Aerosol processing and inhalation method and system for high dose rate aerosol drug delivery
Inventors
Yeates, Donovan B. • Yi, Jinghai • Li, Guanglin
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-7802569-B2
Publication Date
2010-09-28
Expiration Date
Abstract
A method and system is disclosed which is capable of delivering at a high dose rate, respirable solid aerosols derived from aqueous- or nonaqueous-based solutions containing the desired therapeutic agent(s). The method and system comprises the integration of an aerosol generator, an aerosol evaporator, an aerosol concentrator, and an aerosol flow regulator. The aerosol generator generates 10-30 μm droplets, with a narrow size distribution. The aerosol jet is arrested by a coaxial counter-flow heated air jet, and evaporated rapidly by annular swirling heated air. Most of the air, together with the unwanted solvent vapor, is removed from the aerosol stream during the process of aerosol concentration. The output aerosol carries the dry particles to be inhaled by the patient. The respiratory-governed control of aerosol fluid generation system delivers fluid containing the test agent of interest (drug or toxin) to the aerosol generator throughout inhalation.
Core Innovation
The invention provides APIS/SUPRAER in a compact device suitable for inhalation therapy for producing concentrated aerosols by generating a large liquid aerosol flow and directing it into a chamber along a central axis. The aerosol evaporator reduces the velocity of the large liquid aerosol flow by directing a counterflow air jet opposed to the first direction of flow. The chamber is operated with dry air mixing and with at least one of convective heat and radiative heat transferred into the chamber to evaporate the liquid by dry air mixing and to form a flow comprising a dry aerosol powder with a particle size between 1 m and 10 m.
The invention then concentrates the dry aerosol powder by virtual impaction, removing most of the air and unwanted vapor as a major fraction from a remaining small fraction containing air, vapor, and dry aerosol powder. The resulting stable dry particles contain up to 100% active agents. The system further generates a sheath air flow for minimizing aerosol deposition on the chamber by sheathing the aerosol flow.
The invention includes a respiratory aerosol control system for regulating aerosol production during inhalation, using flow regulation connected to the aerosol concentrator and providing flow derived visible indicators. The device integrates a coaxial counterflow air jet nozzle to reduce aerosol velocity and includes at least one of a convective or radiative heat transfer device heating at least one of dry air flowing into the chamber and being within the chamber. The described approach supports compact formation of geometrically stable dry particles within the stated particle size range for inhalation therapy.
Claims Coverage
The partial content includes four independent claims (clm-00001, clm-00013, clm-00014, clm-00035). Each independent claim focuses on a compact inhalation-therapy aerosol processor that produces stable dry aerosol powder/particles in a specified particle size range and concentrates the output by virtual impaction, with clm-00001 and clm-00013 emphasizing the method steps and clm-00014 and clm-00035 emphasizing system structures. Across the independent claims, the main inventive features include counterflow air jet velocity reduction, sheath dry air to minimize deposition, convective/radiative heat transfer and dry air mixing for evaporation, and virtual impaction concentration to remove air and unwanted vapor while retaining a remaining small fraction containing dry aerosol powder.
Counterflow air jet velocity reduction with central-axis flow
Generating a large liquid aerosol flow and directing it along the central axis, and reducing the velocity of the large liquid aerosol flow by directing a counterflow air jet into a second direction opposed to the first direction and directed against the aerosol.
Sheath dry air flow minimizing aerosol deposition
Generating a sheath air flow for minimizing aerosol deposition on the chamber, and providing means generating a sheath of dry air flow for minimizing aerosol deposition on the chamber.
Evaporation by dry air mixing with convective and radiative heat
Generating at least one of convective heat and radiative heat and transferring this heat into the chamber, and evaporating liquid contained in the large liquid aerosol by dry air mixing to form a flow comprising a dry aerosol powder with a particle size between 1 m and 10 m.
Virtual impaction concentration removing air and unwanted vapor
Concentrating the dry aerosol powder by virtual impaction removing most of the air and unwanted vapor as a major fraction from a remaining small fraction containing air, vapor and dry aerosol powder, and configuring an aerosol concentrator to remove most of the air and unwanted vapor as a major fraction from a remaining small fraction containing air, vapor and dry aerosol powder.
Stable dry particles containing up to 100% active agents
Providing stable dry particles of the dry aerosol powder containing up to 100% active agents.
Respiratory aerosol control with flow derived visible indicators
Regulating aerosol production during inhalation using a respiratory aerosol control system, and providing flow derived visible indicators.
Coaxial counterflow air jet nozzle
Including a coaxial counterflow air jet nozzle reducing the velocity of the aerosol by directing a counterflow air jet into a second direction opposed to the first direction and directed against the aerosol.
Convective or radiative heat transfer device heating dry air within the chamber
Providing at least one of a convective or radiative heat transfer device heating at least one of dry air flowing into the chamber and being within said chamber.
Across the independent claims, the invention concentrates inhalation-therapy aerosols by evaporating a large liquid aerosol into dry aerosol powder using dry air mixing with convective and/or radiative heat, then concentrating the powder by virtual impaction to remove most air and unwanted vapor while retaining a remaining fraction containing dry aerosol powder. Stable dry particles are described as containing up to 100% active agents, and at least one method claim further requires regulating aerosol production during inhalation using a respiratory aerosol control system and providing flow derived visible indicators.
Stated Advantages
Provides stable dry particles of the dry aerosol powder containing up to 100% active agents.
Documented Applications
No documented applications found
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