Printable igniters

• US 7,834,295 B2
• Filed: 09/16/2008
• Issued: 11/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alexza Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Grupo Ferrer Internacional SA)
• Original Assignee: Alexza Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Grupo Ferrer Internacional SA)
• Inventors: Wang, Karen, Rappoport, Vladimir, Sharma, C. V. Krishnamohan, Lau, Hoi Sze, Lei, Mingzu
• Primary Examiner(s): ROBINSON, DANIEL LEON
• Application Number:
  US12/211,554
• Publication Number:
  US 20100068154A1
• Time in Patent Office: 791 Days
• Field of Search: 219260-270, 123143 R-143 C
• US Class Current: 219/260
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/041 using heaters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/047 by exothermic chemical reaction
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0003 with means for dispensing more than one drug
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/025 Bubble jet droplet ejection devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0015 inhalation detectors
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 3/124 characterised by the configuration or material of the bridge F42B3/13 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/16 incorporating printed electric components, e.g. printed resistor, capacitor, inductor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53204 Electrode

Abstract

An igniter comprises at least two conductors in the spaced-apart configuration and an electrically conductive layer bridging the at least two conductors, wherein the conductive layer has an electrical resistance greater than an electrical resistance of the at least two conductors. In one embodiment, the at least two conductors and the electrically conductive layer comprise a conductive ink, which may be the same conductive ink having different dimensions. A supplementary initiator composition may be deposited on or incorporated into the conductive layer. In a process for producing the igniter, the electrically conductive layer and the at least two conductors are printed on a non-electrically conducting substrate. Also disclosed are a method for igniting a combustible composition using the igniter, a method for producing an aerosol drug using the igniter, a method for providing a dose of a drug to a human patient using the igniter, a drug delivery device comprising the igniter and a drug supply unit comprising the igniter.

Claims

1. An igniter comprising:

a) at least two conductors in a spaced-apart configuration, said two conductors comprising a conductive ink, said conductive ink comprising particles in combination with a binder, said particles comprising carbon and wherein said carbon-comprising particles comprise a material selected from the group consisting of carbon, activated carbon, graphite, carbon nanotubes, fullerenes, and combinations thereof; and

b) an electrically conductive layer bridging said at least two conductors, wherein said conductive layer has an electrical resistance greater than an electrical resistance of said at least two conductors.

2. An igniter comprising:

a) at least two conductors in a spaced-apart configuration, said at least two conductors comprising a conductive ink, said conductive ink comprising particles in combination with a binder, wherein said conductive ink comprises non-carbon particles; and

b) an electrically conductive layer bridging said at least two conductors, wherein said conductive layer has an electrical resistance greater than an electrical resistance of said at least two conductors.

3. The igniter of claim 2, wherein said non-carbon particles comprise a metal.

4. An igniter comprising:

a) at least two conductors in a spaced-apart configuration; and

b) an electrically conductive layer bridging said at least two conductors, wherein said conductive layer has an electrical resistance greater than an electrical resistance of said at least two conductors, said electrically conductive layer comprising a conductive ink, said conductive ink comprising particles in combination with a binder, wherein said conductive ink comprises non-carbon particles.

5. The igniter of claim 4, wherein said non-carbon particles comprise a metal.

6. An igniter comprising:

a) at least two conductors in a spaced-apart configuration, said at least two conductors comprising a conductive ink; and

b) an electrically conductive layer bridging said at least two conductors, wherein said conductive layer has an electrical resistance greater than an electrical resistance of said at least two conductors wherein said conductive layer and said conductors both comprise the same conductive ink, and wherein said conductors have a thickness that is greater than the thickness of said conductive layer.

7. The igniter of claim 6 further comprising a supplementary initiator composition operatively associated with said electrically conductive layer.

