INHALER TO DELIVER SUBSTANCES FOR PROPHYLAXIS OR PREVENTION OF DISEASE OR INJURY CAUSED BY THE INHALATION OF BIOLOGICAL OR CHEMICAL AGENTS

• US 20130213397A1
• Filed: 02/21/2013
• Published: 08/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Respira Therapeutics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Respira Therapeutics, Inc.
• Inventors: Curtis, Robert M., Donovan, Martin J., Smyth, Hugh
• Granted Patent: US 10,463,815 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/203.15
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0028 using prepacked dosages, one for each application, e.g. capsules to be perforated or broken-up
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0033 Details of the piercing or cutting means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0045 using multiple prepacked dosages on a same carrier, e.g. blisters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0065 Inhalators with dosage or measuring devices A61M15/0028 takes precedence; dosage devices incorporated in aerosol cans B65D83/52
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0086 Inhalation chambers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/064 Powder
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/07 having air pumping means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2206/14 Static flow deviators in tubes disturbing laminar flow in tubes, e.g. archimedes screws

Abstract

A dry powder inhaler may include a powder storage region, an inlet channel, a dispersion chamber, and an outlet channel. A geometry of the inhaler may be such that a flow profile is generated within the dispersion chamber that causes an actuator to oscillate, enabling the actuator when oscillating to deaggregate powdered medicament within the dispersion chamber to be aerosolized and entrained by the air and delivered to a patient through the outlet channel.

Claims

1. A dry powder inhaler, comprising:

a powder storage region that is configured to hold a powdered medicament effective for treating exposure to particular biological and chemical agents;

an inlet channel;

a dispersion chamber that is adapted to receive air and the powdered medicament from the inlet channel, the chamber holding an actuator that is movable within the dispersion chamber; and

an outlet channel through which air and aerosolized medicament exit the inhaler to be delivered to a patient;

wherein a geometry of the inhaler is such that a flow profile is generated within the dispersion chamber that causes the actuator to oscillate, thus enabling the actuator when oscillating to deaggregate the powdered medicament within the dispersion chamber to be aerosolized and entrained by the air and delivered to the patient through the outlet channel.

2. The dry powder inhaler of claim 1, wherein the powdered medicament effective for treating exposure to biological and chemical agents is stored upstream of the dispersion chamber, and wherein the actuator when oscillating effectively disperses the powdered medicament effective for treating exposure to biological and chemical to be aerosolized and entrained by the air and delivered to the patient through the outlet channel.

3. The dry powder inhaler of claim 1, wherein the actuator is adapted to be coated with a particular powdered medicament effective for treating exposure to biological and chemical agents, and wherein the actuator when oscillating effectively disperses at least the particular medicament effective for treating exposure to biological and chemical agents to be aerosolized and entrained by the air and delivered to the patient through the outlet channel.

4. The dry powder inhaler of claim 1, wherein a cross-sectional area of a flow path through the inhaler undergoes a step increase at the entrance to the dispersion chamber.

5. The dry powder inhaler of claim 1, wherein a ratio of a diameter of the dispersion chamber to that of the inlet channel is within a range of about greater than 1.0 to about 3.0.

6. The dry powder inhaler of claim 1, wherein the inlet channel comprises a tube with a cross-section that varies along the length of the tube.

7. The dry powder inhaler of claim 1, wherein the outlet channel comprises a tube with a cross-section that varies along the length of the tube.

8. The dry powder inhaler of claim 1, wherein the outlet channel is integral to a mouthpiece adapted to be placed within the mouth of the patient.

9. The dry powder inhaler of claim 1, wherein the outlet channel is integral to a nasal adapter adapted to conform to at least one nostril of the patient.

10. The dry powder inhaler of claim 1, further comprising one or more bypass channels that receive supplemental air from external the inhaler, and deliver the supplemental air to the patient without the supplemental air having passed through at least one of a powder storage chamber and the dispersion chamber.

11. The dry powder inhaler of claim 1, further comprising a retaining member disposed at an end of the dispersion chamber opposite the inlet channel, the retaining member having one or more openings sized to permit air and medicament to pass through the retaining member, and to prevent the actuator from passing through the retaining member.

12. A dry powder inhaler system, comprising:

a receptacle containing an amount of powdered medicament effective for treating exposure to particular biological and chemical agents;

an inlet channel that is adapted to receive air from an air source and powdered medicament from the receptacle;

a chamber that is adapted to receive air and powdered medicament from the inlet channel;

an actuator movably held within the chamber; and

an outlet channel through which air and aerosolized medicament leave the chamber to be delivered to a patient;

wherein the geometry of the system is such that a flow profile is generated within the system that causes the actuator to oscillate, thus enabling the oscillating actuator to effectively disperse powdered medicament passing through the chamber to be aerosolized and entrained by the air and delivered to the patient through the outlet channel.

13. The dry powder inhaler system of claim 12, wherein the actuator is adapted to be coated with particular medicament effective for treating exposure to biological and chemical agents.

14. The dry powder inhaler system of claim 12, further comprising a piercing member configured to perforate the receptacle to transfer air and powdered medicament to the inlet channel.

15. The dry powder inhaler system of claim 12, wherein the receptacle is selected from one of:

a capsule;

a blister; and

a powder reservoir.

16. The dry powder inhaler system of claim 12, a retaining member disposed at an end of the chamber opposite the inlet channel, the retaining member having one or more openings sized to permit air and powdered medicament to pass through the retaining member, and to prevent the actuator from passing through the retaining member;

17. A method for aerosolizing a powdered medicament, comprising:

providing an inhaler comprising an inlet channel, a chamber in fluid communication with the inlet channel, an actuator disposed in the chamber, and an outlet channel through which air and aerosolized medicament exit the inhaler to be delivered to a patient;

providing a powdered medicament effective for treating exposure to biological and chemical agents to the inlet channel; and

inducing air to flow through the outlet channel to cause the actuator to oscillate within the chamber to deaggregate the powdered medicament within the chamber to be aerosolized and entrained by the air and delivered to the patient through the outlet channel.

18. A method as in claim 17, wherein the powdered medicament effective for treating exposure to biological and chemical agents is stored upstream of the chamber, wherein inducing airflow delivers the powdered medicament into the chamber, and wherein the actuator when oscillating effectively disperses the powdered medicament effective for treating exposure to biological and chemical agents to be aerosolized and entrained by the air and delivered to the patient through the outlet channel.

19. A method as in claim 17, wherein the actuator is be coated with the powdered medicament effective for treating exposure to biological and chemical agents, and wherein the actuator when oscillating effectively disperses the particular powdered medicament to be aerosolized and entrained by the air and delivered to the patient through the outlet channel.

20. A method as in claim 17, further comprising inhaling from a mouthpiece to induce the flow through the outlet channel.

21. A method as in claim 17, further comprising providing a positive pressure to the inlet channel.

22. A method as in claim 17, further comprising exhaling to provide the positive pressure.

23. A method as in claim 17, further comprising adjusting resistance of the inhaler by one or more bypass channels that receive supplemental air from external the inhaler, and deliver the supplemental air to the patient without the supplemental air having passed through at least one of a powder storage chamber and the chamber.