WO2009102274A1

WO2009102274A1 - Inhaler comprising a base having at least one sealed cavity containing medicament

Info

Publication number: WO2009102274A1
Application number: PCT/SE2009/050141
Authority: WO
Inventors: Lars Arvidsson; David Blakey; Allan Dagsland; Orest Lastow; Lars Siggelin
Original assignee: Astrazeneca Ab
Priority date: 2008-02-12
Filing date: 2009-02-11
Publication date: 2009-08-20

Abstract

The invention relates to an inhaler, comprising a base having at least one sealed cavity containing medicament. A foil portion is attached to the base for sealing the medicament within the cavity. A separating element which is attached to the other side of the foil portion is provided for separating the foil portion from the cavity. The base has one or more geometrically distinguishable features for facilitating detachment of the foil portion from the base.

Description

Inhaler comprising a base having at least one sealed cavity containing medicament .

Technical field

The present invention relates to an inhaler, comprising a base having at least one sealed cavity containing medicament, such as in the form of dry powder medicament.

Background of the Invention

There are different types of inhalers on the market. A pressurized Metered Dose Inhaler (pMDI) releases a fixed dose of substance in aerosol form. A powder inhaler generally releases a dose of powdered substance entrained in an air stream. In a powder inhaler the powder may be provided in a bulk container of the inhaler from which doses of powder are metered for dispensing. As an alternative to a bulk container, powder inhalers may comprise a single compartment or a plurality of compartments for containing discrete doses of powdered substance. Such compartments may take the form of sealed blisters in a blister pack, a cavities-containing strip joined to a sealing strip or other suitable forms. There are different solutions to opening compartments containing discrete doses of powder. WO 01/72605 discloses different embodiments of a dose strip for use with a powder inhaler. Various opening mechanisms are disclosed. For instance, in Fig. 4 a lid strip covers spaced apart blisters. Lid tabs are attached to the lid strip over each blister. A peel strip is joined to each lid tab. Pulling of the peel strip opens the blisters. In Fig. 22 of WO 01/72605 a dose strip comprises a number of blisters containing pharmaceutical powder. Each blister is connected to a respective plunger. A blister is opened by a slider having a wedge that engages a slot on the plunger. The wedge pulls the plunger down, breaking the seal and releasing pharmaceutical powder into a flow path, for inhalation.

Summary of the Invention

An object of the present invention is to provide an alternative manner of handling sealed compartments or cavities and elements associated thereto inside an inhaler.

This and other objects, which will become apparent in the following disclosure, are accomplished by the invention defined in the accompanied claims. The present invention is based on the insight that although an element attached to a sealing foil may be used to separate the foil from an area surrounding a cavity, the separation may be further facilitated by choosing a suitable design of such an area surrounding the cavity. According to one aspect of the present invention, an inhaler is provided. The inhaler comprises a base having at least one sealed cavity containing medicament, a foil portion comprising two sides, one side being attached to the base for sealing the medicament within the cavity, a separating element which is attached to the other side of the foil portion for separating the foil portion from the cavity, wherein the base has one or more geometrically distinguishable features for facilitating detachment of the foil portion from the base.

Thus, the foil portion is more easily detached from the area of the geometrically distinguishable feature compared to other areas of the base to which the foil portion is attached.

The geometrically distinguishable feature may be configured in various ways. For instance, it has been realised that although a certain width of the area of the base that contacts the foil may be desirable in order to provide an adequate seal of the cavity, a portion of that area may suitably be narrower in order to facilitate the detachment of the foil when the cavity is to be uncovered. Once an initial detachment has started, detachment from wider areas can follow relatively easily.

According to at least one example embodiment of the invention, the contact area between the foil portion and the base has a first end and a second end, said contact area increasing, at least initially, from said first end in a direction towards said second end, wherein said geometrically distinguishable feature is located at said first end. Thus, the separation of the foil portion from the base starts at a location or along a line where the contact area is relatively small, and may then continue at a larger area. It should be noted that the contact area does not necessarily present a continuous increase from the first end to the second end, but rather that the contact area increases (widens) initially for a certain distance in a direction towards the second end and may then decrease (become narrower) again in the direction towards the second end.

While the base has features for facilitating detachment of the foil portion from the base, the separating element is suitably provided with one or more geometrically distinguishable features for facilitating adherence of the foil portion to the separating element. For instance, the area the geometrically distinguishable features of the separating element is suitably larger than the area of the geometrically distinguishable features of the base.