8. The igniter of claim 7, wherein said supplementary initiator composition is deposited on said conductive layer.

9. The igniter of claim 8, wherein said conductive layer further comprises said supplementary initiator composition.

10. The igniter of claim 7, wherein said supplementary initiator composition comprises energetic materials.

11. The igniter of claim 7, wherein said supplementary initiator composition comprises at least one oxidizing agent and at least one metal reducing agent.

12. An igniter comprising:

a) at least two conductors in a spaced-apart configuration;

b) an electrical conductive layer comprising a conductive ink bridging said at least two conductors, wherein said conductive layer has an electrical resistance greater than an electrical resistance of said at least two conductors; and

c) a supplementary initiator composition operatively associated with said electrically conductive layer.

13. The igniter of claim 12, wherein said supplementary initiator composition is deposited on said conductive layer.

14. The igniter of claim 12, wherein said conductive layer further comprises said supplementary initiator composition.

15. The igniter of claim 12, wherein said supplementary initiator composition comprises energetic materials.

16. The igniter of claim 15, wherein said supplementary initiator composition comprises at least one oxidizing agent and at least one metal reducing agent.

17. The igniter of claim 16, wherein said oxidizing agent comprises oxygen, an oxygen-based gas, a solid oxidizing agent, and combinations thereof.

18. The igniter of claim 17, wherein said oxidizing agent is a metal-containing oxidizing agent.

19. The igniter of claim 18, wherein said metal-containing oxidizing agent comprises a perchlorate, a chlorate, or a metal oxide.

20. The igniter of claim 19, wherein said metal-containing oxidizing agent is a perchlorate or a chlorate of an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal.

21. The igniter of claim 20, wherein said metal-containing oxidizing agent is selected from the group consisting of potassium perchlorate (KClO₄), potassium chlorate (KClO₃), lithium perchlorate (LiClO₄), sodium perchlorate (NaClO₄), magnesium perchlorate (Mg(ClO₄)₂), and combinations thereof.

22. The igniter of claim 18, wherein said metal-containing oxidizing agent is a metal oxide.

23. The igniter of claim 22, wherein said metal oxide is selected from the group consisting of MoO₃, Fe₂O₃, Fe₃O₄, V₂O₅, CrO₃, Cr₂O₃, MnO₂, CO₃O₄, Ag₂O, CuO, WO₃, MgO, Nb₂O₅, MgAl₂O₄, Ce₂O₃, and combinations thereof.

24. The igniter of claim 16, wherein said metal reducing agent is selected from the group consisting of molybdenum, magnesium, calcium, strontium, barium, boron, titanium, zirconium, vanadium, niobium, tantalum, chromium, tungsten, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, cadmium, tin, antimony, bismuth, aluminum, silicon, and combinations thereof.

25. The igniter of claim 24, wherein said metal reducing agent is selected from the group consisting of aluminum, zirconium, titanium, and combinations thereof.

26. The igniter of claim 14 wherein the supplementary initiator composition comprises within the range of about 1% to about 50% of the total weight of the conductive layer/initiator composition.

27. The igniter of claim 14 wherein the supplementary initiator composition comprises within the range of about 5% to about 30% of the total weight of the conductive layer/initiator composition.

28. An igniter comprising:

a) at least two conductors in a spaced-apart configuration;

b) an electrically conductive layer bridging said at least two conductors, wherein said conductive layer has an electrical resistance greater than an electrical resistance of said at least two conductors, said conductive layer comprising a conductive ink; and

c) a supplementary initiator composition operatively associated with said electrically conductive layer.

29. The igniter of claim 28 wherein said conductive layer and said conductors both comprise the same conductive ink, and wherein said conductors have a thickness that is greater than the thickness of said conductive layer.

30. The igniter of claim 28, wherein said supplementary initiator composition is deposited on said conductive layer.

31. The igniter of claim 28, wherein said conductive layer further comprises said supplementary initiator composition.

32. The igniter of claim 28, wherein said supplementary initiator composition comprises energetic materials.

33. The igniter of claim 28, wherein said supplementary initiator composition comprises at least one oxidizing agent and at least one metal reducing agent.