Preservative-free single dose inhaler systems
Inventors
Patton, John S. • Patton, Ryan S. • Kuo, Mei-chang • Ivri, Yehuda
Assignees
Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Publication Number
US-11400241-B2
Publication Date
2022-08-02
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 a preservative-free single dose inhaler/aerosolization system that aerosolizes a received dosage of liquid medicament as a user inhales. The inhaler includes a housing with a mouthpiece and a liquid receptacle fluidly coupled to the mouthpiece, where the liquid receptacle defines an opening that receives a dosage of liquid and provides a liquid path to an aerosol generator.
The aerosol generator is disposed within the housing and aerosolizes the dosage using a membrane aerosol generator. The generator includes a membrane with a front face, a rear face, and a plurality of apertures extending between the front face and the rear face, where the dosage of liquid is received onto the rear face, and a vibratable element vibrates the membrane to aerosolize the dosage.
A visual indicator provides a first indication that the dosage of liquid has been received within a receiving chamber and a second indication that the vibratable element has aerosolized the dosage and that the entire dosage has been delivered to the user. The inlet end of the opening is positioned between and in general alignment with the mouthpiece and the visual indicator, with the opening and the visual indicator positioned on a same side wall and oriented so the visual indicator is visible to the user while the user inhales through the mouthpiece.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims cover an inhaler and an aerosolization system for aerosolizing a liquid medicament using a vibratable membrane aerosol generator, combined with a visual indicator that signals dosage receipt and delivery completion. Across the independent claims, the coverage includes the membrane rear-face liquid reception and vibratable aerosolization, the structural alignment of the opening with the mouthpiece and visual indicator, and the indication that the entire dosage is delivered.
Membrane aerosol generator with rear-face liquid reception and vibrating element
An aerosol generator disposed within the housing, wherein during use the aerosol generator aerosolizes the dosage of liquid as a user inhales, the aerosol generator comprises a membrane having a front face, a rear face, and a plurality of apertures that extend 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.
Visual indicator for dosage received and entire dosage delivered
A visual indicator configured to provide a first indication that the dosage of liquid has been received within a receiving chamber within the housing, and a second indication that the vibratable element has aerosolized the dosage of liquid and the entire dosage of liquid has been delivered to the user.
Inlet opening aligned with mouthpiece and visible visual indicator on same side wall
The inlet end of the opening is positioned between, and in general alignment with, the mouthpiece and the visual indicator, with the visual indicator and the opening being positioned on a same one of the plurality of side walls and the visual indicator being oriented such that the visual indicator is visible to the user while the user inhales through the mouthpiece.
Dispenser with tip delivering dosage into aligned inhaler opening
A dispenser comprising a container having a proximal end and a distal end, and a dispensing mechanism comprising a tip configured to dispense a dosage of liquid from the tip upon being actuated, wherein the aerosolization system includes an inhaler having a liquid receptacle defining an opening that extends through an exterior surface of one of the plurality of side walls at an inlet end and is configured to receive the dosage of liquid from the tip of the dispensing mechanism.
Across the independent claims, the core inventive structure is a vibratable membrane aerosol generator that receives a dosage onto the rear face and aerosolizes upon inhalation, combined with a visual indicator signaling dosage receipt and completion of delivering the entire dosage. The claims further constrain spatial arrangement by aligning the receptacle opening with the mouthpiece and the visual indicator on the same side wall to ensure visibility during inhalation, and the system claim includes a dispenser with a tip configured to dispense the dosage to the inhaler opening.
Stated Advantages
Provides a first indication that the dosage of liquid has been received within a receiving chamber within the housing.
Provides a second indication that the vibratable element has aerosolized the dosage of liquid and that the entire dosage of liquid has been delivered to the user.
Positions and orients the visual indicator so it is visible to the user while the user inhales through the mouthpiece.
Documented Applications
A preservative-free single dose inhaler/aerosolization system for pulmonary delivery, including preservative-free insulin.
A method for aerosolizing a volume of liquid medicament using the inhaler with a membrane aerosol generator and a visible visual indicator during inhalation.
Interested in licensing this patent?