Details for Patent: 7,458,374

Title:	Method and apparatus for vaporizing a compound
Abstract:	Disclosed is a method and device for rapid heating of a coated substance which preferably includes a drug to vaporized for inhalation therapy. A device in accordance with the present invention preferably includes a substrate which has an interior surface surrounding an interior region and an exterior surface upon which the coated substance is to be adhered. Though the substrate is preferably metallic, it does not need to be. A combustible element is placed in the interior region of the rigid substrate and an igniter is connected to the combustible element. The igniter is for initiating oxidation of the combustible element. Preferably, the coated substance is vaporized inside of a housing to allow the vaporized drug to aerosolize and be inhaled by a user.
Inventor(s):	Hale; Ron L. (Woodside, CA), Song; Soonho (Hillsborough, CA), Quintana; Reynaldo J. (Redwood City, CA), Zaffaroni; Alejandro C. (Atherton, CA), Rabinowitz; Joshua D. (Princeton, NJ)
Assignee:	Alexza Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Mountain View, CA)
Filing Date:	May 13, 2002
Application Number:	10/146,086
Claims:	1. A device for rapid heating of a coated composition comprising: a metallic substrate having an interior surface surrounding a surface; a combustible element, contained with a sealed fuel cell, for providing heat upon ignition; an igniter exposed to the combustible element for igniting the combustible element; and a composition comprising at least one drug coated on the surface of the metallic substrate. 2. The device of claim 1 wherein the metallic substrate is comprised of stainless steel or aluminum. 3. The device of claim 1 wherein the metallic substrate comprises a sheath around the fuel cell. 4. The device of claim 1 wherein the combustible element comprises a combustible metal. 5. The device of claim 4 wherein the combustible metal is selected from the group consisting of magnesium, zirconium and aluminum. 6. The device of claim 1 wherein the metallic substrate is coated onto the fuel cell. 7. The device of claim 1 further comprising a housing containing the metallic substrate to facilitate inhalation of the drug after vaporization thereof. 8. The device of claim 7 wherein the housing comprises a mouthpiece to facilitate oral inhalation of the drug after vaporization thereof. 9. A device for rapid heating of a coated composition comprising: a combustible element, contained within a sealed fuel cell having an exterior surface, for providing heat upon ignition; an igniter exposed to the combustible element for igniting the combustible element; and a composition comprising at least one drug coated on the exterior surface of the fuel cell. 10. The device of claim 9 wherein the fuel cell comprises stainless steel or aluminum. 11. The device of claim 9 wherein the combustible element comprises a combustible metal. 12. The device of claim 11 wherein the combustible metal is selected form the group consisting of magnesium, zirconium and aluminum. 13. The device of claim 9 further comprising a housing containing the fuel cell to facilitate inhalation of the drug after vaporization thereof. 14. The device of claim 13 wherein the housing comprises a mouthpiece to facilitate oral inhalation of the drug after vaporization thereof. 15. The device of claim 14 further comprising a power source for ignition of the combustible element, wherein the housing comprises a first section containing the power source and a second section containing the fuel cell and the combustible element, and wherein the first section is detachable from the second section. 16. A method for vaporizing a drug comprising: providing a metallic substrate having a surface, on which a composition comprising at least one drug has been coated; providing a combustible element, contained inside a sealed fuel cell; and igniting the combustible element to heat the drug composition coated on the metallic substrate to produce a vapor comprising the drug. 17. The method of claim 16 wherein the metallic substrate is comprised of stainless steel or aluminum. 18. The method of claim 16 wherein the combustible element comprises a combustible metal selected from the group consisting of magnesium, zirconium and aluminum. 19. The method of claim 16 wherein the metallic substrate is contained within a housing that facilitates aerosolization of the vapor comprising the drug. 20. A method for vaporizing a drug comprising: providing a combustible element, contained within a sealed fuel cell having an exterior surface on which a composition comprising at least one drug has been coated; and igniting the combustible element to heat the drug composition coated on the exterior surface of the fuel cell to produce a vapor comprising the drug. 21. The device of claim 1, wherein the drug composition is a pure active compound. 22. The device of claim 21, wherein the drug composition comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient. 23. The method of claim 16, wherein the drug composition is a pure active compound. 24. The method of claim 23, wherein the drug composition comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient. 25. The method of claim 20, wherein the drug composition is a pure active compound. 26. The method of claim 25, wherein the drug composition comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient. 27. The device of claim 9, wherein the drug composition is a pure active compound. 28. The device of claim 27, wherein the drug composition comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient. 29. The device of claim 8 further comprising a power source for ignition of the combustible element, wherein the housing comprises a first section containing the power source and a second section containing the metallic substrate and the combustible element, and wherein the first section is detachable from the second section 30. The method of claim 16 further comprising aerosolizing the vapor comprising the drug; and administering the aerosolized drug to a subject by inhalation. 31. The method of claim 20 wherein the fuel cell is comprised of stainless steel or aluminum. 32. The method of claim 20 wherein the combustible element comprises a combustible metal selected from the group consisting of magnesium, zirconium and aluminum. 33. The method of claim 20 wherein the fuel cell is contained within a housing that facilitates aerosolization of the vapor comprising the drug. 34. The method of claim 20 further comprising aerosolizing the vapor comprising the drug; and administering the aerosolized drug to a subject by inhalation.