The Genuair® inhaler: a novel, multidose dry powder inhaler

Abstract

This article reviews the Genuair(®) inhaler, a novel, multidose, breath-actuated dry powder inhaler. The inhaler design includes visual and acoustic feedback to reassure patients that they have taken their medication correctly, a dose indicator and a lock-out mechanism to prevent the use of an empty inhaler. The inhaler has medium airflow resistance and uses an optimised dispersion system to ensure effective deagglomeration of the inhalation powder. In vitro studies have demonstrated that the inhaler delivers a reproducible aerodynamic aerosol quality and is reliable under various thermal and mechanical stress conditions. Further studies in vitro have demonstrated that the total emitted dose and fine particle dose are both consistent over a range of inhalation flows from 45 to 95 l/min, as well as being independent of inhalation volume (2 l vs. 4 l) and storage conditions. In healthy subjects, delivery of aclidinium bromide 200 μg via the inhaler achieved high lung deposition (approximately 30% of the metered dose). A further study has shown that patients with moderate or severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease can generate sufficient inspiratory airflow through the inhaler to reliably inhale the full dose and reset the inhaler. The inhaler has been used to deliver aclidinium in many clinical trials and the available data indicate that it has high acceptability amongst patients.

Dry powder inhalers in COPD, lung inflammation and pulmonary infections

“…Nevertheless, the ultimate relationship between the physicochemical characteristics of the powder and the inhaler design will decide the aerosolization, de-aggregation and dispersion characteristics of the drug particles. Additional device design features that can enhance the performance of DPI device are reported to be wider mouth piece [55], aperture orientation in capsule [71,77], decrease in air inlet size [76,78], and audible and/or visual aid that would help patient understand that the inhaler has been operated correctly or not [79].…”

Devices for Dry Powder Drug Delivery to the Lung

“…Additionally, 97% of performed inhalation maneuvers with the Genuair were shown to be successful (54). Summarizing data from conference presentations, Chrystyn and Niederlaender reported an airflow-independent resistance of 0.031 kPa 0.5 min/L and a constant delivery of fine particle doses over an inspiratory flow rate range of 45-90 L/min (53).…”

“…Once the device is primed, a trigger threshold mechanism prevents accidental release of an additional dose. Particle deagglomeration is achieved by a cyclone separator (53). In vitro experiments using a five-stage multistage liquid impinger (MSLI) at a flow (40).…”

Development of Nicotine Loaded Chitosan Nanoparticles for Lung Delivery

“…Optimisation to break up agglomeration of particles in a turbulent airstream is a feature of DPI devices such as Easyhaler ® (Chrystyn & Niederlaender, 2012) and Turbuhaler ® (Hirst, Bacon, Pitcairn, Silvasti, & Newman, 2001). In vivo trials demonstrate both Easyhaler ® and Turbuhaler ® have a similar whole lung deposition (18.5±7.8% vs. (Hirst et al, 2001), while Easyhaler ® tends to be less sensitive to airflow in the range of 30-60 L/min with lower FPF (Chrystyn, 2006).…”

“…In vivo trials demonstrate both Easyhaler ® and Turbuhaler ® have a similar whole lung deposition (18.5±7.8% vs. (Hirst et al, 2001), while Easyhaler ® tends to be less sensitive to airflow in the range of 30-60 L/min with lower FPF (Chrystyn, 2006). Genuair ® inhaler is another optimised multi-dose inhaler device with medium airflow resistance to improve deagglomeration of inhaled particles (Chrystyn & Niederlaender, 2012). In vitro studies reveal consistent emitted dose (ED) and FPF are achieved with reproducible aerodynamic aerosol within 45 -95 L/min of airflow , and FPF is not dependent on the inhalation volume and storage conditions (Z.…”