Liquid dispensing apparatus and methods

• US 5,758,637 A
• Filed: 02/21/1996
• Issued: 06/02/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Novartis Pharma AG (Novartis Ag)
• Original Assignee: Aerogen, Inc. (Nektar Therapeutics)
• Inventors: Ivri, Yehuda, Wu, Cheng H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis, Aaron J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SRIVASTAVA, VIRENDRA KUMAR
• Application Number:
  US08/604,313
• Time in Patent Office: 832 Days
• Field of Search: 128/200.16, 128/200.14, 128/200.18, 128/200.21, 239/102.2, 239/120, 239/406
• US Class Current: 128/200.16
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/005 using ultrasonics spraying or atomising liquids using ultrasonic vibrations in general B05B17/06
• 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: A61M 2016/0021 with a proportional output signal, e.g. from a thermistor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0039 in the inspiratory circuit

Abstract

The invention provides methods and apparatus for nebulizing liquids. In one exemplary embodiment, an apparatus is provided which comprises a thin shell member having a front surface, a rear surface, and a plurality of apertures extending therebetween. The apertures are tapered to narrow from the rear surface to the front surface. A liquid supplier is further provided which delivers a predetermined unit volume of liquid to the rear surface. A vibrator vibrates the thin shell member to eject liquid droplets from the front surface of the thin shell member.

Claims

1. An apparatus for nebulizing a liquid, the apparatus comprising:

a non-planar member comprising a front surface, a rear surface, and a plurality of apertures extending therebetween, said apertures being tapered to narrow from the rear surface to the front surface;

a liquid supplier which delivers a predetermined unit volume of liquid to the rear surface; and

a vibrator which vibrates the non-planar member to eject liquid droplets from the front surface of the non-planar member.

2. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the tapers have a size in the range from about 1 μ

m to 6 μ

m at their narrowest dimension.

3. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the liquid comprises a medicament.

4. An apparatus for nebulizing a liquid, the apparatus comprising:

a non-planar member comprising a front surface, a rear surface, and a plurality of apertures extending therebetween, said apertures being tapered to narrow from the rear surface to the front surface;

a liquid reservoir; and

a capillary system in fluid communication with the liquid reservoir, said capillary system being disposed to draw liquid from the reservoir by capillary action for delivery to the rear surface of the non-planar member; and

a vibrator which vibrates the non-planar member to eject liquid droplets from the front surface of the non-planar member.

5. An apparatus as in claim 4, wherein the capillary system comprises a wicking member having a bottom end within the liquid reservoir and a delivery end near the rear surface of the non-planar member and an outer member spaced-apart from the wicking member by a capillary gap so that liquid from the reservoir may be drawn toward the delivery end by capillary action.

6. An apparatus as in claim 5, wherein the wicking member further includes at least one capillary channel at the delivery end so that liquid delivered from the capillary gap may continue its travel to the rear surface of the non-planar member through the capillary channel.

7. An apparatus as in claim 5, wherein a bottom portion of the wicking member is cylindrical in geometry and wherein the outer member includes an annular body which surrounds the wicking member.

8. An apparatus as in claim 5, further comprising a housing having a chamber and a mouthpiece, and wherein the outer member is attached to the housing.

9. An apparatus as in claim 8, wherein the wicking member is attached to the liquid reservoir, and wherein the liquid reservoir is detachably secured to the housing so that the liquid reservoir may be separated from the housing.

10. An apparatus as in claim 5, wherein the wicking member includes a flexible portion so that it may axially flex upon contact with the vibrating member.

11. An apparatus as in claim 5, wherein the liquid reservoir has a concave shape and includes capillary channels which move the liquid toward the capillary gap between the outer member and the wicking member.

12. An apparatus as in claim 4, further comprising a power supply which supplies power to the vibrator.

13. An apparatus as in claim 12, wherein the power supply comprises a rechargeable battery.

14. A method for nebulizing a liquid, the method comprising:

providing a non-planar member comprising a front surface, a rear surface, and plurality of apertures extending therebetween, said apertures being tapered to narrow from the rear surface to the front surface;

drawing liquid from a liquid reservoir by capillary action to place the liquid in contact with the rear surface of the non-planar member; and

vibrating the non-plannar member to eject the liquid on the rear suface from the front surface, wherein liquid is continuously supplied from the liquid reservoir to the rear surface as the non-planar member is vibrated.

15. A method as in claim 14, further comprising vibrating the non-planner member until substantially all of the liquid wihtin the resorvoir is depleted.

16. A method as in claim 15, wherein the liquid reservoir holds an amount of liquid equal to a unit dosage amount.

17. A method as in claim 14, wherein the capillary action is provided by a capillary gap between a wicking member and an outer member, with the wicking member having a bottom end within the liquid reservoir and a delivery end near the rear surface of the non-plannar member.

18. A method as in claim 17, wherein the capillary action is further provided by at least one capillary channel at the delivery end of the wicking member, wherein liquid from the capillary gap may continue its travel through the capillary channel.

19. A method as in claim 17, further comprising providing a housing having a chamber, a mouthpiece, the outer member, and the vibratable member, and further comprising attaching the reservoir to the housing prior to vibrating the vibratable member.

20. A method as in claim 19, further comprising detaching the housing from the reservoir and washing the housing and reservoir.

21. A method as in claim 19, further comprising tilting the housing while nebulizing the liquid, wherein a patient may inhale from the mouthpiece while lying down.

22. A method as in claim 17, further comprising transferring liquid from the liquid reservoir and to the capillary gap by capillary action.