Medicament delivery device with vibrating air flow
Inventors
Alizoti, Neritan • Baran, George • Suggett, Jason
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12329901-B1
Publication Date
2025-06-17
Expiration Date
Abstract
A medicament delivery device includes a chamber housing defining an interior volume, wherein the interior volume defines a medicament delivery flow path. A vibration inducing device communicates with the interior volume and is operable to introduce vibrations into the flow path.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a medicament delivery device that includes a chamber housing defining an interior volume and a medicament delivery flow path. A vibration inducing device is disposed in and communicating with the interior volume so that the vibration inducing device introduces vibrations into the medicament delivery flow path in response to an inhalation flow along the medicament delivery flow path.
The disclosed device structure includes flow-path architectures such as a valved holding chamber with an input end and an output end, in which a one-way inhalation valve forms the medicament delivery flow path between the input end and the output end. The chamber housing can further comprise a passage opening defining in part the medicament delivery flow path. In response to inhalation flow, vibrations are introduced into the flow path to affect the delivery flow inside the chamber.
The invention further describes multiple vibration inducing device implementations for introducing vibrations into the medicament delivery flow path, including a rotating turbine, an oscillating piston/valve arrangement, a resonating chamber with a movable pea, and a vibratory device such as a tuning-fork style vibratory device. Another implementation uses a cantilever spring and a mass coupled to the spring, with a valve connected to the cantilever spring disposed adjacent the passage opening and moveable relative to the passage opening.
The disclosure also includes an associated drug delivery assembly in which a coupled medicament delivery device such as a metered dose inhaler canister is used with the vibration-inducing chamber device. A corresponding delivery concept is described in which vibrations are induced during inhalation to influence mixing of air and aerosol, recirculation of dead-space air, and drug embedding onto airway tissue.
Claims Coverage
The provided claim set includes two independent claims. Across them, the coverage centers on a medicament delivery device having a chamber housing that defines an interior volume and a medicament delivery flow path, and a vibration inducing device introducing vibrations into that flow path, with specific configurations for the flow-path boundary and for a particular vibration inducing mechanism.
Inhalation-actuated vibration inducing medicament delivery flow path
A chamber housing defining an interior volume wherein the interior volume defines a medicament delivery flow path; and a vibration inducing device disposed in and communicating with the interior volume, operable to introduce vibrations into the medicament delivery flow path, wherein the vibration inducing device is configured to induce vibrations in the medicament delivery flow path in response to an inhalation flow along the medicament delivery flow path actuating the vibration inducting device.
Cantilever spring-mass vibration inducing device with valve adjacent passage opening
A chamber housing defining an interior volume wherein the interior volume defines a medicament delivery flow path, wherein the chamber housing comprises a passage opening defining in part the medicament delivery flow path; and a vibration inducing device communicating with the interior volume, operable to introduce vibrations into the flow path, wherein the vibration inducing device comprises a cantilever spring and a mass coupled to the spring, and wherein the vibration inducing device further comprises a valve connected to the cantilever spring, wherein the valve is disposed adjacent the passage opening and is moveable relative to the passage opening.
The independent claims collectively cover introducing vibrations into a medicament delivery flow path in response to inhalation flow, using a chamber housing-based flow architecture and a vibration inducing device. One independent claim emphasizes the inhalation-flow actuation relationship, while the other adds a passage-opening flow boundary and a specific cantilever spring and mass vibration inducing structure with a moveable valve adjacent the passage opening.
Stated Advantages
Improving air/aerosol mixing.
Recirculation of dead-space air.
Drug embedding onto airway tissue.
Documented Applications
A drug delivery assembly using a coupled medicament delivery device such as a metered dose inhaler (pMDI) canister, where vibrations are induced during inhalation of aerosolized medications.
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