Method and kit for measuring the effectiveness of bronchodilators
First Claim
1. A kit for measuring the effectiveness of various bronchodilators on an individual patient comprising a plurality of bronchodilator test solutions and a nebulizer means for providing a measured dose of each test solution for introduction into a patient'"'"'s lungs, means for measuring a patient'"'"'s forced expiratory flow data and a test panel means for recording the flow data before and after inspiration of each of the plurality of bronchodilator test solutions and for visual comparison of the quantitative results for determining the effectiveness of the bronchodilators.
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Abstract
A method and kit for measuring the effectiveness of various bronchodilators on an individual patient are disclosed. For example, the kit includes a plurality of bronchodilator test solutions and a nebulizer for providing a dose of each solution for introduction into a patient'"'"'s lungs. A spirometer or other type of flowmeter is also provided for measuring the flow characteristics of a patient'"'"'s forced expiratory flow before and after inspiration of each of the bronchodilator solutions. A test panel is also provided for recording and comparing the patient'"'"'s flow data before and after inspiration of each of the test solutions. And, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the patient'"'"'s lungs are rechallenged to verify the best treatment for the patient. And, a second embodiment includes instructions and a peak flow meter in place of a spirometer, so that the tests may be self-administered in a patient'"'"'s home.
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Citations
10 Claims
- 1. A kit for measuring the effectiveness of various bronchodilators on an individual patient comprising a plurality of bronchodilator test solutions and a nebulizer means for providing a measured dose of each test solution for introduction into a patient'"'"'s lungs, means for measuring a patient'"'"'s forced expiratory flow data and a test panel means for recording the flow data before and after inspiration of each of the plurality of bronchodilator test solutions and for visual comparison of the quantitative results for determining the effectiveness of the bronchodilators.
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7. A method for measuring the effectiveness of bronchodilators on an individual patient comprising the steps of:
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a. providing a plurality of bronchodilator test solutions; b. measuring and recording the forced expiratory flow of the patient after at least 4 hours following after any use of a bronchodilator; c. nebulizing a first one of the test solutions; d. introducing the nebulized solution into the patient'"'"'s lungs and maintaining the nebulized solution therein for at least several seconds before expiration thereof; e. waiting for a period of at least about 8 minutes; f. measuring and recording the forced expiratory flow of the patient during the first second of forced expiration; g. waiting for a period of at least about four hours without additional inhalation of a bronchodilator; and h. repeating steps a through g for each of the remaining bronchodilators until step f has been completed for the last test solution; and i. comparing any improvement in post treatment flow over the pretreatment flow for each of the bronchodilator test solutions and determining the most effective treatment for the patient. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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Specification