Other

Aerophase, Inc.

University of Colorado

Timberline Instruments, Inc.

Brian Nils Hansen

Brooks Michael Hybertson

Robert E Sievers

Samuel Wesley Crouch

Arnold E Williams

Inhaled medications present a great opportunity for controlled drug delivery for self medicated patients. With this invention most medicinal aerosol generators have the potential for much more controlled dosage and monitoring of doses to the patient than current inhaled medication systems. The pressurized metered dose inhaler has especially great potential for controlled drug delivery being that the aerosol drug formulation is in a permanently sealed container that can use a digital program controlled electromechanical valve on a metered dose inhaler to control drug dose and time of release. An electromechanical inhaler valve actuator can also provide dose control, monitoring, breath activation timing and other important features.

Devices and control systems for inhaled drugs

A fluid flow control valve comprises (a) a high pressure region adapted to contain a fluid at its supercritical or nearcritical temperature and pressure conditions and connected via an orifice to a low pressure region, (b) a seat adjacent the orifice, (c) a sealing element positionable against the seat to form a seal between the high pressure region and the low pressure region, and (d) an electrically and/or electronically controlled actuator operable to move the sealing element against and/or away from the seat to allow control of fluid flow from the high pressure region to the low pressure region. In a specific embodiment, the high pressure region contains a fluid at its supercritical or nearcritical temperature and pressure conditions. The valve may be used, for example, to provide very low flow rates, for example, for supercritical fluid chromatography, supercritical fluid extraction, critical point drying, supercritical fluid cleaning, and supercritical fluid separation methods. In another embodiment, the valve is suitable for use in methods of delivering a biologically active substance to a patient in need thereof.

Electronically-controlled, high pressure flow control valve and method of use

The present invention provides a method of inhibiting cancer growth in the lungs of a mammal through the inhalation administration of aerosol particles of an anti-cancer drug formulation. Further, the present invention provides a formulation for aerosol delivery that comprises a combination of paclitaxel, &#x3b1;-tocopheryl succinate; sorbitan trioleate, ethanol, and carbon dioxide. Prior studies have indicated that aerosol administration of cancer drugs holds great potential as a treatment modality, both for lung cancer and for lung metastases of other cancers. Practice of the invention has been demonstrated using a mouse model of lung cancer, in which intrapulmonary deposition of paclitaxel by aerosol inhalation reduced lung tumor size and increased body weight in tumor-bearing mice.

Method for the treatment of lung tumors

A method for producing a biodiesel fuel product from biological material is disclosed which comprises extracting lipids from the biological material with a pure or alcohol-modified supercritical fluid in an extractor, passing the extract directly into a reactor wherein a transesterification reaction is induced between the extracted lipids and alcohol with additional alcohol added if needed, forming glycerol and fatty acid alkyl esters, passing the mixture into one or more separators to remove the glycerol and fatty acid alkyl ester products, removing wastes, and recycling the critical fluid solvent and unreacted alcohol to the extractor. An improvement to biodiesel preparation is afforded by the simplification of the extraction and reaction processes into a single flowing system. According to the invention, a biodiesel fatty acid alkyl ester product can be prepared directly from biological material feedstock, such as oil-containing seeds, without the need for prior isolation of the oil.

Process for producing biodiesel fuel products

Apparatus for pressure processing components is disclosed which includes an improved closure system that minimizes dust-generating parts and allows easy access to the chamber. Ports are provided for introducing and releasing pressurized gases and fluids to and from the processing space. The heating system of the apparatus heats both the cover and the stage inside the pressurized chamber such that cycle time to equilibrate heated, pressurized fluids such as supercritical carbon dioxide inside the chamber are decreased. The apparatus includes a mechanism that raises the stage inside the chamber, pressing it against the fixed cover and sealing the inside of the pressure vessel. In one embodiment a screw-type jack is used to move the component-loaded stage fitted with a deformable o-ring seal a short travel distance to seat against the lid and seal the pressure chamber. In a related embodiment a computer and an electronic stepper motor are used to drive the pressing means in an automated fashion.

Pressure processing apparatus with improved heating and closure system

A method to maintain magnetic levitation that is stabilized by means of Hall effect sensors is disclosed. The method and device comprising a Hall effect sensor or sensors used to control an electromagnet to maintain the position between two magnets or objects. The present invention has been used to suspend a magnet in a high pressure tube that is magnetically coupled to a magnet outside the tube connected to an analytical balance that can accurately measure the force on the magnet inside the tube. This force measurement can be used to determine fluid density, flow, viscosity, and solubility. This magnetic levitation method also has application for other devices such as motors, generators, trains, turbines, wind tunnels, and entertainment devices.

Method and apparatus for magnetic levitation

Methods for determining the amount of volatile electrolyte present in an aqueous liquid sample comprise transferring the electrolyte from the aqueous liquid sample to an absorber solution across a gas-permeable membrane which is non-passable to the aqueous liquid sample and measuring the change in electrical conductivity of the absorber solution during the transfer period. The absorber solution contains a solute which enhances the transfer of the electrolyte. Apparatus for conducting such methods include an absorber solution containing a solute which enhances the transfer of the electrolyte.

Methods and apparatus for quantitative analysis of a sample

Methods and apparatus for delivering physiologically active compounds to a target human or animal employ a supercritical fluid solution comprising a supercritical fluid solvent and a physiologically active solute. The supercritical fluid solution is passed into a subcritical region to evaporate the solvent and form a gas-borne dispersion of solute particles. The gas-borne dispersion of solute particles is administered directly to the target human or animal. The apparatus for delivering the physiologically active compound are of the hand-held type.

Methods and apparatus for drug delivery using supercritical solutions

A method for depositing a film of a desired material on a substrate comprises dissolving at least one reagent in a supercritical fluid comprising at least one solvent. Either the reagent is capable of reacting with or is a precursor of a compound capable of reacting with the solvent to form the desired product, or at least one additional reagent is included in the supercritical solution and is capable of reacting with or is a precursor of a compound capable of reacting with the first reagent or with a compound derived from the first reagent to form the desired material. The supercritical solution is expanded to produce a vapor or aerosol and a chemical reaction is induced in the vapor or aerosol so that a film of the desired material resulting from the chemical reaction is deposited on the substrate surface. In an alternate embodiment, the supercritical solution containing at least one reagent is expanded to produce a vapor or aerosol which is then mixed with a gas containing at least one additional reagent. A chemical reaction is induced in the resulting mixture so that a film of the desired material is deposited.

Growing community of inventors

Longmont, CO, United States of America

Brian Nils Hansen