Patent Application
20190143053
The present disclosure relates to an aerosol generating apparatus and more particularly to an aerosol generating apparatus with replaceable vial assembly.
Nebulizer, also known as aerosolizer or atomizer, is used to deliver medication in fine particles/droplets to patients for inhalation. An aerosol generating module, which is a component of a nebulizer, receives liquid medicament to generate aerosol for treating a patient with respiratory conditions, such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). A typical aerosol generating module includes a perforated membrane and a vibratable element. One way for a vibratable element to generate vibration is through the incorporation of piezoelectric (PZT) materials. Vibration is provided to the liquid passing through the perforated membrane, thereby generating aerosol.
A reservoir or a liquid container such as a vial, with an internal chamber, stores the liquid medicament to be provided to the aerosol generating module. The vibratable element vibrates the perforated membrane, through which the liquid medicament permeates, to generate aerosol. Typically, the aerosol generating module is either permanently secured to the liquid container or integrally formed with the liquid container. The aerosol generating module may be permanently secured to the liquid container by adhesive or other known securing means. Accordingly, once the liquid medicament is depleted, the entire aerosol generating apparatus, including the aerosol generating module, is to be thrown away.
To achieve desired aerosolization, the liquid container may need to be cleaned prior to each use. The same applies to the perforated membrane. If the liquid container and/or the perforated membrane are not cleaned properly, the life of the nebulizer may be shortened. For example, residue may form and block either the perforated membrane or the opening of the liquid container. The foregoing may further lead to faster degradation of the vibratable element, thereby reduce the nebulization efficiency. Insufficient cleaning may also lead to contamination, which may jeopardize medical treatments. The abovementioned risks can be mitigated by using a new set of aerosol generating module and liquid container for every treatment. However, this will substantially increase the patient's financial burden. Therefore, the present disclosure aims to design an aerosol generating apparatus with replaceable components, such as a vial and the assembly thereof. Certain components may be disposed after each treatment, while others can be preserved for repeated use.
The present disclosure provides an aerosol generating apparatus including a vial, a cap assembly and a receptacle. The vial is capable of storing liquid medicament and includes a puncturable seal held in position by a retaining ring. The cap assembly includes an actuator with an interior bore extending therethrough, a perforated membrane coupled to the actuator, a fastener, and a first mating element. The fastener is adapted to detachably secure the cap assembly to the vial such that the perforated membrane aligns with the puncturable seal. The receptacle is configured to receive the cap assembly with the vial, and the receptacle includes a driving element and a second mating element capable of mating with the first mating element of the cap assembly. The driving element aligns and communicates with the perforated membrane when the receptacle engages the cap assembly. Operation of the actuator pierces the puncturable seal, which allows the liquid medicament to be displaced through the interior bore to the perforated membrane. The driving element will vibrate the liquid medicament at the perforated membrane to generate aerosol.
The present disclosure also provides a replaceable vial assembly for an aerosol generator. The vial assembly includes a vial and a cap assembly. The vial is capable of storing liquid medicament. The vial includes a puncturable seal held in position by a retaining ring. The cap assembly includes a cap body and an actuator. The cap body includes a perforated membrane. The actuator is received within the cap body and includes an interior bore extending therethrough. The actuator couples to the perforated membrane such that the interior bore is in communication with the perforated membrane. The cap body is adapted for detachably snap engagement over the retaining ring such that the perforated membrane aligns with the puncturable seal. Upon movement of the actuator, the vial's puncturable seal is pierced and the liquid medicament flows from the vial through the interior bore to the perforated membrane. The replaceable vial assembly is adapted to detachably engage with an aerosol generator.
The present disclosure also provides a method for operating an aerosolizer. The liquid medicament is stored in a vial that includes a puncturable seal. A cap assembly is detachably secured over the vial to form a vial assembly. As a result, a perforated membrane on the cap assembly is aligned with the puncturable seal of the vial. The cap assembly, securing over the vial, is subsequently actuated to pierce the puncturable seal. The vial assembly is detachably engaged with a receptacle in a way that the liquid medicament is displaced to the perforated membrane by gravity. A driving element of the receptacle is aligned with the perforated membrane in a way that the driving element communicates with the perforated membrane. The driving element is activated to nebulize the liquid medicament passing through the perforated membrane for aerosol generation.
One or more embodiments are illustrated by way of example, and not by limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings, wherein elements having the same reference numeral designations represent like elements throughout. The drawings are not to scale, unless otherwise disclosed.
The drawings are only schematic and are non-limiting. In the drawings, the size of some of the elements may be exaggerated and not drawn on scale for illustrative purposes. The dimensions and the relative dimensions do not necessarily correspond to actual reductions to practice of the disclosure. Any reference signs in the claims shall not be construed as limiting the scope. Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.
