Optically ignited or electrically ignited self-contained heating unit and drug-supply unit employing same

Abstract

Heating units, drug supply units and drug delivery articles capable of rapid heating are disclosed. Heating units comprising a substrate and a solid fuel capable of undergoing an exothermic metal oxidation reaction disposed within the substrate are disclosed. These heating units can be actuated by electrical resistance or by optical ignition. Drug supply units and drug delivery articles wherein a solid fuel is configured to heat a substrate to a temperature sufficient to rapidly thermally vaporize a drug disposed thereon are also disclosed.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An optically ignitable heating unit comprising: 
 a. a sealed enclosure comprising at least one substrate having an exterior surface and an interior surface;    b. a solid fuel comprising a metal reducing agent and a metal-containing oxidizing agent disposed within the enclosure;    wherein the solid fuel is configured to heat a portion of the exterior surface of the at least one substrate to a temperature of at least 200° C. within at least 500 milliseconds following ignition of the solid fuel;    c. at least one clear optical window disposed for transmitting a light pulse through or within the enclosure; and    d. a light sensitive initiator composition disposed with the enclosure, configured to ignite the solid fuel, and positioned such that the light pulse transmitted through the clear optical window is directed to the initiator composition.    
     
     
         2 . The heating unit of  claim 1 , wherein the clear optical window is glass, acrylic, or polycarbonate.  
     
     
         3 . The heating unit of  claim 1 , wherein the clear optical window is disposed completely within the enclosure.  
     
     
         4 . The heating unit of  claim 1 , wherein the clear optical window forms part of the enclosure.  
     
     
         5 . The heating unit of  claim 1 , wherein the clear optical window is part of a light guide assembly.  
     
     
         6 . The heating unit of  claim 1 , wherein the light guide assembly further comprises a beam splitter.  
     
     
         7 . The heating unit of  claim 1 , further comprising an electrically conductive means for generating a light pulse upon achieving a threshold voltage.  
     
     
         8 . The heating unit of  claim 7 , wherein said electrically conductive means for generating a light pulse is selected from the group consisting of a Xenon flash lamp, light emitting diode, and a laser.  
     
     
         9 . The heating unit of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one impulse absorbing material disposed within the enclosure.  
     
     
         10 . The heating unit of  claim 9 , wherein the impulse absorbing material is selected from a porous material, and a fibrous material.  
     
     
         11 . The heating unit of  claim 10 , wherein the impulse absorbing material has a hole contained therein.  
     
     
         12 . The heating unit of  claim 11 , wherein the hole in the impulse absorbing material contains the initiator composition.  
     
     
         13 . The heating unit of  claim 1 , further comprising a spacer disposed to form a part of the enclosure or completely within the enclosure.  
     
     
         14 . The heating unit of  claim 1 , wherein the enclosure comprises more than one substrate.  
     
     
         15 . The heating unit of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate is selected from a metal, an alloy, and a ceramic.  
     
     
         16 . The heating unit of  claim 15 , wherein the substrate is a metal foil.  
     
     
         17 . The heating unit of  claim 16 , wherein the metal foil exhibits a thickness ranging from 0.001 inches to 0.010 inches.  
     
     
         18 . The heating unit of  claim 1 , wherein the solid fuel is coated as a thin layer on at least a portion of the interior surface of the substrate.  
     
     
         19 . The heating unit of  claim 18 , wherein the thin layer of solid fuel exhibits a thickness ranging from 0.001 inches to 0.030 inches.  
     
     
         20 . The heating unit of  claim 18 , wherein the thin layer of solid fuel exhibits a thickness ranging from 0.001 inches to 0.005 inches.  
     
     
         21 . The heating unit of  claim 1 , wherein the metal containing oxidizing agent is selected from at least one of the following MoO 3 , KClO 4 , KClO 3 , and Fe 2 O 3 .  
     
     
         22 . The heating unit of  claim 1 , wherein the metal reducing agent is selected form at least one of the following: aluminum, zirconium, iron, and titanium.  
     
     
         23 . The heating unit of  claim 1 , wherein the amount of metal reducing agent ranges from 60% by weight to 90% by weight of the total dry weight of the solid fuel.  
     
     
         24 . The heating unit of  claim 1 , wherein the amount of metal-containing oxidizing agent ranges from 10% by weight to 40% by weight of the total dry weight of the solid fuel.  
     
     
         25 . The heating unit of  claim 1 , wherein the solid fuel comprises at least one additive material.  
     
     
         26 . The heating unit of  claim 25 , wherein the additive material is selected from at least one of the following: nitrocellulose, polyvinylalcohol, diatomaceous earth, glass beads, colloidal silica, and Laponite.  
     
     
         27 . The heating unit of  claim 1 , wherein the sealed enclosure is capable of withstanding an internal pressure of at least 50 psig.  
     
     
         28 . The heating unit of  claim 1 , where the initiator composition comprises at least one reducing agent and at least one oxidizing agent.  
     
     
         29 . The heating unit of  claim 28 , wherein the reducing agent of the initiator composition is selected from at least one of the following: zirconium, titanium, and aluminum.  
     
