Apparatus, System and Method for Measuring Resistance of an Inhaler
First Claim
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
- a first device comprising a first chamber configured to mount an inhaler and having a first valve;
a second device comprising a second chamber having a second valve;
wherein said second device is movable and sealably attachable to said first device;
a pressure controller connected to said first device, and comprising a pressure sensor which communicates a first set of signals to a first microprocessor and integrally connected to a power source;
a flow controller connected to said second device and comprising a flow sensor and a pressure sensor which communicate a second set of signals with a second microprocessor configured to detect and analyze signals from said second chamber; and
said first microprocessor and said second microprocessor configured to control opening and closing first valve and second valve, respectively and corresponding to said first chamber and said second chamber.
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Abstract
An apparatus, a closed-loop system and method for measuring the resistance of inhalation systems and/or devices are disclosed.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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a first device comprising a first chamber configured to mount an inhaler and having a first valve; a second device comprising a second chamber having a second valve;
wherein said second device is movable and sealably attachable to said first device;a pressure controller connected to said first device, and comprising a pressure sensor which communicates a first set of signals to a first microprocessor and integrally connected to a power source; a flow controller connected to said second device and comprising a flow sensor and a pressure sensor which communicate a second set of signals with a second microprocessor configured to detect and analyze signals from said second chamber; and said first microprocessor and said second microprocessor configured to control opening and closing first valve and second valve, respectively and corresponding to said first chamber and said second chamber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for measuring the resistance to airflow of an inhaler, comprising:
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attaching an inhaler to a first device comprising a first chamber and a holder for said inhaler so that an air pathway from the first chamber and through the inhaler air pathway is formed; attaching a second device comprising a second chamber to said first device to enclose said inhaler within the second chamber; actuating the apparatus to obtain a controlled constant pressure environment in the second chamber; and simultaneously measuring pressure differential across the inhaler and flow rate through the inhaler to generate pressure and flow rate measurements. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for determining resistance to airflow of an inhaler, comprising:
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determining the range of measurements at which square root of the pressure differential versus flow rate curve for an inhaler type is linear to yield predetermined value settings; obtaining pressure differential and flow rate measurements at various predetermined value settings within the linear range for a second inhaler and determining the slope of the curve to obtain a resistance value for the inhaler. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification