Liquid dispensing apparatus and methods

• US 6,467,476 B1
• Filed: 05/18/2000
• Issued: 10/22/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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): MITCHELL, TEENA KAY
• Application Number:
  US09/574,168
• Time in Patent Office: 887 Days
• Field of Search: 128/200.14, 128/200.16, 128/200.23, 128/200.19, 128/200.21, 128/203.12, 128/203.15, 239/101, 239/406, 239/102
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3306 Optical measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/08 responsive to condition of liquid or other fluent material to be discharged, of ambient medium or of target ; responsive to condition of spray devices or of supply means, e.g. pipes, pumps or their drive means
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 17/0646 Vibrating plates, i.e. plates being directly subjected to the vibrations, e.g. having a piezoelectric transducer attached thereto
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 17/0684 Wicks or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/025 by vibration

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 aerosolizing a liquid, the apparatus comprising:

an aperture plate 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, the vibrating element being coupled to the aperture plate to vibrate the aperture plate, wherein vibrations of the aperture plate cause the fluid at the rear surface to be ejected through the apertures;

a liquid supplier to deliver liquid to the rear surface; and

a vibrator to vibrate the aperture plate at a frequency of at least about 45 kHz; and

wherein the aperture plate is configured to produce an aerosol having a respirable fraction of at least about 70% upon vibration of the aperture plate.

2. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the respirable fraction comprises liquid droplets having a size in the range from about 1 micron to about 6 micron.

3. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the aperture plate is configured to produce an aerosol having a respirable fraction of at least about 80% upon vibration of the aperture plate.

4. An apparatus as in claim 3, wherein the aperture plate is configured to produce an aerosol having a respirable fraction of at least about 90% upon vibration of the aperture plate.

5. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the liquid supplier is configured to deliver the liquid at a flow rate of at least 5 μ

L/second.

6. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the aperture plate is non-planar in geometry.

7. An apparatus as in claim 6, wherein the aperture plate is dome shaped in geometry.

8. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the vibrator is configured to vibrate the aperture plate at a frequency in the range from about 45 kHz to about 200 kHz.

9. A method for aerosolizing a liquid, the method comprising:

providing an aperture plate 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;

supplying a liquid to the rear surface;

vibrating the aperture plate with a vibrating element at a frequency of at least about 45 kHz to produce an aerosol having a respirable fraction of at least about 70%, the vibrating element being coupled to the aperture plate to vibrate the aperture plate, wherein vibrations of the aperture plate cause the fluid at the rear surface to be ejected through the apertures.

10. A method as in claim 9, wherein the respirable fraction comprises liquid droplets having a size in the range from about 1 micron to about 6 microns.

11. A method as in claim 9, further comprising vibrating the aperture plate to produce an aerosol having a respirable fraction of at least about 80%.

12. A method as in claim 11, further comprising vibrating the aperture plate to produce an aerosol having a respirable fraction of at least about 90%.

13. A method as in claim 9, further comprising delivering the liquid at a flow rate of at least 5 μ

L/second.

14. A method as in claim 9, wherein the aperture plate is non-planar in geometry.

15. A method as in claim 14, wherein the aperture plate is dome shaped in geometry.

16. A method as in claim 9, further comprising vibrating the aperture plate at a frequency in the range from about 45 kHz to about 200 kHz.

17. An apparatus for aerosolizing a liquid, the apparatus comprising:

an aperture plate 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 to deliver liquid to the rear surface; and

a vibrator to vibrate the aperture plate at a frequency of at least about 45 kHz; and

wherein the aperture plate is configured to produce an aerosol having a respirable fraction of at least about 70% upon vibration of the aperture plate, wherein the aperture plate is non-planar in geometry.

18. An apparatus as in claim 17, wherein the aperture plate is dome shaped in geometry.

19. An apparatus as in claim 17, wherein the respirable fraction comprises liquid droplets having a size in the range from about 1 micron to about 6 microns.

20. An apparatus as in claim 19, wherein the aperture plate is configured to produce an aerosol having a respirable fraction of at least about 90% upon vibration of the aperture plate.

21. An apparatus as in claim 17, wherein the aperture plate is configured to produce an aerosol having a respirable fraction of at least about 80% upon vibration of the aperture plate.

22. An apparatus as in claim 17, wherein the liquid supplier is configured to deliver the liquid at a flow rate of at least 5 μ

L/second.

23. An apparatus as in claim 17, wherein the vibrator is configured to vibrate the aperture plate at a frequency in the range from about 45 kHz to about 200 kHz.

24. A method for aerosolizing a liquid, the method comprising:

providing an aperture plate 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;

supplying a liquid to the rear surface;

vibrating the aperture plate at a frequency of at least about 45 kHz to produce an aerosol having a respirable fraction of at least about 70%, wherein the aperture plate is non-planar in geometry.

25. A method as in claim 24, wherein the aperture plate is dome shaped in geometry.

26. A method as in claim 24, wherein the respirable fraction comprises liquid droplets having a size in the range from about 1 micron to about 6 microns.

27. A method as in claim 24, further comprising vibrating the aperture plate to produce an aerosol having a respirable fraction of at least about 80%.

28. A method as in claim 27, further comprising vibrating the aperture plate to produce an aerosol having a respirable fraction of at least about 90%.

29. A method as in claim 27, further comprising delivering the liquid at a flow rate of at least 5 μ

L/second.

30. A method as in claim 27, further comprising vibrating the aperture plate at a frequency in the range from about 45 kHz to about 200 kHz.