Methods and systems for supplying aerosolization devices with liquid medicaments

Inventors

Patton, Ryan S. • Patton, John S. • Kuo, Mei-chang • Ivri, Yehuda

Assignees

Aerami Therapeutics Inc

Abstract

A method is described for supplying a metered amount of a liquid medicament to an aerosolizing device. The method utilizes a dispenser comprising an elongate dispenser body having a proximal end and a tip at a distal end through which a liquid medicament is dispensed. The dispenser further comprises a dispensing mechanism that operates to dispense a metered quantity of the liquid medicament from the tip each time the dispenser body is compressed. The dispenser is grasped with one hand such that the fingers wrap around the dispenser body, with the thumb closest to the proximal end and the last finger closest to the tip. The tip is inserted into an opening of an inhaler and the elongate body is forced toward the tip to cause the dispenser body to compress, thereby operating the dispensing mechanism and causing a metered quantity of the liquid medicament to eject into the inhaler.

Core Innovation

The invention relates to methods and systems for supplying a metered amount of a liquid medicament to an aerosolizing device using a compressible one-hand-operated dispenser. The aerosolizing device includes a housing with an upward-facing surface and a defined opening in fluid communication with a chamber that funnels fluid to a vibratable member disposed to eject liquid droplets through a mouthpiece. Compression of the dispenser dispenses a metered quantity of the liquid medicament from a distal tip into the chamber each time the dispenser body is compressed.

A seating mechanism maintains a distal end of the tip at a distance of between about 5 mm to about 20 mm from the vibratable member during insertion into the housing opening. Sidewalls defining a bottom end of the chamber are tapered from a bottom opening of the chamber to a position that is above the distal end of the tip when the tip is fully inserted. Taper features and alignment features are used so delivery into the reservoir/chamber avoids contact with the dispensed liquid and supports stable positioning.

The system further emphasizes stabilization and user-grip ergonomics by using an interface that engages with the tip to maintain the dispenser in an upright orientation outside of the housing, including generally perpendicular orientation relative to the housing upward-facing surface. Example inhaler structures include a housing with mouthpiece and an opening, a funnel/tapered reservoir/chamber, and a vibratable mesh that aerosolizes the liquid into an atomized spray via the mouthpiece. Example medicament context includes insulin formulations, while the described dispensing action includes repeated pumping/compression to supply metered quantities for aerosolization.

Claims Coverage

The partial content identifies four independent claims: clm-00001, clm-00009, clm-00016, and clm-00020. Across these independent claims, the inventive subject matter is centered on a compressible dispenser tip inserted into a housing opening, a seating mechanism that maintains a 5 mm to 20 mm tip-to-vibratable-member distance, and a chamber with tapered sidewalls that terminate above the tip when fully inserted.

Across the independent claims, the core claim coverage centers on combining an aerosolizing device with a compressible dispenser that is inserted into a housing opening. The claims specifically require maintaining a 5 mm to 20 mm distal tip distance from the vibratable member via a seating mechanism and tapered chamber sidewalls that terminate above the distal tip when fully inserted. Additional coverage includes upright or self-standing stabilization via an opening interface and, in one claim, dispensing the same metered quantity each compression.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications