Patent Application
20210332995
This invention generally relates to infectious diseases and medical devices. In alternative embodiments, provided are products of manufacture, including automobiles and buildings, and multiplexed systems such as ventilation systems, for treating, preventing, ameliorating, slowing the progress of, decreasing the severity of or preventing a microbial infection, such as bacterial and viral infections, including the common respiratory viruses such as influenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus, parainfluenza virus, adenovirus, rhinovirus, human metapneumovirus, hantaviruses, enterovirus, coronavirus (such as a SARS, MERS or COVID-19 infection), or an infection caused by a virus in the subfamily Orthocoronavirinae, or a virus in the family Coronaviridae, or a virus in the order Nidovirales
Coronavirus infections have previously caused SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) and MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) and are particularly difficult to treat with anti-viral agents, and single drug regimens have not been found to be effective against the current coronavirus infection (2019-nCoV). The coronavirus infection (2019-nCoV), which started in China in December 2019, has spread rapidly throughout the world and has claimed hundreds of lives in China. The known coronavirus anti-infective agents used alone are unable to cure the infection.
In alternative embodiments, provided are products of manufacture for inactivating a microbe, optionally a bacteria or a virus,
In alternative embodiments of products of manufacture as provided herein
In alternative embodiments, provided are methods for inactivating a microbe comprising use of a product of manufacture as provided herein, wherein optionally the microbe comprises a bacteria or a virus, and optionally the virus comprises a respiratory virus, and optionally the virus comprises an influenza virus, a respiratory syncytial virus, a parainfluenza virus, an adenovirus, a rhinovirus, a human metapneumovirus, a hantavirus, an enterovirus, a coronavirus (and optionally the coronavirus comprises a SARS, MERS or a COVID-19 infection causing virus), or a virus in the subfamily Orthocoronavirinae, or a virus in the family Coronaviridae, or a virus in the order Nidovirales.
In alternative embodiments, provided are use of a product of manufacture as provided herein for inactivating a microbe, wherein optionally the microbe comprises a bacteria or a virus, and optionally the virus comprises a respiratory virus, and optionally the virus comprises an influenza virus, a respiratory syncytial virus, a parainfluenza virus, an adenovirus, a rhinovirus, a human metapneumovirus, a hantavirus, an enterovirus, a coronavirus (and optionally the coronavirus comprises a SARS, MERS or a COVID-19 infection causing virus), or a virus in the subfamily Orthocoronavirinae, or a virus in the family Coronaviridae, or a virus in the order Nidovirales.
In alternative embodiments, provided are products of manufacture as provided herein for use in inactivating a microbe, wherein optionally the microbe comprises a bacteria or a virus, and optionally the virus comprises a respiratory virus, and optionally the virus comprises an influenza virus, a respiratory syncytial virus, a parainfluenza virus, an adenovirus, a rhinovirus, a human metapneumovirus, a hantavirus, an enterovirus, a coronavirus (and optionally the coronavirus comprises a SARS, MERS or a COVID-19 infection causing virus), or a virus in the subfamily Orthocoronavirinae, or a virus in the family Coronaviridae, or a virus in the order Nidovirales.
The details of one or more exemplary embodiments of the invention are set forth in the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description and from the claims.
All publications, patents, patent applications cited herein are hereby expressly incorporated by reference in their entireties for all purposes.
In alternative embodiments, provided are products of manufacture, including vehicles of any type such as automobiles and trucks, and multiplexed systems such as ventilation systems, for treating, preventing, ameliorating, slowing the progress of, decreasing the severity of or preventing a microbial infection, such as bacterial and viral infections, including the common respiratory viruses such as influenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus, parainfluenza virus, adenovirus, rhinovirus, human metapneumovirus, hantaviruses, enterovirus, coronavirus (such as a SARS, MERS or COV1D-19 infection), or an infection caused by a virus in the subfamily Orthocoronavirinae, or a virus in the family Coronaviridae, or a virus in the order Nidovirales.
