Dry powder nasal inhaler comprising a casing having a first casing portion and a second casing portion.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2026514539
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2023-09-11
- Filing Date
- 2024-08-30
- Publication Date
- 2026-09-07
Smart Images
Figure 2026530260000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
[Technical Field]
[0001] The present invention relates generally to the field of medicament inhalers, and more particularly to dry powder inhalers. The inhaler comprises a casing including a first casing portion, a second casing portion, and a hinge arrangement connecting the first casing portion and the second casing portion, and the inhaler is assembled by folding the first casing portion and the second casing portion together. [Background Art]
[0002] In the pharmaceutical field, inhalers are widely used for vaccine administration or the treatment of respiratory diseases and / or other diseases. Many drugs, vaccines, medicaments and other substances are inhaled into the lungs or nasal passages via nasal administration for rapid absorption into the bloodstream and local action at the site of administration. In some cases, the drug is inhaled through the nose and deposited in both the nose and lungs for combined administration to the entire respiratory tract.
[0003] Inhaled medicaments are divided into two main categories: liquids including suspensions, and powdered forms. The choice of category depends on the properties of the drug, medicament or the like to be inhaled.
[0004] The most common type of inhaler is the pressurized metered-dose inhaler. In this type of inhaler, the medicament is most commonly stored in solution in a pressurized canister containing a propellant, but this may also be a suspension. The canister is attached to a plastic manual actuator. When actuated, the metered-dose inhaler releases a fixed dose of medicament in aerosol form.
[0005] Another type of inhaler is a nebulizer, which delivers the medicament as an aerosol generated from an aqueous formulation.
[0006] The type referred to here is yet another type of dry powder inhaler. A dry powder inhaler releases a pre-measured encapsulated dose or a device-measured dose of powdered medication that is inhaled through the inhaler. An inhaler with a device-measured dose of powdered medication is typically an inhaler equipped with a medication reservoir containing the powdered medication, from which the measured dose is drawn using a different dose-measuring configuration, and then the dose is inhaled.
[0007] Unit-dose dry powder inhalers are generally used not only to provide users with the appropriate dose of medication but also to ensure hygiene. Each unit-dose dry powder inhaler contains a sealed dose and is discarded after the dose has been inhaled.
[0008] Furthermore, since inhalers contain only a single dose, they do not require a dose measurement device, and their less complex design significantly reduces manufacturing costs.
[0009] Due to their low cost and the functionality of single-dose formulations, unit-dose dry powders are often manufactured in large quantities, typically by injection molding.
[0010] To ensure the function of the inhaler, it is necessary to include several components within its casing, such as aluminum foil and flow guide elements for optimal anti-agglomeration. Furthermore, the reservoir for containing the drug dose must be filled with the appropriate dose.
[0011] Therefore, the casing of a unit-dose dry powder inhaler is conventionally manufactured in at least two separate casing parts, thereby providing the casing parts with the required components and doses.
[0012] Typically, the production of such single-dose dry powder inhalers involves large production volumes, and the resulting joining and handling of multiple casing components makes them not only more expensive but also considerably more complex to manufacture and assemble.
[0013] A known drawback of dry powder inhalers is that the device must be kept in a specific orientation, such as horizontal, during administration to prevent the powder drug from moving around inside the inhaler. This is particularly problematic when nasal administration is the preferred route of administration, as it can be difficult for the user to position the inhalation nozzle in the nasal vestibule without rotating the inhaler or misorienting it.
[0014] Given these shortcomings and limitations of conventional technology, there is a need for a dry powder inhaler for nasal administration of powdered drugs or vaccines that can be assembled and manufactured in a less complex and more cost-effective manner, and that reduces the risk of drug spillage from the inhaler after the drug cavity is opened by removing the sealing foil or any other lid or sealing mechanism. The latter is particularly important with respect to unit-dose inhalers, because after the removal of the foil the drug becomes free in the drug cavity, and reorientation of the inhaler after the removal of the foil is required during nasal administration. [Overview of the Initiative]
[0015] Therefore, the present invention preferably aims to mitigate, alleviate, or eliminate one or more of the above-mentioned defects and shortcomings in the art, either individually or in any combination, and solves at least the above problems by providing a dry powder inhaler. The dry powder inhaler comprises a casing having a longitudinal axis and longitudinal extensions along two longitudinal ends, the casing having at least one outlet, at least one inlet, and a central channel communicating with at least one outlet, and comprising a first casing portion; a second casing portion; a third casing portion; a first hinge arrangement connecting the first and second casing portions; and a second hinge arrangement connecting the third casing portion to the first or second casing portion, the dry powder inhaler being assembled by folding the first, second and third casing portions together, the casing comprising a cavity adapted to contain a dry powder drug, the casing covering the cavity and extending outward through slits formed between at least two of the folded first, second and third casing portions.
