Abstract

A device by which powdered medicaments can be orally or nasally administered to a patient comprises a body shell defining a portion of a chamber. A nozzle or mouthpiece is located at the forward end of the body shell. The body shell is open at the rear end. A sleeve is fitted on the outside of the rear end portion of the body shell and is rotatable and axially movable with respect to it. The sleeve has a rear wall which closes the open rear end of the chamber. A capsule retaining means extends through the rear wall of the sleeve into the chamber. The capsule retaining means has an external entry opening for a capsule at the rear of the sleeve. An abutment is fixed inside the chamber in such a position with respect to the retaining means that a capsule retained in the retaining means and projecting from it into the chamber will engage the abutment when the sleeve is rotated with respect to the body shell. This separates the projecting portion of the capsule from the remainder of the capsule. A grid or guard prevents the separated portion of the capsule from passing through the nozzle or mouthpiece. An air inlet opening extends through the rear wall of the sleeve into the chamber.