Oriel Therapeutics announced that the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued US Patent Number 7,377,277, issue date May 27, 2008, for dry powder dose filling systems and methods.

The invention addresses the field of dry powder inhalers, and more specifically the Drug Containment Systems (DCS) necessary for containment, protection, and delivery of dry powder medicaments. Materials, geometries, and methods which facilitate the efficient and consistent delivery are described. Among these are features for assuring a sufficient level of DCS rigidity, and for allowing the use of integral vibratory elements for active dispersion of powder.

"Oriel has continued to deliver innovative technical solutions to problems associated with the commercialization of dry powder inhalers," said Oriel's president and COO, Paul J. Atkins, Ph.D. "This patent is part of an expanding portfolio that provides a strong intellectual property position for our range of delivery devices and their corresponding drug products."