Methods and apparatus for storing chemical compounds in a portable inhaler
AssigneeAerogen, Inc.
InventorsYehuda Ivri, Linda R. De Young, Cheng H. Wu, Miro S. Cater, Vijay Kumar, Markus Flierl
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention provides exemplary aerosolization apparatus and methods for aerosolizing a substance. According to one exemplary method, a liquid is transferred from a first chamber into a second chamber having a substance that is in a dry state to form a solution. The solution is then transferred from the second chamber and onto an atomization member. The atomization member is operated to aerosolize the solution.
Claims19
A method for aerosolizing a substance, the method comprising:
- transferring a liquid from a first chamber into a second chamber having a substance in a dry state to form a solution;
- transferring the solution from the second chamber and onto a rear surface of an atomization member having a plurality of apertures;
- and
- vibrating the atomization member to eject liquid droplets from the front surface and thereby aerosolize the solution wherein the atomization member is vibrated while the transferred liquid on the rear surface is surrounded by atmospheric pressure.
An aerosolizing apparatus, comprising:
- a cartridge having a first chamber, a second chamber, a movable divider between the first and the second chambers, and an exit opening in communication with the second chamber, wherein a liquid is disposed in the first chamber and a substance that is in a dry state is in the second chamber;
- a piston translatable within the cartridge to transfer the liquid from the first chamber and into the second chamber to form a solution;
- and
- an aerosol generator disposed near the exit opening to receive the solution from the cartridge and produce an aerosolized solution, wherein the aerosol generator comprises a vibratable member having a front surface, a rear surface, and a plurality of apertures, and a piezoelectric element that is in direct contact with the vibratable member, and wherein the exit opening is positioned to deliver the solution to the rear surface such that liquid droplets are ejected from the front surface upon vibration of the vibratable member.
A method for aerosolizing a substance, the method comprising:
- transferring a liquid from a first chamber into a second chamber having a substance in a dry state to form a solution;
- transferring the solution into a second chamber having an exit opening while the exit opening is open;
- transferring the solution through the exit opening and onto a rear surface of an atomization member having a plurality of apertures;
- and
- vibrating the atomization member at a frequency in the range from 20 kHz to 200 kHz to eject liquid droplets from the front surface and thereby aerosolize the solution.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.