Metered dose inhaler
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A metered dose inhaler comprising:
- an ejection mechanism including at least one vaporization chamber configured to contain a medicament, the ejection mechanism being configured to selectively effect controlled ejection of medicament from the at least one vaporization chamber; and
a controller configured to selectively send electronic signals to the ejection mechanism to direct ejection of medicament from the at least one vaporization chamber, such electronic signals being selectively alterable to effect change in medicament dosage.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a metered dose inhaler including an ejection mechanism with at least one chamber for containing a medicament. The ejection mechanism is configured to effect controlled ejection of the medicament from the chamber. The inhaler further includes a controller configured to send electronic signals to the ejection mechanism to direct ejection of medicament from such chamber, and configured to selectively alter dosage of the medicament by selected changes in such electronic signal.
125 Citations
46 Claims
-
1. A metered dose inhaler comprising:
-
an ejection mechanism including at least one vaporization chamber configured to contain a medicament, the ejection mechanism being configured to selectively effect controlled ejection of medicament from the at least one vaporization chamber; and
a controller configured to selectively send electronic signals to the ejection mechanism to direct ejection of medicament from the at least one vaporization chamber, such electronic signals being selectively alterable to effect change in medicament dosage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A metered dose inhaler adapted to release a selectable quantity of an inhalant into a body of a user, the metered dose inhaler comprising:
-
a storage chamber containing an inhalant;
a plurality of ejection chambers, each in respective fluid communication with the storage chamber to accommodate charging of such ejection chambers with inhalant from the storage chamber, each ejection chamber further including at least one ejection element configured to selectively eject a charge of inhalant from within the ejection chamber upon receipt of an ejection signal; and
a controller adapted to receive a dosage directive, and to transmit ejection signals to the ejection elements to effect release of a prescribed dosage of inhalant via independently controlled ejection of charges of inhalant from such plurality of ejection chambers in a dosing event. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
-
-
30. A method of administering a medicament to a patient comprising:
-
providing a dosing directive indicative of a dosage of medicament;
charging at least one vaporization chamber with a charge of medicament so as to expose medicament to one or more vaporization elements contained within the at least one vaporization chamber;
selectively transmitting electronic signals to the one or more vaporization elements in accordance with the received dosing directive; and
upon receipt of the electronic signals, activating the vaporization elements so as to discharge vaporized droplets of medicament from the associated vaporization chambers to produce the dosage of medicament indicated by the dosing directive. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
-
-
43. A method of administering a dosage of a medicament to a patient, the method comprising:
-
exposing a volume of a medicament to a plurality of ejection elements;
selecting a nominal dosage of medicament to be ejected;
transmitting an ejection signal to at least one of the ejection elements, wherein the ejection signal is determined based on the selected nominal dosage; and
ejecting vaporized droplets of medicament from adjacent the ejection elements for respiration by the patient, dosage of medicament ejected being determined, at least in part, by frequency and quantity of ejection signals received by the ejection elements during a nominal dosage event. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45)
-
-
46. A metered dose inhaler comprising:
-
storage means for containing a supply of inhalant;
ejection means for accepting a charge of inhalant from the storage means, and upon receipt of an ejection signal, expelling such charge of inhalant as a vaporized droplet of inhalant; and
control means for selectively sending ejection signals to the ejection means to effect controlled ejection of vaporized droplets of inhalant, the control means being configured to accommodate modifications to dosage through alterations to the ejection signals.
-
Specification