Nebulizers and uses thereof

• US 10,052,443 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2015
• Issued: 08/21/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omega Life Science Ltd. (Nanosol Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Omega Life Science Ltd. (Nanosol Ltd.)
• Inventors: Hazani, Miron
• Primary Examiner(s): Anderson, Gregory
• Assistant Examiner(s): Paciorek, Jonathan
• Application Number:
  US15/516,907
• Publication Number:
  US 20170304561A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,044 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/002 by flow deviation causing inertial separation of transported particles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/003 by passing the aerosol trough sieves or filters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/005 using ultrasonics spraying or atomising liquids using ultrasonic vibrations in general B05B17/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/02 operated by air or other gas pressure applied to the liquid or other product to be sprayed or atomised sprayers for horticulture A01G, A01H; killing insects A01M; air humidifying by nozzles F24F6/14, F24F6/18; cooling by spraying F28B, F28C
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/00 Inhalators drug delivery in endotracheal tubes A61M16/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0001 Details of inhalators; Constructional features thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0021 Mouthpieces therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0468 non-physiological
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0272 Electro-active or magneto-active materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0288 Electro-rheological or magneto-rheological materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/103 rotating
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/12 with interchangeable cassettes forming partially or totally the fluid circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/123 with incorporated reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3331 Pressure; Flow

Abstract

The present disclosure generally relates to the field of nebulizers for aerosol generation and methods of using same for treating diseases and disorders.

Claims

1. A nebulizer comprising a porous medium configured to produce aerosols, a displaceable wetting mechanism configured to spread a liquid over the porous medium thereby to wet the porous medium and a gas channel configured to introduce pressure gradient to the porous medium, wherein the displaceable wetting mechanism comprises a rotatable elongated member configured to move across the surface of the porous medium, thereby to homogeneously or semi-homogeneously spread the liquid over the surface.

2. The nebulizer of claim 1, wherein the rotatable elongated member is movable to cover approximately all the surface of the porous medium.

3. The nebulizer of claim 1, wherein the displaceable wetting mechanism further comprises an actuator configured to displace or induce the displacement of the rotatable elongated member.

4. The nebulizer of claim 3, wherein the rotatable elongated member comprises a first magnet, and the actuator comprises a second magnet, magnetically associated with said first magnet, such that by moving the second magnet displacement of the rotatable elongated member is induced.

5. The nebulizer of claim 4, wherein said first and/or second magnet comprise a plurality of magnets.

6. The nebulizer of claim 5, wherein one or more of the plurality of magnets comprises an electromagnet.

7. The nebulizer of claim 3, wherein the actuator comprises a motor configured to displace the rotatable elongated member.

8. The nebulizer of claim 1, wherein the rotatable elongated member is at least partially coated with polytetrafluoroethylene.

9. The nebulizer of claim 1, wherein the porous medium comprises a plurality of pores and wherein the rotatable elongated member is configured to force at least portions of the liquid into at least some of the plurality of pores of said porous medium.

10. The nebulizer of claim 1, further comprising an opening configured to deliver the aerosols to a respiratory system of a subject.

11. A nebulizer cartridge comprising a porous medium and a displaceable wetting mechanism configured to spread a liquid over the porous medium thereby to wet the porous medium, wherein the displaceable wetting mechanism comprises a rotatable elongated member.

12. The nebulizer cartridge of claim 11, wherein the porous medium comprises a plurality of pores, and wherein at least some of said plurality of pores comprise liquid.

13. The nebulizer cartridge of claim 12, wherein said liquid comprises a pharmaceutical composition.

14. The nebulizer cartridge of claim 11, wherein the rotatable elongated member further comprises an actuator configured to displace or induce the displacement of the rotatable elongated member.

15. The nebulizer cartridge of claim 14, wherein the rotatable elongated member comprises a first magnet, and the actuator comprises a second magnet, magnetically associated with said first magnet, such that by moving the second magnet displacement of the rotatable elongated member is induced.

16. The nebulizer cartridge of claim 11, configured to be inserted to a nebulizer main body.

17. The nebulizer cartridge of claim 16, wherein the nebulizer main body comprises an opening configured to deliver aerosols.

18. A nebulizer system comprising

a housing;

an opening in the housing configured to deliver aerosols to a subject;

the cartridge of claim 11;

a receptacle configured to receive the cartridge; and

a gas channel.

19. The nebulizer system according to claim 18, wherein the rotatable elongated member comprises an actuator configured to displace or induce the displacement of the rotatable elongated member.

20. The nebulizer system according to claim 19, wherein the actuator comprises a shaft, configured to be mechanically connected to the wetting mechanism.