Aerosol delivery apparatus and method for pressure-assisted breathing systems
AssigneeAerogen, Inc.
InventorsEhud Ivri, James Fink
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A pressure-assisted breathing system comprises a flow generator, a circuit connecting the flow generator to a patient's respiratory system and an aerosol generator for emitting aerosol particles into the circuit, wherein the circuit defines a path for the emitted aerosol particles having a change in angle no greater than 15°.
Claims28
1 A pressure-assisted breathing system comprising:
- an air flow generator;
- a circuit connecting the air flow generator to a patient's respiratory system;
- and
- an aerosol generator for emitting aerosol particles into the circuit;
- wherein the circuit defines a path for the emitted aerosol particles having a change in angle of no greater than 15°.
2 A system according to claim 1 wherein the change in path angle is no greater than 12°.
3 A system according to claim 1 wherein the circuit defines a straight. path for the emitted aerosol particles.
A system according to claim 1 wherein the circuit comprises a ventilator system.
A system according to claim I wherein the circuit comprises a CPAP system.
A system according to claim 1 wherein the aerosol generator comprises a nebulizer.
A system according to claim 1 wherein the circuit comprises a ventilator circuit having a inspiratory tube and a expiratory tube converging on a junction device connected to a respiratory circuit, the junction device having:
- (a) a tubular main body member having a straight longitudinal lumen extending from a first end attached to the inspiratory tube to a second end attached to the respiratory circuit;
- and (b) a tubular branch member having a lumen extending from the longitudinal lumen to a third end attached to the expiratory tube.
A system according to claim 1 wherein said circuit comprises a ventilator circuit and a patient interface device attached to the ventilator circuit.
A junction device for connecting the tubes of a pressure-assisted breathing system, said junction device comprising:
- a tubular main body member having a substantially straight longitudinal lumen extending its entire length for conducting a first flow of gas carrying aerosol particles from a first tube attached to one end of the longitudinal lumen to a second tube attached to the opposite end of the longitudinal lumen;
- and
- a tubular branch member in fluid communication with the longitudinal lumen at one end of the branch member and attached to a third tube at the opposite end of the branch member for conducting a second flow of gas substantially free of said aerosol particles into or out of the longitudinal lumen.
A patient interface device for the delivery of aerosol particles to a patient comprising:
- a tubular inlet section having a longitudinal lumen;
- a pair of nasal cannula;
- and
- a tubular forked section connecting the inlet section to the nasal cannula;
- wherein the longitudinal lumen is in fluid communication with lumens in each prong of the forked section so as to define two substantially parallel paths for the aerosol particles, each path having a change of angle no greater than 15°.
An NCPAP system comprising:
- (a) a pressure-generating circuit;
- (b) a patient interface device connected to the pressure-generating circuit for conducting a pressurized flow of gas from the pressure-generating circuit to a patient;
- said patient interface device comprising:
- (i) a tubular inlet section having a longitudinal lumen;
- (ii)a pair of nasal cannula;
- and
- (iii) a tubular forked section connecting the inlet section to the nasal cannula;
- wherein the longitudinal lumen is in fluid communication with lumens in each prong of the forked section so as to conduct the flow of gas along two substantially parallel paths to the nasal cannula, each path having a change of angle no greater than 15°;
- and
- (c) a nebulizer positioned between the pressure-generating circuit and the patient interface device so as to emit aerosol particles of medicament into the flow of gas to the patient interface device.
A method of delivering an aerosolized medicament to a subject's respiratory system comprising the steps of:
- attaching the subject to a pressure-assisted breathing system comprising an air flow generator;
- a circuit connecting the air flow generator to the subject's respiratory system;
- and
- an aerosol generator for emitting aerosol particles of medicament into the circuit;
- wherein the circuit defines a path for the emitted aerosol particles having a change in angle of no greater than 15°;
- and
- administering the aerosol particles of medicament to said subject via the pressure-assisted breathing system.
A method of treating infant respiratory distress syndrome comprising the steps of:
- (a) attaching the infant to a NCPAP system comprising:
- (i) a pressure-generating circuit;
- (ii) a respiratory circuit that conducts a pressurized gas flow from the pressure-generating circuit to a nasal cannula patient interface device, and
- (iii) a vibrating aperture-type nebulizer in fluid communication with the respiratory circuit so as to introduce aerosol particles of surfactant medication into the pressurized gas flow in the respiratory circuit;
- wherein the nasal cannula interface device defines a path for the emitted aerosol particles that has a change in angle no greater than 15°;
- and
- (b) administering the aerosol particles of surfactant medicament to the infant via the nasal cannula interface device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.