Indirect airflow measurement through breath-operated device is accomplished by incorporating an airflow sensor into the inhaler device along a low resistance channel disposed away from the exhaust chamber of the device and having an input port in airflow communication with a low resistance channel and output input port and low resistance channel are formed in the main housing body of the device, and further incorporating an output port formed near the exhaust changer near the mouthpiece assembly, the output port also in airflow communication with the low resistance channel. A method of measuring airflow in an inhalation device is also described that measures air flowing through the low resistance channel. Another aspect of the invention provides a method that allows for the closure of the devices' airflow ports, by allowing for the rotation of the mouthpiece assembly from open to closed positions relative to the inhaling device's main housing body and towards handle assembly.

A method and a process are disclosed for optimizing an electrostatically dosed dry powder inhaler (EDPI) for utilization of a prepared pre-metered electro-dose consisting of a electro-powder. An arrangement is set-up for measuring parameters affecting a systemic delivery or local lung delivery of a pre-metered electro-dose from and DPI including analysis of dose de-agglomeration, particle size distribution as well as dose-to-dose variation together with pressures times and flows. A dry powder inhaler, DPI, is adjusted for a systemic or a local lung setting with respect to activation pressure and closing pressure having a DPI with a 20 to 60 liters/minute inhalation air flow for systemic delivery setting and 20 to 80 liters/minute for a local lung setting. Furthermore the de-agglomeration power is adjusted between 0.1 and 6 watts to be used in the DPI by optimizing the pressure drop and inhalation flow rate by changes to the mouthpiece and/or the device member and their relation to each other. The DPI activation pressure is further adjusted to a value between 0.5 and 4 kPa and closing pressure between 0.5 and 4 kPa to eliminate the low power at the start and end of the inhalation. The method and process then verify that the DPI meets the specifications set regarding de-agglomeration of power and opening and closing pressures together with timings within the DPI active time. Furthermore is verified that de-agglomeration difference, expressed in percent using an expression 100[1-de-agglomeration(Q.sub.1 kPa)/de-agglomeration(Q)], is not more than 50%. Finally if the DPI is not approved as an EDPI the tested DPI and/or electro-dose is further adjusted to check if the DPI can meet the specifications of an EDPI.

Liquid aerosol formulations for generating aerosols include at least one high volatility carrier and a second component. In some embodiments, the liquid aerosol formulation is propellant free. An aerosol generating device generates an aerosol by passing liquid aerosol formulation through a flow passage heated to convert the liquid into a vapor, which is mixed with air to form an aerosol. In some embodiments, particles of the aerosol consist essentially of the second component. The aerosol generator can be incorporated in a hand held inhaler. The aerosol can be delivered to a targeted portion of the lung using the inhaler.

In one embodiment, a method includes but is not limited to exposing an animal to an inhalant; acquiring near real time measurement of at least respiration during said exposing; and calculating a received dose of the inhalant in response to the near real time measurement of the at least respiration during said exposing. In one embodiment, a method includes but is not limited to automatically controlling an environment of an inhalant chamber; and automatically controlling a concentration of an inhalant in the inhalant chamber. In one embodiment, a method includes but is not limited to displaying near real time measurement data related to an animal in an inhalant chamber. In addition to the foregoing, other method embodiments are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present application. In one or more various embodiments, related systems include but are not limited to circuitry and/or programming for effecting the foregoing-described method embodiments; the circuitry and/or programming can be virtually any combination of hardware, software, and/or firmware configured to effect the foregoing-described method embodiments depending upon the design choices of the system designer. In one embodiment, a system includes but is not limited to at least one inhalant chamber; and at least one animal respiration sensor integral with the at least one inhalant chamber.

A portable air temperature controlling device useful for warming air surrounding an aerosolized drug formulation. Warming the air of an aerosol makes it possible to reduce the diameter of aerosol particles produced by an aerosol generation device. Additionally, warming the air forces the diameter of the aerosol particles to be in the range required for systemic drug delivery independent of ambient conditions. Smaller particles can be more precisely targeted to different areas of the respiratory tract.