Patents by Inventor Michael Ligotke

Michael Ligotke has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7958890
    Abstract: A dry powder inhaler has a dispersion chamber containing beads. A dose of dry powder is released into the chamber, or into an inlet tangentially joining into the chamber. As the patient inhales on a nosepiece or mouthpiece, air moves circularly through the dispersion chamber to drive the beads. The beads roll, bounce, and collide repeatedly with the drug particles on the chamber surfaces or on the beads. The smaller active drug particles are separated from larger carrier particles and from each other, and a powder aerosol is created and inhaled by the patient. The beads are preferably lightweight, so that they can be rapidly accelerated and moved, even with nominal inspiration. The flow resistance of the inhaler is also reduced via the beads, allowing greater airflow and powder dispersion, without any increased effort by the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Quadrant Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Andrew W. Gieschen, Michael Ligotke, Jeffrey Chen, Charles F. Ganem, Bernard Greenspan
  • Publication number: 20090084380
    Abstract: A dry powder inhaler has a dispersion chamber containing beads. A dose of dry powder is released into the chamber, or into an inlet tangentially joining into the chamber. As the patient inhales on a nosepiece or mouthpiece, air moves circularly through the dispersion chamber to drive the beads. The beads roll, bounce, and collide repeatedly with the drug particles on the chamber surfaces or on the beads. The smaller active drug particles are separated from larger carrier particles and from each other, and a powder aerosol is created and inhaled by the patient. The beads are preferably lightweight, so that they can be rapidly accelerated and moved, even with nominal inspiration. The flow resistance of the inhaler is also reduced via the beads, allowing greater airflow and powder dispersion, without any increased effort by the patient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Inventors: Andrew W. Gieschen, Michael Ligotke, Jeffrey Chen, Charles F. Ganem, Bemard Greenspan
  • Patent number: 7069929
    Abstract: A dry powder inhaler includes an actuator pivotably mounted on a base. Movement of the actuator from a first position to a second position drives the a dobber to open a blister. A dispersion engine sub-assembly has a blister hood positioned over a blister opening position. A powder pathway connects from the blister hood into a powder dispersion engine. Upon inhalation, air flow draws powder up and out of an opened blister, into the blister hood and to the powder dispersion engine. Movement of the actuator causes the dobber to shear open a blister and also to press the blister hood down over the blister. This increases air flows up and around the open blister, carrying the pharmaceutical powder up and out of the blister and into the dispersion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Quadrant Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Matthew Young, Stuart Kay, Neil Harrison, James Welsh, Michael Ligotke
  • Publication number: 20060005833
    Abstract: A dry powder inhaler has a dispersion chamber containing beads. A dose of dry powder is released into the chamber, or into an inlet tangentially joining into the chamber. As the patient inhales on a nosepiece or mouthpiece, air moves circularly through the dispersion chamber to drive the beads. The beads roll, bounce, and collide repeatedly with the drug particles on the chamber surfaces or on the beads. The smaller active drug particles are separated from larger carrier particles and from each other, and a powder aerosol is created and inhaled by the patient. The beads are preferably lightweight, so that they can be rapidly accelerated and moved, even with nominal inspiration. The flow resistance of the inhaler is also reduced via the beads, allowing greater airflow and powder dispersion, without any increased effort by the patient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2005
    Publication date: January 12, 2006
    Inventors: Andrew Gieschen, Michael Ligotke, Jeffrey Chen, Charles Ganem, Bernard Greenspan
  • Publication number: 20050284473
    Abstract: A unit dose dry powder inhaler includes a chamber housing containing a powder dispersion chamber. A chamber tube extends from the dispersion chamber into the mouthpiece. A cover or cup is rotatably attached to the chamber housing. A dose of a dry powder is contained at a powder location in the chamber housing. An air passageway leading from the powder location to the dispersion chamber is closed off by the cover. When the cover is rotated to an open position, the air passageway is opened. The user inhales on the mouthpiece drawing air through the powder location, the air passageway, the dispersion chamber and the chamber tube, through the mouthpiece and into the users lungs. The unit dose of dry powder is stored directly in, or is part of, the inhaler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2005
    Publication date: December 29, 2005
    Inventors: Matthew Young, Stuart Brian Kay, Neil Harrison, Michael Ligotke
  • Patent number: 6971384
    Abstract: A dry powder inhaler has a dispersion chamber containing beads. A dose of dry powder is released into the chamber, or into an inlet tangentially joining into the chamber. As the patient inhales on a nosepiece or mouthpiece, air moves circularly through the dispersion chamber to drive the beads. The beads roll, bounce, and collide repeatedly with the drug particles on the chamber surfaces or on the beads. The smaller active drug particles are separated from larger carrier particles and from each other, and a powder aerosol is created and inhaled by the patient. The beads are preferably lightweight, so that they can be rapidly accelerated and moved, even with nominal inspiration. The flow resistance of the inhaler is also reduced via the beads, allowing greater airflow and powder dispersion, without any increased effort by the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: Quadrant Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Andrew W. Gieschen, Michael Ligotke, Jeffrey Chen, Charles Ganem, Bernard Greenspan
