FLUID RESERVOIR FOR AN AEROSOL GENERATOR AND AEROSOL GENERATOR COMPRISING THE FLUID RESERVOIR

Abstract

The invention relates to a fluid reservoir (2) for an aerosol generator (50), the fluid reservoir (2) comprising a fluid chamber (4) for receiving a fluid (6), an opening (8) for guiding the fluid (6) received in the fluid chamber (4) outside the fluid chamber (4), and a collar portion (10) surrounding the opening (8) and extending into the fluid chamber (4). A first portion (12) of the fluid chamber (4) extends along the length of the collar portion (10) in a height direction (H) of the fluid chamber (4), A second portion (14) of the fluid chamber (4) is arranged adjacent to the first portion (12) in the height direction (H) of the fluid chamber (4). A lateral extension of the first portion (12) in the directions perpendicular to the height direction (H) of the fluid chamber (4) is smaller than a lateral extension of the second portion (14) in the directions perpendicular to the height direction (H) of the fluid chamber (4). Further, the invention relates to a fluid reservoir (2′) for an aerosol generator (50), the fluid reservoir (2′) comprising a fluid chamber (4′) for receiving a fluid (6′), an opening (8′) for guiding the fluid (6′) received in the fluid chamber (4′) outside the fluid chamber (4′), a recess (9) arranged at least partly below the opening (8!) in a height direction (H) of the fluid chamber (4′), and a cover member (30′) which releasably or permanently seals the recess (9). Moreover, the invention relates to an aerosol generator (50) comprising the fluid reservoir (2, 2′).

Claims

1. A fluid reservoir for an aerosol generator, the fluid reservoir comprising: a fluid chamber for receiving a fluid, an opening for guiding the fluid received in the fluid chamber outside the fluid chamber, and a collar portion surrounding the opening and extending into the fluid chamber, wherein a first portion of the fluid chamber extends along the length of the collar portion in a height direction of the fluid chamber, a second portion of the fluid chamber is arranged adjacent to the first portion in the height direction of the fluid chamber, and a lateral extension of the first portion in the directions perpendicular to the height direction of the fluid chamber is smaller than a lateral extension of the second portion in the directions perpendicular to the height direction of the fluid chamber.

2. The fluid reservoir according to claim 1, wherein a step portion is formed at the transition between the first portion of the fluid chamber and the second portion of the fluid chamber.

3. The fluid reservoir according to claim 2, wherein the upper surface of the step portion in the height direction of the fluid chamber lies in a plane which is substantially perpendicular to the height direction of the fluid chamber.

4. The fluid reservoir according to claim 1, wherein the first portion of the fluid chamber has an inner diameter which is substantially constant along the height direction of the fluid chamber.

5. The fluid reservoir according to claim 1, wherein the second portion of the fluid chamber has an inner diameter which is substantially constant along the height direction of the fluid chamber.

6. The fluid reservoir according to claim 1, wherein the first portion of the fluid chamber and/or the second portion of the fluid chamber has a rotationally symmetrical shape.

7. The fluid reservoir according to claim 1, wherein the first portion of the fluid chamber and/or the second portion of the fluid chamber has a substantially cylindrical shape.

8. The fluid reservoir according to claim 1, further comprising a filling port for filling the fluid into the fluid chamber.

9. The fluid reservoir according to claim 1, further comprising a lid or cap which closes the fluid reservoir and releasably or permanently seals the fluid chamber.

10. The fluid reservoir according to claim 1, further comprising a cover member which releasably or permanently seals a region of the first portion of the fluid chamber which is formed between the collar portion and an inner wall of the fluid chamber.

11. The fluid reservoir according to claim 10, wherein the cover member releasably or permanently seals the region of the first portion of the fluid chamber which is formed between the collar portion and the inner wall of the fluid chamber and releasably or permanently seals the filling port.

12. A fluid reservoir for an aerosol generator, the fluid reservoir comprising: a fluid chamber for receiving a fluid, an opening for guiding the fluid received in the fluid chamber outside the fluid chamber, a recess arranged at least partly below the opening in a height direction of the fluid chamber, and a cover member which releasably or permanently seals the recess.

13. The fluid reservoir according to claim 12, further comprising a filling port for filling the fluid into the fluid chamber, wherein the cover member releasably or permanently seals the recess and the filling port.

14. An aerosol generator, comprising the fluid reservoir according to claim 1.

15. The aerosol generator according to claim 14, further comprising a membrane for generating an aerosol, wherein the membrane is arranged in a plane perpendicular to the height direction of the fluid chamber.

16. The aerosol generator according to claim 14, wherein the aerosol generator is configured so that the fluid is supplied from the fluid chamber through the opening to an aerosol generator by gravity.

