Inhalation device and method
First Claim
1. An inhalation device to deliver a pre-selected dose of medication to a user, the inhalation device comprising:
- an enclosure having an inhalation tube, the inhalation tube having an inlet end and an outlet end;
a medication dispenser coupled to the enclosure, with the dispenser in communication with the inhalation tube;
a sensor mounted in the enclosure with at least a portion extending into the inhalation tube, the sensor having a characteristic of bending in proportion to speed of gas flowing in a given direction within the inhalation tube; and
an electrical circuit coupled to the sensor and medication dispenser, with the electrical circuit configured to trigger the medication dispenser, upon receipt of a signal from the sensor at a predetermined gas flow speed in the inhalation tube, wherein a dose of medication is expelled into the inhalation tube.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An inhalation device and method to deliver a pre-selected dose of medication to a user. The inhalation device comprises an enclosure having an inhalation tube. The inhalation tube has an inlet end and an outlet end. A medication dispenser is coupled to the enclosure and is in communication with the inhalation tube. A sensor is mounted in the enclosure with at least a portion of the sensor extending into the inhalation tube. The sensor has a characteristic of responding in proportion to speed of gas flowing in a given direction within the inhalation tube. An electrical circuit is coupled to the sensor and medication dispenser and is configured to trigger the medication dispenser wherein a dose of medication is expelled into the inhalation tube upon receipt of a signal from the sensor at a predetermined gas flow speed in the inhalation tube.
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Citations
36 Claims
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1. An inhalation device to deliver a pre-selected dose of medication to a user, the inhalation device comprising:
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an enclosure having an inhalation tube, the inhalation tube having an inlet end and an outlet end;
a medication dispenser coupled to the enclosure, with the dispenser in communication with the inhalation tube;
a sensor mounted in the enclosure with at least a portion extending into the inhalation tube, the sensor having a characteristic of bending in proportion to speed of gas flowing in a given direction within the inhalation tube; and
an electrical circuit coupled to the sensor and medication dispenser, with the electrical circuit configured to trigger the medication dispenser, upon receipt of a signal from the sensor at a predetermined gas flow speed in the inhalation tube, wherein a dose of medication is expelled into the inhalation tube. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An inhalation device to deliver a pre-selected dose of medication to a user, the inhalation device comprising:
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an enclosure having an inhalation tube, the inhalation tube having an inlet end and an outlet end;
a medication dispenser coupled to the enclosure and in communication with the inhalation tube;
a sensor mounted in the enclosure with at least a portion extending into the inhalation tube, the sensor having a characteristic of bending in proportion to speed of gas flowing in a given direction within the inhalation tube;
an electrical circuit coupled to the sensor and medication dispenser; and
a thermal compensator mounted in the enclosure with at least a portion extending into the inhalation tube and coupled to the electrical circuit to sense temperature and humidity of gas flowing in the inhalation tube, with the electrical circuit configured to trigger the medication dispenser upon receipt of a signal from the sensor at a predetermined gas flow speed has been reached in the inhalation tube, wherein a dose of medication is expelled into the inhalation tube. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A method of medication delivery, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing an inhalation device having an inhalation tube;
mounting a sensor in the inhalation device with at least a portion of the sensor extending into the inhalation tube, the sensor having a characteristic of bending in proportion to speed of gas flowing in a given direction within the inhalation tube;
mounting a medication dispenser in the inhalation device, the dispenser in communication with the inhalation tube;
mounting an electrical circuit in the inhalation device and coupling the circuit to the sensor and medication dispenser;
configuring the electrical circuit to trigger the medication dispenser upon receipt of a signal from the sensor at a predetermined gas flow speed in the inhalation tube; and
expelling a dose of the medication into the inhalation tube in response to the signal. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification