# US 2019/0376950 A1 · Delivery of aerosolized respiratory pathogens

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- Number: US 2019/0376950 A1
- Document ID: US20190376950A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/438,092
- Filed: 2019-06-11
- Published: 2019-12-12
- Earliest claimed: 2018-06-11
- Assignees: The Regents of the University of Colorado, a body corporate
- Applicants: The Regents of the University of Colorado, A Body Corporate
- Inventors: Kambez Hajipouran Benam; Brian Frazier Niemeyer; Alexander Joseph Kaiser
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190376950A1

## CPC

- C12M 25/10: {Hollow fibers or tubes (hollow fiber modules in general B01D63/02)}
- G01N 33/5005: {involving human or animal cells (immunoassay G01N33/56966; immunoassays of protozoa G01N33/56905; protozoa in screening assays C12Q1/025)}
- C12M 21/08: {for producing artificial tissue or for ex-vivo cultivation of tissue (prostheses A61F2/00, grafts A61L27/00)}
- C12M 29/10: {Perfusion}
- C12M 29/20: {Degassing; Venting; Bubble traps (means for collection or storage of gas C12M23/36; gas collection apparatus for laboratory use B01L5/02)}
- C12M 33/14: {with filters, sieves or membranes}
- G01N 33/56983: {Viruses}
- C12M: APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY; {APPARATUS FOR CULTURING MICROORGANISMS FOR PRODUCING BIOMASS, FOR GROWING CELLS OR FOR OBTAINING FERMENTATION OR METABOLIC PRODUCTS, i.e. BIOREACTORS OR FERMENTERS}
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)

## Abstract

A system comprising a respirator, a biochip, and an atomizer for studying respiratory pathogens. The respirator of the system is configured to create breathe-mimicking air movement, the biochip comprises an airway lumen in fluid communication with the respirator, and the atomizer is in fluid communication with the airway lumen of the biochip, according to various embodiments. The atomizer may be configured to generate droplets of a respiratory pathogen (e.g., from liquid inoculum). In various embodiments, the breath-mimicking air movement comprises air volume as a function of time, wherein the respirator is configured to generate breathing cycles.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system comprising:
a respirator configured to create breathe-mimicking air movement;
a biochip comprising an airway lumen in fluid communication with the respirator; and
an atomizer in fluid communication with the airway lumen of the biochip.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the atomizer is configured to generate droplets of a respiratory pathogen.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the breath-mimicking air movement comprises air volume as a function of time, wherein the respirator is configured to generate breathing cycles.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the respirator is a pneumatic extruder comprising at least one syringe, wherein the at least one syringe comprises a plunger configured to translate linearly to produce the breathe-mimicking air movement.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the airway lumen of the biochip is lined with primary mucociliated human lung airway epithelial cells.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the biochip comprises a plurality of continuously perfused hollow microchannels inhabited by living tissue cells arranged to simulate organ-level physiology.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the airway lumen of the biochip comprises a circular cross-section.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The system of claim 7, wherein the biochip further comprises a vascular channel and a membrane disposed between the airway lumen and the vascular channel.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, wherein a width of the membrane is less than 1,000 micrometers.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, wherein a width of the membrane is less than 500 micrometers.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein a first end of the airway lumen of the biochip is coupled to the respirator and a second end of the airway lumen of the biochip is coupled to the atomizer.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the atomizer comprises an atomizing membrane, such as an electronically actuated piezoelectric atomizer.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the atomizer comprises:
a housing comprising a lower compartment defining a reservoir for liquid inoculum;
an upper compartment defining a volume for generated aerosols; and
at least one sample port for fluidly connecting the upper compartment to at least one of the biochip and the respirator;
wherein an atomizing membrane is disposed between the lower compartment and the upper compartment.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, wherein the atomizer further comprises a support stand disposed in the lower compartment and configured to support the atomizing membrane.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The system of claim 14, wherein the atomizer further comprises a capillary tube attached to a microscale-inner-diameter flexible polymer tubing configured to receive liquid inoculum.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The system of claim 14, wherein the upper compartment defines an access port through which the support stand may be inserted.

### Claim 17 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, wherein the atomizer further comprises an air filter configured to vent the system.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising a pump configured to deliver liquid inoculum to the atomizer.