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A feed system for an aerosolizer utilizes an ampoule containing a liquid and includes a housing having an ampoule region into which the ampoule is held, and a liquid receiving region that is adapted to receive liquid dispensed from the ampoule. An interface is used to couple the liquid receiving reg

A feed system for an aerosolizer utilizes an ampoule containing a liquid and includes a housing having an ampoule region into which the ampoule is held, and a liquid receiving region that is adapted to receive liquid dispensed from the ampoule. An interface is used to couple the liquid receiving region to an aerosol generator, whereby liquid from the liquid receiving region is permitted to flow to the aerosol generator for aerosolization.

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1. A method for providing a liquid medicament to an aerosolization device for delivery to a patient's respiratory system, the method comprising:providing an aerosolization device, the aerosolization device having a liquid feed system and an aerosol generator, the aerosol generator comprising an aper

1. A method for providing a liquid medicament to an aerosolization device for delivery to a patient's respiratory system, the method comprising:providing an aerosolization device, the aerosolization device having a liquid feed system and an aerosol generator, the aerosol generator comprising an aperture plate having a front face and a rear face, with a plurality of apertures extending therebetween; and a vibratable element that is mechanically linked to the aperture plate, the vibratable element being configured to vibrate the aperture plate; creating a first opening in an ampoule, the ampoule containing the liquid medicament; exposing the first opening in the ampoule to the liquid feed system; and creating a second opening in the ampoule to permit the liquid from the ampoule to drain into a liquid receiving region of the feed system. 2. A method as in claim 1, wherein creating a first opening comprises removing a bottom tab from the ampoule to form a drain opening before exposing the ampoule to the liquid feed system.3. A method as in claim 1, further comprising operating the aerosol generator to eject liquid droplets from the front face of the aperture plate.4. A method as in claim 3, further comprising vibrating the aperture plate of the aerosol generator to produce the liquid droplets.5. A method as in claim 3, wherein the ampoule is held within a receiver unit of the liquid feed system, and further comprising inserting the receiver unit into the aerosolization device and coupling the receiver unit with the liquid receiving region.6. A method as in claim 5, further comprising removing the receiver unit from the aerosolization device following operation of the aerosol generator and discarding the receiver unit.7. A method as in claim 6, further comprising cleaning the aerosol generator following removal of the receiver unit.8. A method as in claim 1, wherein creating a second opening comprises removing a top tab from the ampoule to form a vent opening after inserting the ampoule into the aerosolization device.9. A method as in claim 1, wherein the feed system includes an overflow region adjacent to the ampoule and further comprising permitting excess liquid to flow into the overflow region.10. A method as in claim 1, wherein the aperture plate is non-planar in geometry.11. A method as in claim 1, wherein the apertures are tapered to narrow from the rear face of the aperture plate to the front face of the aperture plate.12. A method as in claim 11, wherein the apertures have a diameter of about 1 micron to about 6 microns at their narrowest dimension.13. A method as in claim 1, wherein the vibratable element comprises a piezoelectric transducer, and further comprising sending an electrical signal to the piezoelectric transducer to vibrate the aperture plate.14. An aerosolization device for delivering a liquid medicament to a patient's respiratory system, the aerosolization device comprising:a receiving member configured to receive an ampoule containing a liquid medicament; an aerosol generator in fluid communication with the receiving member and configured to receive at least some of the liquid medicament from the receiving member and to aerosolize the liquid medicament received from the receiving member, the aerosol generator comprising: an aperture plate having a plurality of apertures; and a vibratable element that is mechanically linked to the aperture plate, such that vibration of the vibratable element causes the aperture plate to vibrate, thereby ejecting droplets of the liquid medicament; and means for creating first and second openings in the ampoule to permit the liquid in the ampoule to drain into the aerosol generator. 15. An aerosolization device as in claim 14, wherein the vibratable element comprises a piezoelectric transducer, and wherein the aerosol generator further comprises control circuitry configured to send an electrical signal to the piezoelectric transducer, thereby causing the transducer to vibrate.16. An aerosolization device as in claim 14, wherein the plurality of apertures are tapered.17. An aerosolization device as in claim 16, wherein the aperture plate comprises a front fact and a rear face, with the plurality of apertures therebetween, the apertures being tapered to narrow from the rear face of the aperture plate to the front face of the aperture plate.18. An aerosolization device as in claim 16, wherein the apertures have a diameter of about 1 micron to about 6 microns at their narrowest dimension.19. An aerosolization device as in claim 14, wherein the aperture plate is non-planar in geometry.20. An aerosolization device as in claim 14, further comprising an ampoule configured to be coupled to the receiving member, the ampoule containing the liquid medicament.21. An aerosolization device as in claim 14, wherein the ampoule is configured to be inserted into the receiving portion.22. An aerosolization device for delivery of a liquid medicament to a patient's respiratory system, the aerosolization device comprising:a receiving member; an ampoule containing a liquid medicament and having a first opening that is in fluid communication with the receiving member, and a second opening that permits the liquid medicament to flow through the first opening and into the receiving member; and an aerosol generator in fluid communication with the receiving member the aerosol generator being configured to receive at least some of the liquid medicament from the ampoule and to aerosolize the liquid medicament received from the receiving member, the aerosol generator comprising: an aperture plate of non-planar geometry, the aperture plate having a front face and a rear face with a plurality of apertures therebetween, with the apertures being tapered to narrow from the rear face to the front face; and a vibratable element that is mechanically linked to the aperture plate, such that application of an electrical signal to the vibratable element causes vibration of the aperture plate, thereby ejecting droplets of the liquid medicament. 23. An aerosolization device as in claim 22, wherein the ampoule further comprises a first tab covering the first opening, such that removing the first tab exposes the first opening.24. An aerosolization device as in claim 22, wherein the ampoule further comprises a second tab covering the second opening, such that removing the second tab exposes the second opening.25. An aerosolization device as in claim 22, wherein the apertures have a diameter of about 1 micron to about 6 microns at their narrowest cross-section.