Abstract:
Methods are described of delivering biological material, which methods include the steps of providing a liquid formulation containing the biological material, supplying the liquid formulation to an outlet and subjecting liquid issuing from the outlet to an electrical field thereby causing electrohydrodynamic processing of the liquid without denaturing the biological material. In one example, the liquid formulation is provided by removing salts form a formulation containing biological material that does not denature in alcohol and then adding an alcohol to the formulation before supplying the liquid formulation to the outlet. An acid may be added to the liquid formulation before supplying the liquid formulation to the outlet.
Abstract:
A pharmaceutical formulation is provided for pulmonary drug administration of a bronchodilator, a corticosteroid and an optional pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. In addition, methods for using the formulation to treat bronchodilator/corticosteroid-reponsive conditions, diseases or disorders are provided, as are drug delivery devices and dosage forms for housing and/or dispensing the formulations.
Abstract:
The present invention is an inhalation activated inhaler (10) having a primary inhalation passage (60), a secondary inhalation passage (90) disposed in communication with the primary inhalation passage, and a source of medicament. The primary inhalation passage has inflow inhibiting mechanism connected to a blocking plate (84) positioned to selectively block fluid flow in the secondary inhalation passage. As the user's inhalation reaches a defined rate, the flow inhibiting mechanism restricts flow through the primary inhalation passage, and moves the blocking plate to enable airflow through the secondary passage. Thus, as the user achieves a desired inhalation rate, the medicament is provided through the secondary inhalation passage, thereby optimizing the delivery of medicament to the lungs.
Abstract:
Spherical particles having a size on the order of 0.1 to 100 microns in size are created by systems and devices of several types. The device includes a source of a stream of gas which is forced through a liquid held under pressure in a pressure chamber with an exit opening therein. The stream of gas surrounded by the liquid in the pressure chamber flows out of an exit orifice of the chamber into a liquid thereby creating a monodispersion of bubbles with substantially uniform diameter. The bubbles are small in size and produced with a relatively small amount of energy relative to comparable systems. Small particles of liquid may also be produced. Applications of the technology range from oxygenating sewage with monodispersions of bubbles to inhalation therapy with monodisperse aerosol dispersions of pharmaceutically active drugs.
Abstract:
The invention is directed to a stable capillary microjet and a monodisperse aerosol formed when the microjet dissociates. A variety of devices and methods are disclosed which allow for the formation of a stream of a first fluid (e.g. a liquid) characterized by forming a stable capillary microjet over a portion of the stream wherein the microjet portion of the stream is formed by a second fluid (e.g. a gas). The second fluid is preferably in a different state from the first fluid-liquid-gas or gas-liquid combinations. However, the first and second fluids may be two different fluids in miscible in each other. The stable capillary microjet comprises a diameter dj at a given point A in the stream characterized by formula (I): wherein dj is the diameter of the stable microjet, ≅ indicates approximately equally to where an acceptable margin of error is +/- 10 %, rho 1 is the density of the liquid and DELTA Pg is change in second fluid pressure from the second fluid pressure at a low velocity region (feeding region) upstream of point A to the second fluid pressure at point A.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus is disclosed for treating asthma and other respiratory conditions. A medicament comprising a surface active phospholipid (SAPL) is prepared in the form of a fine powder and administered to the lungs in a gas stream. A preferred SAPL is a solid blend of dipalmitoyl phosphatidyl choline (DPPC) and phosphatidyl glycerol (PG).
Abstract:
Dosages of inhaled insulin are controlled within a narrow range by controlling the total volume of air inhaled by a patient. By repeatedly delivering aerosolized insulin with the same total inhaled volume of air, the amount of insulin delivered to the patient each time is consistent. A device (40) comprises a means (11, 29) for measuring inhaled volume and for halting inhalation at a predetermined point. The device also comprises an adjustable means (9) for applying various amounts of force to a container (1) of formulation (5) to expel different amounts of drugs from the container based on the force applied.
Abstract:
This invention is a device (1) for generating an inhaler aerosol by collapsing a wall portion (2) of a liquid (5) reservoir to force the liquid through a prefilter (301), and then through a porous nozzle (302). The porous nozzle has smaller pores than the prefilter.
Abstract:
An inhaler (220) that utilizes vibration to facilitate suspension of powder into an air stream is provided. One embodiment of the inhaler includes a piezoelectric vibrator (254) for vibrating the powder. A controller is provided for controlling supply of actuating electricity to the vibrator so as to cause the powder to vibrate in such a way as to deaggregate the powder and separate the powder by size. The powder particles of interest are then suspended in the air stream by electrostatic means (232).
Abstract:
A medicament carrier (10) having a first and a second spaced apart screen (12, 14) each of which has surfaces (12B, 14B) defining a plurality of interstices (12A, 14A). The carrier (10) contains powdered agglomerated medicament particles (SM) loaded onto the first screen surface (12B) such that the interstices (12A) of the first screen (12) are at least partially open and free of the agglomerated medicament particles (SM). When an air stream is provided to the carrier to entrain the agglomerated powdered medicament particles (SM) and move them from the first screen (12) through the interstices (14A) of the second screen (14), the agglomerated powdered medicament particles (SM) are sheared by air flow gradients created by the first and second screens (12, 14) and by contact with the surface (14B) of the second screen (14) to create particles of respirable particle size range. The carrier (10) can be used in a dry powder inhalator device.