser. In some aspects, the driver can be in the form of a conveyor, rod, switch, wheel, etc. In some aspects, the driver can be in the form of a wheel, including an engagement unit that can engage with the corresponding engagement unit of one or more other parts. In some aspects, these engagement units can be projections or depressions of any shape or size. In some aspects, the engagement unit is a tooth, and the driver is a gear.

[0165] It should be noted here that the multiple components of the dispenser mechanism as described herein may preferably be designed to engage with each other using a gear-like mechanism, which includes teeth described herein, such as teeth commonly exemplified in the art. Such teeth of any such component described herein may include any suitable teeth of any size, shape or design that can mate, communicate, movably engage or otherwise interact with a suitable complementary size or shape. Such teeth may have a square, rectangular, triangular, trapezoidal or polygonal shape or any other such exemplary shape, and may be arranged circumferentially around the element, such as around a gear. In addition, in some aspects, unless otherwise specified, such a gear-like mechanism including teeth may have any number of teeth to facilitate its function, such as about 2 teeth, about 5 teeth, about 10 teeth, about 15 teeth, about 20 teeth, about 40 teeth, about 60 teeth, about 80 teeth, or about 100 teeth, such as about two to about 100 teeth, about 5 to about 80 teeth, about 10 to 60 teeth, or, for example, about 10 to about 40 teeth, such as about 10 to about 30 teeth. In some aspects, the teeth may be evenly distributed around the circumference of the engagement element (e.g., the gear-like element). In some aspects, the teeth may be unevenly distributed. In some aspects, there may be a gap or distance variation between any one tooth and the next tooth. In some aspects, this produces a broken gear. Similarly, in some aspects, the gear may include teeth that are intentionally incapable of engagement with the corresponding engagement element of the device rather than being movably engaged (e.g., other engageable teeth of the same mechanism); wherein another example of a broken gear is provided.

[0166] According to certain embodiments of the present invention, the driver may include a rotating device (e.g., a bearing), a positioning unit (e.g., a shaft) for positioning the driver, an engagement unit (e.g., a tooth capable of movably engaging with another one or more components of the dispensing mechanism), and an element capable of engaging with a medicament access body cover or rod.

[0167] According to certain aspects, which may be combined with any other aspect, embodiment, or combination of aspects or embodiments described herein, the driver of the present invention can be suitably rotated. In some aspects, the driver rotates within a bearing and rotates around a column, tube, or similar shaft. According to certain aspects, the bearing (inside which the driver rotates) enables the driver gear to rotate around a stud that houses the assembly. Such bearings and shafts can facilitate rotation and positioning of the driver.

[0168] According to certain aspects, which can be combined with any other aspect, embodiment or combination of aspects or embodiments described herein, the driver gear of the present invention includes i. a main drive wheel, ii. a spring-loaded ratchet plate, iii. a secondary drive gear and iv. a torsion spring.

[0169] According to certain aspects, which can be combined with any other aspect, embodiment or combination of aspects or embodiments described herein, the drive gear of the present invention includes i. a main drive wheel, ii. a spring-loaded ratchet plate, iii. a secondary drive gear and iv. a torsion spring, wherein the main drive wheel, the spring-loaded ratchet plate, the secondary drive gear and the torsion spring are coaxially arranged.

[0170] According to certain aspects, which can be combined with any other aspect, embodiment or combination of aspects or embodiments described herein, the drive gear of the present invention includes i. a main drive wheel, ii. a spring-loaded ratchet disk, iii. a secondary drive gear and iv. a torsion spring, wherein the main drive wheel is directly or indirectly driven by the drug access body cover.

[0171] According to certain aspects, which can be combined with any other aspect, embodiment or combination of aspects or embodiments described herein, the drive gear of the present invention includes i. a main drive wheel, ii. a spring-loaded ratchet plate, iii. a secondary drive gear and iv. a torsion spring, wherein the main drive wheel is driven directly or indirectly by a rod.

[0172] According to certain aspects, which can be combined with any other aspect, embodiment or combination of aspects or embodiments described herein, the drive gear of the present invention includes i. a main drive wheel, ii. a spring-loaded ratchet plate, iii. a secondary drive gear and iv. a torsion spring, wherein the main drive wheel may optionally include a central ratchet piece, gear teeth and a locking arm, wherein the main drive wheel is driven by an outer cover or rod through the central ratchet piece, and wherein the gear teeth drive the ratchet during each actuation.

[0173] According to certain aspects, which can be combined with any other aspect, embodiment or combination of aspects or embodiments described herein, the drive gear of the present invention includes i. a main drive wheel, ii. a spring-loaded ratchet disk, iii. a secondary drive gear and a torsion spring, wherein the spring-loaded ratchet disk may optionally include a ratchet member, wherein the ratchet member is directly or indirectly engaged with the secondary drive gear.

[0174] According to certain aspects, which can be combined with any other aspects, embodiments or combinations of aspects or embodiments described herein, the drive gear of the present invention includes i. a main drive wheel, ii. a spring-loaded ratchet plate, iii. a secondary drive gear and iv. a torsion spring, wherein the secondary drive gear may include grooves, drive gear teeth and internal gear teeth, wherein the internal gear teeth include teeth arranged circumferentially on the drive body, which are evenly distributed around the circumference of the gear.

[0175] According to certain aspects, which can be combined with any other aspect, embodiment or combination of aspects or embodiments described herein, the drive gear of the present invention includes i. a main drive wheel, ii. a spring-loaded ratchet plate, iii. a secondary drive gear and iv. a torsion spring, wherein the locking arm on the main drive wheel is locked in the groove of the secondary wheel.

[0176] According to certain aspects, which can be combined with any other aspect, embodiment or combination of aspects or embodiments described herein, the driver gear of the present invention includes i. a main drive wheel, ii. a spring-loaded ratchet plate, iii. a secondary drive gear and iv. a torsion spring, wherein the driver gear is engaged with only one carrier engagement member at a time.

[0177] According to certain aspects, which can be combined with any other aspect, embodiment or combination of aspects or embodiments described herein, the driver gear of the present invention includes i. a primary driver wheel, ii. a spring-loaded ratchet disk, iii. a secondary driver gear and iv. a torsion spring, wherein, after all doses in the first carrier are completed, the driver gear teeth directly or indirectly engage with the second carrier to advance the second advancer for the remaining dose.

[0178] According to certain aspects, which may be combined with any other aspect, embodiment, or combination of aspects or embodiments described herein, the driver gear assembly may be capable of rotating only one or more than one carrier during each actuation once the driver gear teeth are directly or indirectly engaged with the second carrier.

[0179] According to certain aspects, which may be combined with any other aspect, embodiment, or combination of aspects or embodiments described herein, the first elongated form of drug carrier may be any elongated form of drug carrier that accommodates multiple discrete doses of drug, and wherein after all doses from one drug carrier are completed, it automatically switches to dispense drug from a second elongated form of drug carrier, and so on.

[0180] According to certain embodiments, the driver can be a gear with an engagement unit (such as a tooth for engaging other parts) of a typical gear. In some aspects, the teeth of the driver can be arranged in an annular manner at or around the circumference of the driver. In one aspect, the driver can include teeth circumferentially arranged on the driver body, which are evenly distributed around the circumference of the gear. In some aspects, the driver can include several such teeth, which are generally less than about 50 teeth, such as less than about 30 teeth, less than about 25 teeth or less, such as less than about 20 teeth, less than about 15 teeth or less than about 10 teeth (e.g., 5 to 50 teeth, 10 to 50 teeth, 10 to 40 teeth or 10 to 30 teeth).

[0181] In certain alternative aspects, which may be combined with any other aspect, embodiment, or combination of aspects or embodiments described herein, the driver may include an engagement unit, such as teeth that are unevenly distributed around the driver. In certain aspects, such an engagement unit may be a group of two or more teeth, each group of teeth being arranged radially opposite to each other around the circumference of the driver. In another aspect, the driver may include a single tooth, each tooth being arranged on radially opposite sides of the circumference of the driver. In some aspects, the driver is a broken gear, and a broken gear is a gear that is movably engaged, wherein the gear includes a circumferential area of ​​the gear with engageable teeth, and also includes a circumferential area of ​​the gear without teeth or with non-engageable teeth. Therefore, in certain aspects of the present invention, it is possible to position the driver so that it can engage with one or more other components of the dispenser; however, it is also possible to position the driver so that no engageable element of the driver is available, so that that area of ​​the driver cannot engage with another component of the dispenser. Such engagement and disengagement of the drive can occur simultaneously, such that the drive can be movably engaged with another one or more components of the dispenser via an engageable unit present on the drive in one area of ​​the circumference of the drive, while being unable to engage with another one or more components of an adjacent gear due to the lack of an engagement unit (e.g., teeth on a drive gear adjacent to such a component in a circumferential area of ​​the drive).

[0182] According to some aspects of the present invention, the driver is a crippled driver gear, so that each movable engagement between the separate parts that is not the driver and the dispenser must cause the movement of both the driver and the parts engaged therewith. In some aspects, what intermittently engages with the crippled gear movably is a propeller. In some aspects, the design of the crippled gear makes it allow the idling motion of the driver before engaging any other parts. In certain embodiments, the design of the crippled gear makes it allow the idling motion of the driver before engaging with any other parts, and further allows the sequential engagement of a plurality of other parts. That is, according to some embodiments, the driver is a crippled gear, which can first experience idling motion, then engage with a first part, and when completing the engagement with the first part, if then engage with a second part, then the movement of the first part engaged with the driver can be basically completed before the movement of the second part begins.

[0183] The driver may be arranged to rotate about a first axis of rotation. In one aspect, the dispenser may provide a unique driver for each drug carrier present in the dispenser. In a general aspect, which may be combined with any other aspect, embodiment, or combination of aspects or embodiments described herein, a single driver is common to each of the drug carriers present in the dispenser; that is, the movement of all drug carriers present in the dispenser is driven by the movement of a single driver. This kinetic energy from the driver may be received directly or indirectly by each drug carrier.

[0184] In some aspects, the driver engages with the cover of the medicine taking body so that the driver can be driven by the movement of the cover of the medicine taking body. According to some embodiments, it can be combined with any other aspects, embodiments or combinations of aspects or embodiments described herein, and the driver may include an element that can engage with the medicine taking body cover. In some aspects, the engageable element can be a hook, a clip or other similar type of fastener. In some embodiments, the engageable element can be a slot, a hole, a recess, a protrusion, a clip, a buckle or other element, and the element of the corresponding shape of the medicine taking body cover element can be engaged with it. In some aspects, the driver can have elements similar to rings, keyholes, etc. In some aspects, the driver can include a flange, which is designed to engage the flange key of the complementary design located on the mouth cover. According to some embodiments, it can be combined with any other aspects, embodiments or combinations of aspects or embodiments described herein, and the driver can engage with the elements of the medicine taking body cover to allow them to cooperate with the element is a flange.

[0185] In some aspects, the driver engages with the rod so that the driver can be driven by the movement of the rod. According to some embodiments, which can be combined with any other aspect, embodiment or combination of aspects or embodiments described herein, the driver can include an element that can engage with the rod. In some aspects, the engageable element can be a hook, a clip or other similar type of fastener. In some embodiments, the engageable element can be a slot, a hole, a recess, a protrusion, a clip, a buckle or other element, and the element of the corresponding shape of the rod element can engage with it.

[0186] In certain aspects, wherein the medicine taking body cover is engaged with the driver, and the driver is further engaged with at least one propeller, during the movement of the cover of the medicine taking body, the movement of the driver can be an idling movement and therefore may not rotate the propeller. This aspect of the operation of some dispensers of the present invention will be further described herein with reference to the exemplary drawings provided. In other words, in certain aspects, the driver can be intermittently movably engaged with the propeller. In one aspect, it can be combined with any other aspect, embodiment or combination of aspects or embodiments described herein, and the idling movement of the driver can be in the range of about 5 degrees to about 50 degrees. In another aspect, the idle movement of the drive can be in the range of about 10 degrees to about 25 degrees (e.g., about 10 to 20 degrees, about 15 to 25 degrees, or about 12 to 20 degrees), such as about 10 degrees, about 12 degrees, about 14 degrees, about 16 degrees, about 18 degrees, about 20 degrees, about 22 degrees, or about 24 degrees, such as about 11 degrees, about 13 degrees, about 15 degrees, about 17 degrees, about 19 degrees, about 21 degrees, about 23 degrees, or about 25 degrees.

[0187] In some aspects, this idling movement of the driver allows the user of the dispenser, for example, to move the drug access body cover to a limited extent that allows the user to expose the drug access body (e.g., mouth) to clean it without actuating the dispensing mechanism in the dispenser. In some aspects, the idling movement reduces the possibility of accidental actuation of the drug dispenser, for example, by accidentally partially opening in a pocket or personal item such as a user's wallet or backpack. According to some aspects of the present invention, the drug access body cover has three main positions: a first position (e.g., a static or fully closed position), a second position, and a third position, the third position being a fully open position. In some aspects, the movement between the first and second positions is an idling movement; the device actuation does not occur. In some aspects, the movement from the second position to the third position causes actuation. In some aspects, the drug access body will not be exposed before the idling movement is completed. In some embodiments, the drug access body is not exposed before the drug access body cover reaches the second position where the device actuation begins.

[0188] In some aspects, there is a mechanism for engaging a drug carrier to assist in its advancement. Such a carrier engagement member can be provided to advance different drug dosage portions of a drug carrier. According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the present invention relates to a carrier engagement member, which includes: multiple areas of a carrier engagement member capable of engaging with a dosage portion storage area of ​​an elongated drug carrier, such as a blister of an elongated drug carrier in a blister strip to assist in the movement of the drug carrier, such areas of the carrier engagement member are generally referred to herein as "cuvettes"; an engagement element, which can be movably engaged with another component of the dispenser to transfer kinetic energy to the component, such as a waste collector; and an engagement element, which can be movably engaged with a component of a dispensing mechanism (e.g., a pusher) capable of transferring kinetic energy to the carrier engagement member.

[0189] In some aspects, the carrier engaging member can take any form capable of receiving kinetic energy to cause movement of the carrier engaging member, and in turn transferring the kinetic energy to another component or components of the dispenser. In some aspects, the carrier engaging member can be a rotatable mechanism, such as a hub, wheel, sleeve, or cup-shaped element having an interior and an exterior. In some aspects, the carrier engaging member is a sleeve or cup-shaped element having an interior and an exterior, wherein the element of the carrier engaging member capable of engaging with the dose portion storage area of ​​the elongated drug carrier (e.g., the blister of the blister strip) is located on the exterior of the carrier engaging member, and wherein the element of the carrier engaging member capable of receiving kinetic energy from another component of the dispensing mechanism (e.g., a pusher) is located on the interior of the carrier engaging member.

[0190] According to some embodiments, in addition to the engagement element, the carrier engagement piece may include a central hole. In some aspects, the central hole may receive a portion of a component that transfers kinetic energy to the carrier engagement piece to properly position the two components relative to each other so that kinetic energy can be successfully and effectively transferred between the two components.

[0191] According to certain aspects, which may be combined with any other aspect, embodiment or combination of aspects or embodiments described herein, the element of the carrier engagement member capable of engaging with another component of the dispenser to transfer kinetic energy to the component (the component is, for example, a waste collector), the element may be any element capable of forming a movable engagement, such as a magnet, a reversible clip mechanism or a mechanism capable of forming a temporary mechanical connection with the other component, such as by meshing or combining a protrusion or recess between the two components, as may be the case where the carrier engagement member component that transfers energy is a gear having protrusions in the form of gear teeth. In such an embodiment, the element of the carrier engagement member capable of engaging with another component of the dispenser to transfer kinetic energy to the component is a gear having gear teeth.

[0192] In some aspects, the element of the carrier joint that can receive kinetic energy from another part of the mechanism can be any element that can be movably engaged with the part that transfers energy, such as a gear mechanism, a magnet, a reversible clamping mechanism, etc. In some aspects, the element is a set of protrusions, such as a set of teeth, which can be combined with one or more elements of the part that transfers energy to the carrier joint (e.g., a driven unit of a propeller), as will be further described herein. In some aspects, it can be combined with any other one or more aspects, embodiments, or combinations of aspects or embodiments described herein, and the element of the carrier joint that can receive kinetic energy from another part of the mechanism (e.g., a propeller) can be a set of ratchet teeth. In some aspects, the carrier joint receives kinetic energy from an intermediate drive.

[0193] In some aspects, the ratchet teeth of the carrier engaging member are arranged so that the ratchet teeth can receive energy from another component of the mechanism (e.g., a propeller or an intermediate drive) in a manner that the carrier engaging member can rotate in a single direction. That is, in some aspects, the kinetic energy received by the carrier engaging member is rotational motion, and the rotational motion is in one direction, and the carrier engaging member correspondingly rotates in that direction. And or alternatively, if the kinetic energy received by the carrier engaging member is rotational motion and the rotational motion is from a second direction, the ratchet teeth of the carrier engaging member allow a coupling member that transfers the kinetic energy to a component of the carrier engaging member (e.g., a propeller or an intermediate drive) to slide over the ratchet teeth, so that the kinetic energy is not transferred and the carrier engaging member does not rotate.

[0194] According to certain embodiments, which may be combined with any other aspect, embodiment, or combination of aspects or embodiments, an element of the carrier engaging member (e.g., a ratchet tooth) is movably engaged with a component of the dispenser that transfers kinetic energy to the carrier engaging member, which element may be positioned in or within an interior portion of the carrier engaging member. In some aspects, the ratchet tooth may include a contact surface. In some aspects, the ratchet tooth may include a non-contact or sliding surface due to which a corresponding engaging element of the component of the dispenser that transfers energy to the carrier engaging member (e.g., an element on a driven unit of a thruster) cannot fully engage to transfer kinetic energy.

