Importance

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Abstract

An inhaler is disclosed which delivers medicament or other appropriate fluids to a user, typically in droplet form and typically during inhalation. One embodiment of the inhaler includes an inhaler housing, an airflow conduit assembly which at least extends through the inhaler housing, a mouthpiece which is at least fluidly interconnectable with the airflow conduit assembly, a droplet ejection cartridge housing which is at least partially disposed within the airflow conduit assembly, and a droplet ejection cartridge which is removably disposed within the droplet ejection cartridge housing. Dosing of the medicament can be controlled by the measurement of airflow through the device. Droplets of medicament which are discharged by the droplet ejection cartridge are entrained in the flow of air which is drawn through the airflow conduit assembly by the user's inhalation and are discharged from the inhaler through the mouthpiece. The airflow conduit assembly may include a plenum into which air is initially drawn into the airflow conduit assembly, and an airflow conduit which is fluidly interconnected with the plenum for delivering inhaled air to the mouthpiece. The mouthpiece is totally removable from the inhaler and may be detachably interconnectable with the inhaler at two spaced locations. One of these locations corresponds with the mouthpiece being fluidly interconnected with the airflow conduit assembly. The other of these locations is for storage of the mouthpiece after the same is disconnected from the airflow conduit passageway and may include a mouthpiece storage bay with an appropriate cover. A cover may also be provided to seal the relevant portions of the droplet ejection cartridge after disconnection of the mouthpiece from the airflow conduit assembly.

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First Claim