Apparatus and methods for the delivery of medicaments to the respiratory system
First Claim
1. An apparatus for delivery of a medicament to the respiratory system, the apparatus comprising:
- a reservoir adapted to hold a liquid medicament that is to be delivered to a respiratory system;
an aerosol generator that is adapted to aerosolize the liquid medicament;
a liquid supplier adapted to deliver the liquid medicament from the reservoir to the aerosol generator; and
a connector to which the aerosol generator is operably connected, wherein the connector comprises a gas conduit having an inlet, and an outlet, and an aerosol supply conduit, wherein the aerosol generator is configured to provide the aerosolized liquid medicament into the gas conduit through the aerosol supply conduit, and wherein the gas conduit is adapted to pass gases to entrain the aerosolized liquid medicament.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for delivery of a medicament to the respiratory system comprises a reservoir that is adapted to hold a liquid medicament that is to be delivered to a respiratory system. An aerosol generator is provided that is adapted to aerosolize the liquid medicament. A liquid supplier is used to deliver the liquid medicament from the reservoir to the aerosol generator. A connector is operably coupled to the aerosol generator and comprises a gas conduit having an inlet, and an outlet, and an aerosol supply conduit. The aerosol generator is configured to provide the aerosolized liquid medicament into the gas conduit through the aerosol supply conduit, and the gas conduit is adapted to pass gases to entrain the aerosolized liquid medicament.
150 Citations
121 Claims
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1. An apparatus for delivery of a medicament to the respiratory system, the apparatus comprising:
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a reservoir adapted to hold a liquid medicament that is to be delivered to a respiratory system;
an aerosol generator that is adapted to aerosolize the liquid medicament;
a liquid supplier adapted to deliver the liquid medicament from the reservoir to the aerosol generator; and
a connector to which the aerosol generator is operably connected, wherein the connector comprises a gas conduit having an inlet, and an outlet, and an aerosol supply conduit, wherein the aerosol generator is configured to provide the aerosolized liquid medicament into the gas conduit through the aerosol supply conduit, and wherein the gas conduit is adapted to pass gases to entrain the aerosolized liquid medicament. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. Apparatus for delivery of medicament to a respiratory system comprising:
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a medication cup that is adapted to receive a liquid medicament to be delivered to a respiratory system;
an aerosol generator;
a housing in which the aerosol generator is disposed, wherein the housing is releasably coupled to the medication cup;
a liquid supplier that is adapted to deliver the liquid medicament from the cup to the aerosol generator; and
a connector that is adapted to receive aerosol generated by the aerosol generator is delivered. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57)
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58. Apparatus for delivery of medicament to a respiratory system comprising:
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a reservoir that is adapted to hold a liquid medicament to be delivered to a respiratory system;
an aerosol generator;
a housing for the aerosol generator;
a liquid supplier that is adapted to deliver the liquid medicament from the reservoir to the aerosol generator; and
a connector through which aerosol generated by the aerosol generator is delivered;
wherein the aerosol generator housing includes a signal interface that is configured to receive control signals to control the operation of the aerosol generator. - View Dependent Claims (59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90)
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- 67. Apparatus as claimed in any 59, wherein the controller comprises a timer to automatically switch the aerosol generator between an active state and a rest state.
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91. A connector to facilitate the delivery of a medicament to a respiratory system, the connector comprising:
a connector body having a gas conduit having an inlet and an outlet, an aerosol supply conduit coupled to the gas conduit between the inlet and the outlet, wherein the connector has a generally T-shape, and wherein the aerosol supply conduit subtends an angle of less than 90°
with the inlet of the gas conduit.- View Dependent Claims (92, 93)
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94. A medication cup for holding a liquid medicament for delivery to an aerosol generator, the medication cup comprising:
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a reservoir containing a liquid;
a connector operably coupled to the reservoir, wherein the connector is adapted to be connected to an aerosol generator; and
a releasable seal to maintain the medicament in the cup. - View Dependent Claims (95, 96, 97)
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98. Apparatus for delivery of medicament to the respiratory system comprising:
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a medication cup that is adapted to hold a liquid medication to be delivered to a respiratory system;
an aerosol generator;
a housing for the aerosol generator;
a liquid supplier that is adapted to deliver the liquid medicament from the cup to the aerosol generator; and
a connector through which aerosol generated by the aerosol generator is delivered, wherein the liquid supplier is mounted to the generator housing.