[0195] According to certain embodiments, the dispensing mechanism may include a carrier engaging member for each drug carrier, which is used to advance different drug dosage portions of the drug carrier separately. In one aspect, the dispensing mechanism may include multiple carrier engaging members for advancing multiple drug carriers separately. In another aspect, the mechanism may include two carrier engaging members for advancing two drug carriers separately. In some aspects, the two carrier engaging members may be positioned side by side (i.e., adjacent to or close to each other) and / or the two carriers may be positioned in the same plane. According to certain embodiments, the two carrier engaging members are different and may be disconnected from each other. In certain aspects, the advancement of the carrier engaging member may occur when the cover of the drug taking body is moved. In certain aspects, the advancement of the carrier engaging member may occur when the rod is moved. According to some aspects, the movement of the drug taking body cover or rod must be sufficient to cause the movement of the carrier engaging member, so that the limited movement of the drug taking body cover or rod does not cause the movement of the carrier engaging member. In some aspects, the advancement of each carrier engaging member may occur in a substantially synchronous manner. That is, the advancement of each carrier engaging member may occur at approximately the same time; as in some aspects, multiple carrier engaging members substantially start their rotation at the same time. In some aspects, a plurality of carrier engaging members do not substantially start their rotation at the same time. In one aspect, two carrier engaging members may be advanced asynchronously. According to some aspects, two carrier engaging members may be advanced continuously (i.e., one after another). According to some aspects, two carrier engaging members do not begin their rotation at the same time. According to some aspects, only one carrier engaging member is movable at a time. According to some aspects, two carrier engaging members may be advanced substantially at the same time. According to some aspects, only one carrier engaging member is movable at a time until all doses in the drug carrier are indexed. According to some aspects, the second carrier engaging member is substantially in a stationary position, while the first carrier engaging member is in motion. According to some aspects, the second carrier engaging member is indexed after all doses in the first drug carrier are indexed. In one aspect, the continuous or sequential movement of a plurality of thrusters, and or the continuous or sequential movement of a plurality of alternative carrier engaging members are advantages of the present system over the prior art. In one aspect, the asynchronous movement of a plurality of thrusters, and or the asynchronous movement of a plurality of alternative carrier engaging members are advantages of the present system over the prior art. According to certain aspects, multiple carrier engaging members can be advanced asynchronously, such that in operation, there is substantially no overlap or no detectable overlap in the movement of any two or more carrier engaging members. In certain aspects, multiple carrier engaging members move (e.g., rotate) continuously; that is, one carrier engaging member begins and completes its movement before any second carrier engaging member begins and completes its movement.In certain aspects, one carrier engaging member may be in motion, advancing the drug carrier to the guide member, making the drug dose available for administration, and completing its movement (e.g., completing its rotation) before the second carrier engaging member begins its movement (e.g., begins its rotation and advances its associated drug carrier). In certain embodiments, there is no overlap of movement (e.g., rotation) between the two carrier engaging members. In certain aspects, the dispensing mechanism may make the drug in the dose storage unit of each of the multiple drug carriers available for administration substantially simultaneously, regardless of when the multiple carrier engaging members begin to rotate and / or whether the multiple carrier engaging members are decoupled from each other. In certain alternative aspects, the drug in the dose storage unit of each of the multiple drug carriers is made available for administration sequentially, that is, one becomes available (e.g., opened) and then another becomes available (e.g., opened).

[0196] According to certain embodiments, which may be combined with any other aspect, embodiment, or combination of aspects or embodiments described herein, the carrier engaging member may start rotating at different times and rotate at different speeds. According to certain aspects, the carrier engaging member advances each corresponding carrier at different rates, yet simultaneously provides the drug dose retained in each corresponding drug carrier, such as fully exposing the corresponding dose storage area in each drug carrier (e.g., a fully opened blister pocket of a blister strip drug carrier). According to certain aspects, the carrier engaging member advances each corresponding carrier at different rates, and provides the drug dose retained in each corresponding drug carrier at different times, such as fully exposing the corresponding dose storage area in each drug carrier (e.g., a fully opened blister pocket of a blister strip drug carrier). In some aspects, the dose storage areas of multiple drug carriers are exposed in sequence, such as, the dose storage area of ​​the first drug carrier is exposed before the dose storage area from the second drug carrier is exposed. In some aspects, regardless of the synchronicity of the differences in the exposure times of the doses from the multiple drug carriers, the drug is available for use in a single administration to provide to the user, such as by a single inhalation. In some embodiments, exposure of drug doses from multiple drug carriers advanced into position by respective carrier engagers (eg, "opening" of dose storage areas) can occur in a generally "open position" or location within the dispenser where drug becomes available for administration.

[0197] According to some embodiments, a plurality of carrier engaging members may rotate in a substantially synchronous manner in at least some rotations. In alternative embodiments, two or more carrier engaging members (eg, a plurality of carrier engaging members) do not rotate in a substantially synchronous manner in at least some rotations.

[0198] In some aspects, the plurality of carrier engaging members are decoupled from one another.

[0199] In some aspects, potential changes in the rotation start time and rotation speed of the carrier joint can support the adaptation of multiple drug carriers that are different from each other. In some aspects, a drug carrier can include a drug with an application or dosage regimen that is different from another drug. In some aspects, it may be preferred that a dose from a specific carrier is not available every time the dispenser is actuated, so that the user does not receive a dose from each drug carrier every time the dispenser is actuated. In some aspects, changes in the rotation start time and rotation speed of the carrier joint can support the adaptation of drug carriers that include intervals or spacing differences between drug doses.

[0200] According to certain embodiments, which may be combined with any other aspect, embodiment or combination of aspects or embodiments described herein, the carrier engaging member includes two or more elements that can engage with the dose portion storage area of ​​the elongated drug carrier (e.g., the blister of the blister strip elongated drug carrier) to assist in the movement of the drug carrier. These elements can be configured to sequentially position each dose storage area of ​​the drug carrier (e.g., the blister pocket of the blister strip drug carrier) during the operation of the dispenser. According to certain aspects, the dose portion engaging element of the carrier engaging member is a depression, a protrusion, a hook or spoon-shaped element, a wing, a ridge or any similar or equivalent shaped element that can engage the dose storage area of ​​the drug carrier. In some aspects, the element is a series of carved out areas that circumferentially surround the outer surface of the carrier engaging member. Such "carved out" areas (e.g., areas where material is removed or not filled by molding or the like to form a depression) are designed to have a shape complementary to the dose storage area (e.g., the blister of the blister strip) to be suitable for engaging with the dose storage area to assist in its advancement and positioning. In some aspects, this area of ​​the carrier engaging member is referred to herein as a "dish groove".

[0201] In some aspects, when the cover of the drug access body rotates, the groove can not only participate in the advancement of the drug carrier, but the groove can also help align the dose storage area of ​​the drug carrier (e.g., the blister pocket of the blister strip) with the guide, which will be further described elsewhere in this article. The carrier engaging member may include more than one equidistant groove around its circumference. In one aspect, the carrier engaging member may include more than two equidistant grooves around its circumference, such as about 2 or more, about 2 or more, about 4 or more, about 5 or more, about 6 or more, about 7 or more, about 8 or more, about 9 or more, about 10 or more, or even about 12 or more, such as about 14 or more, about 16 or more, about 18 or more, or about 20 or more equidistant grooves.

[0202] In some aspects, each carrier engaging member includes the same number of slots around its circumference as each other carrier engaging member in the dispenser. In some aspects, at least one carrier engaging member may include a different number of slots around its circumference than at least one other carrier engaging member in the dispenser. In one aspect, the carrier engaging member may include about 4 to about 10 (8) equidistant slots around its circumference. In one embodiment, the dispenser includes two carrier engaging members, each of which has about 6 to about 10 slots around its circumference, for example, about 8 slots around its circumference. In some aspects, the two carrier engaging members have the same number of slots around their circumference.

[0203] According to certain embodiments, which may be combined with any other aspect, embodiment, or combination of aspects or embodiments described herein, the carrier engaging member may include more than one equally spaced ratchet teeth (teeth), the ratchet teeth being an element of an exemplary mechanism (e.g., a ratchet mechanism) through which the carrier engaging member receives kinetic energy from another component of the dispenser mechanism (e.g., from a pusher). According to certain aspects, the mechanism may include at least one, such as at least about 1, at least about 2, at least about 3, at least about 4, at least about 5, at least about 6, at least about 7, at least about 8, at least about 9, or at least about 10, such as at least about 12, at least about 14, at least about 16, at least about 18, or at least about 20 ratchet teeth (e.g., about 5 to 25 ratchet teeth, about 10 to 30 ratchet teeth, or about 7 to 21 ratchet teeth, such as about 5 to 20 ratchet teeth or 5 to 15 ratchet teeth). In one aspect, the carrier engaging member can be driven by receiving kinetic energy from the propeller that causes the carrier engaging member to move. Further description of the propeller is provided elsewhere herein. According to certain alternative embodiments, which may be present in the same device in some aspects, the carrier engaging member can be driven by receiving kinetic energy from an intermediate mechanism (e.g., an intermediate driver) that causes the carrier engaging member to move. In some embodiments, which may be combined with any other aspect, embodiment, or combination of aspects or embodiments described herein, the carrier engaging member can receive kinetic energy through a set of non-ratchet teeth. In some aspects, the intermediate driver may include a ratchet element and a non-ratchet element so that the ratchet element is movably engaged with the propeller and the non-ratchet element is engaged with the carrier engaging member.

[0204] In one aspect, the carrier engagement member is directly driven by a propeller. In one aspect, the propeller is directly driven by a driver. In one aspect, the carrier engagement member indirectly engages the propeller through an intermediate mechanism (e.g., an intermediate driver), and in some embodiments, the intermediate mechanism receives its kinetic energy from the propeller, and in some aspects, the propeller further receives its kinetic energy from the driver. In an alternative embodiment, the propeller is driven by an intermediate mechanism (e.g., an intermediate driver), and the intermediate mechanism receives its kinetic energy from the driver. In some aspects, when there are multiple carrier engagement members, one or more carrier engagement members can be driven by one or more propellers. In certain embodiments, one or more propellers can directly drive the carrier engagement member or can indirectly drive the carrier engagement member by an intermediate mechanism (e.g., an intermediate driver). In some aspects, when there are multiple carrier engagement members, one or more carrier engagement members can be directly driven by one or more propellers. However, one or more carrier engagement members can also or alternatively be directly driven by an intermediate driver that receives its kinetic energy from the propeller. This arrangement can exist in the same dispensing device. According to certain aspects, the use of an intermediate drive provides the ability of a distribution mechanism to utilize a single drive to drive the movement of multiple carrier engagement members; however, each of the carrier engagement members can be caused to rotate in opposite directions. That is, a single drive can transfer kinetic energy to separate thrusters; in some aspects, one thruster can directly engage the carrier engagement member, while in some aspects, a second thruster can engage the intermediate drive, which then engages the second carrier engagement member. In one aspect, carrier engagement members driven by separate mechanisms and receiving their kinetic energy from the same original source provide a means of utilizing a single original energy source (e.g., a single drive) while allowing multiple carrier engagement member mechanisms to receive their kinetic energy in a manner that causes each of them to move in different ways, such as causing them to rotate in opposite directions.

[0205] According to certain aspects of the present invention, the movement of the cover of the drug taking body can cause the movement of the driver, the movement of multiple pushers and the movement of multiple carrier engaging members, and thereby advance multiple drug carriers to align with the guide member for dispensing the drug (if present) held in the dose storage area of ​​each drug carrier. The term "if present" is used to indicate that multiple drug carriers are held in the dispenser, but each has an embodiment with a different dosing regimen. In this case, the spacing or spacing between the dose storage areas of one drug carrier can be greater than the spacing or spacing between the dose storage areas of another carrier. In this case, one drug carrier can be advanced so that when actuated, the dose storage area is opened or otherwise made available and positioned to align with the guide member for distribution; while another drug carrier can also be advanced so that when actuated, the blank area (the area without the drug in the dose storage area; that is, the space between the doses) is delivered / positioned to align with the guide member, so that the drug from the carrier is not administered. This configuration / operation can be advantageous when the dosing regimens of the two drugs are different.

[0206] A propeller for rotating a carrier joint can be provided. According to certain embodiments, it can be combined with any other aspect, embodiment or combination of aspects or embodiments described herein, and a propeller can be provided for each carrier joint in the dispenser. In some aspects, therefore, each carrier joint is driven separately, for example, rotated separately by a separate propeller. In some aspects, the propeller can be driven by, for example, the kinetic energy received from a driver. In some aspects, the propeller can be driven by, for example, the kinetic energy received from an intermediate driver. The intermediate driver receives kinetic energy from the driver. In some aspects, when there are two or more propellers, the intermediate driver used is either a) driven by a driver and acts on the carrier joint through the propeller, or b) driven by a propeller driven by a driver and acts directly on the carrier joint, allowing multiple carrier joints to obtain their kinetic energy from the same original point (for example, from a single driver), and rotate in opposite directions.

[0207] In one aspect of the invention, the pusher is a single component. According to certain aspects, which may be combined with any aspect, embodiment, or combination of aspects or embodiments described herein, the single component pusher may include a ratchet element to engage with one component of the dispenser, and a set of non-ratchet engagement elements to engage with a second component of the system.

[0208] In some aspects, the ratchet element can be a set of protrusions or extensions that can engage with a corresponding element of another system component. In some aspects, the ratchet element is a set of ratchet arms. In some aspects, the non-ratchet engagement element can include a set of recesses or protrusions or other similar or equivalent engagement means that can engage with a separate corresponding element of another system component. In some aspects, the non-ratchet element is a set of teeth.

[0209] According to an alternative embodiment, which may be combined with any aspect, embodiment, or combination of aspects or embodiments described herein, the pusher is composed of two or more distinctly separate elements that operate together to form an assembly, the assembly being the combination of elements that make up the pusher. In some aspects, as will be further described, one such element may be an element that engages with a set of ratchet teeth of a carrier engagement member; thus, in some aspects, the pusher is sometimes referred to herein as a ratchet assembly.

[0210] According to certain aspects of the invention, which may be combined with any aspect, embodiment, or combination of aspects or embodiments described herein, the thruster includes a drive member that can be driven by, for example, receiving drive energy or motion energy from another component of the device (e.g., a driver or intermediate driver). According to certain aspects, the thruster also includes a driven member that can be driven by, for example, receiving motion energy from the drive member of the thruster. In some aspects, the drive member of the thruster and the driven member of the thruster are movably engaged with each other.

[0211] In some aspects, the thruster includes an element positioned between the driving member and the driven member of the thruster, which can allow axial displacement of the driven member during movable engagement (e.g., ratcheting motion, which will be further described elsewhere herein), thereby preventing any axial (e.g., vertical) movement of the driving member. In some aspects, the element can be any element capable of preventing such movement while maintaining the necessary tension / engagement in a similar manner of action, for example, another type of tensioning element, such as an expandable / compressible member or component (e.g., a bellows (e.g., a metal bellows), or a compressible joint). In some aspects, the element is a spring, which can be any suitable type of spring, such as a compression spring. According to certain embodiments, the spring provides a means for the driven member and the driving member to remain in contact with each other, however, the spring also allows the driving member and the driven member to be axially (e.g., vertically) displaced relative to each other during ratcheting, so that some movement of the driving member can result in movement of the driven member, however, alternative movement of the driving member does not result in movement of the driven member. This relationship will be further described elsewhere herein.

[0212] According to certain embodiments, the drive member of the thruster may include an element for coaxially aligning the drive member with the driven member and maintaining the positioning of the drive member and the driven member in a relatively consistent position relative to each other. In some embodiments, it can be combined with any other aspect, embodiment, or combination of aspects or embodiments described herein, and the element can be any element capable of maintaining such a position between two elements, such as a magnet, a clip, a lock, a pin, etc. According to certain aspects, the element is a locking pin. According to certain aspects, the locking pin of the drive member is positioned within the driven member so that the driven member is located on top of or around the drive member, for example, the drive member is located within the driven member.

[0213] According to some aspects, the driving member may also include an element for combining with the driven member to transfer the driving energy (e.g., kinetic energy) from the driving member to the driven member. In some aspects, the element may also help the alignment between the driving member and the driven member to support the efficient and successful operation of two components associated with each other. In some aspects, it may be combined with any other aspects, embodiments or combinations of aspects or embodiments described herein, and the element may be any element capable of transmitting the kinetic energy, such as protrusions, depressions, columns, pins, structures or features, or a series of structures or features for surfaces combined with the driven member, the surface having a flat or curved shape, or a geometric shape. In some aspects, the driving member includes a series of curved surfaces corresponding to a series of relatively curved surfaces of the driven member, and the curved surface of the driving member is designed to be nested in or around the curved surface of the driven member. The term "drive bag" or "bag" may be used herein to describe such an inwardly curved surface or a series of surfaces of the driving member. Because such a driving bag or bag, in addition to providing a surface for transmitting the driving force from the driving member to the driven member, can be used in part to align the driving member with the driven member, for example, by being nested in or around the corresponding features of the driven member, the element may be referred to as an alignment bag in this article. Such elements that help align and drive the driven member of the propeller can be arranged circumferentially to be able to transmit rotational motion to the driven unit. Although a series of recesses (or bags) are provided as exemplary embodiments here, it should be understood that multiple mechanisms may be able to provide alignment and drive engagement mouths between the driving member and the driven member of the propeller described herein, and this embodiment is not intended to be restrictive. The interface between the driving member and the driven member of the propeller and the design of the interface are further discussed elsewhere in this article.

[0214] In yet another aspect, the driving member of the propeller can further include an element that can be movably engaged with the parts of the dispenser, and this part of the dispenser can transfer driving force (for example, kinetic energy) to the driving member, so as to cause the driving member to move. The element can be any element that can be engaged with the parts providing the driving force, such as a conveyor, a rod, a switch, a wheel, etc. In some aspects, the element that can receive kinetic energy from another element of the driving member of the propeller can be in the form of a group of engaging units that can be engaged with the corresponding engaging units of one or more other parts. In some aspects, these engaging units can be projections or depressions of any shape or size. In some aspects, the engaging unit is a tooth, and the part of the driving member of the propeller is a group of gear teeth, which can be movably engaged with another part of the dispenser so that another part of the dispenser can transfer driving energy to the driving member.

[0215] According to certain embodiments, which may be combined with any other aspect, embodiment, or combination of aspects or embodiments described herein, the drive member of the propeller comprises a set of gear teeth movably engageable with the driver, the intermediate driver, or both the driver and the intermediate driver. In some aspects, the drive member of the propeller is driven by, for example, receiving kinetic energy from the driver (directly from the driver or indirectly from the driver through an intermediate driver).

[0216] In some respects, when there are a plurality of carrier engagement members, each propeller engages with the separated carrier engagement member so that the movement of each propeller causes the rotation of the separated carrier engagement member. In some respects, the propeller directly engages with the carrier engagement member. In some respects, the propeller indirectly engages with the carrier engagement member through an intermediate driver. According to some aspects, a plurality of propellers may exist in the same distribution device. In such aspect, each of the plurality of propellers may have a functional design identical or similar to any one or more other propellers present in the device, or alternatively, any propeller may have a functional design different from any one or more other propellers present in the device.

[0217] According to certain embodiments, which may be combined with any other aspect, embodiment or combination of aspects or embodiments described herein, the driven member of the propeller may include an element responsible for helping the driven member to be positioned in the carrier joint. According to certain embodiments, the element may further serve as a feature of the driven member, around which the carrier joint rotates. In some aspects, the driven member of the propeller is positioned in the carrier joint, and the driving member of the propeller is further positioned in the driven member. According to some aspects, which may be combined with any other aspect, embodiment or combination of aspects or embodiments described herein, the element that can help the positioning of the driven member and further serve as a feature of the driven member (around which the carrier joint rotates) can be any feature that can provide this function, such as but not limited to a column, a tube, a boss, a ring, etc. In some aspects, the element is located at the center of the driving member. According to certain aspects, the element is a center boss.

