CA2212430A1

CA2212430A1 - Inhalation device

Info

Publication number: CA2212430A1
Application number: CA002212430A
Authority: CA
Inventors: George Volgyesi
Original assignee: SMOKE-STOP A PARTNERSHIP CONSISTING OF ART SLUTSKY
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-08-07
Filing date: 1997-08-07
Publication date: 1999-02-07
Also published as: US6575160B1; ZA987092B; AU8723798A; WO1999007426A1; EP1001822A1; AR015931A1; US6116239A

Abstract

An inhalation device for use in delivering a powdered medicament to a user, the inhalation device comprises a housing including a portion for holding the medicament; an air entry passageway sized and configured to direct air entering the inhalation device at the portion and to fluidize the medicament upon inhalation by the user;
a hold up chamber in flow communication with the portion for receiving the fluidized medicament and maintaining the medicament in a fluidized state during inhalation by the user; and, an air exit passageway in flow communication with the hold up chamber and adapted to deliver the medicament to the mouth or nose of a user.

Description

Title: INHALATION DEVICE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to devices for the administration of a powdered substance by inhalation. In one particular embodiment, the invention relates to a device for administering powdered medicaments to the lungs of a user.

Various types of inhalers for delivering a medicament are known. For example, United States Patent No. 3,938,516 (Mathes No. 1) discloses an inhaler for delivering a powdered medicament. The device includes a mouth piece 14 which has provided therein an 15 emptying chamber. A longitudinally extending passageway for introducing air into the inhaler is connected to the passageway. The inhaler also includes a hollow air stream tube which extends preferably into an opened capsule containing a medicament. Upon inhalation, air drawn through the air stream tube into the capsule 20 assists in causing the medicament to be expelled therefrom.
Mathes No. 1 states at column 4, lines 32 - 45 that "Quite obviously, no single device will be suitable for all persons requiring administration of powdered medicaments since, for example, people with differing lung capacities are known to generate flow rates from 25 about 30 litters/minute or so to about 120 litters/minute or so through inhalation devices of this and known types. Nonetheless, the device of [Mathes No. 1] affords such variability, through proper selection of the various design parameters, that a device, embraced with the scope of [Mathes No. 1], can be designed for a particular patient-generated flow 30 rate to deliver the medicament according to a certain set of pre-determined objectives (e.g., slow or fast administration, one or more inhalations etc.)."
Accordingly, one of the disadvantages of Mathes No. 1 is that a single device is not capable of being used with a variety of patients. In some cases, the inhaler may be required for treating an individual who has a diminished lung capacity. For example, an individual who may need to use the device may suffer from, for example, emphysema or asthma, and may not be able to generate a 5 high flow rate of air. Therefore, the device of Mathes No. 1 would have to be designed for someone who could only administer a dose slowly due to their diminished lung capacity. Alternately, the device may be used by someone who does not have a diminished lung capacity. Unless the device is properly designed, the medicament will 10 exit the inhaler at a rate such that a portion, if not substantially all of the medicament, will impact upon the throat and airways of the user and therefore not be drawn into the lungs for absorption.
A further disadvantage of Mathes No. 1 is that, over the course of a single inhalation, the concentration of the medicament in 15 the air inhaled by a user is uneven. This arises for two reasons. First, once the medicament is withdrawn from the container, it is immediately transported through the inhaler into the mouth or nose of the user. Therefore, little mixing of the medicament in the air inhaled by the user occurs. This results in uneven distribution of the 20 powder in the air inhaled by the user and, to the extent that the medicament is drawn into the lungs of the user, the medicament will not be distributed evenly throughout the lungs. Secondly, a substantial portion of the medicament may be withdrawn from the medicament container and entrained in the air upon initial inhalation.
25 Accordingly, the medicament will not be distributed throughout the entire lung of the user but will be concentrated in that portion of the lungs of the user to which the first portion of the air inhaled on inhalation travels. (See also United States Patent Nos. 4,014,336 (Mathes No. 2); 4,005,711 (Glen No. 1) and, 4,098,273 (Glen No. 2)). In 30 Glen Nos. 1 and 2, a deflector surface is used to direct a portion of the incoming air into the medicament container so as to entrain the medicament in the air which is inhaled by a user.

