Controlled deliveries and depositions of pharmaceutical and other aerosolized masses

• US 6,854,460 B1
• Filed: 03/30/2000
• Issued: 02/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Zimmer Technology Incorporated (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Shofner Engineering Associates Incorporated
• Inventors: Shofner, F. Michael II, Shofner, Frederick M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dawson, Glenn K.
• Application Number:
  US09/937,584
• Time in Patent Office: 1,783 Days
• Field of Search: 12820014-20024, 128/203.12, 128/204.18, 128/203.15, 128/203.21
• US Class Current: 128/203.15
• 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 15/02 with activated or ionised fluids, e.g. electrohydrodynamic [EHD] or electrostatic devices; Ozone-inhalators with radioactive tagged particles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/064 Powder
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3306 Optical measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/085 responsive to flow or pressure of liquid or other fluent material to be discharged B05B1/3006, B05B1/323, B05B7/1254 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/0012 Apparatus for achieving spraying before discharge from the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/144 the means for supplying particulate material comprising moving mechanical means B05B7/1422, B05B7/1459 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/24 with magnetic or electric coupling to the indicating device
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 23/20 by using diffraction of the radiation by the materials, e.g. for investigating crystal structure; by using scattering of the radiation by the materials, e.g. for investigating non-crystalline materials; by using reflection of the radiation by the materials

Abstract

A system (1) for the precisely and accurately controlled delivery and collection of aerosolized masses. The system (1) includes an aerosol generator (100), an upstream electro-optional aerosol mass concentration sensor (200) past which aerosols are transported at a known upstream volumetric flow rate, a deposition zone (300) within which aerosols are collected on or within a media, and a downstream electro-optical aerosol mass concentration sensor (201) past which aerosols uncollected in the deposition zone (300) are transported at a known downstream volumetric flow rate. The net mass of aerosols collected in the deposition zone (300) is determined by integrating over time the product of mass concentration measured by the upstream electro-optical sensor (200) and the upstream volumetric flow rate minus the product of mass concentration measured by the downstream electro-optical sensor (201) and the downstream volumetric flow rate. The aerosol generator (100) includes a metering pocket into which powder is loaded, and a fluidizing jet which produces an expansive bolus that is directed into a mixing chamber. The deposition zone (300) collects aerosols by filtration, impaction or electrostatic attraction.

Claims

1. A system for delivery and deposition of aerosolized masses, comprising:

an aerosol generator;

an upstream electro-optical mass concentration sensor, and a source of gas flow for transporting aerosols past said upstream electro-optical mass concentration sensor at a known upstream volumetric flow rate;

a deposition zone for collecting aerosols on or within a media;

a downstream electro-optical mass concentration sensor for measuring the mass concentration of aerosols uncollected in said deposition zone, and a conduit for transporting uncollected aerosols past said downstream electro-optical mass concentration sensor at a known downstream volumetric flow rate; and

a controller connected to said upstream and downstream mass concentration sensors and determining the net mass of aerosols collected within said deposition zone by integrating over time the product of mass concentration measured by said upstream electro-optical sensor and the known upstream volumetric flow rate minus the product of mass concentration measured by said downstream electro-optical sensor and the known downstream volumetric flow rate.

2. The system of claim 1, which further comprises an upstream volumetric flow rate sensor for determining the upstream volumetric flow rate, and wherein said controller is connected to said upstream volumetric flow rate sensor.

3. The system of claim 2, which further comprises a downstream volumetric flow rate sensor for determining the downstream volumetric flow rate, and wherein said controller is connected to said downstream volumetric flow rate sensor.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said aerosol generator comprises:

a metering pocket, with powder loaded into said metering pocket;

a jet for directing high velocity gas into said metering pocket so as to fluidize the powder and produce an expansive bolus; and

a mixing chamber into which the expansive bolus is directed.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said metering pocket is a micropocket having a volume of the order of one cubic millimeter.

