Methods and systems for operating an aerosol generator

• US 8,196,573 B2
• Filed: 01/23/2008
• Issued: 06/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Novartis Ag
• Original Assignee: Novartis Ag
• Inventors: Fink, James B., Power, John, Ivri, Ehud, Smith, Niall, Dunne, Paul, Moran, Declan, Gibbons, Keith, O'Sullivan, Gavan
• Primary Examiner(s): Ostrup, Clinton T
• Application Number:
  US12/018,716
• Publication Number:
  US 20080142002A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,602 Days
• Field of Search: 128/200.14, 128/200.21, 128/200.24, 128/204.18, 128/204.26, 239/302, 239/332, 239/338, 514/34, 514/37, 514/39, 514/41
• US Class Current: 128/200.14
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/7036 having at least one amino group directly attached to the carbocyclic ring, e.g. streptomycin, gentamycin, amikacin, validamycin, fortimicins
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0078 for inhalation via a nebulizer such as a jet nebulizer, ultrasonic nebulizer, e.g. in the form of aqueous drug solutions or dispersions
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/00 Sprayers or atomisers specially adapted for therapeutic purposes in general B05B; aerosol containers B65D83/14
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/005 using ultrasonics spraying or atomising liquids using ultrasonic vibrations in general B05B17/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0833 T- or Y-type connectors, e.g. Y-piece
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0858 Pressure sampling ports
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/1065 in the expiratory path
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/14 by mixing different fluids, one of them being in a liquid phase
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/20 Valves specially adapted to medical respiratory devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/208 Non-controlled one-way valves, e.g. exhalation, check, pop-off non-rebreathing valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0021 with a proportional output signal, e.g. from a thermistor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0027 pressure meter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3561 local, e.g. within room or hospital
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3569 sublocal, e.g. between console and disposable
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 11/00 Drugs for disorders of the respiratory system
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 31/04 Antibacterial agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 31/10 Antimycotics
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 31/12 Antivirals
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 33/02 Antiprotozoals, e.g. for leishmaniasis, trichomoniasis, toxoplasmosis

Abstract

A system for intermittent delivery of an aerosolized medicament is disclosed. The system may include an aerosol generator, a controller and a conduit. The aerosol generator may be configured to aerosolize a medicament. The controller may be configured to receive physiological characteristic information about a patient, and control the aerosol generator based at least in part on the physiological characteristic information. The conduit may be configured to supply the aerosolized medicament to the patient'"'"'s airway.

Claims

1. A system for intermittent delivery of an aerosolized medicament, the system comprising:

an aerosol generator that aerosolizes a medicament;

a controller, that;

receives physiological characteristic information about a patient;

receives information about the type of medicament being delivered;

stores at least some of the physiological characteristic information;

selects a mode of operation from a plurality of modes based at least in part on the type of medicament being delivered, each mode prescribing a respective first condition for determining when within the patient'"'"'s breathing cycle aerosolization is started and a respective second condition for determining when within the patient'"'"'s breathing cycle aerosolization is stopped; and

controls the aerosol generator based at least in part on the stored physiological characteristic information and according to the selected mode of operation; and

a conduit through which the aerosolized medicament is supplied to the patient'"'"'s airway.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the physiological characteristic information comprises data representative of breathing.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the aerosol generator comprises:

an aerosolization element defining a plurality of apertures; and

a vibratory element that vibrates the aerosolization element.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the aerosolization element has a first side and a second side, and wherein when the aerosolization element is vibrated, a liquid medicament at the first side moves through the apertures and is ejected as aerosolized medicament from the second side.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the physiological characteristic information comprises breathing characteristic information, and wherein the controller activates the aerosol generator once a threshold level of inhalation has been achieved.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller further:

stores at least one aerosol generator operation program; and

controls the aerosol generator based at least in part on the aerosol generator operation program.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the aerosol generator operation program comprises at least two instructions selected from a group consisting of:

(i) activate the aerosol generator at a predetermined point in an inhalation phase of the patient, and deactivate the aerosol generator at a predetermined point in the inhalation phase of the patient;

(ii) activate the aerosol generator at a predetermined point in the inhalation phase of the patient, and deactivate the aerosol generator at a predetermined point in an exhalation phase of the patient;

(iii) activate the aerosol generator at a predetermined point in the exhalation phase of the patient, and deactivate the aerosol generator at a predetermined point in the exhalation phase of the patient; and

(iv) activate the aerosol generator at a predetermined point in the exhalation phase of the patient, and deactivate the aerosol generator at a predetermined point in the inhalation phase of the patient.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the conduit comprises a ventilator circuit, and wherein:

the physiological characteristic information is received from the ventilator circuit; and

the aerosol generator operation program comprises at least two instructions selected from a group consisting of;

(i) activate the aerosol generator at a predetermined point in an output phase of the ventilator circuit, and deactivate the aerosol generator at a predetermined point in the output phase of the ventilator circuit;

(ii) activate the aerosol generator at a predetermined point in the output phase of the ventilator circuit, and deactivate the aerosol generator at a predetermined point in a non-output phase of the ventilator circuit;

(iii) activate the aerosol generator at a predetermined point in the non-output phase of the ventilator circuit, and deactivate the aerosol generator at a predetermined point in the non-output phase of the ventilator circuit; and

(iv) activate the aerosol generator at a predetermined point in the non-output phase of the ventilator circuit, and deactivate the aerosol generator at a predetermined point in the output phase of the ventilator circuit.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises a sensor that monitors and transmits physiological characteristic information.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the sensor comprises a pressure sensor that senses pressure changes in the conduit.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the conduit comprises a ventilator circuit.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the controller activates the aerosol generator once a threshold level of respiratory gas is supplied by the ventilator circuit.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein:

when the information about the type of medicament delivered indicates that the type of medicament is a steroid, the controller controls the aerosol generator such that the medicament is delivered towards the end of an inhalation phase of a breath; and

when the information about the type of medicament delivered indicates that the type of medicament is an antibiotic, the controller controls the aerosol generator such that aerosol generation occurs at the beginning of a breath and stops after a predetermined percentage of inhalation has occurred.