Dispensing device
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of providing droplets for delivery to the respiratory tract, which method comprises:
- supplying liquid along a first pipe to a first outlet for directing liquid into a mixing zone;
supplying liquid along a second pipe to a second outlet for directing liquid lnto the mixing zone;
subjecting liquid issuing from the first outlet to a first electrical potential causing the liquid to form a first comminution of droplets of one polarity; and
subjecting liquid issuing from the second outlet to a second electrical potential causing the liquid to form a second comminution of droplets of a polarity opposite to the one polarity which droplets mix in the mixing zone with the droplets of the first comminution to for a mixed comminution for delivery to the respiratory tract.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device for comminuting liquid has a liquid supply with first and second outlets, a first electrohydrodynamic comminuter for subjecting liquid issuing from the first outlet to an electrical potential to cause the liquid to be commrinuted to form a comminution of one polarity and a second electrohydrodynamic comminuter for subjecting liquid issuing from the second outlet to an electrical potential to cause liquid to be commninuted to form a comminution of the opposite polarity. The first and second electrohydrodynamic comminuters are arranged so as to cause substantial admixing of two opposite polarity comminutions.
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Citations
44 Claims
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1. A method of providing droplets for delivery to the respiratory tract, which method comprises:
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supplying liquid along a first pipe to a first outlet for directing liquid into a mixing zone; supplying liquid along a second pipe to a second outlet for directing liquid lnto the mixing zone; subjecting liquid issuing from the first outlet to a first electrical potential causing the liquid to form a first comminution of droplets of one polarity; and subjecting liquid issuing from the second outlet to a second electrical potential causing the liquid to form a second comminution of droplets of a polarity opposite to the one polarity which droplets mix in the mixing zone with the droplets of the first comminution to for a mixed comminution for delivery to the respiratory tract. - View Dependent Claims (3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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2. A mthod of providing droplets for delivery to the respiratory tract, which method comprises:
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supplying liquid along a first pipe to a first outlet for directing liquid into a mixing zone; supplying liquid along a second pipe to a second outlet for directing liquid into the mixing zone; subjecting liquid issuing from the first outlet to a first electrical potential causing the liquid to form a first comminution of droplets of one polarity; and subjecting liquid issuing from the second outlet to a second electrical potential causing the liquid to form a second comminution of droplets of a polarity opposite to the one polarity which droplets mix in the mixing zone with the droplets of the first comminution to form a mixed comminution having droplets with diameters in the range of from about 10 micrometres to 20 microratres which is delivered to the respiratory tract.
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4. A method according to claimp or 1 or 2, which comprises supplying the liquids such that the mixed comminution has no overall charge.
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11. A device for comminuting liquid, comprising:
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a first reservoir; a first pipe having a first outlet; a first pump for pumping liquid along the first pipe; a second reservoir; a second pipe having a second outlet; a second pump for pumping liquid along the second pipe; and a voltage generator for activating the first and second pumps and for subjecting liquid issuing from the first outlet to an electrical potential to form a first comminution of one polarity and for subjecting liquid issuing from the second outlet to an electrical potential to form a comminution of a polarity opposite to the one polarity which mixes vigorously with the first comminution. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25)
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12. A device for comminuting liquid comprising:
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a first liquid supplier having a first liquid outlet; a second liquid supplier having a second liquid outlet with the first and second liquid outlets being angled towards one another; a first electrohydrodynamic comminuter for subjecting liquid issuing from the first outlet to an electrical potential to cause the liquid to be comminuted to form a first comminution of one polarity; and a second electrohydrodynamic comminuter for subjecting liquid issuing from the second outlet to an electrical potential to cause the liquid to be comminuted to form a second comminution of a polarity opposite to said one polarity which mixes with the first comminution.
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17. A device for comminuting liquid comprising:
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a first liquid supplier having a first liquid outlet; a second liquid supplier having a second liquid outlet; first and second pumps for pumping liquid along the first and second pipes, each pump comprising an electrically insulating conduit enclosing an electrically insulating solid permeable to the liquid, a retainer for retaining the solid within the conduit and electrodes for applying an electric field across the solids for forming a double layer of charge at a solid-liquid interface within the solid to produce a net force for inducing liquid to flow through the solid and hence along the conduit; a first electrohydrodynamic comminuter for subjecting liquid issuing from the first outlet to an electrical potential to cause the liquid to be comminuted to form a first comminution of one polarity; and a second electrohydrodynamic comminuter for subjecting liquid issuing from the second outlet to an electrical potential to cause the liquid to be comminuted to form a second coiminution of a polarity opposite to said one polarity which mixes with the first comminution. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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26. An inhaler comprising:
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a first reservoir for liquid; a first pipe coupled to the first reservoir and having a first outlet; a second reservoir for liquid; a second pipe couoled to the second reservoir and having a second outlet; a first electrohydrodynamic comminuter for subjecting liquid issuing from the first outlet to an electrical potential to cause the liquid to form a first comminution of one polarity; a second electrohydrodynamic comminuter for causing liquid issuing from the second outlet to form a second comminution of a polarity opposite to the one polarity; and a mixing zone into which the first and secord cowminutions are delivered whereby a mixed comminution for delivery to the respiratory tract of a user is formed.
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27. An inhaler comprising:
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a first liquid supplier having a first liquid outlet; a second liquid supplier having a second liquid outlet; a first electrohydrodynamic comminuter for subjecting liquid issuing from the first outlet to an electrical potential to cause the liquid to be coinuted to form a first comminution; a second electrohydrodynamic comminuter for subjecting liquid issuing from the second outlet to an electrical potential to cause the liquid to be comminuted to form a second comilnution, the first and second outlets being angled towards one another so as to direct the first and second comminutions towards one another to cause substantial admixing of the first and second comminutions.
