“Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic”
Arthur C. Clarke
History of electrospray technology
When it began
Electrohydrodynamic atomization (EHDA), also called electrospray, has been studied for centuries starting in the late 1500s when William Gilbert (1544-1603) first observed how a drop of water deformed into a cone in the presence of an electric field.
Since the 1990s electrospray has been successfully employed in applications across a broad range of industries, from biomedical, to nano-materials to food packaging to the aerospace industry.
Gilbert’s application of electrospray for respiratory drug delivery
Gilbert is developing the next generation of soft mist inhaler based on electrospray technology to improve treatment for patients with difficult to treat lung conditions.
The liquid inhaler uses Gilbert’s proprietary electrospray technology based on electro hydrodynamic atomization or EHDA, a technology which uses electronic fields to atomize liquids into monodispersed droplets.
Gilbert’s smart precision inhaler creates an ultra-fine soft mist, which the patient should be able to inhale effortlessly and without coordination difficulties.
Furthermore, this electrospray nebulizer can create a monodisperse aerosol with a customized droplet size, enabling targeting of the aerosol medication to desired regions of the lungs, which has the potential to improve the efficacy and safety of inhaled treatments.
Gilbert is developing a new soft mist inhaler based on electrospray technology
Customizable aerosol generation
Gilbert’s electrospray produces a monodisperse soft mist with customizable droplet size, enabling more precise targeting to the desired lung regions.
The graph shows how particle size can be varied by tuning the inhaler settings, while maintaining a narrow distribution.
Electrospray droplets are a few microns in diameter, but they originate from a much larger nozzle, which allows nebulization of suspensions without clogging. Electrospray creates no mechanical stress on the liquid and therefore should be suitable for both small and large molecules.
The Gilbert Smart Precision Inhaler is an innovative aerosol delivery device that holds a significant promise for inhalation drug delivery.
Features & benefits of the Gilbert Smart Precision Inhaler
Breath activated
Aerosol generation is breath activated so no patient coordination is required.
Benefits:
- Higher dose delivered (less drug waste)
- Shorter delivery time
- Limited fugitive aerosols
Soft mist
Electrospray produces a soft mist aerosol that can be easily inhaled.
Benefits:
- Higher lung deposition
- Inhalation without effort
- Fewer patient errors
monodispersed
Electrospray produces a monodisperse aerosol, with high particle size precision.
Benefits:
- Higher lung deposition
- Lower drug dose possible
- More precise targeting in the respiratory tract
Smart
Automated monitoring with feedbacks and reminders to the patient from both the inhaler and mobile app.
Benefits:
- Improved compliance & adherence
- Better coordinated care
- Fewer errors
Want to keep up-to-date with Gilbert?
Our roadmap
Gilbert has been making substantial progress in the development of it’s company and technology over the last few years. A clear roadmap has been defined for the next coming years, to deliver several drug-delivery combinations for the Gilbert Smart Precision Inhaler.
The unique IP of Gilbert
Gilbert considers strong intellectual property to be a cornerstone of its business, and strives, on an ongoing basis, to ensure both freedom to operate and robust and enduring patent protection for its technologies and products in the major markets.
To that end, Gilbert has a portfolio of both issued and pending patents with validity extending as far as 2040 should all pending patents issue.
Redefining treatment for lung patients.
Interested in the Smart Precision Inhaler?