Liquid dispensing apparatus and methods

• US 6,640,804 B2
• Filed: 08/15/2002
• Issued: 11/04/2003
• 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): Lo, Weilun
• Assistant Examiner(s): MITCHELL, TEENA KAY
• Application Number:
  US10/222,178
• Publication Number:
  US 20030000520A1
• Time in Patent Office: 446 Days
• Field of Search: 128/200-2-2, 128/200.16, 128/200.18, 128/200.21, 128/200.24, 128/202.21, 128/203.12, 128/203.14, 128/203.15, 128/203.26, 128/203.27, 239/102.1, 239/102.2
• 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. A method for aerosolizing a liquid, the method comprising:

providing an aerosolization device comprising a housing having a mouthpiece, an aerosol generator disposed in the housing, an inhalation sensor, and control circuitry, wherein the aerosol generator comprises a plate having a plurality of apertures and a vibratable element that is mechanically linked to the plate, and wherein the vibratable element is configured to vibrate the plate, and wherein the plate is non-planar in geometry;

inhaling through the mouthpiece;

sensing the inhalation with the sensor and transmitting an electrical signal to the control circuitry;

sending a signal from the control circuitry to vibrate the vibratable element when the inhalation reaches a threshold amount.

2. A method as in claim 1, further comprising stopping vibration of the vibratable element when the inhalation falls below the threshold amount.

3. A method as in claim 1, wherein the inhalation is sensed by sensing air moving through at least a portion of the aerosolization device.

4. A method as in claim 1, wherein the vibratable element comprises a piezoelectric transducer, and further comprising sending an electrical signal from the control circuitry to the piezoelectric transducer to vibrate the plate.

5. An aerosolization device comprising:

a housing having a mouthpiece;

an aerosol generator disposed in the housing, wherein the aerosol generator comprises a plate having a plurality of apertures and a vibratable element that is mechanically linked to the plate, wherein the aerosol generator is adapted to aerosolize a liquid for delivery through the mouthpiece, and wherein the plate is non-planar in geometry;

an inhalation sensor that is configured to sense when a user inhales through the mouthpiece and to produce an electrical signal that is based on the sensed inhalation;

control circuitry that is configured to actuate the aerosol generator when the electrical signal indicates that the inhalation has reached a threshold amount.

6. A device as in claim 5, wherein the control circuitry is further control circuitry that is configured to actuate the aerosol generator when configured to stop actuation of the aerosol generator when the electrical signal indicates that the inhalation has fallen below the threshold amount.

7. A device as in claim 5, wherein the inhalation sensor is configured to sense air moving through at least a portion of the aerosolization device.

8. A device as in claim 5, wherein the vibratable element comprises a piezoelectric transducer.