Flow indicator

• US 20030159694A1
• Filed: 02/21/2003
• Published: 08/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FYNE Dynamics Limited
• Original Assignee: FYNE Dynamics Limited
• Inventors: McNaughton, John Peter
• Granted Patent: US 6,823,862 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/203.12
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/087 Measuring breath flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/00 Inhalators drug delivery in endotracheal tubes A61M16/04
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/18 for improving respiratory function

Abstract

A flow indicator (F) for an inhaler (I) comprises a housing (1) defining a mouthpiece (M2), an inlet (2) for connection to the product-dispensing chamber of the inhaler, a chamber (3) positioned between the inlet and the mouthpiece of the indicator, and an indicator member (4) movably mounted in the chamber in such a manner that inhalation at the mouthpiece of the indicator causes the indicator member to move within the chamber. The indicator member (4) is so mounted as to co-operate with a switch member (6, 9) associated with the housing (1) to provide an indication when inhalation is at an optimum rate for a given inhaler attached to the inlet (2).

Claims

1. A flow indicator for an inhaler, the flow indicator comprising a housing defining a mouthpiece, an inlet for connection to the product-dispensing chamber of an inhaler, a chamber positioned between the inlet and the mouthpiece of the indicator, and an indicator member movably mounted in the chamber in such a manner that inhalation at the mouthpiece of the indicator causes the indicator member to move within the chamber, the indicator member being so mounted as to co-operate with a switch member associated with the housing to provide an indication when inhalation is at an optimum rate for a given inhaler attached to the inlet.

2. A flow indicator as claimed in claim 1, wherein a vane pivotally mounted within the chamber constitutes the indicator member.

3. A flow indicator as claimed in claim 2, wherein the vane carries a magnet, and the switch member is a magnetic reed switch, the magnet and the reed switch constituting a magnetic switch.

4. A flow indicator as claimed in claim 3, further comprising an electrical circuit including the magnetic switch and a transducer.

5. A flow indicator as claimed in claim 4, wherein the transducer is an LED.

6. A flow indicator as claimed in claim 4, wherein the electrical circuit includes a battery.

7. A flow indicator as claimed in claim 2, wherein the vane carries a magnet, and the switch member is constituted by a plurality of magnetic reed switches attached to the housing, a first reed switch being mounted so as to be aligned with the magnet when inhalation is at said optimum rate, the other reed switches being positioned on opposite sides of said first reed switch to indicate to the user when the inhalation rate is lower or higher than said optimum rate, the magnet and any one of the reed switches constituting a magnetic switch.

8. A flow indicator as claimed in claim 7, further comprising an electrical circuit including the magnetic switch and a transducer.

9. A flow indicator as claimed in claim 8, wherein the transducer is an LED.

10. A flow indicator as claimed in claim 8, wherein the electrical circuit includes a battery.

11. A flow indicator as claimed in claim 2, wherein the vane carries a counterweight which is positioned on the opposite side of the pivot to the magnet.

12. A flow indicator as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a spring for biasing the vane away from the position indicating an optimum inhalation rate and towards the inlet.

13. A flow indicator as claimed in claim 12, wherein the spring has a predetermined spring rating adapted to the optimum inhalation rate for a given user.

14. A flow indicator as claimed in claim 13, wherein the spring is chosen from a plurality of springs, each of which has a different spring rating adapted to the optimum inhalation rate of a different user.

15. A flow indicator as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an adaptor for connecting its inlet to the mouthpiece of an inhaler.