Methods and Systems for Operating an Aerosol Generator

• US 20080142002A1
• Filed: 01/23/2008
• Published: 06/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Novartis Ag
• Original Assignee: Aerogen, Inc. (Nektar Therapeutics)
• Inventors: Dunne, Paul, Power, John, Smith, Niall, Moran, Declan, O'Sullivan, Gavan, Gibbons, Keith, Ivri, Ehud, Fink, James B.
• Granted Patent: US 8,196,573 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/200.14
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/7036 having at least one amino group directly attached to the carbocyclic ring, e.g. streptomycin, gentamycin, amikacin, validamycin, fortimicins
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0078 for inhalation via a nebulizer such as a jet nebulizer, ultrasonic nebulizer, e.g. in the form of aqueous drug solutions or dispersions
• 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 16/0833 T- or Y-type connectors, e.g. Y-piece
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0858 Pressure sampling ports
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/1065 in the expiratory path
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/14 by mixing different fluids, one of them being in a liquid phase
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/20 Valves specially adapted to medical respiratory devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/208 Non-controlled one-way valves, e.g. exhalation, check, pop-off non-rebreathing valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0021 with a proportional output signal, e.g. from a thermistor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0027 pressure meter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3561 local, e.g. within room or hospital
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3569 sublocal, e.g. between console and disposable
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 11/00 Drugs for disorders of the respiratory system
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 31/04 Antibacterial agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 31/10 Antimycotics
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 31/12 Antivirals
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 33/02 Antiprotozoals, e.g. for leishmaniasis, trichomoniasis, toxoplasmosis

Abstract

A system for intermittent delivery of an aerosolized medicament is disclosed. The system may include an aerosol generator, a controller and a conduit. The aerosol generator may be configured to aerosolize a medicament. The controller may be configured to receive physiological characteristic information about a patient, and control the aerosol generator based at least in part on the physiological characteristic information. The conduit may be configured to supply the aerosolized medicament to the patient'"'"'s airway.

Claims

1. A system for intermittent delivery of an aerosolized medicament, the system comprising:

an aerosol generator configured to aerosolize a medicament;

a controller, wherein the controller is configured to;

receive physiological characteristic information about a patient; and

control the aerosol generator based at least in part on the physiological characteristic information; and

a conduit that is configured to supply the aerosolized medicament to the patient'"'"'s airway.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the physiological characteristic information comprises data representative of breathing.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the aerosol generator comprises:

an aerosolization element defining a plurality of apertures; and

a vibratory element configured to vibrate the aerosolization element.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the aerosolization element has a first side and a second side, and wherein when the aerosolization element is vibrated, a liquid medicament at the first side moves through the apertures and is ejected as aerosolized medicament from the second side.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the physiological characteristic information comprises breathing characteristic information, and wherein the controller is configured to activate the aerosol generator once a threshold level of inhalation has been achieved.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to:

store physiological characteristic information; and

control the aerosol generator based at least in part on the stored physiological characteristic information.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to:

store at least one aerosol generator operation program; and

control the aerosol generator based at least in part on the aerosol generator operation program.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the aerosol generator operation program comprises at least two instructions selected from a group consisting of:

(i) activate the aerosol generator at a predetermined point in an inhalation phase of the patient, and deactivate the aerosol generator at a predetermined point in the inhalation phase of the patient;

(ii) activate the aerosol generator at a predetermined point in the inhalation phase of the patient, and deactivate the aerosol generator at a predetermined point in an exhalation phase of the patient;

(iii) activate the aerosol generator at a predetermined point in the exhalation phase of the patient, and deactivate the aerosol generator at a predetermined point in the exhalation phase of the patient; and

(iv) activate the aerosol generator at a predetermined point in the exhalation phase of the patient, and deactivate the aerosol generator at a predetermined point in the inhalation phase of the patient.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the conduit comprises a ventilator circuit, and wherein:

the physiological characteristic information is received from the ventilator circuit; and

the aerosol generator operation program comprises at least two instructions selected from a group consisting of;

