Vibration Systems and Methods

• US 20090134235A1
• Filed: 04/17/2006
• Published: 05/28/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stamford Devices Limited
• Original Assignee: Aerogen, Inc. (Nektar Therapeutics)
• Inventors: Ivri, Yehuda
• Granted Patent: US 9,108,211 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 239/4
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/00 Inhalators drug delivery in endotracheal tubes A61M16/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0085 using ultrasonics spraying or atomising liquids using ultrasonic vibrations in general B05B17/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/009 using medicine packages with incorporated spraying means, e.g. aerosol cans pocket atomiser of the injector type A61M11/08
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 17/04 operating with special methods
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 17/0646 Vibrating plates, i.e. plates being directly subjected to the vibrations, e.g. having a piezoelectric transducer attached thereto
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 17/0676 Feeding means
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/20 with electrical input and mechanical output, e.g. functioning as actuators or vibrators
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/88 Mounts; Supports; Enclosures; Casings
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/42 Piezoelectric device making

Abstract

In one or more embodiments, a vibration system comprises a vibratable plate, a support member surrounding the vibratable plate, and a vibration-inducing member surrounding the support member, wherein the vibration-inducing member is configured to radially expand and contract against the support member so as to produce axial vibration of the vibratable plate. In one embodiment, the vibratable plate has an outer circumference; a tubular member is concentrically disposed about the outer circumference of the plate, and an annular vibration-inducing member is concentrically disposed about the outer circumference of the tubular member. The vibration-inducing member is preferably a piezoelectric ring that is radially expandable and contractable against the wall of the tubular member to cause the plate to vibrate in the axial direction. In another embodiment, an aerosol generating system comprises an piezoelectric ring that is radially expandable and contractable upon actuation thereof; a tubular member disposed within the center hole of the piezoelectric ring, and a circular vibratable aperture plate disposed across the internal lumen of the tubular member. The piezoelectric ring is radially expandable and contractable against the tubular member to cause the aperture plate to vibrate in the axial direction, and a reservoir of liquid is coupled to the tubular member so as to supply the liquid to the vibratable aperture plate and produce an aerosol upon vibration thereof.

Claims

1. A vibration system comprising:

a vibratable plate;

a support member surrounding the vibratable plate, the support member aligning the vibratable plate; and

a vibration-inducing member surrounding the support member, wherein the vibration-inducing member is configured to radially expand and contract against the support member so as to produce axial vibration of the vibratable plate.

2. A vibration system as in claim 1 wherein the vibratable plate is circular, the support member has a circular cross-section into which the circular vibratable plate is disposed, and the vibration-inducing member is an annular disc having a central opening into which the support member is disposed.

3. A vibration system as in claim 2 wherein the support member comprises a thin-walled tubular member and the vibration-inducing member is a piezoelectric ring.

41. The vibration system of claim 1 wherein the vibration inducing member is in co-planar alignment with a periphery of the vibratable plate.

4. A vibration system comprising:

a circular vibratable plate having an outer circumference;

a tubular member concentrically disposed about the outer circumference of the plate, the tubular member aligning the circular vibratable plate, wherein the tubular member has an outer circumference; and

an annular vibration-inducing member concentrically disposed about the outer circumference of the tubular member, wherein the vibration-inducing member is radially expandable and contractable against the tubular member to cause the plate to vibrate in the axial direction.

5. A system as in claim 4, wherein the plate includes a plurality of tapered apertures.

6. A system as in claim 5, wherein the plate has a thickness in the range from about 20 microns to about 100 microns.

7. A system as in claim 5, wherein the plate is dome-shaped.

8. A system as in claim 5, further comprising a reservoir of liquid which is adapted to supply the liquid to the plate.

9. A system as in claim 5, wherein the tubular member includes a sharpened end adapted to extract liquid from a vial of liquid by piercing a membrane covering an opening in said vial.

10. A system as in claim 4, wherein the tubular member has a wall thickness in the range from about 0.1 mm to about 0.5 mm.

11. A system as in claim 4, wherein the vibration-inducing member comprises a piezoelectric ring.

12. A system as in claim 11, wherein the tubular member includes at least one resilient segment disposed therein.

13. A system as in claim 12, wherein a ring is disposed around the outer circumference of the piezoelectric ring to adjust the operating frequency of the piezoelectric ring.

14. A system as in claim 4, further comprising a mounting structure disposed inside the tubular member, the mounting structure supporting the circular vibratable plate.

15. A system as in claim 4, further comprising a controller for controlling the radial expansion and contraction of the vibration-inducing member and wires connecting the controller to the vibration-inducing member.

16. A system as in claim 4 wherein the vibration-inducing member is removable from the tubular member.

17. A method of vibrating a plate comprising the steps of:

inserting a vibratable plate into a support structure that surrounds the plate;

aligning the vibratable plate using the support structure;

surrounding the support structure including vibratable plate with a vibration-inducing member that is configured to expand and contract radially; and

actuating the vibration-inducing member to produce radial expansion and contraction against the support member to cause axial vibration of the vibratable plate.

18. A method as in claim 17, wherein the support member filters out vibration other than axial vibration.

19. A method for vibrating a plate, comprising:

providing a plate having an outer circumference and a tubular member disposed about the outer circumference of the plate, said tubular member having an outer circumference;

aligning the plate using the tubular member;

providing a piezoelectric ring concentrically positioned about the outer circumference of the tubular member at a location coinciding with the outer circumference of the plate; and

radially expanding and contracting the piezoelectric ring against the tubular member so as to cause the plate to vibrate in the axial direction.

