Device for the administration of powders

Claim 3

A device according to claim 1 wherein the elongated housing is cylindrical and the second air inlet means are vents disposed at an angle of between 10° and 80° to the radius of the housing midway between the mouthpiece and the container.

Claim 4

A device according to claim 1 wherein the end of the mouthpiece is elliptical in cross-section.

Claim 5

A device according to claim 1 in which the amount of powder is sufficient for radiography and is in the range of 5-15 g.

Claim 6

A device according to claim 1 wherein the first air inlet means are vents in the top of the container, which are arranged in a concentric formation.

Claim 7

A device according to claim 5 wherein the vents are disposed at an angle of from 40° to 85° to the longitudinal axis of the housing.

Claim 8

A device according to claim 1 which further comprises means for allowing only finer powder particles from the container into the housing.

Claim 9

A device according to claim 7 wherein the means comprises constricting the cross-sectional area of the passage to be smaller than that of the container at the intersection of the passage and container.

Claim 10

A device according to claim 1 wherein the mouthpiece is in the form of a tube having its longitudinal axis at right angles to that of the housing.

Claim 11

A device according to claim 9 wherein the mouthpiece is in the form of a curved tube attached to the upper end of the housing.

Claim 12

A device according to claim 9 wherein the mouthpiece is in the form of an extension integral with and tangential to the upper portion of the housing.

Claim 13

A bronchoradiographic device suitable for the insufflation of powders in an amount sufficient for radiography, which comprises a hollow elongated housing having an outlet vent at one end thereof for reception into the mouth, a container for the powders removably attached to the other end of the housing and having air inlet vents to direct incoming air into a turbulent stream within the container and a central protuberance arranged to prevent a dense cloud of fluidised powder from passing towards the outlet at the onset of insufflation, said housing air inlet vents directing incoming air into a vortex within the housing; whereby the intake of breath by the user of the device causes powder within the container to be fluidised, to pass into the vortex of air in the housing, and thereafter through the outlet vent to the mouth of the user and means for classifying said fluidised powder so that large particles are prevented from passing through the outlet vent.

Claim 14

A bronchoradiographic device suitable for the insufflation of powders in an amount sufficient for radiography, which comprises a hollow elongated housing having an outlet vent at one end thereof for reception into the mouth, a container for the powders removably attached to the other end of the housing and having air inlet vents to direct incoming air into a turbulent stream within the container and a central protuberance arranged to prevent a dense cloud of fluidised powder from passing towards the outlet at the onset of insufflation, said housing air inlet vents directing incoming air into a vortex within the housing; whereby the intake of breath by the user of the device causes powder within the container to be fluidised, to pass into the vortex of air in the housing, and thereafter through the outlet vent to the mouth of the user and means for classifying said fluidised powder so that large particles are prevented from passing through the outlet vent.