System for effecting smoke cessation

Abstract

A system is disclosed which makes it possible for a patient to be delivered gradually reduced amounts of nicotine over time thereby allowing the patient to be gradually weaned off of dependence on nicotine and quit smoking. The system is comprised of a means for aerosolizing a formulation and containers of formulation. The formulation is comprised of nicotine in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Preferably, a plurality of containers are produced wherein the concentration of nicotine in the different containers or different groups of containers is reduced. The patient uses containers with the highest concentration initially and gradually moves towards using containers with lower and lower concentrations of nicotine until the patient's dependence on nicotine is eliminated.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A system for aiding a patient in quitting smoking, comprising: 
 a device for aerosolizing a formulation;    a first plurality of containers which are designed for being loaded into the device for aerosolizing formulation wherein the containers are comprised of nicotine and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and wherein the nicotine is present in a first concentration;    a second plurality of containers capable of being loaded into the device for aerosolizing formulation wherein the formulation in the second plurality of containers is comprised of nicotine and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and further wherein the nicotine is present in the formulation in a second concentration which is less than the first concentration.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a third plurality of containers which are designed for being loaded into the device for aerosolizing formulation wherein the containers are comprised of nicotine and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and wherein the nicotine is present in a third concentration which is less than the second concentration.    
     
     
         3 . The system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the formulation in the first plurality of containers and the formulation in the second plurality of containers is a liquid flowable formulation wherein the nicotine is present in the formulation in a solution or suspension.  
     
     
         4 . The system as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the first plurality of containers comprises a porous membrane for each container and further wherein the second plurality of containers comprises a porous membrane for each container.  
     
     
         5 . The system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the formulation in the first plurality of containers and the formulation in the second plurality of containers is a dry powder formulation.  
     
     
         6 . The system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of containers comprises two or more canisters which canisters contain the formulation in the form of nicotine and low boiling point propellant and wherein the second plurality of containers comprises two or more canisters wherein the formulation in the canisters comprises nicotine and a low boiling point propellant.  
     
     
         7 . The system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the device for aerosolizing formulation is a hand-held, self-contained device.  
     
     
         8 . The system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of containers each comprise a porous membrane wherein the pores have a first average size, and wherein the second plurality of containers each comprise a porous membrane wherein the pores have a second average size which is larger than the first average size of the pores in the membrane of the first plurality of containers.  
     
     
         9 . A device for aerosolizing a nicotine formulation, comprising: 
 a means for aerosolizing formulation by applying force; and    a means for adjusting the means for aerosolizing formulation so that a different amount of force can be applied based on the adjustment.    
     
     
         10 . The device as claimed in  claim 9 , further comprising: 
 a container loaded into the device which container is comprised of a formulation comprised of nicotine and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.    
     
     
         11 . A kit for aiding a patient in quitting smoking, comprising: 
 a first plurality of containers having therein nicotine and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, wherein the nicotine is present in a first concentration;    a second plurality of containers having therein nicotine and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier wherein the nicotine is present in a second concentration which is less than the first concentration.    
     
     
         12 . The kit as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the first plurality of containers and second plurality of containers hold the nicotine and pharmaceutically acceptable carrier in a liquid flowable form.  
     
     
         13 . The kit as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the first plurality of containers and second plurality of containers each hold the nicotine and pharmaceutically acceptable carrier in a dry powder form.  
     
     
         14 . A method of treatment, comprising: 
 (a) aerosolizing a formulation comprised of nicotine creating aerosolized particles which are sufficiently small as to target the alveoli of a patient's respiratory tract;    (b) allowing the patient to inhale the aerosolized particles of (a) thereby causing nicotine to enter the patient's blood;    (c) repeating (a) and (b) a plurality of times;    (d) aerosolizing a formulation comprised of nicotine creating aerosolized particles which are sized in order to target the bronchioles of the patient's respiratory tract;    (e) allowing the patient to inhale the aerosolized particles of (d) thereby targeting the bronchioles of the respiratory tract; and    (f) repeating (d) and (e) a plurality of times.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 (g) aerosolizing a formulation comprised of nicotine creating aerosolized particles which are sized in order to target the bronchi of the patient's respiratory tract;    (h) allowing the patient to inhale the aerosolized particles of (g) into the bronchi of the respiratory tract; and    (i) repeating (g) and (h) a plurality of times.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the formulation is a liquid formulation comprising nicotine and an excipient selected from the group consisting of an aqueous solvent to form solutions and a liquid to form suspensions.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the formulation comprises a solution or suspension of a nicotine and an aqueous solvent or liquid carrier and the aerosolized particles are created by moving the formulation through a porous membrane.  
     
     
         18 . A method of treatment, comprising: 
 (a) aerosolizing a formulation comprising about 0.25 mg or more of nicotine to create aerosolized particles which target an area of a patient's respiratory tract;    (b) allowing the patient to inhale the aerosolized particles of (a) thereby causing nicotine to enter the patient's blood;    (c) repeating (a) and (b) a plurality of times.    
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising: 
 (d) aerosolizing a formulation comprising about 0.25 mg or more of nicotine to create aerosolized particles which target a second area of the patient's respiratory tract;    (e) allowing the patient to inhale the aerosolized particles of (d) to the second area of the patient's respiratory tract; and    (f) repeating (d) and (e) a plurality of times.    
     
     
         20 . A method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) aerosolizing a formulation comprised of nicotine creating aerosolized particles having a diameter of 0.5 μ to about 2 μ;    (b) allowing the patient to inhale the aerosolized particles of (a) into the patient's respiratory tract;    (c) repeating (a) and (b) a plurality of times;    (d) aerosolizing a formulation comprised of nicotine creating aerosolized particles having a diameter of 2 μ to about 4 μ;    (e) allowing the patient to inhale the aerosolized particles of (d) into the patient's respiratory tract; and    (f) repeating (d) and (e) a plurality of times.    
     
     
         21 . The method of claim  20 , further comprising the steps of: 
 (g) aerosolizing a formulation comprised of nicotine creating aerosolized particles having a diameter of 4 μ to about 8 μ;    (h) allowing the patient to inhale the aerosolized particles of (g) into the patient's respiratory tract; and    (i) repeating (g) and (h) a plurality of times.