Details for Patent: 7,766,013

Title:	Aerosol generating method and device
Abstract:	A method and device are provided to generate an aerosol having a desired particle sizes, i.e., from molecular to about 10 microns, which can be used to effectively deliver a physiologically active compound to organs and tissues such as the lung, eye, mucosa and skin. The aerosol is formed through vaporization of the compound while mixing the resulting vapor with a gas, in a ratio, to form the desired particle size when a stable concentration of particles in the gas is reached.
Inventor(s):	Wensley; Martin J. (San Francisco, CA), Mufson; Daniel (Napa, CA), Hodges; Craig C. (Walnut Creek, CA), Lloyd; Peter M. (Walnut Creek, CA), Rogers; Daniel D. (Oakland, CA)
Assignee:	Alexza Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Mountain View, CA)
Filing Date:	Oct 26, 2001
Application Number:	10/057,197
Claims:	1. A method for generating an aerosol comprising the steps of: (a) heating a coating comprising a physiologically active compound, deposited onto a metal screen, by passing a current across the metal screen to vaporize at least a portion of the compound; and (b) simultaneously passing a gas through the metal screen thereby mixing the resulting vapor with the gas in a predetermined ratio, selected to form an aerosol comprised of particles within a desired size range when a stable concentration of particles in the gas is reached. 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the metal is stainless steel. 3. The method of claim 2 wherein the screen is 200 mesh. 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the screen is 200 mesh. 5. The method of claim 1 wherein the current is supplied by discharging a capacitor. 6. The method of claim 1 wherein the current is passed across the screen for less than about 20 milliseconds. 7. The method of claim 1 further comprising administering the resulting aerosol to a patient. 8. The method of claim 1 wherein the stable concentration is about 10.sup.9 particles/cc. 9. A method for generating an aerosol comprising the steps of: (a) depositing a coating comprising the physiologically active compound onto a substrate, wherein the depositing a coating comprises dissolving the compound in an organic solvent, applying the solution to all or a portion of the substrate and allowing the solvent to evaporate; (b) heating the physiologically active compound to vaporize at least a portion of the compound; (c) cooling the resulting vapor by mixing the vapor with a gas in a predetermined ratio, selected to form an aerosol comprised of particles within a desired size range when a stable concentration of particles in the gas is reached. 10. A method for generating an aerosol comprising the steps of: (a) depositing a coating comprising a physiologically active compound onto a substrate, wherein the depositing a coating comprises dissolving the compound in an organic solvent, applying the solution to all or a portion of the substrate and allowing the solvent to evaporate; (b) heating the physiologically active compound to vaporize at least a portion of the compound; (c) cooling the resulting vapor by mixing the vapor with a gas in a predetermined ratio, selected to form an aerosol comprised of particles within a desired size range that are sufficiently stable that they will remain within that range during the time necessary to administer the aerosol to a patient.