Patent ID: 9303330
Filing Date: 2016-04-05
CPC Classification: B23H,C25F

Claim Text:
1. A method for making fluid handling discs as used for drug delivery using mesh nebulizers, comprising: providing a fluid handling disc having a top surface and a bottom surface; drilling dimples in the top surface of the disc, wherein the dimples do not penetrate the bottom surface of the disc, and wherein each dimple has a diameter greatest at the top surface and converges to a smaller diameter at the lowest point of the dimple; patterning channels into the disc the channels attaching fluid flow to deliver liquid to be atomized to the dimples and to carry excess fluid from the dimples out of the disc; etching the disc via electrochemical etching to remove a layer of material from the bottom surface of the disc, wherein removal of a layer of material from the bottom surface of the disc is sufficient to cause the dimples to penetrate the bottom surface of the disc, thereby creating holes in the disc, and wherein the resulting fluid handling discs are suitable for aerosolizing a liquid; machining the disc via electrochemical machining to remove a layer of material from the bottom surface of the disc; and wherein the holes are uniform and have a diameter of less than about 4 μm to allow for the generation of finely atomized aerosol to deliver therapeutic agents and wherein the electrochemical machining removes material from the disc at a higher rate than the electrochemical etching.