Single-Dose Aerosol Chamber for Fast, Accurate Vaccine Inhalation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing technologies are inefficient and costly for administering aerosol doses, such as vaccines, to large numbers of people in a fast and cost-effective manner.

Innovation Solution

A single dose aerosol chamber system with a nebulizer and controller for precise dose delivery, utilizing a vibrating aperture plate and end-of-dose detection, combined with a disposable chamber design for intuitive user inhalation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If traditional aerosol administration methods are used, then equipment complexity is reduced, but administration speed and efficiency decrease

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadministration speedVSAvoidequipment complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system is divided into separate components: a reusable controller unit and disposable pre-filled chambers. This segmentation allows the complex aerosol generation technology to be contained within standardized chambers, enabling rapid administration without requiring complex equipment at each administration point.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Aerosol doses are pre-generated and stored in sealed chambers before administration. The nebulizer fills the chamber with the precise aerosol dose in advance, and the chamber is then ready for immediate use. This preliminary action eliminates the need for complex real-time aerosol generation equipment during administration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If manual aerosol administration is used, then equipment cost is reduced, but labor costs and operational efficiency increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational efficiencyVSAvoidoperational cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The disposable chamber is designed to be self-contained and self-explanatory, requiring minimal training for healthcare workers to administer. The chamber itself guides the administration process, reducing the need for complex operational procedures and specialized training, thereby lowering operational costs while maintaining high efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Loss of substance

If aerosol is delivered directly without storage chamber, then device complexity is reduced, but aerosol loss increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaerosol lossVSAvoidchamber structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The aerosol is generated within the chamber itself or delivered into a pre-assembled chamber structure. The chamber acts as a nested container that holds the aerosol dose close to the patient interface, minimizing the distance the aerosol must travel and reducing loss through dispersion or deposition in external delivery tubes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

4Reliability

If reusable aerosol generation equipment is used, then initial equipment cost is reduced, but maintenance costs and reliability decrease

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedose accuracyVSAvoidmaintenance cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses disposable pre-filled chambers that are discarded after a single use. This eliminates the need for cleaning, sterilization, and maintenance of the aerosol generation components, ensuring consistent dose accuracy without incurring ongoing maintenance costs. The low cost of the disposable chamber makes this economically viable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

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 rapid and efficient administration of aerosol doses to a large number of people with high dose accuracy, minimizing aerosol loss and reducing operational costs.

Implementation Method 1

there is a piezoelectric actuator which vibrates at about 128kHz

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPiezoelectric effect: Piezoelectric Effect

Implementation Method 2

The aperture plate is dome-shaped in geometry. Electrical power is supplied to the piezoelectric actuator by conducting pins. The support washer supports the aperture plate across its central aperture and supports the piezoelectric actuator, and it engages against upper and lower resilient seals for uniform support to help achieve consistent operation of the aerosol generator

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectUltrasonic vibration: Ultrasonic Vibration

Data Source

PatentEP4181990B1A vaccine administration single dose chambers

Publication Date: 2026.04.01 STAMFORD DEVICES LTD

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AI summary

A single dose aerosol chamber (110) is used with a dispensing apparatus (100) by users to take a chamber (110), fill the chamber with an aerosolized vaccine (104), and dispose of used chambers (120). A display (103) provides instructions to encourage prompt inhalation by the user from a dispensed and filled chamber. The station allows very fast administration of vaccines to large numbers of people. The aerosol dispenser apparatus detects the chamber is in correct position and delivers a pre-determined dose of aerosol. The chamber has a nebulizer delivery port (114) optimized for delivery of aerosol into the chamber container (111) and to act as a vent during inhalation via the inhalation port (115).