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99. Apparatus for delivery of medicament to the respiratory system comprising:
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a medication cup that is adapted to hold a liquid medication to be delivered to a respiratory system;
an aerosol generator;
a housing for the aerosol generator;
a liquid supplier that is adapted to deliver the liquid medicament from the cup to the aerosol generator; and
a connector through which aerosol generated by the aerosol generator is delivered;
wherein the aerosol generator housing has signal connection means for connection to a control means to control the operation of the aerosol generator.
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100. Apparatus for delivery of medicament to the respiratory system comprising:
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a medication cup that is adapted to hold a liquid medication to be delivered to a respiratory system;
an aerosol generator;
a housing for the aerosol generator;
a liquid supplier that is adapted to deliver the liquid medicament from the cup to the aerosol generator; and
a connector through which aerosol generated by the aerosol generator is delivered, wherein the medication cup is releasably mounted to the aerosol generator housing.
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101. A nebulizer system comprising:
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at least one tubing section having an inlet and an outlet for delivering air to a patient from a ventilator;
a nebulizer which is adapted to deliver a nebulized fluid to the tubing section for inhalation by a patient on a ventilator, the nebulizer having a vibrating element having a plurality of openings therein, the vibrating element having a front side and a back side; and
wherein vibration of the vibrating element is adapted to move fluid from the back side of the vibrating element through the plurality of openings to produce the nebulized fluid which enters the tubing section for delivery to the patient. - View Dependent Claims (102, 103, 104, 105, 106)
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107. A nebulizing device for a ventilator, comprising:
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a nebulizing element;
a fluid delivery system that is adapted to supply fluid to the nebulizing element; and
at least one tube section which defines a delivery path to the patient, the delivery path being defined by a distance between the nebulizing element and the patient, the delivery path having a length of less than about 500 mm. - View Dependent Claims (108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114)
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115. A method of providing a nebulized fluid to a patient, comprising the steps of:
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providing a nebulizing element and a source of fluid coupled to the nebulizing element, the nebulizing element delivering nebulized fluid into at least one tube section;
coupling the tube section to a patient'"'"'s airway, with the tube section defining a delivery path to the patient, the delivery path being defined by a distance between the nebulizing element and the patient, the delivery path having a length of less than 500 mm.
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116. A method for providing a nebulized fluid to a patient, the method comprising:
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vibrating a vibratable member having a plurality of apertures that is in contact with a fluid to produce a nebulized fluid;
permitting the nebulized fluid to eject into a conduit that is coupled to a ventilator; and
supplying a gas from the ventilator to supply the aerosolized fluid to the patient'"'"'s airway.
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117. A ventilator circuit comprising:
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a nebulizing element;
a fluid delivery system that is adapted to supply a fluid to the nebulizing element;
a ventilator that is adapted to deliver and withdraw gases from a patient; and
a control system operably coupled to the nebulizing element for controlling the nebulizing element and the ventilator. - View Dependent Claims (118, 119, 120)
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121. A method for providing a nebulized fluid to a patient, the method comprising:
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vibrating a vibratable member having a plurality of apertures that is in contact with a fluid to produce a nebulized fluid;
permitting the nebulized fluid to eject into a conduit that is coupled to a ventilator; and
supplying a gas from the ventilator to supply the aerosolized fluid to the patient'"'"'s airway; and
controlling vibration of the vibratable member and the gas supply from the ventilator such that the nebulized fluid is produced immediately before the supply of gas from the ventilator and stops immediately after stopping the supply of gas from the ventilator.
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Specification