Pulmonary aerosol delivery device

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 reparable 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

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation of Ser. No. 10 / 951,248, filed Sep. 27, 2004 which is a continuation of copending U.S. application Ser. No. 10 / 161,545, filed Jun. 03, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,796,303, issued Sep. 28, 2004, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09 / 469,042, filed Dec. 21, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,397,838 B1, issued Jun. 04, 2002, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09 / 220,249, filed Dec. 23, 1998, now abandoned, each of which is fully incorporated herein by reference.STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH [0002] Not applicable REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX [0003] Not applicable FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0004] 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 [0005] For some therapeutic agents, delivery of the aerosolized...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009] It is an object of the invention to provide a device and method that conveniently delivers an aerosolized liquid to a user's lungs. It is another object of the invention to provide a compact, portable, hand-held pulmonary delivery device that may be used in a variety of indoor and outdoor locations. The device would allow users to administer therapeutic agents on an as-needed basis in nonclinical settings and provide advantages over conventional devices used by hospitals and clinicians.

[0010] It is a further object of the invention to provide a compact and convenient device and method that delivers an increased volumetric flow rate of liquid so that a desired amount of a therapeutic liquid dispersed into respirable particles may be administered during the inhalation of one to two breaths by a user.

[0011] It is another object of the invention to provide a device and method capable of electrohydrodynamic spraying of therapeutic liquids having a broad conductivity range in a compact and convenient device.

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 arc not generally capable of spraying liquids having a broad range of conductivities.

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