Apparatus and methods for dispersing dry powder medicaments
First Claim
1. An apparatus for aerosolizing a powder held in a receptacle having a puncturable access surface, the apparatus comprising:
- a housing;
a source of pressurized gas;
a capture chamber attached to the housing; and
a multi-flow ejector assembly held within the housing, said multi-flow ejector assembly having an air inlet path with a penetrating structure and an outlet path with a penetrating element, wherein the penetrating structure and the penetrating element are each adapted to pierce the access surface of the receptacle and wherein the multi-flow ejector assembly includes a gas flow passage which converges with the outlet path at an oblique angle, and wherein the gas flow passage is adapted to receive pressurized gas from the gas source to draw powder from the receptacle, through the outlet path and into the capture chamber.
2 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for aerosolizing a powdered medicament comprises coupling a powder inlet end of a feed tube with a penetration in a receptacle containing the powder. Powder is drawn upward through the tube and dispersed in a high pressure gas stream flowing past a portion of the feed tube. Apparatus comprise the feed tube mounted within a base enclosure proximate a holder for one or more receptacles, which may be in the form of a cartridge containing a plurality of receptacles formed in a continuous web. The cartridge may be reciprocated relative to the feed tube and a separate piercing mechanism in order to sequentially piercing the receptacle and thereafter couple the feed tube through the resulting penetration for extracting the powder. Alternatively, penetration(s) through the receptacle may be formed as the feed tube is coupled, or some penetrations formed prior to coupling with other penetrations formed at the time of coupling.
221 Citations
21 Claims
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1. An apparatus for aerosolizing a powder held in a receptacle having a puncturable access surface, the apparatus comprising:
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a housing; a source of pressurized gas; a capture chamber attached to the housing; and a multi-flow ejector assembly held within the housing, said multi-flow ejector assembly having an air inlet path with a penetrating structure and an outlet path with a penetrating element, wherein the penetrating structure and the penetrating element are each adapted to pierce the access surface of the receptacle and wherein the multi-flow ejector assembly includes a gas flow passage which converges with the outlet path at an oblique angle, and wherein the gas flow passage is adapted to receive pressurized gas from the gas source to draw powder from the receptacle, through the outlet path and into the capture chamber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An improved method for aerosolizing a powdered medicament, said method being of the type wherein the powder is entrained and suspended in a flowing gas stream, wherein the improvement comprises:
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providing a housing having a pressurization cylinder, a piston slidable within the cylinder, a release valve in communication with the cylinder, and a handle for axially translating the piston and for closing the release valve; moving the handle away from the housing to axially translate the piston within the cylinder to a retracted position and to close the release valve; moving the handle back toward the housing to translate the piston to a charged position and create a pressurized gas; releasing the valve to abruptly discharge the pressurized gas; and providing a multi-flow ejector assembly for receiving the pressurized gas and aerosolizing the powder, and periodically removing the multi-flow ejector assembly from the housing for cleaning.
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17. A method for aerosolizing a powdered medicament, the method comprising:
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inserting a bottom end of a substantially straight feed tube into a receptacle containing a powder and which includes at least one vent such that a substantially straight and direct flow path is provided between the receptacle and an outlet end of the feed tube; and introducing a high pressure gas stream into the feed tube at an angle relative to the flow path such that the high pressure gas stream flows through at least a portion of the feed tube to draw air through the vent and then the receptacle to move the powder in the receptacle into the feed tube through the bottom end where the powder becomes entrained in the high pressure gas stream as it passes directly through the substantially straight flow path to form an aerosol. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for aerosolizing a powdered medicament, the method comprising:
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inserting a bottom end of a substantially straight feed tube into a receptacle containing a powder and which includes at least one vent such that a substantially straight and direct flow path is provided between the receptacle and an outlet end of the feed tube; and introducing a high pressure gas stream into the feed tube at a location spaced below the outlet end of the feed tube such that the high pressure gas stream flows through at least a portion of the feed tube to draw air through the vent and then the receptacle to move the powder in the receptacle into the feed tube through the bottom end where the powder becomes entrained in the high pressure gas stream as it passes directly through the substantially straight flow path to form an aerosol.
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Specification