# US 10,478,571 B2 · Delivery apparatus and accompanying system for the application of a medical agent to a treatment site and method for use of same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,478,571 B2 - Document ID: US10478571B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/603,160 - Filed: 2015-01-22 - Published: 2015-07-30 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2014-01-30 - Assignees: Dualams, Inc. - Applicants: Dualams, Inc. - Inventors: John S. Houston - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10478571B2 ## CPC - A61M 11/005: {using ultrasonics (spraying or atomising liquids using ultrasonic vibrations in general B05B17/06)} - A61M 5/00: Devices for bringing media into the body in a subcutaneous, intra-vascular or intramuscular way; Accessories therefor, e.g. filling or cleaning devices, arm rests (tube connectors, tube couplings, valves or branch units, specially adapted for medical use A61M39/00; containers specially adapted for medical or pharmaceutical purposes A61J1/00) - A61M 11/042: {electrical} - A61M 16/104: {specially adapted for anaesthetics (A61M16/18 takes precedence)} - A61M 16/109: {the humidifying liquid or the beneficial agent} - A61M 16/18: Vaporising devices for anaesthetic preparations - A61M 16/0816: {Joints or connectors} - A61M 16/201: {Controlled valves} - A61M 2202/0241: Anaesthetics; Analgesics - A61M 2202/048: Anaesthetics - A61M 2205/50: with microprocessors or computers - A61M 2210/1028: Larynx - A61M 2210/1032: Trachea - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} ## Abstract A medication delivery apparatus and system for the application of a medical agent to a treatment site, such as an airway, and method for use of same are disclosed. In one embodiment of the medication delivery apparatus and system, a reservoir supplies a medical agent to a lower chamber of a housing wherein an ultrasonic transducer applies ultrasonic energy thereto, thereby nebulizing the medical agent. A control valve is interposed between a source of positive pressure air and an upper chamber of the housing to selectively apply positive air pressure to the upper chamber. Upon the application of positive air pressure, the airflow delivers the nebulized medical agent to a target location, such as the airway. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A delivery apparatus for the application of a medical agent to a treatment site, the medication delivery apparatus comprising: a housing, the housing being sized so as to be securable to a hand-held medical device; a reservoir configured to contain the medical agent, the reservoir disposed in fluid communication with a supply channel and a circulation channel; a nebulization housing including a lower chamber and an upper chamber; the lower chamber being disposed in fluid communication with the supply channel and the circulation channel; an upper channel being disposed in fluid communication with an airflow channel and a delivery channel; an ultrasonic transducer positioned in the lower chamber, the ultrasonic transducer configured to generate, upon energization, ultrasonic energy; a control valve interposed between a source of positive pressure air and the airflow channel, the control valve configured to selectively apply air to the airflow channel; the reservoir, the supply channel, the circulation channel, the nebulization housing, the airflow channel, the delivery channel, and the control valve being located in the housing; the control valve being controllable by a controller, the controller being externally positioned on the housing; a first operational state of the control valve, wherein the control valve is open, wherein the medical agent is configured to circulate from the reservoir to the lower chamber, wherein the ultrasonic transducer is configured to apply ultrasonic energy to the medical agent, thereby producing a nebulized medical agent adapted to be carried by the application of air to the delivery channel; and a second operational state of the control valve, wherein the control valve is closed, wherein the medical agent is configured to circulate from the reservoir to the lower chamber, wherein the ultrasonic transducer is configured to apply ultrasonic energy to the medical agent, thereby producing a nebulized medical agent adapted to remain in the upper chamber. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The delivery apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising the medical agent, wherein the medical agent further comprises a local anesthetic. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The delivery apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising the medical agent, wherein the medical agent local further comprises an agent selected from the group consisting of steroids, antibiotics, anti-fungal agents, anti-bacterial agents, antiviral agents, hormones, antihistamines, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, glucocorticoids, corticosteroids, chemotherapeutic agents, and vasodilating anesthetics. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The delivery apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the reservoir has a volume from about 5 ml to about 250 ml. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The delivery apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a heating element associated with the reservoir, the heating element configured to heat the medical agent. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The delivery apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a heating element associated with the reservoir, the heating element configured to heat the medical agent to a temperature from about 50° F. (10° C.) to about 105° F. (40.5° C.). ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The delivery apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a heating element associated with the reservoir, the heating element being a heating coil. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The delivery apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the lower chamber and the upper chamber are integrally formed as a single chamber. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The delivery apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the lower chamber has a volume from about 5 ml to about 250 ml. