Pulmonary aerosol delivery device

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 reparable 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 . A aerosol delivery device comprising: 
 at least one spray site;    a containment vessel for containing a liquid;    a metering system for delivering a single dose of the liquid from the containment vessel to the at least one spray site, the metering system comprising a motor driven piston within the dispensing system; and    a charge source for generating an electric field proximate to the spray sites to aerosolize the liquid emanating from the at least one spray site.    
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the motor driven piston comprises a motor mechanically coupled to a screw that is further mechanically coupled to a plunger.  
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the containment vessel has antimicrobial properties.  
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the containment vessel is selected from the group comprising a holder for a liquid enclosed in single dose units, a plurality of sealed chambers each holding a single dose of a liquid, and a vial for enclosing a bulk supply of a liquid.  
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the containment vessel is capable of maintaining the sterility of a sterile liquid placed therein.  
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising at least one ion discharge electrode proximate to the at least one spray site for neutralizing at least a portion of the aerosolized liquid emanating from the at least one spray site.  
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the at least one ion discharge electrode is electrically coupled to the charge source and the charge source generates the electric field through the at least one ion discharge electrode.  
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising a valve disposed between the containment vessel and the spray site.  
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8  further comprising a valve disposed at an outlet of the containment vessel.  
     
     
         10 . A aerosol delivery device comprising: 
 a dispensing system for containing a liquid;    at least one spray site for receiving the liquid from the dispensing system;    a charge source for generating an electric field proximate to aerosolize the liquid emanating from the at least one spray site; and    a control circuit communicating with the dispensing system and the charge source.    
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10  further comprising a housing having an exit opening for directing the aerosolized for inhalation by a user, the housing enclosing the at least one spray site.  
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the at least one ion discharge electrode is electrically coupled to the charge source and the charge source generates the electric field through the at least one ion discharge electrode.  
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 10  further comprising at least one ion discharge electrode for neutralizing at least a portion of the aerosolized liquid emanating from the at least one spray site.  
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 13  wherein the at least one ion discharge electrode is disposed between the at least one spray site and an exit opening of the device.  
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14  further comprising a dielectric disposed in a region between the at least one ion discharge electrode and the at least one spray site.  
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 12  wherein the at least one spray site is disposed between the ion discharge electrode and an exit opening of the device.  
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 16  further comprising a dielectric disposed in a region between the at least one ion discharge electrode and the at least one spray site.  
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 12  wherein the plurality of ion discharge electrodes are spaced substantially equidistant from one another.  
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 12  wherein the control circuit includes an actuation device for initiating aerosolization of the liquid.  
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 19  wherein the actuation device comprises a sensor for detecting inhalation of a user's breath.  
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 20  wherein the sensor cooperates with the control circuit to initiate the flow of aerosolized liquid.  
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 21  wherein the sensor is selected from the group comprising a flapper switch, a pressure transducer, an air motion detector, and an air velocity detector.  
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 10  further comprising a valve disposed between the containment vessel and the spray site.  
     
     
         24 . A aerosol delivery device comprising: 
 a dispensing system for containing a liquid;    at least one spray site for receiving the liquid from the dispensing system;    a charge source for generating an electric field proximate to aerosolize the liquid emanating from the at least one spray site;    a control circuit communicating with the dispensing system and the charge source; and    a sensor coupled to the control circuit, the sensor for detecting inhalation of a user's breath through said device, wherein the control circuit includes an actuation device for initiating flow of aerosolized liquid.    
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 24  wherein the sensor is selected from the group comprising a flapper switch, a pressure transducer, an air motion detector, and an air velocity detector.  
     
     
         26 . The device of  claim 24  further comprising at least one ion discharge electrode for neutralizing at least a portion of the aerosolized liquid emanating from the at least one spray site.  
     
     
         27 . The device of  claim 26  wherein the at least one ion discharge electrode is electrically coupled to the charge source and the charge source generates the electric field through the at least one ion discharge electrode.  
     
     
         28 . The device of  claim 26  wherein the at least one ion discharge electrode is disposed between the at least one spray site and an exit opening of the device.  
     
     
         29 . The device of  claim 26  wherein the at least one spray site is disposed between the at least one ion discharge electrode and an exit opening of the device.  
     
     
         30 . The device of  claim 29  further comprising a dielectric material disposed within a region between the at least one ion discharge electrode and the at least one spray site.  
     
     
         31 . The device of  claim 26  wherein the ion discharge electrodes are spaced substantially equidistant from one another.  
     
     
         32 . The device of  claim 23  wherein the dispensing system further comprises: 
 a containment vessel; and    a valve disposed between the containment vessel and the at least one spray site.    
     
     
         33 . An aerosol delivery device comprising: 
 a dispensing system for containing a liquid to be aerosolized and delivering the liquid to an apparatus for aerosolizing the liquid; and    an apparatus for aerosolizing the liquid and delivering the aerosolized liquid to the exit opening of the device, the apparatus comprising: 
 a plurality of spray sites each having a tip end; and  
 a plurality of ion discharge electrodes disposed between the tip ends and an exit opening of the device, the plurality of ion discharge electrodes being oriented toward the aerosolized spray; and  
   a power supply system for providing sufficient voltage to the aerosolizing apparatus to aerosolize the liquid.    
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 33  wherein the plurality of ion discharge electrodes are spaced equidistant from one another.  
     