[0016] Further advantageous embodiments are disclosed in the attached dependent claims. [Brief explanation of the drawing]
[0017] These and other aspects, features and advantages enabled by the present invention will become apparent and evident from the following description of embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0018] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of an inhaler in one embodiment, without a lid foil and with an unfolded casing. [Figure 2] This is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of an inhaler in one embodiment, without a lid foil and with an unfolded casing. [Figure 3] This is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of an inhaler in one embodiment, with a lid foil and a folded casing. [Figure 4]This is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of an inhaler in one embodiment, without a lid foil and with a folded casing. [Modes for carrying out the invention]
[0019] The following description focuses on embodiments of the present invention applicable to drug inhalers, particularly dry powder inhalers. However, it will be understood that the present invention is not limited to this use and can be applied to many other inhalers having inlets and outlets, as well as drug reservoirs.
[0020] Figures 1 to 4 show a dry powder inhaler 100 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The dry powder inhaler 100 comprises a casing 101 having a longitudinal extension along the longitudinal axis A. The casing 101 forms the outer shape of the dry powder inhaler 100. Each end of the casing 101 has two longitudinal ends 102, 103. One of the longitudinal ends may be referred to as the first longitudinal end 102 or the longitudinal distal end 102. The other longitudinal end may be referred to as the second longitudinal end 103 or the longitudinal proximal end 103. In this context, distal and proximal refer to the relationship with the user, so that the proximal end 103 is the end closest to the user, while the longitudinal distal end 102 is located away from the user during inhalation.
[0021] An outlet 104 is located in the proximal end region of the inhaler 100, i.e., near the proximal end 103. The outlet 104 may be in the form of a single outlet 104, or it may be a set of multiple outlets 104, such as holes in a mesh. As disclosed in Figure 1, the outlet 104 may be oriented longitudinally at the proximal end 103.
[0022] The inhaler 100 is equipped with a set of inlets 105. While it is possible for the inhaler to have only one inlet 105, a set of inlets 105 is preferred to reduce the risk of the inlet becoming blocked during use. The inlets 105 are located on the first casing portion 107 and on the sides of the longitudinal axis A.
[0023] A central channel 106 is provided in the center of the inhaler 100. The central channel 106 communicates with an outlet 104, whereby air sucked in from an inlet 105 can flow through the inhaler 100 into the central channel 106, and further exit the inhaler 100 via the outlet 104.
[0024] The inhaler 100 comprises a first casing part 107 and a second casing part 108. The first casing part 107 and the second casing part 108 extend longitudinally along a longitudinal axis A from a first end 102 to a second end 103. A hinge arrangement 109 connects the first casing part 107 to the second casing part 108. The inhaler 100 is assembled by folding the first casing part 107 and the second casing part 108 together. The first casing part 107 comprises a cavity 110 for receiving a dose foil 111. The cavity 110 is adapted to contain a dry powder pharmaceutical agent.
[0025] The inlet 105 is arranged laterally to the longitudinal axis A. A screen 113 is arranged between the inlet 105 and the central channel 106. In this way, an inlet duct 114 is formed between the first casing part 107, the second casing part 108, and the screen 113. The inlet duct 114 extends longitudinally to an opening 115 connecting the inlet duct 114 and the central channel 106. According to the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 4, one inlet is provided on each side, but the set of inlets 105 may be configured as an assembly of a plurality of inlets 105 aligned along the inlet duct 114 and the longitudinal axis A. When the inlet 105 is arranged laterally, the distal end of the inhaler 100 may be substantially closed. In this way, the risk of medication spilling out of the inhaler 100 after the foil 111 is removed is dramatically reduced. Alternatively, the medication actually exits the cavity 110 and moves distally to the position of the opening 115, and when it moves to the center of the opening 115, this is beneficial for emptying the inhaler 100. This is because in this case, the inhaled air does not need to empty the cavity 110, but can carry the medication linearly through the central channel 106. The turbulence generated when the inhaled air bends around the screen 113 and passes through the opening 115 also promotes carrying of the medication through the central channel 106.
