Temperature controlling device for aerosol drug delivery

Abstract

A portable air temperature controlling device useful for warming air surrounding an aerosolized drug formulation. Warming the air of an aerosol makes it possible to reduce the diameter of aerosol particles produced by an aerosol generation device. Additionally, warming the air forces the diameter of the aerosol particles to be in the range required for systemic drug delivery independent of ambient conditions. Smaller particles can be more precisely targeted to different areas of the respiratory tract.

1 .- 41 . (canceled)  
   
   
       42 . An electrically resistive ribbon for use in a hand-held, portable air temperature controlling device, said ribbon having a mass of about 0.05 to 5.0 grams and a surface area of about 25 to 60 cm 2 .  
   
   
       43 . The electrically resistive ribbon of  claim 42 , wherein said ribbon is corrugated to form gaps to channel air therethrough.  
   
   
       44 . The electrically resistive ribbon of  claim 42 , wherein said resistive ribbon is constructed of two banks and each said bank is configured into a series of narrow channels.  
   
   
       45 . The electrically resistive ribbon of  claim 42 , wherein said ribbon has a mass of about 0.1 to 4.0 grams and a surface area of about 30 to 55 cm 2 .  
   
   
       46 . The electrically resistive ribbon of  claim 45 , wherein said ribbon has a mass of about 0.2 to 2.0 grams and a surface area of about 35 to 45 cm 2 .  
   
   
       47 . The electrically resistive ribbon of  claim 46 , wherein said ribbon has a mass of about 1.25 grams and a surface area of about 39 cm 2 .  
   
   
       48 . A hand-held, portable, air temperature controlling device, comprising: 
 a self contained power source; and    a heating element having a thermal time constant in moving air of less than 5 seconds.    
   
   
       49 . The air temperature controlling device of  claim 48 , wherein the thermal time constraint is moving air is about 3.5 seconds.  
   
   
       50 . The air temperature controlling device of  claim 48 , wherein the heating element is an electrically resistive ribbon having a mass of about 0.05 to 5.0 grams and a surface area of about 25 to 60 cm 2 .  
   
   
       51 . The air temperature controlling device of  claim 50 , wherein said ribbon is corrugated to form gaps to channel air therethrough.  
   
   
       52 . The air temperature controlling device of  claim 50 , wherein said resistive ribbon is constructed of two banks and each said bank is configured into a series of narrow channels.  
   
   
       53 . The air temperature controlling device of  claim 50 , wherein said ribbon has a mass of about 0.1 to 4.0 grams and a surface area of about 30 to 55 cm 2 .  
   
   
       54 . The air temperature controlling device of  claim 50 , wherein said ribbon has a mass of about 0.2 to 2.0 grams and a surface area of about 35 to 45 cm 2 .  
   
   
       55 . The air temperature controlling device of  claim 50 , wherein said ribbon has a mass of about 1.25 grams and a surface area of about 39 cm 2 .  
   
   
       56 . The air temperature controlling device of  claim 48 , wherein the self contained energy source is chosen from an electrical cell and an electrical battery.  
   
   
       57 . The air temperature controlling device of  claim 56 , wherein the self contained energy source comprises lithium.  
   
   
       58 . The air temperature controlling device of  claim 48 , wherein the self contained energy source comprises lithium polymer.  
   
   
       59 . The air temperature controlling device of  claim 48 , wherein the heating element comprises a metal chosen from nickel, iron, chromium and copper.  
   
   
       60 . The air temperature controlling device of  claim 48 , wherein the heating element comprises iron.  
   
   
       61 . The air temperature controlling device of  claim 48 , wherein the heating element comprises nichrome ribbon.  
   
   
       62 . The air temperature controlling device of  claim 48 , wherein the mass of the heating element is about 0.05 to 5.0 grams.  
   
   
       63 . The air temperature controlling device of  claim 48 , wherein the mass of the heating element is 0.1 to 4 grams.  
   
   
       64 . The air temperature controlling device of  claim 48 , wherein the mass of the heating element is about 0.2 to 2.0 grams.  
   
   
       65 . The air temperature controlling device of  claim 55 , wherein the thickness of the ribbon is 0.0005 to 0.010 inches.  
   
   
       66 . The air temperature controlling device of  claim 55 , wherein the thickness of the ribbon is 0.001-0.006 inches.  
   
   
       67 . The air temperature controlling device of  claim 55 , wherein the resistance of the heating element is 0.5-3.0 ohms.  
   
   
       68 . The air temperature controlling unit of  claim 48 , wherein energy in the range of about 50 to 400 joules is supplied to the air in about 0.5 to 4.0 seconds.  
   
   
       69 . The air temperature controlling unit of  claim 48 , wherein the energy is supplied to the air in about 1-2 second.  
   
   
       70 . The air temperature controlling unit of  claim 48 , wherein the energy is about 250 joules.  
   
   
       71 . A method of heating air surrounding an aerosol, comprising: 
 preheating a heating element of an air temperature controlling device until the heating element is determined to reach a previously determined temperature;    wherein the air temperature controlling device comprises a self contained power source; and    a heating element having a thermal time constant in moving air of less than 5 seconds.    
   
   
       72 . The method of  claim 71 , wherein air is driven by inhalation of a user.  
   
   
       73 . The method of  claim 71 , wherein the aerosol comprises a drug formulation.  
   
   
       74 . The method of  claim 73 , wherein the drug formulation is a liquid, flowable formulation.  
   
   
       75 . The method of  claim 73 , wherein the drug formulation comprises a peptide drug.  
   
   
       76 . The method of  claim 75 , wherein the peptide drug is chosen from insulin and an insulin analog.  
   
   
       77 . The method of  claim 73 , wherein the aerosol formed by formulation comprising the carrier and drug that is forced through pores having a diameter of 0.25 to 3.0 microns.  
   
   
       78 . The method of  claim 71 , wherein the temperature of the heating element is determined with a microprocessor.  
   
   
       79 . The method of  claim 71 , wherein the temperature of the heating element is determined by a measure of resistance of an electrical component.