Disposable radioactive aerosol inhalation apparatus

• US 4,510,929 A
• Filed: 08/22/1984
• Issued: 04/16/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/1982
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CIS Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Cadema Medical Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Bordoni, Maurice E., Lieberman, Ephraim
• Primary Examiner(s): Coven, Edward M.
• Application Number:
  US06/642,718
• Time in Patent Office: 237 Days
• Field of Search: 128/200.14, 128/200.18, 128/200.19, 128/200.21, 128/654, 128/910, 128/1.1
• US Class Current: 128/200.14
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/02 with activated or ionised fluids, e.g. electrohydrodynamic [EHD] or electrostatic devices; Ozone-inhalators with radioactive tagged particles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0063 Compressors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0833 T- or Y-type connectors, e.g. Y-piece

Abstract

A disposable aerosol inhalation device for use in producing properly sized radioactive tagged particles. A mouthpiece is attached to a wye connector containing a valving system for inhalation of the radioactive aerosol and exhalation to an entrapping filter. Conduits are respectively provided by flexible tubing to a nebulizer and to the filter. The optimum range of particle sizes is generated by producing an aerosol from the nebulizer having an internal baffle. For ease of handling and to minimize radiation exposures, an entry is provided to add radioactive solution directly into the baffled nebulizer. To further reduce radiation exposure, the baffled nebulizer and entrapping filter are housed in a leaded enclosure.

Claims

1. An aerosol inhalation apparatus for supplying an aerosol mist containing radioactive tagged particles and air to a subject, comprising a reusable lead-shielded container having lid means, whereby the contents of the container are readily accessible, and a disposable radioactive aerosol inhalation device, the device including first and second conduit means in said said container and passing therethrough, mouthpiece means connected to the first and second conduit means externally of said container, valve means for controlling inhalation from said first conduit means and exhalation to said second conduit means, respectively, a nebulizer within said container and connected to said first conduit means, means positioned at least in part within the container and in fluid communication with said nebulizer for allowing introduction of radioactive solution from outside said container into said nebulizer, means associated with said nebulizer for generating an aerosolized mist carrying airborne radioactive tagged particles, means in fluid communication with a source of air and with said nebulizer for introducing a mixture of air and the mist into said first conduit means, and entrapping filter means in said container and connected to said second conduit means for removing the aerosol exhaled whereby the container may be reused and the device may be discarded after each use.

2. The aerosol inhalation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means carried by said container for allowing introduction of a radioactive solution into said nebulizer comprises a one way valve means in fluid communication with said nebulizer and with said first conduit means for permitting entry of atmospheric air into said nebulizer and into said first conduit means.

3. The aerosol inhalation apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said one way valve means includes an observable movable member to permit observation of inhalation frequency of a subject.

4. The aerosol inhalation apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said moveable member is a diaphragm of a one-way valve.

5. The aerosol inhalation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for allowing introduction of a radioactive solution is an angulated valve part allowing a needle to extend into said container at an angle with respect to vertical to minimize exposure to radiation.

6. The aerosol inhalation apparatus according to claim 1, including a settling baffle in said nebulizer to generate properly sized aerosol particles of less than substantially two microns.

7. The aerosol inhalation apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said nebulizer includes a diffuser and gas orifice, said settling baffle being positioned above said diffuser and said gas orifice for permitting aerosol particles larger than substantially two microns to remain in said nebulizer.

8. An aerosol inhalation apparatus for supplying an aerosol mist containing radioactive charged particles and air to a subject, comprising a reusable generally cylindrical walled container having a closed bottom and an open top, lead shielding means within said wall and bottom of the container, the container having first, second and third openings formed therein, respectively, said openings being at the top portion of said container and being circumferentially spaced from each other, lead shielded lid means covering said container top portion, and a disposable pulmonary inhalation device including nebulizing means in said container, entrapping filter means within said container, means received in said first of said openings and including a conduit connected to said nebulizer means for introducing a radioactive liquid into said nebulizer means, means associated with said nebulizer means for generating an aerosolized mist having a plurality of radioactive tagged particles, inhalation conduit means received in said second of said openings and connected to a source of air and to said nebulizer means for receiving a mixture of air and the mist, and exhalation conduit means received in said third of said openings and connected to said filter means, whereby the container may be reused and the device may be discarded after each use.