IP Library Granted Patent US 8,074,644
Granted Patent B2
US 8,074,644 · App. 12/471,070 · Granted Dec 13, 2011

Method of forming an aerosol for inhalation delivery

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,074,644
App. No.
12/471,070
Granted
Dec 13, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention relates to the inhalation delivery of aerosols containing small particles. Specifically, it relates to a method of forming an aerosol for use in inhalation therapy. In a method aspect of the present invention, a method of forming an aerosol for use in inhalation therapy is provided. The method involves the following steps: (a) heating a substrate coated with a composition comprising a drug at a rate greater than 1000° C./s, thereby forming an vapor; and, (b) allowing the vapor to cool, thereby forming an aerosol, which is used in inhalation therapy. In another method aspect of the present invention, a method of forming an aerosol for use in inhalation therapy is provided. The method involves the following steps: (a) heating a substrate coated with a composition comprising a drug to form a vapor, wherein the coated composition is in the form of a film less than 10μ thick; and, (b) allowing the vapor to cool, thereby forming an aerosol, which is used in inhalation therapy. In another method aspect of the present invention, a method of forming an aerosol for use in inhalation therapy is provided. The method involves the following steps: (a) heating a substrate coated with a composition comprising a drug to form a vapor in less than 100 milliseconds, wherein the vapor has a mass greater than 0.1 mg; and, (b) allowing the vapor to cool, thereby forming an aerosol, which is used in inhalation therapy.

Claims (18)

1. A method of forming an aerosol for use in inhalation therapy comprising:

(a) heating a substrate coated with a composition comprising a drug, thereby forming a vapor;

(b) establishing an airflow over the surface of the coated composition during said heating; and

(c) allowing the vapors to cool in the air flow thereby forming an aerosol comprising the drug,

wherein a dose of the drug is vaporized in less than 1 second.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a dose of the drug is vaporized in less than 500 milliseconds.

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein a dose of the drug is vaporized in less than 100 milliseconds.

4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the formed aerosol is greater than 80 percent by weight of the drug.

5. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the formed aerosol contains less than 5 percent by weight of drug decomposition products.

6. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the formed aerosol is stable over 1 second.

7. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the formed aerosol has an MMAD in the 10 nm to 100 nm range.

8. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the formed aerosol has an MMAD in the 1 μm to 3 μm range.

9. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the geometric standard deviation of the form aerosol is other than 1.

10. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the film is less than 10 μm thick.

11. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the film is less than 5 μm thick.

12. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the film is between 10 nm and 5 μm thick.

13. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the film is less than 3 μm thick.

14. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the film is between 10 nm and 3 μm thick.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 26, 2009
From: HALE, RON L.; HODGES, CRAIG C.; LLOYD, PETER M.; MUFSON, DANIEL; ROGERS, DANIEL D.; SONG, SOONHO; WENSLEY, MARTIN J.; MYERS, DANIEL J.; MCKINNEY, JEFFREY A.; QUINTANA, REYNALDO J.; RABINOWITZ, JOSHUA D.
To: ALEXZA MOLECULAR DELIVERY CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 022730/0787 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 26, 2009
From: ALEXZA MOLECULAR DELIVERY CORPORATION
To: ALEXZA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
Reel/Frame 022730/0836 →