Aerosol delivery apparatus and method for pressure-assisted breathing systems

• US 20050229928A1
• Filed: 06/30/2004
• Published: 10/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Novartis Pharma AG (Novartis Ag)
• Original Assignee: Aerogen, Inc. (Nektar Therapeutics)
• Inventors: Ivri, Ehud, Fink, James
• Granted Patent: US 7,290,541 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/203.120
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/00 Sprayers or atomisers specially adapted for therapeutic purposes in general B05B; aerosol containers B65D83/14
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/005 using ultrasonics spraying or atomising liquids using ultrasonic vibrations in general B05B17/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/08 Bellows; Connecting tubes having means for taking samples G01N1/22; Water traps; Patient circuits
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0833 T- or Y-type connectors, e.g. Y-piece

Abstract

A pressure-assisted breathing system comprises a flow generator, a circuit connecting the flow generator to a patient'"'"'s respiratory system and an aerosol generator for emitting aerosol particles into the circuit, wherein the circuit defines a path for the emitted aerosol particles having a change in angle no greater than 15°.

Claims

1. A pressure-assisted breathing system comprising:

an air flow generator;

a circuit connecting the air flow generator to a patient'"'"'s respiratory system; and

an aerosol generator for emitting aerosol particles into the circuit;

wherein the circuit defines a path for the emitted aerosol particles having a change in angle of no greater than 15°

.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein the change in path angle is no greater than 12°

.

3. A system according to claim 1 wherein the circuit defines a straight. path for the emitted aerosol particles.

4. A system according to claim 1 wherein the circuit comprises a ventilator system.

6. A system according to claim 1 wherein the aerosol generator comprises a nebulizer.

7. A system according to claim 6 wherein the nebulizer comprises a reservoir for holding a liquid medicament to be delivered to the patient'"'"'s respiratory system and a vibrating aperture-type aerosol generator for aerosolizing the liquid medicament.

8. A system according to claim 7 wherein the reservoir has a capacity equal to one unit dose of medicament.

9. A system according to claim 7 wherein the reservoir is rotatable to maintain optimum gravity feeding of liquid medicament to the aerosol generator during varied positions of the patient and/or the other components of the circuit.

10. A system according to claim 1 wherein the circuit comprises a ventilator circuit having a inspiratory tube and a expiratory tube converging on a junction device connected to a respiratory circuit, the junction device having:

(a) a tubular main body member having a straight longitudinal lumen extending from a first end attached to the inspiratory tube to a second end attached to the respiratory circuit; and

(b) a tubular branch member having a lumen extending from the longitudinal lumen to a third end attached to the expiratory tube.

11. A system according to claim 10 wherein the aerosol generator is positioned to emit aerosol particles into the inspiratory tube.

12. A system according to claim 10 wherein the aerosol generator is positioned to emit aerosol particles into the longitudinal lumen of the junction device.

13. A system according to claim 1 wherein said circuit comprises a ventilator circuit and a patient interface device attached to the ventilator circuit.

14. A system according to claim 13 wherein the aerosol generator is a nebulizer positioned to emit aerosol particles into the circuit between the ventilator circuit and the patient interface device.

15. A system according to claim 14 wherein the aerosol generator is located in the direct vicinity of the patient'"'"'s nose, mouth or artificial airway.

16. A system according to claim 13 wherein the patient interface device comprises a tubular inlet section connected to a pair of nasal cannula by a tubular forked section, wherein a lumen in the inlet section is in fluid communication with lumens in each prong of the forked section so as to provide two substantially parallel paths for aerosol particles passing therethrough, each path having a change of angle no greater than 15°

.

5. A system according to claim I wherein the circuit comprises a CPAP system.

17. A junction device for connecting the tubes of a pressure-assisted breathing system, said junction device comprising:

a tubular main body member having a substantially straight longitudinal lumen extending its entire length for conducting a first flow of gas carrying aerosol particles from a first tube attached to one end of the longitudinal lumen to a second tube attached to the opposite end of the longitudinal lumen; and

a tubular branch member in fluid communication with the longitudinal lumen at one end of the branch member and attached to a third tube at the opposite end of the branch member for conducting a second flow of gas substantially free of said aerosol particles into or out of the longitudinal lumen.

18. A junction device according to claim 17 further comprising:

a nebulizer port for attaching a nebulizer to the main body member so as to introduce said aerosol particles into the first flow of gas.

