PRE-FILLED, SMALL-VOLUME NEBULIZER

• US 20080283050A1
• Filed: 05/15/2007
• Published: 11/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caddo Medical Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: Caddo Medical Products LLC
• Inventors: FARAM, Joseph Dee
• Granted Patent: US 9,849,254 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/200.21
• 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 11/002 by flow deviation causing inertial separation of transported particles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/02 operated by air or other gas pressure applied to the liquid or other product to be sprayed or atomised sprayers for horticulture A01G, A01H; killing insects A01M; air humidifying by nozzles F24F6/14, F24F6/18; cooling by spraying F28B, F28C
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/06 of the injector type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0003 with means for dispensing more than one drug
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0016 located downstream of the dispenser, i.e. traversed by the product
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/004 with fixed piercing or cutting means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/123 with incorporated reservoirs

Abstract

The invention relates to a small-volume nebulizer that is pre-filled with at least one unit-dose of medicine and hermetically sealed until use. The nebulizer may be sealed at the top with a removable cap that may be detached at the time of use and replaced with a patient connector. Likewise, the nebulizer may be sealed at the bottom with a bottom cap that is replaced with a gas source at the beginning of a therapeutic aerosol treatment.

Claims

1. A pre-filled, small-volume nebulizer comprising:

a nebulizer body;

an outlet opening;

a first cap removably engaged with said outlet opening;

an inlet opening;

a second cap removably engaged with said inlet opening;

a unit-dose of medication contained within said nebulizer body.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a means for preventing egress of said unit-dose of medication through said inlet opening.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said medication is a first component of a multi-component medication, further including a first compartment containing a second component of said multi-component medication.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising one or more labels identifying said unit dose of medication.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a means of preventing retrograde movement into said nebulizer housing.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of said unit-doses of medication.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising unit-dose completion demarcation marks.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first cap is comprised of a piercable seal.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said outlet port is cylindrical.

10. A small-volume, pre-filled nebulizer comprising:

a nebulizer body;

an outlet opening;

a first cap removably engaged with said outlet opening;

an inlet opening;

a second cap removably engaged with said inlet opening;

a plurality of unit-doses of medication contained within said nebulizer body.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, further including a means for preventing egress of said unit-dose of medication through said inlet opening.

12. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said plurality of unit-doses of medication are a plurality of first components of a multi-component medication, further including a first compartment containing a plurality of unit-doses of a second component of said multi-component medication

13. The apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising one or more labels identifying said plurality of unit-doses of medication.

14. The apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising a means of preventing retrograde movement into said nebulizer housing.

15. The apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising unit-dose completion demarcation marks.

16. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said first cap is comprised of a piercable seal.

17. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said outlet port is cylindrical.

18. A method of administering aerosolized medicine utilizing a small-volume nebulizer pre-filled with medicine comprising the steps of:

providing said nebulizer, pre-filled with at least one unit-dose of medicine;

removing an outlet cap removably engaged with said nebulizer;

replacing said outlet cap with a patient interface;

removing an inlet cap removably engaged with said nebulizer;

connecting a source of gas under pressure to said nebulizer;

delivering aerosolized medicine to a patient.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the medicine to be administered has been prescribed, further comprising the steps of:

observing a medication label affixed to said nebulizer which identifies a medicine contained within said nebulizer;

verifying that the medicine identified in the medication label agrees with said prescribed medicine.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein said nebulizer further comprises pre-filled first and second compartments containing first and second components of a multi-component medicine, further comprising the step of breaking open at least said first compartment to cause mixing of said first and second components of a multi-component medicine.