Device

Abstract

There is described an air amplifying system comprising an amplifying fluid jet provided with a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, the fluid outlet being linked to an outlet nozzle via an amplifying passage, the amplifying passage also being linked to a powder chamber, said chamber being adapted for non-laminar powder flow, such that fluid travelling from the fluid outlet of the jet draws extraneous air and aerosolised powder through the powder chamber so that the extraneous air and aerosolised powder mix with the amplifying fluid in the amplifying passage and the amplified mixture exits through the outlet nozzle. There is also described a powder delivery device comprising such an air amplifying system and a method of treatment related thereto.

1 . An air amplifying system comprising an amplifying fluid jet provided with a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, the fluid outlet being linked to an outlet nozzle via an amplifying passage, the amplifying passage also being linked to a powder chamber, said chamber being adapted for non-laminar powder flow, such that fluid travelling from the fluid outlet of the jet draws extraneous air and aerosolised powder through the powder chamber so that the extraneous air and aerosolised powder mix with the amplifying fluid in the amplifying passage and the amplified mixture exits through the outlet nozzle characterised in that the powder chamber is an annular chamber which is adapted to provide non-laminar flow of the powder.  
     
     
         2 . An air amplifying system according to  claim 1  characterised in that the vacuum created by the exit of the gas stream from the amplifying jet creates a vacuum in the powder chamber and an entrainment air flow through a powder.  
     
     
         3 . An air amplifying system according to  claim 2  characterised in that the entrainment air flow is sufficient to cause deagglomeration and/or entrainment and then subsequent aerosolisation of the powder.  
     
     
         4 . (Cancelled)  
     
     
         5 . An air amplifying system according to  claim 1  characterised in that system comprises an annular powder chamber and an axial fluid jet.  
     
     
         6 . An air amplifying system according to  claim 5  characterised in that the powder chamber is substantially circumferential to the body of the amplifying system and the fluid jet is axial to the body.  
     
     
         7 . An air amplifying system according to  claim 1  characterized in that the annular powder chamber comprises a male and a female portion.  
     
     
         8 . An air amplifying system according to  claim 7  characterised in that the outlet end of the fluid jet comprises a frusto conical male member which fits into a female portion of the powder chamber.  
     
     
         9 . An air amplifying system according to  claim 7  characterised in that the separation between the male and female members (the clearance) is from 500 to 2000 μm.  
     
     
         10 . An air amplifying system according to  claim 9  characterised in that the clearance is about 1000 μm.  
     
     
         11 . An air amplifying system according to  claim 10  characterised in that the diameter of the jet is from 100 to 500 μm.  
     
     
         12 . An air amplifying system according to  claim 11  characterised in that diameter of the jet is from 200 to 300 μm.  
     
     
         13 . An air amplifying system according to  claim 12  characterised in that diameter of the jet is about 250 μm.  
     
     
         14 . An air amplifying system according to  claim 1  characterised in that the diameter of the nozzle is from 100 μm to 1500 μm.  
     
     
         15 . An air amplifying system according to  claim 14  characterised in that the diameter of the nozzle is from 400 m to 1200 μm.  
     
     
         16 . An air amplifying system according to  claim 15  characterised in that the diameter of the nozzle is from 400 μm to 600 μm.  
     
     
         17 . An air amplifying system according to  claim 16  characterised in that the diameter of the nozzle is about 500 μm.  
     
     
         18 . An air amplifying system according to  claim 1  characterised in that the diameter of the nozzle is greater than the diameter of the jet.  
     
     
         19 . An air amplifying system according to  claim 18  characterised in that the ratio of the diameter of the jet to the diameter of the nozzle is from 1:8 to 1:2.  
     
     
         20 . An air amplifying system according to  claim 19  characterised in that the ratio of the diameter of the jet to the diameter of the nozzle is from 1:4 to 1:2.  
     
     
         21 . An air amplifying system according to  claim 20  characterised in that the ratio of the diameter of the jet to the diameter of the nozzle is 1:2.  
     
     
         22 . An air amplifying system according to  claim 1  characterised in that the chamber is provided with a powder reservoir or a powder metering member adjacent an inlet to the powder chamber.  
     
