초록 ▼

A device and method for delivering an aerosolized liquid having therapeutic properties to a user's lungs. The compact and convenient device includes a housing of such size that it can be held in a user's one hand with an exit opening in the housing for directing the aerosol to the user's mouth. The

A device and method for delivering an aerosolized liquid having therapeutic properties to a user's lungs. The compact and convenient device includes a housing of such size that it can be held in a user's one hand with an exit opening in the housing for directing the aerosol to the user's mouth. The housing encloses a dispensing system for containing the liquid to be aerosolized and delivering it to an electrohydrodynamic apparatus and an electrohydrodynamic apparatus for aerosolizing the liquid and delivering the aerosol to the exit opening. The electrohydrodynamic apparatus produces a cloud of aerosolized liquid droplets having a monodispersed respirable droplet size and near zero velocity. The aerosolizing apparatus includes a plurality of spray sites each having a tip end, the spray sites cooperating with a charge source to result in an aerosolized spray from at least one tip end, a plurality of discharge electrodes downstream of the tip ends, and a plurality of reference electrodes downstream of the plurality of discharge electrodes.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A pulmonary aerosol delivery device, comprising a housing of such size that the housing can be held in a user's one hand, the housing having an exit opening for directing an aerosol to a user's mouth and including therein:a dispensing system for containing a liquid to be aerosolized and deliverin

1. A pulmonary aerosol delivery device, comprising a housing of such size that the housing can be held in a user's one hand, the housing having an exit opening for directing an aerosol to a user's mouth and including therein:a dispensing system for containing a liquid to be aerosolized and delivering the liquid to an electrohydrodynamic apparatus, the dispensing system including a containment vessel and a metering system for delivering a single dose of the liquid from the containment vessel to an electrohydrodynamic apparatus, the metering system including: a chamber for collecting a predetermined volume of liquid having an inlet communicating with the containment vessel and outlet communicating with an electrohydrodynamic apparatus; a chamber housing above the chamber; a chamber housing spring adjacent to the chamber; an actuator button accessible through the housing; a button spring above the chamber housing and in communication with the actuator button, the actuator button exerting downward force against the chamber housing when the actuator button is depressed to force liquid in the chamber through the outlet, the chamber housing spring exerting upward force against the chamber housing when the actuator button is released, the upward travel of the chamber housing inducing a vacuum in the chamber to draw liquid through the chamber inlet, the chamber volume being controlled by an adjustable stop that limits the upward travel of the chamber housing; an electrohydrodynamic apparatus for aerosolizing the liquid and delivering the aerosolized liquid to the exit opening; and a power supply system for providing sufficient voltage to the electrohydrodynamic apparatus to aerosolize the liquid.