[0218] According to certain embodiments, the driven member of the pusher also includes an element capable of engaging with the carrier engaging member, so that when the element moves, it can transmit the movement as a driving movement to the carrier engaging member. As previously described, according to a certain aspect, the element of the carrier engaging member capable of receiving such a driving force (e.g., such a kinetic energy) can be a set of ratchet teeth. In some aspects, the element of the driven member capable of engaging with the ratchet teeth of the carrier engaging member is any element having a shape or structure capable of engaging with the ratchet teeth of the carrier engaging member in the following manner, the manner being that when responding to the ratchet teeth of the carrier engaging member moving in one direction (e.g., rotating in one direction), the element engages with the ratchet teeth, resulting in the rotation of the carrier engaging member to advance the drug carrier; however, the shape is such that when responding to the ratchet teeth of the carrier engaging member moving in the opposite direction (e.g., rotating in the opposite direction), the element does not engage with the ratchet teeth, but slips or slides over or otherwise passes through the ratchet teeth of the carrier engaging member, so that the carrier engaging member does not rotate sufficiently to advance the drug carrier. In some aspects, the element can be a protrusion, a depression, a column, a wing, a paddle, an extension, an arm, a rod, a pin, a clip, a group of two or more of any such elements, etc. In some aspects, any such element can have a straight orientation or a curved or bent orientation. According to certain embodiments, the element is a pin and is referred to as a drive pin in this article. In some aspects, the drive pin has a straight orientation. In an alternative embodiment, the drive pin is a group of curved arms; however, this design and other similar designs are intended to be exemplary designs without limiting any similar or equivalent designs that can be used to transfer motion energy from the driven member of the propeller to the carrier joint. When the driven member and the corresponding drive pin move in a first direction, the drive pin of the driven member of the propeller is an element that can engage with an element of the carrier joint, and the element of the carrier joint can be driven by receiving motion energy from the propeller; however, when the drive pin moves in a second direction, the drive pin of the driven member of the propeller can not engage with the element of the carrier joint that can be driven by the propeller.

[0219] According to certain embodiments of the present invention, which may be combined with any other aspect, embodiment, or combination of aspects or embodiments described herein, the driven member of the propeller may include an element capable of being combined with an element of the driving member of the propeller, such that the element contributes to the optimal alignment of the two components relative to each other, and is further capable of receiving drive energy (e.g., energy of movement) from the driving member of the propeller. According to certain embodiments, the element may be any element capable of receiving the energy of the movement, such as a protrusion, depression, column, pin, structure or feature, or a series of structures or features having a surface for combining with the driving member, the surface having a flat or curved shape, or a geometric shape, etc. In some aspects, the driven member includes a series of curved surfaces corresponding to a series of relatively curved surfaces of the driving member, and the curved surfaces of the driven member are designed to be nested in or around the curved surfaces of the driving member. The terms "drive bag" or "bag" may be used herein to describe such an inwardly curved surface or series of surfaces of the driving member. This pocket or recessed design of the drive element of the drive member of the propeller is only one embodiment, and it should be clearly understood that a plurality of mechanisms for aligning and transmitting motion between two elements of the propeller described herein can be envisioned, such as gear mechanisms, ratchet mechanisms, spoke mechanisms, clamping mechanisms, etc. In a specific embodiment in which the drive element of the drive member of the propeller is designed as a series of recessed or pocket-like elements, the receiving element of the driven member receiving the driving motion from the driving member can be an element shaped complementarily to the recess or pocket, such as a corresponding curved surface or "bag insert". The curved surface can also be arranged circumferentially, so that the curved surface of the driven member can be positioned in a position complementary and aligned with the curved surface of the drive member of the propeller, so that the two surfaces engage with each other, and wherein the rotation of the drive member of the propeller causes the rotation of the driven member of the propeller. Here, the term "circumferential pins" can be used to describe the energy receiving elements of the driven unit, "circumferential" because they can be positioned around the circumference of the driven unit, and "pins" because they extend longitudinally around the circumference, as illustrated in the provided figures. However, the term "circumferential pin" should be understood to refer to any mechanism capable of engaging with a corresponding mouth of a drive element of a drive member of a propeller and receiving a driving force from the drive member of the propeller. This nested relationship between the drive element of the drive member of the propeller and the driven element of the driven member of the propeller (as illustrated herein and in the figures provided) has the advantage of providing alignment support between the two components and energy transfer between the two components.

[0220] According to certain embodiments, which may be combined with any other aspects, embodiments or combinations of aspects or embodiments described herein, the energy receiving element (e.g., circumferentially arranged pins) of the driven member of the propeller that receives energy from the driving element of the driving member of the propeller may be positioned within the interior of the driving member. In some aspects, the propeller may be arranged in the dispenser to rotate around a second rotation axis, that is, around a rotation axis different from the rotation axis of the driver. In some aspects, at least one propeller is arranged so that it can movably engage the driver. In certain embodiments, the carrier engagement member may rotate around the central boss of the propeller so that the carrier engagement member and the propeller share a common rotation axis. In some aspects, the drive pin may ratchet with the ratchet teeth of the carrier engagement member so that the rotational movement of the drive pin causes the rotation of the carrier engagement member. In one aspect, which may be combined with any other aspects, embodiments or combinations of aspects or embodiments described herein, the distribution mechanism includes a propeller for each carrier engagement member, which is used to rotate the carrier engagement member. In some aspects, the propeller may directly drive the carrier engagement member. In some aspects, the propeller can indirectly drive the carrier engagement member through an intermediate mechanism (e.g., an intermediate driver). According to some embodiments, the propeller can be directly movably engaged with the driver, so that movement of the driver causes movement of the propeller. In some aspects, this movably engaged is continuous; that is, the two elements are in continuous contact with each other. In some aspects, the propeller can be movably engaged with the intermediate driver, which in turn is movably engaged with the driver.

[0221] In some aspects, there are two carrier engagement members in the dispenser device. In some aspects, at least one carrier engagement member is directly engaged with the pusher movably. In some aspects, two carrier engagement members are directly engaged with the pusher movably. In some aspects, at least one carrier engagement member is directly engaged with the pusher movably, and at least one other carrier engagement member is not directly engaged with the pusher movably. In some aspects, at least one carrier engagement member is directly engaged with the pusher movably consisting of a single component, and the pusher has a mechanism for engaging a driver (e.g., equidistant or non-equidistant teeth for engaging the teeth of the driver), and also includes a mechanism for engaging the carrier engagement member (e.g., a ratchet arm capable of engaging the corresponding ratchet teeth on the carrier engagement member).

[0222] In certain other aspects, one or more carrier engagement members are engaged with a pusher including multiple parts, the pusher being an assembly such that at least one carrier engagement member is engaged with a drive pin of a driven member of the pusher, each driven member of the pusher being engaged with a drive element of the pusher. In certain other aspects, there are two carrier engagement members in the dispenser device, wherein: a) a first carrier engagement member i) is engaged with a drive pin of a driven member of the pusher, the driven member of the pusher is engaged with a drive element of the pusher, and the drive element of the pusher is engaged with the driver, or ii) is engaged with a ratchet arm of the pusher, and a non-ratchet engagement element of the pusher is movably engaged with the driver; and b) a second carrier engagement member is engaged with an intermediate drive mechanism (e.g., an intermediate driver), the intermediate driver i) is engaged with a drive pin of a driven member of the pusher, the driven member of the pusher is engaged with a drive element of the pusher, and the drive element of the pusher is engaged with the driver, or ii) is engaged with a ratchet arm of the pusher, wherein the non-ratchet engagement element of the pusher is movably engaged with the driver.

[0223] According to one aspect of the present invention, it can be combined with any other aspect, embodiment or aspect or embodiment described herein, the distribution mechanism may include a plurality of thrusters, these thrusters are in the form of a single component or in the form of an assembly (e.g., ratchet assembly), to drive a plurality of carrier engagement members in the distributor individually. In an exemplary embodiment, the distribution mechanism may include two thrusters for driving two carrier engagement members individually. In one aspect, the thruster and the carrier engagement member may be positioned in a non-coaxial arrangement. In alternative aspects, the thruster and the carrier engagement member may be positioned in a coaxial manner or in a partially overlapping manner. In one aspect, the pusher and carrier engagement member may be coaxial in orientation such that the pusher is an assembly of elements, the drive member is one of the elements, and the drive member (e.g., at least a portion of its body) is positioned within a driven member of the pusher with a spring or other suitable compressible / expandable tensioning member between the driven member and the drive member of the pusher, and wherein the three components of the pusher assembly (drive member, spring or similar device, and driven member) are positioned within the carrier engagement member, i.e., at least a portion of the assembly is positioned within the carrier engagement member, and all components rotate about a common axis or at least partially overlap relative to such orientation. In another aspect, the pusher and carrier engagement member may be positioned remotely from each other (i.e., not adjacent to each other).

[0224] According to certain embodiments of the present invention, which may be combined with any other one or more aspects, embodiments, or combinations of any aspects or embodiments described herein, each propeller is different and not coupled to any other propeller. In some aspects, a plurality of propellers (e.g., two to four propellers or ratchet assemblies) may be positioned side by side (i.e., adjacent or close) to each other and / or in the same plane. In some aspects, two propellers may be positioned away from each other (i.e., not adjacent to each other).

[0225] In some aspects of the present invention, it can be combined with any other aspect, embodiment or any combination of aspects or embodiments described herein, and the propulsion of each propeller can occur substantially simultaneously, that is, the propulsion of each propeller occurs at about the same time. In another aspect, multiple propellers can be continuously (i.e., one by one). In yet another aspect, the propellers can be propulsed asynchronously, that is, whether the rotation of each propeller starts at about the same time, their rotation is asynchronous, for example, they rotate at different rates, rotate at different speeds and / or rotate in different time periods, and the time periods are substantially non-overlapping or only partially overlapping, so that during a single actuation of the dispenser, at least one time point they are all in motion, and at least one time point only one is in motion. In some aspects of the present invention, the propellers start to rotate at different times and rotate at different speeds. In some aspects, this asynchronous movement is an advantage of the present invention over the prior art.

[0226] According to certain aspects, it can be combined with any other aspect, embodiment or combination of aspect or embodiment described herein, there may be idling movement of the propeller. In this embodiment, there is "clearance" or freedom of movement for the propeller at least to a limited extent, so that the movement of the propeller may not cause the rotation of the carrier engagement member. According to one embodiment, the idling movement of the propeller can be in the range of about 5 degrees to about 50 degrees, for example, between about 10 degrees to about 45 degrees, or for example, between about 15 degrees to about 40 degrees, for example, the idling movement of the propeller can be about 5 degrees, about 10 degrees, about 15 degrees, about 20 degrees, about 25 degrees, about 30 degrees, about 35 degrees, about 40 degrees, about 45 degrees or for example, about 50 degrees.

[0227] According to some aspects, it can be combined with any other one or more aspects, embodiments or aspects or embodiments described herein, and the device of the present invention is incorporated into the operational function that helps to prevent the dose storage area of ​​the drug carrier from accidentally opening. In some aspects, this function includes the construction, selection or operation of parts, so that the idle movement amount of the driver gear, the idle movement amount of the propeller or the idle movement amount of the driver gear and the propeller can occur when the device is not actuated. In some aspects, this idle movement amount of the driver gear and the propeller can be described as a moving angle, as described elsewhere herein. As described elsewhere herein, in some aspects, the idle movement of the driver gear can allow the part of the drug taking body cover to be opened unintentionally, or in some aspects, it can allow the cleaning drug taking body, and in any or both cases, the device will not be actuated. In some aspects, the idle movement of the propeller can prevent the advancement (e.g., rotation) of the carrier engagement member, and therefore prevent the advancement of the drug carrier associated with the carrier engagement member. In some aspects, accidental opening of the dose storage area and wasting of the drug held therein is prevented by incorporating lost motion movement of the pusher, lost motion movement of the driver, or both.

[0228] According to certain aspects, multiple propellers within the dispensing device can have different amounts of idling movement. In some embodiments, which can be combined with any one or more aspects or embodiments described herein, a first propeller of the multiple propellers can undergo an amount of idling movement, then engage with the first carrier engagement member, causing rotation of the carrier engagement member, which then completes its rotation, and a second propeller thereafter completes a different amount of idling movement, and then the second propeller engages with the second carrier engagement member when the first carrier engagement member completes rotation, causing rotation of the second carrier engagement member. In certain aspects, the two propellers can be acted upon by the same dispenser component (e.g., a single drive gear).

[0229] As will be further described elsewhere herein, in other embodiments, the idle motion may reside within the driver gear itself. In such embodiments, the driver gear may be a broken gear such that it first engages with a first propeller, which performs its work on the movably engaged component, and then the driver gear engages with a second propeller, which then performs its work on the movably engaged component, the motion of the two propellers being sequential to one another such that there is substantially no overlap in the motion of the two propellers.

[0230] In some aspects, due to the idling movement of the driver gear, the idling movement of one or more propellers or the idling movement of the driver gear and one or more propellers, there is at least one time period, wherein no two or more carrier engaging members move substantially at the same time. In some aspects, during the device actuation, there is at least one time period (for example, no two or more carrier engaging members move simultaneously) in which two or more carrier engaging members do not move and there is at least one time period (for example, two or more carrier engaging members move simultaneously) in which two or more carrier engaging members move simultaneously. In some aspects, two or more carrier engaging members move simultaneously in at least one time period during the device actuation, and in addition, the carrier engaging members cause medicine to be released from multiple drug carriers substantially at the same time. In some aspects, two or more carrier engaging members move simultaneously during at least one time period during the device actuation and do not cause medicine to be released substantially at the same time from multiple drug carriers, but this release occurs substantially sequentially, so that one dose can be distributed before another dose.

[0231] In some embodiments, which may be combined with any other one or more aspects, embodiments, or combinations of aspects or embodiments described herein, waste from each emptied drug carrier present in the dispenser is collected separately from waste from each other drug carrier present in the dispenser. In certain aspects, each drug carrier (e.g., blister strip) generates two waste streams when emptied: a) cover sheet and b) empty substrate. In some aspects, each type of waste stream is collected using a separate waste collector, each empty substrate is collected using a first waste collector, and each cover sheet is collected using a second waste collector.

[0232] According to certain aspects of the present invention, a used drug carrier is a drug carrier that has been dispensed with a drug dose held therein, which may include two or more waste streams; for example, a first waste stream and a second waste stream. According to some embodiments, one or more waste collectors may be present in the drug dispenser of the present invention for collecting waste generated by removing a drug dose from a drug carrier that generates empty drug carrier waste.

[0233] A waste collection mechanism within a dispenser will be described that applies to embodiments in which one or more drug carriers include two layers that are reversibly sealed to each other, such that the two layers need to be separated to access a dose of drug within a storage compartment held within one sheet, and wherein once a dose is administered, two waste streams are generated - one is the first layer or first sheet of the drug carrier, and the second is the second layer or second sheet of the drug carrier.

[0234] In some aspects, as already described, the drug carrier can be an elongated sheet comprising a base sheet (e.g., a base sheet comprising distinct dose storage areas (e.g., blisters)), and a cover sheet providing a sealing means by which the individual doses are retained within the dose storage areas (e.g., blisters) of the base sheet, i.e., the drug carrier can be a blister strip drug carrier.

[0235] According to certain aspects, where one or more drug carriers in the dispenser are blister strips, the first waste stream can be the substrate of the blister strips and the second waste stream can be the cover sheet of the blister strips. According to certain aspects of the invention, the dispenser includes at least one waste collector designed to collect the cover sheet of the strip-shaped drug carrier. This waste collector is referred to herein as a second waste collector, and such collector is distinguished from the first waste collector, which is a waste collector designed to collect the substrate of the used blister strip drug carrier. The first waste collector for collecting the substrate of the used blister strip drug carrier will be described elsewhere herein because it is significantly different from the second waste collector described herein.

[0236] According to certain aspects of the present invention, a second waste collector for collecting a second waste stream (e.g., a cover sheet of a used blister strip drug carrier) can help peel off the substrate and cover sheet of each such drug carrier to open or otherwise reach the blister bag so that the dose stored therein can be used. In addition, the second waste collector can provide tension and maintain tension to the collected waste stream (e.g., cover sheet). In addition, the second waste collector can include a waste capture component (e.g., a specific component for collecting and storing waste streams (e.g., cover sheet)). The waste capture component may also be referred to as a cover sheet collector in this article. Therefore, because the second waste collector includes multiple elements with different functional responsibilities, and because in some aspects, as will be further described in this article, the components of the second waste collector can collect and store waste streams by winding waste streams around the waste collector in some embodiments, so the second waste collector is generally referred to as a "winding assembly" in this article.

[0237] According to an independent embodiment of the present invention, the invention described herein provides a collection system for capturing and storing elongated media, the system comprising (a) a tensioning component for applying an initial engagement tension at an end of the media (e.g., a portion of the media that has been processed), (b) a component or device for maintaining tension on the media, and (c) a collection component for collecting the media. In some aspects, the component capable of generating tension on the elongated media and the component capable of maintaining tension on the elongated media are located within the component capable of collecting the elongated media. In some aspects, all three components share a common axis of rotation.

[0238] According to some aspects of the invention, the collection system includes a tensioning component for applying an initial engagement tension at the end of the media. In some aspects, the tensioning mechanism includes a mechanical attachment component. In some aspects, the mechanical attachment component can be capable of engaging and securing the end of the media. In certain embodiments, the mechanical attachment mechanism can be a slot, a clip, a clamp, a protrusion that engages the media, or a protrusion of a component that engages the media (such as a hole, ring, or recess in the media), or alternatively, a hole or recess that engages a protrusion in the media. In some aspects, the tensioning component for applying an initial engagement tension at the end of the media is a post. In some aspects, the post can capture the end of the media by a ring in the media that can be positioned around the post to secure the end of the media to the collection system.

[0239] According to some aspects of the invention, the collection system includes a component or device for maintaining tension on the media. In some aspects, the component can be a guide, a clamp, or a surface on which the media is stretched or against which the media is positioned during the capture and storage of the elongated media. In some aspects, the component is a curved wall or a curved plate. In some aspects, the curved wall has a surface that increases the ability of the curved wall to engage the media. In some aspects, the surface is a sticky surface, such as a surface with a sticky additive. In some aspects, the surface is a rubber surface. In some aspects, the surface is a serrated surface.

[0240] According to some aspects of the present invention, a collection system includes a collection component for collecting media. In some aspects, the collection component can be a surface around which the elongated media is wrapped or wrapped when the collection component moves (e.g., rotates). In some aspects, the surface can be a flat surface. In alternative aspects, the surface can be a curved surface. In some aspects, the collection component can include a media access point, which is an opening that allows the elongated media to pass from one side of the collection component to the other side. In certain embodiments, the collection component is a curved wall surface, wherein the tensioning component for applying an initial engagement tension on the media and the component or device for maintaining the tension on the media are located within an area at least partially defined by the curved wall; that is, if the curved wall extends to form a loop, the tensioning component and the tensioning holding component are located within the defined loop, rather than being located outside the curved wall of the collection component. In some aspects, the media access point is a slit or slot or hole in the curved surface. In some aspects, the collection component rotates. In some aspects, the elongated media can be attached to a tensioning member for applying an initial engagement tension on the ends of the media, and when the collection member rotates about the tensioning member and the member or device for maintaining tension on the media, the elongated media passes from the attachment point through the member or device for maintaining tension on the media, through the media access point of the collection member, and reaches the outer surface of the collection member, around which the elongated media is collected. In some aspects, when the collection member rotates, the member capable of maintaining tension on the elongated media maintains tension on the media so that a sufficiently efficient (e.g., relatively tight) media wrap is achieved.

