Visual indicator for an aerosol medication delivery apparatus and system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A delivery system comprising:
- a chamber that contains a substance in an interior volume of space formed within said chamber;
an opening that receives said substance located in said volume of space and introduces said substance to a downstream path upon which said substance primarily flows along;
an interface that receives said substance from said opening, said interface comprising a viewing port that prevents substantially non-ambient atmosphere gases and substances from escaping therefrom and allows visualization of an internal portion of said interface; and
a flow indicator that is positioned within said interface so as to be viewed via said viewing port and is positioned so as to not substantially interfere with a flow of said substance along said path.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A flow indicating system that includes a conduit that contains a substance, wherein the conduit defines a path along which the substance primarily flows and a viewing port attached to the conduit and the viewing port prevents substantially non-ambient atmosphere gases and substances from escaping therefrom and allows visualization of an internal space defined by the viewing port. A flow indicator that is positioned within the conduit so as to be viewed via the viewing port and is positioned so as to not to substantially interfere with a flow of the substance along the path.
66 Citations
50 Claims
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1. A delivery system comprising:
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a chamber that contains a substance in an interior volume of space formed within said chamber;
an opening that receives said substance located in said volume of space and introduces said substance to a downstream path upon which said substance primarily flows along;
an interface that receives said substance from said opening, said interface comprising a viewing port that prevents substantially non-ambient atmosphere gases and substances from escaping therefrom and allows visualization of an internal portion of said interface; and
a flow indicator that is positioned within said interface so as to be viewed via said viewing port and is positioned so as to not substantially interfere with a flow of said substance along said path. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A delivery system comprising:
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a chamber means for introducing a substance to a downstream path upon which said substance primarily flows;
an interface means for receiving said substance from said chamber means, said interface means comprising a viewing port means for allowing visualization of an internal portion of said interface means; and
a flow indicator means for being viewed and for not substantially interfering with a flow of said substance along said path. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method of determining whether a patient is inhaling or exhaling when using a delivery system, said method comprising:
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dispensing a substance located within an interior volume of a delivery system so that said substance will primarily flow along a path within said delivery system after being dispensed;
observing a position of a flow indicator located within said delivery system and located so as not to substantially interfere with said substance flowing along said path; and
determining whether a user of said delivery system is inhaling from said delivery system based on said observed position of said flow indicator.
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28. A flow indicating system comprising:
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a conduit adapted to contain a substance, wherein said conduit defines a flow path along which the substance is adapted to primarily flow;
a viewing port connected to said conduit, said viewing port adapted to prevent substantially non-ambient atmosphere gases and substances from escaping therefrom, wherein said viewing port allows visualization of an internal space defined by said viewing port; and
a flow indicator positioned within and visible through said viewing port, wherein said flow indicator is positioned substantially outside of said flow path. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A delivery system comprising:
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a chamber having an interior volume of space formed within said chamber and an opening communicating with said interior volume and defining at least in part a flow path;
an interface communicating with said opening;
a viewing port connected to at least one of said interface and said chamber, wherein at least a portion of said viewing port is see-through; and
a flow indicator positioned within said viewing port and visible through said see-through portion of said viewing port, wherein said flow indicator is positioned substantially outside of said flow path and is moveable between at least an at-rest position and an inhalation position in response to an inhalation pressure being applied thereto, wherein said flow indicator is biased toward said at-rest position in the absence of the inhalation pressure. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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Specification