IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
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국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0742321
(2000-12-22)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Nichols, Walter A.
- Sprinkel, Jr., F. Murphy
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출원인 / 주소 |
- Chrysalis Technologies Incorporated
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대리인 / 주소 |
Burns, Doane, Swecker & Mathis, LLP
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
60 인용 특허 :
183 |
초록
▼
A disposable aerosol generator for use with an inhaler device which includes a heater adapted to volatilize fluid stored in the disposable aerosol generator and method of using the inhaler. The disposable body includes a sealed chamber and an outlet, the chamber being located between first and secon
A disposable aerosol generator for use with an inhaler device which includes a heater adapted to volatilize fluid stored in the disposable aerosol generator and method of using the inhaler. The disposable body includes a sealed chamber and an outlet, the chamber being located between first and second layers of material. The chamber holds a predetermined volume of a fluid which is expelled through the outlet when the fluid in the chamber is volatilized by the heater. The disposable body can include a series of spaced apart aerosol generators, each of which can be advanced to a release position at which the heater can heat one of the fluid containing chambers. Prior to heating the fluid, the outlet can be formed by severing the first and/or second layer with a piercing element and the volatilized fluid can be expelled from the outlet into a passage of a dispensing member.
대표청구항
▼
1. A disposable aerosol generator for use with an inhaler device which includes a heater adapted to volatilize fluid stored in the disposable aerosol generator, comprising:a disposable body including first and second layers of material and a series of spaced apart aerosol generators, each of the aer
1. A disposable aerosol generator for use with an inhaler device which includes a heater adapted to volatilize fluid stored in the disposable aerosol generator, comprising:a disposable body including first and second layers of material and a series of spaced apart aerosol generators, each of the aerosol generators including a flow passage extending between a sealed chamber and an outlet which can be opened to expel volatilized fluid, the flow passage of each aerosol generator being located between the first and second layers, the disposable body being configured to fit in the inhaler device to allow advancement of each respective aerosol generator to a release position at which the fluid in the chamber of the respective aerosol generator can be heated, the chamber of each aerosol generator accommodating a predetermined volume of a fluid which is expelled as the volatilized fluid through the opened outlet when the fluid in the chamber is volatilized. 2. An inhaler device usable with the disposable aerosol generator according to claim 1, wherein the inhaler device includes a heater arranged to heat the fluid in the chamber of each respective aerosol generator or a respective one of the aerosol generators so as to expel volatilized fluid from the opened outlet. 3. The inhaler device according to claim 2, wherein the heater comprises an electrical resistance heater. 4. The inhaler device according to claim 3, wherein the heater comprises a layer of resistance heating material on a substrate, the substrate including an opening located adjacent the outlet of each respective aerosol generator or a respective one of the aerosol generators. 5. The inhaler device according to claim 2, further comprising an opening device, the opening device being adapted to pierce the first layer and/or second layer and open the outlet of each respective aerosol generator or a respective one of the aerosol generators. 6. The inhaler device according to claim 5, wherein the opening device includes a solenoid activated piercing element, the piercing element including a movable tip which is located in the opening in the substrate, the tip being moved upon actuation of the piercing element such that the tip penetrates the first layer of the disposable body. 7. The inhaler device according to claim 2, wherein the disposable body is movably supported such that the chamber of each respective aerosol generator or a respective one of the aerosol generators can be moved to a release position at which the heater can heat the fluid in the respective chamber sufficiently to volatilize the fluid to expel the volatilized fluid through the opened outlet. 8. The inhaler device according to claim 4, wherein the layer of resistance heating material comprises a strip arranged in a pattern which is coextensive with the size of the chamber. 9. The inhaler device according to claim 3, further comprising a dispensing member located adjacent the outlet of each respective aerosol generator or a respective one of the aerosol generators, the volatilized fluid expelled from the opened outlet passing through a passage in the dispensing member. 10. The inhaler device according to claim 2, wherein the first layer comprises a layer of polymer material and the second layer of material comprises a foil heat sealed to the polymer layer, the inhaler device including an opening member which is operable to pierce the foil layer to open the outlet of each respective aerosol generator or a respective one of the aerosol generators immediately prior to when the heater is activated to volatilize the fluid in the chamber of the respective aerosol generator. 