(i) activate the aerosol generator at a predetermined point in an output phase of the ventilator circuit, and deactivate the aerosol generator at a predetermined point in the output phase of the ventilator circuit;

(ii) activate the aerosol generator at a predetermined point in the output phase of the ventilator circuit, and deactivate the aerosol generator at a predetermined point in a non-output phase of the ventilator circuit;

(iii) activate the aerosol generator at a predetermined point in the non-output phase of the ventilator circuit, and deactivate the aerosol generator at a predetermined point in the non-output phase of the ventilator circuit; and

(iv) activate the aerosol generator at a predetermined point in the non-output phase of the ventilator circuit, and deactivate the aerosol generator at a predetermined point in the output phase of the ventilator circuit.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises a sensor configured to monitor and transmit physiological characteristic information.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the sensor comprises a pressure sensor configured to sense pressure changes in the conduit.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the conduit comprises a ventilator circuit.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the controller is configured to activate the aerosol generator once a threshold level of respiratory gas is supplied by the ventilator circuit.

14. A method for intermittent delivery of an aerosolized medicament, the method comprising:

receiving information on a physiological characteristic of a patient;

controlling an aerosol generator based at least in part on the information, to aerosolize a medicament; and

providing the aerosolized medicament to a patient.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the information comprises breathing characteristic information from the patient.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the information comprises data representative of breathing.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein controlling the aerosol generator based at least in part on the information comprises activating the aerosol generator once a threshold level of inhalation has been achieved.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

storing the information; and

controlling the aerosol generator based at least in part on the stored information.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein controlling the aerosol generator based at least in part on the information comprises at least two selections from a group consisting of:

(i) activating the aerosol generator at a predetermined point in an inhalation phase of the patient, and deactivating the aerosol generator at a predetermined point in the inhalation phase of the patient;

(ii) activating the aerosol generator at a predetermined point in the inhalation phase of the patient, and deactivating the aerosol generator at a predetermined point in an exhalation phase of the patient;

(iii) activating the aerosol generator at a predetermined point in the exhalation phase of the patient, and deactivating the aerosol generator at a predetermined point in the exhalation phase of the patient; and

(iv) activating the aerosol generator at a predetermined point in the exhalation phase of the patient, and deactivating the aerosol generator at a predetermined point in the inhalation phase of the patient.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the information comprises a signal from a ventilator circuit, and the method further comprises introducing the aerosolized medicament into the ventilator circuit.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein controlling an aerosol generator to aerosolize a medicament based at least in part on the information comprises at least two selections from a group consisting of:

(i) activating the aerosol generator at a predetermined point in an output phase of the ventilator circuit, and deactivating the aerosol generator at a predetermined point in the output phase of the ventilator circuit;

(ii) activating the aerosol generator at a predetermined point in the output phase of the ventilator circuit, and deactivating the aerosol generator at a predetermined point in a non-output phase of the ventilator circuit;

(iii) activating the aerosol generator at a predetermined point in the non-output phase of the ventilator circuit, and deactivating the aerosol generator at a predetermined point in the non-output phase of the ventilator circuit; and

(iv) activating the aerosol generator at a predetermined point in the non-output phase of the ventilator circuit, and deactivating the aerosol generator at a predetermined point in the output phase of the ventilator circuit.

22. The method of claim 14, further comprising providing a respiratory gas from a ventilator circuit to the patient.

23. A method of administering an aerosolized medicament for the treatment of a pulmonary disease, the method comprising:

providing an aerosol generator comprising an aperture plate having a plurality of apertures and a vibratable member for vibrating the aperture plate such that a liquid supplied to the aperture plate is ejected as liquid droplets through the apertures to form an aerosol;

measuring at least one characteristic of a breath taken by a patient to be treated; and

operating the aerosol generator based on the measured characteristics of the one or more measured breaths.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the aerosol generator is operated according to the wave form in FIG. 12B or FIG. 12C.