17. The aerosol generator according to claim 14, wherein the aerosol generator is a vibrating membrane aerosol generator.

18. The aerosol generator according to claim 14, wherein the collar portion is part of a releasable seal of a region of the aerosol generator and the collar portion extends into the fluid reservoir in the height direction of the fluid chamber.

19. The aerosol generator according to claim 14, wherein the collar portion is configured to guide the fluid received in the fluid chamber to a membrane for generating the aerosol via gravitational force.

20. An aerosol generator comprising the fluid reservoir according to claim 12.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0127] Hereinafter, non-limiting examples of the present invention are explained with reference to the drawings, in which:

[0128] FIG. 1 shows a schematic longitudinally cut cross-sectional view of a fluid reservoir according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0129] FIG. 2 shows a schematic perspective top view of the fluid reservoir shown in FIG. 1;

[0130] FIG. 3 shows schematic views of a cover member according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 3(a) shows a schematic perspective side view of the cover member and FIG. 3(b) shows a schematic perspective bottom view of the cover member;

[0131] FIG. 4 shows a schematic longitudinally cut cross-sectional view of the fluid reservoir shown in FIG. 1 including the cover member shown in FIG. 3;

[0132] FIG. 5 shows schematic views of a fluid reservoir according to another embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 5(a) shows a schematic longitudinally cut cross-sectional view of the fluid reservoir and FIG. 5(b) shows a schematic perspective top view of the fluid reservoir;

[0133] FIG. 6 shows a schematic longitudinally cut cross-sectional view of the fluid reservoir shown in FIG. 5 including a cover member;

[0134] FIG. 7 shows a schematic longitudinally cut cross-sectional view of an aerosol delivery device with an aerosol generator comprising the fluid reservoir shown in FIG. 1;

[0135] FIG. 8 shows a schematic longitudinally cut cross-sectional view of the aerosol delivery device shown in FIG. 7 in a tilted position.

[0136] FIG. 9 shows a schematic longitudinally cut cross-sectional view of an aerosol delivery device according to another embodiment of the present invention which may be used in a ventilator system as well as a handheld device.

[0137] FIG. 10 shows a schematic longitudinally cut cross-sectional view of an aerosol delivery device according to yet another embodiment of the present invention which may be used in a ventilator system as well as a handheld system, e.g., with an, at least partly, removable fluid reservoir, such as a fluid or liquid ampoule.

[0138] FIG. 11 shows a graph of experimental results for drug delivery of an aerosol delivery device that indicates the fluid amounts retained in fluid reservoirs according to embodiments of the present invention, dependent on the tilting or inclination angles of the fluid reservoirs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CURRENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0139] FIG. 1 shows a schematic longitudinally cut cross-sectional view of a fluid reservoir 2 according to a currently preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 shows a schematic perspective top view of the fluid reservoir 2 shown in FIG. 1.

[0140] The fluid reservoir 2 comprises a fluid chamber 4 for receiving a fluid 6 to be aerosolised and an opening 8 for guiding the fluid 6 received in the fluid chamber 4 outside the fluid chamber 4. Further, the fluid reservoir 2 comprises a collar portion 10 surrounding the opening 8 and extending into the fluid chamber 4.

[0141] A first portion 12 of the fluid chamber 4 extends along the length of the collar portion 10 in a height direction H of the fluid chamber 4. A second portion 14 of the fluid chamber 4 is arranged adjacent to, i.e., above, the first portion 12 in the height direction H of the fluid chamber 4. A lateral extension, i.e., an inner diameter, of the first portion 12 in the directions perpendicular to the height direction H of the fluid chamber 4 is smaller than a lateral extension, i.e., an inner diameter, of the second portion 14 in the direction perpendicular to the height direction H of the fluid chamber 4.

[0142] The first and second portions 12, 14 of the fluid chamber 4 each have a cylindrical shape with a circular cross-section in a plane perpendicular to the height direction H of the fluid chamber 4, The inner diameter of the first portion 12 and the inner diameter of the second portion 14 are constant along the height direction H of the fluid chamber 4.

[0143] The collar portion 10 has a cylindrical shape with a circular cross-section in a plane perpendicular to the height direction H of the fluid chamber 4.

[0144] The opening 8 is provided in a bottom wall or in the bottom area of the side wall of the fluid chamber 4.

[0145] The fluid reservoir 2 further comprises a filling port 16 for filling the fluid 6 into the fluid chamber 4.

