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US 8,555,874 B2Granted
Aerosolization device
AssigneeNektar Therapeutics
InventorsJames B. Fink, Nani P. Kadrichu
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An aerosol transfer device for medical aerosol generators includes a body, fluidically coupled to a nebulizer and to a patient interface. An ambient air intake is formed into a lower body. The body is shaped and configured to optimize mixing of ambient air from the ambient air intake and the aerosol generated by the nebulizer, resulting in the formation of an aerosol plume having optimum characteristics for delivery of the aerosol to the patient's pulmonary system, such as the central or deep lung regions. The shape and dimensions of the body are further designed to minimize aerosol deposition, thus improving delivery efficiency.
Claims33
An aerosol transfer device comprising
- a shaped aerosol accumulation chamber having a central vertical axis, an upper end and a lower end, the chamber having a major dimension, the upper end comprising a nebulizer port and a patient interface port, the lower end comprising an air inlet port, wherein the air inlet port is oriented to be non-aligned with said central vertical axis, said air inlet port further comprising a valve,
- an outer shell, substantially surrounding the at least said lower end of the aerosol accumulation chamber, the outer shell having one or more air inlet passages about a periphery thereof wherein said one or more air inlet passages is above said air inlet port, said patient interface port fluidically coupled to a patient interface device, and an aerosolized exhaust port intermediate to said patient interface device and to said patient interface port, and wherein
- a medicament adapted to be nebulized into said nebulizer port generating an aerosol plume, and the accumulation chamber is configured and dimensioned such that upon an inhalation by a patient, ambient air is drawn into the device via the air inlet passage, thence into the body where it flows counter-currently to said aerosol plume thereby efficiently delivering aerosol to the patient.
A method of administering a medicament comprising
- providing a re-usable shaped aerosol accumulation chamber having a central vertical axis, an upper end and a lower end, the chamber having a major dimension of at least 10 cm, the upper end comprising a nebulizer port and a patient interface port, the lower end comprising an air inlet port, wherein the air inlet port is oriented to be non-aligned with said central vertical axis, said air inlet port further comprising a valve, an outer shell, substantially surrounding the at least said lower end of the aerosol accumulation chamber, the outer shell having one or more air inlet passages about a periphery thereof wherein said one or more air inlet passages is above said air inlet port, said patient interface port fluidically coupled to a patient interface device, and an aerosolized exhaust port intermediate to said patient interface device and to said patient interface port;
- fluidically coupling a vibrating mesh nebulizer to said nebulizer port;
- fluidically coupling a disposable patient interface device to said patient interface port;
- providing a liquid medicament to be aerosolized;
- and
- aerosolizing said liquid medicament to generate a dose of an aerosolized medicament for inhalation by a patient.
3 more elements
A method of administering medicament to a plurality of patients comprising
- providing a re-usable shaped aerosol accumulation chamber having a central vertical axis, an upper end and a lower end, the chamber having a major dimension of at least 10 cm, the upper end comprising a nebulizer port and a patient interface port, the lower end comprising an air inlet port, wherein the air inlet port is oriented to non-aligned with said central vertical axis, said air inlet port further comprising a valve, an outer shell, substantially surrounding the at least said lower end of the aerosol accumulation chamber, the outer shell having one or more air inlet passages about a periphery thereof wherein said one or more air inlet passages is above said air inlet port, said patient interface port fluidically coupled to a patient interface device, and an aerosolized exhaust port intermediate to said patient interface device and to said patient interface port;
- fluidically coupling a vibrating mesh nebulizer to said nebulizer port;
- fluidically coupling a disposable patient interface device to said patient interface port;
- providing a dose of liquid medicament to be aerosolized;
- aerosolizing said liquid medicament for a time sufficient to generate a dose of an aerosolized medicament for inhalation by a patient;
- delivering said aerosolized medicament to a first patient;
- disposing of said patient interface device, fluidically coupling an additional disposable patient interface device to said patient interface port, providing an additional dose of liquid medicament;
- and
- aerosolizing and delivering said additional dose of liquid medicament to a subsequent patient.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.