Apparatus and methods for delivery of medicament to a respiratory system

Abstract

Apparatus and methods are provided for delivery of a medicament to a respiratory system. A reservoir is provided for a liquid medicament with the reservoir having a liquid medicament inlet port and a medicament outlet. An aerosol generator is provided at the medicament outlet of the reservoir for aerosolizing the liquid medicament. A connector entrains the aerosolized medicament from the aerosol generator with a gas.

1 - 44 . (canceled) 
   
   
       45 . A method of delivering a medicament to a respiratory system, the method comprising:
 providing a reservoir for a liquid medicament to be delivered to the respiratory system;   delivering a volume of the liquid medicament into the reservoir;   providing an aerosol generator for aerosolizing the liquid medicament;   arranging the aerosol generator beneath the reservoir for gravitational flow of the liquid medicament from the reservoir to the aerosol generator;   aerosolizing the liquid medicament; and   delivering the aerosolized medicament to the respiratory system.   
   
   
       46 . The method of  claim 45 , further comprising entraining the aerosolized medicament with a gas before delivering the aerosolized medicament to the respiratory system. 
   
   
       47 . The method of  claim 45 , further comprising vibrating at least part of the aerosol generator to aerosolize the liquid medicament. 
   
   
       48 . The method of  claim 45 , further comprising delivering a further volume of the liquid medicament into the reservoir. 
   
   
       49 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the further volume of the liquid medicament is delivered into the reservoir after all of the liquid medicament in the reservoir is aerosolized. 
   
   
       50 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the further volume of the liquid medicament is delivered into the reservoir before all of the liquid medicament in the reservoir is aerosolized. 
   
   
       51 . The method of  claim 45 , further comprising opening a port to deliver the volume of the liquid medicament through the port into the reservoir. 
   
   
       52 . The method of  claim 51 , further comprising sealing the port after delivering the volume of the liquid medicament into the reservoir. 
   
   
       53 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the port is sealed before aerosolizing the liquid medicament. 
   
   
       54 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the reservoir has an interior surface; the interior surface of the reservoir is configured to promote flow of the liquid medicament towards the aerosol generator. 
   
   
       55 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein the interior surface of the reservoir is inclined towards the aerosol generator. 
   
   
       56 . The method of  claim 45 , further comprising a housing to house the aerosol generator. 
   
   
       57 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the aerosol generator further comprises a vibratable member. 
   
   
       58 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein the vibratable member is dome-shaped.