Details for Patent: 7,987,846

Title:	Method and apparatus for vaporizing a compound
Abstract:	Disclosed is a method and device for rapid heating of a substance. One embodiment includes a substance including a drug to be vaporized for inhalation therapy. A sealed fuel cell containing a combustible filament is placed in a heat exchange relationship with the substance. An igniter is operatively associated with the combustible element. The substance may be vaporized inside of a housing to allow the vaporized drug to aerosolize and be inhaled by a user.
Inventor(s):	Hale; Ron L. (Sandia Park, NM), Song; Soonho (Hillsborough, CA), Quintana; Reynaldo J. (Redwood City, CA), Rabinowitz; Joshua D. (Princeton, NJ), Zaffaroni; Alejandro C. (Atherton, CA)
Assignee:	Alexza Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Mountain View, CA)
Filing Date:	Nov 21, 2008
Application Number:	12/275,836
Claims:	1. A device for rapid heating of a composition comprising: a combustible filament contained within a sealed fuel cell for providing heat upon ignition; an igniter operatively associated with the combustible filament for igniting the combustible filament; and a composition comprising at least one drug in a heat exchange relationship with the combustible filament whereby upon ignition of the combustible filament the composition is vaporized. 2. The device of claim 1 further comprising a substrate having a surface in a heat exchange relationship with the combustible filament, the composition being coated on the substrate. 3. The device of claim 2, wherein the substrate is metallic. 4. The device of claim 3, wherein the metallic substrate comprises a sheath around the fuel cell. 5. The device of claim 2 wherein the substrate comprises an exterior surface of the fuel cell. 6. The device of claim 1 wherein the combustible filament comprises a combustible metal. 7. The device of claim 6 wherein the combustible metal is selected from the group consisting of magnesium, aluminum and zirconium. 8. The device of claim 1 wherein the combustible filament comprises zirconium. 9. A device for rapid heating of a composition comprising: a combustible filament contained within a sealed fuel cell having an exterior surface for providing heat upon ignition; an igniter operatively associated with the combustible filament for igniting the combustible filament; 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 combustible filament comprises combustible metal. 11. The device of claim 10 wherein the combustible metal is selected from the group consisting of magnesium, aluminum and zirconium. 12. The device of claim 9 wherein the combustible filament comprises zirconium.