According to at least one example embodiment of the invention, the inhaler comprises an actuator adapted to affect an actuator-receiving portion of the separating element with a force causing the separating element to move away from the cavity so that the foil portion starts to separate from the base at said first end of the contact area and to continue to separate from the base at the rest of the contact area. The opening force may come from below and push the actuator-receiving portion upwards. Alternatively, the opening force may be achieved by providing an upper pulling force onto the actuator-receiving portion. Thus, depending on the direction of force and the actuator providing the force, the actuator-receiving portion may be designed in various ways, such as protrusions, dogs, hooks, indentations, overhangs, channels, etc. When the cavity has become uncovered the medicament contained therein is enabled to become entrained in a fluid flow. Thus, the separation process can be regarded as a progression of a peel line or separation line, which first lies at the first end of the contact area and then scans over the contact area in a direction towards the second end to finally reach the second end, wherein the foil is completely separated from the base. Thus, as the separation line progresses the contact area goes from initially small to larger (at least temporarily). The geometrically distinguishable feature may be configured in various ways.

According to at least one example embodiment of the invention, said geometrically distinguishable feature defines at least one tooth or pointed edge. This means that the contact area between the foil portion and the base may be shaped as such a tooth or pointed edge at said first end of the contact area. The separation of the foil will thus be initiated at the very edge of the feature and the separation line will progress/scan towards the wider part of the tooth- shaped feature and towards second end of the contact area.

Alternatively, said geometrically distinguishable feature may define several teeth or pointed edges spaced apart by notches or the like, and will be reflected in the contact area with the foil portion.

The geometrically distinguishable feature may be provided on a raised portion of the base. For instance, according to at least one example embodiment of the invention, the area of the base contacting the foil portion is located on a ridge surrounding the cavity. In such a case, the geometrically distinguishable feature may be shaped from a portion of that ridge. Alternatively, the base may be generally planar but provided with recesses, cut-outs or voids to define a geometrically distinguishable feature. In such a case, the base is provided with one or more recesses at said first end of the contact area between the base and the foil portion, whereas the actual recesses would not be in contact with the foil portion. According to at least one example embodiment of the invention, the contact area between the separating element and the foil portion extends from said second end towards and beyond said first end of the contact area between the foil portion and the base. This means that when the separating element is pivoted upwards (the portion of the separating element extending beyond said first end is raised and the pivot point is at or near said second end), the attached foil portion will already have a momentum when it starts to separate from the base at said first end.

The flow path for guiding an air flow to entrain medicament from the cavity when it has become uncovered may either have a direction which coincides at least partially with the direction from said first end to said second end of the contact area between the foil portion and the base (i.e. the progression direction of the separation), or may alternatively have a direction which is at least partially perpendicular to the progression direction. Thus, depending on the chosen alternative, the geometrically distinguishable feature may be located at different locations of the base.

According to at least one example embodiment of the invention, the contact area between the separating element and the foil portion is larger than the contact area between the foil portion and the base. The larger contact area with the separating element enables the foil portion to remain attached to the separating element while becoming separated from the base.

According to at least one example embodiment of the invention, when the foil portion has been separated from the base and is still attached to the separating element, the foil portion defines at least partly a flow path for guiding an air flow to entrain medicament from the uncovered cavity. Thus, the separating element and the attached foil portion will have a further functionality in addition to the respective function of separating and sealing. The inhaler may be embodied as a single dose inhalation device or a multidose inhalation device. The multidose alternative is reflected in at least one example embodiment, wherein said base has a plurality of consecutive sealed cavities containing medicament, each cavity being sealed by a respective associated foil portion, wherein each foil portion is on its other side attached to a respective associated separating element. In such a case, the actuator is adapted to affect the separating elements with said force one at a time. The foil portions may either be individual foil portions or be part of one continuous foil provided with perforations or other type of material weakenings.

