Mark E Brauner

US Patent:

58030786, Sep 8, 1998

Filed:

May 26, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/451733

Inventors:

Mark E. Brauner - Bloomington IN

International Classification:

A61M 1600

US Classification:

12420714

Abstract:

An endotracheal catheter assembly and method for deep intrapulmonary, aerosol delivery of liquid drugs and other liquid therapeutic agents. The invention can deliver a bolus dose of liquid drugs into the lungs of a patient which is at least bioequivalent in terms of physiological effect to a similar drug dose delivered intravenously. The catheter assembly includes a first, gas-bearing tube and a second, liquid bearing tube, preferably concentrically nested within the gas-bearing tube. The tubes are inserted in an airway of the patient, preferably by threading the tubes into a lumen of an endotracheal tube, to position a terminal nozzle formed by distal tips of the tubes near a carina of the patient. At the nozzle, the lumen of the first tube has a comparative cross-sectional area relative to that of the second tube's lumen of between about 0. 4:1. 0 and 4. 0:1. In operation, high velocity gas is forced from the first tube and impacts liquid expelled from the second tube at a high velocity gas/liquid interface, deforming the liquid into an aerosol and propelling it deep within the lungs of the patient.