Newly designed mouthpiece to improve spray characteristics of pharmaceutical particles in dry powder inhaler

This study presents the effects of mouthpiece designs in carrier-based dry powder inhalation on aerosol particle characteristics. Simulation models are developed to investigate drug powder spray characteristics from mouthpieces of four different-shaped flow channels. The simulation results agree well with the results of two experiments, one involving particle image velocimetry and the other the Anderson cascade impactor. A mouthpiece with a spiral channel and mixing chamber is discovered to be effective for low axial-flow velocities in the forward direction and yielded a more uniform dispersion of particles in the radial direction as the drug particles are ejected through the mouthpiece. This results in more effective delivery of the drug particles to the peripheral target regions of the respiratory system. [Display omitted] •Effects of mouthpiece designs in carrier-based dry powder inhalation on particle aerosol characteristics.•Investigation of drug powder spray characteristics from mouthpieces of four different-shaped flow channels.•A mouthpiece with a spiral channel and mixing chamber is discovered to be effective.