Pulmonary aerosol delivery device and method

Abstract

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.

Description

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH Not applicable REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX Not applicable FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to devices and methods for delivering an aerosolized liquid to a user's lungs, and particularly an aerosolized liquid having therapeutic properties. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION For some therapeutic agents, delivery of the aerosolized liquid without a propellant is preferred. Such liquids may be aerosolized, for example, by an electrohydrodynamic apparatus. The liquid to be aerosolized is made to flow over a region of high electric field strength, which imparts a net electric charge to the liquid. This electric charge tends to remain on the surface of the liquid such that, as the liquid exits the nozzle, the repelling force of the surface charge balances against the surface tension of the liquid, forming a cone (a “Taylor cone” as described in, e.g., M. Cloupeau and B. Prunet-Foch, “Electrohydrodynamic Spraying Functioning M...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The invention described here provides a compact, convenient device and method for delivering an aerosolized liquid having therapeutic properties to a user's lungs by electrohydrodynamic spraying. Preferably, the device is small enough that it can be comfortably carried by a user, for example, in shirt pocket or purse, and has a self-contained power supply so that it can be used anywhere. The device may be disposable or reusable.

The liquid to be aerosolized may comprise a drug. The dispensing system of the device may include a containment vessel for containing the drug, which may be a holder for a drug enclosed in single dose units, a plurality of sealed chambers each holding a single dose of a drug, or a vial for enclosing a bulk supply of a drug. The containment vessel may have antimicrobial properties and may be capable of maintaining the sterility of a sterile drug placed therein.

Problems solved by technology

Known pulmonary delivery devices that use electrohydrodynamic spraying are unwieldy and require connection to either an alternating current power supply or a large direct current power supply.

These conventional devices are suitable for use in hospital or other clinical applications, such as for administering a therapeutic agent during a scheduled treatment appointment, but generally are not suitable for use directly by a user on a demand or as-needed basis outside a clinical setting.

Conventional devices are particularly unsuited for use during a user's regular activities at home, at work, while traveling, and during recreational and leisure activities.

Known pulmonary delivery devices that use electrohydrodynamic spraying also lack a sufficient volumetric flow rate to deliver a desired amount of certain therapeutic liquids during the inhalation of one to two breaths by a user.

Attempts to increase the flow rate generally have resulted in even more bulky devices unsuitable for hand-held use.

These delivery devices also are not generally capable of spraying liquids having a broad range of conductivities.

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