IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
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국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
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출원번호 |
US-0313914
(1999-05-18)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Ivri, Yehuda
- De Young, Linda R.
- Wu, Cheng H.
- Cater, Miro S.
- Kumar, Vijay
- Flierl, Markus
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출원인 / 주소 |
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대리인 / 주소 |
Townsend and Townsend and Crew LLP
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
39 인용 특허 :
117 |
초록
▼
The invention provides exemplary aerosolization apparatus and methods for aerosolizing a substance. According to one exemplary method, a liquid is transferred from a first chamber into a second chamber having a substance that is in a dry state to form a solution. The solution is then transferred fro
The invention provides exemplary aerosolization apparatus and methods for aerosolizing a substance. According to one exemplary method, a liquid is transferred from a first chamber into a second chamber having a substance that is in a dry state to form a solution. The solution is then transferred from the second chamber and onto an atomization member. The atomization member is operated to aerosolize the solution.
대표청구항
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1. An aerosolizing system, comprising:a liquid dispenser which is adapted to deliver a volume of liquid upon operation of the liquid dispenser;a cartridge to receive liquid from the liquid dispenser, the cartridge comprising a housing having a substance which is in a dry state, wherein the housing i
1. An aerosolizing system, comprising:a liquid dispenser which is adapted to deliver a volume of liquid upon operation of the liquid dispenser;a cartridge to receive liquid from the liquid dispenser, the cartridge comprising a housing having a substance which is in a dry state, wherein the housing includes a support structure that comprises an open cell porous material, wherein the substance is disposed in the support structure, and wherein receipt of the volume of liquid from the liquid dispenser dissolves the substance to form a solution; andan aerosol generator disposed near the cartridge and which is adapted to receive the solution from the cartridge. 2. An aerosolizing system, comprising:a liquid dispenser which is adapted to deliver a volume of liquid upon operation of the liquid dispenser;a cartridge to receive liquid from the liquid dispenser, the cartridge comprising an inlet opening, an outlet opening, and a housing having a substance which is in a dry state, wherein the housing includes a support structure, wherein the substance is disposed in the support structure, and wherein receipt of the volume of liquid from the liquid dispenser dissolves the substance to form a solution;a coupling mechanism at the inlet opening to couple the cartridge to the liquid dispenser; andan aerosol generator disposed near the cartridge and which is adapted to receive the solution from the cartridge. 3. A system as in claim 2, wherein the cartridge further includes a filter near the inlet opening and a filter near the outlet opening, and wherein the support structure is disposed between the filters. 4. A method for aerosolizing a substance, the method comprising:transferring a liquid from a first chamber into a second chamber having a substance in a dry state to form a solution, wherein the first and second chambers are disposed in a cartridge, the cartridge including at least one groove disposed at least part way between the first and second chambers;positioning a divider between the first and the second chamber at a home position to hold the liquid in the first chamber;moving a piston through the first chamber to transfer the liquid to the second chamber by moving the piston towards the divider to move the divider away from the home position and to allow the liquid in the first chamber to pass around the divider, through the groove, and into the second chamber;transferring the solution from the second chamber onto an atomization member;operating the atomization member to aerosolize the solution; andwithdrawing the piston from the first chamber to draw the solution from the second chamber and into the first chamber, and then moving the piston through the first chamber and into the second chamber to force the solution out the exit opening. 5. A method for aerosolizing a substance, the method comprising:transferring a liquid from a first chamber into a second chamber having a substance in a dry state to form a solution, wherein the first and second chambers are disposed in a cartridge, and wherein the cartridge is held in a housing of an inhaler;moving a piston through the first chamber to transfer liquid to the second chamber;transferring the solution from the second chamber onto an atomization member;operating the atomization member to aerosolize the solution;removing the cartridge from the housing following dispensing;discarding the cartridge;introducing a cleaning cartridge into the housing;dispensing a cleaning solution from the cleaning cartridge onto the atomization member; andoperating the atomization member to clean the atomization member. 6. A method of nebulizing a fluid, comprising the steps of:providing a nebulizer having a vibrating assembly, a sealing element and a first elastomeric element disposed between the vibrating assembly and the sealing element, the vibrating assembly including a piezoelectric element, a substrate and a nebulizing element, the piezoelectric element being mounted to the substrate to cause the neb ulizing element to vibrate upon excitement of the piezoelectric element, the nebulizing element having a plurality of holes therein, the sealing element and the first elastomeric element forming a seal on a side of the vibrating assembly;providing a fluid to a rear surface of the nebulizing element;vibrating the nebulizing element of the vibrating assembly by exciting the piezoelectric element, the fluid being ejected through the holes in the nebulizing element as the nebulizing element vibrates. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein:the providing step is carried out with the sealing element having a recess which receives the first elastomeric element. 