6. The system claim 5, wherein said aerosol generator further comprises:

a powder chamber containing powder to be aerosolized;

a sealing gland separating said powder chamber and said mixing chamber; and

wherein

said micropocket metering pocket comprises a microscoop in the form of a plunger rod having a tip with said micropocket metering pocket formed within said tip, said plunger rod passing through powder in said powder chamber so as to load powder within said micropocket metering pocket and then engaging and penetrating said sealing gland.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein said aerosol generator, further comprises:

a body;

a powder pocket cylinder cavity within said body and a powder pocket cylinder within said powder pocket cylinder cavity, said powder pocket cylinder having an outer cylindrical surface and a plurality of metering pockets formed within said cylindrical surface, and

a passageway within said body communicating with a metering pocket of said plurality when said metering pocket is in an active position so as to provide access to said metering pocket.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said aerosol generator further comprises:

a metering cylinder cavity within said body and a rotating metering cylinder within said metering cylinder cavity, said rotating metering cylinder comprising an outer tube with first and second openings in the wall of said outer tube, said first opening being selectively alignable with said passageway communicating with said metering pocket; and

wherein

said gas jet is within said outer tube and directs high velocity gas through said first opening into said metering pocket, thereby fluidizing powder which passes through said first opening into the interior of said outer tube and out through said second opening as an expansive bolus.

9. The system of claim 5, wherein said aerosol generator further comprises a megadose disc having a surface and a plurality of metering pockets formed in said surface.

10. The system of claim 4, wherein said jet directs gas at a velocity approaching Mach 1 into said metering pocket.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said aerosol generator comprises:

a source of a liquid solution of an active ingredient and a volatile solvent;

an atomizer for atomizing the solution to produce droplets from which the solvent evaporates to leave an expansive bolus of solute residue; and

a mixing chamber into which the expansive bolus is directed.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein said deposition zone comprises:

a porous media collection element;

an aerosol delivery tube positioned generally against an upstream side of said porous media collection element for delivering aerosols transported by a fluid; and

a perforated support element positioned generally against a downstream side of said porous media collection element.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein said deposition zone comprises:

an impactor plate;

an impactor jet for directing aerosols transported by a fluid against said impactor plate for deposition thereon; and

an output conduit for conveying away fluid and aerosols not deposited on said impactor plate.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said impactor jet directs aerosols transposed by a gas at a velocity approaching Mach 1 against said impactor plate.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein said deposition zone comprises:

a mass delivery section for loading an aerosolized mass into a removable drift tube; and

a deposition section receiving said drift tube and including a source of displacement gas for directing the aerosolized mass over a deposition surface.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said deposition surface is electrostatically charged for attracting aerosols.

17. An aerosol generator for producing an aerosolized powder, said aerosol generator comprising:

a metering pocket having a volume of the order of one cubic millimeter, with powder loaded into said metering pocket;

a powder chamber containing powder to be aerosolized a mixing chamber;

a sealing gland separating said powder chamber and said mixing chamber;

said micropocket metering pocket comprising a microscoop in the form of a plunger rod having a tip with said micropocket metering pocket formed within said tip, said plunger rod passing through powder in said powder chamber so as to load powder within said micropocket metering pocket and then engaging and penetrating said sealing gland;

a jet for directing high velocity gas into said metering pocket, soas to fluidize the powder and produce an expansive which is directed into said mixing chamber.

18. A deposition zone for collecting aerosolized masses, comprising:

a porous media collection element;

an aerosol delivery tube positioned generally against an upstream side of said porous media collection element for delivering aerosols transported by a fluid, said aerosol delivery tube having a tapered end;

a perforated support element positioned generally against a downstream side of said porous media collection element, said perforated support element being cup-like in configuration with a tapered interior surface; and

said porous media collection element being cup-like in configuration having a tapered interior surface matching the tapered end of said aerosol delivery tube as the upstream side, and a tapered exterior surface matching the taper of said perforated support element as the downstream side.

19. A system for delivery and deposition of aerosolized masses, comprising:

an aerosol generator;

an upstream electro-optical mass concentration sensor, and a source of gas flow for transporting aerosols past said upstream electro-optical mass concentration sensor at a known upstream volumetric flow rate;

a deposition zone for collecting aerosols on or within a media;

a controller connected to said upstream mass concentration sensor and determining the mass of aerosols delivered to said deposition zone by integrating over time the product of mass concentration measured by said upstream electro-optical sensor and the known upstream volumetric flow rate.

20. A system for delivery and deposition of aerosolized masses, comprising:

an aerosol generator;

a source of gas flow for transporting aerosols;

a deposition zone for collecting aerosols on or within a media;

a downstream electro-optical mass concentration sensor for measuring the mass concentration of aerosols uncollected in said deposition zone, and a conduit for transporting uncollected aerosols past said downstream electro-optical mass concentration sensor at a known downstream volumetric flow rate; and

a controller connected to said downstream mass concentration sensor and determining the mass of aerosols not collected within said deposition zone by integrating over time the product of mass concentration measured by said downstream electro-optical sensor and the known downstream volumetric flow rate.