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The delivery apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the upper chamber has a volume from about 5 ml to about 250 ml. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The delivery apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a fluid circuit providing for circulation from the reservoir to the supply channel to the lower chamber to the circulation channel to the reservoir. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The delivery apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic transducer further comprises a device that uses a piezoelectric transducer to produce ultrasonic waves. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The delivery apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic transducer is configured to operate at 40 kHz to 2.5 MHz. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The delivery apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the control valve further comprises a 0.2 lbs to 250 lbs pressure regulator. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The delivery apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the source of positive pressure air further comprises an air compressor. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The delivery apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the source of positive pressure air is configured to provides air pressure from about 0.2 psi to 25 psi. ### Claim 17 A medication delivery apparatus for the application of a medical agent to a treatment site, the medication delivery apparatus comprising: a housing; an outer housing having a receiving chamber; an inner housing configured to insert into the receiving chamber of the outer housing and releasably engage therewith, the inner housing thereby having an engaged position within the outer housing, the inner housing having prongs for a power connection with the outer housing; the inner housing including a reservoir configured to contain the medical agent, the medical agent being provided in a pre-measured amount; an upper channel being disposed in fluid communication with an airflow channel and a delivery channel, the upper channel traversing the outer housing and the inner housing in the engaged position; an ultrasonic transducer positioned in the inner housing, the ultrasonic transducer configured to generate, upon energization, ultrasonic energy; the inner housing and ultrasonic transducer being configured for single-use; the outer housing, the airflow channel, the delivery channel, and a control valve being located in the housing; the control valve being controllable by a controller, the controller being externally positioned on the housing; a first operational state of the medication delivery apparatus wherein positive pressure air is configured to traverse the upper channel, wherein the ultrasonic transducer is configured to apply ultrasonic energy to the medical agent, thereby producing a nebulized medical agent adapted to be carried by the application of air to the delivery channel; a second operational state of the medication delivery apparatus, wherein the ultrasonic transducer is configured to apply ultrasonic energy to the medical agent, thereby producing a nebulized medical agent adapted to remain in the inner housing; and the control valve interposed between a source of positive pressure air and the upper channel, the control valve configured to selectively apply air to the upper channel and the delivery channel, the control valve being open in the first operational state and closed in the second operational state. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The medication delivery apparatus as recited in claim 17, wherein the medical agent further comprises a local anesthetic. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The medication delivery apparatus as recited in claim 17, wherein the medical agent further comprises an agent selected from the group consisting of steroids, antibiotics, anti-fungal agents, anti-bacterial agents, antiviral agents, hormones, antihistamines, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, and glucocorticoids, corticosteroids, chemotherapeutic agents, and vasodilating anesthetics. ### Claim 20 A medication delivery apparatus for the application of a medical agent to a treatment site, the medication delivery apparatus comprising: a housing; an outer housing having a receiving chamber; an inner housing configured to insert into the receiving chamber of the outer housing and releasably engage therewith, the inner housing thereby having an engaged position within the outer housing, the inner housing having prongs for a power connection with the outer housing; the inner housing including a reservoir configured to contain the medical agent, the reservoir having a volume from about 5 ml to about 250 ml, the medical agent being provided in a pre-measured amount; an upper channel being disposed in fluid communication with an airflow channel and a delivery channel, the upper channel traversing the outer housing and the inner housing in the engaged position; an ultrasonic transducer positioned in the inner housing, the ultrasonic transducer configured to generate, upon energization, ultrasonic energy; the inner housing and ultrasonic transducer being configured for single-use; the outer housing, the airflow channel, the delivery channel, and a control valve being located in the housing; the control valve being controllable by a controller, the controller being externally positioned on the housing; a first operational state of the medication delivery apparatus wherein positive pressure air is configured to traverse the upper channel, wherein the ultrasonic transducer is configured to apply ultrasonic energy to the medical agent, thereby producing a nebulized medical agent adapted to be carried by the application of air to the delivery channel; a second operational state of the medication delivery apparatus, wherein the ultrasonic transducer is configured to apply ultrasonic energy to the medical agent, thereby producing a nebulized medical agent adapted to remain in the inner housing; and the control valve interposed between a source of positive pressure air and the upper channel, the control valve configured to selectively apply air to the upper channel and the delivery channel, the control valve being open in the first operational state and closed in the second operational state.