US5586550A — Apparatus and methods for the delivery of therape…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 85 words

An apparatus for nebulizing a liquid, the apparatus comprising: a non-planar member comprising a front surface, a rear surface, and a plurality of apertures extending therebetween, said apertures being tapered to narrow from the rear surface to the front surface; a liquid supplier which delivers liquid to the rear surface such that substantially all of the delivered liquid adheres to the non-planar member by surface tension; and a vibrator which vibrates the non-planar member to eject liquid droplets from the front surface of the member.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 85 words

An apparatus for nebulizing a liquid, the apparatus comprising: a non-planar member comprising a front surface, a rear surface, and a plurality of apertures extending therebetween, said apertures being tapered to narrow from the rear surface to the front surface; a liquid supplier which delivers liquid to the rear surface such that substantially all of the delivered liquid adheres to the non-planar member by surface tension; and a vibrator which vibrates the non-planar member to eject liquid droplets from the front surface of the member.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 40 words

An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the apertures have a preferred geometry to eject liquid droplets such that about 70% of more of the droplets by weight have a size in the range from about 1 to 6 μm.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 55 words

An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the size of the apertures at the front surface is in the range from about 1 μm to 6 μm, and wherein the apertures have a slope at the front surface in the range from about 10° to 20° relative to a central axis extending through the apertures.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 30 words

An apparatus as in claim 3, wherein the slope of the apertures at the front surface is in the range from about 10° to 15° relative to the central axis.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 24 words

An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the slope of the apertures at the front surface is about 12° relative to the central axis.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 16 words

An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the non-planar member is sufficiently rigid to vibrate homogeneously.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 36 words

An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the non-planar member is a thin shell member having a shape selected from the group of shapes consisting of an arc shape, a parabolic shape, or a hemispherical shape.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 37 words

An apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising a housing having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the non-planar member is held within the housing, and wherein the vibrator is removably attached about the housing.

Claim 10

Independent Claim 58 words

An apparatus for nebulizing a liquid, the device comprising: a housing having a proximal end and a distal end; a vibratable non-planar member mounted within the housing, said non-planar member having a plurality of apertures for nebulizing the liquid upon vibration of the non-planar member; and a vibrator removably attached about the housing which vibrates the non-planar member.

Claim 11

Independent Claim 58 words

An apparatus for nebulizing a liquid, the device comprising: a housing having a proximal end and a distal end; a vibratable non-planar member mounted within the housing, said non-planar member having a plurality of apertures for nebulizing the liquid upon vibration of the non-planar member; and a vibrator removably attached about the housing which vibrates the non-planar member.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 15 words

An apparatus as in claim 9, wherein each of the apertures is tapered in geometry.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 26 words

An apparatus as in claim 10, wherein the tapers have a size in the range from about 1 μm to 6 μm at their narrowest dimension.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 25 words

An apparatus as in claim 9, wherein the non-planar member is mounted within a portion of the housing which is isolated by an elastomeric material.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 16 words

An apparatus as in claim 9, wherein the non-planar member is sufficiently rigid to vibrate homogeneously.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 38 words

An apparatus as in claim 9, wherein the non-planar member is a thin shell member having a shape which is selected from the group of shapes consisting of an arc shape, a parabolic shape, or a hemispherical shape.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 17 words

An apparatus as in claim 9, further comprising a mouthpiece at the proximal end of the housing.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 36 words

An apparatus as in claim 15, further comprising an acoustical chamber within the housing which produces an audible signal during inhalation from the mouthpiece and which may be detected to control the operation of the vibrator.

Claim 19

Independent Claim 83 words

An apparatus for nebulizing a liquid, the apparatus comprising: a housing having a distal end and a mouthpiece at a proximal end; an non-planar member mounted within the housing, said non-planar member having a plurality of apertures; a vibrator which vibrates the non-planar member to eject liquid from the apertures; an acoustic chamber within the housing which produces an audible signal during inhalation from the mouthpiece; and a controller for controlling the rate of non-planar member vibration upon detection of the audible signal.

Claim 20

Independent Claim 83 words

An apparatus for nebulizing a liquid, the apparatus comprising: a housing having a distal end and a mouthpiece at a proximal end; an non-planar member mounted within the housing, said non-planar member having a plurality of apertures; a vibrator which vibrates the non-planar member to eject liquid from the apertures; an acoustic chamber within the housing which produces an audible signal during inhalation from the mouthpiece; and a controller for controlling the rate of non-planar member vibration upon detection of the audible signal.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 17 words

An apparatus as in claim 17, wherein the controller includes a microphone which detects the audible signal.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 45 words

An apparatus as in claim 17, wherein the non-planar member includes a front surface and a rear surface, with the plurality of apertures extending between the front surface and rear surface, said apertures being tapered to narrow from the rear surface to the front surface.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 34 words

An apparatus as in claim 19, further comprising a liquid supplier which delivers liquid to the rear surface such that substantially all of the delivered liquid adheres to the non-planar member by surface tension.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 54 words

An apparatus as in claim 17, wherein the apertures in the non-planar member are tapered and are constructed to eject liquid droplets from the front surface of the non-planar member such that about 70% of more of the droplets by weight have a size in the range from about 1 μm to 6 μm.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 46 words

An apparatus as in claim 21, wherein the apertures are tapered toward the front surface and are sized to eject liquid droplets such that about 70% of more of the droplets by weight have a size in the range from about 1 μm to 6 μm.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 55 words

An apparatus as in claim 17, wherein the size of the apertures at the front surface is in the range from about 1 μm to 6 μm, and wherein the apertures have a slope at the front surface in the range from about 10° to 20° relative to a central axis extending through the apertures.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 30 words

An apparatus as in claim 23, wherein the slope of the apertures at the front surface is in the range from about 10° to 15° relative to the central axis.

