Aerosolization system with flow restrictor and feedback device

An aerosolization device for ensuring proper delivery of an aerosolized medication to a user's respiratory system, the aerosolization device comprising:

• a conduit having a mouthpiece end by which a user may cause an inspiratory flow through the conduit;
• an aerosol generator in communication with the conduit and comprising a vibratable mesh;
• a restrictor disposed within the conduit, wherein the restrictor defines a plurality of apertures disposed along an outer periphery of the restrictor, the plurality of apertures being configured to:
• provide an increase in pressure differential that varies with an inspiratory flow rate within the conduit;
• and
• provide a relatively laminar flow downstream of the restrictor compared to upstream of the restrictor;
• and
• an indicator mechanism that indicates to a user a state of a parameter of the inspiratory flow relative to a predefined desired range, wherein indicating to the user the state of the parameter of the inspiratory flow relative to the predefined desired range comprises:
• the indicator mechanism providing a first indication when the parameter of the inspiratory flow is within the predefined desired range;
• the indicator mechanism providing a second indication when the parameter of the inspiratory flow is within a predefined secondary range, wherein the predefined secondary range extends above and below the predefined desired range and is within an operating range of the aerosol generator;
• and
• the indicator mechanism providing a third indication when the parameter of the inspiratory flow is outside of both the predefined desired range and the predefined secondary range,
• wherein the vibratable mesh produces a plume of aerosolized medicament within the relatively laminar flow when the inspiratory flow rate is within an operating range of the aerosol device.

A method of delivering an aerosolized medication to a user's respiratory system, the method comprising:

• sensing a state of a flow parameter of an inspiratory flow within a conduit, the conduit having a mouthpiece end by which a user may cause the inspiratory flow within the conduit;
• providing an indication using an indicator mechanism of the state of the flow parameter relative to a predefined desired range, wherein providing an indication comprises:
• providing a first indication when the flow parameter is within the predefined desired range;
• providing a second indication when the flow parameter is within a predefined secondary range, wherein the predefined secondary range extends above and below the predefined desired range and is within an operating range of an aerosol generator;
• and
• providing a third indication when the flow parameter is outside both the predefined desired range and the predefined secondary range;
• and
• vibrating a mesh of the aerosol generator in communication with the conduit to aerosolize a volume of a liquid medicament to produce a plume of aerosolized medicament within the conduit when the state of the flow parameter is within a predefined desired range, wherein:
• the plume of aerosolized medicament is provided within a relatively laminar flow produced by a restrictor disposed within the conduit upstream of the plume of aerosolized medicament;
• the restrictor defines a plurality of apertures disposed around an outer periphery of the restrictor;
• and
• the plume of aerosolized medicament is carried by the relatively laminar flow toward the mouthpiece end of the conduit.