[0026] The cavity 110 is arranged downstream of the opening 115 in the central channel 106. The opening 115 is arranged in the distal end region of the inhaler 100, whereby inhaled air moves longitudinally and distally from the inlet 105 to the opening 115. When the inhaled air passes through the opening 115, it rotates approximately 180 degrees and moves longitudinally and proximally from the opening 115 through the channel 106. As the air moves longitudinally and proximally through the inhaler 100, the inhaled air passes through the cavity 110 and then exits the inhaler 100 through the outlet 104.
[0027] A second screen 113' is positioned correspondingly between the second inlet 105' and the central channel 106, forming a second inlet duct 114'. The second inlet duct 114' is configured to reflect the function of the first inlet duct 114. That is, the inhaled air entering through the second inlet 105' travels longitudinally and distally through the second inlet duct 114', passes through the second opening 115', and then rotates approximately 180 degrees, traveling longitudinally and proximal from the opening 115 through the channel 106. The set of second inlets 105' may be aligned with the extension and longitudinal axis A of the first inlet duct 114, or with the extension and longitudinal axis A of the second inlet duct 114'.
[0028] The airflow from inlet ducts 114 and 114' is directed toward each other, thereby creating turbulence and a vortex effect that facilitates the discharge of the agent from the cavity 110. The openings 115 and 115' may be positioned slightly offset from each other along the longitudinal axis to create vortices, depending on the agent contained in the cavity 110, which may then facilitate the discharge of the cavity 110. This means that one of the openings 115, 115' is positioned distal to the other. In other words, one of the screens 113, 113' terminates proximal to the end of the other.
[0029] The cavity 110 is adapted to contain a dry powdered drug (such as a medicine or vaccine substance). This may be achieved, for example, by heat-sealing, i.e., welding, the lid foil 111 to the wall around the cavity 110 so as to seal the cavity 110 from the rest of the inside of the casing 101 and protect the drug from moisture. This allows the dry powdered drug to remain in place during transport and handling of the inhaler 100 without any risk of leakage of the dry powdered drug through the inlet 105 and outlet 104 of the casing 101.
[0030] Therefore, as in the conventional method, the user can first operate the inhaler 100 by removing the lid foil 111 to expose the dry powder medication inside. The user can then inhale the medication via nasal administration by placing the nozzle outlet 104 in the nasal vestibule and inhaling. This allows the dry powder medication to flow through the inlets 105, 105' of the inhaler 100 and toward the user through the inlet ducts 114, 114' and the central channel 106, thereby allowing the inlets 105, 105' to draw air into the casing 101 and push the dry powder medication toward the outlet 8. In this way, the user can inhale the dry powder medication provided in the cavity 110 of the casing 101 into his / her nasal vestibule and nasal passage, thereby completing the treatment, and the inhaler 100 may be discarded.
[0031] The casing 101 may preferably be made of a plastic material such as PP or PE, and may be manufactured by injection molding. The hinge arrangement 109 that interconnects the first casing portion 107 and the second casing portion 108 makes the casing 101 a single unit for at least most of the assembly process, thus greatly simplifying transportation and assembly.
[0032] The hinge function 109 allows the casing sections 107 and 108 to be connected before the remaining components, such as the flow guide element and lid foil, are inserted, thus enabling the casing 101 to be transported and delivered in an easy manner.
[0033] This is particularly advantageous because the filling of the drug and sealing of the drug into the cavity 110 with the lid foil 111 are typically performed at a location separate from the manufacture of the casing 101. By connecting the casing sections 107 and 108 before delivery to the site where the drug will be filled and sealed, the number of components to be handled during assembly and transport is significantly reduced, resulting in more cost-effective handling and transport. Furthermore, the interconnected casing sections 107 and 108 enable a much more user-friendly and cost-effective final assembly and drug filling, as the filling and sealing operations do not require complex and time-consuming joining operations. Instead, the casing 101 simply needs to be folded together after the dry powder drug has been "loaded".
[0034] The outlet 104 for nasal administration is also injection-molded integrally with the casing portions 107 and 108 of the casing 101. This allows the entire casing to be manufactured in a single manufacturing process, which significantly reduces the complexity and cost of assembly and manufacturing compared to conventional inhalers, which require handling separate parts and then assembling them together.