     
         30 . The heating unit of  claim 28 , wherein the oxidizing agent is selected from at least one of the following: molybdenum trioxide, potassium perchlorate, copper oxide, and tungsten trioxide.  
     
     
         31 . The heating unit of  claim 28 , wherein the composition comprises aluminum, boron, molybdenum trioxide, and Viton.  
     
     
         32 . An optically ignitable heating unit comprising: 
 a. a sealed enclosure comprising at least one substrate having an exterior surface and an interior surface;    b. a solid fuel comprising a metal reducing agent and a metal-containing oxidizing agent coated as a thin layer on at least a portion of the interior surface of at least one substrate of the enclosure;    c. at least one clear optical window disposed for transmitting a light pulse through or within the enclosure; and    d. a light sensitive initiator composition disposed with the enclosure, configured to ignite the solid fuel, and positioned such that the light pulse transmitted through the clear optical window is directed to the initiator composition.    
     
     
         33 . The heating unit of  claim 32 , wherein the clear optical window is glass, acrylic, or polycarbonate.  
     
     
         34 . The heating unit of  claim 32 , wherein the clear optical window is disposed completely within the enclosure.  
     
     
         35 . The heating unit of  claim 32 , wherein the clear optical window forms part of the enclosure.  
     
     
         36 . The heating unit of  claim 32 , wherein the clear optical window is part of a light guide assembly.  
     
     
         37 . The heating unit of  claim 32 , wherein the light guide assembly further comprises a beam splitter.  
     
     
         38 . The heating unit of  claim 32 , further comprising an electrically conductive means for generating a light pulse upon achieving a threshold voltage.  
     
     
         39 . The heating unit of  claim 38 , wherein said electrically conductive means for generating a light pulse is selected from the group consisting of a Xenon flash lamp, light emitting diode, and a laser.  
     
     
         40 . The heating unit of  claim 32 , further comprising at least one impulse absorbing material disposed within the enclosure.  
     
     
         41 . The heating unit of  claim 40 , wherein the impulse absorbing material is selected from a porous material, and a fibrous material.  
     
     
         42 . The heating unit of  claim 41 , wherein the impulse absorbing material has a hole contained therein.  
     
     
         43 . The heating unit of  claim 42 , wherein the hole in the impulse absorbing material contains the initiator composition.  
     
     
         44 . The heating unit of  claim 32 , further comprising a spacer disposed to form a part of the enclosure or completely within the enclosure.  
     
     
         45 . The heating unit of  claim 32 , wherein the enclosure comprises more than one substrate.  
     
     
         46 . The heating unit of  claim 32 , wherein the substrate is selected from a metal, an alloy, and a ceramic.  
     
     
         47 . The heating unit of  claim 46 , wherein the substrate is a metal foil.  
     
     
         48 . The heating unit of  claim 47 , wherein the metal foil exhibits a thickness ranging from 0.001 inches to 0.010 inches.  
     
     
         49 . The heating unit of  claim 32 , wherein the thin layer of solid fuel exhibits a thickness ranging from 0.001 inches to 0.030 inches.  
     
     
         50 . The heating unit of  claim 32 , wherein the thin layer of solid fuel exhibits a thickness ranging from 0.001 inches to 0.005 inches.  
     
     
         51 . The heating unit of  claim 32 , wherein the metal containing oxidizing agent is selected from at least one of the following MoO 3 , KClO 4 , KClO 3 , and Fe 2 O 3 .  
     
     
         52 . The heating unit of  claim 32 , wherein the metal reducing agent is selected form at least one of the following: aluminum, zirconium, iron, and titanium.  
     
     
         53 . The heating unit of  claim 32 , wherein the amount of metal reducing agent ranges from 60% by weight to 90% by weight of the total dry weight of the solid fuel.  
     
     
         54 . The heating unit of  claim 32 , wherein the amount of metal-containing oxidizing agent ranges from 10% by weight to 40% by weight of the total dry weight of the solid fuel.  
     
     
         55 . The heating unit of  claim 32 , wherein the solid fuel comprises at least one additive material.  
     
     
         56 . The heating unit of  claim 55 , wherein the additive material is selected from at least one of the following: nitrocellulose, polyvinylalcohol, diatomaceous earth, glass beads, colloidal silica, and Laponite.  
     
     
         57 . The heating unit of  claim 32 , wherein the sealed enclosure is capable of withstanding an internal pressure of at least 50 psig.  
     
     
         58 . The heating unit of  claim 32 , where the initiator composition comprises at least one reducing agent and at least one oxidizing agent.  
     
     
         59 . The heating unit of  claim 58 , wherein the reducing agent of the initiator composition is selected from at least one of the following: zirconium, titanium, and aluminum.  
     
     
         60 . The heating unit of  claim 58 , wherein the oxidizing agent is selected from at least one of the following: molybdenum trioxide, potassium perchlorate, copper oxide, and tungsten trioxide.  
     
     
         61 . The heating unit of  claim 58 , wherein the composition comprises aluminum, boron, molybdenum trioxide, and Viton.