Patent ID: 8251055

Claim:
A drug delivery system, comprising: an aerosol generator unit comprising (i) a capillary passage adapted to at least partially volatilize a liquid formulation, (ii) at least one heater body operable to heat the capillary passage to a temperature range effective to at least partially volatilize the liquid formulation in the capillary passage, the capillary passage being fitted within the heater body, and (iii) at least one gas passage contained within the heater body and arranged such that gas is heated by the heater body to produce a heated gas; a pumping unit adapted to supply a liquid formulation to the aerosol generator unit; a flow passage having an inlet end in fluid communication with an outlet of the aerosol generator unit and an outlet adapted for connection to a patient interface which supplies ventilation to a patient's lungs; an aerosol transition adapter arranged to mix aerosol produced by the capillary passage with the heated gas in a manner that reduces condensation of aerosol to produce a mixed aerosol and operable to direct the mixed aerosol into the inlet end of the flow passage; and a control system operable to activate the aerosol generator unit and the pumping unit, wherein the control system is arranged to control temperatures for heating the liquid formulation and the gas, flow rates of the gas and aerosol, and mixing of aerosol with the heated gas in a manner that reduces condensation of aerosol to produce a mixed aerosol.