Apparatus and methods for delivery of medicament to a respiratory system
Apparatus and methods are provided for delivery of a medicament to a respiratory system. A reservoir is provided for a liquid medicament with the reservoir having a liquid medicament inlet port and a medicament outlet. An aerosol generator is provided at the medicament outlet of the reservoir for aerosolizing the liquid medicament. A connector entrains the aerosolized medicament from the aerosol generator with a gas.
1 - 44 . (canceled)
45 . A method of delivering a medicament to a respiratory system, the method comprising:
providing a reservoir for a liquid medicament to be delivered to the respiratory system;
delivering a volume of the liquid medicament into the reservoir;
providing an aerosol generator for aerosolizing the liquid medicament;
arranging the aerosol generator beneath the reservoir for gravitational flow of the liquid medicament from the reservoir to the aerosol generator;
aerosolizing the liquid medicament; and
delivering the aerosolized medicament to the respiratory system.
46 . The method of claim 45 , further comprising entraining the aerosolized medicament with a gas before delivering the aerosolized medicament to the respiratory system.
47 . The method of claim 45 , further comprising vibrating at least part of the aerosol generator to aerosolize the liquid medicament.
48 . The method of claim 45 , further comprising delivering a further volume of the liquid medicament into the reservoir.
49 . The method of claim 48 , wherein the further volume of the liquid medicament is delivered into the reservoir after all of the liquid medicament in the reservoir is aerosolized.
50 . The method of claim 48 , wherein the further volume of the liquid medicament is delivered into the reservoir before all of the liquid medicament in the reservoir is aerosolized.
51 . The method of claim 45 , further comprising opening a port to deliver the volume of the liquid medicament through the port into the reservoir.
52 . The method of claim 51 , further comprising sealing the port after delivering the volume of the liquid medicament into the reservoir.
53 . The method of claim 52 , wherein the port is sealed before aerosolizing the liquid medicament.
54 . The method of claim 45 , wherein the reservoir has an interior surface; the interior surface of the reservoir is configured to promote flow of the liquid medicament towards the aerosol generator.
55 . The method of claim 54 , wherein the interior surface of the reservoir is inclined towards the aerosol generator.
56 . The method of claim 45 , further comprising a housing to house the aerosol generator.
57 . The method of claim 45 , wherein the aerosol generator further comprises a vibratable member.
58 . The method of claim 57 , wherein the vibratable member is dome-shaped.