United States Patent Nos. 3,964,483 (Mathes No. 3) and 3,973,566 (Mathes No. 4) each discloses a device wherein the air entering the inhaler is not aimed directly at the medicament in a medicament container. Instead, turbulent air flow is created so as to draw the medicament out from the container. These devices have the same disadvantages as Mathes No. 1.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
In accordance with the instant invention, there is 10 provided an inhalation device for use in delivering a powdered medicament to a user. The inhalation device comprises a housing including a portion for holding the medicament; an air entry passageway sized and configured to direct air entering the inhalation device at the portion and to fluidize the medicament upon inhalation 15 by the user; a hold up chamber in flow communication with the portion for receiving the fluidized medicament and maintaining the medicament in a fluidized state during inhalation by the user; and, an air exit passageway in flow communication with the hold up chamber and adapted to deliver the medicament to the mouth or nose of a user.
In one embodiment of the invention, the inhalation device includes a plurality of air entry passageways. The number and cross sectional flow area of the air entry passageways may be selected to cause the air entering the inhalation device through the air entry passageways to travel at a velocity to fluidize a major portion of the 25 medicament upon the commencement of inhalation by the user. In a more preferred embodiment, substantially all of the medicament is fluidized upon commencement of the inhalation by the user.
Accordingly, one advantage of the instant invention is that the air entering the inhaler effectively forms a jet directed to 30 impinge upon the medicament in the inhaler so as to cause the medicament to effectively immediately fluidize during the first stage of inhalation by the user. The fluidized medicament is then drawn into the hold-up chamber where it is effectively stored in a fluidized state during the remainder of the inhalation. This produces three advantages. First, the medicament is effectively deaggregated almost immediately upon inhalation so as to form a relatively uniform concentration of medicament in the hold up chamber at the commencement of inhalation. As air is drawn through the air exist passageway by the user, a relatively constant concentration of medicament is drawn into the lungs of the user. This helps to provide a more even deposition of the medicament in the lungs of the user.
10 Secondly, the desegregation of the particles by the air travelling through the air entry passageways reduces the likelihood of large particles of medicament being present and impacting upon the throat and/or upper airways of the user.
A third advantage is that the relatively even 15 concentration of medicament in the hold up chamber is formed almost immediately upon inhalation so that even the first air drawing into the lungs of the user contains a diluted fluidized mass of medicament. Further, as the inhalation continues, additional air is introduced into the hold up chamber to mix with the remaining 20 fluidized medicament. Therefore, as the inhalation continues, medicament is continuously drawn into the lungs. Thus, medicament is drawn into a large volume of the lung.
In one embodiment, substantially all of the air entering the inhalation device is directed at the medicament. In a further 25 alternate embodiment, all of the air entering the inhalation device is directed at the medicament. Preferably, this air is not directed directly at the medicament. Instead, the air is preferably directed to impinge upon the medicament and draw the medicament into the hold up chamber.
The air exit passageway is preferably sized to provide the medicament leaving the inhalation device with a velocity sufficiently low for a major proportion of the medicament not to impact on the throat and upper airways of the user but to be drawn into the lungs and/lower passageway of the user. The air which enters the inhalation device at a rapid velocity through the air entry passageways may decrease in velocity as it enters the hold up chamber. The air may then 5 be drawn off from the hold up chamber at a controlled rate so as to provide a velocity of the medicament leaving the hold up chamber (through the air exit passageway) which is sufficiently low for the medicament to be drawn into the lungs of the user.
The air entry passageway and/or the lower portion of the 10 hold up chamber are configured to introduce air into the hold up chamber such that the air entering the inhalation device will rotate, swirl or travel around the hold up chamber to maintain the medicament in a fluidized state. In one embodiment, the hold up chamber has interior walls which are substantially smooth or are of 15 generally uniform cross-section. Accordingly, the hold up chamber is preferably configured to permit cyclonic flow of air within the hold up chamber and the air entry passageway and/or the lower portion of the hold up chamber are configured to initiate cyclonic flow of air upon inhalation by the user. The cyclonic flow of air may assist in further 20 deaggregation of the medicament and in maintaining the deaggregated medicament in a fluidized state.
The air exit passageway may be positioned in the hold up chamber at a position which is distal to the portion which receives the medicament. In an embodiment, the hold up chamber may be 25 cylindrically shaped having a longitudinally extending axis around which the air inhaled by a user rotates with the air exit passageway positioned on the cylindrically shaped wall of the hold up chamber.
Accordingly, the hold up chamber may extend longitudinally away from the portion which receives the medicament to the air exit 30 passageway. The air exit passageway preferably extends outwardly from the hold up chamber at an angle to the longitudinal direction of the hold up chamber. More preferably, this angle is about 90~ (i.e.

