Inhalation device and method for delivering variable amounts of different components

• US 20040084044A1
• Filed: 10/31/2002
• Published: 05/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Childers, Winthrop D., Tyvoll, David
• Granted Patent: US 6,886,557 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/200.14
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0003 with means for dispensing more than one drug
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0065 Inhalators with dosage or measuring devices A61M15/0028 takes precedence; dosage devices incorporated in aerosol cans B65D83/52
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0066 with means for varying the dose size
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/008 Electronic counters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0083 Timers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/025 Bubble jet droplet ejection devices

Abstract

An inhalation device configured to programmably emit small droplets of multiple components in which quantities of the multiple components can vary with each successive activation of the inhalation device.

Claims

1. An inhalation device comprising:

an inhalation chamber;

control electronics having an information storage portion;

first and second microfluidic aerosol generators governed by the control electronics, the first and second microfluidic aerosol generators capable of emitting droplets of first and second materials, respectively, into the inhalation chamber, wherein at least one material is pharmacologically active;

wherein the information storage portion includes information for quantities of the first and second materials to be emitted with each activation of the inhalation device, the quantities of the first and second pharmacologically active materials are variable with respect to each other.

2. The inhalation device of claim 1 wherein both the first and second materials are pharmacologically active.

3. The inhalation device of claim 2 wherein the first material has primary pharmacological activity and a second pharmacologically active material has substitutional pharmacological activity.

4. The inhalation device of claim 3 wherein the amount of the material having primary pharmacological activity is decreased in response to at least one of elapsed time, use frequency and a programmed weaning protocol, and wherein the amount of the material having substitutional activity is delivered in an amount complimentary to the amount of the material having primary pharmacological activity delivered.

5. The inhalation device of claim 4 wherein the material having primary pharmacological activity is nicotine.

6. The inhalation device of claim 5 wherein the material having substitutional pharmacological activity includes at least one of flavoring compounds, fragrance compounds, bronchodilators, adjuvants, and complimentary medicants.

7. The inhalation device of claim 6 wherein the flavoring compound includes at least one of eucalyptus extract, mint, mint oil and menthol.

8. The inhalation device of claim 6 wherein the flavoring compound includes at least one of vanilla and cocoa.

9. The inhalation device of claim 6 wherein the adjuvant compound includes at least one of ammonium compounds and levulinic acid.

10. The inhalation device of claim 6 wherein the complimentary medicant includes at least one of cough suppressants, expectorants, and throat soothers.

11. The inhalation device of claim 1 wherein the information for quantities of the first and second materials to be emitted includes at least one of total dosage, programmed dispersing regimen, amounts of respective quantities dispensed, interval since last dispensation, and use frequency.

12. The inhalation device of claim 1 wherein the information storage portion of the control electronics includes a look-up table specifying quantities of the first and second materials to be ejected with each activation of the inhalation device.

13. The inhalation device of claim 1 wherein the information storage portion of the control electronics includes a mathematical algorithm controlling quantities of the first and second materials to be ejected with each activation of the inhalation device wherein quantities vary with each successive activation.

14. The inhalation device of claim 1 wherein the first and second microfluidic aerosol generators are microfluidic drop ejection devices, each microfluidic drop ejector configured to dispense an associated pharmacologically active material.

15. The inhalation device of claim 1 further comprising a sensor capable of detecting at least one externally originated event actionable on the device, the sensor capable of emitting at least one signal receivable by the control electronics.

16. The inhalation device of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and second material is a fluidizable solid.

17. A smoking cessation device comprising:

an inhalation passage;

control electronics having an information storage portion;

first and second microfluidic aerosol generators under control of the control electronics, a first microfluidic aerosol generator delivering quantities of a nicotine-containing material and a second microfluidic aerosol generator delivering quantities of an associated smoking cessation agent, respectively, into the inhalation passage;

wherein the information storage portion includes information for quantities of the nicotine-containing material and the associated smoking cessation agent to be delivered on a given activation of the smoking cessation device, the quantities varying with respect to each other.

18. The smoking cessation device of claim 17 wherein the control electronics includes logic to regulate and vary quantities of nicotine-containing material and the associated smoking cessation agent in response to at least one of total dosage, programmed dispensing regimen, amounts of respective quantities dispensed, interval since last dispensation, and usage frequency.

19. The smoking cessation device of claim 17 further comprising at least one sensor capable of detecting at least one externally originated event actionable on the device, the sensor capable of emitting at least one signal receivable by the control electronics.

20. The smoking cessation device of claim 17 wherein the first and second microfluidic aerosol generators are microfluidic drop ejection devices.

21. The smoking cessation device of claim 17 further comprising a reservoir in fluid communication with the first and second microfluidic aerosol generators.

22. The smoking cessation device of claim 21 wherein the reservoir includes a plurality of chambers, each chamber in fluid communication with an associated ejector, each chamber containing at least one smoking cessation agent.

23. The smoking cessation device of claim 22 wherein at least one of the chambers contains a nicotine-containing material.

24. The smoking cessation device of claim 23 wherein at least one additional chamber contains an associated smoking cessation agent from a group which includes at least one of flavoring compounds, fragrance compounds, bronchodilators, adjuvants, and complimentary medicants.

25. The smoking cessation device of claim 17 wherein the information storage portion of the control electronics includes at least one of a look-up table and an algorithm.