The making and using of the embodiments of the disclosure are discussed in detail below. It should be appreciated, however, that the embodiments provide many applicable inventive concepts that can be embodied in a wide variety of specific contexts. The specific embodiments discussed are merely illustrative of specific ways to make and use the embodiments, and do not limit the scope of the disclosure.
Throughout the various views and illustrative embodiments, like reference numerals are used to designate like elements. Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts. In the drawings, the shape and thickness may be exaggerated for clarity and convenience. This description will be directed in particular to elements forming part of, or cooperating more directly with, an apparatus in accordance with the present disclosure. It is to be understood that elements not specifically shown or described may take various forms. Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, the appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. It should be appreciated that the following figures are not drawn to scale; rather, these figures are merely intended for illustration.
In the drawings, like reference numbers are used to designate like or similar elements throughout the various views, and illustrative embodiments of the present disclosure are shown and described. The figures are not necessarily drawn to scale, and in some instances the drawings have been exaggerated and/or simplified in places for illustrative purposes. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate the many possible applications and variations of the present disclosure based on the following illustrative embodiments of the present disclosure.
It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “on” another element, it can be directly on the other element or intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on” another element, there are no intervening elements present.
It will be understood that singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Furthermore, relative terms, such as “bottom” and “top,” may be used herein to describe one element's relationship to other elements as illustrated in the Figures.
It will be understood that elements described as “under” or “below” other elements would then be oriented “over” or “above” the other elements. The exemplary terms “under” or “below” can, therefore, encompass both an orientation of over and under.
Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs. It will be further understood that terms; such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and the present disclosure, and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
The fastener 260 may detachably secure the cap assembly 200 to the vial 100 using different coupling mechanisms. The coupling mechanisms include snap fit, interference fit, tongue-and-groove fit, post-and-bore fit, and press fit. In a preferred embodiment, the fastener 260 may be configured for detachably snap engagement of the cap assembly 200 over the retaining ring 120 at the neck 140 of the vial 100. The engagement is adapted to align the perforated membrane 236 with the vial's seal 110. It is to be noted that the present disclosure is not so limited, and a person having ordinary skill understands that any coupling mechanisms known in the art are within the scope of the present disclosure.
In certain embodiments, the actuator 230 includes one or multiple projection(s) 250 that extends from the interior bore 232. Foolproof designs may be provided to the actuator 230 to prevent the puncturable seal 110 from blocking the flow of the liquid medicament 130 when the vial 100 is inverted. For example, projections 250 may be arranged to be circumferentially spaced such that liquid medicament 130 may flow into the interior bore 232 through the spaces between the projections 250. In other embodiments, lengths of the projections 250 extending from the interior bore 232 may not be equal. Accordingly, the liquid medicament 130 may flow through the space formed by unequal lengths of the projections 250. In certain embodiments, the projection 250 is a ring-shaped projection, a sidewall of which has at least one through hole. In this way, the liquid medicament may flow to the interior bore 232 through the through hole even if an opening formed on the ring-shaped projection is obstructed by the puncturable seal 110.
In certain embodiments, the cap assembly 200 may also include an O-shaped ring 220 sandwiched between the actuator 230 and the retaining ring 120. When the cap assembly 200 is secured to the vial 100, the O-shaped ring 220 provides liquid or air tight seal by filling the tiny gap (not shown) between the actuator 230 and the retaining ring 120. In this way, when the puncturable seal 110 is pierced and the vial 100 is inverted, the seal provided by the O-shaped ring 220 prevents any leakage of the liquid medicament 130. In other words, the O-shaped ring 220 ensures that the liquid medicament 130 only exits the vial 100 through the interior bore 232 to the perforated membrane 236.
In certain embodiments, the process of securing the cap assembly 200 to the vial 100 is split into two phases.
In the first phase as illustrated in
In the second phase as illustrated in
Under certain circumstances, a user of the aerosol generating apparatus 10 may prefer the vial 100 and the cap assembly 200 to be pre-assembled. In the first phase, the user may carry the vial 100 and the cap assembly 200 together while keeping the puncturable seal 110 intact. Such design prevents the hassle of carrying two separate components
In
Operation or movement of the actuator in the present disclosure is not to be limited to a specific manner. In one example, actuation may occur when a user pushes the cap assembly 200, which includes the actuator 230 therein, against the vial 100 in order to allow the actuator to break or move the puncturable seal 110. Another example of actuation may be in the form of screwing the cap assembly 200 on the vial 100 with continuous threads until the puncturable seal 110 is pierced.
Although the present disclosure and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims. For example, many of the processes discussed above can be implemented in different methodologies and replaced by other processes, or a combination thereof.
Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the disclosure of the present disclosure, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed, that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized according to the present disclosure. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps.
The present application claims priority to PCT Application PCT/CN2017/114632 filed on Dec. 5, 2017, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/429,910, filed on Dec. 5, 2016, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference into this application.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/CN2017/114632 | 12/5/2017 | WO | 00 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62429910 | Dec 2016 | US |