transverse to the axis of rotation of the air in the hold up chamber).
In an alternate embodiment, the inhalation device may include a plurality of air entry passageways. Further, some of the air entry passageways may be configured to direct air at the medicament 5 and some of the air entry passageways may be configured direct air so as to promote the cyclonic rotation of air in the hold up chamber.
Accordingly, a further advantage of the instant invention is that high velocity air may be used to extract the medicament from a medicament reservoir to mix the medicament with air and to 10 segregate or deaggregate the medicament. Further, this extraction, mixing and deaggregation may be achieved by inspiratory effort alone.
No battery operated impellers or other mechanical devices need be included. Further, by utilizing a plurality of air entry passageways which, in total, have a relatively low cross sectional area, these high 15 velocities can be achieved using low inspiratory flow rates.
A further advantage is that the dosage which is withdrawn is less dependant on inspiratory flow rates than other known devices. Accordingly, the dose of medicament which is withdrawn from the inhalation device is more consistent than may be 20 achieved with other known devices. Further, due to the low velocity of medicament as it exits the inhalation device, relatively low amounts of medicament will be deposited in the throat and upper airways of the user. Not only does this result in more medicament being drawn into the lungs of the user where it in general is more 25 easily absorbed by the body, it may cause less irritation to the throat and upper airways of the user.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES
These and other advantages of the instant invention will 30 be more fully and completely understood in conjunction with the following drawings of preferred embodiments of the invention in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an inhaler according to the instant invention.
Figure 2 is a cross section along the line 2-2 in Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a cross section along the line 3-3 in Figure 1;
Figure 4 is a top plan view of the medicament cassette shown in Figure 3;
Figure 5 is a cross sectional view in the direction of line 2-2 of Figure 1 of an alternate inhalation device according to the instant invention.
Figure 6 is a cross sectional along line 6-6 in Figure 5;
Figure 7 is a top plan view of the inhaler of Figure 5 showing the air entry passageways and the medicament cassette;
Figure 8 is a cross sectional view along the line 2-2 in Figure 1 of a second alternate embodiment of the inhalation device of 15 Figure 1;
Figure 9 is a cross sectional view along the line 2-2 in Figure 1 of a third alternate embodiment of the inhalation device of Figure 1;
Figure 10 is a graph of velocity (km/hr) and number of 20 tubes for the inhaler of Figure 1 having a total resistance to flow of 0.3 cm H20/l/min and at a constant flo w rate of 8 l/min;
Figure 11 is a graph of cross section area of the air entry tubes (cm2) versus the number of tubes for the inhaler of Figure 10;
and, Figure 12 is a graph of the diameter of tubes versus the number of tubes for the inhaler of Figure 1 having a total resistance to flow of 0.12 cm H20/l/min and at a constant flow rate of 8 l/min.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, inhaler 10 comprises a housing 12 having a hold up chamber 14, a mouthpiece 16 and a portion 20 to receive and hold a medicament.
Housing 12 may be of any particular shape or exterior configuration. Accordingly, provided the hold up chamber is of an appropriate dimension and internal configuration, the inhaler may be shaped to suit various aesthetic requirements. Further, housing 12 may be made from any material which is known in the art. Preferably, housing 12 is made from a material which will prevent the build up of static electricity so as to minimize adherence of the medicament to the internal walls of housing 12. Alternately, or in addition, the interior 10 walls of housing 12 may be coated with a material to reduce the adherence of the medicament to the internal walls of housing 12. Such materials are known to those skilled in the art.
Portion 20 is preferably sized so as to receive therein a single does of medicament. Portion 20 may be provided at any 15 particular location in housing 12. However, it is preferably positioned such that, when inhaler 10 is to be used, portion 20 will be positioned at the bottom of housing 12 and will open facing upwardly into hold up chamber 14 as shown in Figure 2. This will assist in maintaining the medicament in portion 20 while inhaler 10 is in use.
