Aerosolizing nozzle and method of operating such aerosolizing nozzle
Inventors
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10661033-B2
Publication Date
2020-05-26
Expiration Date
Abstract
A nozzle and a method of generating an inhalable aerosol from a liquid solution or liquid suspension and a gas by operating the nozzle. A column-like aerosol plume is generated having fluid particles within a particle free sheath of gas, the aerosol plume being generated from a compressed gas interacting within the aerosolizing space with a fluid ejected along the central axis, and generates a Venturi effect entraining gas that flows over the convex outer nozzle surface that together with the particle free sheath keeps the circumferential edge and the outer nozzle surface free of particle deposition. An aerosol exit orifice diameter is at least 1.3 times larger than the fluid exit orifice diameter; and a converging annular pressurized gas channel extending at an acute gas flow angle of 10-30° with respect to a central axis.
Core Innovation
The disclosed invention provides an inhalable-aerosol nozzle and a method that generate an aerosol plume from a liquid solution or liquid suspension containing a medication. The aerosol plume has substantially the shape of a cylindrical column and comprises fluid particles with a mass median aerodynamic diameter (MMAD) of 6 μm or less within a particle free sheath of gas.
The invention uses a Venturi effect to entrain gas and form a concentric particle free zone between a central aerosol core and a circumferential edge of the aerosol exit orifice. Gas flows over a convex outer nozzle surface and, together with the particle free sheath of gas, keeps the circumferential edge and the outer nozzle surface free of particle deposition.
The nozzle includes an aerosol exit orifice extending to the convex outer nozzle surface and forming an aerosol exit channel shorter than one half the aerosol exit orifice diameter toward the aerosolizing space. The aerosol exit orifice diameter is at least 1.3 times larger than the fluid exit orifice diameter, and a converging annular pressurized gas channel directs gas at an acute gas flow angle of 10-30° with respect to the central axis.
The disclosed system is configured to deliver an inhalable medication by aerosolizing the liquid solution or liquid suspension and entraining gas over the convex outer nozzle surface while maintaining particle-free sheath behavior. Additional embodiments describe hydrophobic, omniphobic, and lyophobic nozzle surface area, and optional downstream evaporation/drying with a virtual impactor for dry powder aerosols.
Claims Coverage
The provided claims include two independent claims: one directed to a nozzle structure and one directed to a method. Across these independent claims, there are eight core inventive features: a cylindrical column aerosol plume with an MMAD of 6 μm or less in a particle free sheath of gas, Venturi effect entraining gas over a convex outer nozzle surface, specific aerosol exit orifice and aerosol exit channel geometry, fluid exit orifice alignment and diameter ratio, a converging annular pressurized gas channel with an acute gas flow angle, concentric particle free zone formation, entraining gas while preventing deposition, and delivering an inhalable medication by aerosolizing the medication-containing liquid.
Particle free sheath cylindrical column aerosol plume with MMAD ≤ 6 μm
An aerosol plume generated from a liquid solution or liquid suspension containing a medication, having substantially the shape of a cylindrical column and comprising fluid particles having a mass median aerodynamic diameter (MMAD) of 6 μm or less within a particle free sheath of gas.
Venturi effect entraining gas over a convex outer nozzle surface
An aerosol plume exits the aerosol exit orifice within the particle free sheath of gas that generates a Venturi effect entraining gas that flows over the convex outer nozzle surface, wherein the Venturi effect together with the particle free sheath keeps the circumferential edge and the outer nozzle surface free of particle deposition.
Aerosol exit orifice and aerosol exit channel geometry on the convex outer nozzle surface
An aerosol exit orifice extending to a convex outer nozzle surface having an outer hydrophobic, omniphobic or lyophobic nozzle surface area that has a convex shape around the aerosol exit orifice; and an aerosol exit channel extending from the convex outer nozzle surface toward an aerosolizing space, the aerosol exit channel length being shorter than one half the aerosol exit orifice diameter.
Fluid exit orifice aligned with aerosol exit orifice and orifice diameter ratio
A fluid exit orifice through which the fluid is ejected, aligned on the same central axis as the aerosol exit orifice and opening into the aerosolizing space, with the aerosol exit orifice diameter being at least 1.3 times larger than the fluid exit orifice diameter.
Converging annular pressurized gas channel with acute gas flow angle intersection
A converging annular pressurized gas channel having an outer conical wall and an inner conical wall extending at an acute gas flow angle that is 10-30° with respect to the central axis, wherein the pressurized gas exit intersects gas exiting the pressurized gas exit at that acute gas flow angle with the fluid exiting from the fluid exit orifice in the aerosolizing space.
Concentric particle free zone formation during aerosolizing
Generating the substantially columnar aerosol plume by forming a concentric particle free zone between a central aerosol core and the circumferential edge of the aerosol exit orifice.
Entraining gas using the columnar plume and particle free sheath while preventing deposition
Entraining gas by the substantially columnar aerosol plume and the particle free sheath of gas exiting the aerosol exit orifice, with the gas flowing over the convex outer nozzle surface that keeps the outer nozzle surface free of particle deposition.
Delivering an inhalable medication by aerosolizing the medication-containing liquid
Aerosolizing the liquid solution or liquid suspension to deliver an inhalable medication.
The independent claims cover both the nozzle and the method centered on a Venturi-effect-generated cylindrical column aerosol plume carried in a particle free gas sheath, with constrained orifice diameter relationships and a converging annular pressurized gas channel that intersects gas and fluid at a defined acute gas flow angle to maintain the circumferential edge and outer nozzle surface free of particle deposition.
Stated Advantages
Produces an aerosol plume with MMAD of 6 μm or less within a particle free sheath of gas.
Generates a Venturi effect entraining gas that flows over a convex outer nozzle surface.
Keeps the circumferential edge and the outer nozzle surface free of particle deposition.
Delivers an inhalable medication by aerosolizing the liquid solution or liquid suspension.
Optional downstream evaporation/drying using a virtual impactor to generate dry powder aerosols.
Sustained operation without solute buildup.
Reduced particle size via orifice/pressure effects.
Documented Applications
Inhalable delivery of a medication by aerosolizing a liquid solution or liquid suspension.
Production of dry powder aerosols via optional downstream evaporation/drying using a virtual impactor.
Use with medication-containing fluids including PVP solutions and surfactant liposome/suspensions.
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