Claim 28

Independent Claim 53 words

A method for nebulizing a liquid, said method comprising: providing a non-planar member having a plurality of tapered apertures extending therethrough; and vibrating the non-planar member to produce liquid droplets where about 70% of more of the droplets by weight have a size in the range from about 1 μm to 6 μm.

Claim 29

Independent Claim 53 words

A method for nebulizing a liquid, said method comprising: providing a non-planar member having a plurality of tapered apertures extending therethrough; and vibrating the non-planar member to produce liquid droplets where about 70% of more of the droplets by weight have a size in the range from about 1 μm to 6 μm.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 46 words

A method as in claim 25, further comprising supplying liquid to the non-planar member such that substantially all of the delivered liquid adheres to the non-planar member by surface tension, and wherein substantially all of the delivered liquid is ejected upon vibration of the non-planar member.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 23 words

A method as in claim 26, wherein the supplying step further comprises squeezing a liquid reservoir to supply liquid to the non-planar member.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 31 words

A method as in claim 25, further comprising vibrating the non-planar member at a frequency sufficient to produce the liquid droplets at a rate greater than about 5 μliters per second.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 24 words

A method as in claim 25, wherein the vibrating step further comprises vibrating substantially all of the apertures in the non-planar member in unison.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 29 words

A method as in claim 25, wherein the vibrating step further comprises vibrating the non-planar member at a frequency in the range from about 45 kHz to 200 kHz.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 37 words

A method as in claim 25, wherein the non-planar member is held within a housing having a mouthpiece, and further comprising vibrating the non-planar member at a rate corresponding to an inspiratory flow rate through the mouthpiece.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 28 words

A method as in claim 31, further comprising producing an audible signal during inhalation and detecting the produced signal to control rate of vibration of the non-planar member.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 18 words

A method as in claim 25, further comprising vibrating the non-planar member only during inhalation from the mouthpiece.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 48 words

A method as in claim 25, wherein the liquid is a medicament, and further comprising vibrating the non-planar member to produce liquid droplets such that about 90% of more of the produced droplets by weight have a size in the range from about 1 μm to 6 μm.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 28 words

A method as in claim 25, wherein vibrating step further comprises removably attaching a vibrating source about a housing enclosing the non-planar member and actuating the vibrating source.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 16 words

A method as in claim 35, further comprising removing the vibrating source and discarding the housing.

Claim 41

Independent Claim 77 words

A method for delivering a liquid medicament to the respiratory system of a patient, the method comprising: providing a housing having a proximal end and a distal end providing a non-planar member which is disposed within the housing, the non-planar member having a plurality of tapered apertures extending therethrough; supplying liquid to the non-planar member; inhaling from the proximal end of the housing; and vibrating the non-planar member in response to the inhalation to eject the liquid.

Claim 42

Independent Claim 77 words

A method for delivering a liquid medicament to the respiratory system of a patient, the method comprising: providing a housing having a proximal end and a distal end providing a non-planar member which is disposed within the housing, the non-planar member having a plurality of tapered apertures extending therethrough; supplying liquid to the non-planar member; inhaling from the proximal end of the housing; and vibrating the non-planar member in response to the inhalation to eject the liquid.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 13 words

A method as in claim 37, further comprising varying the inspiratory flow rate.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 18 words

A method as in claim 37, wherein the vibrating step further comprises ejecting the liquid only during inhalation.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 27 words

A method as in claim 37, further comprising producing an audible signal during inhalation and detecting the produced signal to control the vibration of the non-planar member.

Claim 46

Dependent Claim 48 words

A method as in claim 37, wherein the vibrating step further comprises vibrating the non-planar member at a frequency sufficient to produce liquid droplets such that about 70% of more of the droplets by weight have a size in the range from about 1 μm to 6 μm.

Claim 47

Dependent Claim 34 words

A method as in claim 37, wherein the supplying step further comprises supplying liquid to the non-planar member such that substantially all of the delivered liquid adheres to the non-planar member by surface tension.

Claim 48

Dependent Claim 26 words

A method as in claim 42, wherein the supplying step further comprises dispensing the liquid from a liquid reservoir to supply liquid to the non-planar member.

Claim 49

Dependent Claim 24 words

A method as in claim 37, wherein the vibrating step further comprises vibrating substantially all of the apertures in the non-planar member in unison.

Claim 50

Dependent Claim 37 words

A method as in claim 37, wherein the liquid is a medicament, and further comprising supplying liquid to the non-planar member such that substantially all of the delivered liquid adheres to the non-planar member by surface tension.

Claim 51

Dependent Claim 24 words

A method as in claim 37, wherein vibrating step further comprises removably attaching a vibrating source about the housing and actuating the vibrating source.

Claim 52

Dependent Claim 16 words

A method as in claim 46, further comprising removing the vibrating source and discarding the housing.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1999-12-24	2000-06-24	2000-12-24	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2003-12-24	2004-06-24	2004-12-24	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2007-12-24	2008-06-24	2008-12-24	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Apparatus and methods for the delivery of therapeutic liquids to the respiratory system

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