[0146] A step portion 18 is formed at the transition between the first portion 12 and the second portion 14. At the step portion 18, the inner diameter of the fluid chamber 4 changes abruptly, i.e., is abruptly increased from the first portion 12 to the second portion 14, as is shown from FIG. 1. The upper surface 20 of the step portion 18 in the height direction H of the fluid chamber 4 lies in a plane which is perpendicular to the height direction H of the fluid chamber 4.

[0147] Further, the upper surface 22 of the collar portion 10 lies in a plane which is perpendicular to the height direction H of the fluid chamber 4, namely the plane in which also the upper surface 20 of the step portion 18 lies. An annular region 24 is formed between the collar portion 10, i.e., the outer surface thereof, and the inner wall 26 (not shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8; see FIG. 1) of the first portion 12 of the fluid chamber 4.

[0148] The fluid reservoir 2 is a retention reservoir, retaining a predetermined amount of fluid 6 therein. In the upright or vertical position of the fluid reservoir 2, in which the height direction H of the fluid chamber 4 is oriented along the vertical direction, the retained fluid 6 is received in the annular region 24. Due to the presence of the collar portion 10, the fluid 6 received in the annular region 24 cannot flow outside the fluid chamber 4 through the opening 8 and is thus reliably retained in the fluid chamber 4.

[0149] If the fluid reservoir 2 is tilted or inclined away from the upright or vertical position, as is schematically shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a portion of the fluid 6 initially retained in the annular region 24 flows over the step portion 18 and is received in the second portion 14, which has a larger inner diameter than the first portion 12. Hence, the retained fluid 6 remains in the fluid chamber 4 and does not flow through the opening 8 outside the fluid chamber 4, i.e., to an aerosol generator (described below).

[0150] Therefore, a predetermined amount of fluid 6 can be reliably retained in the fluid reservoir 2 over a range of inclination angles of the fluid reservoir 2 in each tilting or inclination direction. In this way, the amount of retained fluid 6 and thus also the aerosol dosage accuracy can be controlled in a reliable and precise manner. The fluid reservoir 2 may further comprise a cover member 30 which releasably or permanently seals the annular region 24 of the first portion 12 of the fluid chamber 4, as is schematically shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

[0151] The cover member 30 simultaneously seals the annular region 24 and the filling port 16 (see FIG. 4).

[0152] In a further embodiment, the fluid reservoir 2 may further comprise a lid or cap 17 to close the fluid reservoir 2 in the bottom area of the fluid reservoir 2. The lid or cap 17 may releasably or permanently seal the fluid reservoir 2 in the top area of the fluid reservoir 2, to prevent a fluid or liquid leakage or loss.

[0153] The lid or cap 17 may be inseparably connected with the fluid reservoir 2 or the body of the aerosol generator with a guard band, clamping band, holding band, retaining strap, securing strap, support strap or retaining band or the like. Therefore, the lid or cap 17 may have a band, string, line, or cord in the material for example of the lid or cap 17 and/or the fluid reservoir 2 and establish an inseparable connection with the fluid reservoir 2 or the body of the aerosol generator. The inseparable connection may be produced during a plastic injection moulding process.

[0154] The cover member 30 has a substantially disc-shaped upper portion 32 and an annular lower portion 34 with an opening 36. The upper portion 32 and the lower portion 34 of the cover member 30 are connected to each other by a pair of connection members 38, such as struts, rods or bars.

[0155] The cover member 30 may comprise one or more connection members, e.g., two, three, four, five or six connection members.

[0156] The fluid reservoir 2 and the cover member 30 are made of plastic and formed by moulding, e.g., injection moulding.

[0157] The upper portion 32 of the cover member 30 has a collar 40 which fits over the wall of the upper end of the fluid reservoir 2 (FIG. 4), thus allowing for the filling port 16 to be sealed by the upper portion 32.

[0158] When the cover member 30 is attached to the remainder of the fluid reservoir 2, the upper portion 32 releasably or permanently seals the filling port 16 and the lower portion 34 releasably or permanently seals the annular region 24 of the first portion 12 of the fluid chamber 4, as is schematically shown in FIG. 4. Specifically, the lower portion 34 has an outer diameter which is larger than the inner diameter of the first portion 12 of the fluid chamber 4, i.e., the inner diameter of the annular region 24. Further, the inner diameter of the opening 36 of the lower portion 34 is substantially the same as the inner diameter of the collar portion 10 at the upper end thereof. Hence, when the cover member 30 is attached to the remainder of the fluid reservoir 2, a lower surface 42 of the lower portion 34 rests on at least a part of the upper surface 20 of the step portion 18 and at least a part of the upper surface 22 of the collar portion 10, thus sealing the annular region 24 (FIG. 4).

