Patent ID: 6012450
Filing Date: 2000-01-11
Classification: A61J,A61M

Abstract:
A method of administering a therapeutically effective amount of a hematopoietic drug to a patient with a hand-held, self-contained, reusable device, the method comprising:(a) determining the patient's inspiratory flow profile based on real time values of both said patient's inspiratory flow rate and inspiratory volume;(b) determining a drug release point of said inspiratory flow profile, wherein at said drug release point said patient's inspiratory flow rate is in a range of about 0.10 to about 2.0 liters/second and inspiratory volume is in a range of about 0.15 to about 0.8 liters;(c) releasing an aerosolized dose of a hematopoietic drug containing 100 to 1,000,000 units of drug in a 0.01 to 1 ml of drug formulation within the determined ranges of inspiratory flow rate and inspiratory volume combinations, wherein the aerosolized dose comprises aerosolized particles having a diameter in the range of 1.0 to 12.0 microns and is released from a package comprising a porous membrane with pores having a diameter in the range of 0.5 to 6.0 microns;(d) repeating steps (a), (b) and (c) in a manner such that the releasing repeatedly occurs within substantially the same ranges of inspiratory flow rate and inspiratory flow volume combinations;(e) monitoring the amount of drug released and preventing overdosing by preventing further release of drug beyond a given amount within a given period of time; and(f) providing a visual display to the patient of the amount of drug released.