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28. A device for comminuting liquid, comprising:
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a first liquid supplier having a first liquid outlet; a second liquid supplier having a second liquid outlet; a first electrohydrodynamic comminuter for subjecting liquid issuing from the first outlet to an electrical potential to cause the liquid to be comminuted to form a first comminution; a second electrohydrodynamic comminuter for subjecting liquid issuing from the second outlet to an electrical potential to cause the liquid to be conminuted to form a second conminution, the first and second outlets being angled towards one anwther so as to direct the first and second comminutions toward one another to cause substantial admixing of the first and second comminutions.
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29. A pocket sized dispenser, comprising:
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a first liquid supplier having a first liquid outlet; a second liquid supplier having a second liquid outlet; a first electrohydrodynamic comminuter for sujecting liquid issuing from the first outlet to an electrical potential to cause the liquid to be comminuted to form a first comminution; a second electrohydrodynamic comminuter for subjecting liquid issuing from the second outlet to an electrical potential to cause the liquid to be comminuted to form a second comminution; and a mixing zone for receiving and mixing the first and second comminutions.
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30. A pocket-sized dispenser comprising means for supplying liquid to first and second outlets;
- a first electrohydrodynamic comminution means for subjecting liquid issuing from the first outlet to an electrical potential to cause the liquid to be comminuted to form a comminution of one polarity; and
a second electrohydrodynamic comminution means for subjecting liquid issuing from the second outlet to an electrical potential to cause the liquid to be comminuted to form a comminution of the opposite polarity, the first and second electrohydrodynamic comminution means therefore giving rise to formation of two opposite polarity cominutions and being arranged so as to cause substantial admixing of the two opposite polarity comminutions.
- a first electrohydrodynamic comminution means for subjecting liquid issuing from the first outlet to an electrical potential to cause the liquid to be comminuted to form a comminution of one polarity; and
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31. A medicament delivery device comprising:
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a first liquid reservoir containing a medicament; a second liquid reservoir containing deionised water; a first liquid supply pipe coupled to the first liquid reservoir; a second liquid supply pipe coupled to the second liquid reservoir; a first electrohydrodynamic comminuter for subjecting liquid issuing from the first outlet to a first electrical potential to provide a first comminution with an average charge of +/- Qa; and a second electrohydrodynamic comminuter for subjecting liquid issuing from the second outlet to a second electrical potential to provide a second comminution with an average charge of -/+ Qb which mixes with the first comminution to provide a mixed commninution having an overall average positive or negative charge having a value equal to the modulus of (Qa-Qb).
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32. A device for comminuting liquid, comprising:
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a first liquid supplier having a first liquid outlet; a second liquid supplier having a second liquid outlet; a first electrohydrodynamic comminuter for subjecting liquid issuing from the first outlet to an electrical potential to cause the liquid to be commented to form a second comminution; a second electrohydrodynamic comminuter for subjecting liquid issuing from the second outlet to an electrical potential to cause the liquid to be comminuted to form a second comminution; a mixing zone for receiving and mixing the first and second comminutions, the rate of flow of liquid provided by the first and second liquid suppliers and the electrical potentials to which the liquid is subjected by the first and second electrohydrodynamic comminuters being controlled to provide droplets having a diameter in the range of from 0.1 to 25 micrometers. - View Dependent Claims (33)
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34. A device for comminuting liquid comprising means for supplying liquid to first and second outlets;
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a first electrohydrodynamic comminution means for subjecting liquid issuing from the first outlet to an electrical potential to cause the liquid to be comminuted to form a comminution of one polarity; and a second electrohydrodynamic comminution means for subjecting liquid issuing from the second outlet to an electrical potential to cause the liquid to be comminuted to form a comminution of the opposite polarity, the first and second electrohydrodynamnic comminution means therefore giving rise to formation oftwo opposite polarity comminutions and being arranged so as to cause substantial admixing of the two opposite polarity comminutions, and means for controlling the rate of flow of liquid provided by the liquid supply means and the electrical potentials to which liquid is subjected by the first and second electrohydrodynamic comminution means to provide droplets having a diameter in the range 0.1 to 25 micrometers. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36)
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37. A method of reacting components, which method comprises:
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supplying liquid containing a first reactive component to a first liquid outlet; supplying liquid containing a second reactive component to a second liquid outlet; subjecting liquid issuing from the first outlet to a first electrical potential causing the liquid to form a first comminution of droplets of one polarity; and subjecting liquid issuing from the second outlet to a second electrical potential causing the liquid to form a second comminution of droplets of a polarity opposite to the one polarity whereby the opposite polarity cormminutions mix and the reactive components of oppositely charged droplets chemically react immediately upon mixing of the opposite polarity comminutions. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40)
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41. A method of mixing liquids by droplet coalescence, which method comprises:
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supplying liquid containing a first chemical to a first liquid outlet; supplying liquid containing a second chemical to a second liquid outlet; subjecting liquid issuing from the first outlet to a first electrical potential causing the liquid to form a first comminution of droplets of one polarity; and subject liquid issuing from the second outlet to a second electrical potential causing the liquid to form a second comminution of droplets of a polarity opposite to the one polarity whereby the opposite polarity comminutions mix and the first and second chemicals of the oppositely charged droplets chemically react upon mixing of the opposite polarity comminution. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44)
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Specification