[0159] Therefore, the fluid 6 received in the annular region 24 is safely retained therein, independent of the tilting or inclination angle of the fluid reservoir 2, while the fluid 6 received in the remaining portion of the fluid chamber 4 can freely flow outside the fluid chamber 4 through the opening 36 of the lower portion 34 of the cover member 30 and the opening 8 of the fluid reservoir 2. From the opening 8, the fluid 6 can flow directly to an aerosol generator (described below), e.g., to a vibrating membrane 44 thereof, as is schematically shown in FIG. 4.

[0160] Thus, a predetermined amount of fluid 6 can be retained in the fluid reservoir 2 comprising the cover member 30, entirely independent of a tilting or inclination angle of the fluid reservoir 2. In this way, the amount of retained fluid 6 and thus also the aerosol dosage accuracy can be controlled in a particularly precise and reliable manner.

[0161] FIGS. 5 and 6 show schematic views of a fluid reservoir 2′ according to another currently preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0162] he fluid reservoir 2′ comprises a fluid chamber 4′ for receiving a fluid 6′ and an opening 8′ for guiding the fluid 6′ received in the fluid chamber 4′ outside the fluid chamber 4′. Further, the fluid reservoir 2′ comprises a recess 9 arranged below the opening 8′ in the height direction H of the fluid chamber 4′ and a cover member 30′ which releasably or permanently seals the recess 9.

[0163] Moreover, the fluid reservoir 2′ has a filling port 16′ for filling the fluid 6′ into the fluid chamber 4′. The opening 8′ for guiding the fluid 6′ received in the fluid chamber 4′ outside the fluid chamber 4′ is provided in a sidewall of the fluid chamber 4′.

[0164] The fluid reservoir 2′ and the cover member 30′ are made of plastic and formed by moulding, e.g., injection moulding.

[0165] The cover member 30′ comprises a substantially disc-shaped upper portion 32′ and a lower portion 34′ which is connected to the upper portion 32′ with a connection member 38′, such as a strut, a rod or a bar. The cross-sectional shape and size of the lower portion 34′ in a plane perpendicular to the height direction of the fluid chamber 4′ are substantially the same as those of the upper portion of the recess 9. The upper portion 32′ of the cover member 30′ has a collar 40′ which fits over the wall of the fluid reservoir 2′ at the upper end thereof (FIG. 6).

[0166] The opening 8′ is provided in a side wall of the fluid reservoir 2′. Hence, the fluid reservoir 2′ according to this embodiment may be particularly advantageously used for an aerosol generator with a membrane 44′ arranged in a plane substantially parallel to the height direction H of the fluid chamber 4′, as is schematically shown in FIG. 6.

[0167] When the cover member 30′ is attached to the remainder of the fluid reservoir 2′, the upper portion 32′ releasably or permanently seals the filling port 16′ and the lower portion 34′ releasably or permanently seals the recess 9, as is shown in FIG. 6. Hence, the fluid 6′ received in the recess 9 is safely retained in the fluid chamber 4′, independent of a tilting or inclination angle of the fluid reservoir 2′, while the fluid 6′ received in the remaining portion of the fluid chamber 4′ can freely flow past the connection element 38′ through the opening 8′ towards the membrane 44′ of the aerosol generator.

[0168] Hence, the fluid reservoir 2′ allows for a predetermined amount of fluid 6′ to be retained in the fluid reservoir 2′, substantially or nearly independent of a feasible tilting or inclination angle of the fluid reservoir 2′. An amount of fluid 6′ retained in the fluid reservoir 2′ may be substantially or nearly constant for tilting or inclination angles in the range of 0° to 45°. An amount of fluid 6′ retained in the fluid reservoir 2′ may be constant for tilting or inclination angles in the range of 0° to 30°. An amount of fluid 6′ retained in the fluid reservoir 2′ may be entirely constant for tilting or inclination angles in the range of 0° to 15°. Thus, the amount of retained fluid 6′ and, therefore, also the aerosol dosage accuracy, i.e. the drug delivery of the aerosol delivery device, can be controlled in a particularly precise and reliable manner.

[0169] Experimental results for drug delivery of an aerosol delivery device indicating corresponding fluid amounts retained in fluid reservoirs according to the present invention are shown in Table 1 below for different inclination angles and directions (backward, forward, sideward) of the fluid reservoirs. The terms “No. 14/1”, “No. 14/2” and “No. 14/3” in the first column of Table 1 denote three fluid reservoirs which have the same configuration, namely the configuration shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and described in detail above.

