US 5,207,220 A · Method for administering pharmaceuticals, including liquid surfactant, to the lungs

Abstract

A method of administering a liquid pharmaceutical formulation, particularly a surfactant formulation, to at least one lung of a subject in need of such treatment is disclosed. The method is carried out while the subject has a breathing tube extending through the subject's mouth and larynx, and while ventilating at least one lung of the subject through the breathing tube. The method comprises simultaneously administering the liquid pharmaceutical formulation down the breathing tube and into at least one lung of the subject and ventilating at least one lung of the subject through the breathing tube. The method may be performed on premature infants to combat respiratory distress syndrome. A preferred apparatus for carrying out the method of the present invention comprises a breathing tube configured for insertion through a subject's mouth and larynx, a ventilating apparatus operatively associated with the breathing tube, and an injecting device such as a syringe operatively associated with the breathing tube for introducing a liquid pharmaceutical formulation into the breathing tube.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A method of administering a liquid stream of surfactant formulation to at least one lung of an infant subject in need of such treatment, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a breathing tube extending through the subject's mouth and larynx;
ventilating at least one lung of the subject through the breathing tube with an oxygen-rich air steam;
providing introducing means formed in a wall of the breathing tube for introducing a liquid stream of surfactant formulation into said breathing tube;
delivering said liquid stream such that said liquid stream is in contact with said breathing tube and separate from but in contact with said air stream;
and
administering the liquid stream of surfactant formulation through the introducing means, down the breathing tube, and into at least one lung of the subject while simultaneously ventilating at least one lung of the subject through the breathing tube.

3 more elements

A method of administering a liquid stream of surfactant formulation to at least one lung of an infant subject afflicted with respiratory distress syndrome comprising the steps of:

providing a breathing tube extending through the subject's mouth and larynx;
ventilating at least one lung of the subject through the breathing tube;
providing introducing means formed in the wall of the breathing tube configured for introducing a liquid stream of surfactant formulation into said breathing tube;
delivering said liquid stream such that said liquid stream is in contact with said breathing tube and is separate from but in contact with said air stream;
administering a volume of said liquid surfactant formulation of at least 1 cubic centimeter through the introducing means, down the breathing tube, and into at least one lung of the subject while simultaneously ventilating at least one lung of the subject through the breathing tube;
and
wherein said ventilating step comprises cyclically forcing oxygen-rich air into, and permitting oxygen-depleted air to escape from, at least one lung of said subject at a rate of from about 20 to 60 breaths per minute.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method for administering pharmaceuticals, including liquid surfactant, to the lungs

Life of this patent

Method for administering pharmaceuticals, including liquid surfactant, to the lungs

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims11