Dispensing device producing multiple comminutions of opposing po

Details Dispensing device producing multiple comminutions of opposing po Dispensing device producing multiple comminutions of opposing po

1997-01-24

1999-06-29

Asher, Kimberly L.

Surgery

Liquid medicament atomizer or sprayer

Ultrasonic

12820014, 12820312, 239690, 239171, 239172, 239691, 239695, A61M 1100

Patent

active

059153776

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a dispensing device for comminuting a liquid and the use of such a device, in particular, in medicine.


BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Known nasal sprays generally produce droplet-sprays by mechanical means. The sprays so produced contain droplets within a broad range of droplet diameters which significantly reduces targeting accuracy and hence accuracy of dosing. The non-uniform nature of the sprays can also be very wasteful of medicament.
Dispensing devices are known which produce a finely divided spray of liquid droplets by electrostatic (more properly referred to as `electrohydrodynamic`) means. The droplet spray in such devices is generated by applying an electric field to a liquid at a spray head or spray edge. The potential of the electric field is sufficiently high to provide comminution of the liquid from the spray head. The droplets produced are electrically charged and thus are prevented from coagulating by mutual repulsion.
We have now discovered that electrohydrodynamic spray technology may be used to deliver charged monodisperse liquid droplets sprays, especially medicament sprays, to the upper respiratory tract and especially to the nasal mucosa, in an efficient and very controllable manner.
We have also discovered that for optimum targeting of the spray in the upper respiratory tract it is desirable to partially remove the electric charge from the droplet sprays produced by electrohydrodynamic comminution devices. To date the principal method used to effect charge removal has required the use of a discharging electrode having a sharp or pointed edge and located downstream from the spray head. This discharging electrode produces a cloud of charged ions from the surrounding air having an opposite electrical charge of equal magnitude to that on the comminuted liquid spray. In use, the ion cloud is attracted towards, collides with and thereby electrically discharges or partially discharges the liquid spray.
European Patent number 0234842 discloses an electrohydrodynamic inhaler wherein the spray of charged droplets is discharged by means of such a discharge electrode. The droplets are discharged in order to facilitate droplet deposition into the respiratory tract as otherwise the electrically charged droplets would deposit onto the mouth and throat of the user.
A particular problem associated with the use of the sharp discharge electrode is that the highly mobile ion cloud from the discharge electrode often interferes with the comminution of the liquid spray. The inhaler device of EP 0234842 attempts to ameliorate the effects of the ion cloud at the spray head by using a neutral shield electrode located close to the spray head. In addition, the level of control over the partial discharging of the liquid spray, especially the uniformity of charge across the spray cloud, tends to vary within wide limits between zero and the original maximum.


SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a device which enables the charged spray to be partially discharged in a well controlled manner without affecting the efficiency of the comminution of the liquid spray.
Accordingly, there is provided a device for comminuting a liquid for dispensing to the upper respiratory tract, which comprises at least two electrohydrodynamic comminution means arranged so that in use comminutions of opposing polarity are formed which are substantially admixed after formation, so as to provide a comminution having a residual electrical change.
The electrohydrodynamic comminution means may be any conventional electrohydrodynamic comminution means, for example those described in the above mentioned patent specifications.
Suitably, each comminution means comprises a comminution site, generally being a surface or edge, from which the liquid comminution is produced.
A preferred comminution surface or edge is provided by a thin capillary tube, a nozzle or a slot defined by two parallel plates. However any comminution surface or edge described in the above mentioned patent specificat

REFERENCES:
patent: 2723646 (1955-11-01), Ransburg
patent: 2945443 (1960-07-01), Auer et al.
patent: 3096762 (1963-07-01), Winchell
patent: 3131131 (1964-04-01), Wehner
patent: 3232292 (1966-02-01), Schaefer
patent: 3296491 (1967-01-01), Brown
patent: 3456646 (1969-07-01), Phillips et al.
patent: 3654501 (1972-04-01), Secker
patent: 3837573 (1974-09-01), Wagner
patent: 3897905 (1975-08-01), Tadewald
patent: 3930061 (1975-12-01), Scharfenberger
patent: 3958959 (1976-05-01), Cohen et al.
patent: 4073002 (1978-02-01), Sickles et al.
patent: 4150644 (1979-04-01), Masaki et al.
patent: 4186886 (1980-02-01), Sickles
patent: 4198781 (1980-04-01), Dykes
patent: 4203398 (1980-05-01), Maruoka
patent: 4266721 (1981-05-01), Sickles
patent: 4356528 (1982-10-01), Coffee
patent: 4380786 (1983-04-01), Kelly
patent: 4439980 (1984-04-01), Biblarz et al.
patent: 4467961 (1984-08-01), Coffee et al.
patent: 4476515 (1984-10-01), Coffee
patent: 4508265 (1985-04-01), Jido
patent: 4509694 (1985-04-01), Inculet et al.
patent: 4549243 (1985-10-01), Owen et al.
patent: 4630169 (1986-12-01), Kelly
patent: 4659012 (1987-04-01), Coffee
patent: 4671269 (1987-06-01), Wilp
patent: 4703891 (1987-11-01), Jackson et al.
patent: 4735364 (1988-04-01), Marchant
patent: 4748043 (1988-05-01), Seaver et al.
patent: 4749125 (1988-06-01), Escallon et al.
patent: 4776515 (1988-10-01), Michalchik
patent: 4788016 (1988-11-01), Colclough et al.
patent: 4801086 (1989-01-01), Noakes
patent: 4830872 (1989-05-01), Grenfell
patent: 4846407 (1989-07-01), Coffee et al.
patent: 4962885 (1990-10-01), Coffee
patent: 4979680 (1990-12-01), Bauch et al.
patent: 5044564 (1991-09-01), Sickles
patent: 5086972 (1992-02-01), Chang et al.
patent: 5118942 (1992-06-01), Hamade
patent: 5180288 (1993-01-01), Richter et al.
patent: 5222663 (1993-06-01), Noakes et al.
patent: 5267555 (1993-12-01), Pajalich
patent: 5378957 (1995-01-01), Kelly
patent: 5381789 (1995-01-01), Marquardt
patent: 5402945 (1995-04-01), Swanson, Jr.
patent: 5409162 (1995-04-01), Sickles
patent: 5483953 (1996-01-01), Cooper
patent: 5511726 (1996-04-01), Greenspan et al.
patent: 5655517 (1997-08-01), Coffee
Article entitled: Electro-osmosis Controls Fluid in Novel Transducer Concept by Product Engineering, dated Jul. 4, 1970 authored by: Ray Lewis, Cleveland; pp. 71-72.
Article entitled: Electrodynamic Crop Spraying, dated 1981; authored by: R. A. Coffee; Reprinted from Outlook on Agriculture vol. 10, No. 7, 1981; includes excerpt pp. 350-356.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Dispensing device producing multiple comminutions of opposing po does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Dispensing device producing multiple comminutions of opposing po, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Dispensing device producing multiple comminutions of opposing po will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1366953