Flow measuring apparatus and inhalation apparatus comprising the same
First Claim
1. An inhalation apparatus comprising an inhalation chamber and a flow measuring apparatus in a section of the inhalation apparatus, the inhalation chamber receiving a metered-dose inhaler, and comprising a valve opposed to the metered-dose inhaler, the flow measuring apparatus for measuring a flow rate of gas comprising an aerosol through the section of the inhalation apparatus, the flow measuring apparatus comprising:
- a set of Pitot tubes only in a single longitudinal axis traversing a lumen of the inhalation apparatus and comprising a first Pitot tube longitudinally aligned with and contacting a second Pitot tube,said set of Pitot tubes traversing entirely the lumen of said section of the inhalation apparatus only in the single longitudinal axis;
said first and second Pitot tube being respectively fluidly connected to a differential pressure sensor, for measuring a difference between a stagnation pressure and a static pressure within said flow measuring apparatus;
said first Pitot tube comprising at least one opening facing a direction of said flow; and
said second Pitot tube comprising at least one opening facing a direction opposed to said flow;
wherein the set of Pitot tubes is in the section of the inhalation apparatus which is located downstream of the inhalation chamber, adjacent to the valve to measure the flow rate of the gas comprising the aerosol through the valve between the inhalation chamber and a mouthpiece, wherein the valve is a duckbill valve and defines a plane of a laminar flow for the flow of the gas comprising the aerosol, and the set of Pitot tubes crosses the flow of the gas comprising the aerosol with the single longitudinal axis thereof being perpendicular to the plane.
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Abstract
The present document describes a flow measuring apparatus for measuring the air flow through a section of an inhalation apparatus, and for measuring the drug delivery by inhalation using an inhalation apparatus. The flow measuring apparatus comprises a set of Pitot tubes configured for traversing entirely the lumen of the section of an inhalation apparatus. The set of Pitot tubes comprises a first and second Pitot tube which are respectively fluidly connected to a differential pressure sensor, for measuring a difference between a stagnation pressure and a static pressure within the flow measuring apparatus.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An inhalation apparatus comprising an inhalation chamber and a flow measuring apparatus in a section of the inhalation apparatus, the inhalation chamber receiving a metered-dose inhaler, and comprising a valve opposed to the metered-dose inhaler, the flow measuring apparatus for measuring a flow rate of gas comprising an aerosol through the section of the inhalation apparatus, the flow measuring apparatus comprising:
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a set of Pitot tubes only in a single longitudinal axis traversing a lumen of the inhalation apparatus and comprising a first Pitot tube longitudinally aligned with and contacting a second Pitot tube, said set of Pitot tubes traversing entirely the lumen of said section of the inhalation apparatus only in the single longitudinal axis; said first and second Pitot tube being respectively fluidly connected to a differential pressure sensor, for measuring a difference between a stagnation pressure and a static pressure within said flow measuring apparatus; said first Pitot tube comprising at least one opening facing a direction of said flow; and said second Pitot tube comprising at least one opening facing a direction opposed to said flow; wherein the set of Pitot tubes is in the section of the inhalation apparatus which is located downstream of the inhalation chamber, adjacent to the valve to measure the flow rate of the gas comprising the aerosol through the valve between the inhalation chamber and a mouthpiece, wherein the valve is a duckbill valve and defines a plane of a laminar flow for the flow of the gas comprising the aerosol, and the set of Pitot tubes crosses the flow of the gas comprising the aerosol with the single longitudinal axis thereof being perpendicular to the plane. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
a first end to be connected to a source of drug to be administered by inhalation to a user, and a second end to be connected to said user; the flow measuring apparatus being for measuring flow of said drug within said section of said inhalation apparatus.
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14. The inhalation apparatus of claim 13, wherein said second end is the mouthpiece or a tube to be connected to a face mask.
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15. The inhalation apparatus of claim 13, wherein the inhalation chamber comprises the valve which is upstream of said second end, allowing passage of said flow from said inhalation chamber to said second end.
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16. The inhalation apparatus of claim 15, wherein said valve is a one-way inhalation valve.
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17. The inhalation apparatus of claim 13, wherein said second end further comprises an expiratory valve.
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18. The inhalation apparatus of claim 17, wherein said second end further comprises a tubular portion.
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19. The inhalation apparatus of claim 1, wherein the inhalation apparatus comprises the mouthpiece, downstream of the inhalation chamber, and the set of Pitot tubes traverses entirely a lumen of said mouthpiece only in the single longitudinal axis.
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20. The inhalation apparatus of claim 19, wherein the duckbill valve is at an end of the inhalation chamber and extends toward the mouthpiece.
Specification