Temperature controlling device for aerosol drug delivery
AssigneeAradigm Corporation
InventorsJeffrey A. Schuster, Christopher J. Flaim
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A portable air temperature controlling device useful for warming air surrounding an aerosolized drug formulation is described. Warming the air of an aerosol makes it possible to reduce the size of aerosol particles produced by an aerosol generation device. Additionally, warming the air forces the size of the aerosol particles to be in the range required for systemic drug delivery independent of ambient conditions. Smaller particles can be more precisely targeted to different areas of the respiratory tract.
Claims31
An air temperature controlling device, comprising:
- a receptacle for a self-contained power source which receptacle comprises electrical contacts;
- a channel comprising an air flow path, a first opening into which air can be inhaled, and a second opening through which air is delivered to an aerosol generation device;
- a heating element connected to the electrical contacts and positioned such that air flowing by the heating element flows through the channel;
- wherein the air temperature controlling device is a hand-held, self-contained device having a total weight of 1 kilogram or less.
A method of creating an aerosol, comprising:
- drawing air into a channel;
- adding energy to a liquid formulation in a manner so as to form an aerosol wherein the formulation contains a pharmaceutically active drug and carrier and the aerosol is drawn in to the channel;
- and
- warming air into which the aerosol is formed in a manner so as to evaporate carrier from the particles thereby reducing particle size.
A method of providing an aerosolized amount of particles having a size in a range of 0.5 to 12.0 microns in diameter, comprising:
- drawing air through a channel;
- moving liquid formulation through a pore into air flow in the channel in a manner so as to aerosolize the formulation which comprises a liquid carrier and pharmaceutically active drug;
- and
- warming the air using a portable air temperature controlling device comprising a portable power source and heating element in an amount sufficient to evaporate liquid carrier and obtain articles having a diameter in the range of 0.5 to 12.0 microns.
A method of administering a drug, comprising
- (a) determining a drug release point based on real time values of both a patient's inspiratory flow rate and inspiratory volume;
- (b) releasing an aerosolized dose of a drug at a determined inspiratory flow rate and inspiratory volume;
- (c) warming air surrounding the aerosolized formulation using a portable air temperature controlling device comprising a portable power source and a heating element;
- (d) repeating steps (a)-(c) in a manner such the releasing repeatedly occurs at substantially the same inspiratory flow rate and inspiratory flow volume, wherein the method is carried out with the steps (a)-(d) performed by a hand-held, self-contained device.
A method of reducing variability in aerosol drug delivery due to ambient conditions, comprising the steps of:
- (a) warming air sufficiently to stabilize the size distribution of a generated aerosol over a range of temperatures and relative humidities likely to be encountered;
- (b) generating an aerosol of an active drug from a formulation that is entrained into the warmed air;
- (c) delivering the aerosol to the lungs of a subject, wherein the method is carried out by a self contained, portable device weighing 1 kilogram or less and having a volume of 50 cubic inches or less.
A method of delivering medication to a patient's lung comprising the steps of:
- (a) pre-heating a heating element in still air for a period of 5-60 seconds;
- (b) warming air by drawing it past the heating element for 1-10 seconds;
- (c) generating aerosol into the warmed air;
- and
- (d) delivering the aerosol to the patient's lungs.
An air temperature controlling device for effecting efficiency and reproducibility of aerosol drug delivery, comprising:
- (a) a metal heating element;
- (b) a receptacle for a battery;
- (c) an aerosol generator component;
- and
- (d) a control circuit means for controlling the aerosol generation component in conjunction with the air temperature controlling device whereby the heating element is preheated for a period of less than 2 minutes prior to creating an aerosol, and the aerosol generation component and the air temperature controlling device combined are portable, self contained and weigh less than 1.5 kg.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.