Housing 12 includes at least one air entry passageway which is sized and configured to direct air entering inhaler 10 at portion 20 so as to at least substantially fluidize the medicament upon inhalation by the user. Housing 12 may have a plurality of such air entry passageways. For example, housing 12 may have 1 to 8 air entry 25 passageways and, more preferably, from 3 to 5 air entry passageways.
As shown in Figure 2, housing 12 includes 3 such passageways 22. Each passageway 22 has an entry port 24 and an exit port 26. Air entry port 24 may be positioned at any point in or about housing 12. Preferably, each entry port 24 is located adjacent exterior surface 18 of housing 12. Each 30 exit port 26 may be positioned and/or each passageway 22 may be configured so as to direct air travelling through passageways 22 at the medicament in portion 20 to fluidize or assist in fluidizing the medicament positioned therein.
Hold up chamber 14 is in flow communication with portion 20. Hold up chamber 14 is configured to maintain the medicament in a fluidized state during inhalation by the user and may 5 also be configured to assist in fluidizing the medicament in portion 20.
Hold up chamber 14 is accordingly designed to produce or assist in producing an air flow pattern such that the medicament may be readily deaggregated upon inhalation by the user and maintained in a deaggregated condition during inhalation. Preferably, hold up chamber 10 14 is configured to produce a swirling or cyclonic air flow in hold up chamber 14. Accordingly, in the preferred embodiment shown in Figure 2, hold up chamber 14 is provided with lower portion 30 and upper portion 32. Lower portion 32 is provided with angled walls 38 and upper portion 32 is provided with ceiling 36. Side walls 34 extend 15 between angled walls 38 and ceiling 36.
In order to assist in the formation of a cyclonic air flow, angled walls 38 are provided adjacent portion 20. As shown in Figure 2, passageways 22 are straight and are provided immediately beneath the surface of angled walls 38. Upon inhalation, air travels 20 downwardly through passageways 22 and is directed at the medicament in portion 20. By directing the air at the medicament, the medicament is removed from portion 20 and is therefore at least partially deaggregated if not substantially deaggregated upon the commencement of inhalation. Upon continued inhalation, the 25 configuration and orientation of passageways 22 and/or the configuration of lower portion 30 of hold up chamber 14 causes the air entering hold up chamber 14 to adopt a cyclonic flow path.
By angling walls 38, lower portion 30 of hold up chamber 14 has a frusto conical shape so as to encourage the cyclonic or swirling 30 flow of air in hold up chamber 14. Further, the configuration and orientation of passageways 22 may be such as to encourage the formation of the cyclonic air flow. As shown in Figure 2, passageways 22 are spaced around lower portion 30 and are straight. It will be appreciated that provided a cyclonic or swirling flow of air is produced, any particular configuration may be provided to passageway 22 and the internal surfaces of lower portion 30. For example passageways 22 may 5 be curved to direct at least a portion of the air tangentially into hold up chamber 14.
Side walls 34 of hold up chamber 14 may be of any particular configuration which does not inhibit the cyclonic or swirling flow of air in hold up chamber 14. Accordingly, side walls 34 10 are preferably smooth and, in addition, are preferably of generally circular cross section. In one embodiment, side walls 34 are preferably of generally constant circular cross section so that hold up chamber 14 may accordingly define a cylindrical chamber in inhaler 10. Similarly, ceiling 36 is preferably flat. Accordingly, once air commences to move 15 in a cyclonic pattern in lower portion 30, this pattern will be maintained in upper portion 32. The continual movement of air in upper chamber 32 will keep the medicament in motion so that the medicament will generally not have an opportunity to aggregate.
Further, the shear forces produced during the swirling action will 20 assist in deaggregating those portions of the medicament which were not deaggregated when the medicament was removed from portion 20 upon the initial inhalation by the user.