[0241] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, which may be combined with any other aspect, embodiment, or combination of aspects or embodiments described herein, the invention described herein relates to a waste capture mechanism for use in a medication dispenser to capture one or more waste streams generated once a medication carrier held in the medication dispenser is opened and the medication held therein is dispensed. In some aspects, the waste capture mechanism is a winding assembly. According to one aspect of the present disclosure, which may be combined with any other aspect, embodiment, or combination of aspects or embodiments described herein, the invention described herein relates to a winding assembly comprising: a waste capture component and a tensioning mechanism. In some aspects, the winding assembly can be incorporated into the device described herein. In some aspects, the winding assembly can be incorporated into other devices, such as any type of device in which it is desired to collect elongated media, such as strips, ribbons, ropes, lines, wires, etc. In some aspects, the device can be a medication dispenser. In some aspects, a waste collector (e.g., a winding assembly) can collect at least one waste stream from at least one open elongated drug carrier retained within the dispenser, the winding assembly comprising a component capable of generating tension on the waste stream, a component capable of maintaining tension on the waste stream, and a component capable of collecting the waste stream.

[0242] According to an independent embodiment of the present invention, the invention described herein is a waste collector for use in a medication dispenser, the collector being capable of collecting at least one waste stream from at least one opened elongated medication carrier held in the dispenser, the dispenser comprising a component capable of creating tension on the waste stream; a component capable of maintaining tension on the waste stream; and a component capable of collecting the waste stream. In some aspects, the component capable of creating tension on the waste stream and the component capable of maintaining tension on the waste stream are located within the component capable of collecting the waste stream. In some aspects, all three components share a common axis of rotation.

[0243] According to certain embodiments, the waste capture component includes: (a) a waste collection surface for collecting a waste flow; (b) at least one waste access point within the waste capture component, the at least one waste access point allowing the waste flow to pass from within the waste capture component (for example, from a tensioning mechanism located within the waste capture component); (c) a locking engagement member for preventing vertical movement of the tensioning mechanism, (d) an internal movably engageable engagement element for engaging with an engagement element of the tensioning mechanism, the engagement between the two components allowing the tensioning mechanism to rotate in a single direction relative to the waste capture component; and (e) a movably engageable drive element having an engagement element for engaging a carrier engagement member so that movement of the waste capture component is driven by movement of the carrier engagement member.

[0244] According to certain aspects, the waste capture component can include any size, shape or configuration to provide effective and efficient interaction with the tensioning mechanism so that the collected waste stream (e.g., cover sheet) is maintained in the taught configuration and the cover sheet can be efficiently collected. According to certain aspects, the waste capture component has a circular, annular, cylindrical, or tubular body shape. In some aspects, the waste capture component is configured so that it has an interior and an exterior, the interior having a sufficient size and shape to maintain the positioning of the tensioning mechanism therein.

[0245] According to some aspects of the present invention, it can be combined with any other aspect, embodiment or combination of aspects or embodiments described herein, and the waste capture component includes a waste collection surface. The waste collection surface can be any component suitable for collecting a waste collection flow (e.g., a cover sheet from an elongated drug carrier), which collects the waste collection flow by winding, gathering, compressing, folding or otherwise collecting the cover sheet in a relatively compact area. In some aspects, the waste collection surface is the outer surface or outer side surface of the waste capture component. In a general aspect, waste materials (e.g., cover sheet) are collected by winding about (e.g., around) the waste collection surface. In some aspects, the winding can result in the bobbin-shaped collection of the separated cover sheets. According to certain embodiments, the collection surface can be a cylindrical surface (e.g., annular surface) with a relatively flat surface so as to be similar to the surface of an empty bobbin. In some aspects, the waste collection surface can have a circumference, and the cover sheet is wound around the circumference. In some aspects, the waste collection surface provided for winding the consumed cover sheet is referred to as a winding surface in this article.

[0246] According to some aspects, which may be combined with any other aspect, embodiment, or combination of aspects or embodiments described herein, the waste capture component includes a fixed diameter winding surface, on which the waste stream (e.g., a cover sheet or, according to alternative embodiments, a substrate of an elongated drug carrier) is wound. That is, according to some aspects, the diameter of the waste capture component is non-variable and remains unchanged during operation of the device.

[0247] In some aspects, which may be combined with any other aspect, embodiment, or combination of aspects or embodiments described herein, the waste capture component may include one or more waste access points. In some aspects, the waste access point is an opening in the waste capture component, for example, an opening in the winding surface. The waste access point can take any shape or configuration that allows the waste stream (e.g., the cover sheet of the blister strip drug carrier) collected by the waste collector to pass from the inside of the waste capture component to the outside of the waste capture component (e.g., to the winding surface). In certain aspects, the waste access point may include, but is not limited to, a slit (which may also be referred to as a slot to describe a narrow opening in the waste capture component through which the waste stream can pass without significant additional space in the passage when the waste stream passes); a passage; an opening or cutout of any size, shape, or configuration; or any similar or equivalent device that allows the waste stream (e.g., the cover sheet) to pass from the inside of the waste capture component (where the tensioning mechanism may be located, typically including an element that the ends of the cover sheet can engage) to the outside of the waste capture component (e.g., the winding surface). According to general aspects of the invention described herein, the waste access point of the waste capture member of the second waste collector is a slot and is generally described herein as an entry slot.

[0248] According to certain aspects, the waste capture component comprises a plurality of waste access points. According to certain embodiments, which may be combined with any other aspect, embodiment, or combination of aspects or embodiments, the waste capture component comprises a single waste access point. According to certain embodiments, there are two waste access points within the waste capture component.

[0249] In some embodiments, which may be combined with any other aspect, embodiment, or combination of aspects or embodiments described herein, the waste capture component includes a locking engagement. The locking engagement may be any engagement having the following characteristics, which maintains the relationship between the waste capture component and the tensioning mechanism positioned in the waste capture component to prevent vertical movement of the tensioning mechanism when the waste capture component rotates. In some aspects, the locking engagement may be, but is not limited to, a tongue-and-groove mechanism, a lip engagement, a clamping mechanism, or a ridge mechanism that maintains the positioning of the tensioning mechanism relative to the waste capture component, but does not hinder the independent rotation of the tensioning mechanism and the independent rotation of the waste capture component. In some aspects, the locking engagement is a locking ridge, such as a (typically narrow) lip or ridge that extends at least partially around the interior of the waste capture component so that it can be received by a corresponding receiving element of the tensioning mechanism, or it may also or alternatively rest on a portion of the surface of an element of the tensioning mechanism so that the tensioning mechanism is held in place, preventing axial displacement of the tensioning mechanism without interfering with the rotational freedom of the tensioning mechanism. In some aspects, the lip or ridge extending around the circumference of the interior of the waste capture component is a continuous element that extends completely around the interior of the waste capture component to form a ring. In other aspects, the lip or ridge is discontinuous, forming an incomplete ring or a series of discrete ridges, such as about 2, about 3, about 4, about 5, about 6, about 7, or about 8 or more ridges (e.g., about 2 to 10, about 2 to 8, about 2 to 6, about 3 to 9, or about 3 to 7 ridges). The term "locking ridge" may be used herein to refer to this element of the waste capture component of the second waste collector.

[0250] According to certain aspects of the invention, the waste capture component includes a plurality of movably engageable components. In certain embodiments, a first of the plurality of movably engageable components can engage with a tensioning mechanism of the waste capture component, while a second of the plurality of movably engageable components can engage with a separate component of the dispenser (e.g., a carrier engagement member). In some aspects, the presence of the plurality of engaging components negates the necessity of a spring as a tensioning mechanism. In some aspects of the invention, no spring is present within the waste capture component.

[0251] According to certain aspects of the present invention, which may be combined with any other aspect, embodiment or combination of aspects or embodiments described herein, the waste capture component includes an inwardly positioned (interior) movably engaged engagement element. In some aspects, the movably engaged engagement element is located inside the waste capture component. In some embodiments, the engagement element can take any shape or form that enables the waste capture component to movably engage the tensioning mechanism, or more specifically, to achieve engagement of the tensioning mechanism so that the tensioning mechanism can only rotate in a single direction relative to the waste capture component. In some aspects, the internal movably engaged engagement element is a protrusion, a recess, a rod, an arm, a tooth, or any other similar or equivalent element that can be movably engaged with a complementary element of the tensioning mechanism. According to certain aspects of the present invention, the internal movably engaged engagement element of the waste capture component of the second waste collector is a set of internal teeth, such as the teeth of a common gear. Such a set of teeth may be referred to herein as the internal teeth of the waste capture component.

[0252] According to certain aspects of the invention, a waste capture component having a shape defining an interior or medial area and an exterior or exterior surface may have a bottom defining the interior or medial area and / or a component of the bottom of the waste capture component. As described elsewhere herein, a locking ridge is positioned above the bottom or seat of the waste capture component. The inner teeth of the waste capture component are located inside the waste capture component, surrounding the inner wall of the waste capture component, and located above or on the bottom or seat. In some aspects, the bottom or seat of the waste capture component has an opening at its center. According to certain aspects, this opening can facilitate proper positioning of the waste capture component, allowing the waste capture component to be positioned within the inner containment assembly and within the inner containment assembly and the base cover by means of the studs of the inner containment assembly.

[0253] In certain embodiments, which may be combined with any other aspect, embodiment, or combination of aspects or embodiments described herein, the waste capture component may include a movably engaged element including an engagement element positioned on the periphery of the waste capture component. In some aspects, there are two engagement elements on the waste capture component: one located inside the waste capture component and the other located outside the waste capture component. In some aspects, the movably engaged element outside the waste capture component may include any element that can be driven by another component of the dispensing mechanism (e.g., a carrier engagement member). In some aspects, the movably engaged element may be a conveyor, a rod, a switch, an engageable wheel, etc. In some aspects, the movably engaged element may be in the form of a wheel including an engagement element that can engage with a corresponding engagement unit of one or more other components (e.g., a carrier engagement member). In some aspects, the engagement element may be a protrusion or depression of any shape or size that can movably engage with a corresponding protrusion or depression of the component to be engaged (e.g., an element of the carrier engagement member). In some aspects, the engagement unit is a tooth and the driver is a gear. The engagement elements on the waste capture component are typically gear teeth that are movably engageable with gears and gear teeth of another component within the larger device in which the waste capture component is located. In some aspects, the other component is a carrier engagement member of a medication dispenser.

[0254] According to certain embodiments, the gear teeth of the waste capture component can be movably engaged with the gear teeth of the carrier engagement member, and the gear teeth of the waste capture component are driven by the gear teeth of the carrier engagement member. In certain aspects, the carrier engagement member is driven by a propeller. In certain other aspects, the carrier engagement member is driven by an intermediate driver. In other aspects, the propeller can be driven directly by the driver or indirectly through an intermediate driver.

[0255] According to certain aspects of the invention, the second waste collector is movably engaged with the carrier engagement member, and each second waste collector includes a plurality of components to produce an assembly including a component capable of generating tension on the cover sheet and the cover sheet collector. In some aspects, the component capable of generating tension on the cover sheet is located within the cover sheet collector, and wherein the two components share a common axis of rotation, and wherein sufficient movement of the carrier engagement member results in movement of the second waste collector.

[0256] In certain embodiments, which may be combined with any other aspect, embodiment, or combination of aspects or embodiments described herein, the tensioning mechanism of the second waste collector may include any mechanism, component, device, or element capable of creating and maintaining tension in the waste stream to be collected by the second waste collector. In certain aspects, creating and maintaining tension in the waste stream facilitates the functional operation of the waste collector.

[0257] In some aspects, the tensioning mechanism can be a single component, such as but not limited to a winding wheel or any other suitable movable element that is capable of exerting a force on the waste stream such that the waste stream is extended or forced to take an indirect path to the waste collection surface of the waste capture element and generate tension, (elastic element, compression element, etc.). In some aspects, the tensioning mechanism in the form of a single element can be an expandable and / or compressible wheel having flexible members that expand to generate tension on the waste stream wrapped or wrapped around them.

[0258] In an alternative aspect, which may be combined with any other aspect, embodiment, or combination of aspects or embodiments described herein, the tensioning mechanism may include a plurality of elements to form an assembly of elements. According to such an embodiment, the tensioning mechanism may be referred to as a tensioning assembly.

[0259] According to certain embodiments, which may be combined with any other aspect, embodiment, or combination of aspects or embodiments described herein, the tensioning mechanism may include a central connecting element (e.g., a seat) as a single component to which multiple elements of the tensioning mechanism are attached. In certain aspects, the tensioning mechanism may include an axle defining an axis of rotation about which the waste capture component is rotatable. In some embodiments, the tensioning mechanism may include a connecting element for connecting to a collected material, such as to a waste stream (e.g., a cover sheet of a drug carrier), the element serving as a connection point between the tensioning mechanism and the waste stream. The collected material (e.g., the waste stream) is typically embodied herein as a cover sheet of a drug carrier, but as described elsewhere herein, the collection mechanism is capable of use within a non-drug dispenser device and is capable of collecting other elongated media streams therein, whereby it is capable of connecting to a waste stream other than a cover sheet. In some aspects, the tensioning mechanism can include a cover gripping element, which is an element capable of guiding, gripping, or guiding and gripping the waste stream as it moves within the second waste collector (and more specifically as it moves within the tensioning mechanism positioned within the waste capture component of the waste collector), the waste stream being generally embodied herein as a cover sheet of a drug carrier, but the element can also be capable of guiding and or gripping other waste streams besides the cover sheet. In some aspects, which can be combined with any other aspect, embodiment, or combination of aspects or embodiments, the tensioning mechanism can include an engagement element capable of engaging with an engagement element (e.g., internal teeth) that is movably engaged with the interior or interior of the waste capture component.

[0260] In some aspects of the present invention, which may be combined with any aspect, embodiment or combination of aspects or embodiments described herein, the tensioning mechanism of the second waste collector includes a central connecting element. In certain embodiments, the central connecting element operates to fix multiple functional elements of the tensioning mechanism together to permanently establish their positions relative to each other. The central connecting element can take any form or shape that can fix multiple functional elements of the tensioning mechanism together, for example, it can take the shape of a plate or disk with a circular or geometric shape. In some aspects, the central connecting element is in the shape of a disk. In certain aspects, one or more elements of the tensioning mechanism may be attached to a single side of the central connecting element. In alternative aspects, one or more elements of the tensioning mechanism may be attached to multiple sides (e.g., top and bottom sides) of the central connecting element. In some aspects, the central connecting element has an element attached to its upper side or top side, which includes one, a combination or each of a shaft rod, a cover connecting element and a cover gripping element. In some aspects, there is no cover gripping element. In some aspects, the central connecting element has one or more elements attached to its underside or bottom side, which element includes an engagement piece for engaging the waste capture component. In some embodiments, this positioning of the top side element and this positioning of the bottom side element exist. In some aspects, the central connecting element is a seat. The term "seat" in this context is a term generally used in this article to describe this component of the tensioning mechanism.

[0261] According to certain embodiments, which may be combined with any other aspect, embodiment, or combination of aspects or embodiments described herein, the shaft of the tensioning mechanism of the second waste collector defines an axis of rotation about which the waste capture component of the second waste collector is rotatable. In some aspects, the shaft is located at the center of the seat of the tensioning mechanism. In some aspects, the shaft is an integral part of the central connecting element and extends upward from the central connecting element. In some aspects, the shaft is formed separately and attached to the central connecting element. In some embodiments, the shaft is static. In some aspects, the shaft provides an axis about which the waste capture component can rotate and further helps to position the waste capture component relative to the tensioning mechanism and vice versa. In some aspects, the shaft helps to properly position the waste capture component so that the waste flow is effectively wrapped around the waste capture component without interfering with the proper operation of the second waste collector. According to certain aspects, the static nature of the shaft enables the cover to be tensioned during assembly.

[0262] According to some aspects of the present invention, the tensioning mechanism also comprises an element designed to connect and firmly keep the waste stream end. In some aspects, the waste stream is the cover sheet of a strippable elongated strip drug carrier. In some aspects, the connecting element is a clip, a hook, a squeezer, a slit, a slot, a post or other similar or equivalent elements, which can form a firm connection with the end of the waste sheet. According to some aspects, the fixing mechanism that is used to keep the connection with the end of the cover sheet waste stream is a post that can receive and keep the annular end of the cover sheet. When the cover sheet is applied with a pulling force (for example, a tensioning force), the sealing ring end of the cover sheet can be placed on the post and kept. This element of the tensioning mechanism can be referred to as the lid connecting element in this article.

[0263] According to certain aspects, which may be combined with any other aspects, embodiments or combinations of aspects or embodiments described herein, the tensioning mechanism includes an element attached to the seat tensioning mechanism, which can help guide the waste stream (e.g., cover sheet) from the cover connection element (e.g., an element that can be attached to the waste stream) through the tensioning mechanism and out through the entry slit of the waste capture component to the surface of the waste capture component. The element can be any element that can provide additional support for the waste stream sheet so that the waste stream sheet is properly guided from the cover connection element to the winding surface of the waste capture component. In some aspects, the element can be a column, fin, sheet or plate, etc., which has a surface that conforms to the waste stream (e.g., cover sheet) when it passes through to a limited extent. In some aspects, this limited gripping provides an additional element for tensioning the waste stream, and further provides proper positioning of the cover sheet, wherein a device is provided to reduce or prevent the cover sheet from sliding out of its intended path during collection (e.g., during winding). In some aspects, the additional tensioning element is a curved plate comprising a surface that provides limited gripping when the cover sheet passes through. In some aspects, the surface may be coated with a gripping member, such as a rubber surface. In some aspects, the surface may be coated with an adhesive element, such as gum, glue, rubber cement, etc. In some aspects, the surface can be designed to include a rough or uneven surface to support gripping, such as having a sandy coating, a series of protrusions (such as spikes or bumps) or a series of serrations. In some aspects, the element of the tensioning mechanism of the second waste collector can be a curved plate with a serrated surface. The element may be referred to as a cover gripping element or a bubble cap guide. According to certain aspects, the element is capable of maintaining tension on the waste stream. In some aspects, there is no cover gripping element.

