Valved holding chamber for use with an aerosol medication delivery system
First Claim
1. A valved holding chamber comprising:
- (a) a housing having a first end portion, a second end portion, and a chamber defined in the housing, wherein a first chamber opening is defined in the first end portion and a second chamber opening is defined in the second end portion;
(b) a mouthpiece having a first end portion coupled to the first end portion of the housing and a second end portion; and
(c) a valve assembly operatively coupled to the first end portion of the housing, the first end portion of mouthpiece, or both such that fluid flow in a first direction from the housing to the mouthpiece passes through the valve assembly, wherein the valve assembly comprises;
(1) a conical flange having a first end portion operatively coupled to the housing, the mouthpiece, or both and a second end portion, wherein the conical flange is disposed such that the conical flange tapers in the first direction, and (2) a one-way valve element disposed at the second end portion of the conical flange.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention pertains to a valved holding chamber suitable for use in an aerosol medication delivery system. The valved holding chamber includes a housing and a mouthpiece coupled to the housing. A one-way valve assembly is coupled to the housing, the mouthpiece, or both so that fluid flows in a first direction from the housing to the mouthpiece passes through the valve assembly but does not pass back into the housing. The valve assembly includes a conical flange disposed such that the conical flange tapers in the first direction to smooth the fluid flow in the first direction toward the patient. In a further embodiment, the mouthpiece includes an exhaust port defined in a conical collar portion of the mouthpiece, and an exhaust valve element is disposed over the exhaust port to provide a one-way flow of fluid from within the mouthpiece to ambient atmosphere via the exhaust port.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A valved holding chamber comprising:
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(a) a housing having a first end portion, a second end portion, and a chamber defined in the housing, wherein a first chamber opening is defined in the first end portion and a second chamber opening is defined in the second end portion;
(b) a mouthpiece having a first end portion coupled to the first end portion of the housing and a second end portion; and
(c) a valve assembly operatively coupled to the first end portion of the housing, the first end portion of mouthpiece, or both such that fluid flow in a first direction from the housing to the mouthpiece passes through the valve assembly, wherein the valve assembly comprises;
(1) a conical flange having a first end portion operatively coupled to the housing, the mouthpiece, or both and a second end portion, wherein the conical flange is disposed such that the conical flange tapers in the first direction, and (2) a one-way valve element disposed at the second end portion of the conical flange. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An aerosol medication delivery system comprising:
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(a) a canister adapted to dispense a medicine;
(b) a canister holder adapted to couple to the canister; and
(c) a valved holding chamber coupled to an end of the canister holder comprising;
(1) a housing having a first end portion, a second end portion coupled to an end portion of the canister holder, and a chamber defined in the housing, wherein a first chamber opening is defined in the first end portion and a second chamber opening is defined in the second end portion;
(2) a mouthpiece having a first end portion coupled to the first end portion of the housing and a second end portion; and
(3) a valve assembly operatively coupled to the first end portion of the housing, the first end portion of the mouthpiece, or both such that fluid flow in a first direction from the housing to the mouthpiece passes through the valve assembly, wherein the valve assembly comprises;
(i) a conical flange having a first end portion operatively coupled to the housing, the mouthpiece, or both and a second end portion, wherein the conical flange is disposed such that the conical flange tapers in the first direction, and (ii) a one-way valve element disposed as the second end portion of the conical flange. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A valved holding chamber comprising:
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(a) a housing having a first end portion, a second end portion, and a chamber defined in the housing, wherein a first chamber opening is defined in the first end portion and a second chamber opening is defined in the second end portion;
(b) a mouthpiece having a conical collar coupled to the first end portion of the housing and a second end portion, wherein an exhaust port is defined in the conical collar;
(c) an exhaust valve element disposed over the exhaust port so as to provide a one-way flow of fluid from within the mouthpiece to ambient atmosphere;
(d) a one-way valve operatively coupled to the housing, the mouthpiece, or both such that fluid flow in a first direction from the housing to the mouthpiece passes through the valve assembly; and
(e) an exhaust valve ring disposed over the conical collar, and wherein the exhaust valve element is coupled to the exhaust valve ring. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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Specification