Cool air inhaler and methods of treatment using same

• US 20090056716A1
• Filed: 09/04/2007
• Published: 03/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Atlantic Research Group, LLC
• Original Assignee: Atlantic Research Group, LLC
• Inventors: Carrier, Frank J.
• Application Number:
  US11/899,110
• Publication Number:
  US 20090056716A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/204.150
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/00 Inhalators drug delivery in endotracheal tubes A61M16/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/107 in the inspiratory path
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/1075 by influencing the temperature A61M16/1045 takes precedence

Abstract

An inhaler device and a method of treating various symptoms associated with the airway and/or throat and/or respiratory system of a patient. The device is particularly designed to reduce swelling and inflammation of the larynx and or upper respiratory track, such as swelling and/or inflammation that result from croup, laryngitis'"'"'s, laryngotracheobronchitis, and other diseases and conditions. In its method aspects, the present invention includes inhaling (or forcing manually or automatically) cool and/or moist air from the device to cause cool and/or moist air to enter the airways of the patient.

Claims

1. Inhaler apparatus, comprising:

an outer housing;

an inner housing adapted to be positioned in said outer housing such that said inner and outer housings define therebetween an air flow passageway;

said inner housing comprising a perforated chamber adapted to contain a low temperature material; and

a cover having an intake opening adapted to be in fluid communication with said air flow passageway, and an outtake opening in fluid communication with said perforated chamber.

2. The inhaler apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an exhaust port.

3. The inhaler apparatus of claim 1, whereby air drawn into said apparatus via said intake opening flows into said air flow passageway, into said inner housing via the perforations in said perforated chamber where it is cooled by said low temperature material, and out said inner housing and through said outtake opening.

4. The inhaler of claim 1, wherein said inner housing comprises a collar having at least one aperture allowing fluid communication between said intake opening and said air flow passageway.

5. The inhaler of claim 4, wherein said inner housing further comprises an insert having an aperture and a blocking portion, wherein said blocking portion prevents air that enters said intake opening from entering said inner housing prior to passing through said air flow passageway.

6. The inhaler of claim 1, further comprising a driving force for forcing air into said intake opening.

7. The inhaler of claim 6, wherein said driving force comprises an air bulb.

8. The inhaler of claim 2, further comprising a valve for selectively opening and closing said exhaust port.

25. The inhaler apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a facemask in fluid communication with said intake opening.

9. A method of cooling the airways of an individual, comprising:

providing an inhaler comprising a chamber for a low temperature material, an intake opening, an outtake opening, an exhaust port, and an air passageway segregating said intake opening from said outtake opening and providing fluid communication between said intake opening and said outtake opening through said chamber;

inhaling ambient air through said intake opening, causing said inhaled air to flow through said air passageway and into said chamber, be cooled by said low temperature material contained in said chamber, and flow out of said chamber into said outtake opening; and

exhaling air into said outtake opening, causing said exhaled air to flow through said outtake opening and out said exhaust port.

10. An inhaler, comprising:

a housing having a chamber adapted to contain a low temperature material;

said chamber being in fluid communication with ambient air via a one-way valve, said ambient air upon activation of a driving force being drawn into said chamber and being cooled by said low temperature material, said cooled air then flowing out of said chamber.

11. The inhaler of claim 10, wherein said driving force is created by the inhalation by a user of said inhaler.

12. The inhaler of claim 10, wherein said driving force comprises an air bulb.

13. The inhaler of claim 10, wherein said housing further comprises an exhaust port for exhausting exhaled air from said inhaler.

14. The inhaler of claim 13, further comprising a valve for selectively opening and closing said exhaust port.

15. The inhaler of claim 10, wherein said chamber is perforated.

16. The inhaler of claim 15, whereby air drawn into said housing via said one-way valve flows into said chamber via said perforations in said chamber where it is cooled by said low temperature material, and flows out said chamber in a cooled state.

17. Inhaler apparatus, comprising an air intake, an air outtake, a perforated chamber adapted to contain a low temperature material, a melt chamber, and an air flow passageway providing fluid communication between said intake and said perforated chamber, said melt chamber being positioned to collect melting fluid from said low temperature material.

18. Inhaler apparatus of claim 17, wherein said perforated chamber is in fluid communication with said air intake via a one-way valve.

19. Inhaler apparatus of claim 17, further comprising an exhaust port.

20. Inhaler apparatus of claim 19, further comprising a valve for selectively opening and closing said exhaust port.

21. A method of providing humidified air to the airways of an individual, comprising:

providing an inhaler comprising a chamber for a low temperature material, an intake opening, an outtake opening, and an air passageway segregating said intake opening from said outtake opening and providing fluid communication between said intake opening and said outtake opening through said chamber; and

inhaling ambient air through said intake opening, causing air to flow through said air passageway and into said chamber, be humidified by said low temperature material contained in said chamber, and flow out of said chamber into said outtake opening.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said inhaler further comprises an exhaust port, and wherein after said inhaling step, further comprising the step of exhaling air into said outtake opening, causing said exhaled air to flow through said outtake opening and out said exhaust port.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein said low temperature material is ice.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein said individual inhales through a facemask in fluid communication with said intake opening.