Method of using focused acoustic waves to deliver a pharmaceutical product

• US 20020077369A1
• Filed: 12/18/2000
• Published: 06/20/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Sprague, Robert A., Noolandi, Jaan, Hadimioglu, Babur B.
• Granted Patent: US 7,121,275 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 424/43
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0085 using ultrasonics spraying or atomising liquids using ultrasonic vibrations in general B05B17/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/025 Bubble jet droplet ejection devices
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 17/0615 spray being produced at the free surface of the liquid or other fluent material in a container and subjected to the vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 101/34 Means to agitate ink in a reservoir

Abstract

An improved method and apparatus for delivering medication to the lungs is described. Acoustic ink printing technology is modified to operate as an inhaler that generates tiny droplets near a patient'"'"'s nose or mouth. The tiny droplets are easily carried by air currents into the patient'"'"'s lungs. The inhaler itself is preferably a battery operated portable device that can be easily carried and easily cleaned to avoid contaminating the medication.

Claims

1. A method of delivering pharmaceutical product comprising the operations of:

depositing a pharmaceutical product across a plurality of driver elements;

positioning the plurality of driver elements within four inches of a human orifice;

delivering electrical power to the plurality of driver elements causing the plurality of driver elements to deliver acoustic energy to the pharmaceutical product, the acoustic energy focused by acoustic lenses to cause ejection of droplets of pharmaceutical product into the human orifice.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the drive elements are piezo-electric transducers.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein all drive elements in the plurality of drive elements are simultaneously provided with electrical energy to cause simultaneous ejection of multiple droplets of pharmaceutical product.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein each drive element in the plurality of drive elements is provided with electrical energy within a five second time interval to cause ejection of multiple droplets of pharmaceutical product over the five second time interval.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the operation of:

focusing the acoustic energy from each driver using a plurality of acoustic lenses.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the acoustic lenses are fresnel lenses.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the lenses are spherical molded plastic lenses.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the spherical molded plastic lenses are formed on a plastic substrate and the drivers are bonded to the plastic substrate.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the driver elements output RF energy.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the RF energy has a frequency higher than 300 MHz in order to generate a droplet sizes smaller than 6 micrometers.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the RF energy has a frequency lower than 10 MHz.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the RF energy generates capillary droplets of pharmaceutical product, each droplet having a diameter less than 10 micrometers.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the orifice is a mouth, the method further comprising the operation of.

opening the mouth;

and

inserting the plurality of drive elements into the mouth before delivering electrical power to the plurality of drive elements.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the orifice is a nostril of a nose, the method further comprising the operation of:

inserting the plurality of drive elements into the nose before delivering electrical power to the plurality of drive elements.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising the operation of:

detecting the velocity of ambient air; and

causing the ejection of droplets when the velocity of ambient air reaches a critical air speed.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the focusing occurs for a period of less than five seconds to deliver a preset dosage of pharmaceutical product.

15. A method of delivering pharmaceutical product comprising the operations of:

distributing a pharmaceutical product over a plurality of lenses; and

focusing acoustic energy from the plurality of lenses to cause ejection of droplets of pharmaceutical product.