Liquid dispensing apparatus and methods

• US 7,174,888 B2
• Filed: 09/05/2003
• Issued: 02/13/2007
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Mitchell; Teena
• Application Number:
  US10/655,642
• Publication Number:
  US 20040139963A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,257 Days
• Field of Search: 128/200.12, 128/200.13, 128/200.14, 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. An apparatus for aerosolizing a liquid, the apparatus comprising:

a dome shaped 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 carrier member to which the aperture plate is coupled; and

a vibrator that is configured to vibrate upon receipt of an electrical signal from electrodes, wherein vibrations from the vibrator are transferred to the aperture plate via the carrier member to deliver a liquid at the rear surface of the aperture plate as liquid droplets ejected from the apertures, and wherein the aperture plate is laterally spaced from the electrodes.

2. An apparatus as in claim 1, 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, and 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 2, 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, further comprising a liquid supplier that is configured to deliver the liquid to the rear surface of the aperture plate.

6. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the vibrator is configured to vibrate the aperture plate at a frequency of at least about 45 kHz.

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

providing a dome shaped 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;

providing a carder member to which the aperture plate is coupled;

providing a vibrator that is configured to vibrate upon receipt of an electrical signal from electrodes, wherein the aperture plate is laterally spaced from the electrodes;

supplying a liquid to the rear surface of the aperture plate; and

vibrating the aperture plate using the electrodes, wherein vibrations are transferred via the carrier member to the aperture plate to eject liquid droplets from the aperture plate.

8. A method as in claim 7, wherein the aperture plate is vibrated at a frequency of at least about 45 kHz to produce an aerosol having a respirable fraction of at least about 70%, and wherein the respirable fraction comprises liquid droplets having a size in the range from about 1 micron to about 6 micron.

9. A method as in claim 8, further comprising vibrating the aperture plate to produce an aerosol having a respirable fraction of at least about 80%.

10. A method as in claim 9, further comprising vibrating the aperture plate to produce an aerosol having a respirable fraction of at least about 90%.

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

a container that is adapted to hold a liquid;

a dome shaped 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 carrier member to which the aperture plate is coupled;

a vibrator; and

a pair of electrodes coupled to the vibrator to transmit and electrical signal to the vibrator to vibrate the vibrator, wherein vibrations from the vibrator are transferred to the aperture plate via the carrier member to eject a liquid at the rear surface of the aperture plate from the apertures as liquid droplets.