  • Publication number: 20050263153
    Abstract: A unit dose dry powder inhaler has a dose unit within an inhaler housing. As the dose unit is pushed into the inhaler housing, a container on the dose unit is opened, releasing a pharmaceutical powder into the housing. The user inhales on a mouthpiece, drawing the powder and air into a dispersion chamber. The powder disperses in air, and the powder/air mixture is inhaled. The inhaler is inexpensive, compact, and simple to use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2005
    Publication date: December 1, 2005
    Inventors: Matthew Young, Stuart Brian Kay, Neil Harrison, Michael Ligotke
  • Publication number: 20040163644
    Abstract: A dry powder inhaler has a dispersion chamber containing beads. A dose of dry powder is released into the chamber, or into an inlet tangentially joining into the chamber. As the patient inhales on a nosepiece or mouthpiece, air moves circularly through the dispersion chamber to drive the beads. The beads roll, bounce, and collide repeatedly with the drug particles on the chamber surfaces or on the beads. The smaller active drug particles are separated from larger carrier particles and from each other, and a powder aerosol is created and inhaled by the patient. The beads are preferably lightweight, so that they can be rapidly accelerated and moved, even with nominal inspiration. The flow resistance of the inhaler is also reduced via the beads, allowing greater airflow and powder dispersion, without any increased effort by the patient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2004
    Publication date: August 26, 2004
    Inventors: Andrew W. Gieschen, Michael Ligotke, Jeffrey Chen, Charles F. Ganem, Bernard Greenspan
  • Patent number: 6715486
    Abstract: A dry powder inhaler has a dispersion chamber containing beads. A dose of dry powder is released into the chamber, or into an inlet tangentially joining into the chamber. As the patient inhales on a nosepiece or mouthpiece, air moves circularly through the dispersion chamber to drive the beads. The beads roll, bounce, and collide repeatedly with the drug particles on the chamber surfaces or on the beads. The smaller active drug particles are separated from the larger carrier particles and from each other, and a powder aerosol is created and inhaled by the patient. The beads are preferably lightweight, so that they can be rapidly accelerated and moved, even with nominal inspiration. The flow resistance of the inhaler is also reduced via the beads, allowing greater air flow and powder dispersion, without any increased effort by the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Quadrant Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Andrew W. Gieschen, Michael Ligotke, Jeffrey Chen, Charles Ganem, Bernard Greenspan
  • Publication number: 20020170560
    Abstract: A dry powder inhaler for providing multiple doses of a pharmaceutical powder from blisters on a blister disk includes an actuator pivotably mounted on a base. Movement of the actuator from a first position to a second position drives the a dobber to open a blister. A tray retainer is moveable between opened and closed positions, and the actuator is moveable to a position at least partially overlying the tray retainer, when the tray retainer is in the closed position. A dispersion engine sub-assembly has a blister hood positioned over a blister opening position. A powder pathway connects from the blister hood into a powder dispersion engine. Upon inhalation, air flow draws powder up and out of an opened blister, into the blister hood and to the powder dispersion engine. Movement of the actuator causes the dobber to shear open a blister on a blister disk, and also to press the blister hood down over, or into contact with blister disk.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2002
    Publication date: November 21, 2002
    Applicant: ELAN PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
    Inventors: Matthew E. Young, Stuart B.W. Kay, Neil R. Harrison, Janes Welsh, Michael Ligotke
  • Patent number: 6427688
    Abstract: A dry powder inhaler has a dispersion chamber containing beads. A dose of dry powder is released into the chamber, or into an inlet tangentially joining into the chamber. As the patient inhales on a nosepiece or mouthpiece, air moves circularly through the dispersion chamber to drive the beads. The beads roll, bounce, and collide repeatedly with the drug particles on the chamber surfaces or on the beads. The smaller active drug particles are separated from the larger carrier particles and from each other, and a powder aerosol is created and inhaled by the patient. The beads are preferably lightweight, so that they can be rapidly accelerated and moved, even with nominal inspiration. The flow resistance of the inhaler is also reduced via the beads, allowing greater air flow and powder dispersion, without any increased effort by the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: Dura Pharmaceuticals, Icn.
    Inventors: Michael Ligotke, Andrew W. Gieschen, Robert F. Eisele, Thomas R. Jackson, Jeffrey Chen, Bernard Greenspan, Clyde Witham, Gary Ward
  • Publication number: 20010027790
    Abstract: A dry powder inhaler has a dispersion chamber containing beads. A dose of dry powder is released into the chamber, or into an inlet tangentially joining into the chamber. As the patient inhales on a nosepiece or mouthpiece, air moves circularly through the dispersion chamber to drive the beads. The beads roll, bounce, and collide repeatedly with the drug particles on the chamber surfaces or on the beads. The smaller active drug particles are separated from the larger carrier particles and from each other, and a powder aerosol is created and inhaled by the patient. The beads are preferably lightweight, so that they can be rapidly accelerated and moved, even with nominal inspiration. The flow resistance of the inhaler is also reduced via the beads, allowing greater air flow and powder dispersion, without any increased effort by the patient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2001
    Publication date: October 11, 2001
    Applicant: Dura Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew W. Gieschen, Michael Ligotke, Jeffrey Chen, Charles F. Ganem, Bernard Greenspan