[0035] According to Figures 1 to 4, the exit 104 is located on the third casing portion 116. The third casing portion 116 may be connected to the first casing portion 107 via a second hinge arrangement 117. The third casing portion 116 is configured to be substantially lateral with respect to the longitudinal axis A when the first casing portion 107, the second casing portion 108, and the third casing portion 116 are folded together. In this configuration, the exit 104 is aligned with the longitudinal axis A. In this embodiment, the first casing portion 107, which includes a cavity 110, is located between the second casing portion 108 and the third casing portion 116, the first hinge arrangement 109 is located between the first casing portion 107 and the second casing portion 108, and the second hinge arrangement is located between the first casing portion 107 and the third casing portion 116. The third casing portion 116 is provided with a lumen 118 that extends laterally through the third casing portion 116. When the first casing portion 107, the second casing portion 108, and the third casing portion 116 are folded together, the lumen 118 extends longitudinally such that its longitudinal axis A coincides with the central axis of the lumen 118. The lumen may have a circular or rectangular cross-sectional shape, but a rectangular cross-sectional shape is preferred for good closure of the central channel 106 together with the screens 113, 113'. The screens 113, 113' are then provided with fins 119, 119' that extend upward at the end of the first casing portion 107 facing the third casing portion 116. The fins 119, 119' fold together the first casing portion 107, the second casing portion 108, and the third casing portion 116, and then the screens 113, 113' ensure that the interaction between the first casing portion 107, the second casing portion 108, and the third casing portion 116 is completely closed, thereby closing the inlet ducts 114, 114' so that the air drawn in through the inlet 105 must move distally through the openings 115, 115' to enter the central channel 106. The third casing portion 116 is provided with at least one connecting arm 120, for example, one connecting arm 120, 120' on each side of the third casing portion 116.The connecting arms 120, 120' extend in the same direction as the lumen 118. In this way, the connecting arms 120, 120' extend toward the second casing portion 108 in the folded configuration and interact with the proximal medial connecting ridge 121 of the second casing portion 108. When folded together, the connecting arms 120, 120' snap-fit with the ridge 121, thereby holding the third casing portion 116 and the second casing portion 108 together. The connecting arms 120, 120' may also be positioned on the second casing portion 108, so that the corresponding ridge 121 is positioned on the third casing portion 116.
[0036] The slit 112 is located between the second casing portion 108 and the third casing portion 116. Thus, the foil 111 exits the inhaler 100 in the proximal end region of the inhaler 100. In this way, the distal end can be completely closed, thereby minimizing the risk of drug leakage from the inhaler 100 after removal of the foil 111. In this embodiment, where the outlet 104 is aligned with the longitudinal axis A, when administering the drug nasally, the inhaler 100 is usually rotated after removal of the foil 111, but the closed distal end of the inhaler 100 prevents the drug from leaking out. Conversely, it is beneficial for the drug to exit the cavity 110 so that it falls distally to the drug platform 122 adjacent to the openings 115, 115', in order to improve drug extraction. The drug platform 122 is located distal and upstream of the cavity 110. The hinge arrangement 109 at the distal end 102 closes the distal end 102 with a lateral end wall 123. The lateral end wall 123 is located distal to the drug platform 122. The lateral end wall 123 prevents the drug from spilling out of the inhaler 100 when the foil 111 is removed. The lateral end wall 123 is oriented laterally with respect to the longitudinal axis A.
[0037] By injection molding the entire casing as a single unit, each cavity of the casing is individual, making the casing less susceptible to tolerances. This means that one casing section only needs to fit with other casing sections molded into the same cavity. In conventional injection molding processes where casing sections are injected separately, each of the first casing sections must fit with each of the second casing sections, which can lead to the possibility of discarding some casing sections due to tolerances that prevent proper assembly. Therefore, injection molding the entire casing as a single unit enables a more cost-effective and reliable manufacturing process.
[0038] The inhaler 100 may further include at least one, preferably more, flow guide elements adapted to prevent drug aggregation. Thus, the inhaler 100 includes flow guide elements positioned within the casing 101 between the cavity 110 and the outlet 104 of the inhaler 100 when the inhaler 100 is in a folded configuration. In other words, the flow guide elements may be positioned downstream of the cavity 110 and upstream of the outlet 104 when the casing 101 is in a folded position. By providing flow guide elements, it is possible to guide the airflow through the inhaler 100, i.e., the airflow for the drug from the inlet 105 to the outlet 104, achieving a more laminar airflow pattern. This allows more air to pass through the entire inhaler 100 with a single inhalation, thereby achieving reduced drug aggregation and thus increasing the likelihood that the drug will reach deeper into the patient's nasal passages. In addition, the collision effect of the flow guide element with the airflow may cause the powder contained in the air flowing through the inhaler 100 during inhalation to collide with the flow guide element and disperse further, thereby achieving a further reduction in aggregation. The flow guide element may be an integrated element protruding from the first and / or second casing portion. Advantageously, the flow guide element can protrude from the first casing portion 107, i.e., the casing portion having the cavity 110. Due to the foldable design of the inhaler 100, a small gap is required between the flow guide element and the casing portion, and in this case, the flow guide element is not provided to ensure the ability to fold and connect the casing portions 107, 108, and 116. To optimize and maximize drug aggregation prevention, the flow guide element is substantially droplet-shaped with a tapered end extending toward the outlet.
