AEROSOL CREATED BY DIRECTED FLOW OF FLUIDS AND DEVICES AND METHODS FOR PRODUCING SAME
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of creating small particles by a technology referred to here as “violent focusing” is disclosed, along with devices for generating such violent focusing. In general, the method comprises the steps of forcing a first fluid out of an exit opening of the feeding channel to create a fluid stream. The exit opening is positioned such that the fluid flowing out of the channel flows toward and out of an exit orifice of a pressure chamber which surrounds the exit opening of the feeding channel, and is filled with an atomizing fluid. An atomizing fluid such as a gas is directed towards the first fluid stream in approximately orthogonal directions and surrounding the circumference of the first fluid stream from all sides. The first fluid flow is broken into particles which have dimensions which are smaller than the dimensions of this fluid stream.
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Citations
49 Claims
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1-26. -26. (canceled)
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27. A device for producing aerosolized particles of a pharmaceutically active drug for delivery to a patient comprising:
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a container having therein a liquid formulation comprising a pharmaceutically active drug;
an exit opening of the container through which the liquid formulation is forced;
a gas filled pressure chamber which surrounds the exit opening of the container into which the liquid formulation is forced;
an opening in the pressure chamber positioned substantially directly in front of the liquid supply exit opening;
an energy source which forces liquid from the exit opening and gas from the pressure chamber opening which gas destabilizes the liquid so as to form particles of the liquid. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A system for producing aerosolized particles of a pharmaceutically active drug, comprising a plurality of aerosol generating devices, wherein each device comprises:
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a container having therein a liquid formulation comprising a pharmaceutically active drug;
an exit opening of the container through which the liquid formulation is forced;
a gas filled pressure chamber which surrounds the exit opening of the container into which the liquid formulation is forced;
an opening in the pressure chamber positioned substantially directly in front of the liquid supply exit opening;
an energy wave which forces liquid from the exit opening and gas from the pressure chamber opening which destabilizes the liquid so as to form particles of the liquid.
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41. A method of generating an aerosol, comprising the steps of:
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forcing a liquid formulation comprised of a pharmaceutically active drug through a feeding supply channel and out of an exit opening thereby forming a liquid stream;
filling a pressure chamber with a gas which chamber is in fluid connection with the exit opening of the feeding supply channel;
forcing the gas toward and into the liquid stream in a manner which reduces the circumference of the liquid stream and breaks the liquid stream into particles having a diameter less than the diameter of the exit opening of the feeding supply channel; and
allowing the gas to exert force on the liquid stream and force particles of the liquid out of an exit orifice of the pressure chamber positioned downstream of a direction of flow of the liquid stream. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. A method comprising:
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forcing a first liquid formulation comprised of a pharmaceutically active drug through a feeding supply means and out of an exit opening of the feeding supply means as a first liquid stream;
filling a pressure chamber with a gas which chamber is in fluid connection with the exit opening of the feeding supply means;
forcing the gas toward and into the first liquid stream circumference in a manner which reduces the circumference of the first liquid stream and breaks the stream into particles having a diameter less than the diameter of the exit opening of the first liquid feeding supply means; and
allowing the gas to exert force on the first liquid stream and force particles of the first liquid out of an exit orifice of the pressure chamber positioned downstream of a direction of the flow of the first liquid stream. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49)
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Specification