[0170] Table 1 shows values for the drug delivery (DD %) of an aerosol delivery device ex mouthpiece of the aerosol delivery device under simulated breathing conditions. The drug delivery is the ratio of the amount of aerosolised drug collected on inspiratory filters to the amount of drug filled into the fluid reservoir. In Table 1, the drug delivery is given in percent [%] for the measurements “No. 14/1”, “No. 14/2” and “No. 14/3” for different inclination angles and directions. This value (DD %) is influenced by the total aerosol delivery device setup and depends on many design parameters. Specifically, variables which may influence this value may be the fluid reservoir 2, 2′, 2″ (and the retention amount of the fluid or liquid in the fluid chamber), as well as the characteristics of an aerosol chamber of the aerosol delivery device (with aerosol deposition during air flow or gas flow) and the functionality (hysteresis) of inlet and outlet one-way valves on the aerosol chamber. In order to minimise the effect of such possible influences on the measurements, the same setup for the aerosol delivery device was used for all the measurements shown in Table 1.

[0171] The mean value of the delivered dose, which is denoted by the term “Mean” in the first column of Table 1, was calculated for the prototype delivered dose (DD) measurements “No. 14/1”, “No. 14/2” and “No. 14/3” for each inclination angle of the aerosol delivery device. The term “Reference” in the first column of Table 1 denotes the ratio of the mean value (“Mean” in Table 1) of the delivered dose (DD %) for a given inclination angle to the mean value of the delivered dose (DD %) for an inclination angle of 0° or, in other words, for the horizontal orientation of the aerosol delivery device. Thus, the Reference ratio is 100% for the “base” case (see the second column of Table 1). The ratios “Reference” in Table 1 are given in percent.

[0172] The drug solution used for the experiments shown in Table 1 was Salbutamol, specifically “Sultanol 1.25 mg/2.5 ml” from the manufacturer and pharmaceutical company GSK.

[0173] The aerosol characterisation and delivered dose measurements were done with the PARI Compass II breathing simulator with the software v1.0. The simulations were done corresponding to Ph. Eur. 2.9.44 (Breathing simulator specifications), with a breathing pattern for adults, a tidal volume of 500 ml, a frequency of 15 cycles/min and a sinusoidal waveform.

[0174] The compound “Sultanol” was measured via the HPLC method, including a Waters Alliance 2695 pump/autosampler, a Waters 2996 PDA detector, and a Waters Empower 3 data handling system.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 0° 15° 15° 15° 30° 45° 45° 45° base backward forward sideward backward backward forward sideward No. 14/1 30.4 33.3 32.9 28.3 29.5 22.1 19.1 30.1 [DD %] No. 14/2 30.6 34 27.7 29.7 28.8 21.3 18.8 28.5 [DD %] No. 14/3 32.4 29.2 29.4 29.8 28.2 19.8 20.6 27.7 [DD %] Mean 31.1 32.2 30 29.3 28.8 21.1 19.5 28.8 [DD %] Reference [%] 100 104 96 94 93 68 63 93

[0175] Further experimental delivered dose (DD) results for the indication of the fluid amounts retained in fluid reservoirs according to the present invention are shown in Table 2 below for different inclination angles and directions (backward, forward, sideward) of the fluid reservoirs. The terms “No. 17/1”, “No. 17/2” and “No. 17/3” in the first column of Table 2 denote three fluid reservoirs which have the same configuration, namely the configuration shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and described in detail above. The prototypes “No. 17/1”, “No. 17/2” and “No. 17/3” are produced in different test productions than “No. 14/1”, “No. 14/2” and “No. 14/3”. The values for the delivered dose (“[DD %]”), the mean value of the delivered dose (“Mean”) and the ratio “Reference” given in Table 2 were obtained in the same manner as described above for Table 1. In particular, the same drug solution was used.

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 0° base 30° backward 30° forward 30° sideward 45° backward 45° sideward No. 17/1 30.4 34 34.4 32.3 20.7 20.3 [DD %] No. 17/2 30.6 32.9 37 33.2 25.4 26.6 [DD %] No. 17/3 32.4 32.3 35.2 31.6 22.9 23.7 [DD %] Mean [DD %] 31.1 33.1 35.5 32.4 23 23.6 Reference [%] 100 106 114 104 74 76

[0176] As can be seen from Tables 1 and 2, the delivered dose and, thus, corresponding amount of fluid retained in the fluid reservoirs is approximately constant for inclination angles in the range of 0° to 30°. Small variations in the delivered dose and retained fluid amount were observed only in some of the inclination directions for an inclination angle of 45°.