In alternative embodiments as provided herein, products of manufacture process or sterilize air, for example, a flowing or forced air, e.g., a flowing or forced air, or positive air pressure flow of air, in a tube, vent, duct, ductwork, port, plenum or the like, to a very high temperature (a high heat) sufficient to kill or inactivate an airborne microbe such as a bacteria or a virus, after which the air is cooled and delivered via the tube, vent, duct, ductwork, port, plenum or the like, to a building space or compartment or a passenger space or compartment, e.g., on or in an any type of vehicle (e.g., an automobile, an ambulance, a bus, taxi, a truck, a military vehicle), a subway, a tunnel, an airplane, a boat, or a train.
For example, a product of manufacture as provided herein can be used to sterilize or inactivate airborne microbes in a building space or a passenger space or compartment (e.g., in a car (automobile) or a plane) by taking air from the space or compartment, sterilizing or inactivating the airborne microbes by the high heat treatment, and returning the sterilized or cleansed air back to the space or compartment. Alternatively, or additionally, air can be taken from outside the space or compartment, e.g., outside the building or vehicle, subway, tunnel, airplane, boat, bus or train, treated with the high heat to kill or inactivate any airborne microbes, and then delivered to inside the space or compartment.
In alternative embodiments, a product of manufacture as provided herein is configured or manufactured as in or as part of any type of or part of a structure or building, such as a room, a waiting room, a bathroom, an elevator. In alternative embodiments, a product of manufacture as provided herein is configured or manufactured as in or as part of any type of vehicle (e.g., an automobile or car, a taxi, a truck, a military vehicle), a subway, a tunnel, an airplane, a boat, a bus, or a train The building can be or can comprise a house, an office building, a hospital, a theater, a store, a school or school room, an auditorium, a nursery, a restaurant, a hairdressing salon, a bar or a pub, or a shopping center.
In alternative embodiments, a drug delivery device as provided herein, for example, the inhaler, asthma “puffer-like” device, nebulizer, or the nasal spray device is, or comprises parts of, or is made or used, by a method or a device as described in e g., U.S. Pat. No. 10,583,261, or 10,561,809 (describing a breath actuated dry powder inhaler with a single air circulation chamber for de-agglomeration of entrained powdered medicament), or U.S. Pat. No. 10,561,807 (describing inhaler devices configured for consuming a defined capacity and generate an aerosol or aerosol imparted with flavor, a sensor configured to detect a predefined variable, an interface configured to make a notification to an inhaler of the aerosol, and a controller), or U.S. Pat. No. 10,463,815 (describing a dry powder inhaler may include a powder storage region, an inlet channel, a dispersion chamber, and an outlet channel), or U.S. patent application publication no. 20200069897 (describing inhalers having a breath actuated trigger mechanism reactive to an inhalation flow to trigger the release of a substance to be inhaled); or 20200061314 (describing a smart inhaler device having a flow pathway-comprising a cartridge receptacle that is able to house a cartridge, flow meter, pump, and vaporizer; a wireless communication module; and at least one sensor that captures identifying information related to the cartridge); or 2020004691 (describing dry powder inhalers having replaceable cartridges containing a dry powder for local or systemic delivery through the pulmonary tract and lungs); or 20200046916 (describing an inhaler having a refill assembly comprising, a patient port, a canister actuable by the reusable assembly to deliver a dose of medicament to the patient port, a sleeve which is selectively actuable by a user independently of the reusable assembly so as to act on the canister to deliver a dose of medicament); or 20200046029 (describing an apparatus for generating an aerosol and/or a vapour in an inhaler device includes a reservoir for storing a supply of a liquid; a heating system fluidly connected with the reservoir for receiving the liquid and configured to heat the liquid to generate the aerosol and/or vapor therefrom; a pumping system configured to pump the liquid from the reservoir to the heating system, and a valve arrangement for regulating flow from the pumping system to the heating system); or 20200016345 (describing a dry powder inhaler having a first chamber having an orifice for holding a dry powder and a gas, and a second chamber directly connected to the first chamber by at least one passageway for receiving an aerosolized form of the dry powder from in the first chamber and delivering the aerosolized dry powder to a user). An inhaler as provided herein, or as used in methods as provided herein, can comprise use of a dose counter, e.g., as described in U.S. Pat. No. 10,561,808
In alternative embodiments, products of manufacture comprise a heating unit capable of or for heating the air (optionally forced air or positive air pressure flow of air) passing through the first duct, ductwork, vent, port, plenum and/or tube of the product of manufacture from the intake point, opening or value to the output point, opening or value to a temperature sufficient to kill or inactivate an airborne microbe such as a respiratory virus such as COVID-19, a rhinovirus or influenza. In alternative embodiments, the heating unit heats the air to a temperature of between about 175° C. to about 500° C., or between about 200° C. to about 450° C., or between about 250° C. to about 400° C., and optionally the exact temperature can be preset or can be adjusted or adjustable, and optionally a thermostat is operably linked to the heating unit to ensure a preset air temperature or an air temperature set by an adjustable control is attained.
