Surgery – Liquid medicament atomizer or sprayer – Ultrasonic
Patent
1993-10-04
1996-01-30
Lewis, Aaron J.
Surgery
Liquid medicament atomizer or sprayer
Ultrasonic
12820014, 12820423, A61M 1100
Patent
active
054873789
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to inhalers for the delivery of therapeutic substances to the respiratory system of a patient and in particular to inhalers which deliver the therapeutic substance in the form of a liquid as a dispersion of fine droplets.
BACKGROUND
Since the metered dose pressurised inhaler was introduced in the mid-1950's, inhalation has become the most widely used route for delivering bronchodilators, offering a rapid onset of action and a low instance of systemic side effects. More recently, inhalation from a pressurised inhaler has been a route selected for the administration of other drugs, e.g., ergotamine, which are not primarily concerned with the treatment of a bronchial malady.
The metered dose inhaler is dependent upon the propulsive force of a propellant system used in its manufacture. The propellant generally comprises a mixture of liquified chlorofluorocarbons (CFC's) which are selected to provide the desired vapour pressure and stability of the formulation. Propellants 11, 12 and 114 are the most widely used propellants in aerosol formulations for inhalation administration.
In recent years it has been established that CFC's react with the ozone layer around the earth and contribute towards its depletion. There has been considerable pressure around the world to reduce substantially the use of CFC's, and various Governments have banned the "non-essential" use of CFC's. Such "non-essential" uses include the use of CFC's as refrigerants and blowing agents, but heretofore the use of CFC's in medicines, which contributes to less than 1% of the total use of CFC's, has not been restricted. Nevertheless, in view of the adverse effect of CFC's on the ozone layer it is desirable to seek alternative propellant systems which are suitable for use in inhalation aerosols or an inhaler which is capable of delivering drugs in such an efficacious manner without employing an aerosol propellant.
Apparatus for atomising liquid, such as, liquid fuel, water, liquid drug and recording medium are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,812,854, 4,159,803, 4,300,546, 4,334,531, 4,465,234, 4,632,311, 4,338,576 and 4,850,534 and International Patent Application No. WO/8906147.
The atomising apparatus disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,465,234 and 4,632,311 comprises a body having a chamber into which liquid is supplied, a nozzle member secured to the body and forming part of a wall defining the chamber, the nozzle member having at least one nozzle opening therethrough, and vibrator which is either a separate element forming part of a wall defining the chamber or is secured to the nozzle member to cause vibration thereof, such that, in use, in response to the vibrator, liquid in the chamber is cyclically pressurised, causing liquid to be periodically expelled through the nozzle opening(s) as atomised droplets. The apparatus additionally comprises a reservoir of liquid positioned below the chamber and a suction pump in communication with the chamber via an air vent pipe for sucking liquid into the chamber. The pump is de-energised after operation to drain liquid to leave the chamber dry during non-working periods to prevent the otherwise solid substances from clogging the nozzle openings.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,533,082 discloses an arrangement for discharging liquid droplets which is useful in applications such as fuel burners and printers, the arrangement comprises a housing including a chamber for holding liquid therein having an intake port connected to a liquid supply container, a vibrating member secured to the housing in pressure transmitting relation with the liquid in the chamber. The vibrating member is formed with at least one nozzle opening therein through which the liquid is discharged forwardly of the housing. A piezo-electric transducer is secured to the vibrating member for inducing a rearward displacement therein to discharge a small quantity of liquid through the nozzle opening.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,338,576 and 4,850,534 disclose a nebuliser which pumps up water and mists the pumped
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Baum Eric A.
Creeke Murray A.
Emerton Neil
Hodson Peter D.
Houzego Peter J.
Griswold Gary L.
Hulse Dale E.
Kirn Walter N.
Lewis Aaron J.
Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
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