[0177] The values of the ratio “Reference” given in Tables 1 and 2 are shown in the graph of FIG. 11 for the fluid reservoirs “No. 14/1”, “No. 14/2” and “No. 14/3” (“prototype 14” in FIG. 11) and the fluid reservoirs “No. 17/1”, “No. 17/2” and “No. 17/3” (“prototype 17” in FIG. 11). The values of the ratio “Reference” are given on the ordinate of the graph of FIG. 11 and the inclination angles (arc degree [°]) and directions (forward, sideward, backward) are indicated on the abscissa of the graph of FIG. 11. Further, values for variations of the ratio “Reference” by +/−25%, +/−20% and +/−10%, respectively, as compared to the ratio for the upright position of the fluid reservoir (“base” in Tables 1 and 2 and FIG. 11) are indicated in FIG. 11 by dashed and dotted lines.

[0178] As is shown in FIG. 11, the ratio “Reference” obtained in the “prototype 14” measurements exhibits only small variations of less than 10% for inclination angles up to 30°.

[0179] FIGS. 7 and 8 show schematic cross-sectional views of an aerosol delivery device 1 with an aerosol generator 50 according to a currently preferred embodiment of the present invention, comprising the fluid reservoir 2 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 7 shows the aerosol delivery device in an upright position, with the height direction H of the fluid chamber 4 of the fluid reservoir 2 oriented along the vertical direction, and FIG. 8 shows the aerosol delivery device 1 in a tilted or inclined position, as is indicated by arrow A.

[0180] The aerosol delivery device 1 comprises the aerosol generator 50, an aerosol chamber 3, a mouthpiece 5 and an energy source 7, such as a battery, supplying energy to the aerosol generator 50 for aerosol generation. The aerosol generator 50 comprises the fluid reservoir 2, the membrane 44 and a vibrator (not shown), such as a piezoelectric element, for vibrating the membrane 44. The membrane 44 has a plurality of holes or openings (not shown). The fluid reservoir 2 comprises a screw cap 17 for sealing the filling port 16 of the fluid reservoir 2.

[0181] The aerosol generator 50 is a vibrating membrane aerosol generator, wherein the membrane 44 for generating an aerosol is arranged in a plane perpendicular to the height direction H of the fluid chamber 4.

[0182] In the following, operation of the aerosol delivery device 1 for the generation and delivery of an aerosol will be described.

[0183] The fluid 6 to be aerosolised, for example, a fluid comprising an active compound, such as a drug substance or a medicament, is filled into the fluid chamber 4 through the filling port 16. After filling the fluid 6 into the fluid chamber 4, the filling port 16 is sealed by attaching the screw cap 17 to the fluid reservoir 2.

[0184] The fluid 6 received in the fluid chamber 4 outside the annular region 24 is supplied through the opening 8 to the membrane 44 of the aerosol generator 50 by gravity acting on the fluid 6. Thus, the aerosol generator 50 is a gravity-fed aerosol generator.

[0185] Energy is supplied from the energy source 7 to the vibrator (not shown) of the aerosol generator 50, activating the vibrator and thus causing the membrane 44 to vibrate.

[0186] The fluid 6 supplied to the membrane 44 through the opening 8 is conveyed through the holes or openings (not shown) in the vibrating membrane 44 and thereby aerosolised into the aerosol chamber 3 of the aerosol delivery device 1. The aerosol thus provided in the aerosol chamber 3 is inhaled by a user or patient through the mouthpiece 5, which is arranged in fluid communication with the aerosol chamber 3.

[0187] The fluid 6 received in the annular region 24 between the collar portion 10 and the inner wall 26 (not shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8; see FIG. 1) of the fluid chamber 4 is safely retained in the fluid chamber 4, as is schematically shown in FIG. 7. If the aerosol delivery device 1 is in a tilted or inclined position (FIG. 8), a portion of the fluid retained in the fluid chamber 4 is received by the second portion 14 (not shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8; see FIG. 1) of the fluid chamber 4, as has been detailed above. Therefore, even if the aerosol delivery device 1 is moved, i.e., tilted or inclined, by the user or patient during aerosol therapy, it is ensured that the predetermined amount of fluid 6 is reliably retained in the fluid reservoir 2, so that the aerosol dosage accuracy can be controlled in a precise and reliable manner.

[0188] Thus, the aerosol delivery device 1 according to this embodiment can be particularly advantageously used as a handheld device which is held by the user or patient during aerosol therapy.

[0189] FIG. 9 shows a schematic longitudinally cut cross-sectional view of an aerosol delivery device 1′ according to another embodiment of the present invention which may be used for a ventilator system (or tube system) as well as a handheld device, wherein the use as a handheld device is illustrated in the Figure. FIG. 9(a) is an exploded view of the aerosol delivery device 1′ and FIG. 9(b) shows the aerosol delivery device 1′ in the assembled state thereof.