11. The inhaler device according to claim 8, wherein the disposable body includes a flow passage extending rectilinearly from the chamber of each of the aerosol generators, the heater including a first portion arranged to heat the chamber and a second portion arranged to heat the flow passage of each respective aerosol generator or a respectiv e one of the aerosol generators, the first and second portions of the heater comprising a layer of resistance heating material configured such that the second portion of the heater becomes hotter than the first portion of the heater during actuation of the heater to volatilize the fluid in the chamber of the respective aerosol generator. 12. A method of forming an aerosol using the inhaler device according to claim 3, comprising severing the first and/or second layer so as to open the outlet of each respective aerosol generator or a respective one of the aerosol generators and activating the heater so as to volatilize the fluid in the chamber and expel the volatilized fluid through the opened outlet of the respective aerosol generator. 13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the method comprises moving the disposable body relative to the inhaler device so as to locate a first one of the aerosol generators at a position where the heater can heat the fluid in the chamber of the first aerosol generator and volatilize the fluid therein. 14. The method according to claim 12, wherein the severing is carried out by driving a piercing member through the first and/or second layer, the outlet of each respective aerosol generator or a respective one of the aerosol generators being located adjacent a passage of a dispensing member and the volatilized fluid formed by the heater being expelled into the passage after passing through the opened outlet. 15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the disposable body includes a flow passage extending rectilinearly from the chamber of each of the aerosol generators, the heater including a first portion arranged to heat the chamber of each respective aerosol generator or a respective one of the aerosol generators and a second portion arranged to heat the flow passage of the respective aerosol generator, the first and second portions of the heater comprising a layer of resistance heating material configured such that the second portion of the heater becomes hotter than the first portion of the heater during volatilization of the fluid in the chamber. 16. The aerosol generator according to claim 4, wherein each of the chambers contains a predetermined volume of a fluid including at least one medicament selected from the group consisting of albuterol, isoproterenol sulfate, metaproterenol sulfate, terbutaline sulfate, pirbuterol acetate, salmeterol xinotoate, formotorol, beclomethasone dipropionate, flunisolide, fluticasone, budesonide, triamcinolone acetonide, beclomethasone dipropionate, triamcinolone acetonide, flunisolide and fluticasone. 17. The aerosol generator according to claim 12, wherein the fluid includes at least one medicament selected from the group consisting of albuterol, isoproterenol sulfate, metaproterenol sulfate, terbutaline sulfate, pirbuterol acetate, salmeterol xinotoate, formotorol, beclomethasone dipropionate, flunisolide, fluticasone, budesonide, triamcinolone acetonide, beclomethasone dipropionate, triamcinolone acetonide, flunisolide and fluticasone. 18. An inhaler device, comprising:a disposable aerosol generator comprising a disposable body including a sealed chamber accommodating a fluid and a flow passage in communication with the chamber, the disposable body including first and second layers of material defining the chamber, the flow passage having an outlet which can be opened to expel volatilized fluid and having a diameter of from about 0.05 mm to about 0.60 mm; anda heater arranged to heat the fluid while in the chamber so as to expel volatilized fluid from the opened outlet. 19. An inhaler device, comprising:a disposable aerosol generator comprising a disposable body including a sealed chamber accommodating a fluid and a flow passage in communication with the chamber, the disposable body including first and second layers of material defining the chamber, the flow passage having an outlet which can be opened to expel volatilized fluid and having a width of from about 0.05 mm to about 0.60 mm; anda heater arranged to heat the fluid while in the chamber so as to expel volatilized fluid from the opened outlet. 20. The inhaler device according to claim 18, wherein the chamber contains a predetermined volume of a fluid including at least one medicament selected from the group consisting of albuterol, isoproterenol sulfate, metaproterenol sulfate, terbutaline sulfate, pirbuterol acetate, salmeterol xinotoate, formotorol, beclomethasone dipropionate, flunisolide, fluticasone, budesonide, triamcinolone acetonide, beclomethasone dipropionate, triamcinolone acetonide, flunisolide and fluticasone. 21. The inhaler device according to claim 19, wherein the chamber contains a predetermined volume of a fluid including at least one medicament selected from the group consisting of albuterol, isoproterenol sulfate, metaproterenol sulfate, terbutaline sulfate, pirbuterol acetate, salmeterol xinotoate, formotorol, beclomethasone dipropionate, flunisolide, fluticasone, budesonide, triamcinolone acetonide, beclomethasone dipropionate, triamcinolone acetonide, flunisolide and fluticasone.
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