Aerosol enhancement device

• US 20020121275A1
• Filed: 05/15/2001
• Published: 09/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Clinical Technology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Clinical Technology Incorporated
• Inventors: Johnson, Robert, DuBose, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 7,204,245 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/200.22
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0015 located upstream of the dispenser, i.e. not traversed by the product
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0016 located downstream of the dispenser, i.e. traversed by the product
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0018 with exhalation check valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0086 Inhalation chambers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0093 by adsorption, absorption or filtration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0808 Condensation traps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/1055 bacterial
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/1065 in the expiratory path
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2206/16 Rotating swirling helical flow, e.g. by tangential inflows

Abstract

An aerosol medication delivery apparatus includes a fixed volume holding chamber which is constructed to allow for a uniformly mixed, concentrated bolus of medicated aerosol to be delivered with each breath. The device further includes a universal inlet, so that any standard small volume nebulizer, as well as any standard metered dose inhaler (MDI), may be utilized therewith. Also filtration can be added to address contaminated patient air and aerosol. A one-way valve is positioned in the patient mouthpiece, to help control the loss of aerosol, and thereby reduce waste.

Claims

1. An aerosol enhancement device, comprising:

a mouthpiece;

a spacer member fluidly attached to said mouthpiece, said spacer member having interior walls which define an interior volume, said interior volume comprising a mixing chamber;

an inlet port disposed in said spacer member for receiving a medicated aerosol from an exterior source into said mixing chamber; and

an air inlet port disposed in said spacer member for receiving air into said air passage;

wherein the mixing chamber is generally octagonal in configuration.

2. The aerosol enhancement device as recited in claim 1, and further comprising an exhaust port in said mouthpiece.

3. The aerosol enhancement device as recited in claim 2, and further comprising a one-way valve in said exhaust port.

4. The aerosol enhancement device as recited in claim 3, wherein said one-way valve comprises a flap valve.

5. The aerosol enhancement device as recited in claim 2, and further comprising an exhalation filter in said exhaust port.

6. The aerosol enhancement device as recited in claim 1, and further comprising a one-way valve disposed in said air inlet port.

7. The aerosol enhancement device as recited in claim 1, and further comprising an adapter disposed in said medicated aerosol inlet port, said adapter comprising a universal fitting which is capable of attaching said spacer member to either a nebulizer or a metered dose inhaler (MDI).

8. The aerosol enhancement device as recited in claim 7, wherein said adapter is reversible, being disposable in a first orientation for attachment of said spacer member to a nebulizer, and being disposable in a second orientation for attachment of said spacer member to an MDI.

9. The aerosol enhancement device as recited in claim 1, wherein the medicated aerosol inlet port and the air inlet port are interchangeable.

10. An aerosol enhancement device, comprising:

a mouthpiece;

a spacer member fluidly attached to said mouthpiece via a mouthpiece port, said spacer member having an outer body which defines an interior volume;

an inlet port disposed in said spacer member for receiving a medicated aerosol from an exterior source into said interior volume; and

an adapter associated with said medicated aerosol inlet port, said adapter comprising a universal fitting which is capable of attaching said spacer member to either a nebulizer or a metered dose inhaler (MDI).

11. The aerosol enhancement device as recited in claim 10, wherein said adapter is reversible, being disposable in a first orientation for attachment of said spacer member to a nebulizer, and being disposable in a second orientation for attachment of said spacer member to an MDI.

12. The aerosol enhancement device as recited in claim 11, wherein said adapter comprises a first rigid connector end and a second flexible connector end, said first rigid connector end being adapted for attachment to a nebulizer and said second flexible connector end being adapted for attachment to an MDI.

13. The aerosol enhancement device as recited in claim 12, said adapter further comprising a flange portion for engaging said adapter with said spacer member.

15. The aerosol enhancement device as recited in claim 14, wherein said valve seat comprises a grid structure.

16. The aerosol enhancement device as recited in claim 15, and further comprising a pin for attaching said flap valve to said valve seat at one end thereof.

17. The aerosol enhancement device as recited in claim 15, and further comprising an exhalation filter disposed in said third port.

18. The aerosol enhancement device as recited in claim 15, wherein said flap valve is fabricated of a pliable plastic material.

20. The spacer member as recited in claim 19, wherein said exterior source of medicated aerosol comprises a nebulizer and said air inlet port is opposed to said outlet port, so that air entering said mixing chamber flows axially through said mixing chamber to said outlet port, said medicated aerosol inlet port being transversely oriented relative to said air inlet port and said outlet port, so that medicated aerosol entering said mixing chamber is entrained in the air flowing from said air inlet port to said outlet port.

14. An aerosol enhancement device, comprising:

a mouthpiece having a first port for fluid communication with a patient'"'"'s mouth, a second port which is open to atmosphere, and a third port, wherein an airway fluidly communicates with each of said first, second, and third ports;

a medication dispenser attached to said third port; and

a one-way flap valve disposed in said second port, said one-way flap valve including a valve seat for receiving said flap valve and preventing the flap valve from entering said airway.

19. A spacer member usable with a mouthpiece, for dispensing medicated aerosol to a patient, said spacer member comprising:

an outer body which defines an interior volume, said interior volume comprising a mixing chamber;

an inlet port disposed in said spacer member for receiving a medicated aerosol from an exterior source into said mixing chamber;

an air inlet port disposed in said spacer member for receiving air into said mixing chamber; and

an outlet port for dispensing a mixture of said medicated aerosol and inlet air from said mixing chamber into said mouthpiece; and

a one-way valve disposed in said air inlet port.