Jet Pump Dry Nebulizer for High-Dose Lung Surfactant Delivery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional dry nebulizers face challenges in administering large amounts of pharmaceutical preparations, such as lung surfactants, due to agglomeration issues and the need for extensive mechanical equipment, which complicates rapid and high-dose delivery to the lungs, especially in acute situations.

Innovation Solution

A device utilizing a jet pump principle to nebulize stored material with synchronized compressed gas pulses, ensuring underpressure in the reservoir and pressure compensation between pulses to prevent agglomeration, allowing for continuous and reproducible dosing of large amounts without mechanical parts, and optimizing particle size for lung access.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If conventional dry nebulizers are used to administer large amounts of pharmaceutical preparations, then the equipment becomes extensive and complex, but the delivery speed and efficiency decrease

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveamount of pharmaceutical preparationVSAvoidequipment complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical dosing devices with a jet pump system that uses compressed gas to nebulize and deliver large amounts of pharmaceutical preparation. The jet pump utilizes fluid dynamics rather than mechanical moving parts to achieve high-dose delivery, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining or improving delivery efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention employs pneumatic principles through the use of compressed gas in a jet pump to nebulize and deliver large quantities of pharmaceutical preparation. The compressed gas creates a vacuum to draw material from the reservoir and propels it through the nebulization chamber, enabling high-dose delivery without complex mechanical components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

2Volume of stationary object

If nebulizable material is stored in a reservoir with narrow aperture, then the device structure is compact, but agglomeration occurs blocking the aperture

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereservoir sizeVSAvoidcontinuous dosing reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic pressure pulses through the jet pump system that alternately create vacuum and pressure phases. During the pressure phase, gas flows back through the reservoir to break up agglomerates and prevent blockage, while during the vacuum phase, material is drawn into the nebulization chamber. This periodic action ensures continuous reliable dosing from a compact reservoir

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The jet pump system preliminarily pressurizes the reservoir between dosing cycles to prevent agglomeration before it occurs. By maintaining periodic pressure in the reservoir, the system proactively prevents material from compacting and blocking the narrow aperture, ensuring continuous operation without interruption

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Manufacturing precision

If mechanical dosing devices are used to ensure constant dosage, then dosing precision is improved, but the device complexity and size increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedosing precisionVSAvoidmechanical dosing mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent achieves precise constant dosing by controlling parameters of the compressed gas flow (pressure, flow rate, pulse duration) rather than using mechanical dosing mechanisms. By precisely regulating the pneumatic parameters of the jet pump, the system delivers accurate doses without complex mechanical dosing devices, thereby maintaining dosing precision while reducing device complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables efficient, high-dose administration of pharmaceutical preparations over a short period, ensuring uniform dosing and optimal dispersal of particles to the lungs, addressing the limitations of existing technologies by facilitating rapid and constant delivery of large amounts of nebulizable material.

Implementation Method 1

a jet pump, compressed gas or carrier gas (20) is fed into a nebulization channel (3) in order to create an underpressure which sucks the nebulizable material (12) into the nebulization channel (3) from the reservoir (10)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectJet pump effect: Jet

Implementation Method 2

Within this chamber, the material is acted upon by a compressed gas or carrier gas in a specially provided chamber and, within this chamber, is converted to a state which is referred to as dry mist

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectNebulization: Aerosol

Implementation Method 3

pressure compensation between pulses to prevent agglomeration

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure compensation: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentEP1868670B1Device for dosing and dry nebulization
Publication Date: 2019.02.27 FRAUNHOFER GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FORDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG EV
  • EP1868670B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1868670B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP1868670B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a device (1) for dosing and dry nebulization of nebulizable material (12) , comprising a nebulization channel (3) , which has a first attachment piece and a second attachment piece, and a source of compressed carrier gas connected to the first attachment piece via a valve (16) for the purpose of sending a carrier gas pressure pulse into the nebulization channel. The device is characterized in that between the first attachment piece and second attachment piece, and above the nebulization channel, a reservoir (10) open only towards the nebulization channel, and used for receiving the nebulizable material, is connected to the nebulizaton channel such that it is gas-tight with respect to the environment, and that, when the valve is closed, a pressure compensation (22) takes place in the nebulization channel and in the reservoir. The invention also relates to the use of this device for inhaled administration of a powdered pharmaceutical preparation, and to a method for dosing and dry nebulization of nebulizable material by means of such a device.