Aerosol delivery device
An aerosol delivery system is disclosed that is a single-use (disposable) continuous nebulizer system designed for use with mechanically ventilated patients to aerosolize medications for inhalation with a general purpose nebulizer, or for connection with devices usable in endoscopic procedures. The system separates the liquid reservoir from the nebulization process taking place either at the adapter hub, where it fits into an endotracheal tube (ETT), or a gas humidifier, where the aerosol may treat a gas used in an endoscopic procedure, with a multi-lumen tube configured to nebulize liquid and air at its distal end. The refillable liquid reservoir is mounted away from the immediate treatment zone, avoiding orientation issues associated with other types of nebulizers having a self-contained reservoir. The system can produce aerosols having a wide range of droplet sizes, depending upon central lumen diameter, with values of MMAD that range from 4 to 30 μm.
1. An aerosol delivery system comprising:
a body having a first end and a second end;
the first end comprising an opening having a rotatable fitting for connecting directly with a medical gas supply wall outlet;
the second end connected with a proximal end of a length of multi-lumen tubing;
a liquid reservoir channel and a gas channel positioned in the body between the first and second ends, the liquid reservoir channel configured to hold a liquid and positioned in parallel with the gas channel, wherein the gas channel is separated from the liquid reservoir channel by a dividing wall;
a one-way filling port positioned on the body to permit injection of a liquid into the liquid reservoir channel adjacent the first end of the body, wherein when the rotatable fitting is attached to the medical gas supply wall outlet on a wall, the one-way filling port is positioned at an angle away from the wall.
2. The aerosol delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the opening of the body defines an end of a channel that is split by the dividing wall in the body into the liquid reservoir channel and the gas channel and is configured such that a portion of a gas received via the rotatable fitting is directed to the liquid reservoir channel.
3. The aerosol delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the one-way filling port comprises a Luer fitting.
4. The aerosol delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the liquid comprises at least one of salbutemol, budesonide or ipratropium.
5. The aerosol delivery system of claim 1 , wherein a first lumen at the proximal end of the multi-lumen tubing is exclusively in communication with the liquid reservoir channel at the second end of the body.
6. The aerosol delivery system of claim 5 , wherein the rotatable fitting on the body is configured to rigidly attach the body to the medical gas supply wall outlet such that the second end of the body is positioned below the first end parallel to the wall.
7. The aerosol delivery system of claim 6 , wherein the second end of the body further comprises a connection hub surrounding the multi-lumen tubing, the connection hub forming a taper to position the proximal end of the multi-lumen tubing further away from the wall than a side of the body positioned closest to the wall.
8. The aerosol delivery system of claim 5 , wherein a second lumen at the proximal end of the multi-lumen tubing is exclusively in communication with the gas channel at the second end of the body.
9. The aerosol delivery system of claim 8 , wherein multi-lumen tubing comprises a single lumen exclusively in communication with the liquid reservoir channel at the proximal end and a plurality of lumens exclusively in communication with the gas channel at the proximal end.
10. The aerosol delivery system of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of lumens exclusively in communication with the gas channel at the proximal end are spaced around, and coaxially oriented, with respect to the single lumen.
11. The aerosol delivery system of claim 8 , wherein the length of multi-lumen tubing comprises at least 3 feet.
12. The aerosol delivery system of claim 8 , wherein the first lumen and the second lumen, at a distal end of the multi-lumen tubing, are aligned to generate an aerosol of any liquid ejected from the first lumen with any air ejected from the second lumen.
13. The aerosol delivery system of claim 12 , wherein the distal end of the multi-lumen tubing terminates in a tube adapter and the aerosol generated comprises particle sizes in a range of 10-14 μm MMAD when gas at a pressure of 50 pounds per square inch (psi) is received at the rotatable fitting.
14. The aerosol delivery system of claim 13 , wherein the tube adapter further comprises a suction catheter opening sized to connect with a suction catheter.
15. The aerosol delivery system of claim 13 , wherein the tube adapter comprises an endotracheal tube adapter.
16. The aerosol delivery system of claim 13 , wherein the tube adapter comprises a wye-tube.