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Publication Number
US-10052443-B2
Publication Date
2018-08-21
Expiration Date
Abstract
The present disclosure generally relates to the field of nebulizers for aerosol generation and methods of using same for treating diseases and disorders.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to nebulizer systems configured to produce aerosols using a porous medium. A displaceable wetting mechanism spreads a liquid over the porous medium thereby to wet the porous medium. The system further includes a gas channel configured to introduce a pressure gradient to the porous medium.
In the disclosed configurations, the displaceable wetting mechanism comprises a rotatable elongated member configured to move across the surface of the porous medium. The rotatable elongated member thereby spreads the liquid over the surface in a homogeneously or semi-homogeneously manner. The porous medium is thus wetted to generate aerosols by the interaction of the wetted porous medium and the pressure gradient.
The disclosure also describes nebulizer cartridge and nebulizer system implementations. The cartridge comprises the porous medium and the displaceable wetting mechanism including the rotatable elongated member. In system configurations, the invention includes a housing with an aerosol delivery opening, a receptacle that receives the cartridge, and the gas channel applying a pressure gradient, with actuation implementations including actuators and magnetically associated magnets.
Claims Coverage
The document provides two independent claims: one directed to a nebulizer and one directed to a nebulizer cartridge. Across these independent claims, the coverage centers on three main inventive aspects: porous-medium aerosol generation, liquid spreading via a displaceable wetting mechanism with a rotatable elongated member, and, for the nebulizer claim, introduction of a pressure gradient through a gas channel.
Porous medium producing aerosols with displaceable wetting mechanism
A nebulizer comprising a porous medium configured to produce aerosols and a displaceable wetting mechanism configured to spread a liquid over the porous medium thereby to wet the porous medium.
Rotatable elongated member for homogenous or semi-homogenous spreading
The displaceable wetting mechanism comprises a rotatable elongated member configured to move across the surface of the porous medium, thereby to homogeneously or semi-homogeneously spread the liquid over the surface.
Gas channel introducing pressure gradient across porous medium
A gas channel configured to introduce pressure gradient to the porous medium.
Nebulizer cartridge with porous medium and rotatable elongated member
A nebulizer cartridge comprising a porous medium and a displaceable wetting mechanism configured to spread a liquid over the porous medium thereby to wet the porous medium, wherein the displaceable wetting mechanism comprises a rotatable elongated member.
Overall, the claim set covers aerosol generation from a porous medium wetted by a displaceable wetting mechanism, specifically using a rotatable elongated member to spread liquid homogeneously or semi-homogeneously. The nebulizer independent claim further adds a gas channel that introduces a pressure gradient to the porous medium, while the cartridge independent claim focuses on the porous medium plus rotatable wetting mechanism within a cartridge.
Stated Advantages
Produces aerosols with droplet size distributions influenced by using a liquid absorbing material and by formulations and wetting/spreading, including higher fractions in smaller droplet size ranges.
Enables targeting different lung regions through selection of formulations and wetting/spreading affecting MMAD/GSD and modality.
Documented Applications
Nebulizer use for respiratory conditions, including bronchospasm, asthma, COPD, and cystic fibrosis.
Nebulizer use for diabetes mellitus, using formulations that include insulin.
Use with pharmaceutical compositions such as albuterol/Ventolin and other disclosed examples.
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