[0264] According to certain aspects of the present invention, the tensioning mechanism may also include an element that can engage with an engagement element (e.g., an inner tooth) that can be movably engaged with the interior or inner part of the waste capture component. In some aspects, the element can be any element with the following design, which is suitable for combining with the engagement element (e.g., an inner tooth) that can be movably engaged with the interior of the waste capture component. In some aspects, the element is a set of columns, pins, wings, arms, etc. In some aspects, the element is designed to have a fixed shape. In alternative aspects, the component is designed to have a certain degree of flexibility. In some aspects, the component has different degrees of flexibility over its length or most of its length. In some aspects, the component can be operated to rotate the tensioning mechanism only in a single direction relative to the waste capture component. According to some embodiments, the tensioning mechanism is bidirectional. According to certain aspects of the present invention, the component is a flexible ratchet arm that has a certain degree of flexibility in the non-central end of each arm. In operation, the flexible ratchet arm of the tensioning mechanism can movably engage the inner teeth of the waste capture component. Early in each operation of the dispenser device, the flexible ratchet arm can allow the waste capture component and the ratchet mechanism of the second waste collector to rotate independently. Typically, when effective tension is reached, the arm can lockably engage the internal teeth of the waste capture component so that the two elements then rotate in unison. The operation of the system in a dispenser device is further illustrated in a set of exemplary drawings provided herein.

[0265] In one embodiment, a ratchet arm of the tensioning assembly may be provided for ratcheting engagement with internal teeth of the waste capture component. The ratcheting engagement allows the tensioning mechanism to rotate relative to the waste capture component in only one rotational direction (e.g., only clockwise or only counterclockwise), while rotation in the other direction is prevented by the ratcheting interaction between the internal teeth of the tensioning mechanism and the ratchet arm of the seat. In some aspects, the tensioning mechanism is bidirectional.

[0266] The tensioning mechanism can be located within the waste capture component. In addition, the tensioning mechanism can be arranged concentrically with the waste capture component. In one aspect, the waste capture component is mounted on the shaft so that the waste capture component can be rotatable clockwise or counterclockwise (counterclockwise) relative to the seat. The cover connecting element provides an anchor to hold the cover sheet at the sealing ring of the drug carrier. As previously described, the cover gripping element (if present) can include a serrated surface to guide and grip the cover sheet when the cover sheet moves within the waste capture component during the tensioning process. The ratchet arm can be located on the bottom surface of the seat. The ratchet arm can remain engaged with the internal toothed ratchet of the waste capture component so that the seat can only rotate in one direction relative to the waste capture component. In operation, the unidirectional movement of the tensioning mechanism can provide the desired tension amount on the cover sheet. The second waste collector (also referred to as the winding assembly as described above) can be driven by the carrier engagement member through the gear teeth during the advancement of the blister. In use, the winding assembly can help peel off the different drug dosage portions of each drug carrier and further help collect the resulting waste stream.

[0267] The dispensing mechanism may include two winding assemblies for individually peeling off different drug dosage portions of each drug carrier. In use, the dose storage area of ​​the drug strip (e.g., the blister pocket of the blister strip drug carrier) is opened at or near a location aligned with and accessible to or otherwise closely associated with the grid of the flow guide. As will be further described elsewhere herein, the tensioning assembly can help open each dose storage area within the second waste collector when the tensioning assembly applies tension to the cover sheet.

[0268] As previously mentioned, the waste capture component can be located on the outside of the tensioning mechanism, around or otherwise located on the outside of the tensioning mechanism in one aspect, and is rotatable around the same axis of rotation as the tensioning mechanism. In some aspects, as previously mentioned, the waste capture component can include a waste collection surface for receiving a waste stream (for example, a waste element of an opened drug carrier). As previously mentioned, the waste sheet can be a cover sheet of a drug carrier. However, in an alternative embodiment, the waste sheet collected can be a substrate of a drug carrier. As previously mentioned, the waste capture component is an independent embodiment of the present invention, and is a mechanism that can be used in many types of devices, and a medicine dispenser is only an embodiment. In this respect, the mechanism is better described as a device for collecting an elongated medium, which is a medium of many possible types, and a waste stream is only an example, and the cover sheet of a blister strip drug carrier is only an example of this waste stream.

[0269] In one embodiment, the waste capture member is mounted about the shaft such that the waste capture member is rotatable in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction relative to the seat unless locked by a ratchet mechanism of the tensioning mechanism.

[0270] According to certain aspects of the present invention, alternative types of waste collectors are provided for collecting different waste streams in the same dispenser. As described herein, the waste collector is referred to as a first waste collector. According to one embodiment, the first waste collector can collect the waste stream generated after the drug dose of the drug carrier that is retained therein is removed. In some aspects, the waste stream is a substrate of an elongated drug carrier, such as a substrate of a blister strip. According to alternative embodiments, the waste stream can be a cover sheet. In some aspects, the dispenser of the present invention may include one or more first waste collectors and one or more second waste collectors.

[0271] In one aspect, the dispensing mechanism includes a single or common first waste collector. In this embodiment, the same waste stream (e.g., substrate or cover sheet) from each drug carrier is collected by a single first waste collector. In alternative aspects, the dispensing mechanism may include two or more first waste collectors. This first waste collector is generally referred to as one or more "wrapping wheels" in this article, for example, a wrapping wheel for each drug carrier present in the dispenser, which is used to wrap two waste streams (e.g., substrates stripped separately from multiple drug carriers).

[0272] According to some embodiments, which may be combined with any other aspect, embodiment, or combination of aspects or embodiments described herein, the first waste collector can collect the waste stream by any suitable means (e.g., gathering, folding, winding / wrapping, etc.). In some aspects, the first waste collector collects the waste stream (e.g., substrate) by winding or wrapping.

[0273] In some aspects of the invention, the first waste collector wraps around the central point of the substrate and may alternatively be referred to as a wrapping wheel. In some aspects, the wrapping wheel has multiple elements that contribute to its efficient and successful function. In certain aspects, the wrapping wheel (first waste collector) includes a wrapping component, a waste entry slit, and gear teeth. The multi-component first waste collector element may also be referred to as a wrapping assembly herein.

[0274] According to some embodiments, which can be combined with any other aspect, embodiment or combination of aspects or embodiments described herein, the wrapping wheel includes a post, a tube, a bar, a pin or other similar or equivalent component around which the waste stream is wrapped. According to certain aspects, the element is an elongated element having sufficient length to provide a surface area where the waste stream (e.g., the substrate of the blister strip) can be collected by wrapping around it. In some aspects, the element can be described as a pin, and the element around which the waste stream is wrapped is generally referred to herein as a drive pin or a pin of the first waste collector or a wrapping wheel or a wrapping assembly.

[0275] According to some embodiments, which can be combined with any other aspect, embodiment or combination of aspects or embodiments described herein, the pin of the wrapping wheel or the pin of the wrapping assembly or the pin of the first waste collector includes an element for fixing the end of the waste stream, so that when the remainder of the waste stream is wrapped (for example, the empty substrate of the blister strip drug carrier), the waste stream can be firmly maintained. As previously described, the component provides access to the pin to fix the waste stream to the pin, and the waste stream wraps around the pin. Therefore, the fixing element can be referred to as the waste entry point of the first waste collector. The waste entry point of the first waste collector can be any way to fix the waste stream to the element that the waste stream will wrap around it, wrap around or coil. The fixing mechanism can be, for example but not limited to, a clip, a hook, a squeezing mechanism, a clamping mechanism, etc. In certain embodiments, the fixing mechanism is a slit in the first waste collector drive pin. According to certain embodiments, as the wrapping wheel rotates during operation of the dispenser, the substrate end of the drug carrier is positioned in the slot and secured therein, and then the remainder of the emptied substrate is wrapped around the wrapping wheel (eg, more specifically around the pin).

[0276] According to some embodiments, which may be combined with any other aspect, embodiment or combination of aspects or embodiments described herein, the wrapping wheel includes a movably engaged component for movably engaging with another component of the dispenser. In some aspects, the other component may be an intermediate component such as another movably engaged component. In some aspects, the other movably engaged component may be any component suitable for transmitting or receiving a driving force or a motion force. In some aspects, the component is a gear and may be an intermediate gear, such as described herein as an intermediate gear, a secondary intermediate gear or a tertiary intermediate gear. The gear may be a circular mechanism with an engagement element around its outer circumference so that they operate as previously described and are generally embodied as gear teeth. In some aspects, the gear with gear teeth is arranged around the bottom of the drive pin of the first waste collector (e.g., the wrapping wheel). Therefore, when receiving a driving force from a corresponding movably engaged component appropriately arranged, the wrapping wheel can rotate to wrap the connected waste stream around the drive pin. The first waste collector can be driven by the gear teeth of the carrier engagement member through the intermediate gear. The use of intermediate gears is further described as part of the description of the figures incorporated herein.

[0277] In some aspects, the dispenser includes a component for receiving and guiding the airflow in the dispenser. The component is described herein as a guide. In some aspects, the guide is a single unit that functionally engages with the drug taking body so that when the user places the body orifice on the opening of the drug taking body and inhales, an airflow received by the guide is generated. In certain embodiments, it can be combined with any other aspect, embodiment, or combination of aspects or embodiments, and the guide is capable of receiving an airflow, in certain aspects, dividing the airflow into separate airflows, guiding each airflow to allow each airflow to entrain the drug to be dispensed, and in some aspects, keeping each different airflow including the entrained drug separated from each other until the airflow leaves the dispenser.

[0278] According to one aspect of the present invention, a flow guide may be provided to direct an airflow toward one or more accessible medicament doses (e.g., medicament doses within an opened blister pocket of a blister strip medicament carrier) to release the powder contained therein; the released powder is then directed to a medicament access body (e.g., a mouth cover) for inhalation by the patient.

[0279] According to one aspect of the invention, the disclosure relates to a flow guide comprising: an inlet compartment for receiving air from outside a drug dispenser, an outlet compartment, and a pair of airflow guides for each drug carrier present in the dispenser, such that the pair of airflow guides is paired with a set of one inlet compartment and one outlet compartment. In some aspects, there is an inlet compartment for each drug carrier present in the dispenser. In some aspects, there is an outlet compartment for each drug carrier present in the dispenser. In some aspects, there is an inlet compartment for each drug carrier present in the dispenser, but there is only a single outlet compartment.

[0280] According to one aspect of the invention, which may be combined with any other aspect, embodiment or combination of aspects or embodiments described herein, the flow guide comprises a compartment for receiving external air that enters the dispenser due to negative pressure generated in the dispenser by inhalation of the patient through the drug taking body of the dispenser. In such an embodiment, the external air that enters the dispenser due to negative pressure generated in the dispenser by inhalation of the patient through the drug taking body of the dispenser enters directly into one or more inlet compartments, as will be described herein.

[0281] According to some aspects of the present invention, the dispenser includes a single inlet compartment. In some aspects, the inlet compartment receiving air from the inlet vent in the shell described elsewhere herein defines the only entry point for external air to enter the dispenser. According to one aspect of the present invention, for each of the multiple drug carriers present in the dispenser, there may be a separate inlet compartment. According to some embodiments, the airflow entering the dispenser through the inlet vent when the user inhales to cause negative pressure in the device is divided into separate airflows, which are directed to separate inlet compartments, and each drug carrier present in the dispenser has an inlet compartment. In such embodiments, multiple inlet compartments may sometimes be referred to as inlet channels. In some aspects, when air enters the inside of the dispenser through the inlet vent from the outside of the dispenser, the air is immediately separated, and the airflow is immediately separated into separate inlet compartments. The function of one or more inlet compartments is to guide the airflow toward the appropriately positioned dosage storage area (if present) of the drug carrier so as to entrain the medicine held therein.

[0282] In some aspects, any one or more inlet compartments can be of any shape, size or configuration suitable for receiving an airflow from outside the dispenser and directing the airflow to a path for entraining a dose of medication and carrying the entrained medication to a user. In some aspects, the compartments have an oval, square, circular, rectangular, trapezoidal, elliptical or other such geometric shape. In some aspects, the inlet compartment can include an element that directs the airflow along a desired path or direction, such as a wing, baffle, spiral, etc. In some aspects, the additional path guide is not present in the inlet compartment.

[0283] According to one aspect of the present invention, which may be combined with any other aspect, embodiment or combination of aspects or embodiments described herein, the guide comprises an outlet compartment. In some aspects, the outlet compartment may be a single outlet compartment, so that there is a single airflow leaving the dispenser. In this embodiment, the single airflow may entrain the medicine from one or more dosage storage areas of one or more drug carriers. In certain other aspects, the outlet compartment may be divided into a plurality of outlet compartments, sometimes referred to as outlet channels. As used herein, the term "outlet compartment" is used to describe an element of a guide that guides an airflow out of a dispenser through a drug taking body or more specifically through a drug taking body opening. The term "outlet compartment" may be used to describe a single passage or a plurality of outlet channels leaving the dispenser, which together provide an outlet for a plurality of airflows leaving the dispenser. In some aspects, in the presence of a plurality of outlet channels, the number of outlet channels present in the guide matches the number of drug carriers present in the dispenser. According to certain embodiments, the guide comprises at least two, at least three or at least four outlet channels. In some aspects, the guide comprises a single outlet channel (e.g., a single outlet compartment without a plurality of channels). In some aspects, the flow guide comprises about two outlet channels. In some aspects, the flow guide comprises an outlet channel for each drug carrier present in the dispenser. According to certain embodiments, the outlet compartment, which may be divided into a plurality of outlet channels, is configured to deliver the drug to the patient, for example, to deliver the airflow comprising the entrained drug to the user through the drug taking body or more specifically through an opening in the drug taking body.

[0284] In some aspects of the present invention, outlet compartment or outlet channel can be any size, shape or structure to provide the outlet of the air flow for one or more medicines that contain entrainment, make this air flow leave dispenser and arrive user.In some aspects, outlet compartment or outlet channel have oval, square, circle, rectangle, trapezoid, ellipse or other such geometric shapes.In some aspects, outlet compartment or outlet channel can comprise the element that guides air flow along desired path or direction, for example wing, baffle, spiral etc.In some aspects, there is not this extra path guide in outlet compartment or outlet channel.

[0285] According to one aspect of the present invention, which may be combined with any other aspect, embodiment or combination of aspects or embodiments described herein, the guide comprises one or more airflow guides to allow airflow to leave the inlet compartment or enter the outlet compartment or outlet channel. In a common embodiment, a pair of airflow guides are incorporated into the dispenser, one airflow guide provides an outlet of the inlet compartment, and the other airflow guide provides an inlet of the outlet channel. In some aspects, a pair of airflow guides are associated with one inlet compartment and one outlet compartment or channel of each group. Alternatively, in some aspects, there is an airflow guide for each inlet compartment, but when there is only a single outlet compartment, there is only a single airflow guide. In many aspects, the airflow guide is positioned between the areas that guide the inlet airflow before reaching the dose storage area of ​​the drug carrier, and the second airflow guide is positioned in the area that guides the outlet airflow after passing through the dose storage area of ​​the drug carrier (e.g., after entraining the drug dose in the airflow). According to certain embodiments, the inlet airflow path and the outlet airflow path are connected only by a pair of airflow guides. In some aspects, the pair of airflow guides are separated by the space where the dose storage area of ​​the drug carrier exists. The pair of air flow guides may be provided for communication with the opened pocket of the drug carrier so as to enable entrainment of the powder by air drawn in through the inlet vent via the inlet compartment, as will be described.

[0286] According to certain embodiments, the airflow guide is an opening appropriately positioned within the wall or separation of the guide, which helps to guide the airflow from one area of ​​the guide to another area. More specifically, when the dose storage area of ​​the drug carrier has been delivered to a position where the dose is available for distribution (application) in the dispenser, the airflow guides can be positioned so that they are oriented to the two distal ends or two distal sides (e.g., opposite ends or opposite sides) of the drug storage area of ​​the drug carrier. In some aspects, the drug storage area can have any suitable shape, such as a capsule shape, a circular shape, a rectangular shape, a square shape, an oval shape, or any shape suitable for allowing airflow to entrain the drug held therein. According to certain aspects, one airflow guide is positioned within a wall of an inlet compartment while a second airflow guide is positioned within a wall of an outlet compartment or outlet passageway such that the two airflow guides represent a set of guides and airflow exiting the inlet compartment through a first airflow guide of the set of airflow guides passes sufficiently through, past, over, into or around a dose storage area of ​​a drug carrier appropriately aligned with the first airflow guide so as to entrain the drug held therein and pass through a second airflow guide positioned within a wall of the outlet compartment or outlet passageway.

[0287] As previously described, the dose storage area of ​​the drug carrier (e.g., the blister pocket of the blister strip drug carrier) can have any suitable shape, including shapes having a square, circular, oval or rectangular profile. The specific form of the blister pocket (including shape and cross-sectional area) can affect the airflow characteristics, particularly the airflow resistance and pressure drop experienced at the open bag when the patient inhales through the guide member of the present invention, so the positioning of the airflow guide can be considered during the design to produce a suitable airflow for entraining the drug held in the dose storage area of ​​the specific drug carrier. According to certain alternative aspects, the positioning of the airflow guides makes their positioning suitable for drug dose storage areas of various shapes and sizes of various drug carriers.

[0288] In some aspects, the airflow guide can include any shape. In some aspects, the airflow guide is circular, square, rectangular, triangular, trapezoidal, or any other such geometric shape or other shape sufficient to allow air to pass therethrough. It is understood that the size of the airflow guide can affect the amount of air, and can also or alternatively affect the speed of the air that can pass therethrough. It is also understood that the shape and / or design characteristics of the airflow guide can affect the airflow pattern generated when the air passes through the airflow guide. It may be preferred and advantageous to select the size, shape and design of the airflow guide according to the desired airflow characteristics to promote the efficient and effective removal of medicine from the medicine storage area. For example, in some aspects, it can be combined with any other aspects, embodiments or combinations of aspects or embodiments described herein, and the guide can also promote the deaggregation and / or depolymerization of medicine (e.g., released powder), which is entrained by airflow and transported therein. The airflow guide may be further divided within its larger boundaries to include one or more simple openings (i.e., apertures), or alternatively, in some aspects, certain features of the airflow guide may be provided to it to modify the airflow pattern, such as including "cross-piece" (e.g., cross-shaped) dividers within the airflow guide. According to alternative embodiments, this subdivision of the larger opening includes a cross-hatched design (e.g., a sieve-like design), a target design, a pie-like design, or any such similar or equivalent design, which may appropriately modify the airflow pattern or appropriately affect the drug entrained within the airflow, such as to promote its deaggregation and / or deaggregation.

[0289] As previously described, a pair of airflow guides may be provided for each set of, e.g., inlet and outlet compartments and / or channels to allow airflow to receive and guide doses from a dose storage area of ​​a drug carrier (e.g., a blister pocket of each blister strip drug carrier). The exact orientation of the airflow guides will be determined to some extent by the shape of the dose storage area (e.g., blister pocket) within the drug carrier and the desired function of entraining drug powder particles in the airflow introduced into the pocket as briefly described above. According to a specific embodiment, which may be combined with any other aspect, embodiment, or combination of aspects or embodiments described herein, the opened blister pockets of the blister strip drug carrier have a generally elongated oval profile, and the airflow guides are positioned above opposite ends of the elongated oval opened pocket profile.

