Aerosol generating method and device

• US 7,766,013 B2
• Filed: 10/26/2001
• Issued: 08/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alexza Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Grupo Ferrer Internacional SA)
• Original Assignee: Alexza Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Grupo Ferrer Internacional SA)
• Inventors: Lloyd, Peter M., Hodges, Craig C., Wensley, Martin J., Mufson, Daniel, Rogers, Daniel D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Erezo; Darwin P
• Application Number:
  US10/057,197
• Publication Number:
  US 20030062042A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,203 Days
• Field of Search: 128/203.17, 128/203.26, 128/204.14, 128/204.15, 128/203.27, 128/200.14, 128/200.16, 128/200.21, 128/203.12, 128/203.15, 128/203.25, 392/394, 392/403, 392/386, 219/490, 219/494
• US Class Current: 128/203.27
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/235 having an aromatic ring attached to a carboxyl group
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/4468 having a nitrogen directly attached in position 4, e.g. clebopride, fentanyl
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/485 Morphinan derivatives, e.g. morphine, codeine
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/519 ortho- or peri-condensed with heterocyclic rings
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/007 Pulmonary tract; Aromatherapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0073 Sprays or powders for inhalation; Aerolised or nebulised preparations generated by other means than thermal energy; nasal sprays A61K9/0043; inhalation of vapours of volatile or heated drugs, e.g. essential oils or nicotine, A61K9/007; devices A61M
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/001 Particle size control
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/02 operated by air or other gas pressure applied to the liquid or other product to be sprayed or atomised sprayers for horticulture A01G, A01H; killing insects A01M; air humidifying by nozzles F24F6/14, F24F6/18; cooling by spraying F28B, F28C
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/044 with electrodes immersed in the liquid
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/00 Inhalators drug delivery in endotracheal tubes A61M16/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0028 using prepacked dosages, one for each application, e.g. capsules to be perforated or broken-up
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/109 the humidifying liquid or the beneficial agent
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0039 in the inspiratory circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3606 cooled
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3653 by Joule effect, i.e. electric resistance
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/368 by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. IR waves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/50 with microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 23/00 Anaesthetics
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 17/04 operating with special methods
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/1686 involving vaporisation of the material to be sprayed or of an atomising-fluid-generating product

Abstract

A method and device are provided to generate an aerosol having a desired particle sizes, i.e., from molecular to about 10 microns, which can be used to effectively deliver a physiologically active compound to organs and tissues such as the lung, eye, mucosa and skin. The aerosol is formed through vaporization of the compound while mixing the resulting vapor with a gas, in a ratio, to form the desired particle size when a stable concentration of particles in the gas is reached.

Claims

1. A method for generating an aerosol comprising the steps of:

(a) heating a coating comprising a physiologically active compound, deposited onto a metal screen, by passing a current across the metal screen to vaporize at least a portion of the compound; and

(b) simultaneously passing a gas through the metal screen thereby mixing the resulting vapor with the gas in a predetermined ratio, selected to form an aerosol comprised of particles within a desired size range when a stable concentration of particles in the gas is reached.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the metal is stainless steel.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the screen is 200 mesh.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the screen is 200 mesh.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the current is supplied by discharging a capacitor.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the current is passed across the screen for less than about 20 milliseconds.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising administering the resulting aerosol to a patient.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the stable concentration is about 10⁹ particles/cc.

9. A method for generating an aerosol comprising the steps of:

(a) depositing a coating comprising the physiologically active compound onto a substrate, wherein the depositing a coating comprises dissolving the compound in an organic solvent, applying the solution to all or a portion of the substrate and allowing the solvent to evaporate;

(b) heating the physiologically active compound to vaporize at least a portion of the compound;

(c) cooling the resulting vapor by mixing the vapor with a gas in a predetermined ratio, selected to form an aerosol comprised of particles within a desired size range when a stable concentration of particles in the gas is reached.

10. A method for generating an aerosol comprising the steps of:

(a) depositing a coating comprising a physiologically active compound onto a substrate, wherein the depositing a coating comprises dissolving the compound in an organic solvent, applying the solution to all or a portion of the substrate and allowing the solvent to evaporate;

(b) heating the physiologically active compound to vaporize at least a portion of the compound;

(c) cooling the resulting vapor by mixing the vapor with a gas in a predetermined ratio, selected to form an aerosol comprised of particles within a desired size range that are sufficiently stable that they will remain within that range during the time necessary to administer the aerosol to a patient.