19. A patient interface device for the delivery of aerosol particles to a patient comprising:

a tubular inlet section having a longitudinal lumen;

a pair of nasal cannula; and

a tubular forked section connecting the inlet section to the nasal cannula;

wherein the longitudinal lumen is in fluid communication with lumens in each prong of the forked section so as to define two substantially parallel paths for the aerosol particles, each path having a change of angle no greater than 15°

.

20. An NCPAP system comprising:

(a) a pressure-generating circuit;

(b) a patient interface device connected to the pressure-generating circuit for conducting a pressurized flow of gas from the pressure-generating circuit to a patient;

said patient interface device comprising;

(i) a tubular inlet section having a longitudinal lumen;

(ii)a pair of nasal cannula; and

(iii) a tubular forked section connecting the inlet section to the nasal cannula;

wherein the longitudinal lumen is in fluid communication with lumens in each prong of the forked section so as to conduct the flow of gas along two substantially parallel paths to the nasal cannula, each path having a change of angle no greater than 15°

; and

(c) a nebulizer positioned between the pressure-generating circuit and the patient interface device so as to emit aerosol particles of medicament into the flow of gas to the patient interface device.

21. A method of delivering an aerosolized medicament to a subject'"'"'s respiratory system comprising the steps of:

attaching the subject to a pressure-assisted breathing system comprising an air flow generator;

a circuit connecting the air flow generator to the subject'"'"'s respiratory system; and

an aerosol generator for emitting aerosol particles of medicament into the circuit;

wherein the circuit defines a path for the emitted aerosol particles having a change in angle of no greater than 15°

; and

administering the aerosol particles of medicament to said subject via the pressure-assisted breathing system.

22. A method according to claim 21 wherein the pressure-assisted breathing system is a mechanical ventilator system comprising a ventilator circuit having an inspiratory tube and a expiratory tube converging on a junction device connected to a respiratory circuit comprising a patient interface device;

the junction device comprising;

(a) a tubular main body member having a straight longitudinal lumen extending from a first end attached to the inspiratory tube to a second end attached to the respiratory circuit; and

(b) a tubular branch member having a lumen extending from the longitudinal lumen to a third end attached to the expiratory tube.

23. A method according to claim 22 wherein the aerosol particles of medicament are introduced into the inspiratory tube of the ventilator circuit or into the longitudinal lumen of the junction device.

24. A method according to claim 22 wherein the aerosol particles of medicament are introduced into the respiratory circuit in direct proximity to the patient'"'"'s mouth, nose or artificial airway.

25. A method according to claim 22 wherein the subject is a patient exhibiting one or more symptoms of infection and the medicament is an antibiotic.

26. A method according to claim 21 wherein the pressure-assisted breathing system is a NCPAP system comprising:

(a) a pressure-generating circuit;

(b) a patient interface device connected to the pressure-generating circuit for conducting a pressurized flow of gas from the pressure-generating circuit to a patient;

said patient interface device comprising;

(i) a tubular inlet section having a longitudinal lumen;

(ii)a pair of nasal cannula; and

(iii) a tubular forked section connecting the inlet section to the nasal cannula;

wherein the longitudinal lumen is in fluid communication with lumens in each prong of the forked section so as to conduct the flow of gas along two substantially parallel paths to the nasal cannula, each path having a change of angle no greater than 15°

; and

(c) a nebulizer positioned between the pressure-generating circuit and the patient interface device so as to emit aerosol particles of medicament into the flow of gas to the patient interface device.

27. A method according to claim 26 wherein the patient is an infant exhibiting one or more symptoms of infant respiratory distress syndrome and the medicament is a surfactant.

28. A method of treating infant respiratory distress syndrome comprising the steps of:

(a) attaching the infant to a NCPAP system comprising;

(i) a pressure-generating circuit;

(ii) a respiratory circuit that conducts a pressurized gas flow from the pressure-generating circuit to a nasal cannula patient interface device, and

(iii) a vibrating aperture-type nebulizer in fluid communication with the respiratory circuit so as to introduce aerosol particles of surfactant medication into the pressurized gas flow in the respiratory circuit;

wherein the nasal cannula interface device defines a path for the emitted aerosol particles that has a change in angle no greater than 15°

; and

(b) administering the aerosol particles of surfactant medicament to the infant via the nasal cannula interface device.