Heating unit for use in a drug delivery device
Inventors
Wensley, Martin J. • Glazer, Marc • Bresson, James • Timmons, Ryan • Myers, Daniel J.
Assignees
Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Publication Number
US-12138383-B2
Publication Date
2024-11-12
Expiration Date
Abstract
Drug supply units are disclosed which comprise substrates having a plurality of holes formed therein.
Core Innovation
The invention provides an aerosol drug delivery device that includes a drug supply unit having a perforated substrate. The perforated substrate has a plurality of formed through holes, wherein air flows through the holes, and at least a portion of the substrate surface is coated with a drug composition. Air flow is initiated by a user placing the device in his/her mouth and inhaling.
The drug supply unit is arranged so that air passes through the through holes while the coated drug composition is heated to vaporize the drug, and the resulting vapor forms a condensation aerosol. The device includes a housing defining an airway, where the drug supply unit communicates with the airway and is configured to heat the coated drug composition to a temperature sufficient to vaporize the drug composition.
The invention characterizes the perforated substrate by hole geometry and through-hole structure, including circular holes, and by substrate material and coated surface area. The disclosed embodiments include comparative use of perforated substrates versus non-perforated substrates and materials including treated and heat-passivated stainless steel and other substrate materials.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim covers an aerosol drug delivery device with a drug supply unit formed by a perforated substrate having circular formed through holes, a drug-composition-coated substrate surface, and user-initiated inhalation airflow through the holes. The claim set also includes dependent refinements with heating and vaporization via a housing airway, quantitative substrate and coating geometric ranges, and a polyimide film substrate with electrically conductive traces. At least five inventive features are explicitly present across the independent claim and its notable dependent refinements.
Perforated substrate with circular through holes and user-initiated airflow
A drug supply unit comprising a perforated substrate having a plurality of formed through holes in which air flows through the holes, with at least a portion of the surface coated with a drug composition, wherein the holes are circular and air flow is initiated by a user placing the device in his/her mouth then inhaling.
Heating via housing and airway to a temperature sufficient to vaporize the drug composition
A housing defining an airway, with a drug supply unit communicating with the airway and configured to heat a coated drug composition to a temperature sufficient to vaporize the drug composition.
Specified substrate thickness
A substrate having a thickness within the range of 0.00127 cm (5.0×10^-4) to 0.0127 cm (5.0×10^-3) inches.
Coated surface area range
A drug-composition-coated surface portion whose coated surface area falls within the range of 8 mm^2 to 20 cm^2.
Polyimide film substrate with electrically conductive traces
A polyimide film polymer with first and second surfaces, with electrically conductive traces formed on the first surface.
Overall, the claim coverage centers on a perforated, circular-through-hole substrate that supports a drug-composition coating, with airflow through the holes initiated by user inhalation, and it further refines the device using heating and vaporization via a housing airway, quantitative substrate and coating geometric ranges, and a polyimide film substrate with electrically conductive traces.
Stated Advantages
Improves aerosol purity, including via increased through-hole airflow and appropriate coating conditions.
Increases aerosol yield while enabling particle-size tuning using particle size (MMAD) metrics.
Allows adjustment of particle size (MMAD) through selected substrate and coating conditions.
Documented Applications
Aerosol drug delivery for multiple drugs including loperamide, flunisolide, sildenafil, bumetanide, vardenafil, tadalafil, fentanyl, prochlorperazine, adenosine, baclofen, ciclesonide, cyclobenzaprine fumarate, diphenhydramine fumarate, fluticasone propionate, mometasone fumarate, paroxetine fumarate, tizanadine, and zaleplon.
Interested in licensing this patent?