Droplet Delivery Device For Delivery Of Fluids To The Pulmonary System And Methods Of Use
A droplet delivery device and related methods for delivering precise and repeatable dosages to a subject for pulmonary use is disclosed. The droplet delivery device includes a housing, a reservoir, and ejector mechanism, and at least one differential pressure sensor. The droplet delivery device is automatically breath actuated by the user when the differential pressure sensor senses a predetermined pressure change within housing. The droplet delivery device is then actuated to generate a stream of droplets having an average ejected droplet diameter within the respirable size range, e.g, less than about 5 μm, so as to target the pulmonary system of the user.
Claim CLM-00001. 1. A breath actuated droplet delivery device for delivering more than one agents to the pulmonary system of a subject, the more than one agents delivered as one or more ejected stream of droplets, the droplet delivery device comprising:
a housing comprising a mouthpiece located at an airflow exit of the housing, and an airflow inlet flow element positioned at an airflow entrance of the housing; a multiple fluid ampoule disposed within or in fluid communication with the housing comprising a first fluid reservoir and at least a second fluid reservoir, the first fluid reservoir for receiving a first volume of fluid comprising the first agent, and the second fluid reservoir for receiving a second volume of fluid comprising the second agent; at least one electronically actuated ejector mechanism in fluid communication with the multiple fluid ampoule and configured to generate the one or more ejected stream of droplets; at least one differential pressure sensor positioned within the housing, the at least one differential pressure sensor configured to activate the at least one ejector mechanism upon sensing a pre-determined pressure change within the housing to thereby generate the one or more ejected stream of droplets; the at least one ejector mechanism comprising a piezoelectric actuator and an aperture plate, the aperture plate having a plurality of openings formed through its thickness and the piezoelectric actuator operable to oscillate the aperture plate at a frequency to thereby generate the one or more ejected stream of droplets; and wherein the housing, airflow inlet flow element, and mouthpiece are configured to facilitate non-turbulent airflow across an exit side of the aperture plate and to provide sufficient non-turbulent airflow through the housing during use.
