Inhalation device utilizing two or more aerosol containers

• US 5,002,048 A
• Filed: 12/12/1989
• Issued: 03/26/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Respiratory Delivery Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Walter J. Makiej Jr
• Inventors: Makiej, Walter J. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Burr, Edgar S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Asher, Kimberly L.
• Application Number:
  US07/449,575
• Time in Patent Office: 469 Days
• Field of Search: 128/200.23, 128/203.12, 128/200.14, 128/200.19, 128/203.14, 128/205.21, 222/135, 222/145, 222/402.15
• US Class Current: 128/200.23
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0003 with means for dispensing more than one drug
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/009 using medicine packages with incorporated spraying means, e.g. aerosol cans pocket atomiser of the injector type A61M11/08

Abstract

The invention includes an inhalation device for delivering medication from two or more medicinal aerosol containers. An L-shaped housing includes a mouthpiece opening at one end and chambers at the other end for receiving the medicinal aerosol containers.

Claims

1. An inhalation device, comprising:

a housing with a first end having at least two openings, each of said at least two openings adapted to receive an aerosol container containing a medicinal compound;

said housing having a second end with an opening in communication with the outside;

said housing further having a hollow chamber in communication with said opening at said second end and means contiguous with said hollow chamber for discharging the medicinal compound from the aerosol containers through said hollow chamber and out of the opening in the second end in communication with the outside.

2. The inhalation device recited in claim 1 wherein said means for discharging includes individual means for discharging the medicinal compound from each of the aerosol containers.

3. The inhalation device recited in claim 2 further comprising means for dividing said hollow chamber into a plurality of hollow chambers corresponding to the number of said individual discharging means, each of said plurality of hollow chambers being in communication with one of said individual discharging means and said opening at said second end.

4. The inhalation device recited in claim 3 wherein said means for dividing includes a dividing wall extending from a first interior side of said housing to a second interior side of said housing between adjacent of said individual discharging means.

5. The inhalation device recited in claim 4 wherein said dividing wall extends between said individual discharging means and said opening at said second end.

6. An inhalation device, comprising:

a housing having a first end and a second end disposed in an L-shaped relationship, said first end having first and second aligned cavities adapted to receive first and second aerosol containers each of which contain a medicinal component, said first cavity being disposed between said second end and said second cavity;

said second end having an opening in communication with the outside;

said housing further having a hollow chamber in communication with said opening at said second end; and

first means contiguous with said hollow chamber for discharging the medicinal component from the first aerosol container in a first fluid path towards and through said hollow chamber and out of said opening in said second end and second means contiguous with said hollow chamber for discharging the medicinal component in a second fluid path from the second aerosol container towards and through said hollow chamber and out of said opening in said second end.

7. The inhalation device recited in claim 6 wherein said housing further includes means for supporting said first and second means for discharging so that the second fluid path does not intersect said first means for discharging.

8. The inhalation device recited in claim 6 further including means for dividing said hollow chamber into a first chamber that permits communication between said first means for discharging and said opening at said second end and a second chamber that permits communication between said second means for discharging and said opening at said second end.

9. The inhalation device recited in claim 8 wherein said dividing means includes a dividing wall extending from a first interior side of said housing to a second interior side of said housing between said first and second means for discharging.

10. An inhalation device comprising:

a housing having a first end and a second end, said first end having first and second spaced radial extensions thereof, each of said first and second spaced radial extensions having an opening adapted to receive an aerosol container containing a medicinal component;

said second end having an opening in communication with the outside;

said housing further having a hollow chamber in communication with said opening at said second end; and

first means contiguous with said hollow chamber for discharging the medicinal component from the first aerosol container in a first fluid path towards and through said hollow chamber and out of said opening in said second end and second means contiguous with said hollow chamber for discharging the medicinal component in a second fluid path from the second aerosol container towards and through said hollow chamber and out of said opening in said second end.