MODIFIED NEBULIZER, METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DELIVERING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS TO AN INDIVIDUAL

Abstract

A nebulizer comprising a nebulizing chamber with a vibrating mesh grid having a plurality of precision openings and said chamber with a liquid pharmaceutical product in a cartridge contacting the mesh grid for producing particle sizes of two (2) to four (4) microns; and an entrainment port for drawing air into the nebulizing chamber and through the grid. A control circuit, a source of electrical energy in said circuit such as two 1.5 volt lithium titanate batteries connected to said grid for producing vibration. A switch to turn said grid off and on and means for providing a first measured time period of four seconds for taking a first breath of air through the entrainment port and grid and through the thousands of passageways into the lungs and bloodstream of an individual. A second time period during which no vibration occurs. The grid is also self-cleaning as described.

Claims

1. A nebulizer comprising: a nebulizer body and a nebulizing chamber disposed in said nebulizer body; an entrainment port, a mouthpiece and a liquid pharmaceutical product for drawing air through said entrainment port through said mouthpiece and into said nebulizing chamber; and wherein said nebulizing chamber includes a vibratable micro micron mesh grid made from a platinum or a palladium plate and containing thousands of precision tapered passageways through said plate and ending in thousands of openings in an opposite side of said plate for producing particle sizes of said pharmaceutical product in sizes of about two (2) to four (4) microns of said pharmaceutical product; and an electric circuit and a source of electrical energy connecting said grid to said source of electrical energy for a period of about three-four seconds and immediately thereafter disconnecting said grid from said source of electrical energy for a period of 15 seconds to allow a user to exhale during a period of no vibration to said grid.

2. The nebulizer according to claim 1, in which said liquid pharmaceutical product is pure nicotine in a dilute solution containing about one percent pure nicotine and 99% water or saline to 3 milligrams pure nicotine and 99% of water or saline and up to 3% flavor.

3. The nebulizer according to claim 1, in which said liquid pharmaceutical capsule contains between one and three milligrams of nicotine.

4. The nebulizer according to claim 2, which contains a second closed compartment for containing a second capsule of a liquid pharmaceutical product.

5. The nebulizer according to claim 2, in which said means for opening a capsule provide an opening at each end of said capsule to allow an airstream to be drawn through said capsule.

6. The nebulizer according to claim 5, which includes an LED display and a program to telephone a user's smartphone and indicate that it is time to take medication.

7. The nebulizer according to claim 5, which includes a face display including a flow rate indicator, a warning to clean said grid, a warning to change batteries and a warning to replace a capsule.

8. The nebulizer according to claim 5, which includes a micro USB port for charging the lithium titanate batteries.

9. The nebulizer according to claim 5, which includes an extra disposable capsule to allow disposable capsules for accurate dosing and reduces the risk of contamination.

10. The nebulizer according to claim 5, in which all plastic parts are free of bisphenol A.

11. The nebulizer according to claim 5, which includes means for limiting an initial period of time during which a switch in said electric circuit connects said nebulizing grid to a source of electricity for a first period of time and disconnecting said nebulizing grid from said source of electricity for a second period of about 15 seconds immediately following said first period of time.

12. The nebulizer according to claim 11, in which said first period of time is three (3) to four (4) seconds and said second period of time is at least fifteen (15) seconds.

13. The nebulizer according to claim 5, in which said nebulizer includes a three speed period of electrification of said nebulizing grid selectable by said user.

14. The nebulizer according to claim 13, in which said three-speed indicator includes a slow speed, a medium speed and a fast speed.

15. A nebulizer which delivers 2-4 micron particles into the lungs and the bloodstream and avoids the heat effect to attain higher bloodstream levels at lower concentrations of products.

16. The nebulizer according to claim 15, in which a nebulizer delivers 2-4 micron particles into the lungs and bloodstream and avoids the first pass effect to attain higher blood levels at lower concentration of products.

17. A mesh nebulizer in which the grid is cleaned by depressing the on/off button for a period of five seconds which cleans the grid by ultra-vibration prior to each nebulizer use.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] FIG. 1 is a front end view of a nebulizer in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention;

[0028] FIG. 2 is an end view of a first portion of the back surface of the nebulizer illustrated in FIG. 1;

[0029] FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of the nebulizer shown in FIGS. 1 and 2; and

[0030] FIG. 4 is a schematic top projection of a top view of the nebulizer shown in FIGS. 1-3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0031] In essence, a nebulizer 10 in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention comprises or consists of an outer housing or body 11 including a nebulizing chamber 12 shown by dotted lines in FIG. 3 and includes a vibratable micro micron mesh grid 16 visible through the mouthpiece 17 in FIG. 1. The plurality of precision openings and/or tapered passageways 16 therethrough are disposed in the nebulizing chamber 12 and indicated by the openings 16 within the grid 14. A liquid pharmaceutical product 18 is also contained in the nebulizing chamber 12 and is drawn together with air through the grid 14 which is vibrated for producing particle sizes of the liquid pharmaceutical product of about two (2) to about four (4) microns.