     
         35 . The device of  claim 33  wherein the dispensing system further comprises: 
 a containment vessel; and    a valve disposed between the containment vessel and the spray sites.    
     
     
         36 . An aerosol delivery device comprising: 
 a dispensing system for containing a liquid to be aerosolized and delivering the liquid to an apparatus for aerosolizing the liquid; and    an apparatus for aerosolizing the liquid and delivering the aerosolized liquid to the exit opening of the device, the apparatus comprising: 
 a plurality of spray sites each having a tip end;  
 a plurality of ion discharge electrodes, the spray sites being disposed between said ion discharge electrodes and the device exit opening; and  
 a power supply system for providing sufficient voltage to the aerosolizing apparatus to aerosolize the liquid.  
   
     
     
         37 . The device of  claim 36  wherein the dispensing system further comprises: 
 a containment vessel; and    a valve disposed between the containment vessel and the spray sites.    
     
     
         38 . The apparatus of  claim 36  further comprising a dielectric material disposed within a region between the ion discharge electrodes and the spray sites.  
     
     
         39 . An apparatus for aerosolizing a liquid comprising: 
 a tubular base;    a plurality of spray sites each having a base end connected to the base and a tip end extending axially into a first end of the base; and    a charge source electrically coupled to a plurality of ion discharge electrodes for generating an electric field to cause generation of an aerosolized spray from at least one tip end when liquid is provided to the plurality of spray sites.    
     
     
         40 . The apparatus of  claim 39  wherein the plurality of discharge electrodes is oriented toward the aerosolized spray.  
     
     
         41 . The apparatus of  claim 39  wherein the plurality of discharge electrodes has a sufficient electric field strength to substantially neutralize a charge on the droplets generated by the spray sites.  
     
     
         42 . The apparatus of  claim 39  wherein at least one of the plurality of spray sites has a sufficient electric field strength that when a liquid is caused to flow from said spray site, a net electrical charge is imparted to the surface of the flowing liquid, the charge imparted to the liquid surface initially balancing the surface tension of the liquid to cause the liquid to form a cone adjacent to the spray site with the cone tip extending away from the spray site, the charge imparted to the surface eventually overcoming the surface tension of the liquid in the region of the cone tip to generate a thin jet of liquid that breaks into an aerosolized liquid consisting substantially of droplets of respirable size.  
     
     
         43 . The apparatus of  claim 39  wherein the plurality of discharge electrodes extend radially inwardly toward an axis defined by the base end and tip end of one of the plurality of spray sites.  
     
     
         44 . The apparatus of  claim 39  wherein the plurality of discharge electrodes are spaced equidistant from one another.  
     
     
         45 . The apparatus of  claim 39  further comprising a dielectric material disposed between the discharge electrodes and the spray sites.  
     
     
         46 . The apparatus of  claim 39  wherein the plurality of spray sites are arranged in a generally circular pattern.  
     
     
         47 . A aerosol delivery device comprising 
 a dispensing system for containing a liquid to be aerosolized and delivering the liquid to an apparatus for aerosolizing the liquid;    an apparatus for aerosolizing the liquid and delivering the aerosolized liquid to the exit opening of the device, the apparatus comprising: 
 a plurality of spray sites; and  
 a plurality of ion discharge electrodes; and  
   a power supply system comprising a battery and a DC to DC high voltage converter for providing sufficient voltage to the apparatus to aerosolize the liquid.    
     
     
         48 . The device of  claim 47  further comprising a housing having an exit opening for directing the aerosolized for inhalation by a user, the housing enclosing the spray sites.  
     
     
         49 . The device of  claim 47  wherein the dispensing system further comprises: 
 a containment vessel; and    a valve disposed between the containment vessel and the spray sites.    
     
     
         50 . The device of  claim 47  wherein the device is cordless.  
     
     
         51 . The device of  claim 47  wherein the plurality of discharge electrodes are electrically coupled to the power supply for generating the electric field to aerosolize the liquid emanating from the spray sites.  
     
     
         52 . The device of  claim 47  wherein the plurality of discharge electrodes are electrically coupled to the power supply and have sufficient electric field strength to substantially neutralize a charge on the droplets generated by the spray sites.  
     
     
         53 . The device of  claim 47  wherein the ion discharge electrodes are disposed between the spray sites and an exit opening of the device.  
     
     
         54 . The device of  claim 53  further comprising a dielectric disposed in a region between the ion discharge electrodes and the spray sites.  
     
     
         55 . The device of  claim 47  wherein the spray sites are disposed between the ion discharge electrodes and an exit opening of the device.  
     
     
         56 . The device of  claim 55  further comprising a dielectric disposed in a region between the ion discharge electrodes and the spray sites.