Patent ID: 7802569

Claim:
A method for producing concentrated aerosols in a compact device suitable for inhalation therapy, said device comprising an aerosol generator; an aerosol evaporator engaged by and in communication with the aerosol generator; said aerosol evaporator having a chamber with a cylindrical chamber wall and a central axis; an aerosol concentrator engaged by and in communication with the aerosol evaporator; and an aerosol flow regulator that is connected to the aerosol concentrator, said method comprising: generating by means of the aerosol generator a large liquid aerosol flow and directing the large liquid aerosol flow into a first direction of flow extending along the central axis; reducing the velocity of the large liquid aerosol flow by directing a counterflow air jet into a second direction of flow that is opposed to the first direction of flow against the large liquid aerosol flow; generating a sheath air flow for minimizing aerosol deposition on the chamber; mixing the sheath air flow with the large liquid aerosol flow and counterflow for augmenting evaporation of the large liquid aerosol; generating at least one of convective heat and radiative heat and transferring this heat into the chamber, evaporating liquid contained in the large liquid aerosol by dry air mixing to form a flow comprising a dry aerosol powder having a particle size between 1 μm and 10 μm; concentrating the dry aerosol powder by virtual impaction removing most of the air and unwanted vapor as a major fraction from a remaining small fraction containing air, vapor and dry aerosol powder; providing stable dry particles of the dry aerosol powder containing up to 100% active agents; regulating aerosol production during inhalation using a respiratory aerosol control system; and providing flow derived visible indicators.