[0290] According to certain aspects of the present invention, the flow guide can be located between the drug taking body and the position (e.g., the open position) where there is an open dose storage area of ​​the drug carrier (e.g., a blister pocket of a blister strip drug carrier). This position can be referred to as the open position or the open place; the open position or the open place in the device is the position where the dose storage area (e.g., the blister pocket) is used.

[0291] In one aspect, the guide comprises an opening in communication with the drug taking body. In some aspects, the opening comprises a component that helps to attach the drug taking body (e.g., a mouth) to the guide. The attachment can be, for example, by a clip, a snap fit, a thread, or a similar or equivalent attachment method. In some embodiments, the opening comprises an edge that can snap fit with the drug taking body (e.g., a mouth opening).

[0292] In certain embodiments, which may be combined with any other aspect, embodiment, or combination of aspects or embodiments described herein, the medicament access body opening (e.g., mouth opening) is positioned adjacent to the guide member opening. Thus, during use of the dispenser, the patient inhales through the medicament access body opening, which creates a negative pressure in the guide member, causing air to be drawn in from outside the dispenser device through the inlet vent and into the inlet chamber, or in an alternative embodiment, directly into one or more inlet compartments of the guide member. The airflow is then directed from the inlet compartment to the outlet compartment by the airflow guide, during which the airflow passes over, through, around, into, or otherwise passes through an open dose storage area of ​​a suitably positioned medicament carrier (e.g., a suitably positioned blister pocket of a blister pack) to entrain the medicament powder contents therein.

[0293] In certain aspects of the invention, which may be combined with any other aspect, embodiment, or combination of aspects or embodiments described herein, the inlet compartment and the outlet compartment may be disposed adjacent to one another such that an airflow may be directed from the inlet compartment to the outlet compartment through an open dose storage area (e.g., a blister pocket) of a drug carrier to entrain the drug powder contents therein. In some aspects, the inlet compartment and the outlet compartment (e.g., one or more inlet flow paths and one or more outlet flow paths) may be disposed side by side (i.e., adjacent or proximate) to one another such that when the open or otherwise accessible dose storage area (e.g., an open blister pocket of a blister strip drug carrier) is positioned adjacent thereto, an airflow may be directed from the inlet compartment through the open blister pocket to the outlet compartment (e.g., one of a plurality of outlet channels) to entrain the drug powder contents therein. Thus, such entrained drug particles may be transported in the airflow from the inlet compartment to the outlet compartment.

[0294] In some aspects, the guide can provide a path for inlet air to evacuate the drug from the dose storage area of ​​the drug carrier (e.g., the blister pocket of a blister strip drug carrier) during inhalation. In such aspects, the drug leaves the blister pocket and enters the guide through the airflow guide, which helps the drug powder to de-aggregate and / or de-aggregate before being inhaled.

[0295] The medicine in the blister bag enters the airflow guide on either side of the guide. The outer compartment can locate the medicine taking body. In one aspect, the inlet compartment and the outlet compartment can each include one or more airflow guides (e.g., cross-shaped). According to one aspect, the airflow in the inlet compartment of the suction guide mainly flows through, basically only flows through or only flows through the inlet vent. During use, the patient inhales through the medicine taking body, which produces negative pressure in the guide, so that air is inhaled and enters one or more inlet compartments from the outside of the dispenser through the inlet vent. Then the airflow is guided to the outlet compartment (or guided to one of a plurality of outlet channels in an alternative embodiment) from the inlet compartment by the opened blister bag, to carry the medicine powder content therein. In some aspects, when there are a plurality of drug carriers, a plurality of outlet channels allow each medicine to be kept in a separate airflow until the airflow leaves the dispenser and reaches the user. In some aspects, a plurality of outlet channels each leave the dispenser by the same opening in the medicine taking body. In some aspects, after entraining the separate medicaments, each of the multiple airflows merge and exit the dispenser through a single outlet compartment (eg, a single outlet channel).

[0296] According to certain embodiments, the guide may also include a surface for guiding the drug carrier, which is located on an outer area of ​​the guide that is not responsible for the airflow that includes and entrains the drug. The surface may include slots, edges, slits, bends, compressions, ridges or other types of protrusions, or other similar or equivalent elements, which are suitable for affecting the direction of the drug carrier or maintaining the proper direction or positioning of the drug carrier.

[0297] According to certain embodiments, during inhalation use of the dispenser device by a patient, for example, the inlet vent provides the primary or sole entry point for airflow into the medicament dispenser device, particularly into an open dose storage area (e.g., a blister pocket of a blister strip medicament carrier). Accordingly, suitably, no other air inlet or other air entry point is provided to the housing, and the housing itself provides a relatively airtight barrier to entry of external air therein by any other means.

[0298] According to certain embodiments, the distribution mechanism can include any number of inlet vents with any shape or design, so that the air outside the device is sucked into the inlet compartment of the guide. It is understood that the number of air inlets can affect the volume and speed of the air sucked into the distributor. In addition, it is understood that the shape, design and orientation of the air inlet can affect the volume and speed of the air sucked by the air inlet. In some aspects, the distribution mechanism can include a plurality of inlet vents, such as approximately 2 to approximately 30 inlet vents, such as approximately 3 to approximately 25 vents, approximately 4 to approximately 20 inlet vents, such as approximately 5 to approximately 15 inlet vents, such as approximately 2, approximately 6, approximately 10, approximately 14, approximately 18, approximately 22, approximately 26 or approximately 30 vents. In some aspects, the shape of any one vent can be identical with any other one or more vents. In some aspects, the shape of any one vent can be different from any other one or more vents. In some aspects, the vent can have a circle, square, rectangle, oval, square round or other geometric shape. In some aspects, the vents can have an elongated shape of a slit or slot. In some aspects, such elongated shapes as slits or slots can be straight or curved. In some aspects, the slit or slot-shaped vents are arranged to be oriented one above the other to form a stack of vents that are relatively close to each other and close to the drug access body.

[0299] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, there is a single flow guide for use with two drug carriers in a dispenser. In some aspects, the flow guide may define more than one inlet compartment and outlet compartment, such as multiple inlet compartments and multiple outlet channels (as is typical in embodiments of the dispenser), wherein the flow guide is designed to dispense drug from more than one open dose storage area at a time (e.g., from open dose storage areas of multiple drug carriers (e.g., open blister pockets of multiple blister strip drug carriers)). In one aspect, the flow guide described herein is suitable for use in a drug dispenser device for delivering drug powder from an open blister pocket of each of a plurality of drug carriers, the flow guide comprising a plurality of pairs of airflow guides, each pair being associated with an open blister pocket of one of the plurality of drug carriers. Thus, for example, in a drug dispenser herein arranged to dispense powder from a pair of open pockets, each pair is associated with a single elongated form of drug carrier, and each of the pairs is associated with a pair of inlet channels and outlet channels.

[0300] According to one aspect, the dispensing mechanism can include a flow guide for each opened dose storage area of ​​a drug carrier (e.g., an opened blister pocket of a blister strip drug carrier). In such an embodiment, the dispensing mechanism can include two flow guides for separately dispensing drugs from two drug carriers. In one aspect, the flow guides can be different for each drug carrier and can be positioned adjacent or proximate to each other, such as positioned in a side-by-side orientation relative to each other.

[0301] The guide can be designed as a single integral component, or as a part of a subassembly or adjacent component, and is typically formed as a molded part. The guide and similarly any flow channel or compartment therein (e.g., an inlet compartment, an outlet compartment, or an outlet channel) can be provided as an integral molded component. In an alternative aspect, multiple guides or separate compartments within the guide can be separated by partitions. In another aspect, the guide can be molded separately and then combined together during the assembly process. The guide or separate compartments within the guide can be combined by permanent bonding methods, including but not limited to ultrasonic welding and ultraviolet curing adhesives, etc. According to some embodiments, during the assembly process, the guide can be permanently bonded to the inner receiving assembly at the notch.

[0302] In one aspect, the guide may include a pair of inlet compartments and a pair of outlet compartments for each drug carrier. The pair of outlet compartments may be referred to as outlet channels. In one aspect, the guide may be common to each drug carrier. In certain embodiments, the guide may include a common inlet compartment and different outlet channels (which together may be referred to as outlet compartments) for each drug carrier. In certain embodiments, the guide may include different inlet compartments and a common outlet compartment. In certain other embodiments, the guide may include distinct separate inlet compartments and distinct separate outlet channels for each drug carrier present in the dispenser. In one aspect, the different dose portions of each drug carrier are not combined or mixed with any other different dose portions of any other drug carrier in the guide. According to certain aspects of the present invention, it may be combined with any other aspect, embodiment, or combination of aspects or embodiments, and the separate airflows are entrained with drugs from each opened dose storage unit (e.g., from each drug carrier), and the separate airflows including the entrained drugs are separately maintained until each airflow leaves the dispenser or also reaches or alternatively reaches the user. According to alternative embodiments, a separate airflow may entrain medicament from each opened dosage storage unit (e.g., from each of a plurality of medicament carriers) and, after having entrained medicament, combine with other airflows to produce a single airflow that exits the dispenser, or as a mixed single airflow also or alternatively reaches the user.

[0303] In use, all airflow entering the flow guide passes through the inlet vent. In use, the airflow is then directed to one or more inlet compartments. In a common embodiment, the inlet compartment and the outlet compartment or outlet channel are positioned so that when the open blister pocket containing the drug of each drug carrier is positioned adjacent thereto, the airflow can be directed from the inlet compartment through the open blister pocket to the outlet compartment or outlet channel to entrain the drug and enable it to be transported from the inlet compartment to the outlet compartment in the airflow.

[0304] In some aspects, the guide is integral with one or more other components of the drug dispenser. In alternative aspects, the guide is separable from other components of the drug dispenser. In one aspect, as previously described, the guide is provided as a separable snap-fit ​​component of the drug dispenser, and the guide and / or the drug dispenser device is provided with snap-fit ​​features (e.g., located on the body of the dispenser device) to achieve this matching mode. In a common embodiment, the guide is arranged to be received by the drug dispenser at an intermediate position between the drug access bodies for delivering the drug in the form of inhalation by the patient; and an open position (which may also be referred to as an open position in this article), in which the open dose storage area of ​​the drug carrier (e.g., the open blister pocket of the blister strip drug carrier) is presented to the guide (i.e., its drug contents can be obtained and entrained in this open position).

[0305] According to embodiments of the dispenser described herein, the dispenser is designed so that all airflows entering the dispenser enter through the inlet vents, and all airflows passing through the inlet vents enter the guide. In some aspects, the guide can then be used to "split" the total airflow into a first portion and a second portion. It is therefore understood that in use, the total airflow entering the inlet vent is split into a) a first portion, which can be directed as a first airflow to a first opened dose storage area (e.g., an opened blister bag) of a first medicament carrier to entrain medicament powder, and b) a second portion, which can be directed as a second airflow to a second opened dose storage area (e.g., an opened blister bag) of a second medicament carrier to entrain medicament powder.

[0306] The guide member herein is suitable for use in a drug dispenser device through which a patient breathes (e.g., inhales) to generate all airflow through the guide member. In some aspects, the airflow is separated into a plurality of separate airflows within the dispenser, such as a first airflow and a second airflow. In one embodiment, the first airflow and the second airflow remain different within the guide member and do not mix within the device. In another embodiment, a first portion of the airflow conveys a drug powder of an entrained first drug carrier, and a second portion of the airflow conveys a drug powder of an entrained second drug carrier separately without mixing the two drug powders together in the guide member / dispenser. In certain embodiments, within the guide member or within the dispenser, one portion of the airflow does not affect another portion of the airflow.

[0307] According to some aspects, the guide piece may include, in whole or in part, one or more elements that may help reduce the tendency of drug adhesion to the guide piece when the drug is transferred from the dose storage area to the outlet of the guide piece in the airflow. For example, in some aspects, the guide piece may be composed of one or more materials or coated with one or more materials that are used to prevent the drug from adhering to the guide piece. In some aspects, the material may be a material that changes the surface tension of the guide piece surface. According to some aspects, useful such materials may include, but are not limited to, high-density polyethylene (HDPE), fluoropolymers, or modified acetal materials. In some aspects, no such efforts have been made to reduce the potential adhesion of drugs to the guide piece.

[0308] According to certain embodiments, the dispensers described herein include a medicament access body to provide a user with access to the medicament held therein. In some aspects, a medicament access body cover is provided to protect the medicament access body (e.g., mouth) from dirt and contaminants during storage. According to certain embodiments, the medicament access body cover can also be engaged with a driver so that the medicament access body cover becomes part of the actuation mechanism of the device, for example, the medicament access body cover can be configured to actuate the dispensing mechanism.

[0309] According to certain embodiments, the medication access cover may include an element for engaging the medication access cover with the driver, a device for establishing a rotational access point, and a lip that may assist in positioning the medication access cover when the medication access cover is in a fully open position against the dispenser housing.

[0310] According to certain aspects, it can be combined with any other aspects, embodiments or combinations of aspects or embodiments described herein, and the medicine dispenser may include an element for engaging the medicine taking body cover with the driver. The engagement mechanism may be any mechanism suitable for attaching or otherwise connecting the medicine taking body cover to the driver, so that the medicine taking body cover becomes an element of the actuating mechanism of the dispenser. In some aspects, the connection may be a permanent connection, for example, when two elements (medicine taking body cover and driver) are mechanically fused or designed as a single component. According to alternative aspects, the medicine taking body cover may be designed to be separate, and in some aspects a removable component attached by a reversible mechanism. In some aspects, the removal may not be performed by the user. According to certain aspects, as previously described, the driver includes an element for combining and engaging with the element of the medicine body cover. Accordingly, the element of the medicine body cover may be any element suitable for engaging with the element of the driver, for example, an insert for a slit, a hole or a recess, or a projection, or a clip, a buckle or other correspondingly shaped element. According to some embodiments, the element on the driver designed to engage the element of the drug taking body cover is a flange. Therefore, in some embodiments, the element on the drug taking body cover designed to engage the corresponding element on the driver is a mounting key, also referred to as a flange key herein.

[0311] In one aspect, the medicament access body cover is adapted to be coupled to a dispensing mechanism. In one aspect, the medicament access body cover can interact with a driver and actuate the dispensing mechanism. In certain aspects, engagement of a flange on the driver gear with a mounting key of the medicament access body cover provides a rotational relationship such that the mounting key engaged with the flange rotates the flange in the same direction as the rotation direction of the mouth cover, thereby rotating the driver.

[0312] According to certain aspects, which may be combined with any other aspect, embodiment or combination of aspects or embodiments described herein, the drug dispenser may include an element for establishing a rotational access point. In some aspects, the rotational access point is a pivot point, and a hole (referred to herein as a pivot hole) in the drug taking body cover is provided to allow the drug taking body to be properly positioned about the pivot point. The pivot point can alternatively be established using a hinge mechanism, a flexible member (e.g., an elastic member), etc. According to certain embodiments, as further described herein and as described in the description of the accompanying drawings provided herein, a pin attached to the drug containing substrate can be positioned in the pivot hole of the drug taking body cover to appropriately and securely position the drug taking body relative to the dispenser. In some aspects, the drug taking body cover rotates around an axis passing through the mounting key and the pivot hole, and the pivot hole rotates around the pin of the substrate.

[0313] According to certain aspects of the present invention, which may be combined with any other aspect, embodiment or combination of aspects or embodiments described herein, the medicine taking body cover may be arranged to rotate around an axis. In some embodiments, the medicine taking body cover may be configured to move from a first position to a third position on a rotational path. In some aspects, the movement of the medicine taking body cover is reversible. The cover may also or alternatively be configured to slide along the surface of the assembly, for example, the inner surface of the medicine taking body cover slides on or along the outer surface of the medicine dispenser (e.g., a medicine dispenser shell).

[0314] In some aspects, the medicine taking body cover is pivotally mounted to the shell. In some aspects, the medicine taking body cover can be movably mounted to the medicine dispenser, for sequential movement from a first position where the medicine taking body (e.g., mouth) is covered, to a second position where the mouth is still covered, to a third position where the mouth is not covered. According to one embodiment, the inlet vent is covered when the medicine taking body cover is in the first position and the second position. In another aspect, the inlet vent is not covered when the medicine taking body cover is in the third position. Suitably, the medicine taking body cover (e.g., mouth cover) is pivotally movable relative to the shell. Additionally or alternatively, the mouth cover is rotatably movable relative to the shell. Suitably, in some aspects, the medicine taking body cover (e.g., mouth cover) is arranged to rotate and slide on the shell.

[0315] In some embodiments, the movement of the medicine taking body cover (e.g., mouth cover) from the first position to the second position may not cause the movement of any one or more carrier engaging members. In one aspect, the movement range of the medicine taking body cover (e.g., mouth cover) from the first position to the second position is about 10 degrees to about 20 degrees. In another aspect, the movement of the medicine taking body cover (e.g., mouth cover) from the first position to the second position is about 12 degrees. In another aspect, the movement of the medicine taking body cover (e.g., mouth cover) from the first position to the second position is about 18.75 degrees. According to certain embodiments, the idling movement of the medicine taking body cover (e.g., mouth cover) can be in the range of about 5 degrees to about 25 degrees. In another aspect, the idling movement of the medicine taking body cover (e.g., mouth cover) can be about 10 degrees, about 12 degrees, about 15 degrees, about 18 degrees or about 20 degrees. In some aspects, about 15 degrees of idle movement of the pusher may correspond to about 12 degrees of idle movement of the medicine taking body (e.g., mouth cover). In some other aspects, about 15 degrees of idle movement of the pusher may correspond to about 20 degrees of idle movement of the medicine taking body (e.g., mouth cover). In some other aspects, about 20 degrees of idle movement of the pusher may correspond to about 20 degrees of idle movement of the medicine taking body cover (e.g., mouth cover).

[0316] According to certain aspects, which may be combined with any other aspect, embodiment, or combination of aspects or embodiments described herein, the medicine dispenser may include an element that helps position the medicine access body cover when the medicine access body cover is in a fully open position against the dispenser shell. In certain aspects, after actuation is completed (e.g., when the medicine access body cover has reached the third position), the medicine access body cover rests on the shell. In some aspects, a ridge or stop point exists outside the dispenser shell so that the edge of the medicine access body cover rests on the ridge to help maintain the position of the medicine access body, not allowing it to rotate further beyond the actuation position, and, for example, preventing damage to the medicine access body when doing so. The ability of the edge of the medicine access cover to rest on a component outside the shell can provide physical support to produce damage, provide a tactile signal that actuation is completed (e.g., the medicine access body cover has reached the fully actuated position), and also help or alternatively help keep the medicine access cover in an open position.

