Aerosol forming device for use in inhalation therapy

• US 7,942,147 B2
• Filed: 05/13/2002
• Issued: 05/17/2011
• 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: Rogers, Daniel D., Lloyd, Peter M., Hodges, Craig C., Wensley, Martin J., Mufson, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Erezo; Darwin P
• Application Number:
  US10/146,080
• Publication Number:
  US 20030015196A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,291 Days
• Field of Search: 128/200.14, 128/200.16, 128/203.17, 128/206.26, 128/203.27, 128/200.23, 128/203.15, 239/128, 239/132, 239/132.3, 239/132.5, 239/136
• 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

The present invention relates to the inhalation delivery of aerosols containing small particles. Specifically, it relates to a device that forms drug containing aerosols for use in inhalation therapy. In a device aspect of the present invention, a device for delivering drug containing aerosols for inhalation therapy is provided. The device includes a housing and an airway that has a gas/vapor mixing airway. The airway further includes a subassembly, which has a metallic substrate coated on its surface with a composition comprising a drug.

Claims

1. A device for delivering a drug containing aerosol to a patient by inhalation comprising:

(a) a housing comprising an inlet, an outlet;

(b) an airway extending from the inlet to the outlet;

(c) a subassembly in the airway comprising a substrate having a surface;

(d) a composition comprising a drug deposited on the substrate surface; and

(e) a heater system for heating an area of the substrate surface;

(f) wherein upon inhalation by said patient, cooling air enters the device through said inlet and passes through said airway over the surface of the deposited composition;

(g) wherein the airway contains a restricted cross-sectional area along the heated area of the substrate surface configured to increase the speed of the cooling air passing over the surface of the deposited composition such that upon heating of the composition to a vaporization temperature to begin vaporization of the composition the resulting composition vapors are removed from the heated area and cooled below the vaporization temperature by the cooling air without significant decomposition of the vaporized composition; and

(h) wherein the restricted cross-sectional area is configured to create an increased velocity and mixing region that has an area that is larger than the heated area of the substrate.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the heater system is a resistance heater.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein, the substrate comprises stainless steel.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the heater system is an inductive heater.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the airway comprises means for causing turbulence as cooling air moves through the airway.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the heater system is capable of heating the substrate at a rate of at least 1000°

C/sec.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the deposited composition has a thickness between 10 nm and 10 μ

m.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the drug has a decomposition index of less than 0.15.

9. The device according to claim 7, wherein the drug has a decomposition index of less than 0.05.