IMPROVED METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF A PULMONARY SURFACTANT BY ATOMIZATION

摘要

The system allows optimizing the dispensing of aerosol medicaments. In particular the system allows the administration of an exogenous pulmonary surfactant to very young patients (e.g. preterm neonates). A catheter (101) conveys atomized surfactant directly to the retropharyngeal region in order to increase efficiency of the medicament administration without being invasive: this is particularly important for very young patients, such as pre-term born neonates suffering from neonatal Respiratory Distress Syndrome (nRDS). The catheter is made of biocompatible flexible material (e.g. plastic material). It is possible to couple the catheter with a rigid scaffolding (e.g. metallic) to increase stiffness of the device and to improve easiness of positioning operations. The delivery of the atomized medicament is done by means of an air blasting technique.

主权项

1: A system for delivering a medicament comprising a pulmonary surfactant to spontaneously breathing patients, comprising:
i) a catheter adapted to reach the retro-pharyngeal region of the patient, the catheter including at least a first channel being adapted to convey in the patient's pharyngeal region a flow of liquid medicament and at least a second channel adapted to convey in the patient's pharyngeal region a pressurized flow of gas, ii) first pump means connected to a first end of the at least first channel, adapted to create a pressure which pushes the column of liquid medicament towards the second end of the at least first channel; iii) second pump means connected to a first end of the at least second channel, adapted to create the flow of pressurized gas; so that when the column of liquid medicament and the pressurized gas meet in the pharyngeal cavity, the liquid column is broken into a plurality of particles causing the atomized medicament to be delivered into the patient's lungs; iv) pressure detecting means, separate from the first and second channel for measuring a value indicative of the pressure in the patient pharyngeal cavity, such value being used to determine whether the patient is in an inspiration or in an expiration phase and wherein the first pump means are selectively activated only during inspiration phase.