Aerosol generation

Abstract

A method for aerosolising a liquid comprises the steps of: —providing an aperture plate having at least 100 outlet holes per mm; delivering liquid to the aperture plate; and vibrating the aperture plate to produce an aerosol. The viscosity of the liquid is in the range of from 1 to 15 cP and the surface tension of the liquid is in the range of from 72 to 0.5 mN/m. The output rate of the generated aerosol is greater than 0.01 mL/min.

1 . A method for aerosolising a liquid comprising the steps of:—
 providing an aperture plate having at least 100 outlet holes per mm 2 ; 
 delivering liquid to the aperture plate wherein the viscosity of the liquid is in the range of from 1 to 15 cP and the surface tension of the liquid is in the range of from 72 to 0.5 mN/m; and 
 vibrating the aperture plate to produce an aerosol wherein the output rate of the generated aerosol is greater than 0.01 mL/min. 
 
     
     
         2 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the fraction of the droplets which are less than 3 microns in size is greater than 75%, greater than 80%, greater than 85%, or greater than 90%. 
     
     
         3 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the aperture plate has at least 500 outlet holes per mm 2 , at least 1,000 outlet holes per mm 2 , at least 1,500 outlet holes per mm 2 , at least 2,000 outlet holes per mm 2 , at least 2,500 outlet holes per mm 2 , at least 3,500 outlet holes per mm 2 , or at least 5,000 outlet holes per mm 2 . 
     
     
         4 . A method as claimed in any of  claims 1  to  11  wherein the volumetric median diameter of the droplets is less than 5 microns, less than 4 microns, less than 3 microns, less than 2.5 microns, less than 2.0 microns, less than 1.5 microns, or less than 1 microns. 
     
     
         5 . A method as claimed in any of  claims 1  to  4  wherein the viscosity of the liquid is less than 12 cP, less than 10 cP, less than 7 cP, less than 5 cP, or less than 2 cP. 
     
     
         6 . A method as claimed in any of  claims 1  to  5  wherein the surface tension of the liquid is less than 70 mN/m, less than 65 mN/m, less than 60 mN/m, less than 55 mN/m, less than 50 mN/m, less than 40 mN/m, less than 30 mN/m, less than 25 mN/m, less than 20 mN/m, less than 10 mN/m, less than 5 mN/m, or greater than 0.5 mN/m. 
     
     
         7 . A method as claimed in any of  claims 1  to  6  wherein the output rate of the generated aerosol is greater than 0.05 mL/min, greater than 0.075 mL/min, greater than 0.1 mL/min, greater than 0.2 mL/min, greater than 0.3 mL/min, greater than 0.33 mL/min, greater than 0.5 mL/min, greater than 1.00 mL/min, or greater than 2.00 mL/min. 
     
     
         8 . A method as claimed in any of  claims 1  to  7  wherein the liquid contains a medicament. 
     
     
         9 . A method as claimed in any of  claims 1  to  7  wherein the liquid contains a surfactant. 
     
     
         10 . A method as claimed in any of  claims 1  to  7  wherein the liquid contains a pharmaceutical.