Vibration systems and methods

Abstract

In one arrangement, a vibration system includes a vibratable plate, a support member surrounding the vibratable plate, and a vibration-inducing member surrounding the support member. The vibration-inducing member is configured to radially expand and contract against the support member so as to produce axial vibration of the vibratable plate. In another arrangement, the vibratable plate has an outer circumference; a tubular member is concentrically disposed about the outer circumference of the plate, and an annular vibration-inducing member is concentrically disposed about the outer circumference of the tubular member. The vibration-inducing member is preferably a piezoelectric ring that is radially expandable and contractable against the wall of the tubular member to cause the plate to vibrate in the axial direction.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method of treating a patient comprising:
 administering a medicament-containing aerosol to the patient's respiratory system via operation of an aerosol generating system, wherein the aerosol generating system comprises a vibration system comprising a vibratable aperture plate having an outer circumference, wherein a tubular alignment member is concentrically disposed about and in contact with the outer circumference of the vibratable aperture plate, the tubular alignment member having a mounting structure for holding the vibratable plate, wherein the tubular alignment member has an outer circumference, and a piezoelectric ring concentrically disposed about the outer circumference of the tubular alignment member at a location coinciding with the outer circumference of the aperture plate, which aerosol generating system, in operation, supplies a liquid medicament to the aperture plate, and, upon electrically actuating the piezoelectric ring, causes the piezoelectric ring to radially expand and contract the wall of the tubular alignment member around the outer circumference of the aperture plate, thereby causing the aperture plate to vibrate in the axial direction and aerosolize the medicament.   
     
     
         3 . The method of treating a patient as in  claim 2  wherein the aerosol is administered to the patient's respiratory system through the circuit of a ventilator or continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) system. 
     
     
         4 . The method of treating a patient as in  claim 2  wherein the aerosol is administered to the patient's respiratory system through a nebulizer having a mouthpiece. 
     
     
         5 . An aerosol generating system, comprising:
 a vibratable plate having an outer circumference;   a support member surrounding and in contact with the outer circumference of the vibratable plate, the support member aligning the vibratable plate;   a vibration-inducing member surrounding the support member, wherein the vibration-inducing member is configured to radially expand and contract against the support member so as to produce axial vibration of the vibratable plate; and   a reservoir detachably couplable to the support member, the reservoir adapted to supply liquid to the vibratable plate.   
     
     
         6 . The vibration system of  claim 5 , wherein the reservoir includes a membrane and the support member includes a sharpened end adapted to pierce the membrane of the reservoir as the reservoir is coupled to the support member. 
     
     
         7 . The vibration system of  claim 5 , wherein the reservoir holds a supply of liquid medicament. 
     
     
         8 . The vibration system of  claim 5 , further comprising a seal that prevents liquid medicament from the reservoir from contacting the piezoelectric ring when the reservoir and support member are coupled. 
     
     
         9 . The vibration system of  claim 5 , further comprising a seal that prevents aerosol produced from the aperture plate from contacting the piezoelectric ring. 
     
     
         10 . The vibration system of  claim 5 , wherein the vibration-inducing member, the support member, and the vibratable plate are disposed within the housing of a nebulizer having a mouthpiece. 
     
     
         11 . The vibration system of  claim 5 , wherein the vibration-inducing member is a piezoelectric ring having an inner diameter large enough that the reservoir can be passed through the inner diameter of the piezoelectric ring. 
     
     
         12 . The vibration system of  claim 5 , wherein only radial vibration is transmitted to the vibratable plate by the support member. 
     
     
         13 . The vibration system of  claim 5 , wherein the support member comprises a thin-walled tubular member. 
     
     
         14 . The vibration system of  claim 13 , wherein the tubular member comprises at least one resilient segment disposed therein. 
     
     
         15 . The vibration system of  claim 5 , wherein the vibration-inducing member is a piezoelectric ring, and a ring is disposed around the outer circumference of the piezoelectric ring to adjust the operating frequency of the piezoelectric ring. 
     
     
         16 . A vibration system, comprising:
 a vibratable plate having an outer circumference;   a support member surrounding and in contact with the outer circumference of the vibratable plate, the support member aligning the vibratable plate;   a vibration-inducing member surrounding the support member, wherein the vibration-inducing member is configured to radially expand and contract against the support member so as to product axial vibration of the vibratable plate;   wherein when standard saline solution (2% NaCl) is used, a flow rate of about 15 microliters/sec or more of aerosol having a volumetric median diameter of 4 microns is produced.   
     
     
         17 . The vibration system of  claim 16 , wherein the system produces a flow rate of 15 microliters/sec or more of aerosol having a volumetric median diameter of 4 microns at a power consumption of 3 watts.