US Patent 7540284 Powder aerosolization apparatus and method

An aerosolization device comprises a chamber adapted to contain a powder pharmaceutical formulation, a lid at least partially covering the chamber, at least one piercing element forcible through the lid to provide access to the powder pharmaceutical formulation, and a shapeable surface extending from the chamber, the shapeable surface being adapted to undergo a shape change to form a conduit. The powder pharmaceutical formulation may be extracted from the chamber by a user inhaling through the conduit. In another version, the lid is removable from the chamber without the need for a piercing element.