Aerosolization system with flow restrictor and feedback device
First Claim
1. An aerosolization device for ensuring proper delivery of an aerosolized medication to a user'"'"'s respiratory system, the aerosolization device comprising:
- a conduit having a mouthpiece end by which a user may cause an inspiratory flow through the conduit;
an aerosol generator in communication with the conduit and comprising a vibratable mesh;
a restrictor disposed within the conduit, wherein the restrictor defines a plurality of apertures disposed along an outer periphery of the restrictor, the plurality of apertures being configured to;
provide an increase in pressure differential that varies with an inspiratory flow rate within the conduit; and
provide a relatively laminar flow downstream of the restrictor compared to upstream of the restrictor; and
an indicator mechanism that indicates to a user a state of a parameter of the inspiratory flow relative to a predefined desired range, wherein indicating to the user the state of the parameter of the inspiratory flow relative to the predefined desired range comprises;
the indicator mechanism providing a first indication when the parameter of the inspiratory flow is within the predefined desired range;
the indicator mechanism providing a second indication when the parameter of the inspiratory flow is within a predefined secondary range, wherein the predefined secondary range extends above and below the predefined desired range and is within an operating range of the aerosol generator; and
the indicator mechanism providing a third indication when the parameter of the inspiratory flow is outside of both the predefined desired range and the predefined secondary range.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In one aspect, embodiments of the present invention provide an aerosolization device for ensuring proper delivery of an aerosolized medication to a user'"'"'s respiratory system. The aerosolization device may include a conduit, an aerosol generator, a restrictor disposed within the conduit, and an indicator mechanism. The conduit may include a mouthpiece end by which a user may cause inspiratory flow through the conduit. The aerosol generator may include a vibratable mesh. The restrictor may define a plurality of apertures disposed along an outer periphery of the restrictor configured to provide an increase in pressure differential that varies with an inspiratory flow rate within the conduit and to provide a relatively laminar flow downstream of the restrictor compared to upstream of the restrictor. The indicator mechanism may indicate to a user a state of a parameter of the inspiratory flow relative to a predefined desired range.
110 Citations
14 Claims
-
1. An aerosolization device for ensuring proper delivery of an aerosolized medication to a user'"'"'s respiratory system, the aerosolization device comprising:
-
a conduit having a mouthpiece end by which a user may cause an inspiratory flow through the conduit; an aerosol generator in communication with the conduit and comprising a vibratable mesh; a restrictor disposed within the conduit, wherein the restrictor defines a plurality of apertures disposed along an outer periphery of the restrictor, the plurality of apertures being configured to; provide an increase in pressure differential that varies with an inspiratory flow rate within the conduit; and provide a relatively laminar flow downstream of the restrictor compared to upstream of the restrictor; and an indicator mechanism that indicates to a user a state of a parameter of the inspiratory flow relative to a predefined desired range, wherein indicating to the user the state of the parameter of the inspiratory flow relative to the predefined desired range comprises; the indicator mechanism providing a first indication when the parameter of the inspiratory flow is within the predefined desired range; the indicator mechanism providing a second indication when the parameter of the inspiratory flow is within a predefined secondary range, wherein the predefined secondary range extends above and below the predefined desired range and is within an operating range of the aerosol generator; and the indicator mechanism providing a third indication when the parameter of the inspiratory flow is outside of both the predefined desired range and the predefined secondary range. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. An aerosolization device for ensuring proper delivery of an aerosolized medication to a user'"'"'s respiratory system, the aerosolization device comprising:
-
a conduit having a mouthpiece end by which a user may cause an inspiratory flow through the conduit; an aerosol generator in communication with the conduit and comprising a vibratable mesh; a restrictor disposed within the conduit, wherein the restrictor defines a plurality of apertures disposed along an outer periphery of the restrictor, the plurality of apertures being configured to; provide an increase in pressure differential that varies with an inspiratory flow rate within the conduit; and provide a relatively laminar flow downstream of the restrictor compared to upstream of the restrictor; and an indicator mechanism that indicates to a user a state of a parameter of the inspiratory flow relative to a predefined desired range, wherein indicating to the user the state of the parameter of the inspiratory flow relative to the predefined desired range comprises; the indicator mechanism providing a first indication when the parameter of the inspiratory flow is within the predefined desired range; the indicator mechanism providing a second indication when the parameter of the inspiratory flow is within a predefined secondary range, wherein the predefined secondary range extends above and below the predefined desired range and is within an operating range of the aerosol generator; and the indicator mechanism providing a third indication when the parameter of the inspiratory flow is outside of both the predefined desired range and the predefined secondary range, wherein the vibratable mesh produces a plume of aerosolized medicament within the relatively laminar flow when the inspiratory flow rate is within an operating range of the aerosol device. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A method of delivering an aerosolized medication to a user'"'"'s respiratory system, the method comprising:
-
sensing a state of a flow parameter of an inspiratory flow within a conduit, the conduit having a mouthpiece end by which a user may cause the inspiratory flow within the conduit; providing an indication using an indicator mechanism of the state of the flow parameter relative to a predefined desired range, wherein providing an indication comprises; providing a first indication when the flow parameter is within the predefined desired range; providing a second indication when the flow parameter is within a predefined secondary range, wherein the predefined secondary range extends above and below the predefined desired range and is within an operating range of an aerosol generator; and providing a third indication when the flow parameter is outside both the predefined desired range and the predefined secondary range; and vibrating a mesh of the aerosol generator in communication with the conduit to aerosolize a volume of a liquid medicament to produce a plume of aerosolized medicament within the conduit when the state of the flow parameter is within a predefined desired range, wherein; the plume of aerosolized medicament is provided within a relatively laminar flow produced by a restrictor disposed within the conduit upstream of the plume of aerosolized medicament; the restrictor defines a plurality of apertures disposed around an outer periphery of the restrictor; and the plume of aerosolized medicament is carried by the relatively laminar flow toward the mouthpiece end of the conduit. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
-
Specification