A fluid jet ejection device, a method of making a fluid jet ejection head for a fluid ejection device, and a method of improving the plume characteristics of fluid ejected from the fluid jet ejection head. The fluid jet ejection device includes a cartridge body; and a fluid jet ejection cartridge disposed in the cartridge body. The fluid jet ejection cartridge contains a fluid and an ejection head attached to the fluid jet ejection cartridge. The ejection head contains a plurality of fluid ejectors thereon and a nozzle plate having a plurality of fluid ejection nozzles therein associated with the plurality of fluid ejectors, wherein a first portion of the plurality of fluid ejection nozzles have a first axial flow path length and a second portion of the plurality of fluid ejection nozzles have a second axial flow path length greater than the first axial flow path length.

Aerosol delivery devices including mechanisms configured to deliver an aerosol precursor composition from a reservoir to an atomizer including a vaporization heating element to produce a vapor are disclosed. For example, a bubble jet head may be configured to dispense the aerosol precursor composition to the atomizer. The bubble jet head may be fixedly coupled to the atomizer. The bubble jet head may include a precursor inlet, an ejection heating element, and a precursor nozzle. The atomizer may include a vaporization heating element.

A microfluidic device comprising: a first substrate (402,502,602,702,802) having a first assembling side (402a,702a, 802a); and a second substrate (404,504,604,704,804) having a second assembling side (404a, 504a, 604a, 804a) connectable with the first assembling side (402a,702a, 802a) to assemble the first substrate (402,502,602,702,802) and the second substrate (404,504,604,704,804) together. At least one of the first assembling side (402a,702a, 802a) and the second assembling side (404a, 504a, 604a, 804a) has a fluid chamber channel (406,706,806), and after the first substrate (402,502,602,702,802) and the second substrate (404,504,604,704,804) are connected together, the fluid chamber channel (406,706,806) forms a fluid chamber having a fluid inlet (408,608,708,808) and a fluid outlet (410,510,610,710,810). The at least one of the first assembling side (402a,702a, 802a) and the second assembling side (404a, 504a, 604a, 804a) having the fluid chamber channel (406,706,806) has an outlet expansion groove (418,518,618,718,818, 818) adjacent to and extending downstream from the fluid outlet (410,510,610,710,810), and wherein at the fluid outlet (410,510,610,710,810), an outer peripheral profile of the outlet expansion groove (418,518,618,718,818, 818) is located outside an outer peripheral profile of the fluid outlet (410,510,610,710,810).

A pharmaceutical drug delivery device and method of using the pharmaceutical drug delivery device. The pharmaceutical drug delivery device includes a cartridge body; a fluid outlet nozzle attached to the cartridge body; and a fluid jet ejection cartridge disposed in the cartridge body, wherein the cartridge contains a liquid pharmaceutical drug and a fluid ejection head containing a plurality of fluid ejection nozzles and associated fluid ejectors. A processor disposed on a logic board or fluid ejection head is provided for executing a control algorithm to control the ejection head to modify plume characteristics of fluid ejected from the ejection head by controlling one or more of fluid jet firing frequency, burst length, and fluid jet firing burst delay.

A drug delivery device and method of using the device. The device includes a cartridge body; a fluid outlet nozzle attached to the cartridge body; and a cartridge disposed in the cartridge body. A fluid ejection head is attached to the cartridge and is in fluid flow communication with the fluid outlet nozzle. The cartridge contains a liquid pharmaceutical drug. A logic board is disposed in cartridge body and is electrically connected to the ejection head on the ejection cartridge. A processor is disposed on the logic board or on the fluid ejection head for executing a control algorithm to control the ejection head to modify plume characteristics of fluid ejected from the ejection head by controlling one or more operating parameters selected from (a) a number of fluid ejectors fired per ejection burst, (b) a position of fluid ejectors fired per ejection burst, and (c) both (a) and (b).

Introduced here is a face mask system having a mask enclosure that contains, or otherwise directly supports, an automated liquid-droplet dispensing mechanism (ADM) for humidification. In operation, the enclosure and ADM are compact and lightweight so that when worn by a user can be supported entirely by the user's head and neck. The enclosure can be comprised of one or more layers of breathable fabric adapted to flexibly conform to the face of a user when worn and form a cavity that is adjacent to the user's nostrils and mouth. The ADM can be comprised of a reservoir in which liquid is stored, a respiratory cycle detector, a timer and controller, and a droplet dispenser that controllably dispenses droplets of the liquid from the reservoir into the cavity for inhalation by the user.

A pharmaceutical drug delivery device. The drug delivery device includes a device body, a fluid outlet nose cone attached to the drug delivery device body, and a fluid jet ejection cartridge containing a liquid pharmaceutical drug is disposed in the drug delivery device body. A fluid ejection head is attached to the fluid jet ejection cartridge and the fluid ejection head is in fluid flow communication with the fluid outlet nose cone. The fluid outlet nose cone has a plurality of air flow channels open to an ambient atmosphere for providing a pressure differential between an inner area of the fluid outlet nose cone adjacent to the fluid ejection head and the ambient atmosphere.

A pharmaceutical drug delivery device and method of preventing drying out and drooling of an ejection head for the drug delivery device. The device includes a drug delivery device body; a fluid outlet nozzle attached to the drug delivery device body; and a fluid jet ejection cartridge containing a liquid pharmaceutical drug disposed in the drug delivery device body. A fluid ejection head is attached to the fluid jet ejection cartridge and the fluid ejection head is in fluid flow communication with the fluid outlet nozzle. An elongate, serpentine air flow path is provided between and outer surface of the fluid jet ejection cartridge and an inner surface of the fluid outlet nozzle. The elongate, serpentine air flow path provides a reduced pressure differential adjacent to a surface of the fluid ejection head upon use of the drug delivery device and provides a humidification zone.

An ejector device for ejecting droplets of fluid onto a surface includes an ejector mechanism attached to a fluid reservoir through a fluid loading plate that is configured to pierce the reservoir and channel the fluid to a rear surface of the ejector mechanism by capillary action. The ejector mechanism may have a centro-symmetric configuration with a lead free piezo actuator and may be covered by an auto-closing cover.

A droplet delivery device and related methods for delivering precise and repeatable dosages to a subject for pulmonary use is disclosed. The droplet delivery device includes a housing, a reservoir, and ejector mechanism, and at least one differential pressure sensor. The droplet delivery device is automatically breath actuated by the user when the differential pressure sensor senses a predetermined pressure change within housing. The droplet delivery device is then actuated to generate a stream of droplets having an average ejected droplet diameter within the respirable size range, e.g, less than about 5 μm, so as to target the pulmonary system of the user.