Mouthpiece 16 is provided to draw off air from a portion of hold up chamber 14 wherein the medicament has been substantially 25 deaggregated. Accordingly, mouthpiece 16 is preferably provided in upper portion 32 of hold up chamber 14 and, more preferably, adjacent ceiling 36 of hold up chamber 14. At this position, by the time the medicament reaches the opening of mouthpiece 16, it has travelled several times around hold up chamber 14 and is substantially, if not 30 completely, deaggregated.
It will further be appreciated that, due to the volume of hold up chamber 14, not all of the medicament will immediately exit hold up chamber 14 upon initial inhalation by the user. Instead, as the inhalation continues, additional air will enter hold up chamber 14 through passageways 22 and will dilute the medicament remaining in hold up chamber 14. This dilution of the concentration of the 5 medicament in hold up chamber 14 is beneficial as it allows the medicament to be slowly released during inhalation by the user.
Therefore, the medicament will be drawn in by the user during all portions of the inhalation and the medicament will therefore travel to all regions of the lungs of the user.
A further advantage of hold up chamber 14 is that it allows for differing rates of air flow into and out of inhaler 10. In particular, the number and size of passageways 22 may be adjusted so as to provide a velocity of air inflow into inhaler 10 sufficiently rapid to deaggregate or substantially deaggregate the medicament in portion 15 20. Further, this flow rate of air is preferably sufficient to cause the deaggregation to occur substantially upon the commencement of inhalation by the user. This flow rate of air may also be sufficient to cause air entering the inhaler to undergo a cyclonic or swirling motion in lower portion 30 or to at least assist in commencing such cyclonic or 20 swirling motion. In contrast, mouthpiece 16 is sized so as to draw air from inhaler 10 at a rate sufficiently slow so that the medicament entrained in the air inhaled by a user will not substantially impact upon the throat and upper airway of the user. Thus, mouthpiece 16 will generally have a large cross sectional area as compared to 25 passageways 22. Therefore, the medicament will travel into the lungs of the user.
Figure 10 is a chart showing the velocity of air entering inhaler 10 measured against the number of tubes which are provided.
The total flow rate was maintained at 8 litres per minute and the 30 resistance to flow was maintained at 0.3 cm of water per litre per minute. As can be seen, when inhaler 10 was provided with one tube, the flow rate was about 110 km per hour. When 8 tubes were provided, the flow rate was reduced to about 75 km per hour. Accordingly, as the number of tubes increases, the flow rate of the air entering inhaler 10 through passageways 22 decreases. However, even with a large number of tubes, the air flow rate may still be maintained at a velocity 5 which would create substantial shear forces in inhaler 10 and which would cause the medicament in portion 20 to be quickly fluidized.
Figure 11 is a chart showing the total cross sectional area of passageways 22 as the number of tubes decreases. As can be seen, the cross sectional area of the tubes increases with the number of tubes 10 which are provided. If the cross sectional area increases too much with an increasing number of tubes, the diameter of some or all of the tubes may be decreased. By adjusting the diameter of passageways 22, and the number of passageways 22, the velocity of air entering inhaler 10 (for a given flow rate) may be maintained.
Figure 12 is a chart showing the diameter of passageways 22 plotted against the number of tubes 22 in inhaler 10. As the number of tubes is increased, the diameter of the tubes is decreased. As the number of tubes (and their diameter) decrease, the velocity of the air travelling through the tubes decreases from about 135 km per hour to 20 about 48 km per hour. If the diameter of the tubes were decreased more, then a higher velocity may be maintained. Alternately, if a larger diameter in the tubes was provided, then the velocity would decrease.
As will be appreciated from these charts, even at a low 25 flow rate (e.g. 8 litres per minute), a person with a breathing disability may still generate substantial velocities in passageways 22. These velocities are sufficient to deaggregate medicament 20. Due to the resistance of flow in passageways 22, a user without any breathing difficulties would be limited in the velocity which they could achieve 30 in air travelling through passageways 22. Accordingly, inhaler 10 is adapted to be used by users who can generate only low flow rates or high flow rates.