In the case of a multidose inhalation device, those neighbouring separating elements which are not in a removed position, may constitute lateral flow path-defining wall portions. An alternative would be to provide fixed lateral flow path-defining elements, e.g. by providing a partition wall between each pair of neighbouring separating elements, such partition walls extending perpendicularly upwards from the base. When assembled, the partition walls could be mounted onto the foil that covers (or is intended to later cover) the cavities in such way that they cause a weakening in the foil, thereby establishing defined foil portions between the partition walls. A foil portion may be attached to the base and the separating element by welding, gluing or other suitable method. It should be noted that the terms "foil" and "foil portion" are not limited to a single material layer. On the contrary a foil or foil portion may comprise a plurality of layers. For instance, foil may comprise a metal layer which is coated with lacquer or polymer layer on one or both sides in any suitable combination in order to provide the desired stiffness, attachment capability, tensile strength, etc. Suitably, the contact area between a foil portion and its associated attached separating element is dimensioned in such way that no flow- obstructing ruptured foil parts will remain after the separation has occurred. In other words, the flow path downstream and upstream of the cavity opening should be free from any obstructing fringes of foil. Suitably, on the base, the flow path upstream and downstream of the cavity opening is completely foil free after the separation has occurred. This may be accomplished by designing the separating element with longer (or equal) extension in the flow path direction than that of the foil portion. Since the foil portion extends across the cavity opening in order to seal the cavity, the attached separating element should also extend at least across the cavity opening. As mentioned previously, the foil portions may form part of one covering foil provided with perforations or weakenings which define the foil portions. Such perforations would be present between the cavity openings, and when the foil portions are ruptured at those perforations or weakenings any fringes would be located laterally of the cavity viewed from a flow direction perspective, and consequently no obstructing fringes would be present upstream or downstream of the cavity.

Suitably, the stiffness of the separating elements is substantially larger than the stiffness of the foil portions, wherein the separating elements enable the foil portions to perform a rigid body motion, and may thus become snapped off the base rather than peeled off. Although the above exemplified embodiments have discussed one cavity having one associated separating element, an alternative would be to have two cavities having one common associated separating element. For instance, if two incompatible drug components are to be inhaled essentially simultaneously, they may suitably be provided in two separate cavities. The two cavities may be covered and sealed by one common foil portion (or one foil portion each), which in turn is attached to a common associated separating element extending across both cavities. Thus, when the separating element is moved away from the base, it will bring along the foil portion, uncovering both cavities from which the drug components can be entrained in an inhalation flow. The cavities could either be located in series in the base, i.e. one cavity being downstream of the other one, or they could be located in parallel, i.e. the inhalation flow reaches the cavities essentially simultaneously. Although an inhaler may be linear having consecutive cavities aligned along a straight line, it may suitably be designed as a generally annular shape. In particular, according to at least one example embodiment of the invention, the base is shaped as a circular disk and cavities are provided consecutively in a circular arrangement or path around the disk. Thus, when medicament has been inhaled from one cavity, the base is rotated relative to a mouthpiece or nasal adaptor of the inhaler in order to index the inhaler to the next cavity. The inhaler may contain various drugs and/or bioactive agents to be inhaled. The bioactive agent may be selected from any therapeutic or diagnostic agent. For example it may be from the group of antiallergic s, bronchodilators, bronchoconsitrictors, pulmonary lung surfactants, analgesics, antibiotics, leukotrine inhibitors or antagonists, anticholinergics, mast cell inhibitors, antihistamines, antiinflammatories, antineoplastics, anaesthetics, anti-tuberculars, imaging agents, cardiovascular agents, enzymes, steroids, genetic material, viral vectors, antisense agents, proteins, peptides and combinations thereof. Examples of specific drugs which can be incorporated in the inhalation device according to the invention include mometasone, ipratropium bromide, tiotropium and salts thereof, salemeterol, fluticasone propionate, beclomethasone dipropionate, reproterol, clenbuterol, rofleponide and salts, nedocromil, sodium cromoglycate, flunisolide, budesonide, formoterol fumarate dihydrate, Symbicort™ (budesonide and formoterol), terbutaline, terbutaline sulphate, salbutamol base and sulphate, fenoterol, 3-[2-(4-Hydroxy- 2-oxo-3H-l,3-benzothiazol-7-yl)ethylamino]-N-[2-[2-(4- methylphenyl)ethoxy]ethyl]propanesulphonamide, hydrochloride. All of the above compounds can be in free base form or as pharmaceutically acceptable salts as known in the art. Combinations of drugs may also be employed, for example formoterol/budesonide; formoterol/fluticasone; formoterol/mometasone; salmeterol/fluticasone; formoterol/tiotropium salts; zafirlukast/formoterol, zafirlukast/budesonide; montelukast/formoterol; montelukast/budesonide; loratadine/montelukast and loratadine/zafirlukast. Further combinations include tiotropium and fluticasone, tiotropium and budesonide, tiotropium and mometasone, mometasone and salmeterol, formoterol and rofleponide, salmeterol and budesonide, salmeterol and rofleponide, and tiotropium and rofleponide.