[0190] The aerosol delivery device 1′ comprises an aerosol generator 50′, a fluid reservoir 2″, a mouthpiece 5′ and an endpiece 11.

[0191] The aerosol generator 50′ comprises a membrane 44′ and a vibrator (not shown), such as a piezoelectric element, for vibrating the membrane 44′. The membrane 44′ has a plurality of holes or openings (not shown). The aerosol generator 50′ is a vibrating membrane aerosol generator. The aerosol generator 50′ differs from the aerosol generator 50 mainly in that the membrane 44′ is arranged in a vertical rather than a horizontal alignment.

[0192] The fluid reservoir 2″ comprises a lid or cap 17′ for sealing the fluid chamber 4″. The lid or cap 17′ is secured to the fluid reservoir 2″ with a band 19, so as to establish an inseparable connection with the fluid reservoir 2″. The fluid reservoir 2″ is attachable to and removable from the aerosol generator 50′. The fluid reservoir 2″ has a threaded collar 21 that can be screwed to a corresponding threaded portion 23 provided on the aerosol generator 50′, thus allowing for the fluid reservoir 2″ to be securely mounted to the aerosol generator 50′. As is shown in FIGS. 9(a) and (b), the fluid reservoir 2″ comprises a fluid chamber 4″ for receiving a fluid (not shown) to be aerosolised and an opening 8″ for guiding the fluid received in the fluid chamber 4″ outside the fluid chamber 4″. Further, the fluid reservoir 2″ comprises a collar portion 10″ surrounding the opening 8″ and extending into the fluid chamber 4″. As is illustrated in FIGS. 9(a) and (b), the collar portion 10″ is configured so as not to be rotationally symmetrical with respect to a height direction H′ of the fluid chamber 4″.

[0193] A first portion 12″ of the fluid chamber 4″ extends along the length of the collar portion 10″ in the height direction H′ of the fluid chamber 4″. A second portion 14″ of the fluid chamber 4″ is arranged adjacent to, i.e., above, the first portion 12″ in the height direction H′ of the fluid chamber 4″. A lateral extension of the first portion 12″ in the directions perpendicular to the height direction H′ of the fluid chamber 4″ is smaller than a lateral extension of the second portion 14″ in the directions perpendicular to the height direction H′ of the fluid chamber 4″.

[0194] The lateral extension of the first portion 12″ of the fluid chamber 4″ in the directions perpendicular to the height direction H′ of the fluid chamber 4″ varies along the height direction H′ of the fluid chamber 4″, as is shown in FIGS. 9(a) and (b).

[0195] A region 24″ is formed between the collar portion 10″, i.e., the outer surface thereof, and an inner wall 26″ of the first portion 12″ of the fluid chamber 4″.

[0196] In the fully assembled state of the aerosol delivery device 1′, the fluid reservoir 2″ is positioned relative to the aerosol generator 50′ in such a way that the height direction IT of the fluid chamber 4″ is arranged at an angle, i.e., tilted, with respect to the plane of the membrane 44′, as is shown in FIG. 9(b).

[0197] The operation of the aerosol delivery device 1′ for the generation and delivery of an aerosol is similar to that of the aerosol delivery device 1 described above.

[0198] The fluid (not shown) to be aerosolised, for example, a fluid comprising an active compound, such as a drug substance or a medicament, is filled into the fluid chamber 4″ after attachment of the fluid reservoir 2″ to the aerosol generator 50′ (see FIG. 9(b)). After filling the fluid into the fluid chamber 4″, the fluid chamber 4″ is sealed by the lid or cap 17′.

[0199] The fluid received in the fluid chamber 4″ outside the region 24″ is supplied through the opening 8″ to the membrane 44′ of the aerosol generator 50′ by gravity acting on the fluid. Thus, the aerosol generator 50′ is a gravity-fed aerosol generator.

[0200] The vibrator (not shown) of the aerosol generator 50′ is activated, thus causing the membrane 44′ to vibrate. The fluid supplied to the membrane 44′ through the opening 8″ is conveyed through the holes or openings (not shown) in the vibrating membrane 44′ and thereby aerosolised. The aerosol thus provided is inhaled by a user or patient through the mouthpiece 5′, which is arranged in fluid communication with the membrane 44′. A valve 15 provided in the endpiece 11 (see FIG. 9(a)) allows for the flow of air, e.g., ambient air, into the aerosol generator 50′.

[0201] The fluid received in the region 24″ between the collar portion 10″ and the inner wall 26″ of the fluid chamber 4″ is safely retained in the fluid chamber 4″.

