Inhalation apparatus

• US 20050252509A1
• Filed: 05/14/2004
• Published: 11/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SunMed Group Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: Carefusion 2200 Corporation (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Rustad, Andre, Simas, Rob
• Granted Patent: US 7,721,734 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/203.120
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/00 Sprayers or atomisers specially adapted for therapeutic purposes in general B05B; aerosol containers B65D83/14
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/00 Inhalators drug delivery in endotracheal tubes A61M16/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/08 Bellows; Connecting tubes having means for taking samples G01N1/22; Water traps; Patient circuits
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0833 T- or Y-type connectors, e.g. Y-piece

Abstract

A respiratory circuit inhalation apparatus is adapted to communicate a fluid stream between at least one air source and a patient and is formed with at least one central body portion defining an interior fluid stream communication passageway. An integrally formed dual function mouthpiece and effluent port projects from an end of the central body to communicate the fluid stream between the air source and a portion of the respiratory circuit that can lead to the patient or other components of the respiratory circuit. An integrally formed ambient fluid port is also formed as part of the inhalation apparatus that projects from the central body portion opposite to the dual function port. As with the other ports, the ambient fluid port also communicates the fluid stream between the interior fluid passageway and the at least one air source. The preferred inhalation apparatus also further includes a medication port that is formed about the central body portion and which includes a baffle or baffle portion that projects into and terminates within the interior fluid passageway. The terminus orifice and exit plane of the baffle preferably projects and terminates within the interior fluid passageway beyond the surface thereof so that liquids pooled within the passageway can be retained therein without draining into the medication port. Any or all of the various ports can be configured to be compatible for use with industry preferred respiratory circuit components and rigid and deformable 22 millimeter tubes.

Claims

1. A respiratory circuit inhalation apparatus for communicating a fluid stream between at least one air source and a patient, comprising:

a central body portion that defines an interior fluid passageway that communicates the fluid stream;

an integrally formed mouthpiece projecting from an end of the central body and that communicates the fluid stream between a mouth of the patient and the at least one air source;

an integrally formed ambient fluid port with and projecting from the central body portion substantially opposite to the mouthpiece to communicate the fluid stream between the interior fluid passageway and the at least one air source; and

a medication port formed about the central body portion having a baffle portion projecting into the interior fluid passageway.

2. The respiratory circuit inhalation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the mouthpiece is formed with a profile that substantially conforms to a preferred patient mouth profile.

3. The respiratory circuit inhalation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the mouthpiece is formed with a profile that is defined to have a periphery adapted to telescopically receive a deformable ASTM-type 22 millimeter respiratory circuit tube.

4. The respiratory circuit inhalation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the medication port is adapted to be telescopically connected to a medication dispenser selected from the group that includes a nebulizer, an aerosol dispenser, a medication source, and a metered dose inhaler.

5. The respiratory circuit inhalation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the baffle portion is adapted with an exit orifice that projects into and terminates substantially centrally in the interior fluid passageway.

6. The respiratory circuit inhalation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the baffle portion is adapted with an exit orifice that projects into and terminates in the interior fluid passageway a distance that is between approximately 1/3 and ½

of the average diameter of the interior fluid passageway.

7. The respiratory circuit inhalation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the central body portion generally tapers in the direction of and to the mouthpiece, whereby an exit plane of the mouthpiece defines a cross-sectional area that is less than cross-sectional areas of respective exit planes of the ambient fluid and medication ports.

8. The respiratory circuit inhalation apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the central body portion has tapering narcelles.

9. A respiratory circuit inhalation apparatus for communicating a fluid stream between at least one air source and a patient, comprising:

a central body portion that communicates the fluid stream through an interiorly defined fluid passageway;

an integrally formed effluent piece that projects from an end of the central body and that communicates the fluid stream between the at least one air source and a portion of the respiratory circuit leading to the patient;

an integrally formed ambient fluid port with and projecting from the central body portion substantially opposite to the effluent piece and that is adapted to communicate the fluid stream between the interior fluid passageway and the at least one air source; and

a medication port formed about the central body portion and having a baffle portion projecting into the interior fluid passageway and that is adapted with a baffle exit orifice that terminates in the interior fluid passageway a distance that is between approximately 1/3 and ½

of the average diameter of the interior fluid passageway.

10. The respiratory circuit inhalation apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the effluent piece is formed with a profile that substantially conforms to a preferred patient mouth profile and a predetermined ASTM-type profile of deformable respiratory circuit tube.

11. The respiratory circuit inhalation apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the effluent piece is formed with a profile that is defined to have a periphery adapted to telescopically receive a deformable ASTM-type 22 millimeter respiratory circuit tube.

12. The respiratory circuit inhalation apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the medication port is adapted to be telescopically connected to a medication dispenser selected from the group that includes a nebulizer, an aerosol dispenser, a medication source, and a metered dose inhaler.

13. The respiratory circuit inhalation apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the baffle portion is adapted with an exit orifice that projects into and terminates substantially centrally in the interior fluid passageway.

14. The respiratory circuit inhalation apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the interior fluid passageway generally tapers about the central body portion in the direction of and to the effluent piece and generally tapers laterally out towards the sides of the central body portion as it extends to and forms part of the effluent piece.

15. The respiratory circuit inhalation apparatus according to claim 14, whereby an exit plane of the effluent piece defines a cross-sectional area that is less than the cross-sectional areas of respective exit planes of the ambient fluid and medication ports.

16. A respiratory circuit inhalation apparatus for communicating a fluid stream between at least one air source and a patient, comprising:

a central body portion that defines an interior fluid passageway to communicate the fluid stream;

an integrally formed dual function port that projects from an end of the central body to communicate the fluid stream between the at least one air source and a portion of the respiratory circuit leading to the patient;

an integrally formed ambient fluid port with and projecting from the central body portion substantially opposite to the dual function port and being adapted to communicate the fluid stream between the interior fluid passageway and the at least one air source; and

a medication port formed about the central body portion and having a baffle portion projecting into the interior fluid passageway beyond the surface of the passageway.

17. The respiratory circuit inhalation apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the dual function port is formed with a profile that substantially conforms to a preferred patient mouth profile and a predetermined ASTM-type profile of deformable respiratory circuit tube.

18. The respiratory circuit inhalation apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the dual function port is formed with a profile that is defined to have a periphery adapted to telescopically receive a deformable ASTM-type 22 millimeter respiratory circuit tube.

19. The respiratory circuit inhalation apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the medication port is adapted to be telescopically connected to medication dispenser selected from the group that includes a nebulizer, an aerosol dispenser, a medication source, and a metered dose inhaler.

20. The respiratory circuit inhalation apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the baffle portion is adapted with an exit orifice that projects into and terminates substantially centrally in the interior fluid passageway.

21. The respiratory circuit inhalation apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the baffle portion is adapted with an exit orifice that projects into and terminates in the interior fluid passageway a distance that is between approximately 1/3 and ½

of the average diameter of the interior fluid passageway.

22. The respiratory circuit inhalation apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the interior fluid passageway generally tapers about the central body portion in the direction of and to the dual function port, whereby an exit plane of the dual function port defines a cross-sectional area that is less than the sum of the cross-sectional areas of respective exit planes of the ambient fluid and medication ports.

23. The respiratory circuit inhalation apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the central body portion generally tapers in the direction of and to the dual function port, wherein the central body portion has tapering narcelles.