Aradigm Corporation

International Business Machines Corporation

Imra America, Inc.

Rajesh S Patel

Sudarsan Srinivasan

James Bovatsek

Donald J Harter

Alan Y Arai

Tadashi Yamamoto

Jeffrey A Schuster

Lawrence Shah

James L Speidell

Igor Gonda

Peter Alfred Gruber

Carlos Juan Sambucetti

David Hirsch Danovitch

Daniel George Berger

Guy Paul Brouillette

Stephen Roux

Laertis Economikos

Thomas Anthony Wassick

Arthur Gilman Merryman

Peter A Franklin

Russell M Pon

Steven Alan Cordes

Mukta S Farooq

Ajay Prabhakar Giri

Sze-The Young

Geoffrey K McKinley

A nozzle comprising a thin, flexible substantially planar polymeric film having a plurality of pores with structures allowing for generation of an aerosol at reduced extrusion pressure is disclosed. The pores can comprise at least two sections, or steps, in which the thickness of the membrane is reduced in stepwise fashion, or the pores can be tapered. Nozzles formed comprising pores having such structures permit aerosol generation at lower extrusion pressures, thereby allowing for decreased weight of aerosolization devices, increased efficiency, increased portability and increased battery life. The pore structures also allow for the use of thicker, more easily processed polymeric films in manufacturing while having a thinner, more efficient aerosolization area. The use of decreased extrusion pressures also results in increased uniformity in aerosol generation and improved reliability of other components.

Pore structures for reduced pressure aerosolization

A femtosecond laser based laser processing system having a femtosecond laser, frequency conversion optics, beam manipulation optics, target motion control, processing chamber, diagnostic systems and system control modules. The femtosecond laser based laser processing system allows for the utilization of the unique heat control in micromachining, and the system has greater output beam stability, continuously variable repetition rate and unique temporal beam shaping capabilities.

Femtosecond laser processing system with process parameters controls and feedback

Femtosecond laser processing system with process parameters, controls and feedback

A method for laser machining of material using a burst comprised of laser pulses. The method tailors the pulse width, pulse separation duration, wavelength and polarization of the multiple laser pulses included in a burst to maximize the positive effect of thermal and physical changes achieved by previous pulses that have impinged upon the machined material.

Pulsed laser processing with controlled thermal and physical alterations

A method of forming a through-hole which is counter-tapered relative to a drilling laser involves directing, along an incidence axis and onto an impingement location on a first surface of a material, a laser beam of sufficient energy to ablate the material, the incidence axis being offset from a normal to the first surface at the impingement location. The material and the laser beam are then relatively rotated, for at least 360&deg;, such that a through-hole having a larger exit opening than entrance opening is formed.

Method for laser drilling a counter-tapered through-hole in a material

A method for inspecting small holes in a material is disclosed. The method comprises directing a light source through the holes in the material, and then focusing the light passing through the material onto a CCD detector. The focusing techniques allow for a reduction in the size of the image which must be inspected, thereby increasing sample throughput, while still allowing for detailed inspection of the hole number and quality. Methods of producing an aerosolization container and device comprising membranes which pass such an inspection are also provided.

Method and device for non-destructive analysis of perforation in a material

A method for producing a nozzle useful in generating a fine aerosol for delivery of therapeutic or diagnostic agents is provided. The method comprises focusing a laser source onto a thin, preferably flexible material so as to form pores substantially through the material. The pores are formed to have an unflexed exit aperture diameter in the range of about 0.5 to about 25 microns, depending on the size of the aerosol particles desired for a particular application. The nozzle may have a variety of shapes and be distributed in a variety of patterns. An elevated area can be formed around the exit aperture of the nozzle in order to prevent intrusion of liquid into the nozzle.

Method of fabricating porous membrane with unique pore structure for aerosolized delivery of drugs

A nozzle comprised of a thin, flexible membrane material having a plurality of pores is disclosed. In one embodiment, the pores have an unflexed exit aperture diameter in the range of about 0.5 to about 2 microns (preferably about 1 micron) and are positioned substantially uniformly in the material, preferably about 50 microns apart. The nozzle preferably has a conical or trumpet-shaped cross-section. In another aspect of the invention, the exit aperture of the nozzle is surrounded by an elevated area protruding above the substantially planar exit side of the membrane in order to prevent intrusion of liquid back into the nozzle. The nozzle can be used to form an aerosol containing a pharmaceutical composition from the exit side of the nozzle upon forcible application of the composition to the entrance side of the nozzle. This aerosol can be used to administer the pharmaceutical composition, for example, to the eye or to a selected portion of the respiratory tract. The nozzle is preferably a component of a container which holds a formulation of drug.

Aerosol-forming porous membrane with certain pore structure

Growing community of inventors

Fremont, CA, United States of America

Rajesh S Patel