8. The method of claim 6, wherein:the providing step is carried out with the first elastomeric element being an o-ring. 9. The method of claim 6, wherein:the providing step is carried out with the first elastomeric element contacting the substrate. 10. The method of claim 6, wherein:the providing step is carried out with the piezoelectric element surrounding the first elastomeric element. 11. The method of claim 6, wherein:the providing step is carried out with the nebulizing element being non-planar. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein:the providing step is carried out with the nebulizing element being dome-shaped. 13. The method of claim 6, wherein:the providing step is carried out with a second elastomeric element contacting the vibrating assembly. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein:the providing step is carried out with the second elastomeric element engaging a surface which extends perpendicular to a surface on the vibrating assembly which the first elastomeric element engages. 15. The method of claim 6, wherein:the providing step is carried out with the sealing element positioned to isolate the piezoelectric element from the fluid. 16. The method of claim 6, wherein:the providing step is carried out with the fluid being provided to a rear surface of the vibrating assembly and the sealing element sealing a front surface of the vibrating assembly. 17. A method of nebulizing a fluid, comprising the steps of:providing a nebulizer having a body, a vibrating assembly, and a first elastomeric element, the vibrating assembly including a piezoelectric element, a substrate and a nebulizing element, the piezoelectric element being mounted to the substrate to cause the nebulizing element to vibrate upon excitement of the piezoelectric element, the nebulizing element having a plurality of holes therein, the first elastomeric element being disposed between the vibrating assembly and the body;providing a fluid at the rear surface of the nebulizing element;vibrating the nebulizing element of the vibrating assembly by actuating the piezoelectric element, the fluid being ejected through the holes in the nebulizing element, wherein the first elastomeric element provides an interface between the body and the vibrating assembly while the vibrating assembly is vibrating. 18. The method of claim 17, wherein:the providing step is carried out with the nebulizer having a second elastomeric element disposed between a sealing element and the vibrating assembly. 19. The method of claim 18, wherein:the providing step is carried out with the sealing element having a recess which receives the second elastomeric element. 20. The method of claim 18, wherein:the providing step is carried out with the second elastomeric element contacting the substrate. 21. The method of claim 18, wherein:the providing step is carried out with the piezoelectric element surrounding the second elastomeric element. 22. The method of claim 18, wherein:the providing step is carried out with the first elastomeric element engages a surface which extends generally perpendicular to a surface on the vibrating assembly which the second elastomeric element engages. 23. The method of claim 17, wherein:the providing step is carried out with the first elastomeric element being an o-ring. 24. The method of claim 17, wherein:the providing step is carried out with the nebulizing element being non-planar. 25. The method of claim 24, wherein:the providing step is carried out with the nebulizing element being dome-shaped. 26. The method of claim 17, wherein:the providing step is carried out with the fluid being provided to a rear surface of the vibrating assembly and the sealing element sealing a front surface of the vibrating assembly. 27. The method of claim 17, wherein:the providing step is carried out with the sealing element positioned to isolate the piezoelectric element from the fluid. 28. A method of nebulizing a fluid, comprising the steps of:providing a nebulizer having a body, a vibrating assembly, and a first elastomeric element, the vibrating assembly including a piezoelectric element, a substrate and a nebulizing element, the piezoelectric element being mounted to the substrate to cause the nebulizing element to vibrate upon excitement of the piezoelectric element, the nebulizing element having a plurality of holes therein, the first elastomeric element being an o-ring disposed between the vibrating assembly and the body;providing a fluid at a rear surface of the nebulizing element;vibrating the nebulizing element of the vibrating assembly by actuating the piezoelectric element, the fluid being ejected through the holes in the nebulizing element, wherein the first elastomeric element provides an interface between the body and the vibrating assembly while the vibrating assembly is vibrating. 29. The method of claim 28, wherein:the providing step is carried out with the nebulizer having a second elastomeric element disposed between a sealing element and the vibrating assembly. 30. The method of claim 29, wherein:the providing step is carried out with the sealing element having a recess which receives the second elastomeric element. 31. The method of claim 29, wherein:the providing step is carried out with the second elastomeric element contacting the substrate. 32. The method of claim 29, wherein:the providing step is carried out with the piezoelectric element surrounding the second elastomeric element. 33. The method of claim 29, wherein:the providing step is carried out with the first elastomeric element engaging a surface which extends generally perpendicular to a surface on the vibrating assembly which the second elastomeric element engages. 34. The method of claim 28, wherein:the providing step is carried out with the nebulizing element being non-planar. 35. The method of claim 34, wherein:the providing step is carried out with the nebulizing element being dome-shaped. 36. The method of claim 29, wherein:the providing step is carried out with the sealing element positioned to isolate the piezoelectric element from the fluid. 37. The method of claim 29, wherein:the providing step is carried out with the fluid being provided to a rear surface of the vibrating assembly and the sealing element sealing a front surface of the vibrating assembly.
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