Similarly, a mouthpiece having a similar diameter may be employed for users having different lung capacities and flow rates. As mouthpiece 16 has a relatively large diameter as compared to passageways 22 the air exiting inhaler 14 will travel at a rate sufficiently slow so as to maintain, or at least substantially maintain, the medicament in the air as the air travels through the mouth and upper airways of the user. Due to the large relative diameter of mouthpiece 16, a user would not generate a flow rate sufficiently fast so as to cause substantial quantities of medicament to impact upon the 10 throat and upper airways of the user.
Inhaler 10 may be provided with a source of multiple doses of medicament. For example, inhaler 10 may be provided with a container for holding bulk medicament and metering means for providing individual doses of medicament into portion 20 (not 15 shown). Alternately, inhaler 10 may be provided with a plurality of individual doses of medicament. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, inhaler 10 includes a cassette 40 having provided therein a plurality of recesses 42. Each recess 42 is preferably sized to receive an individual dose of medicament 20. Recesses 20 are preferably spaced in a circular pattern 20 around cassette 40. Cassette 40 may be rotatably mounted to the bottom of inhaler 10 by means of bolt 44 and washer 46. Bolt 44 may pass through washer 46 and cassette 40 into lower portion 30 of inhaler 10.
In this way, as cassette 40 is rotated, a different recess is positioned below portion 20 of inhaler 10.
In order to maintain a particular recess 42 in alignment with portion 20, inhaler 10 may be further provided with a locking means. For example, the bottom of inhaler 10 may be provided with steel spring 50 which is secured to the bottom of inhaler 10 by means of bolts 52. Steel spring 50 is provided with a detent 54 which is adapted 30 to engage a mating recess which is provided on cassette 40 (not shown). Accordingly, when a user needs to take a dose of medicament, they may rotate cassette 40 to expose a new dose of medicament. This dose of medicament will be maintained in position by means of detent 54 of steel spring 50 and a mating recess on cassette 40. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that any medicament holder or dispensing means may be adapted for use with inhaler 10. Further, if 5 required, the medicament may be sealed in individual doses and an opening means may be provided to open the individual medicament container prior to inhalation by the user (not shown).
Figures 5, 6 and 7 show an alternate embodiment of the inhaler. In this particular embodiment, inhaler 10 is provided with 10 four passageways 22. The four passageways are positioned at the four corners of a square so that there are opposed pairs of passageways 22.
In addition, hold up chamber 14 is of a different construction. In this case, lower portion 30 of hold up chamber 14 is provided with an angled wall 38. However, sidewall 34 is concave. The 15 lower portion of sidewall 34 which is opposed to angled wall 38 assists in creating a cyclonic flow of air in hold up chamber 14.
Figure 8 shows an alternate inhaler. In this particular example, cover 60 is provided for cassette 40. In addition, detents 62 are provided to assist in maintaining recesses 42 in alignment with 20 portion 20. Cover 60 is a plate (which may be made of metal or plastic or the like) which is used to seal recesses 42. Cover 60 is provided with an opening 64 which is positioned in alignment with portion 20.
Accordingly, as cassette 40 is rotated, a different recess 42 may be positioned in alignment with opening 64 and portion 20 so that a new 25 dose of medicament is available for inhalation. Cover 60 may be required if the medicament in recesses 42 is particularly sensitive to moisture (e.g. it will deteriorate upon exposure to moisture or its rate of aggregation may increase). Detents 62 may be protrusions provided on the lower surface of inhaler 10 to engage recesses provided in 30 cassette 40.
In the embodiment of Figure 9, the inhaler is provided with a second set of air entry passageways 66. Air entry passageways 66 are not aimed at the medicament in recess 42. Instead, passageways 66 are directed to assist in creating a cyclonic flow of air in hold up chamber 14. Accordingly, according to the instant invention, a portion of the air entering inhaler 22 may be directed through air entry 5 passageways 22 at the medicament and the remainder of the air entering inhaler 10 may pass through air entry passageways 66 so as to assist in creating or to create a cyclonic or swirling flow of air in hold up chamber 14.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that 10 various modifications and changes may be made to the instant inhaler without altering the nature of the invention.