[0317] The medicine taking body cover can include circular, non-circular, spherical, hemispherical, elongated, oval, oblong, triangular, quadrilateral, including but not limited to square, rectangular and various trapezoidal, hourglass, or other shapes. The medicine taking body cover can provide a flat surface or a shelf surface. At least a portion of the medicine taking body cover can be shaped to make it easy for the user to grasp. The medicine taking body cover can include a point or a wavy grip to provide efficient grip.

[0318] The medicine dispenser may include at least one locking mechanism that enables the dispenser to remain locked in at least one position where the dispenser is ready for inhalation and / or the lid is in a closed position. According to certain aspects, the locking mechanism may be any locking mechanism sufficient to keep the medicine access body lid in a stable position, such as a clip, a buckle, a ridged lip fitting, a sliding locking fitting, or a similar or equivalent mechanism. In some aspects, the locking mechanism may be used to prevent unexpected and accidental opening of the lid, so that at least a limited amount of force is required to open or close the medicine access body lid. In some aspects, the locking mechanism may be used to prevent further rotation after the lid is fully opened (actuated). In certain embodiments, the locking mechanism may be used to indicate that the medicine dispenser is ready for dispensing a dose. The locking mechanism may be used to provide sound and tactile or kinesthetic feedback to the user to indicate the full opening of the lid, the full closing of the lid, or both the full opening or full closing of the lid.

[0319] According to some aspects of the present invention, the medicine dispenser can include a part designed to keep and pack into all parts of a dispensing mechanism. In some aspects, the element is designed to keep all parts of a dispensing mechanism. According to some embodiments, the element is designed to be the first part of the two-part shell (for example, can be described as a bottom cover or base cover and top cover) of the medicine dispenser. In some aspects, the element designed to keep all parts of a dispensing mechanism is a base cover. In some aspects, top cover and bottom cover can be reversibly engaged so that top cover and bottom cover can be separated. In some aspects, top cover and bottom cover are maintained as a single piece by a connecting mechanism, and the connecting mechanism is completely arranged around the lip or edge of the bottom cover, or alternatively around the lip or edge of the bottom cover and / or top cover is arranged at two or more positions, so that two units are kept together. In some aspects, the connecting mechanism can be a clip, a buckle, a sliding fit, a tongue and groove (the base cover includes the tongue or groove of the mechanism) etc. It should be appreciated that many such mechanisms may be used to hold the two components together to support optimal and successful stability of the components held therein, as well as for efficient and successful operation of the device.

[0320] According to certain embodiments, the base cover can include an element that allows the medicine to take the body cover to enter and rotate the driver, for example, enter and rotate the flange of the driver. In some aspects, the element can be a cutout, a depression or a groove. In some aspects, the element is located at the center and can be referred to as a central groove. The central groove can allow the medicine to take the body cover to enter and rotate the flange of the driver. Other design elements of the central groove and the base cover are illustrated in the description of the accompanying drawings provided herein. According to certain aspects of the present invention, the medicine dispenser can include a part designed to help load all the parts of the dispensing mechanism. In certain aspects, the element is designed to cooperate with the first element to cover all the parts of the dispensing mechanism, for example, the element is designed to be the second part of the two-part shell (for example, can be described as a bottom cover or a base cover and a top cover) of the medicine dispenser. In certain aspects, the element designed to keep all the parts of the dispensing mechanism is a top cover.

[0321] As previously mentioned, in some aspects, the top cover and bottom cover are held as a single piece by a connection mechanism that is completely disposed around the lip or rim of the bottom cover, or alternatively disposed at two or more locations around the lip or rim of the bottom cover and / or top cover to hold the two units together. In some aspects, the connection mechanism can be a clip, a snap, a slip fit, a tongue and groove (the top cover includes the tongue or groove of the mechanism), etc. It should be understood that many such mechanisms can be used to hold the two components together to support optimal and successful stability of the components held therein, as well as for efficient and successful operation of the device.

[0322] According to certain aspects, the top cover may include: a central groove to allow the medication access body cover to enter and rotate around the pins of the base; an inlet vent, the function of which has been described above; and a status indicator window for visualizing the event status.

[0323] According to certain embodiments, the medication access body cover is not engaged with the driver and the medication access body cover does not function as part of the actuation mechanism of the device.

[0324] In some aspects, a rod is provided on the housing. According to certain embodiments, the rod may also engage with the driver so that the rod becomes part of the actuation mechanism of the device, for example, the rod may be provided for actuating the dispensing mechanism.

[0325] According to some aspects, it can be combined with any other aspect, embodiment or aspect or embodiment described herein, the medicine dispenser can include an element for engaging rod with driver.The engagement mechanism can be any mechanism suitable for attaching or otherwise connecting rod to driver, so that rod becomes an element of the actuating mechanism of dispenser.In some aspects, the connection can be a permanent connection, for example, when two elements (rod and driver) are mechanically fused or designed as a single component.According to alternative aspects, rod can be designed to be separated, and in some aspects by the removable parts attached by reversible mechanism.In some aspects, the removal can not be performed by the user.

[0326] In one aspect, the rod is adapted to be coupled to the dispensing mechanism. In one aspect, the rod can interact with the driver and actuate the dispensing mechanism.

[0327] In some aspects, the rod is pivotally mounted to the housing. In some aspects, the rod is directly or indirectly meshingly engaged with the central gear. In some aspects, a flange on the central gear fits within a receiving groove on the rod. In some aspects, the rod can be movably mounted to the medication dispenser for sequential movement from the first position to the third position.

[0328] In some embodiments, the movement of the rod from the first position to the second position may not cause the movement of any one or more carrier engagement members. In one aspect, the range of motion of the rod from the first position to the second position is about 10 degrees to about 20 degrees. In another aspect, the movement of the rod from the first position to the second position is about 12 degrees. In another aspect, the movement of the rod from the first position to the second position is about 18.75 degrees. According to certain embodiments, the idle movement of the rod can be in the range between about 5 degrees to about 25 degrees. In another aspect, the idle movement of the rod can be about 10 degrees, about 12 degrees, about 15 degrees, about 18 degrees or about 20 degrees. In certain aspects, the idle movement of about 15 degrees of the propeller can correspond to the idle movement of about 12 degrees of the rod. In certain other aspects, the idle movement of about 15 degrees of the propeller can correspond to the idle movement of about 20 degrees of the rod. In certain other aspects, the idle movement of about 20 degrees of the propeller can correspond to the idle movement of about 20 degrees of the rod.

[0329] The rod can include square, rectangular and various trapezoidal, hourglass or other shapes, including but not limited to circular, non-circular, spherical, hemispherical, elongated, ovate, oblong, triangular, quadrilateral. At least a portion of the rod can be shaped to make it easy for the user to grasp. The rod can include a point or wavy grip to provide efficient grip. The rod can include a slot to facilitate the user to rotate the rod, wherein the slot is the elongated portion of the rod, which can be any shape and size.

[0330] In some aspects, a central recess is provided in the top cover to allow the medicament access body cover to enter and rotate about the pins of the base plate.This possible aspect of the dispenser device of the present invention is further illustrated in the drawings and the description incorporated herein.

[0331] As previously mentioned, it will not be repeated in detail here, and an inlet vent can be set in, for example, the top cover, to provide an inlet for sucking external air into the dispenser by the user during the use of the device. In some aspects, the inlet vent can be carefully positioned on the top cover to provide an air inlet through the guide. According to certain embodiments, air can enter the inner compartment of the guide through the inlet vent, and then can pass through the outer compartment by the dose storage area (for example, the blister bag of the blister strip drug carrier of the blister powder) of the opening of the drug carrier. Air can leave the dispenser through the drug taking body opening (for example, mouth opening) together with the drug powder. The flow of air helps the aerosolization of the content of the blister bag, thereby emptying the content of the blister bag by the drug taking body opening.

[0332] According to certain aspects, which may be combined with any other aspect, embodiment, or combination of aspects or embodiments described herein, the drug dispenser of the present invention may include an event-related status indicator. The event-related status indicator is generally referred to as a dose counter in the art, and may be referred to as a dose counter elsewhere herein; however, it should be clear that the status indicator incorporated into the drug dispenser may be able to provide an indicator state that may be a dose count (e.g., a dose that has been administered or a remaining dose), however, information such as described in U.S. Provisional Patent Applications 62 / 910,551 and 62 / 913,982 may also be provided. Therefore, the top cover may include a status identifier window to convey dose status information to the user. The term "dose indicator window" may also be used herein to describe the window. The window is an opening in the top cover having any size, shape, or configuration to allow the user to view an event indicator or one or more event indicators in the dose counter.

[0333] In some aspects, the dispenser includes an event-related status indicator for providing information about the dosage status of one or more drugs in the dispenser. The event status indicator may be referred to herein as a "dose counter", however, the indicator may provide other information in addition to or in addition to the dose count, as described in the previously mentioned U.S. 62 / 910,551 and 62 / 913,982 provisional patent applications. Thus, according to certain embodiments, the drug dispenser may include a dose counting mechanism or an indicating mechanism for counting or indicating the total number of doses released from the dispenser. According to certain aspects, the event-related status indicator incorporated into the dispenser described herein may also or alternatively describe the number of doses dispensed from each drug carrier separately. In some aspects, the indication may be the number of doses that have been dispensed, or alternatively, the indication may be the total number of remaining doses or the number for any one or any combination of more than one drug carrier. In some aspects, the event-related status indicator may provide a count of the remaining doses to be taken or a count of the doses that have been taken (e.g., dispensed). In some aspects, a status identifier of an event-related status indicator may be visible through a status indicator window in the dispenser cover.

[0334] According to some embodiments, in certain aspects, an event-related status indicator of a medication dispenser may provide an actuation counter for counting the number of actuations of the dispenser.

[0335] According to certain aspects of the invention, the event-related status indicator incorporated into the dispenser of the invention may be completely or substantially completely mechanized (e.g., non-electronic). According to alternative aspects, the event-related status indicator incorporated into the dispenser of the invention may be in non-mechanized (e.g., electronic, digital) form. According to yet another aspect, the event-related status indicator incorporated into the dispenser of the invention may include mechanized (non-electronic) components and non-mechanized (electronic and / or digital) components.

[0336] According to certain aspects of the present invention, the medicament dispenser may include an actuation mechanism, wherein the actuation mechanism also provides a mechanism for increasing a dose counter reading during dispensing of the medicament.

[0337] In some embodiments, which may be combined with any other aspect, embodiment, or combination of aspects or embodiments described herein, the drug dispenser may include an actuation mechanism, wherein movement of the actuation mechanism of the dispenser (e.g., sufficient movement of the drug access body cover, the driver, and all necessary components) results in full actuation, and one or more drug doses from one or more carriers are delivered to a location where they can be administered, and a mechanism for updating an event-related status indicator is also provided. Such actuation of the event-related event indicator can result in a mechanized (i.e., non-electronic), non-mechanized (e.g., electronic, digital), or a combination of mechanized and non-mechanized event status display.

[0338] According to some aspects of the invention, the medicine dispenser may include a space (e.g., a compartment in the dispenser) for accommodating and storing a power source (e.g., a battery), an electronic circuit, and also or alternatively, an electronic measuring instrument. According to some aspects, the power source (e.g., a battery), the electronic circuit, and / or the electronic measuring instrument may be located in a compartment of the medicine taking body cover or in a shell having a dedicated space for accommodating the power source (e.g., a battery), the electronic circuit, and the electronic measuring instrument.

[0339] In some aspects, the drug dispenser of the present invention may include an electronic data management system. In some embodiments, which may be combined with any other aspect, embodiment, or combination of aspects or embodiments described herein, the electronic data management system may include data input, data output, and / or a combination of data input and data output capabilities, and in some aspects may further include a storage for storing data; a microprocessor for performing operations on the data; and a transmitter for transmitting a signal related to the data or the results of the data operation.

[0340] In some aspects, the electronic data management system is integral to the body of the dispenser. Alternatively, in alternative aspects, the electronic data management system forms part of a base unit reversibly associable with the body.

[0341] According to any one aspect, embodiment or combination of aspects or embodiments disclosed herein, the drug dispenser described herein can be used to treat a patient in need, the patient having symptoms that can be treated by a drug that can be administered by inhalation. According to certain aspects, the invention described herein is a method for treating symptoms that can be treated by an inhalable drug, the method comprising administering one or more drugs through a drug dispenser of any one aspect or embodiment described herein. In certain aspects, the method of administration comprises first loading a plurality of elongated drug carriers into the drug dispenser, the drug carriers comprising a plurality of discrete drug doses in powder form. When loading the drug carriers, the method of administration comprises actuating the dispenser so that before any advancement of any drug carrier upon actuation, a tension force is applied to at least one of the plurality of waste streams generated by the emptied drug carrier; after applying the tension force, the plurality of drug carriers in the dispenser are independently advanced to a common open position in the dispenser, so that the drug dose in the dose storage position (if any) of each drug carrier becomes available for administration. Once the dose becomes available (e.g., by appropriately positioning the open dose storage area near the guide and making it available), the method comprises the user inhaling one or more drug doses available for administration through the drug taking body. During inhalation, the airflow generated by the inhalation entrains each available dose of medicament separately and keeps them separate from each other until the airflow leaves the dispenser and reaches the user through the medicament taking body.

[0342] According to certain aspects, the drug access body is a mouth, and the administration method includes administering the drug by oral inhalation. According to alternative aspects, the drug access body is configured for use with a human nose, and the administration method includes administering the drug by nasal inhalation.

[0343] According to certain aspects of the invention, the dispensers described herein can be used to treat any condition that can be treated by an inhalable medication, such as, but not limited to, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), bronchitis, lung infection, interstitial pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), cystic fibrosis, non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis, or lung transplantation.

[0344] According to certain aspects, the invention described herein is a method of administering multiple medicaments to an individual by inhalation, wherein the multiple medicaments are maintained in separate airflows prior to reaching the orifice of the individual into which the multiple medicaments are inhaled, the method comprising administering the multiple medicaments to the individual via a dispenser according to any aspect, embodiment, or combination of aspects or embodiments described herein.

[0345] Any feature, structure or step disclosed herein can be replaced or combined with any other feature, structure or step disclosed herein or omitted. In addition, for the purpose of summarizing the present disclosure, some aspects, advantages and features of the present invention are described herein. It should be understood that any or all of these advantages may not be achieved according to any specific embodiment of the present invention disclosed herein. Any single aspect of the present disclosure is not necessary or indispensable.

[0346] To further aid in describing the present invention, a set of drawings ("Figures") are provided and described. By way of illustration, the Figures further explain and illustrate at least some of the embodiments described herein. In some cases, the Figures introduce alternative embodiments to those previously described or described elsewhere herein. Thus, the Figures are intended to provide a more thorough understanding of the breadth and spirit of the present invention without limiting the scope of the complete disclosure provided herein. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0347] The following drawings and their related descriptions are incorporated to better explain and illustrate the invention described herein without limiting the scope thereof.

[0348] Some elements of the embodiments of the dispenser or its components are illustrated in specific forms, and therefore, sometimes described in these exemplary embodiments using descriptive names related to the description of the embodiments shown in the following figures. In order to help the reader understand the various exemplary embodiments of the present invention described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, the following description of several terms is provided here:

[0349] a. The term "meshing" is generally used in the description of the drawings to describe the movable engagement between two components, such as exists when two gear-like mechanisms are coupled to each other.

[0350] b. An example of a driver is a driver gear (a driver may be described herein as a "driver gear" or a "drive gear").

[0351] c. An example of a carrier engaging member is a "blister cuvette", which is a term used to describe a carrier engaging member that can engage with a blister of an elongated medicament carrier in the form of a blister strip via a pocket (or via a scored area of ​​the carrier engaging member described as a "cuvette" that can engage with a dose storage area of ​​the medicament carrier).

[0352] d. Advancers are exemplified as "ratchet assemblies," a term used to describe advancers that include multiple elements as described herein, one such component being a ratchet component.

[0353] e. The dose storage area(s) of the drug carrier are exemplified as blister compartments, blister pockets, or blister cavities, each term being synonymous and referring to the dose storage area of ​​a blister strip drug carrier, wherein the dose storage area is an area of ​​the substrate of the carrier that may be described as a pocket, compartment, or cavity, wherein the cover sheet of the carrier is not sealed but is capable of retaining a dose of drug therein.

[0354] f. As described elsewhere herein, but included here for clarity, the first waste collector is illustrated herein as a wrapping wheel or wrapping assembly.

[0355] g. The second waste collector is exemplified as a winding assembly, and wherein the waste capture component of the winding assembly is exemplified as a winding wheel, the winding wheel includes a waste collection surface exemplified as a winding surface, a waste access point exemplified as an entry slit, a locking engagement exemplified as a locking ridge, an internal movably engaged engagement element exemplified as an internal tooth, and a movably engaged drive element having an engagement element, which is a gear tooth. The component of the second waste collector responsible for tensioning the collected waste stream is exemplified as a tensioning mechanism; the tensioning mechanism is exemplified as an engagement unit including a cover connecting element embodied as a bubble column and a cover gripping element embodied as a bubble guide, a center connecting element in the form of a seat, and a tensioning mechanism in the form of a ratchet arm.

[0356] h. An example of the medicine taking body is a mouth, and an example of the medicine taking body cover is a mouth cover.

[0357] i. The element that can provide a connection between the driver and the drug taking body (mouth) cover is a convex part on the driver.

[0358] The rim, mouth cover is exemplified as having a flange key appropriately configured so that the two elements facilitate cooperation between the two components.

[0359] j. An example of a flow guide for guiding the airflow in the distributor is a "flow channel", and an example of an airflow guide that is a part of the flow guide / flow channel is a grille.

[0360] k. Although not described in detail, reference is made to an event-related status indicator, an example of which is a dose counter (the term "dose counter" may be limited in some cases, but it is intended to describe the various functions of the event-related status indicators previously described herein). The status indicator window (where the event status is viewable) is referred to as the dose indicator window.

[0361] As mentioned above, this description of the terms used in conjunction with the embodiments described below in conjunction with the drawings is intended to help the reader understand this exemplary aspect of the invention and should not be interpreted as limiting the scope of the invention in any way. Other aspects of the invention described in conjunction with the drawings will also be discussed below, but generally using terms that have been introduced into the present disclosure, such as the first waste capture assembly.

[0362] Figure 1A to Figure 1B Shown are front and rear views of one embodiment of a medication dispenser.

[0363] FIG. 2A to FIG. 2D Shown Figure 1A to Figure 1B The "open, aspirate, close" mechanism of a medication dispenser is shown.

[0364] Figure 3 Shows Figure 1A to Figure 1B A partially exploded view of a medication dispenser is shown.

[0365] Figure 4 Shows Figure 1A to Figure 1B An exploded view of a first embodiment of a dispensing mechanism of a medicament dispenser is shown.

[0366] Figure 5 A front view of a first embodiment of a dispensing mechanism is shown, wherein the dispenser is shown with the housing omitted.

[0367] Figure 6 A rear view of a first embodiment of a dispensing mechanism is shown, wherein the dispenser is shown with the housing omitted.