20. A method as in claim 19, wherein the piezoelectric ring is vibrated at a frequency in the range from about 20 Khz to about 500 Khz.

21. A method as in claim 19, wherein the plate includes a plurality of apertures, and further comprising supplying a liquid to the plate to aerosolize the liquid as liquid droplets.

22. A method as in claim 21, wherein the droplets have a size in the range from about 3 micrometers to 6 micrometers, and wherein the liquid is aerosolized at a rate of about 5 microliters/second to about 20 microliters/second.

23. A method as in claim 21, further comprising coupling a reservoir to the tubular member to supply the liquid to the plate.

24. An aerosol generating system, comprising:

a piezoelectric ring having a center hole with an inner circumference adapted to expand and contract radially when electrically activated;

at least one electrical connection to said piezoelectric ring for electrical actuation thereof a tubular member disposed within the center hole of the piezoelectric ring, said tubular member having an outer circumference in contact with the inner circumference of said center hole and a cylindrical wall defining an internal lumen extending the length of the tubular member;

a circular vibratable aperture plate adapted to aerosolize a liquid upon axial vibration thereof;

wherein the aperture plate is disposed across the internal lumen of the tubular member and in contact with the inner circumference of the lumen at a location coinciding with the inner circumference of the center hole of the piezo electric ring, the tubular member including a mounting structure for supporting the aperture plate; and

a reservoir of liquid coupled to the tubular member so as to supply liquid to the vibratable aperture plate, whereby radial expansion and contraction of the piezo electric ring against the wall of the tubular member causes the aperture plate to vibrate in the axial direction and aerosolize the liquid.

25. An aerosol generating system as in claim 24 wherein the vibratable plate is domed-shaped and has a plurality of tapered apertures.

26. An aerosol generating system as in claim 24 wherein the piezoelectric ring comprises piezoelectric ceramic material.

27. An aerosol generating system as in claim 24 further comprising a circuit of a ventilator system operably connected to the tubular member so as to dispense aerosol generated by said vibratable aperture plate into said circuit.

28. An aerosol generating system as in claim 24 wherein said piezoelectric ring, said tubular member, said vibratable aperture plate and said reservoir are disposed within the housing of a nebulizer having a mouthpiece.

29. A method of making a vibration system comprising:

aligning a vibratable plate within a support member that surrounds the vibratable plate; and

placing around the support member a vibration-inducing member configured to radially expand and contract against the support member to produce axial vibration of the vibratable plate.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein the support member is tubular and the aligning includes placing the vibratable plate within the tubular support member and in contact with a mounting structure of the tubular support member.

31. A method of making a vibration system comprising:

providing a tubular member having a lengthwise lumen;

aligning and securing a circular vibratable plate within the lumen so that the plate is perpendicular to and covers the lumen of the tubular member;

positioning the tubular member within the center hole of a piezoelectric ring so that the vibratable plate within the lumen of the tubular member is surrounded by the piezoelectric ring in contact with the outer circumference of the tubular member; and

securing the piezoelectric ring to the tubular member.

32. A method of making a vibration system as in claim 31, further comprising the steps of:

bonding a ridge around the inner circumference of the tubular member;

positioning the vibratable plate on the ridge; and

brazing or welding the vibratable plate to the ridge.

33. A method of making a vibration system as in claim 31 wherein the piezoelectric ring is bonded to the tubular member with an adhesive capable of efficiently transferring vibration from piezoelectric ring to the tubular member.

34. A method of treating a patient comprising:

providing a vibration system comprising a vibratable aperture plate having an outer circumference, providing a tubular alignment member concentrically disposed about the outer circumference of the vibratable plate, the tubular alignment member having a mounting structure for holding the vibratable plate, wherein the tubular alignment member has an outer circumference, and a piezoelectric ring concentrically disposed about the outer circumference of the tubular alignment member at a location coinciding with the outer circumference of the aperture plate, supplying a liquid medicament to the aperture plate;

electrically actuating the piezoelectric ring to radially expand and contract the wall of the tubular alignment member around the outer circumference of the aperture plate, thereby causing the aperture plate to vibrate in the axial direction and aerosolize the medicament; and

supplying the aerosol to the patient'"'"'s respiratory system.

35. A method of treating a patient as in claim 34 wherein the aerosol is supplied to the patient'"'"'s respiratory system through the circuit of a ventilator or CPAP system.

36. A method of treating a patient as in claim 34 wherein the aerosol is supplied to the patient'"'"'s respiratory system through a nebulizer having a mouthpiece.

37. A vibration system comprising:

a tubular alignment member having a cylindrical wall defining a longitudinal lumen;

a vibratable plate secured to a mounting structure of the cylindrical wall and disposed across the lumen; and

means for imparting radial vibration to the cylindrical wall of the tubular member so as to produce axial vibration in the vibratable plate.

38. A vibration system as in claim 37 wherein the vibratable plate is an aperture plate having a rear surface in contact with a liquid and a front surface opposed thereto, wherein liquid droplets are ejected from the front surface to form an aerosol upon said axial vibration of the aperture plate.

39. An aerosol generator device comprising:

a vibratable plate,

an alignment member for receiving and holding the vibratable plate in a predetermined position, and

a vibration-inducing member in communication with the alignment member.

40. The device of claim 39, wherein a portion of the device is disposable.