Pulmonary aerosol delivery device and method

Abstract

A device and method for delivering an aerosolized liquid having therapeutic properties to a user's lungs. The compact and convenient device includes a housing of such size that it can be held in a user's one hand with an exit opening in the housing for directing the aerosol to the user's mouth. The housing encloses a dispensing system for containing the liquid to be aerosolized and delivering it to an electrohydrodynamic apparatus and an electrohydrodynamic apparatus for aerosolizing the liquid and delivering the aerosol to the exit opening. The electrohydrodynamic apparatus produces a cloud of aerosolized liquid droplets having a monodispersed respirable droplet size and near zero velocity. The aerosolizing apparatus includes a plurality of spray sites each having a tip end, the spray sites cooperating with a charge source to result in an aerosolized spray from at least one tip end, a plurality of discharge electrodes downstream of the tip ends, and a plurality of reference electrodes downstream of the plurality of discharge electrodes.

1 . an Apparatus for aerosolizing a liquid, comprising: 
 a base;    a plurality of spray sites each having a base end connected to the base and a tip end, an aerosolized spray being from at least one tip end when a liquid is caused to flow over the spray sites and the plurality of spray sites is placed in electrical communication with a charge source;    wherein the plurality of spray tip sites are spaced-apart from one another and arranged in a generally circular pattern;    at least one discharge electrode connected to the base and spaced further from the base than the tip ends; and    at least one reference electrode connected to the base and spaced further from the base than the at least one discharge electrode.