Claims

1. An inhalation device for use in delivering a powdered medicament to a user, the inhalation device comprises a housing including:
(a) a portion for holding the medicament;
(b) an air entry passageway sized and configured to direct air entering the inhalation device at the portion and to fluidize the medicament upon inhalation by the user;
(c) a hold up chamber in flow communication with the portion for receiving the fluidized medicament and maintaining the medicament in a fluidized state during inhalation by the user; and, (d) an air exit passageway in flow communication with the hold up chamber and adapted to deliver the medicament to the mouth or nose of a user.

2. The inhalation device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the inhalation device includes a plurality of air entry passageways, each of the air entry passageways having cross sectional flow area.

3. The inhalation device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the number and the cross sectional flow areas of the air entry passageways are selected to cause the air entering the inhalation device through the air entry passageways to travel at a velocity to fluidize a major portion of the medicament upon the commencement of inhalation by the user.

4. The inhalation device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the number and the cross sectional flow areas of the air entry passageways are selected to cause the air entering the inhalation device through the air entry passageways to travel at a velocity to fluidize substantially all of the medicament upon the commencement of inhalation by the user.

5. The inhalation device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the number and the cross sectional flow areas of the air entry passageways are selected to cause the air entering the inhalation device through the air entry passageways to travel at a velocity to fluidize a major portion of the medicament immediately upon inhalation by the user.

6. The inhalation device as claimed in claim 1 wherein substantially all of the air entering the inhalation device is directed at the medicament.

7. The inhalation device as claimed in claim 2 wherein all of the air entering the inhalation device is directed at the medicament.

8. The inhalation device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the air entry passageway is further configured to direct the air that travels through the air entry passageway to impinge upon the medicament such that the air that travels through the air entry passageway is not directed directly at the medicament.

9. The inhalation device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the air exit passageway is sized to provide a velocity of the medicament leaving the inhalation device sufficiently low for a major portion of the medicament to be drawn into the lungs and/or lower passageway of the user.

10. The inhalation device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the air exit passageway is sized to provide a velocity of the medicament leaving the inhalation device sufficiently low for the medicament to be drawn into the lungs and/or lower passageway of the user without substantially impacting upon the throat and upper airways of the user.

11. The inhalation device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the hold up chamber has a longitudinally extending axis, the air entering the hold up chamber travels around the longitudinal axis, the hold up chamber extends longitudinally away from the portion and the air exit passageway extends outwardly from the hold up chamber at an angle to the longitudinal axis.

12. The inhalation device as claimed in claim 11 wherein the air exit passageway is positioned on the hold up chamber at a position distal to the portion.

13. The inhalation device as claimed in claim 11 wherein the angle is about 90°.

14. The inhalation device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the hold up chamber has interior walls that are substantially smooth and of generally uniform cross section and the air entry passageway and the portion are configured to introduce air into the hold up chamber such that air entering the inhalation device will rotate cyclically in the chamber to maintain the medicament in a fluidized state.

15. The inhalation device as claimed in claim 14 wherein the hold up chamber has a cylindrically shaped wall with a longitudinally extending axis, and the portion is positioned adjacent one end of the chamber and the air exit passageway is longitudinally displaced from the portion adjacent the other end of the chamber.

16. The inhalation device as claimed in claim 15 wherein the air exit passageway is positioned on the cylindrically shaped wall.

17. The inhalation device as claimed in claim 14 wherein the inhalation device includes a plurality of air entry passageways, a portion of the air entry passageways are configured to direct air entering the inhalation device at the medicament and a portion of the air entry passageways are configured to direct air entering the inhalation device to promote the cyclic rotation of air in the chamber.

18. The inhalation device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the portion is adapted to receive a single dose of the medicament.

19. The inhalation device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the housing further comprises a container adapted to receive a plurality of dosses of the medicament and a dispenser for dispensing individual doses of medicament into the portion.

20. The inhalation device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the housing further comprises a container adapted to receive a plurality of individual dosses of the medicament and a dispenser for sequentially positioning individual doses of medicament in the portion.