Aerosol generator
Inventors
Schulz, Harald • Holzmann, Philipp • Mutschmann, Dominique • Hahn, Michael
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11707758-B2
Publication Date
2023-07-25
Expiration Date
Abstract
An aerosol generator for generating an aerosol from a fluid, comprising: a vibratable membrane having a first side for being in contact with the fluid and an opposite second side, the membrane having a plurality of through holes penetrating the membrane in an extension direction from the first side to the second side, whereby the fluid passes the through holes from the first side to the second side when the membrane is vibrated for generating the aerosol at the second side, each through hole having along its extension direction a smallest diameter, a larger diameter that is larger than the smallest diameter and defined by that diameter that is closest to triple, preferably twice said smallest diameter, each through hole having a nozzle portion defined by that continuous portion of the through hole in the extension direction comprising the smallest diameter of the through hole and bordered by the larger diameter of the through hole, wherein the ratio of the total length of each through hole in the extension direction to the length of a respective one of said nozzle portions in the extension direction is at least 4, preferably at least 4.5 and most preferred equal to or larger than 5.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a method of manufacturing a vibratable membrane for use in an aerosol generator for generating an aerosol from a fluid. The vibratable membrane includes a first side for contact with the fluid and an opposite second side, and is provided with a plurality of through holes penetrating the membrane from the first side to the second side, such that, when the membrane is vibrated, the fluid passes through the through holes from the first side to the second side to generate aerosol at the second side.
Each through hole includes a nozzle portion, and a ratio of a total length of each through hole to a length of the nozzle portion is at least 4. The through holes are formed using an electroforming process, with preferred geometric constraints for the nozzle portion and the through holes, including relationships involving the smallest diameter and total through-hole length.
The nozzle portion termination can be flush with the second side, and the nozzle portion can be substantially cylindrical or conical. The disclosure states that keeping the ratio at least 4 improves performance while avoiding effects associated with excessively long through-hole lengths relative to the nozzle portion, such as bleeding.
Claims Coverage
The document provides one independent claim directed to a manufacturing method. The independent claim centers on an electroformed vibratable membrane with through holes including a nozzle portion and a minimum ratio constraint between total through-hole length and nozzle portion length.
Vibratable membrane with through holes for aerosol generation
Providing a vibratable membrane having a first side for contact with the fluid and an opposite second side, and providing the membrane with a plurality of through holes penetrating the membrane from the first side to the second side, whereby the fluid passes the through holes from the first side to the second side when the membrane is vibrated for generating the aerosol at the second side.
Nozzle portion in each through hole with length ratio requirement
Each through hole having a nozzle portion, wherein a ratio of a total length of each through hole to a length of the nozzle portion is at least 4.
Electroforming process for forming through holes
The through holes are formed using an electroforming process.
Electroforming multiple steps per through hole
The through holes are formed using an electroforming process with at least two electroforming steps to form each through hole.
Substantially cylindrical or conical nozzle portion
Forming the nozzle portion as substantially cylindrical or conical.
Nozzle portion flush termination with the second side
Shaping one end of the nozzle portion to end flush with the second side.
Nozzle portion length upper bound
The nozzle portion has a length less than at least 25 μm.
Overall, the claim coverage is anchored in manufacturing a vibratable membrane whose electroformed through holes include nozzle portions, with the key inventive requirement that the ratio of total through-hole length to nozzle portion length is at least 4, and with dependent refinements addressing nozzle portion shape and termination, nozzle length, and increased electroforming-step structure.
Stated Advantages
Increases total output rate (TOR) while reducing nebulization time.
Reduces nebulization time using shorter nozzle portions while maintaining similar MMD (medium mass diameter).
Avoids or reduces undesirable effects associated with excessively large through-hole length relative to nozzle portion length, described as bleeding.
Documented Applications
Aerosol generation from a fluid in an aerosol generator using a vibratable membrane with electroformed through holes and nozzle portions, including an example configuration using a liposomal ARIKACE (liposomal amikacine) formulation.
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