Brief description of the drawings

Fig. 1 is an exploded view illustrating some of the components of an inhaler according to at least one example embodiment of the invention. Fig. 2 illustrates a detail of the inhaler.

Fig. 3 is a schematic illustration of an inhaler according to at least another example embodiment of the invention.

Figs. 4a-4d illustrate different examples of geometrically distinguishable features of the base for facilitating detachment of a foil portion from the base.

Detailed description of the drawings Fig. 1 is an exploded view illustrating some of the components of an inhaler 2 according to at least one example embodiment of the invention. The inhaler 2, which has a generally circular shape, comprises a housing having a lower part 4 shaped like a tray and an upper closure part 6. The housing is provided with a mouthpiece 8 through which a user may inhale in order to draw medicament from the inhaler 2. Inside the housing, there is provided a generally ring-shaped base 10 provided with a plurality of cavities 12 which contain medicament, such as in dry powder form. The cavities 12 are sealed by a generally ring-shaped foil 14 which is attached to the base. The foil 14 comprises a plurality of foil portions 16, one for each cavity 12. Although the foil portions 16 do not need to be defined in any other way than being located above a respective associated cavity 12, they may, as illustrated in Fig. 1, be defined by perforations 18 or other type of material weakenings. A plurality of separating elements 20 is provided, each separating element 20 being attached to a respective associated foil portion 16.

An actuator arrangement 22 comprises a projecting actuator arm 24 which is adapted to affect one separating element 20 at a time by engaging the separating element 20 and moving it upwardly in order to separate the associated foil portion 16 from the base 10 and cavity 12 below the separating element 20. The actuator arrangement 22 may be manually operated by pushing, pressing, rotating, etc. a button, lever or the like (not shown) on the inhaler housing, or may be triggered by a user's inhalation in which case it would be latched by an air- flow sensitive release mechanism (not shown). Before, during or after inhalation the base 10 is rotated (indexed) to bring the next cavity 12 into alignment with the mouthpiece 8. This may be implemented in various ways, such as using a standard lever on the housing. Another alternative could be to use a connection between the base 10 and a mouthpiece cover, wherein removal (or replacement) of the mouthpiece cover would cause the base 10 to index one step to the next cavity 12. Yet another alternative could be to use a breath-triggering mechanism to cause the base 10 to index one step.

The inhaler 2 may suitably comprise a structure that provides moisture protection, such as e.g. a moisture absorbent sink as described in WO 2006/000758, or any other appropriate alternative for including desiccant material. Most components of the inhaler 2, such as the base 10, the separating elements 20 and the actuator arrangement 22 are suitably made of a plastic material, such as a polymer, however, other materials, such as metal or ceramic, are conceivable alternatives.

Fig. 2 illustrates a detail of the inhaler 2 in Fig. 1, in particular three of the cavities 12 in the base 10 are illustrated. Each of them is covered with a foil portion 16, however, for illustrative purposes only one of them is shown with a foil portion 16. The foil portion 16 is attached by any suitable type of bonding, welding, gluing, etc to an area of the base 10 which surrounds the cavity opening. Likewise, above each foil portion 16 a separating element 20 is attached by any suitable type of bonding, welding, gluing, etc, however for illustrative purposes only one separating element 20 is shown (in cross section). As can be seen from Fig. 2, each cavity 12 contains medicament 26 and is surrounded by a respective ridge 28. Towards the inner radius of the base 10, i.e. towards the centre of the inhaler, each ridge 28 is provided with a geometrically distinguishable feature in the form of a plurality of pointed edges or teeth 30 separated by notches. Although Fig. 2 illustrates ridges 28 around the cavities 12, an alternative would be to have a plane base without ridges, and in that case providing recesses in the base 10 towards its inner radius (rather than the pointed edges 30 of the ridge 28) in order to form geometrically distinguishable features. The foil portion 16 is attached to the base 10 to seal a respective cavity 12. More particularly, the foil portion 16 is attached to the ridge 28 surrounding the cavity 12. The contact area between the foil portion 16 and the base 10 thus corresponds to the upper surface area of the ridge 28, extending from a first end 32 (where the pointed edges 30 are) to a second end 34 (nearer the outer radius of the base). However, the foil portion 16 per se, extends past the first end 32 of the contact area (i.e. past the pointed edges 30). Although illustrated in cross section, the separating element 20 suitably covers the entire foil portion 16, thus also extending past the pointed edges 30. In the extension of the flow path direction, the separating element 20 covers the entire foil portion 16, the flow path direction being from the inner radius of the base 10 towards the outer radius of the base 10. Thus, the contact area between the separating element 20 and the foil portion 16 is larger than the contact area between the foil portion 16 and the base 10, enabling the achievement of a larger attachment force between the separating element 20 and the foil portion 16 compared to the attachment force between the foil portion 16 and the base 10.