26. The smoking cessation device of claim 17 wherein the control electronics operate on the first and second microfluidic aerosol generators to administer total dose of nicotine-containing material over a defined interval and a variable amount of associated smoking cessation agent, the amount of associated smoking cessation agent administered determined by at least one of the amount of nicotine-containing material delivered, interval since last device activation, and frequency of activation.

27. The smoking cessation device of claim 17 further comprising a lockout mechanism for preventing emission of amount of nicotine in excess of a predetermined amount contained in the memory device.

28. The smoking cessation device of claim 17 further comprising a user interface device for permitting adjustment of the amount of smoking cessation agent delivered.

29. The smoking cessation device of claim 17 wherein delivered quantities of nicotine-containing material and quantities of associated smoking cessation agent vary with respect to number and sequence of activations of the inhalation device.

30. The smoking cessation device of claim 29 wherein delivered quantities of nicotine-containing material and quantities of associated smoking cessation agent remain constant over multiple activations.

31. The smoking cessation device of claim 29 wherein delivered quantities of nicotine-containing material and quantities of associated smoking cessation agent remain constant over a chronological interval.

32. An inhalation device comprising:

an inhalation chamber;

control electronics having an information storage portion and a chronometer;

first, second and third microfluidic aerosol generators under the control of the control electronics, the first and second ejectors capable of emitting droplets of first, second and third materials, respectively, into the inhalation chamber, wherein at least one material is pharmacologically active;

wherein the information storage portion includes information for quantities of the first, second, and third materials to be emitted upon activation of the inhalation device, the quantities of the first and second materials vary and the quantity of the third material emitted is regulated over time.

33. The inhalation device of claim 32 further comprising an interface, the interface actionable on the control electronics to adjust emission of at least one of the pharmacologically active materials.

34. The inhalation device of claim 32 further comprising a sensor capable of detecting at lest one externally originated event actionable on the device, the sensor capable of generating at least one signal receivable by the control electronics.

35. The inhalation device of claim 32 wherein the information storage portion of the control electronics includes a look-up table specifying quantities of the first and second materials to be emitted upon activation of the inhalation device.

36. The inhalation device of claim 32 wherein the information storage portion of the control electronics includes a mathematical algorithm controlling quantities of the first and second materials to be ejected with each activation of the inhaler, the quantities vary with each successive activation.

37. The inhalation device of claim 32 wherein the first, second or third ejectors are microfluidic drop ejection devices.

38. An inhalation therapy method comprising the steps of:

delivering a first dose of an inhalable composition from programmably controlled microfluidic aerosol generators into the airway of a user, the first dose of the inhalable composition comprising an initial quantity of first and second materials, wherein at least at one material is pharmacologically active; and

delivering a second dose of inhalable composition from programmably controlled microfluidic aerosol generators into the airway of a user, the second dose of inhalable composition comprising second quantities of the first and second materials wherein at least one of component of the second doses varies from the respective initial quantity.

39. The inhalation therapy method of claim 38 wherein quantities of the first and second materials programmably emitted by the microfluidic aerosol generator are governed by information contained in suitable control electronics associated with the microfluidic aerosol generator.

40. The inhalation therapy method of claim 38 wherein composition of the second dose is regulated by at least one of total dosage, amounts of respective quantities dispensed, interval since last dispensation, and usage frequency.

41. The inhalation thereby method of claim 40 wherein the inhalable composition includes a third material, the third material emitted from a microfluidic aerosol generator.

42. The inhalation device of claim 40 further comprising the step of delivering additional doses into the airway of the user, wherein quantities of at least one component are varied by at least one of total dosage, amounts of respective quantities dispensed, interval since last dispensation, and usage frequency.

43. A smoking cessation method comprising the steps of:

delivering a first dose of an inhalable composition into the airway of a user, the inhalable composition comprising an initial quantity of a nicotine-containing material and an initial quantity of a smoking cessation agent, the nicotine-containing material and the smoking cessation agent emitted from a microfluidic aerosol generator;

delivering a second dose of an inhalable composition into the airway of the user, the second dose comprising an amount of the nicotine-containing compound and an amount of the smoking cessation agent emitted from a microfluidic aerosol generator wherein the amount of at least one of the nicotine-containing compound and the smoking cessation agent varies with respect to each other.

44. The smoking cessation method of claim 43 wherein quantities of the nicotine-containing compound and the smoking cessation agent emitted by the microfluidic aerosol generator is governed by information contained in suitable control electronics associated with the generator.

45. The smoking cessation method of claim 44 wherein the amount of the smoking cessation material emitted by the microfluidic aerosol generator is varied by at least one of intensity of user demand, and amount of nicotine-containing material emitted, wherein the amount of smoking cessation agent emitted varies in a manner complimentary to the amount of nicotine-containing material emitted.

46. The smoking cessation method of claim 45 further comprising the step of recording at least one of time of initial dose, intensity of demand, and amount of nicotine administered.

47. The smoking cessation method of claim 53 further comprising the step of controlling the amount of nicotine-containing material and the amount of smoking cessation material emitted from the microfluidic aerosol generator, control exerted by control electronics having an information storage portion including information governing quantities of the nicotine-containing materials and the smoking cessation material to be ejected with each dose.

48. An inhalation device comprising:

an inhalation chamber;

means for generating aerosolized quantities of first and second materials and introducing the materials into the inhalation chamber, wherein at least one material is pharmacologically active;

means for controlling generation of the first and second materials such that the quantities of the first and second material are variable with respect to each other.