[0032] The entrainment port 22 in said body 11 and an in an upper portion of the mouthpiece 17 allows an individual to draw air into the nebulizing chamber 12 through the grid 14 and into the lungs of a patient. The nebulizer 10 also includes a control circuit, and a source of electrical energy for vibrating the grid together with a programmable switch to turn the grid on and off and means for including a first measured time period of about four seconds of time for drawing a deep breath of air through the mouthpiece 17 and through the entrainment port 22 through the grid 17 and into an individual's lungs. The means for establishing a first time period of about four seconds during which an individual draws a deep breath through the entrainment port through the micro micron mesh grid and into a patient's lungs. This first period establishes the means for establishing a second period of time for about fifteen (15) seconds in which the micro micron mesh grid is not vibrated to allow time for a patient to exhale. The patient's inhaled breath is the sole means for creating an airflow through the device. Further, Applicants' device does not have any mechanism for heating the airflow or pharmaceutical product.

[0033] A cartridge compartment, lid and power switch are also shown. Further a connection for Bluetooth or Wi-Fi is shown above the mouthpiece in a forward portion of the body 11. Further at the top of the nebulizer 10 is a power switch 25 for activating the nebulizer 10.

[0034] In essence, the first embodiment of the invention comprises or consists of a nebulizer body and a nebulizing chamber disposed in the nebulizer body and an entrainment port, a mouthpiece and a liquid pharmaceutical product for drawing air through said entrainment port through said mouthpiece and into said nebulizing chamber and wherein said nebulizing chamber includes a vibratable micro micron mesh grid made from a platinum or palladium plate and containing thousands of precision tapered passageways through the plate and ending in thousands of openings in an opposite side of the plate. The producing particle sizes of the pharmaceutical product are made in sizes of about two (2) to four (4) microns of the pharmaceutical product and an electrical circuit and a source of electrical energy connects the grid and the source of electrical energy for a period of about two (2) to four (4) seconds and immediately thereafter disconnecting the grid from the source of electrical energy for a period of 15 seconds to allow a user to exhale during a period of no vibration to the grid.

[0035] A second embodiment of the invention incorporates a liquid pharmaceutical product of relatively pure nicotine in a dilute solution containing about 1% pure nicotine and water or saline up to about 3 milligrams of pure nicotine and 99% of water or saline plus up to about 3% flavor.

[0036] A third embodiment of the invention includes a liquid pharmaceutical capsule containing between 1 and 3 milligrams of nicotine therein.

[0037] In a further embodiment of the invention the liquid pharmaceutical capsule contains between about 1 and 3 milligrams of nicotine.

[0038] In a still further embodiment of the invention the nebulizer includes a second closed compartment for containing a second capsule of a liquid pharmaceutical product.

[0039] In a further embodiment of the invention the nebulizer contains means for opening a capsule providing an opening at each end at or near each end of said capsule to allow an airstream to be drawn through said capsule.

[0040] The nebulizer according to a further embodiment of the invention includes an LED display and a program to telephone a user's smartphone and indicate that it is time to take medication.

[0041] In addition, an embodiment of the invention includes a face display including a flowrate indicator and a warning to clean said grid and a further warning to change batteries and to replace the capsule.

[0042] A still further embodiment of the invention includes a micro USB port for charging the lithium titanate batteries.

[0043] An additional nebulizer according to claim 1 which includes an extra disposable capsule to allow disposal capsules for accurate dosing and reducing the risks of contamination.

[0044] Still further, the nebulizer according to claim 1, which includes means for limiting an initial period of time during which a switch in said electric circuit connects said nebulizing grid to a source of three volts provided by two 1.5 volt lithium titanate batteries for a first period of time for about four seconds and a second period of time of about 15 seconds immediately following the first period of time.

[0045] Another embodiment of the invention provides a nebulizer in which said first period of time of about three (3) to four (4) seconds and a second period of time for at least 15 seconds.

[0046] An additional embodiment of the invention contemplates a nebulizer in which the nebulizer includes a three speed period of electrification of the nebulizing grid selectable by a user.

[0047] A still further embodiment of the invention contemplates a nebulizer in which said three-speed indicator includes a slow speed, a medium speed and a fast speed.

[0048] A further embodiment of the invention includes a nebulizer that delivers 2-4 micron particles into the lungs and the bloodstream and avoids the heat effect to attain higher bloodstream levels at lower concentrations of medical products.

[0049] A next to final nebulizer according to claim 1, in which the nebulizer delivers 2-4 micron particle sizes into the lungs and bloodstream and avoids the first pass effect to attain higher blood levels at lower concentration of products.

[0050] Finally, a nebulizer in which the grid is cleaned by depressing the on/off switch for a period of five seconds which automatically cleans the grid by ultra-vibration prior to each nebulizer use.

[0051] While the invention has been described in connection with its preferred embodiments it should be recognized that changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope of the appended claims.