BigPatents India

A hand-held dispenser for dispensing a pharmaceutical product is disclosed. The dispenser has a housing providing a duct. A frangible membrane (10) is provided in the duct. A probe with a piercing tip (35) is mounted in the duct and arranged such that, in use the piercing tip (35) pierces the frangible membrane (10). An air compression device is provided to compress air for expelling a pharmaceutical product through the probe and a channel (46) is provided to substantially equalise the pressure in the air compression device and the pressure above the frangible membrane (10). The ability to substantially equalise the pressure in the bellows and the pressure above the frangible membrane (10) on the sheath provides for a more consistent release of pharmaceutical product when the frangible membrane (10) is pierced.