     
         23 . An air amplifying system according to  claim 22  characterised in that the powder reservoir and/or metering member is contiguous with the powder chamber.  
     
     
         24 . An air amplifying system according to  claim 22  characterised in that the powder chamber is connected to the powder reservoir and/or metering member by one or more conduits.  
     
     
         25 . An air amplifying system according to  claim 1  characterised in that the system comprises a plurality of nozzles.  
     
     
         26 . An air amplifying system according to  claim 1  characterised in that the and/or a plurality fluid jets.  
     
     
         27 . An air amplifying system according to  claim 26  characterised in that the plurality of jets comprises a plurality of interlocking jets.  
     
     
         28 . An air amplifying system according to  claim 27  characterised in that each jet is provided with a powder inlet.  
     
     
         29 . A powder delivery device which comprises a delivery passage, a powder reservoir and/or a metering member adapted to present a measured dose of powder to the delivery passage characterised in that the powder delivery device is provided with an air amplifying system according to  claim 1 .  
     
     
         30 . A powder delivery device according to  claim 29  characterised in that the air amplifying system creates an entrained air flow through the powder reservoir and/or metering member.  
     
     
         31 . A powder delivery device according to  claim 30  characterised in that the entrained air flows through the powder which is presented either direct from the reservoir or from the metering member.  
     
     
         32 . A powder delivery device according to  claim 31  characterised in that the entrained air inlet is positioned adjacent to a first side of the reservoir and/or metering member and a vacuum is created adjacent a second, opposite side of the reservoir and/or metering member.  
     
     
         33 . A powder delivery device according to  claim 30  characterised in that a further inlet tube is provided which is adapted to introduce entrainment air into the reservoir/metering member.  
     
     
         34 . A powder delivery device according to  claim 30  characterised in that the entrained air flow is sufficient to both deagglomerate and aerosolise the powder.  
     
     
         35 . A powder delivery device according to  claim 29  characterised in that the device is an inhalation device.  
     
     
         36 . A powder delivery device according to  claim 35  characterised in that the inhalation device is a dry powder inhaler.  
     
     
         37 . A powder delivery device according to  claim 35  characterised in that the amplifying system is arranged to provide the separate, sequential or simultaneous operation of the jet(s) to enable the creation of an aerosolised powder which coincides with the inspiration of a patient.  
     
     
         38 . A powder delivery device according to  claim 29  characterised in that the fluid used in the fluid jet is a gas.  
     
     
         39 . A powder delivery device according to  claim 38  characterised in that the gas is generated from the volatilisation of a volatile propellant.  
     
     
         40 . A powder delivery device according to  claim 29  characterised in that the fluid flow is generated by an electric motor.  
     
     
         41 . A powder delivery device according to  claim 29  characterised in that the fluid flow is generated by a manually primed piston.  
     
     
         42 . A powder delivery device according to  claim 39  characterised in that the propellant is a non-CFC propellant.  
     
     
         43 . A powder delivery device according to  claim 42  characterised in that the propellant is a hydrofluoroalkane (HFA).  
     
     
         44 . A powder delivery device according to  claim 43  characterised in that the HFA propellant is selected from those disclosed in EP0372777, WO91/04011, WO91/11173, WO91/11495 and WO91/14422.  
     
     
         45 . A powder delivery device according to  claim 43  characterised in that the propellant is a fluoroalkane.  
     
     
         46 . A powder delivery device according to  claim 45  characterised in that the fluoroalkane is a fluoromethane, a fluoroethane or a mixture of fluoroalkanes.  
     
     
         47 . A powder delivery device according to  claim 46  characterised in that the fluoroalkane is selected from the group trichlorofluoromethane, dichlorodifluoromethane, 1,2-dichlorotetrafluorethane, trichlorotrifluoroethane and chloropentafluoroethane.  
     
     
         48 . A powder delivery device according to  claim 47  characterised in that the fluoroalkane is HFA 134 (1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane).  
     
     
         49 . A powder delivery device according to  claim 48  characterised in that the fluoroalkane is HFA 227.  
     
     
         50 . A powder delivery device according to  claim 36  characterised in that the inhaler is one described in European Patent application No. 0 539 469.  
     