[0039] The first casing portion 107 is provided with a connecting male knob 124 that extends toward the second casing portion when the inhaler 100 is folded. When folded, the connecting male knob 124 aligns with a female knob 125 on the second casing portion 108. In this context, the female knob 125 is a knob having a cavity adapted to engage receptively with the protruding male knob 124, thereby allowing the first casing portion 107 to be held relative to the second casing portion 108.
[0040] The outer surface of the casing 101 of the inhaler 100 is shown in an unfolded position. The first casing portion 107 has a first longitudinal end 102 and a second longitudinal end 103, and the second casing portion 108 has a corresponding first longitudinal end 102' and a corresponding second longitudinal end 103'. The second longitudinal ends 103, 103' are connected by a hinge arrangement 109.
[0041] According to the embodiments shown in Figures 1 to 4, the outlet 104 is located at the second longitudinal end 103 of the second casing portion 108 and has a substantially cylindrical shape. The outlet nozzle 104 is long enough to fit the user's nasal vestibule. Furthermore, the outlet nozzle 104 is slightly tapered, becoming wider adjacent to the second casing portion 108 and narrowing at its outer end. This shape facilitates the fitting of the nozzle 104 to the user's nasal vestibule, making the outlet nozzle 104 more comfortable for the user.
[0042] To seal the drug within the drug reservoir, the dry powder inhaler 100 may include a lid foil 111 that is removably attached to a first casing portion 107 to seal a cavity 110 adapted to contain the dry powder drug. The lid foil 111 may preferably be made of aluminum due to its advantageous sealing properties. Advantageously, the lid foil 111 may be removably attached to the first casing portion 107 by a heat seal. However, mechanical fastening means such as clamp arrangements are also applicable.
[0043] In the embodiments shown in Figures 1 to 4, a rib 126 is provided on the back surface of the first casing portion 107. The rib 126 is longitudinally positioned along the longitudinal axis A adjacent to at least one inlet 105. The rib 126 reduces the risk of blocking the inlet 105 when holding the inhaler 100.
[0044] The present invention can further be a method for providing a dry powder inhaler 100, the method comprising the step of providing a casing 101, the casing 101 comprising a first casing portion 107 having a nozzle outlet 104, a second casing portion 108, a third casing portion 116, and hinge arrangements 109, 117 connecting the first casing portion 107, the second casing portion 108, and the third casing portion 116, which are adapted to form a slit 112 for enclosing a foil 111 extending from the casing 101 when folded together. The method further comprises the step of assembling the inhaler 100 by folding the first casing portion 107, the second casing portion 108, and the third casing portion 116 together.
[0045] This method may also include the step of connecting the first casing portion 107 and the second casing portion 108 by hinge arrangements 109, 117 to form the casing 101 before folding the casing 101.
[0046] Alternatively, this method may include the step of injection molding the casing 101 before folding it, so that the first casing portion 107, the second casing portion 108, the third casing portion 116 and the hinge arrangements 109, 117 become a single integrated part of the casing 101.
[0047] Although the present invention has been described above with reference to specific embodiments, it is not intended to be limited to the specific forms described herein. Rather, the present invention is limited only by the appended claims.
[0048] In the claims, the term “comprises / comprising” does not preclude the existence of other elements or steps. Furthermore, steps of multiple means, elements, or methods, although individually listed, may be implemented, for example, by a single unit or processor. Moreover, individual features may be included in different claims, but they may be advantageously combined, and inclusion in different claims does not mean that the combination of features is impossible and / or unfavorable. In addition, singular references do not preclude plurals. Terms such as “a,” “an,” “first,” and “second” do not preclude plurals. Reference numerals in the claims are provided merely as clear examples and should not be construed as limiting the claims in any way.
