Pulmonary drug delivery device

• US 6,435,175 B1
• Filed: 08/29/2000
• Issued: 08/20/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sensormedics Corporation (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: Sensormedics Corporation (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Stenzler, Alex
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis, Aaron J.
• Application Number:
  US09/650,491
• Time in Patent Office: 721 Days
• Field of Search: 128/200.14, 128/200.16, 128/200.22, 128/203.12, 128/204.21, 128/204.23, 128/202.25, 128/202.26
• US Class Current: 128/200.14
• 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 15/008 Electronic counters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/02 with activated or ionised fluids, e.g. electrohydrodynamic [EHD] or electrostatic devices; Ozone-inhalators with radioactive tagged particles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/50 with microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6072 Bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/15 with identification means that can be read by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 5/1691 Apparatus to be carried on or by a person or with a container fixed to the discharge device
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/10 relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

A nebulizer for delivering a drug to a patient includes an electronic control unit, a hand piece connected to the electronic control unit via a cable, and a cartridge detachably engaged with the hand piece. The electronic control unit includes a controller, a cartridge reader, a dosage storage element, and a display. The display preferably displays the drug name and the number of dosages remaining in the cartridge. The cartridge includes a head or nebulizer element for creating a fine mist or cloud of the drug in droplet form. The cartridge also includes a storage container containing a drug and a pump for pumping the drug to the nebulizer element. The cartridge also contains an information storage element for containing information regarding the drug and the drug delivery protocol for the patient. The information in the information storage element is transmitted to the electronic control unit when the cartridge is engaged with the hand piece.

Claims

1. A pulmonary drug delivery device comprising:

an electronic control unit, said electronic control unit including;

a controller;

a cartridge reader;

a display;

a hand piece connected to said electronic control unit via a cable;

a cartridge having a lumen therethrough, the cartridge being detachably engaged with said hand piece, said cartridge including a drug storage container including a drug stored therein, an electrically chargeable nozzle and a discharge electrode disposed within the lumen of the cartridge, a pump for pumping the drug out of the electrically chargeable nozzle, and an information storage element disposed on the cartridge;

wherein the controller controls the pump and the charge of the nozzle and the charge on the discharge electrode in accordance with instructions stored in the information storage element.

2. A pulmonary drug delivery device according to claim 1, said electronic control unit further comprising a dosage storage element.

3. A pulmonary drug delivery device according to claim 2, said dosage storage element storing the number or remaining doses for said cartridge.

4. A pulmonary drug delivery device according to claim 3, said electronic control unit further comprising data transmission means.

5. A pulmonary drug delivery device according to claim 1, said electronic control unit further comprising an alarm.

6. A pulmonary drug delivery device according to claim 1, said hand piece further comprising an inhalation sensor.

7. A pulmonary drug delivery device according to claim 2, the dosage storage element comprises a memory.

8. A pulmonary drug delivery device according to claim 1, wherein the information storage element is programmable.

9. A pulmonary drug delivery device according to claim 8, the information storage element comprises a programmable memory.

10. A pulmonary drug delivery device according to claim 8, the information storage element comprises an RF tag.

11. A pulmonary drug delivery device according to claim 8, the information storage element comprises a bar code.

12. A pulmonary drug delivery device according to claim 8, wherein the information storage element also stores drug identification information.

13. A pulmonary drug delivery device according to claim 8, wherein the information storage element also stores drug delivery protocol.

14. A pulmonary drug delivery device according to claim 8, wherein the information storage element also stores the minimum time between dosages.

15. A pulmonary drug delivery device according to claim 1, wherein said cartridge contains a plurality of doses.

16. A pulmonary drug delivery device according to claim 1, wherein said display displays the number of remaining dosages.

17. A pulmonary drug delivery device for delivering a drug to a patient comprising:

an electronic control unit, said electronic control unit including;

a controller;

a cartridge reader;

a dosage storage element;

a display;

a hand piece connected to said electronic control unit via a cable; and

a cartridge having a lumen therethrough, the cartridge being detachably engaged with said hand piece, said cartridge including a drug storage container including a drug stored therein, an electrically chargeable nozzle and a discharge electrode disposed within the lumen of the cartridge, a pump for pumping the drug out of the electrically chargeable nozzle, and an information storage element disposed on the cartridge;

wherein the controller controls the pump and the charge of the nozzle and the charge on the discharge electrode in accordance with instructions stored in the information storage element.

18. A pulmonary drug delivery device for delivering a drug to a patient comprising:

an electronic control unit, said electronic control unit including;

a controller;

a cartridge reader;

a dosage storage element;

data transmission means for transmitting patient compliance information to an output device;

a display;

a hand piece connected to said electronic control unit via a cable; and

a cartridge having a lumen therethrough, the cartridge being detachably engaged with said hand piece, said cartridge including a drug storage container including a drug therein, an electrically chargeable nozzle and a discharge electrode disposed within the lumen of the cartridge, a pump for pumping the drug out of the electrically chargeable nozzle, and an information storage element disposed on the cartridge;

wherein the controller controls the pump and the charge of the nozzle and the charge on the discharge electrode in accordance with instructions stored in the information storage element.

19. A pulmonary drug delivery device according to claim 18, said dosage storage element storing the number of remaining doses for said container.

20. A pulmonary drug delivery device according to claim 18, the dosage storage element comprises a memory.

21. A pulmonary drug delivery device according to claim 18, wherein the information storage element is programmable.

22. A pulmonary drug delivery device according to claim 21, the information storage element comprises a programmable memory.

23. A pulmonary drug delivery device according to claim 21, the information storage element comprises an RF tag.

24. A pulmonary drug delivery device according to claim 21, the information storage element comprises a bar code.

25. A cartridge for containing a drug comprising:

a lumen region inside the cartridge;

a drug storage container for storing the drug;

a pump disposed in the cartridge for pumping drug from the storage container to a conduit;

an electrically chargeable nozzle coupled to the conduit, the electrically chargeable nozzle disposed so as to aim inside the lumen;

a discharge electrode disposed within the lumen of the cartridge;

a programmable information storage element disposed on the cartridge, the programmable information storage element containing information regarding operation of the pump and information regarding electrical charges that are to be applied to the electrically chargeable nozzle and the discharge electrode using an external controller.

26. A cartridge according to claim 25, the information storage element comprises a programmable memory.

27. A cartridge according to claim 25, the information storage element comprises an RF tag.

28. A cartridge according to claim 25, the information storage element comprises a bar code.

29. A method of delivering a drug to a patient comprising the steps of:

providing an electronic control unit having a hand piece connected thereto;

providing a cartridge containing a drug therein, the cartridge further including a lumen therethrough, a drug storage container adapted to contain a drug therein, an electrically chargeable nozzle and a discharge electrode disposed within the lumen, a pump for pumping the drug out of the electrically chargeable nozzle, and an information storage element;

engaging the cartridge with the hand piece;

retrieving data stored in the information storage element and transmitting the data to the electronic control unit, the data including instructions for pumping the drug and charging the electrically chargeable nozzle and the discharge electrode; and

delivering the drug to the patient in accordance with the data transmitted to the electronic control unit.