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Publication Number
US-11054414-B2
Publication Date
2021-07-06
Expiration Date
Abstract
The invention relates to methodologies of obtaining a controlled exposure of an aerosol to a model material. The invention also provides an exposure cap and a system for studying or predicting the interaction between a model material, e.g. a cell, and an aerosolized agent. The controlled exposure of the aerosol to the model material, makes is possible to accurately calculate the mass-balance of the aerosol exposure.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to an exposure cap device for establishing a controlled exposure of a model material to an aerosol following insertion into a model material container. The exposure cap device has an upper part adapted to receive an inlet flow of the aerosol and a lower part aligned to the model material to collect an aerosol stream after exposure while shielding the model material container from the aerosol stream. This cap device defines an inlet duct receiving the aerosol and providing a tangentially located inlet orifice that generates a rotating flow around a central axis from the upper part to the lower part.
The exposure cap device further comprises a single outlet duct for transporting remaining aerosol from the lower part to an outlet in the upper part. An inner central body provides an annular duct that transports the received aerosol to the lower part, where the inner central body has an extension providing an annular slit in the lower part. The annular slit transports aerosol from the annular duct along a surface of the model material to the single outlet duct, thereby defining a flow path that moves aerosol along the model material surface and routes remaining aerosol to the outlet duct.
A related system defines an aerosol transporting arrangement that transports aerosol from an aerosol generating source to an exposure unit configured to resemble the airway-blood-barrier in a respiratory tract. The exposure unit includes at least one exposure cap device inserted into a model material container having model material on a permeable membrane. The system includes a perfusion tray establishing an even perfusion fluid contact between a fluid inlet and the underside of the permeable membrane, and a perfusion fluid outlet adapted to counteract drop formation, while the aerosol transporting arrangement provides exposure flow line branches to deliver aerosol past the inlet duct and onto an end filter located downstream of the branches.
Claims Coverage
Two independent claims are covered, with inventive features focused on a structurally defined exposure cap device that creates rotating aerosol flow and routes aerosol via an annular duct and annular slit to a single outlet duct, and a system that uses this exposure cap device in combination with a permeable-membrane container and a perfusion tray to achieve an exposure resembling the airway-blood-barrier, including an aerosol transporting arrangement with exposure branches and an end filter.
Rotating aerosol flow inlet duct with tangentially located inlet orifice
An inlet duct for receiving the aerosol in the upper part, wherein the inlet duct is provided with a tangentially located inlet orifice for generating a rotating flow around a central axis, from the upper part to the lower part.
Single outlet duct routing remaining aerosol from lower part to upper outlet
A single outlet duct for transporting remaining aerosol from the model material from the lower part to an outlet in the upper part.
Annular duct and annular slit transporting aerosol along a surface to the single outlet duct
An inner central body providing an annular duct for transporting the received aerosol to the lower part, wherein the inner central body has an extension providing an annular slit in the lower part for transportation of aerosol from the annular duct along a surface of the model material to the single outlet duct.
Exposure unit configured to resemble the airway-blood-barrier with perfusion tray even contact and drop-counteracting outlet
An exposure unit comprising a container comprising a model material on a permeable membrane, a perfusion tray for establishing an even perfusion fluid contact between a fluid inlet and the underside of the permeable membrane, and a perfusion fluid outlet adapted to counteract drop formation.
Aerosol transporting arrangement with exposure branches and end filter downstream
An aerosol transporting arrangement comprising an exposure flow line, comprising one or more exposure branches connected to the inlet duct of said at least one exposure cap device, wherein the aerosol transporting arrangement is configured for transporting the aerosol from said exposure flow line past the inlet duct of the at least one exposure cap device and onto an end filter located downstream of the one or more branches.
Overall claim coverage centers on a controlled aerosol exposure cap device with a tangential inlet that creates rotating flow, internal annular duct/annular slit routing along a model material surface, and a single outlet duct for remaining aerosol. The system claim further integrates this exposure cap into an aerosol transporting arrangement and an exposure unit that includes a permeable membrane container and perfusion tray elements to form an exposure resembling the airway-blood-barrier.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
No documented applications found
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