Liquid nebulization systems and methods

Abstract

Embodiments provide aerosolization device for providing aerosolized medicament to user. The aerosolization device includes conduit, aerosol generator, fluid receiving chamber, restrictor within the conduit, and indicator mechanism. Conduit has an inner wall and a mouthpiece end for causing an inspiratory flow. Aerosol generator includes a vibratable mesh laterally offset from the inner wall. Fluid receiving chamber receives liquid medicament. At least a portion of chamber is tapered such that liquid medicament is directed onto vibratable mesh for aerosolization. Restrictor defines a plurality of apertures that provide increases in pressure differential that vary with inspiratory flow rate within conduit and provide relatively laminar flow downstream of restrictor. Indicator mechanism indicates a state of flow parameters relative to a predefined range. Aerosol generator is configured to aerosolize at least a portion of liquid medicament only when flow parameters of the inspiratory flow are within range.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method of delivering an aerosolized medicament to a user's respiratory system, the method comprising:
 providing an inhaler comprising a conduit having an inner wall that defines an interior of the conduit, the conduit being coupled with a mouthpiece end;   delivering liquid medicament to a vibratable mesh that is laterally offset from the inner wall and outside of the interior of the conduit such that no portion of the vibratable mesh extends into an interior of the conduit; and   vibrating the vibratable mesh to aerosolize the liquid medicament to produce a plume of aerosolized medicament within the interior of the conduit when an inspiratory flow parameter within the conduit is within a predetermined range, wherein:
 the plume of aerosolized medicament is provided within a relatively laminar flow produced by a restrictor disposed within the conduit upstream of the plume of aerosolized medicament, wherein the restrictor extends across an entire opening of the conduit such that all airflow introduced into the conduit upstream of the vibratable mesh passes through the restrictor. 
   
     
     
         3 . The method of delivering an aerosolized medicament to a user's respiratory system of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 sensing a state of the inspiratory flow parameter using at least one sensor; and   providing an indication of the state of the inspiratory flow parameter relative to the predetermined range using an indicator mechanism of the inhaler.   
     
     
         4 . The method of delivering an aerosolized medicament to a user's respiratory system of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the indication alerts a user that that the inspiratory flow parameter is within or outside of the predetermined range.   
     
     
         5 . The method of delivering an aerosolized medicament to a user's respiratory system of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the indicator mechanism comprises one or more selected from a group comprising a light, an analog display, a digital display, a speaker, and a haptic device.   
     
     
         6 . The method of delivering an aerosolized medicament to a user's respiratory system of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 providing an end of dose indicator to indicate that substantially all of a dose of the liquid medicament has been delivered.   
     
     
         7 . The method of delivering an aerosolized medicament to a user's respiratory system of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the end of dose indicator is delayed for a predetermined period after substantially all of the dose has been delivered.   
     
     
         8 . The method of delivering an aerosolized medicament to a user's respiratory system of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the inspiratory flow parameter comprises one or more selected from a group comprising: an inspiratory flow rate, an inspiratory pressure, a pressure differential, and an inspiratory time.   
     
     
         9 . A method of delivering an aerosolized medicament to a user's respiratory system, the method comprising:
 delivering liquid medicament to a vibratable mesh that is laterally offset from an inner wall of a primarily airflow conduit of an inhaler such that no portion of the vibratable mesh extends into an interior of the conduit; and   vibrating the vibratable mesh to aerosolize the liquid medicament to produce a plume of aerosolized medicament within the interior of the conduit when an inspiratory flow parameter within the conduit is within a predetermined range, wherein:
 the plume of aerosolized medicament is provided within a relatively laminar flow produced by a restrictor disposed within the conduit upstream of the plume of aerosolized medicament, wherein the restrictor extends across an entire opening of the conduit such that all airflow introduced into the conduit upstream of the vibratable mesh passes through the restrictor. 
   
     
     
         10 . The method of delivering an aerosolized medicament to a user's respiratory system of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the restrictor further provides increase in pressure differential within the conduit.   
     
     
         11 . The method of delivering an aerosolized medicament to a user's respiratory system of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the pressure differential varies based on an inspiratory flow rate within the conduit.   
     
     
         12 . The method of delivering an aerosolized medicament to a user's respiratory system of  claim 9 , wherein:
 delivering liquid medicament to a vibratable mesh comprises funneling the liquid medicament from a reservoir to the vibratable mesh.   
     
     
         13 . The method of delivering an aerosolized medicament to a user's respiratory system of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the reservoir comprises a top opening that is configured to receive the liquid medicament from a dispenser; and   a diameter of the opening is less than a diameter of a top of the reservoir.   
     
     
         14 . The method of delivering an aerosolized medicament to a user's respiratory system of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 receiving and setting the predetermined range of the inspiratory flow parameter based on an input received at an input device of the inhaler.   
     
     
         15 . The method of delivering an aerosolized medicament to a user's respiratory system of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 providing an indication that the liquid medicament is actually being aerosolized using one or more indicator mechanisms of the inhaler.   
     
     
         16 . A method of delivering an aerosolized medicament to a user's respiratory system, the method comprising:
 delivering liquid medicament to a vibratable mesh that is laterally offset from an inner wall of a primarily airflow conduit of an inhaler by between about 1 mm and 6 mm such that no portion of the vibratable mesh extends into an interior of the conduit; and   vibrating the vibratable mesh to aerosolize the liquid medicament to produce a plume of aerosolized medicament within the interior of the conduit when an inspiratory flow parameter within the conduit is within a predetermined range, wherein:
 the plume of aerosolized medicament is provided within a relatively laminar flow produced by a restrictor disposed within the conduit upstream of the plume of aerosolized medicament, wherein the restrictor extends across an entire opening of the conduit such that all airflow introduced into the conduit upstream of the vibratable mesh passes through the restrictor. 
   
     
     
         17 . The method of delivering an aerosolized medicament to a user's respiratory system of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the conduit comprises a mouthpiece end through which the inspiratory flow is initiated.   
     
     
         18 . The method of delivering an aerosolized medicament to a user's respiratory system of  claim 17 , wherein:
 a delivery angle of the mouthpiece end is selected based on a dosage and type of the liquid medicament.   
     
     
         19 . The method of delivering an aerosolized medicament to a user's respiratory system of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the plume of aerosolized medicament is carried through the conduit toward the mouthpiece end.   
     
     
         20 . The method of delivering an aerosolized medicament to a user's respiratory system of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 providing a first indication when the inspiratory flow parameter is out of the predetermined range;   providing a second indication when the inspiratory flow parameter is within the predetermined range; and   providing a third indication when substantially all of a dose of the liquid medicament has been delivered.   
     
     
         21 . The method of delivering an aerosolized medicament to a user's respiratory system of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the vibratable mesh is vibrated at a frequency of between about 50 kHz and 150 kHz.