Abstract: Containment units, dry powder inhalers, delivery systems, and methods for the same are disclosed. Exemplary devices are configured to have inlets and outlets which are formed with the containment walls of a containment unit. Air jets formed by the configuration of inlet(s) and outlet(s) inside the containment unit create significant turbulence and deaggregate the powder. Delivery system components downstream of the containment unit may integrate the exiting aerosol plume with a low flow nasal cannula air stream for delivery to a subject.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods are disclosed which permit ventilation therapy concurrent with humidity and aerosol drug delivery. Exemplary mixer-heaters employ alternating actuation of humidity and drug nebulizers and may use a single constant power setting for the heating section while keeping a controlled outlet temperature over the course of treatment.

Abstract: A dry powder inhaler (DPI) device has a flow passage with a three-dimensional (3D) rod array. The rod array includes multiple rows each having multiple unidirectional rods. The rows are spaced apart along a primary direction of air flow and are staggered. A viewing window to the capsule chamber allows viewing of the capsule's position within the chamber which provides visual feedback of inhalation flow rate to the user during inhalation. The capsule chamber may orient the capsule parallel to a primary direction of air flow or perpendicular to a primary direction of air flow and provide capsule motion in a plane which is perpendicular to the primary direction of air flow.

Abstract: A mixer-heater device provides controllable reduction in aerosol droplet size. Additionally, an intermittent delivery mode for administering an aerosol to a patient may take into account patient expiration and reduce aerosol losses without prolonging treatment time. Depositional losses in aerosol delivery systems may be reduced by streamlining the three dimensional geometry of conduits which change stream direction or flow path diameter. Ventilation systems may also benefit from streamlined components, in particular Y-connectors, with resulting advantages such as reduced rebreathed CO2.

Abstract: Pharmaceutically engineered aerosols (e.g. submicrometer and nano-particles and droplets) containing a hygroscopic growth excipient or agent are employed to improve the delivery of respiratory aerosols to the lung. Inclusion of the hygroscopic agent results in near zero depositional loss in the nose-mouth-throat regions and near 100% deposition of the aerosol in the lung. Targeting of the aerosol to specific lung depths is also possible. In addition, methods and apparatuses for delivering aerosols to the lung are provided. The aerosol is delivered to one nostril of a patient while a relatively high humidity gaseous carrier is delivered to the other nostril, resulting in post-nasopharyngeal growth of the aerosol to a size that promotes deposition in the lung.

Abstract: A dry powder inhaler (DPI) device has a flow passage with a three-dimensional (3D) rod array. The rod array includes multiple rows each having multiple unidirectional rods. The rows are spaced apart along a primary direction of air flow and are staggered. A viewing window to the capsule chamber allows viewing of the capsule's position within the chamber which provides visual feedback of inhalation flow rate to the user during inhalation. The capsule chamber may orient the capsule parallel to a primary direction of air flow or perpendicular to a primary direction of air flow and provide capsule motion in a plane which is perpendicular to the primary direction of air flow.

Abstract: A mixer-heater device provides controllable reduction in aerosol droplet size. Additionally, an intermittent delivery mode for administering an aerosol to a patient may take into account patient expiration and reduce aerosol losses without prolonging treatment time. Depositional losses in aerosol delivery systems may be reduced by streamlining the three dimensional geometry of conduits which change stream direction or flow path diameter. Ventilation systems may also benefit from streamlined components, in particular Y-connectors, with resulting advantages such as reduced rebreathed CO2.

Abstract: Pharmaceutically engineered aerosols (e.g. submicrometer and nano-particles and droplets) containing a hygroscopic growth excipient or agent are employed to improve the delivery of respiratory aerosols to the lung. Inclusion of the hygroscopic agent results in near zero depositional loss in the nose-mouth-throat regions and near 100% deposition of the aerosol in the lung. Targeting of the aerosol to specific lung depths is also possible. In addition, methods and apparatuses for delivering aerosols to the lung are provided. The aerosol is delivered to one nostril of a patient while a relatively high humidity gaseous carrier is delivered to the other nostril, resulting in post-nasopharyngeal growth of the aerosol to a size that promotes deposition in the lung.

Abstract: Methods and devices for inhalation therapy to deliver and embed (deposit) particles less than about 1 ?m in diameter in the lung. High humidity treatment of the lungs causes condensational growth in particle size upon entering the lungs. Increased particle size is conducive to particle embedment (deposition) in deep lung tissue or at a specific targeted lung region.

Abstract: Pharmaceutically engineered aerosols (e.g. submicrometer and nano-particles and droplets) containing a hygroscopic growth excipient or agent are employed to improve the delivery of respiratory aerosols to the lung. Inclusion of the hygroscopic agent results in near zero depositional loss in the nose-mouth-throat regions and near 100% deposition of the aerosol in the lung. Targeting of the aerosol to specific lung depths is also possible. In addition, methods and apparatuses for delivering aerosols to the lung are provided. The aerosol is delivered to one nostril of a patient while a relatively high humidity gaseous carrier is delivered to the other nostril, resulting in post-nasopharyngeal growth of the aerosol to a size that promotes deposition in the lung.

Abstract: Methods and devices for inhalation therapy to deliver and embed (deposit) particles less than about 1 ?m in diameter in the lung. High humidity treatment of the lungs causes condensational growth in particle size upon entering the lungs. Increased particle size is conducive to particle embedment (deposition) in deep lung tissue or at a specific targeted lung region.