Claims
1. A dry powder inhaler (100) comprising a casing (101) having a longitudinal extension along a longitudinal axis (A), wherein the casing has a distal end (102) and a proximal end (103), and the casing (101) is At least one outlet (104), at least one inlet (105), and a central channel (106) communicating with the at least one outlet (104), The first casing portion (107) and The second casing portion (108) and The third casing portion (116) and A first hinge arrangement (109) connecting the first casing portion (107) and the second casing portion (108), The third casing portion (116) is connected to the first casing portion (107) or the second casing portion (108) by a second hinge arrangement (117), Equipped with, The dry powder inhaler (100) is assembled by folding together the first casing portion (107), the second casing portion (108), and the third casing portion (116). A dry powder inhaler (100) comprising a casing (101) having a cavity (110) adapted to contain a dry powder drug, wherein a foil (111) covers the cavity (110) and extends out of the casing (101) through a slit (112) formed between at least two of the first casing portion (107), the second casing portion (108), and the third casing portion (116) when folded together.
2. The dry powder inhaler (100) according to claim 1, wherein the outlet (104) is located on the third casing portion (116).
3. The dry powder inhaler (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the third casing portion (116) is connected to the first casing portion (107).
4. A dry powder inhaler (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein when the first casing portion (107), the second casing portion (108), and the third casing portion (116) are folded together, the third casing portion (116) is configured to be positioned substantially laterally with respect to the longitudinal axis (A).
5. The dry powder inhaler (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the at least one inlet (105) is positioned laterally to the longitudinal axis (A), and a screen (113) is positioned between the at least one inlet (105) and the central channel (106), thereby forming an inlet duct (114) between the first casing portion (107), the second casing portion (108), and the screen (113), and the inlet duct (114) extends longitudinally to an opening (115) connecting the inlet duct (114) and the central channel (106).
6. The dry powder inhaler (100) according to claim 5, wherein the at least one inlet (105) is a set of inlets (105, 105'), and at least two inlets (105) are located at the opposite side end of the casing (101).
7. The dry powder inhaler (100) according to claim 6, wherein a first set of inlets (105) is located on one side of the longitudinal axis (A), and a second set of inlets (105') is located on the other side of the longitudinal axis (A).
8. The dry powder inhaler (100) according to claim 3, wherein the first set of inlets (105) is arranged aligned along the inlet duct (114) and the longitudinal axis (A), and the second set of inlets (105') is arranged aligned with the second inlet duct (114') on the other side of the longitudinal axis (A), to the side of the second screen (113') which is positioned between the second set of inlets (105') and the central channel (106).
9. The dry powder inhaler (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the at least one inlet (105, 105') is located on the first casing portion (107).
10. The dry powder inhaler (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the cavity (110) is located within the central channel (106).
11. The dry powder inhaler (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the cavity is located downstream of the opening (115) in the first casing portion (107).
12. The dry powder inhaler (100) according to any one of claims 5 to 11, wherein the opening (115) is located in the distal end region of the inhaler (100), so that the inhaled air travels longitudinally and distally from the at least one inlet (105, 105') to the opening (115), enters the central channel (106), travels longitudinally and proximal from the opening (115) through the channel (106), passes through the cavity (110), and then exits through the at least one outlet (104).
13. A dry powder inhaler (100) according to any one of claims 5 to 12, wherein a second opening (115') is located at the distal end of the second screen (113'), and the first opening (115) and the second opening (115') face each other.
14. A dry powder inhaler (100) according to any one of claims 5 to 12, wherein a second opening (115') is located at the distal end of the second screen (113'), and the first opening (115) and the second opening (115') are positioned slightly offset from each other along the longitudinal axis (A).
15. A dry powder inhaler (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein when the first casing portion (107), the second casing portion (108), and the third casing portion (116) are folded together, the third casing portion (116) is configured to be positioned substantially laterally with respect to the longitudinal axis (A).
16. A dry powder inhaler (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein when the first casing portion (107), the second casing portion (108), and the third casing portion (116) are folded together, the outlet (104) is aligned with the longitudinal axis (A).
17. A dry powder inhaler (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the first casing portion (107), the second casing portion (108), and the third casing portion (116) are held together in a folded position by interaction between at least one connecting arm (120) and at least one connecting protrusion (121).
18. The dry powder inhaler (100) according to claim 17, wherein the connecting arm (120) extends from the third casing portion (116) toward the second casing portion (108) in a folded configuration and interacts with the connecting protrusion (121) on the proximal inner side of the second casing portion (108).