[0368] Fig. 7A and Figure 7B Shows Figure 1A to Figure 1B A view of the gear mechanism of a first embodiment of a medicament dispenser is shown.

[0369] FIG. 8A to FIG. 8E Shows when ready for use with FIG. 2A to FIG. 2D The steps correspond to the details of the assigned mechanism during the sequential steps.

[0370] Fig. 9 Shows Figure 1A to Figure 1B An exploded view of a second embodiment of a dispensing mechanism of a medicament dispenser is shown.

[0371] FIG. 10A to FIG. 10B A view of the gear mechanism is shown, wherein the dispenser is shown with the housing omitted.

[0372] Fig.11 Shows Figure 1A to Figure 1B The interaction of a first ratchet assembly and a first blister tray slot of a medicament dispenser is shown.

[0373] Fig.12 Shows Figure 1A to Figure 1B The interaction of the second ratchet assembly and the second blister tray slot of the medication dispenser is shown.

[0374] Fig.13 Shows Figure 1A to Figure 1B An exploded view of a third embodiment of a dispensing mechanism of a medicament dispenser is shown.

[0375] Fig.14 A front view of a third embodiment of a dispensing mechanism is shown, wherein the dispenser is shown with the housing omitted.

[0376] Fig.15 A rear view of a third embodiment of a dispensing mechanism is shown, wherein the dispenser is shown with the housing omitted.

[0377] Fig.16 Shows Figure 1A to Figure 1B The interaction of a first ratchet assembly and a first blister tray slot of a medicament dispenser is shown.

[0378] Fig.17 Shows Figure 1A to Figure 1B The interaction of the second ratchet assembly and the second blister tray slot of the medication dispenser is shown.

[0379] 18A to 18E Shows when ready for use with FIG. 2A to FIG. 2D The steps correspond to the sequence of steps in the details of the third embodiment of the dispensing mechanism.

[0380] Fig.19 Shows Figure 1A to Figure 1B An exploded view of a fourth embodiment of a dispensing mechanism of a medicament dispenser is shown.

[0381] Fig. 20 A front view of a fourth embodiment of a dispensing mechanism is shown, wherein the dispenser is shown with the housing omitted.

[0382] Fig.21 A rear view of a fourth embodiment of a dispensing mechanism is shown, wherein the dispenser is shown with the housing omitted.

[0383] FIG. 22A to FIG. 22G Shows when ready for use with FIG. 2A to FIG. 2D The steps correspond to the sequential steps of the details of the fourth embodiment of the dispensing mechanism.

[0384] Fig.23 Shows Figure 1A to Figure 1B The mouth cover of the medication dispenser is shown.

[0385] Fig.24 An exterior view of one embodiment of a cap that is compatible with the medication dispensers described herein is shown.

[0386] Fig.25 An interior view of one embodiment of a cap that is compatible with the medication dispensers described herein is shown.

[0387] Fig.26 An exterior view of one embodiment of a base cover compatible with the medication dispensers described herein is shown.

[0388] Fig. 27An interior view of one embodiment of a base cover compatible with the medication dispensers described herein is shown.

[0389] Fig.28 Shown are views of an inner containment assembly compatible with the medication dispensers described herein.

[0390] Fig.29 Shows Fig.28 A bottom side view of one embodiment of an inner container assembly is shown.

[0391] Fig.30 Shown is a bottom side view of another embodiment of an inner containment assembly compatible with the medication dispensers described herein.

[0392] Fig.31 Shown are views of a driver gear compatible with the medication dispensers described herein.

[0393] Fig.32 Shows Fig.31 Bottom side view of the driver gear shown.

[0394] Fig.33 Shown are views of a driver gear compatible with the medication dispensers described herein.

[0395] Fig.34 Shows Fig.33 Bottom side view of the driver gear shown.

[0396] Fig.35 Shown are views of intermediate drive gears compatible with the medication dispensers described herein.

[0397] Fig.36 Shown are views of ratchet gears compatible with the medication dispensers described herein.

[0398] Fig.37 An exploded view of a first embodiment of a blister tray slot and ratchet assembly compatible with the medicament dispensers described herein is shown.

[0399] Fig.38 Shows Fig.37 A view of a blister tray well is shown.

[0400] Fig.39 Shows Fig.38 An inside view of one embodiment of a blister tray well is shown.

[0401] Fig.40 Shows Fig.38 An inside view of another embodiment of a blister tray well is shown.

[0402] Fig.41 Shows Fig.37A view of the driven member of the ratchet assembly is shown.

[0403] Fig.42 Shows Fig.37 (and Fig.41 ) is a bottom side view of the driven member of the ratchet assembly shown.

[0404] Fig.43 Shows Fig.37 A view of the drive member of the ratchet assembly is shown.

[0405] Fig.44 Shows Fig.37 A view of the ratchet assembly is shown.

[0406] Fig.45 An exploded view of a second embodiment of a blister tray slot and ratchet assembly compatible with the medicament dispensers described herein is shown.

[0407] Fig.46 Shows Fig.45 An inside view of a blister tray well is shown.

[0408] Fig.47 Shows Fig.45 A view of the ratchet assembly is shown.

[0409] Fig.48 Shows Fig.45 (and Fig.47 ) is an inside view of the ratchet assembly shown.

[0410] Fig.49 An exploded view of a third embodiment of a blister tray slot and ratchet assembly compatible with the medicament dispensers described herein is shown.

[0411] Fig.50 Shows Fig.49 An inside view of a blister tray well is shown.

[0412] Fig.51 Shows Fig.49 A view of the driven member of the ratchet assembly is shown.

[0413] Fig.52 Shows Fig.49 A view of the drive member of the ratchet assembly is shown.

[0414] Fig.53 An exploded view of a fourth embodiment of a first blister tray slot and a first ratchet assembly compatible with the medicament dispensers described herein is shown.

[0415] Fig.54 Shows Fig.53 An inside view of the first blister tray well is shown.

[0416] Fig.55 Shows Fig.53 A view of the first ratchet assembly is shown.

[0417] Fig.56 An exploded view of a fourth embodiment of a second blister tray slot and a second ratchet assembly compatible with the medicament dispensers described herein is shown.

[0418] Fig.57 Shows Fig.56 An inside view of the second blister tray well is shown.

[0419] Fig.58 Shows Fig.56 An embodiment of a second ratchet assembly is shown.

[0420] Fig.59 An exploded view of a fifth embodiment of a first blister tray slot and a first ratchet assembly compatible with the medicament dispensers described herein is shown.

[0421] Fig.60 Shows Fig.59 An inside view of the first blister tray well is shown.

[0422] Fig.61 Shows Fig.59 An embodiment of a first ratchet assembly is shown.

[0423] Fig.62 An exploded view of another embodiment of a first blister tray slot and a first ratchet assembly compatible with the medicament dispensers described herein is shown.

[0424] Fig.63 Shows Fig.62 A view of the first ratchet assembly is shown.

[0425] Fig.64 and Fig.65 Different views of the second ratchet assembly and the intermediate drive gear are shown.

[0426] Fig.66 A first embodiment of a wrap assembly compatible with the medication dispensers described herein is shown.

[0427] Fig.67 Shows Fig.66 An exploded view of a first embodiment of a winding assembly is shown.

[0428] Fig.68 Shows Fig.66 (and Fig.67 ) is a view of the tensioning mechanism of the winding assembly shown.

[0429] Fig.69 Shows Fig.66 (and Fig.67 as well as Fig.68 ) is a bottom view of the tensioning mechanism of the winding assembly shown.

[0430] Fig.70 Shows Fig.66 (and Fig.67 ) is a view of the winding wheel of the winding assembly shown.

[0431] Figures 71A to 71C The film tensioning mechanism is demonstrated.

[0432] Fig.72 A second embodiment of a wrap assembly compatible with the medication dispensers described herein is shown.

[0433] Fig.73 Shows Fig.72 An exploded view of a second embodiment of a winding assembly is shown.

[0434] Fig.74 Shows Fig.72 (and Fig.73 ) is a view of the tensioning mechanism of the winding assembly shown.

[0435] Fig.75 Shows Fig.72 (and Fig.73 ) is a view of the winding wheel of the winding assembly shown.

[0436] FIG. 76A to FIG. 76B The film tensioning mechanism is demonstrated.

[0437] Fig.77 A third embodiment of a wrap assembly compatible with the medication dispensers described herein is shown.

[0438] Fig.78 Shows Fig.77 An exploded view of a third embodiment of a winding assembly is shown.

[0439] Fig.79 Shows Fig.77 (and Fig.78 ) is a view of the tensioning mechanism of the winding assembly shown.

[0440] Fig.80 Shows Fig.77 (and Fig.78 ) is a view of the winding wheel of the winding assembly shown.

[0441] FIG. 81A to FIG. 81B The film tensioning mechanism is demonstrated.

[0442] Fig.82 A fourth embodiment of a wrap assembly compatible with the medication dispensers described herein is shown.

[0443] Fig.83 Shows Fig.82 An exploded view of a fourth embodiment of a winding assembly is shown.

[0444] Fig.84 Shows Fig.82 (and Fig.83 ) is a view of the tensioning mechanism of the winding assembly shown.

[0445] Fig.85 Shows Fig.82 (and Fig.83 ) is a view of the winding wheel of the winding assembly shown.

[0446] FIG. 86A to FIG. 86B The film tensioning mechanism is demonstrated.

[0447] Fig.87 A fifth embodiment of a wrap assembly compatible with the medication dispensers described herein is shown.

[0448] Fig.88 Shows Fig.87 An exploded view of a fifth embodiment of a winding assembly is shown.

[0449] Fig.89 Shows Fig.87 (and Fig.88 ) is a view of the tensioning mechanism of the winding assembly shown.

[0450] Fig.90 Shows Fig.87 (and Fig.88 ) is a view of the winding wheel of the winding assembly shown.

[0451] FIG. 91A to FIG. 91B The film tensioning mechanism is demonstrated.

[0452] Fig.92 Views showing embodiments of wrapping wheels that are compatible with the medication dispensers described herein.

[0453] Fig.93 A view showing another embodiment of a wrapping wheel compatible with the medication dispensers described herein.

[0454] Fig.94 Shown are views of substrates that are compatible with the medication dispensers described herein.

[0455] Fig.95 A view of a medication dispenser is shown showing inward and outward airflow.

[0456] Fig.96 A view of a medication dispenser is shown showing inward airflow in the flow channel.

[0457] Fig.97 A view of a flow channel is shown showing inward and outward airflow.

[0458] Fig.98A A cross-sectional view of a flow channel is shown, showing inward and outward airflow.

[0459] Fig.98B A cross-sectional view of a flow channel is shown, showing inward and outward airflow.

[0460] Fig.99 A top view of the flow channel is shown.

[0461] FIG. 100A to FIG. 100B Shown are views of drug carriers that are compatible with the drug dispensers described herein.

[0462] Fig.101 A front view of a fifth embodiment of a dispensing mechanism is shown, wherein the dispenser is shown with the housing omitted.

[0463] Fig.102 A rear view of a fifth embodiment of a dispensing mechanism is shown, wherein the dispenser is shown with the housing omitted.

[0464] Fig.103 A driver gear or sun gear assembly is shown that is compatible with a fifth embodiment of the medicament dispenser described herein.

[0465] Fig.104 Shown is an exploded view of a driver gear assembly compatible with a fifth embodiment of a medicament dispenser described herein.

[0466] Fig.105 Shown is a view of a main drive gear compatible with a fifth embodiment of the medicament dispenser described herein.

[0467] Fig.106 Shown is a view of a spring loaded ratchet disc compatible with a fifth embodiment of a medicament dispenser described herein.

[0468] Fig.107 A view showing a pinion gear compatible with a fifth embodiment of a medicament dispenser described herein.

[0469] Fig.108 The position of the driver gear or sun gear is shown in the initial position.

[0470] Fig.109 The position of the driver gear or sun gear after the first actuation is shown.

[0471] Fig.110 The position of the driver gear or sun gear after the second actuation is shown.

[0472] Fig.111 The position of the driver gear or sun gear after fifteen actuations is shown.

[0473] Fig.112 The position of the driver gear or sun gear after thirty-one actuations is shown.

[0474] Fig.113 A front view of a sixth embodiment of a dispensing mechanism is shown, wherein the dispenser is shown with the housing omitted.

[0475] Fig.114 A rear view of a sixth embodiment of a dispensing mechanism is shown, wherein the dispenser is shown with the housing omitted.

[0476] Fig.115 A front closed view of one embodiment of a medication dispenser is shown.

[0477] Fig.116 A front open view of an embodiment of a medication dispenser is shown.

[0478] Fig.117 A rear open view of an embodiment of a medication dispenser is shown.

[0479] Fig.118 A rear closed view of one embodiment of a medication dispenser is shown.

[0480] Fig.119 The figures illustrate the "open, click, inhale, close" mechanism of the medication dispenser shown in Figures 130 to 133.

[0481] Fig.123 An outer cover compatible with the medication dispenser described herein is shown.

[0482] Fig.124 A rod compatible with the medication dispenser described herein is shown.

[0483] Fig.125 Shown is a front view of a housing compatible with the medication dispenser described herein.

[0484] Fig.126 Shown is a view of a central gear compatible with the medication dispensers described herein. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0485] In order to better illustrate the various aspects of the present invention, specific embodiments and their operation will be described in this section, generally with reference to the devices and components shown in the figures. The scope of the present invention disclosed herein is intended not to be limited by any specific embodiment described herein. Although various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be noted that they are presented only by way of example and not limitation. Without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention, various changes can be made to the disclosed embodiments according to the disclosure herein. In addition, any single embodiment or aspect described in the present disclosure may be combined with any one or more other aspects or embodiments described herein, and the description of such combinations is deemed to be incorporated herein, as if such combinations have been described in detail.

[0486] Figure 1A and Figure 1B A medication dispenser (DPI) according to one aspect of the present disclosure is shown. The medication dispenser may comprise a housing (1) and a mouth cover (3). Figure 1A Also shown is a dose indicator window (48) through which dose marking "30" is visible. The window (48) provides a uniform view of the dose indicator for providing feedback to the user of the amount of dose remaining.

[0487] FIG. 2A to FIG. 2D Shown Figure 1A and Figure 1B The "open, aspirate, close" mechanism of a medication dispenser is shown. Figure 2A In the embodiment, the mouth cover is in a first / closed position, in which the mouth (29) and the inlet vent (74) are not visible. Figure 2B , the mouth cover (3) has been moved to the second position, in which the mouth (29) and the inlet vent (74) are still not visible. The movement of the mouth cover (3) from the first position to the second position does not activate the dispensing mechanism (not shown) in the dispenser, nor does it activate the dose c...

Claims

1. A drug dispenser for dispensing a drug from a plurality of elongated drug carriers held therein, each carrier comprising a plurality of dosage portions of one or more drugs, the dispenser comprising: a. a dispensing mechanism for dispensing a drug held in the dispenser, comprising: i) Driver, ii) a plurality of carrier engaging members for each drug carrier for individually advancing drug dosage portions of said drug carrier, iii) a propeller for each carrier engaging member, wherein one or more propellers are coaxially positioned with the carrier engaging member to rotate the carrier engaging member, iv) flow guides; and b. Drug receiving body; and c. a cover for the drug taking body, wherein the drug access body cover is engaged with the driver, and sufficient movement of the drug access body cover causes movement of the driver, the driver is directly engaged with the pusher so that sufficient movement of the driver causes movement of the pusher, at least one pusher directly drives the carrier engagement member, and at least one pusher is indirectly engaged with the carrier engagement member via an intermediate driver, and sufficient movement of the pusher causes movement of the carrier engagement member directly via the pusher or indirectly via the intermediate driver, and, when a drug dose portion of the drug carrier is present, movement of each carrier engagement member causes the drug carrier to be advanced to a position in which the drug dose portion of the drug carrier is fully aligned with the guide member so that a separate airflow guided by the guide member entrains at least one drug dose portion extracted from the current dose storage area, wherein the multiple carrier engagement members do not rotate in a substantially synchronous manner in at least some rotations.

2. The dispenser according to claim 1, characterized in that Each pusher is directly or indirectly engaged with the first waste collector and is also directly or indirectly engaged with the second waste collector, such that sufficient movement of each pusher causes rotational movement of the first waste collector and the second waste collector, and wherein the first waste collector and the second waste collector collect different drug carrier waste materials after at least one drug dose retained within the drug carrier has been removed.

3. The dispenser according to claim 2, characterized in that Each pusher is directly or indirectly movably engaged with a first waste collector, and further wherein each pusher is indirectly engaged with a second waste collector via a carrier engagement member, such that sufficient movement of each pusher results in rotational movement of the first waste collector and the second waste collector, and wherein the first waste collector and the second waste collector collect different drug carrier waste materials after at least one drug dose held in the drug carrier has been removed, wherein the driver is only movably engaged with one pusher, such that sufficient movement of the driver causes direct rotational movement of the first pusher, thereby producing indirect movement of the first carrier engagement member via the first pusher, and wherein after all doses forming blisters of the first carrier are completed, the driver is engaged with the second pusher, such that sufficient movement of the driver causes direct rotational movement of the second pusher, thereby producing indirect movement of the second carrier engagement member.

4. The dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that At least one of the plurality of elongated-form medicament carriers is a blister strip comprising a plurality of individual dose portions of medicament stored within individual dose storage areas of the carrier.

5. The dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The medicament is in powder form and the dispenser is a dry powder inhaler (DPI).

6. The dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that At least one individual drug dose in any one drug carrier is the same, or at least one individual drug dose in any one drug carrier is different from at least one individual drug dose in any second or more drug carriers.

7. The dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The active pharmaceutical ingredient is selected from the group consisting of anticholinergics, anti-inflammatory drugs, analgesics, antiallergic drugs, antihistamines, antitussives, bronchodilators, anti-infectives, antifungals, leukotriene inhibitors, PDE IV inhibitors, angina agents, diuretics, or any combination thereof.

8. The dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The cover for the medication access body is mechanically engaged with the driver, which is the actuation mechanism of the dispenser, wherein the cover of the medication access body is coupled to the driver such that sufficient movement of the cover can result in rotation of the driver.

9. The dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The driver is a broken driver gear, so that not every movement of the driver necessarily results in movement of a component engaged therewith, wherein the cover of the drug access body is a mouth cover, and the mouth cover can be rotated to a certain extent without causing rotation of the propeller, so that insufficient movement of the mouth cover does not result in rotation of the propeller.

10. The dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The rotations of the plurality of carrier engaging members are substantially non-overlapping such that one carrier engaging member substantially completes its rotation before a second carrier engaging member begins its rotation.

11. The dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that Waste from each emptied drug carrier present in the dispenser is collected separately from waste from each other drug carrier present in the dispenser, wherein each drug carrier is a blister strip and the emptied blister strips produce two waste streams: a) cover sheets and b) empty base sheets, and further wherein each type of waste stream is collected using a separate waste collector, each empty base sheet is collected using a first waste collector, and each cover sheet is collected using a second waste collector.

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