Abstract: Liquid aerosol formulations for generating aerosolized insulin include insulin and at least one high volatility carrier which protects the insulin from thermal degradation during vaporization of the carrier. The carrier can be a mixture of ethanol and water and the liquid aerosol formulation can be propellant free. An aerosol generating device generates the aerosolized insulin by passing the liquid aerosol formulation through a flow passage heated to convert the liquid into a vapor which entrains insulin particles which mix with air to form an aerosol. The insulin particles can be dry insulin particles produced by a hand held inhaler. By controlling the concentration of the insulin in the formulation, the size of the flow passage and/or the amount of heat which heats the flow passage, the aerosol can be provided with a selected mass median aerodynamic diameter of 1 to 3 ?m or less than 1 ?m so as to be delivered to a targeted portion of the lung using the inhaler.

Abstract: An aerosol is formed by supplying a material in liquid form to a flow passage and heating the flow passage such that the material volatizes and expands out of an open end of the flow passage. The volatized material combines with ambient air such that volatized material condenses to form the aerosol. An apparatus and method for generating such an aerosol are disclosed wherein the apparatus may include an electrically conductive sleeve at an open end of the flow passage, an electrically conductive flow passage and/or a spacer chamber. The volatilized material may contain a volatilized solute and vehicle such that the resulting aerosol particle sizes of the solute and the vehicle are either different or the same.

Abstract: A method is provided for generating an aerosol. The method includes preparing a solution formed of a first component in a liquid component such that after volatilization of the liquid component by passing the solution through a flow passage while heating the solution, an aerosol is formed having a predetermined particle size distribution of the first component, wherein the solution is prepared such that the amount of the first component therein is sufficient to achieve the predetermined particle size distribution of the first component. The method also includes passing the solution through the flow passage while heating the solution to a temperature sufficient to volatilize the liquid component, wherein the flow passage comprises an outlet through which the first component and the volatilized liquid component flow, and wherein an aerosol is formed.

Abstract: Liquid aerosol formulations for generating aerosolized insulin include insulin and at least one high volatility carrier which protects the insulin from thermal degradation during vaporization of the carrier. The carrier can be a mixture of ethanol and water and the liquid aerosol formulation can be propellant free. An aerosol generating device generates the aerosolized insulin by passing the liquid aerosol formulation through a flow passage heated to convert the liquid into a vapor which entrains insulin particles which mix with air to form an aerosol. The insulin particles can be dry insulin particles produced by a hand held inhaler. By controlling the concentration of the insulin in the formulation, the size of the flow passage and/or the amount of heat which heats the flow passage, the aerosol can be provided with a selected mass median aerodynamic diameter of 1 to 3 &mgr;m or less than 1 &mgr;m so as to be delivered to a targeted portion of the lung using the inhaler.

Abstract: An aerosol generator includes a housing, a heater and a mouthpiece wherein the heater volatilizes liquid material within a flow passage and forms an aerosol in the mouthpiece. Mixing ambient air with the vaporized liquid material controls a droplet size of the aerosol. The ambient air can be directed into the mouthpiece by at least one air passageway in an airflow entrainment control member. The at least one air passageway provides a desired volume and/or velocity of ambient air entering into the mouthpiece thereby achieving a desired droplet size distribution of an aerosol. In an alternative arrangement, a funnel shaped airflow entrainment control member includes a narrow end proximate the outlet end of the flow passage. A cone angle of the funnel-shaped member can be selected to provide a desired volume of ambient air which mixes with the vaporized liquid material and achieves a desired aerosol droplet size distribution.

Abstract: An aerosol is formed by supplying a material in liquid form to a flow passage and heating the flow passage such that the material volatizes and expands out of an open end of the flow passage. The volatized material combines with ambient air such that volatized material condenses to form the aerosol. An apparatus and method for generating such an aerosol are disclosed wherein the apparatus may include an electrically conductive sleeve at an open end of the flow passage, an electrically conductive flow passage and/or a spacer chamber. The volatilized material may contain a volatilized solute and vehicle such that the resulting aerosol particle sizes of the solute and the vehicle are either different or the same.

Abstract: An aerosol generator includes a housing, a heater and a mouthpiece wherein the heater volatilizes liquid material within a flow passage and forms an aerosol in the mouthpiece. Mixing ambient air with the vaporized liquid material controls a droplet size of the aerosol. The ambient air can be directed into the mouthpiece by at least one air passageway in an airflow entrainment control member. The at least one air passageway provides a desired volume and/or velocity of ambient air entering into the mouthpiece thereby achieving a desired droplet size distribution of an aerosol. In an alternative arrangement, a funnel shaped airflow entrainment control member includes a narrow end proximate the outlet end of the flow passage. A cone angle of the funnel-shaped member can be selected to provide a desired volume of ambient air which mixes with the vaporized liquid material and achieves a desired aerosol droplet size distribution.

Abstract: A method is provided for generating an aerosol. The method includes preparing a solution formed of a first component in a liquid component such that after volatilization of the liquid component by passing the solution through a flow passage while heating the solution, an aerosol is formed having a predetermined particle size distribution of the first component, wherein the solution is prepared such that the amount of the first component therein is sufficient to achieve the predetermined particle size distribution of the first component. The method also includes passing the solution through the flow passage while heating the solution to a temperature sufficient to volatilize the liquid component, wherein the flow passage comprises an outlet through which the first component and the volatilized liquid component flow, and wherein an aerosol is formed.