Patent ID: 6397838
Filing Date: 2002-06-04
Classification: A61M,B05B

Abstract:
A pulmonary aerosol delivery device, comprising a housing of such size that the housing can be held in a user's one hand, the housing having an exit opening for directing an aerosol to a user's mouth and including therein:a dispensing system for containing a liquid to be aerosolized and delivering the liquid to an electrohydrodynamic apparatus, the dispensing system including a containment vessel and a metering system for delivering a single dose of the liquid from the containment vessel to an electrohydrodynamic apparatus, the metering system including: a chamber for collecting a predetermined volume of liquid having an inlet communicating with the containment vessel and outlet communicating with an electrohydrodynamic apparatus; a chamber housing above the chamber; a chamber housing spring adjacent to the chamber; an actuator button accessible through the housing; a button spring above the chamber housing and in communication with the actuator button, the actuator button exerting downward force against the chamber housing when the actuator button is depressed to force liquid in the chamber through the outlet, the chamber housing spring exerting upward force against the chamber housing when the actuator button is released, the upward travel of the chamber housing inducing a vacuum in the chamber to draw liquid through the chamber inlet, the chamber volume being controlled by an adjustable stop that limits the upward travel of the chamber housing; an electrohydrodynamic apparatus for aerosolizing the liquid and delivering the aerosolized liquid to the exit opening; and a power supply system for providing sufficient voltage to the electrohydrodynamic apparatus to aerosolize the liquid.