     
         51 . A powder delivery device according to  claim 29  characterised in that the metering member comprises a powder housed in a spool and spool carrier.  
     
     
         52 . A powder delivery device according to  claim 29  characterised in that the metering member is a capsule.  
     
     
         53 . A powder delivery device according to claims  51  or  52  characterised in that the device is provided with means for opening the metering member.  
     
     
         54 . A powder delivery device according to  claim 51  characterised in that the spool carrier is an integral part of the delivery device.  
     
     
         55 . A powder delivery device according to  claim 29  characterised in that the powder is selected from the group of drugs for the treatment of asthma, COPD or respiratory infections such as β 2 -agonists; fenoterol, formoterol, pirbuterol, reproterol, rimiterol, salbutarnol, salmeterol and terbutaline; non-selective beta-stimulants such as isoprenaline; xanthine bronchodilators; theophylline, aminophylline and choline theophyllinate; anticholinergics such as ipratropium bromide; mast cell stabilisers, such as sodium crornoglycate and ketotifen; bronchial anti-inflammatory agents, such as nedocromil sodium; steroids, such as beclomethasone dipropionate, fluticasone, budesonide and flunisolide; and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         56 . A powder delivery device according to  claim 55  characterised in that the combination of powders is selected from steroids, such as beclomethasone dipropionate, fluticasone, budesonide and flunisolide; and combinations of to β 2 -agonists, such as, formoterol and salmeterol.  
     
     
         57 . A powder delivery device according to  claim 29  characterised in that the powder is systemically active.  
     
     
         58 . A powder delivery device according to  claim 57  characterised in that the powder is selected from a proteinaceous compounds and/or macromolecules, such as hormones and mediators, such as insulin, human growth hormone, leuprolide and alpha interferon; growth factors, anticoagulants, immunomodulators, cytokines and nucleic acids.  
     
     
         59 . A powder delivery device according to  claim 29  characterised in that the powder is a combination selected from a powder as defined by  claim 55  and a powder as defined by  claim 56 .  
     
     
         60 . A powder delivery device characterised in that the delivery device provides a high FPF and low powder retention.  
     
     
         61 . A powder delivery device according to  claim 60  characterised in that the device is a dry powder inhaler.  
     
     
         62 . A powder delivery device according to  claim 60  characterised in that the air amplifier comprises a substantially axial jet and a substantially annular deagglomeration chamber.  
     
     
         63 . A powder delivery device according to claims  60  or  61  characterised in that the device delivers an FPF of at least 70% w/w.  
     
     
         64 . A powder delivery device according to  claim 63  characterised in that the device delivers an FPF of at least 80% w/w.  
     
     
         65 . A powder delivery device according to claim  664  characterised in that the device delivers an FPF of at least 90% w/w.  
     
     
         66 . A powder delivery device according to  claim 60  or  61  characterised in that the device provides a powder retention of less than 10% w/w.  
     
     
         67 . A powder delivery device according to  claim 66  characterised in that the device provides a powder retention of less than 5% w/w.  
     
     
         68 . A powder delivery device according to  claim 67  characterised in that the device provides a powder retention of less than 2% w/w.  
     
     
         69 . A method of administering a medicament which comprises the use of a powder delivery device according to  claim 29 .  
     
     
         70 . A method of treatment of a patient with a respiratory disorder which comprises the administration of a medicament using a powder delivery device according to  claim 35 .  
     
     
         71 . A method of treatment of a patient with a systemic disorder which comprises the administration of a medicament using a powder delivery device according to  claim 29 .  
     
     
         72 . A method of delivering a powder wherein the powder has a high FPF and a low powder retention which comprises the use of a delivery device comprising an air amplifier.  
     
     
         73 . A method of delivering a powder according to  claim 72  characterised in that the air amplifier comprises a substantially axial jet and a substantially annular deagglomeration chamber.  
     
     
         74 . A method of treatment of a patient suffering from a respiratory disorder which comprises the delivery of a medicament powder wherein the powder has a high FPF and low powder retention.  
     
     
         75 . An air amplifying system or a powder delivery device substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.