Heating unit for use in a drug delivery device
Inventors
Wensley, Martin J. • Glazer, Marc • Bresson, James • Timmons, Ryan • Myers, Daniel J.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11642473-B2
Publication Date
2023-05-09
Expiration Date
Abstract
Drug supply units are disclosed which comprise substrates having a plurality of holes formed therein.
Core Innovation
An aerosol drug delivery device includes a drug supply unit having a perforated substrate with a plurality of formed through holes. The substrate has a thickness, the holes are circular, and air flows through the holes while at least a portion of the substrate surface is coated with a drug composition. Airflow is initiated by a user placing the device in his/her mouth then inhaling.
The invention addresses delivering the drug composition as a condensation aerosol generated from heating-to-vaporization followed by condensation. Directing air through the perforated substrate during heating-to-vaporization is used to affect aerosol properties, including aerosol purity and aerosol yield, as described in the summary.
The disclosure includes device configurations using a heating unit and airway arrangements so that the vaporized drug forms a condensation aerosol. Documented implementations also describe heat-conductive substrate materials and a coated drug film, with experimental comparisons between perforated and non-perforated substrates and treated versus untreated substrates.
Claims Coverage
The document identifies one independent claim describing an aerosol drug delivery device with a perforated substrate, circular formed through holes, a drug-composition-coated portion, and user-initiated airflow by mouth placement and inhalation. The coverage of inventive features is primarily concentrated in how the perforation geometry and airflow path are used to generate the aerosol, with dependent claims adding structural, geometric, material, and quantitative refinements.
User-initiated airflow through circular perforated substrate
An aerosol drug delivery device comprising a drug supply unit comprising a perforated substrate with a plurality of formed through holes, wherein air flows through said holes, and wherein at least a portion of the surface of the substrate is coated with a drug composition, wherein the holes are circular and wherein the air flow is initiated by a user placing the device in his/her mouth then inhaling.
Heating via housing airway to vaporize coated drug composition
The aerosol drug delivery device includes a housing that defines an airway, the drug supply unit communicating with the airway and configured to heat the coated drug composition to a temperature sufficient to vaporize it.
Purity-increasing plurality of holes with sufficient number and spacing
The aerosol drug delivery device includes a plurality of holes whose number and spacing are sufficient to increase the purity of a vaporized drug compared with vaporizing the drug from a substrate without such holes.
Minimum substrate thickness
The drug delivery device includes a substrate having a thickness of at least 0.00127 cm (5.0×10^-4 inches).
Coated surface area range for the drug composition
The drug delivery device includes a drug-composition-coated surface portion whose coated surface area is within a specified range (8 mm^2 to 20 cm^2).
Polyimide film polymer substrate with conductive traces
The drug delivery device includes a polyimide film polymer substrate with a first and second surface, with electrically conductive traces formed on the first surface.
Overall, the claim set focuses on a perforated substrate drug supply unit with circular formed through holes and user-initiated inhalation-driven airflow, optionally integrated with a housing/airway heating configuration. Dependent coverage further specifies features intended to increase purity, such as hole number and spacing, and adds quantitative and material/structure refinements including minimum substrate thickness, coated surface area, and electrically conductive traces on a polyimide film substrate.
Stated Advantages
Increased aerosol purity.
Increased aerosol yield.
Documented Applications
No documented applications found
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