[0202] The fluid reservoir 2″ may be particularly advantageously used as part of a set of fluid reservoirs which may be employed, for example, for an equivalent inhalation therapy, as has been described above.

[0203] This set of fluid reservoirs may comprise at least two fluid reservoirs, wherein the fluid reservoir 2″ may be a first one of the at least two fluid reservoirs. A second one of the at least two fluid reservoirs may be a fluid reservoir which is substantially identical to the fluid reservoir 2″ but does not comprise a collar portion. This second fluid reservoir is thus obtained by removing the collar portion 10″ from the fluid reservoir 2″.

[0204] As has been detailed above, the fluid reservoir 2″ can be advantageously used for a handheld device, such as the aerosol delivery device 1′.

[0205] The second fluid reservoir, which is obtained by removing the collar portion 10″ from the fluid reservoir 2″, may be used for a ventilator system.

[0206] In this way, variations in aerosol dosage for these two types of systems can be compensated, as has been explained in detail above. Specifically, by using the first fluid reservoir 2″ for the handheld device, the aerosol generation efficiency of this device is reduced. Since the second fluid reservoir is used for the ventilator system, no such efficiency reduction occurs in this system.

[0207] In this way, the amount of aerosol which is delivered to a user or patient for a given amount of fluid or liquid in the fluid chamber can be made the same or substantially the same for the handheld device and the ventilator system, thus ensuring a consistent and precise aerosol dosage for these two different types of aerosol delivery devices.

[0208] FIG. 10 shows a schematic longitudinally cut cross-sectional view of an aerosol delivery device 1″ according to yet another embodiment of the present invention which may be used in a ventilator system as well as a handheld system, e.g., with an, at least partly, removable fluid reservoir, such as a fluid or liquid ampoule, wherein the use as a handheld device is illustrated in the Figure. FIG. 10(a) is an exploded view of the aerosol delivery device 1″ and FIG. 10(b) shows the aerosol delivery device 1″ in the assembled state thereof. The aerosol delivery device 1″ differs from the aerosol delivery device 1′ in that the collar portion 10′″ forms part of the aerosol generator 50″. Further, the fluid reservoir 2′″ has a closed bottom portion 25, which may have a predetermined breaking point or line (not shown). The collar portion 10″′ is provided with a cutting means 27, such as a sharp edge or the like, at an upper portion thereof.

[0209] The remaining parts of the aerosol delivery device 1″ are identical to those of the aerosol delivery device 1′ and a repeated description thereof is thus omitted.

[0210] When attaching the fluid reservoir 2′″ to the aerosol generator 50″, the cutting means 27 of the collar portion 10″′ pierces the bottom portion 25 of the fluid reservoir 2′″, thus creating an opening therein. Subsequently, upon screwing the fluid reservoir 2′″ further to the aerosol generator 50″, the collar portion 10′″ is introduced into the fluid chamber 4″′, so as to surround the opening created in the bottom portion 25 and extending into the fluid chamber 4′″ (see FIG. 10(b)).

[0211] In this way, in the assembled state of the aerosol delivery device 1″, a region 24′″ is formed in the fluid chamber 4″′, which is substantially the same as the region 24″ of the fluid reservoir 2″. Hence, the aerosol delivery device 1″ can be used substantially in the same manner as the aerosol delivery device 1′ described above.

[0212] In particular, in substantially the same way as the fluid reservoir 2″, the fluid reservoir 2′″ can be used as part of a set of fluid reservoirs which may be employed, for example, for an equivalent inhalation therapy, as has been described above. In this case, for use as a handheld device, an aerosol generator with a collar portion is employed, and, in the second use case with a ventilator system, an aerosol generator without a collar portion or a reduced collar portion is employed. This aerosol generator can be obtained by removing the collar portion 10′″ from the aerosol generator 50″ or reducing the collar portion 10′″ in the height direction H′, so that substantially the whole fluid from the fluid reservoir 2′″ can reach the aerosol generator.

[0213] The operation of the aerosol delivery device 1″ is substantially the same as that of the aerosol delivery device 1′ and a repeated description thereof is thus omitted. However, due to the presence of the initially closed bottom portion 25, the aerosol delivery device 1″ offers the additional possibility of filling a fluid into the fluid chamber 4′″ prior to attaching the fluid reservoir 2′″ to the aerosol generator 50″.

[0214] The foregoing embodiments and their variants have been disclosed for illustrative purposes only, and further variation is wholly possible within the capabilities of the skilled reader. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to cover all modifications, substitutions, alterations, omissions and additions which one skilled in the art could achieve from the foregoing disclosure, taking into account his own general and specialist knowledge and expertise.