The separating element 20 comprises a lower portion 36 and an upper portion 38, which may be produced in one piece or as two separate pieces joined together. There is an actuator-receiving portion in the form of a space 40 between the lower portion 36 and the upper portion 38. The space 40 is formed like a bay which opens towards the centre of the inhaler, i.e. towards the actuator arrangement 22 (see Fig. 1). As the actuator arm 24 (see Fig. 1) is inserted into the space 40 it will at first engage the upper portion 38 of the separating element 20 at a point near the centrally facing opening of the space 40, and when pivoted upwards it will affect the separating element 20 with a lifting force. This causes the separating element 20 together with the attached seal or foil portion 16 to be raised in a pivoting motion around a pivot point 42 at the second end 34 of the foil/base interface (contact area) downstream of the cavity 12.

Because the first end 32 of the contact area between the foil portion 16 and the base 10 is very small, in this case corresponding to the edges of the teeth 30, the initial separation of the foil portion 16 is facilitated compared to if the contact area at the first end 32 would have been the same as the contact area between the separating element 20 and the foil portion 16. The teeth 30 are widened in a direction towards the second end 34. Thus, starting from the first end 32, the contact area between the foil portion 16 and the base 10 (ridge 28) increases, at least initially, in a direction towards the second end 34. Thus, on the one hand it is acknowledged that a certain width is desired for the contact area between the foil portions 16 and the base 10 in order to provide an adequate sealing of the cavities 12, and on the other hand it is realised that by reducing the width at least at the location where the separation is initiated an effective separation is achievable. The relatively small initial contact area between the foil portion 16 and the base 10 makes the detachment easier than if it would have been a larger contact area. As the peel or separation line progresses from the initial separation point or points towards the circumference of the base 10, the contact area of the foil portion 16 with the base 10 goes from small to relatively large.

Although it has been described that the separation is performed in a radial direction of the base 10, it would be conceivable to provide separating elements and an actuator arrangement of other design which would enable the separation of the foil portions 16 from the base 10 to be performed in a circumferential direction around the base. In that case the base 10 (and ridges 28 if present) would be provided with geometrically distinguishable features facing a neighbouring cavity 12.

After the separating element 20 has been raised, the foil portion 16 remains attached thereto. The underside of the separating element 20 and the foil portion 16 will thus form a flow path-defining wall portion which will guide a fluid flow that entrains the medicament 26 from the cavity 12. The separating element 20 and the attached foil portion 16 may after the inhalation be returned to cover the cavity 12, in order to reduce the risk of any remaining medicament 28 being entrained in a subsequent inhalation effort by a user, thereby reducing the risk of dose variability.

Fig. 3 is a schematic illustration of an inhaler 102 according to at least another example embodiment of the invention. While Figs. 1 and 2 illustrated a multidose inhaler 2, Fig. 3 illustrates a single dose inhalation device 102 in a cross-sectional view. Within the housing of the inhaler 102, there is a base 110 provided with a medicament- containing cavity 112. A structure of the base 110, such as a ridge 128 surrounding the cavity 112 is provided with a geometrically distinguishable feature in the form of teeth or pointed edges 130 for facilitating detachment of a sealing foil 116. Although not seen in this cross sectional view, the foil 116 is attached to a separating element which may be raised by an actuator arrangement in order to uncover the cavity 112, thereby enabling a fluid flow to entrain medicament from the cavity 112 and deliver it through a mouthpiece 108 to a user.

