Particle dispersion chamber for nasal nebulizer
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Publication Number
US-10668230-B2
Publication Date
2020-06-02
Expiration Date
Abstract
A nebulizer and a method of breathing using the nebulizer is described. The nebulizer and breathing techniques are capable of delivering medicament into the sinus cavity of a user.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a method for intranasal drug delivery that aerosolizes a medicament to provide aerosolized medicament particles in a size range of 2 to 50 microns. The method imparts an unobstructed continuous vortical flow to the aerosolized medicament particles and directs the medicament particles through a nasal adapter and into a nasal cavity while still in the unobstructed continuous vortical flow.
The delivery is configured to provide topical drug delivery sufficiently deep within the nasal cavity to provide penetration into at least an ethmoid and/or sphenoid paranasal sinus, or systemic drug delivery sufficiently deep within the nasal cavity to provide penetration into at least the ethmoid and/or sphenoid paranasal sinus. In at least one described implementation, the vortical flow is imparted by exposing the aerosolized medicament particles to a plurality of directed air outputs from curved tubes along an outer surface of the particle dispersion chamber, where the curved tubes extend into the particle dispersion chamber.
The particle dispersion chamber includes a particle input end and an output opening, and an internal channel between the input end and the output opening having a continuous cross-sectional area from the particle input end to the output opening. Output fluid is provided through fluid outputs communicating with the internal channel to direct output forward and impart the unobstructed continuous vortical flow to aerosolized medicament particles exiting the dispersion chamber output opening and entering a nasal adapter.
Claims Coverage
The partial claim set includes two independent claims, both directed to intranasal drug delivery. The inventive core is aerosolized medicament particles in a size range of 2 to 50 microns, unobstructed continuous vortical flow, and directing the particles through a nasal adapter into a nasal cavity for penetration into at least the ethmoid and/or sphenoid paranasal sinuses. The claims also recite structural and functional features for imparting vortical flow using directed air outputs from curved tubes along an outer surface of a particle dispersion chamber.
Intranasal delivery with unobstructed continuous vortical flow and nasal-adapter penetration
A method comprising aerosolizing a medicament to provide aerosolized medicament particles in a size range of 2 to 50 microns; imparting an unobstructed continuous vortical flow to the aerosolized medicament particles; and directing the medicament particles through a nasal adapter and into a nasal cavity while still in the unobstructed continuous vortical flow to provide topical drug delivery sufficiently deep within the nasal cavity for penetration into at least an ethmoid and/or sphenoid paranasal sinus, or systemic drug delivery sufficiently deep within the nasal cavity for penetration into at least the ethmoid and/or sphenoid paranasal sinus.
Curved-tube directed air outputs to impart vortical flow in a particle dispersion chamber
Imparting the unobstructed vortical flow comprises exposing the aerosolized medicament particles to a plurality of directed air outputs from curved tubes along an outer surface of the particle dispersion chamber, the curved tubes extending into the particle dispersion chamber.
Compressed-fluid nebulizing chamber with direct communication into a particle dispersion chamber
Introducing a compressed fluid from a nebulizing pressure feed through a compressor channel into a nebulizing chamber; introducing a medicament into the nebulizing chamber along with the compressed fluid to aerosolize the medicament and form aerosolized medicament particles in a size range of 2 to 50 microns; and directly communicating the aerosolized medicament particles from the nebulizing chamber into a particle dispersion chamber having a particle input end and an output opening and an internal channel between the particle input end and the output opening with a continuous cross-sectional area from the particle input end to the output opening.
Output fluid via fluid outputs to direct forward flow and impart vortical flow into nasal adapter
Providing an output fluid through fluid outputs communicating with the internal channel and thereby directing output forward and imparting an unobstructed continuous vortical flow to the aerosolized medicament particles exiting the dispersion chamber output opening and entering a nasal adapter, wherein the fluid outputs comprise a plurality of directed air outputs from curved tubes along an outer surface of the particle dispersion chamber, the curved tubes extending into the particle dispersion chamber; and directing the medicament particles through the nasal adapter and into a nasal cavity while still in the unobstructed continuous vortical flow to provide topical or systemic drug delivery sufficiently deep within the nasal cavity to provide penetration into at least the ethmoid and/or sphenoid paranasal sinus.
Across both independent claims, the inventive coverage centers on aerosolizing a medicament to 2 to 50 micron particles, imparting unobstructed continuous vortical flow to the particles, and directing the particles through a nasal adapter into the nasal cavity for penetration into at least the ethmoid and/or sphenoid paranasal sinuses, with vortical flow imparted using a plurality of directed air outputs from curved tubes along an outer surface of a particle dispersion chamber, where the curved tubes extend into the chamber.
Stated Advantages
Provide topical drug delivery sufficiently deep within the nasal cavity to provide penetration into at least an ethmoid and/or sphenoid paranasal sinus.
Provide systemic drug delivery sufficiently deep within the nasal cavity to provide penetration into at least the ethmoid and/or sphenoid paranasal sinus.
Documented Applications
Intranasal drug delivery for penetration into at least the ethmoid and/or sphenoid paranasal sinus, including topical and systemic drug delivery.
Sinus ventilation study using radiotracer imaging with TC-DTPA showing tracer activity in ethmoid and sphenoid sinuses and improved penetration versus prior art.
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