Adaptors for inhalers to improve performance

• US 20030041859A1
• Filed: 09/06/2002
• Published: 03/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MicroDose Therapeutx, Inc. (Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Limited)
• Original Assignee: Microdose Technologies Inc. (Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, Ltd.)
• Inventors: Gumaste, Anand V., Abrams, Andrew L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,343,914 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/200.22
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0086 Inhalation chambers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/101 using an oxygen concentrator
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0015 inhalation detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/43 making noise when used correctly
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/581 by audible feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/583 by visual feedback

Abstract

A child-sized adaptor for a DPI or MDI is provided. Also provided is a patient feedback mechanism for signaling and/or teaching proper inhaler use.

Claims

1. A mouthpiece adaptor for an inhaler comprising:

a connecting side for connecting to a mouthpiece of an inhaler;

a mouthpiece side of reduced size relative to the inhaler mouthpiece; and

a transition section between said connecting side and mouthpiece side.

2. The adaptor of claim 1, further comprising attachment means for fixing the mouthpiece adaptor to the mouthpiece of an inhaler.

3. The adaptor of claim 2, wherein said attachment means is a clamp.

4. The adaptor of claim 1, wherein said inhaler is a dry powder inhaler.

5. The adaptor of claim 1, wherein said inhaler is a metered dose inhaler.

6. The adaptor of claim 2, wherein the attachment means employs a friction fit.

7. The adaptor of claim 1, wherein the connecting section is funnel shaped.

8. The adaptor of claim 3, wherein the mouthpiece side is round in cross-section.

9. The adaptor of claim 3, wherein the connecting section is covered, at least in part, by a foil.

10. The adaptor of claim 2, wherein said attachment means is a rubber band.

11. The adaptor of claim 1, wherein the transition section is curved.

12. The adaptor of claim 11, wherein said transition section is airfoil shaped, in part.

13. The adaptor of claim 1, wherein said adaptor includes a flow sensor.

14. The adaptor of claim 13, further comprising a noise generator operatively connected to said flow sensor.

15. The adaptor of claim 13, further comprising one or more lights operatively connected to said flow sensor.

16. An inhaler for delivering medication to the respiratory tract comprising a flow sensor for sensing the rate of inhalation and a feedback mechanism to transmit this information to the patient.

17. The patient feedback mechanism according to claim 16 is acoustic, visual or light in nature.