Breath-enhanced ultrasonic nebulizer and dedicated unit dose ampoule
First Claim
1. A medicament delivery system comprising:
- A. a nebulizer including a housing extending along a housing axis from a base end to an energy delivery end, said housing including therein;
i. an ultrasonic transducer responsive to applied electrical energy to generate ultrasonic energy at an output surface thereof;
ii. an ultrasonic transmission horn extending along said housing axis between an input energy surface at an input end and an energy delivery surface at an output end, said input energy surface being acoustically coupled to said output surface of said transducer, said horn being adapted to transmit ultrasonic energy applied at said. input energy surface along said housing axis to said energy delivery surface, B. an open-faced mist chamber-defining element extending along a chamber axis from an open-faced coupling end and said mist chamber-defining element including a tubular input/output port extending therefrom along a port axis, said port axis being angularly offset from said chamber axis, C. coupling means for selectively coupling said open-faced coupling end of said mist chamber-defining element to said energy delivery end of said housing whereby said interior volume of said mist chamber-defining element is opposite said energy delivery surface of said horn and said chamber axis is substantially parallel to said housing axis, D. a tubular inhalation port extending between a user end and a device end, E. a bidirectioinal valve assembly having a first port coupled to said device end of said inhalation port, a second port coupled to said port of said mist chamber-defining element and a third port coupled to points exterior to said bidirectioinal valve assembly, wherein said valve assembly defines a unidirectional airflow path only from said interior volume of said mist chamber-defining element to said user end of said inhalation port when the pneumatic pressure in said inhalation port is lower than the pneumatic pressure in said interior volume of said mist chamber-defining element, and wherein said valve assembly defines a unidirectional airflow path only from said user end of said inhalation port to said exterior points, when the pneumatic pressure in said inhalation port is greater than the pneumatic pressure in said interior volume of said mist chamber-defining element.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A medicament delivery system comprises a nebulizer device, an open-faced mist chamber-defining element having a tubular input/output port, a tubular inhalation port connecting to the output port of the mist chamber-defining element, and a sealed unit dose ampoule adapted to fit within the mist chamber-defining element. The nebulizer device includes an ultrasonic transducer responsive to applied electrical energy to generate ultrasonic energy, an ultrasonic transmission horn between an input energy surface at an input end and an energy delivery surface at an output end. The sealed unit dose ampoule can be placed directly into the nebulizer device and acts as both the dose cup and baffle, so that the chance of spillage of drug and the number of components to be cleaned are minimized. The unit dose ampoule has a conical base to allow ultrasonic energy conducted from the ultrasonic system to be concentrated at the base of the ampoule. The inhalation port includes an inhalation valve and an exhalation valve.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A medicament delivery system comprising:
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A. a nebulizer including a housing extending along a housing axis from a base end to an energy delivery end, said housing including therein;
i. an ultrasonic transducer responsive to applied electrical energy to generate ultrasonic energy at an output surface thereof;
ii. an ultrasonic transmission horn extending along said housing axis between an input energy surface at an input end and an energy delivery surface at an output end, said input energy surface being acoustically coupled to said output surface of said transducer, said horn being adapted to transmit ultrasonic energy applied at said. input energy surface along said housing axis to said energy delivery surface, B. an open-faced mist chamber-defining element extending along a chamber axis from an open-faced coupling end and said mist chamber-defining element including a tubular input/output port extending therefrom along a port axis, said port axis being angularly offset from said chamber axis, C. coupling means for selectively coupling said open-faced coupling end of said mist chamber-defining element to said energy delivery end of said housing whereby said interior volume of said mist chamber-defining element is opposite said energy delivery surface of said horn and said chamber axis is substantially parallel to said housing axis, D. a tubular inhalation port extending between a user end and a device end, E. a bidirectioinal valve assembly having a first port coupled to said device end of said inhalation port, a second port coupled to said port of said mist chamber-defining element and a third port coupled to points exterior to said bidirectioinal valve assembly, wherein said valve assembly defines a unidirectional airflow path only from said interior volume of said mist chamber-defining element to said user end of said inhalation port when the pneumatic pressure in said inhalation port is lower than the pneumatic pressure in said interior volume of said mist chamber-defining element, and wherein said valve assembly defines a unidirectional airflow path only from said user end of said inhalation port to said exterior points, when the pneumatic pressure in said inhalation port is greater than the pneumatic pressure in said interior volume of said mist chamber-defining element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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11. A medicament delivery system wherein said bi-direction valve assembly is integral with said port of said mist chamber-defining element.
Specification