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 . An apparatus for delivery of a medicament to a respiratory system, the apparatus comprising:
 a reservoir for holding a volume of a liquid medicament for delivery to a respiratory system, the reservoir including an interior surface inclined to promote flow of the liquid medicament;   an aerosol generator for aerosolizing the liquid medicament, the aerosol generator located beneath the reservoir for gravitational flow of the liquid medicament from the reservoir to the aerosol generator via the interior surface of the reservoir;   a gas conduit including an inlet, an outlet, and an aerosol supply conduit for delivering the aerosolized medicament into the gas conduit; and   a ventilator conduit connected to the inlet of the gas conduit for connecting a ventilator to the gas conduit for supplying a gas to the gas conduit.   
     
     
         46 . The apparatus of  claim 45 , wherein the ventilator conduit is releasably mounted to the gas conduit. 
     
     
         47 . The apparatus of  claim 45 , further including a respiratory conduit mounted to the outlet of the gas conduit to connect the gas conduit to the respiratory system. 
     
     
         48 . The apparatus of  claim 47 , wherein the respiratory conduit includes a Y-shaped section including a first arm for inhalation to the respiratory system and a second arm for exhalation from the respiratory system. 
     
     
         49 . The apparatus of  claim 48 , wherein the gas conduit is positioned between the ventilator conduit and the Y-shaped section of the respiratory conduit. 
     
     
         50 . The apparatus of  claim 45 , wherein the aerosol generator includes a vibratable member and a piezoelectric element. 
     
     
         51 . The apparatus of  claim 50 , wherein the vibratable member is dome-shaped. 
     
     
         52 . The apparatus of  claim 50 , wherein the aerosol generator further includes a retainer having a central aperture for holding the vibratable member and the piezoelectric element. 
     
     
         53 . The apparatus of  claim 52 , wherein the aerosol generator further includes a seal element contacting a portion of the retainer. 
     
     
         54 . An apparatus for delivery of a medicament to a respiratory system, the apparatus comprising:
 a reservoir for holding a volume of a liquid medicament for delivery to a respiratory system, the reservoir including an interior surface inclined to promote flow of the liquid medicament;   an aerosol generator for aerosolizing the liquid medicament, the aerosol generator located beneath the reservoir for gravitational flow of the liquid medicament from the reservoir to the aerosol generator via the interior surface of the reservoir, wherein the aerosol generator includes a vibratable member and a piezoelectric element;   a gas conduit including an inlet, an outlet, and an aerosol supply conduit for delivering the aerosolized medicament into the gas conduit; and   a ventilator conduit releasably connected to the inlet of the gas conduit for connecting a ventilator to the gas conduit for supplying a gas to the gas conduit.   
     
     
         55 . The apparatus of  claim 54 , further including a respiratory conduit mounted to the outlet of the gas conduit to connect the gas conduit to the respiratory system. 
     
     
         56 . The apparatus of  claim 55 , wherein the respiratory conduit includes a Y-shaped section including a first arm for inhalation to the respiratory system and a second arm for exhalation from the respiratory system. 
     
     
         57 . The apparatus of  claim 56 , wherein the gas conduit is positioned between the ventilator conduit and the Y-shaped section of the respiratory conduit. 
     
     
         58 . The apparatus of  claim 54 , wherein the vibratable member is dome-shaped. 
     
     
         59 . The apparatus of  claim 54 , wherein the aerosol generator further includes a retainer having a central aperture for holding the vibratable member and the piezoelectric element. 
     
     
         60 . The apparatus of  claim 59 , wherein the aerosol generator further includes a seal element contacting a portion of the retainer. 
     
     
         61 . An apparatus for delivery of a medicament to a respiratory system, the apparatus comprising:
 a reservoir for holding a volume of a liquid medicament for delivery to a respiratory system, the reservoir including an interior surface inclined to promote flow of the liquid medicament;   an aerosol generator for aerosolizing the liquid medicament, the aerosol generator located beneath the reservoir for gravitational flow of the liquid medicament from the reservoir to the aerosol generator via the interior surface of the reservoir, wherein the aerosol generator includes a dome-shaped vibratable member and a piezoelectric element;   a gas conduit including an inlet, an outlet, and an aerosol supply conduit for delivering the aerosolized medicament into the gas conduit;   a ventilator conduit connected to the inlet of the gas conduit for connecting a ventilator to the gas conduit for supplying a gas to the gas conduit; and   a respiratory conduit mounted to the outlet of the gas conduit to connect the gas conduit to the respiratory system, wherein the respiratory conduit includes a Y-shaped section including a first arm for inhalation to the respiratory system and a second arm for exhalation from the respiratory system.   
     
     
         62 . The apparatus of  claim 61 , wherein the aerosol generator further includes a retainer having a central aperture for holding the vibratable member and the piezoelectric element. 
     
     
         63 . The apparatus of  claim 62 , wherein the aerosol generator further includes a seal element contacting a portion of the retainer. 
     
     
         64 . The apparatus of  claim 61 , wherein the gas conduit is positioned between the ventilator conduit and the Y-shaped section of the respiratory conduit.