IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
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국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
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출원번호 |
US-0161545
(2002-06-03)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Zimlich, Jr., William C.
- Dvorsky, James E.
- Busick, David R.
- Peters, Richard D.
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출원인 / 주소 |
- Battelle Pulmonary Therapeutics, Inc.
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대리인 / 주소 |
Porter, Wright, Morris & Arthur, LLP
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
3 인용 특허 :
14 |
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;a containment vessel holding a liquid to be aerosolized;an electrohydrodynamic apparatus for aero
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;a containment vessel holding a liquid to be aerosolized;an electrohydrodynamic apparatus for aerosolizing the liquid and delivering the aerosolized liquid to the exit opening;a power supply for providing sufficient voltage to the electrohydrodynamic apparatus to aerosolize the liquid; anda dispensing system for delivering the liquid to be aerosolized from the containment vessel to the electrohydrodynamic system, the containment vessel, the electrohydrodynamic apparatus, the power supply, and the dispensing system being enclosed within the housing. 2. 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 aerosolized liquid to an apparatus for aerosolizing the liquid;an apparatus for aerosolizing the liquid and delivering the aerosolized liquid to the exit opening, the apparatus comprisinga base;a plurality of spray sites each having a base end connected to the base and a tip end, an electrohydrodynamic spray being formed from at least one tip end when the liquid is caused to flow over the spray sites and the plurality of spray sites is placed in electrical communication with a power source;a plurality of discharge electrodes connected to the base, the plurality of discharge electrodes being spaced further from the base than the tip ends; anda plurality of reference electrodes connected to the base, the reference electrodes being spaced further from the base than the discharge electrodes;anda power supply system for providing sufficient voltage to the aerosolizing apparatus to aerosolize the liquid. 3. An apparatus for aerosolizing a liquid, comprising:a base;a plurality of spray sites each having a base end connected to the base and a tip end, an aerosolized spray being formed from at least one tip end when a liquid is caused to flow over the spray sites and the plurality of spray sites is placed in electrical communication with a charge source;a plurality of discharge electrodes connected to the base, the plurality of discharge electrodes being spaced further from the base than the tip ends; anda plurality of reference electrodes connected to the base, the reference electrodes being spaced further from the base than the discharge electrodes. 4. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising:a charge source for charging the plurality of spray sites sufficiently to result in an electrohydrodynamic spray from a least one tip end. 5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the plurality of discharge electrodes and the plurality of reference electrodes are oriented toward the aerosolized spray. 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the plurality of discharge electrodes and the plurality of reference electrodes are oriented radially toward an axis defined by the base end and tip end of one of the plurality of spray sites. 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the plurality of discharge electrodes are spaced equidistant from one another and the plurality of reference electrodes are located in the interstices between the discharge electrodes. 8. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising:a dielectric material between the plurality of discharge electrodes and the plurality of reference electrodes. 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the reference electrodes extend through slots provided in the dielectric material. 10. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein at least one of the plurality of spray sites has a sufficient electric field strength that when a liquid is caused to flow over said spray site, a net electrical charge is imparted to the surface of the liquid flowing over said spray site, the charge imparted to the liquid surface initially balancing the surface tension of the liquid to cause the liquid to form a cone adjacent to the spray site with the cone tip extending away from the spray site, the charge imparted to the surface eventually overcoming the surface tension of the liquid in the region of the cone tip to generate a thin jet of liquid that breaks into an aerosolized liquid consisting substantially of droplets of respirable size. 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein at least one of the plurality of discharge electrodes has a sufficient electric field strength to substantially neutralize a charge on the droplets generated by said spray site. 12. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein at least one of the plurality of spray sites has a sufficient electric field strength that when a liquid is caused to flow over said spray site, a net electrical charge is imparted to the surface of the liquid flowing over said spray site, the charge imparted to the liquid surface causing the liquid to form a cone adjacent to the spray site with the cone tip extending away from the spray site and then generate a thin jet of liquid in the region of the cone tip that breaks into an aerosolized liquid consisting substantially of droplets of respirable size. 13. An apparatus for aerosolizing a liquid, comprising:a tubular base having a generally circular cross-section;a plurality of spray sites each having a base end connected to the base and a tip end extending axially into a first end of the base, an aerosolized spray being formed from at least one tip end when the liquid is caused to flow over the spray sites and the plurality of spray sites is placed in electrical communication with a charge source;a plurality of discharge electrodes each connected to the interior of the base at a distance further from the first base end than the spray site tip ends; anda plurality of reference electrodes each connected to the interior of the base at a distance further from the first base end than the plurality of discharge electrodes. 14. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:a charge source for charging the plurality of spray sites sufficiently to result in an electrohydrodynamic spray from at least one tip end. 15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the plurality of discharge electrodes and the plurality of reference electrodes are oriented toward the aerosolized spray. 16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the plurality of discharge electrodes are located in the area of the tip ends of the plurality of spray sites. 17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein at least one of the plurality of discharge electrodes has a sufficient electric field strength to substantially neutralize a charge on the droplets generated by said spray site. 18. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein at least one of the plurality of spray sites has a sufficient electric field strength that when a liquid is caused to flow over said spray site, a net electrical charge is imparted to the surface of the liquid flowing over said spray site, the charge imparted to the liquid surface initially balancing the surface tension of the liquid to cause the liquid to form a cone adjacent to the spray site with the cone tip extending away from the spray site, the charge imparted to the surface eventually overcoming the surface tension of the liquid in the region of the cone tip to generate a thin jet of liquid that breaks into an aerosolized liquid consisting substantially of droplets of respirable size. 19. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the plurality of reference electrodes and the plurality of discharge electrodes extend radially inwardly toward an axis defined by the base end and tip end of one of the plurality of spray sites. 20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the plurality of discharge electrodes are spaced equidistant from one another and the plurality of reference electrodes are located in the interstices between the discharge electrodes. 21. The apparatus of claim 13, fur ther comprising:a dielectric material within the base between the discharge electrodes and the reference electrodes. 22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the reference electrodes extend through slots provided in the dielectric material. 23. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the plurality of spray sites are arranged in a generally circular pattern. 24. An apparatus for aerosolizing a liquid, comprising:a base plate having upper and lower surfaces each defining a generally circular perimeter;a plurality of spray sites arranged in a circular pattern along the perimeter of the lower surface of the base plate, each of the spray sites having a base end mounted to the base plate and a tip end, an aerosolized spray being formed from at least one tip end when a liquid is caused to flow over the spray sites and the plurality of spray sites is placed in electrical communication with a charge source;a skirt extending downward from the base plate;a dielectric material enclosed by the skirt;a plurality of discharge electrodes extending from the skirt at a distance further from the base plate than the spray site tip ends; anda plurality of reference electrodes each extending from the skirt at a distance further from the base plate than the discharge electrodes. 25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the dielectric material is a discrete member provided within the skirt. 26. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the skirt is comprised of a dielectric material. 27. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the plurality of reference electrodes are positioned in interstices between the discharge electrodes. 28. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the plurality of discharge electrodes are spaced equidistant from one another and the plurality of reference electrodes are located in the interstices between the discharge electrodes. 29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the reference electrodes extend through slots provided in the dielectric material. 30. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein at least one of the plurality of spray sites has a sufficient electric field strength that when a liquid is caused to flow over said spray site, a net electrical charge is imparted to the surface of the liquid flowing over said spray site, the charge imparted to the liquid surface initially balancing the surface tension of the liquid to cause the liquid to form a cone adjacent to the spray site with the cone tip extending away from the spray site, the charge imparted to the surface eventually overcoming the surface tension of the liquid in the region of the cone tip to generate a thin jet of liquid that breaks into an aerosolized liquid consisting substantially of droplets of respirable size. 31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein at least one of the plurality of discharge electrodes has a sufficient electric field strength to substantially neutralize a charge on the droplets generated by said spray site. 32. 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;an electrohydrodynamic apparatus for aerosolizing the liquid and delivering the aerosolized liquid to the exit opening; anda power supply system comprising a battery and a DC to DC high voltage converter for providing sufficient voltage to the electrohydrodynamic apparatus to aerosolize the liquid. 33. The device of claim 32, wherein the device is cordless. 34. 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;an electrohydrodynamic app aratus for aerosolizing the liquid and delivering the aerosolized liquid to the exit opening, the exit opening being moveable to assist in directing the aerosolized liquid to a user's mouth; anda power supply system for providing sufficient voltage to the electrohydrodynamic apparatus to aerosolize the liquid. 35. An apparatus for aerosolizing a liquid, comprising:a base;a plurality of spray sites each having a base end connected to the base and a tip end oriented vertically downward from the base, an aerosolized spray being formed from at least one tip end when a liquid is caused to flow over the spray sites and the plurality of spray sites is placed in electrical communication with a charge source;a plurality of discharge electrodes connected to the base, the plurality of discharge electrodes being spaced further from the base than the tip ends; anda plurality of reference electrodes connected to the base, the reference electrodes being spaced further from the base than the discharge electrodes. 36. An apparatus for aerosolizing a liquid, comprising:a tubular base having a generally circular cross-section and a first end;a plurality of spray sites each having a base end connected to the base and a tip end oriented vertically downward and extending axially into the first end of the base, an aerosolized spray being formed from at least one tip end when the liquid is caused to flow over the spray sites and the plurality of spray sites is placed in electrical communication with a charge source;a plurality of discharge electrodes each connected to the interior of the base at a distance further from the first base end than the spray site tip ends; anda plurality of reference electrodes each connected to the interior of the base at a distance further from the first base end than the plurality of discharge electrodes. 37. An apparatus for aerosolizing a liquid, comprising:a tubular base having a generally circular cross-section and a first end;a plurality of spray sites each having a base end connected to the base in a predetermined pattern and a tip end extending axially into the first end of the base, an aerosolized spray being formed from at least one tip end when the liquid is caused to flow over the spray sites and the plurality of spray sites is placed in electrical communication with a charge source;a plurality of discharge electrodes each connected to the interior of the base at a distance further from the first base end than the spray site tip ends; anda plurality of reference electrodes each connected to the interior of the base at a distance further from the first base end than the plurality of discharge electrodes. 38. 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;an electrohydrodynamic apparatus for aerosolizing the liquid and delivering the aerosolized liquid to the exit opening; anda power supply system for providing sufficient voltage to the electrohydrodynamic apparatus to aerosolize the liquid;wherein the housing has antimicrobial properties. 39. An apparatus for aerosolizing a liquid, comprising:a base;a plurality of spray sites arranged in a generally circular pattern, each of the plurality of spray sites having a base end connected to the base and a tip end oriented vertically downward from the base, an aerosolized spray being formed from at least one tip end when a liquid is caused to flow over the spray sites and the plurality of spray sites is placed in electrical communication with a charge source;a plurality of discharge electrodes connected to the base, the plurality of discharge electrodes being spaced further from the base than the tip ends; anda plurality of reference electrodes connected to the base, the ref erence electrodes being spaced further from the base than the discharge electrodes. 40. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the plurality of spray sites are spaced equidistant from one another. 41. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the tip end of at least one of the plurality of spray sites is chamfered. 42. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the exterior of at least one of the plurality of spray sites is coated with a material having a low surface energy.
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