Although only one cavity 112 is illustrated in Fig. 3, an alternative would be to have two or more cavities with different substances, wherein the cavities are uncovered simultaneously to deliver the substances as a single dose. In such an alternative, the cavities may suitably be sealed by a common foil portion to which only one separating element is attached.

Figs. 4a-4d illustrate different examples of geometrically distinguishable features of the base 210 for facilitating detachment of a foil portion from the base. Although all of the cavities 212 have been illustrated as having a rectangular or non-circular cross section, other shapes may be conceivable. However, for illustrative purposes, only said geometrical distinguishable features of the base 210 have been altered in Figs. 4a-4d. Furthermore, the geometrically distinguishable features may either be formed from a raised portion of the base, such as a ridge, or alternatively, the base may be substantially planar wherein shaped recesses or voids in the base form the geometrically distinguishable features. Fig. 4a illustrates a plurality teeth or pointed edges 230 separated by notches 231.

Thus, this configuration corresponds to the one illustrated in Figs. 1-3.

Fig. 4b illustrates semi-circular cut-outs 250 which define protrusions 252. Also, circular cut-outs 254 are provided for further reducing the contact area near the protrusions 252 where the separation of the foil starts. Fig. 4c illustrates a single tooth or pointed edge 260, while Fig. 4d illustrates two teeth or pointed edges 270. The same principle applies as previously. The pointed edges provide a small contact area where the separation starts and then the contact area is allowed to increases, at least initially, thus enabling both an adequate sealing and an effective detachment of the foil when the separating element is moved away from the base.

Claims

1. An inhaler, comprising a base having at least one sealed cavity containing medicament, a foil portion comprising two sides, one side being attached to the base for sealing the medicament within the cavity, a separating element which is attached to the other side of the foil portion for separating the foil portion from the cavity, wherein the base has one or more geometrically distinguishable features for facilitating detachment of the foil portion from the base.

2. The inhaler as claimed in claim 1, wherein the contact area between the foil portion and the base has a first end and a second end, said contact area increasing, at least initially, from said first end in a direction towards said second end, wherein said geometrically distinguishable feature is located at said first end.

3. The inhaler as claimed in claim 2, comprising an actuator adapted to affect an actuator-receiving portion of the separating element with a force causing the separating element to move away from the cavity so that the foil portion starts to separate from the base at said first end of the contact area and to continue to separate from the base at the rest of the contact area.

4. The inhaler as claimed in any one of claims 1-3, wherein said geometrically distinguishable feature defines at least one tooth or pointed edge.

5. The inhaler as claimed in any one of claims 1-4, wherein said geometrically distinguishable feature defines several teeth or pointed edges spaced apart by notches.

6. The inhaler as claimed in any one of claims 1-5, wherein the area of the base contacting the foil portion is located on a ridge surrounding the cavity.

7. The inhaler as claimed in claim 1-5, wherein said geometrically distinguishable feature of the base presents one or more recesses.

8. The inhaler as claimed in claim 2 or any one of claims 3-7 when dependent on claim 2, wherein the contact area between the separating element and the foil portion extends from said second end towards and beyond said first end of the contact area between the foil portion and the base.

9. The inhaler as claimed in claim 2 or any one of claims 3-8 when dependent on claim 2, comprising a flow path for guiding an air flow to entrain medicament from the cavity when it has become uncovered, wherein the direction of the flow path coincides at least partially with the direction from said first end to said second end of the contact area between the foil portion and the base.

10. The inhaler as claimed in claim 2 or any one of claims 3-8 when dependent on claim 2, comprising a flow path for guiding an air flow to entrain medicament from the cavity when it has become uncovered, wherein the direction of the flow path is at least partially perpendicular to the direction from said first end to said second end of the contact area between the foil portion and the base.

11. The inhaler as claimed in any one of claims 1-10, wherein the contact area between the separating element and the foil portion is larger than the contact area between the foil portion and the base.

12. The inhaler as claimed in any one of claims 1-11, wherein, when the foil portion has been separated from the base and is still attached to the separating element, the foil portion defines at least partly a flow path for guiding an air flow to entrain medicament from the uncovered cavity.

13. The inhaler as claimed in any one of claims 1-12, wherein said base has a plurality of consecutive sealed cavities containing medicament, each cavity being sealed by a respective associated foil portion, wherein each foil portion is on its other side attached to a respective associated separating element.