Preservative-free single dose inhaler system
Inventors
Patton, John S. • Patton, Ryan S. • Kuo, Mei-chang • Ivri, Yehuda
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10525214-B2
Publication Date
2020-01-07
Expiration Date
Abstract
An aerosolization system includes a container that is configured to deliver a unit dosage of a liquid when squeezed a single time. The system also includes an aerosolizer that is constructed of a housing defining a mouthpiece, and an aerosol generator disposed in the housing. The aerosol generator includes a vibratable membrane having a front face and a rear face, and a vibratable element used to vibrate the membrane. Further, the housing includes an opening that is adapted to receive a unit dosage of the liquid from the container. The opening provides a liquid path to the rear face of the vibratable membrane.
Core Innovation
The invention provides an aerosolization system for aerosolizing a dosage of liquid as a user inhales. The system includes a housing defining a mouthpiece and a liquid receptacle fluidly coupled to the mouthpiece, and the liquid receptacle defines an opening through an exterior surface of a side wall at an inlet end. The receptacle is configured to receive the dosage from a tip of a container such that at least a portion of the tip is received within the liquid receptacle while a main body of the container remains external to the housing.
Within the housing, an aerosol generator aerosolizes the dosage received onto a rear face of a vibratable membrane. The membrane has a front face, a rear face, and a plurality of apertures that extend between the front face and the rear face, and a vibratable element vibrates the membrane to aerosolize the dosage. Aerosolization occurs during use as the aerosol generator aerosolizes the dosage of liquid as a user inhales.
The system further includes sensing and user indication for dispensing and delivery states. A flow sensor detects fluid flow through the mouthpiece, and a controller activates the aerosol generator in response to a signal indicating fluid flow through the mouthpiece. First and second lights indicate respectively that the dosage has been manually dispensed from the tip of the container into a receiving chamber within the housing, and that the dosage has been aerosolized and fully delivered to a user, with the lights and the opening positioned on a same side wall aligned with the mouthpiece and visible while the user inhales.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims cover an aerosolization system with four inventive features: a housing and liquid receptacle that receive a dosage from a container tip while the container body remains external, an aerosol generator using a vibratable membrane with apertures to aerosolize the dosage onto the membrane rear face, user-visible first and second lights for dispensing and delivery states, and a controller that activates aerosolization in response to detected inhalation flow. The claims also include quantified delivery-completeness thresholds of 98% or more or 99% or more, and spatial/alignment constraints for the mouthpiece, opening, and lights.
Liquid receptacle receiving dosage from an external container tip
A housing includes a liquid receptacle that defines an opening through an exterior surface of a side wall and is configured to receive a dosage of liquid from a tip of a container such that at least a portion of the tip is received within the liquid receptacle while a main body of the container remains external to the housing.
Vibratable membrane aerosol generator with apertures
An aerosol generator comprises a membrane having a front face, a rear face, and a plurality of apertures extending between the front face and the rear face, wherein the dosage of liquid is received onto the rear face of the membrane, and a vibratable element configured to vibrate the membrane to aerosolize the dosage of liquid.
Flow sensor and controller activating aerosolization during inhalation
A flow sensor is configured to detect fluid flow through the mouthpiece as a user inhales, and a controller coupled to the flow sensor and to the aerosol generator activates the aerosol generator in response to a signal from the flow sensor indicating fluid flow through the mouthpiece.
First and second lights indicating dispensing and completion of delivery
A first light indicates that the dosage of liquid has been manually dispensed from the tip of the container into a receiving chamber within the housing, and a second light indicates that the vibratable element has aerosolized the dosage and the entire dosage has been delivered to a user, with the first and second lights on a flat surface of a side wall aligned with the mouthpiece and positioned such that the first and second lights are visible to the user while the user inhales through the mouthpiece.
Delivery of 98% or more of liquid received onto the membrane rear face
The delivery of the entire dosage comprises delivery of 98% or more of the liquid received onto the rear face of the membrane.
Delivery of 99% or more of liquid received onto the membrane rear face
The delivery of the entire dosage comprises delivery of 99% or more of the liquid received onto the rear face of the membrane.
Controller-controlled activation of lights and aerosol generator upon delivery state
The controller activates the first light once the dosage of liquid is within the receiving chamber and activates the second light once the dosage is aerosolized and inhaled by the user.
Taken together, the independent claims define an inhalation-driven aerosolization system that receives a liquid dosage via a tip into a liquid receptacle, aerosolizes the dosage using a vibratable membrane with apertures by vibrating the membrane, and provides first and second light indications for dispensing and delivery completion, with quantified delivery completeness and alignment and visibility constraints relative to the mouthpiece.
Stated Advantages
Avoids ambient air contact by dispensing substantially all of the dosage into the housing for aerosolization.
Avoids preservatives and evaporation losses by dispensing substantially all of the dose to the aerosol generator and membrane for delivery.
Provides quantified delivery completeness by delivering 98% or more, or 99% or more, of the liquid received onto the membrane rear face.
Provides user visibility of dispensing and aerosolization or completion states via first and second lights aligned with the mouthpiece.
Documented Applications
A preservative-free single-dose inhaler system for aerosolizing a liquid pharmaceutical agent, notably insulin, as a user inhales.
Inhalation-driven aerosol delivery in which dispensing and delivery states are indicated to the user using first and second lights aligned with the mouthpiece.
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