In alternative embodiments, the heating unit comprises heating wires or coils, or is gas or fuel (flame) heated air. In alternative embodiments, the heating wires or coils comprise or comprise use of resistance coil heating elements, or resistance wire open coil heating elements, which can be wire or ribbon, straight or coiled. In alternative embodiments, the heating wires or coils comprise or comprise use of nichrome, e.g., a nichrome 80/20 (80% nickel, 20% chromium) wire, ribbon, or strip; or, iron-chromium-aluminium (FeCrAl) alloys such as KANTHAL™.
In alternative embodiments, if the product of manufacture is or is part of vehicle such as an automobile (a car), a truck, or the like, the heating unit comprises use of the vehicles liquid or natural gas reservoir (e.g., from a gas tank, e.g., fuel used to power the car) to generate a flame to heat the air.
Provided are products of manufacture and kits for practicing methods as provided herein: and optionally, products of manufacture and kits can further comprise instructions for practicing methods as provided herein.
Any of the above aspects and embodiments can be combined with any other aspect or embodiment as disclosed here in the Summary and/or Detailed Description sections.
As used in this specification and the claims, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
Unless specifically stated or obvious from context, as used herein, the term “or” is understood to be inclusive and covers both “or” and “and”.
Unless specifically stated or obvious from context, as used herein, the term “about” is understood as within a range of normal tolerance in the art, for example within 2 standard deviations of the mean. About can be understood as within 20%, 19%, 18%, 17%, 16%, 15%, 14%, 13%, 12% 11%, 10%, 9%, 8%, 7%, 6%, 5%, 4%, 3%, 2%, 1%, 0.5%, 0.1%, 0.05%, or 0.01% of the stated value Unless otherwise clear from the context, all numerical values provided herein are modified by the term “about.”
Unless specifically stated or obvious from context, as used herein, the terms “substantially all”, “substantially most of”, “substantially all of” or “majority of” encompass at least about 90%, 95%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 99.5%, or more of a referenced amount of a composition.
The entirety of each patent, patent application, publication and document referenced herein hereby is incorporated by reference. Citation of the above patents, patent applications, publications and documents is not an admission that any of the foregoing is pertinent prior art, nor does it constitute any admission as to the contents or date of these publications or documents. Incorporation by reference of these documents, standing alone, should not be construed as an assertion or admission that any portion of the contents of any document is considered to be essential material for satisfying any national or regional statutory disclosure requirement for patent applications. Notwithstanding, the right is reserved for relying upon any of such documents, where appropriate, for providing material deemed essential to the claimed subject matter by an examining authority or court.
Modifications may be made to the foregoing without departing from the basic aspects of the invention. Although the invention has been described in substantial detail with reference to one or more specific embodiments, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that changes may be made to the embodiments specifically disclosed in this application, and yet these modifications and improvements are within the scope and spirit of the invention. The invention illustratively described herein suitably may be practiced in the absence of any element(s) not specifically disclosed herein. Thus, for example, in each instance herein any of the terms “comprising”, “consisting essentially of”, and “consisting of” may be replaced with either of the other two terms. Thus, the terms and expressions which have been employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation, equivalents of the features shown and described, or portions thereof, are not excluded, and it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention. Embodiments of the invention are set forth in the following claims.
A number of embodiments of t he invention have been described. Nevertheless, it can be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.
This U.S. utility patent application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Applications Ser. No. (U.S. Ser. No.) 63/014,945 filed Apr. 24, 2020. The aforementioned application is expressly incorporated herein by reference in its entirety and for all purposes.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 63014945 | Apr 2020 | US |
| Child | 17239570 | US |
