Aerosol generating method and device
View Patent ↗A method and device are provided to generate an aerosol having a desired particle sizes, i.e., from molecular to about 10 microns, which can be used to effectively deliver a physiologically active compound to organs and tissues such as the lung, eye, mucosa and skin. The aerosol is formed through vaporization of the compound while mixing the resulting vapor with a gas, in a ratio, to form the desired particle size when a stable concentration of particles in the gas is reached.
1. A method for generating an aerosol comprising the steps of:
(a) heating a coating comprising a physiologically active compound, deposited onto a metal screen, by passing a current across the metal screen to vaporize at least a portion of the compound; and
(b) simultaneously passing a gas through the metal screen thereby mixing the resulting vapor with the gas in a predetermined ratio, selected to form an aerosol comprised of particles within a desired size range when a stable concentration of particles in the gas is reached.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the metal is stainless steel.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein the screen is 200 mesh.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the screen is 200 mesh.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the current is supplied by discharging a capacitor.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the current is passed across the screen for less than about 20 milliseconds.
7. The method of claim 1 further comprising administering the resulting aerosol to a patient.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein the stable concentration is about 10 9 particles/cc.
9. A method for generating an aerosol comprising the steps of:
(a) depositing a coating comprising the physiologically active compound onto a substrate, wherein the depositing a coating comprises dissolving the compound in an organic solvent, applying the solution to all or a portion of the substrate and allowing the solvent to evaporate;
(b) heating the physiologically active compound to vaporize at least a portion of the compound;
(c) cooling the resulting vapor by mixing the vapor with a gas in a predetermined ratio, selected to form an aerosol comprised of particles within a desired size range when a stable concentration of particles in the gas is reached.
10. A method for generating an aerosol comprising the steps of:
(a) depositing a coating comprising a physiologically active compound onto a substrate, wherein the depositing a coating comprises dissolving the compound in an organic solvent, applying the solution to all or a portion of the substrate and allowing the solvent to evaporate;
(b) heating the physiologically active compound to vaporize at least a portion of the compound;
(c) cooling the resulting vapor by mixing the vapor with a gas in a predetermined ratio, selected to form an aerosol comprised of particles within a desired size range that are sufficiently stable that they will remain within that range during the time necessary to administer the aerosol to a patient.