Droplet delivery device for delivery of fluids to the pulmonary system and methods of use

Abstract

A device and method for delivering a fluid as an ejected stream of droplets during inhalation uses inertial filtering to cause a first plurality of droplet particles generated by an ejector mechanism to pass through an airflow exit while a second plurality of droplet particles having a greater mass mean aerodynamic diameter than the first plurality of droplet particles fails to pass through the airflow exit.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A droplet delivery device for delivering a fluid as an ejected stream of droplets comprising:
 a housing including an airflow exit and airflow entrance;   a reservoir disposed within or in communication with the housing for receiving a volume of fluid;   an ejector mechanism in communication with the reservoir, the ejector mechanism including an electric actuator coupled to an aperture plate with openings;   a power source coupled to the electric actuator, wherein the ejector mechanism is configured to be energized by the power source and produce a droplet plume from the fluid when air is inhaled through the housing;   the droplet plume including a first plurality of droplet particles having a smaller mass mean aerodynamic diameter than a second plurality of droplet particles; and   the housing being constructed so that inertial filtering results in the first plurality of droplet particles passing through the airflow exit and the second plurality of droplet particles failing to pass through the airflow exit.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the electric actuator is a piezoelectric actuator. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the second plurality of droplet particles has a mass mean aerodynamic diameter greater than 5 μm. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , further comprising a laminar flow element within or in communication with the housing. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the laminar flow element is between the aperture plate and airflow exit. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the laminar flow element is between the airflow entrance and the aperture plate. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the second plurality of droplet particles has a mass mean aerodynamic diameter greater than 5 μm. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a laminar flow element within or in communication with the housing. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the laminar flow element is between the aperture plate and airflow exit. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the laminar flow element is between the airflow entrance and the aperture plate. 
     
     
         11 . A droplet delivery device for delivering a fluid as an ejected stream of droplets comprising:
 a housing including an airflow exit and airflow entrance;   an ejector mechanism in communication with a fluid reservoir, the ejector mechanism including an electric actuator coupled to an aperture plate with openings; and   the housing being constructed so that application of inhaled air through the housing produces inertial filtering that results in a first plurality of droplet particles generated by the ejector mechanism to pass through the airflow exit while a second plurality of droplet particles fails to pass through the airflow exit, wherein the second plurality of droplet particles has a greater mass mean aerodynamic diameter than the first plurality of droplet particles.   
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the electric actuator is a piezoelectric actuator. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the second plurality of droplet particles has a mass mean aerodynamic diameter greater than 5 μm. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 13 , further comprising a laminar flow element within or in communication with the housing. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the laminar flow element is between the aperture plate and airflow exit. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the laminar flow element is between the airflow entrance and the aperture plate. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the second plurality of droplet particles has a mass mean aerodynamic diameter greater than 5 μm. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 11 , further comprising a laminar flow element within or in communication with the housing. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the laminar flow element is between the aperture plate and airflow exit. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the laminar flow element is between the airflow entrance and the aperture plate. 
     
     
         21 . A method for delivering a fluid as an ejected stream of droplets comprising:
 applying inhaled airflow through a housing including an airflow exit and airflow entrance;   supplying fluid to an ejector mechanism including an electric actuator coupled to an aperture plate with openings;   energizing the electric actuator; and   using inertial filtering to cause a first plurality of droplet particles generated by the ejector mechanism to pass through the airflow exit while a second plurality of droplet particles fails to pass through the airflow exit, wherein the second plurality of droplet particles has a greater mass mean aerodynamic diameter than the first plurality of droplet particles.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the electric actuator is a piezoelectric actuator. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the second plurality of droplet particles has a mass mean aerodynamic diameter greater than 5 μm. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the second plurality of droplet particles has a mass mean aerodynamic diameter greater than 5 μm. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the housing includes a laminar flow element. 
     
     
         26 . A method for delivering a fluid as an ejected stream of droplets comprising:
 applying inhaled airflow during intake of a breath through a housing including an airflow exit;   generating with an electric actuator a droplet plume including a first plurality of droplet particles having a smaller mass mean aerodynamic diameter than a second plurality of droplet particles; and   using inertial filtering to allow the first plurality of droplet particles to pass through the airflow exit while causing the second plurality of droplet particles to remain within the housing.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the electric actuator is a piezoelectric actuator. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the second plurality of droplet particles has a mass mean aerodynamic diameter greater than 5 μm. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the second plurality of droplet particles has a mass mean aerodynamic diameter greater than 5 μm. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the housing includes a laminar flow element.