Powder dispersion methods and devices

Inventors

Curtis, Robert M. • Deaton, Dan • Hannon, James • SMYTH, HUGH • Xu, Zhen • Donovan, Martin • Gibbons, Aileen

Assignees

Respira Therapeutics Inc

Abstract

A dry powder inhaler includes a powder storage element configured to hold a powdered medicament and an inlet channel receives powdered medicament from the powder storage element that is entrained in an airflow. The inlet channel has a first diameter and defines an opening. The inhaler includes a dispersion chamber that receives the airflow and the powdered medicament from the opening. The dispersion chamber has a second diameter. The inhaler includes an actuator housed within the dispersion chamber. The actuator oscillates within the dispersion chamber when exposed to the airflow to deaggregate the powdered medicament entrained by the airflow passing through the dispersion chamber. A ratio between the first diameter and the second diameter is between about 0.40 and 0.60 such that an audible sound is produced as the actuator oscillates. The inhaler includes an outlet channel through which the airflow and powdered medicament exit the inhaler.

Core Innovation

The invention provides a method for aerosolizing a powdered medicament using an inhaler that includes a powder storage element containing the powdered medicament, an inlet channel disposed downstream from the powder storage element, a dispersion chamber coupled with the inlet channel, an actuator housed within the dispersion chamber, and an outlet channel disposed downstream of the dispersion chamber. Air is introduced into the powder storage element to entrain the powdered medicament within the air, and the entrained powdered medicament is drawn through the inlet channel into the dispersion chamber.

The actuator oscillates within the dispersion chamber such that the actuator rarely contacts the first end or the second end while oscillating due to the airflow to disperse powder agglomerates. The dispersion chamber and the airflow arrangement generate forces in the dispersion chamber by inducing the air to flow through the dispersion chamber, thereby dispersing powder agglomerates while maintaining rare contact between the actuator and the chamber ends. The dispersed powder agglomerates are then delivered via the outlet channel to a patient's airway.

The invention further defines refinements that link audible sound and dispersion performance to geometric and operating constraints during actuator oscillation. In particular, a dispersion chamber length-to-bead diameter ratio and an inlet-to-dispersion diameter ratio are used such that audible sound is produced during actuator oscillation, and additional refinements specify airflow straightening via a flow straightener, coaxial alignment of a first fluid flow path with a second fluid flow path, actuator oscillation frequency, and selection of inlet geometry shapes to support dispersion while reducing device resistance and promoting high-energy dispersion.

Claims Coverage

The independent claims cover three main inventive method frameworks for aerosolizing powdered medicaments using an inhaler architecture with an air-entrained powder stream, a dispersion chamber containing an air-driven oscillating actuator with rare end contact, and downstream delivery through an outlet channel. Dependent refinements add inlet/outlet airflow structuring and dispersion chamber airflow/force generation, and one framework additionally specifies capsule puncturing and capsule rotation within the powder storage element.

Across the independent claim frameworks, the core coverage centers on entraining powdered medicament in air, drawing the entrained medicament into a dispersion chamber, and oscillating an actuator within the dispersion chamber due to airflow to disperse powder agglomerates while the actuator rarely contacts the chamber ends, followed by delivery to a patient's airway via an outlet channel. Dependent claim refinements further define geometric ratios for audible sound, include flow straightening and coaxial alignment, and in one framework incorporate capsule puncturing and capsule rotation to entrain powder.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications

No documented applications found