Aerosol forming device for use in inhalation therapy

• US 20030015196A1
• Filed: 05/13/2002
• Published: 01/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alexza Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Grupo Ferrer Internacional SA)
• Original Assignee: Alexza Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Grupo Ferrer Internacional SA)
• Inventors: Lloyd, Peter M., Hodges, Craig C., Wensley, Martin J., Mufson, Daniel, Rogers, Daniel D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,942,147 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/203.16
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/235 having an aromatic ring attached to a carboxyl group
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/4468 having a nitrogen directly attached in position 4, e.g. clebopride, fentanyl
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/485 Morphinan derivatives, e.g. morphine, codeine
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/519 ortho- or peri-condensed with heterocyclic rings
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/007 Pulmonary tract; Aromatherapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0073 Sprays or powders for inhalation; Aerolised or nebulised preparations generated by other means than thermal energy; nasal sprays A61K9/0043; inhalation of vapours of volatile or heated drugs, e.g. essential oils or nicotine, A61K9/007; devices A61M
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/001 Particle size control
• 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 11/044 with electrodes immersed in the liquid
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/00 Inhalators drug delivery in endotracheal tubes A61M16/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0028 using prepacked dosages, one for each application, e.g. capsules to be perforated or broken-up
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/109 the humidifying liquid or the beneficial agent
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0039 in the inspiratory circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3606 cooled
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3653 by Joule effect, i.e. electric resistance
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/368 by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. IR waves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/50 with microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 23/00 Anaesthetics
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 17/04 operating with special methods
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/1686 involving vaporisation of the material to be sprayed or of an atomising-fluid-generating product

Abstract

The present invention relates to the inhalation delivery of aerosols containing small particles. Specifically, it relates to a device that forms drug containing aerosols for use in inhalation therapy. In a device aspect of the present invention, a device for delivering drug containing aerosols for inhalation therapy is provided. The device includes a housing and an airway that has a gas/vapor mixing airway. The airway further includes a subassembly, which has a metallic substrate coated on its surface with a composition comprising a drug.

Claims

1. A device for delivering drug containing aerosols for inhalation therapy including:

a housing; and

,

an airway including a gas/vapor mixing area, wherein the airway includes a subassembly, and wherein the subassembly includes a metallic substrate, and wherein a composition comprising a drug is coated on the substrate.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device further includes a heater system.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the airway contains a restricted cross-sectional area along the gas/vapor mixing area.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the metallic substrate comprises stainless steel.

5. The device according to claim 2, wherein the heater system is an inductive heater system.

6. The device according to claim 3, wherein the airway includes means for causing turbulence as air moves through the airway.

7. The device according to claim 5, wherein the inductive heater system includes a ferrite toroid.

8. The device according to claim 6, wherein the device further includes an inductive heater system.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein the drug in the composition is an antiparkinsonian drug.

10. The device according to claim 8, wherein the drug in the composition is an opioid.

11. The device according to claim 8, wherein the drug in the composition is an anxiolytic.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the substrate is heated by moving it through a heating zone.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein an aerosol having about 10⁹ particles/cc of air is formed.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the heating zone is primarily produced by eddy currents induced by an alternating magnetic field.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the drug in the composition is an antiparkinsonian drug.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein the drug in the composition is an opioid.

18. The method according to claim 15, wherein the drug in the composition is an anxiolytic.

12. A method of forming a drug containing aerosol for use in inhalation therapy comprising:

(a) heating a substrate coated with a composition comprising a drug to form a vapor; and

,

(b) mixing the vapor with a volume of air such that an aerosol having particles is formed, wherein the MMAD of the particles is stable for at least 1 s.