Patent ID: 8074649

Claim:
An aerosol delivery device comprising: a ventilator connector that is configured to mate with a conduit that leads to a ventilator for permitting inhalation and exhalation by a patient, the ventilator connector having a hollow first leg and a hollow second leg that is formed at an angle relative to the first leg, the first leg including an adapter that is defined by a hollow body that defines a lumen that is axially aligned with a lumen defined by the second leg; a medicament dispenser containing medication in aerosol form that is selectively delivered through a distal orifice of a nozzle of the dispenser; a medicament dispenser connector that is configured to be sealingly mated to the medicament dispenser and in communication with an endrotracheal tube, the medicament dispenser connector including a proximal hollow body portion that is configured to sealingly mate with a dispenser element of the medicament dispenser so as to fluidly link the two together; an elongated cannula portion extending from the proximal hollow body portion of the medicament dispenser connector, the cannula portion comprising a tubular structure that is defined by a main lumen and inner and outer walls; and a plurality of secondary orifices that are formed in proximal and distal segments of the tubular structure of the cannula portion, said secondary orifices being open along both the inner wall and the outer wall of the tubular structure and being in direct fluid communication with the main lumen, wherein the cannula portion has a plurality of secondary medication delivery conduits each of which has a lumen and an orifice that are fluidly connected to the medicament dispenser connector, said secondary medication delivery conduits being formed in the cannula portion between the inner and outer walls of the cannula portion and extending at least along a length thereof such that each lumen of the secondary medication delivery conduit is fluidly separated from the main lumen of the cannula portion, wherein in a dispensing mode, aerosol particles generated by the medicament dispenser are separately delivered through the main lumen of the cannula portion, as well as through the lumens of the secondary medication delivery conduits and through the secondary orifices into the endotracheal tube and into lungs of the patient such that a central aerosol plume is generated from the main lumen of the cannula portion and peripheral aerosol plumes are generated from the lumens of the secondary medication delivery conduits.