Device for specific inhalation challenge, method of use and improved generator of particles
First Claim
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1. Apparatus for specific inhalation challenges, comprising:
- aerosol generation means for continuously suspending in a flow of compressed air a predetermined amount of specific particles to thus generate a compressed aerosol of predetermined composition, said aerosol generation means comprising an inlet connected to a supply of compressed air by a tube, means connected to a supply of specific particles for continuously and uniformly mixing a part of said particles with the compressed air, and means defining a compressed aerosol outlet;
pressure adjustment means for adjusting the pressure of the compressed aerosol to a pressure close to atmospheric pressure, said pressure adjustment means comprising;
a suction pump including at least one suction pump inlet,a manometer including at least one manometer inlet,an exposure room comprising a duct having at least one lateral wall and opposite ends, each end being closed by a cover, said room further comprising;
an exposure room inlet positioned in one of said covers, said exposure room inlet including aerosol inlet means for permitting fluid communication between the exposure room and said compressed aerosol outlet,a first exposure room outlet positioned in the other of said covers and including first fluid communication means for permitting fluid communication between the exposure room and said suction pump inlet, said first fluid communication means comprising suction pump adjustment means including a valve for permitting adjustment of a draft of said suction pump,a second exposure room outlet positioned in said lateral wall and including second fluid communication means for permitting fluid communication between the exposure room and said manometer inlet,a third exposure room outlet positioned in said lateral wall, anda fourth exposure room outlet positioned in said lateral wall;
said apparatus further comprising mask means including an orofacial mask for covering natural apertures of the respiratory system of a subject, said mask means including means for permitting fluid communication between the mask and said third exposure room outlet;
a particle content measuring device including means for permitting fluid communication between an inlet of said device and said fourth exposure room outlet, said device also including means for continuously drawing a small part of the aerosol flowing in the room and measuring its particle content.
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a device for specific inhalation challenges, especially bronchical provocation tests, including a compressed air supply, a particle generator an exposure room, an orofacial mask, a gas-aerosol photometer, a manometer, a valve and a suction pump. The invention also relates to a method of using the device and to an improved particle generator.
28 Citations
21 Claims
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1. Apparatus for specific inhalation challenges, comprising:
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aerosol generation means for continuously suspending in a flow of compressed air a predetermined amount of specific particles to thus generate a compressed aerosol of predetermined composition, said aerosol generation means comprising an inlet connected to a supply of compressed air by a tube, means connected to a supply of specific particles for continuously and uniformly mixing a part of said particles with the compressed air, and means defining a compressed aerosol outlet; pressure adjustment means for adjusting the pressure of the compressed aerosol to a pressure close to atmospheric pressure, said pressure adjustment means comprising; a suction pump including at least one suction pump inlet, a manometer including at least one manometer inlet, an exposure room comprising a duct having at least one lateral wall and opposite ends, each end being closed by a cover, said room further comprising; an exposure room inlet positioned in one of said covers, said exposure room inlet including aerosol inlet means for permitting fluid communication between the exposure room and said compressed aerosol outlet, a first exposure room outlet positioned in the other of said covers and including first fluid communication means for permitting fluid communication between the exposure room and said suction pump inlet, said first fluid communication means comprising suction pump adjustment means including a valve for permitting adjustment of a draft of said suction pump, a second exposure room outlet positioned in said lateral wall and including second fluid communication means for permitting fluid communication between the exposure room and said manometer inlet, a third exposure room outlet positioned in said lateral wall, and a fourth exposure room outlet positioned in said lateral wall; said apparatus further comprising mask means including an orofacial mask for covering natural apertures of the respiratory system of a subject, said mask means including means for permitting fluid communication between the mask and said third exposure room outlet; a particle content measuring device including means for permitting fluid communication between an inlet of said device and said fourth exposure room outlet, said device also including means for continuously drawing a small part of the aerosol flowing in the room and measuring its particle content. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for carrying out specific inhalation challenges, comparing the steps of:
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continuously suspending in a flow of compressed air a predetermined amount of specific particles to thus generate a compressed aerosol of predetermined composition; supplying said aerosol to an exposure room; adjusting the pressure of the compressed aerosol to a pressure close to atmospheric pressure; covering the natural apertures of the respiratory system of a subject with an orofacial masks, and placing the orofacial mask in fluid communication with the exposure room; placing a particle content measuring device in fluid communication with said exposure room and continuously drawing a small part of the aerosol flowing into the room in order to measure its particle content.
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17. A method for carrying out specific inhalation challenges, comprising the steps of:
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opening a valve positioned between a first suction pump and a first outlet of an exposure room; starting the first suction pump, a second and a third suction pump, and a device intended to continuously draw part of an aerosol flowing in an exposure room in order to measure a particle content of the aerosol flowing in the exposure room; establishing a flow of compressed air through a particle generator which includes a turntable, a vibrator, and a screw; starting the vibrator to cause particles to contact the screw, starting the screw to convey them to the turntable, and driving the turntable into a constant speed of rotation to bring the particles to an air ejector which mixes the particles in the flow of compressed air; partly closing the valve positioned between the first suction pump and the first outlet of the exposure room until the pressure read on a first manometer is set close to atmospheric pressure; reading the concentration of particles in the aerosol on a photometer which is part of the said device, and, if the particle content of the aerosol is excessive, performing one of the following two steps;
(1) partly opening a valve positioned between a second supply of compressed air and an opening of the exposure room to dilute the aerosol and subsequently checking on a second manometer whether or not the aerosol is flowing in the appropriate direction, and (2) partly opening a valve positioned between the third suction pump and another opening of the exposure room in order to divide the aerosol and subsequently adjusting the valve position between the first suction pump and the first outlet of the room to the pressure read on the first manometer;repeating the reading step until the concentration read on the photometer corresponds to the one at which a subject has to be challenged; and covering natural apertures of the respiratory system of a subject with an orofacial mask and having the subject breathe at least one time a part of the aerosol that is flowing in the exposure room while the photometer is continuously and simultaneously measuring the particle content of the aerosol and a cascade impactor is determining the particle size of the aerosol. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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21. Apparatus for specific inhalation challenges, comprising:
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aerosol generation means for continuously suspending in a flow of compressed air a predetermined amount of specific particles to thus generate a compressed aerosol of predetermined composition; pressure adjustment means including an exposure room for adjusting a pressure of the compressed aerosol to a pressure close to atmospheric pressure; mask means including an orofacial mask for covering natural aperture of the respiratory system of a subject; means for permitting fluid communication between said mask and said exposure room; means for permitting fluid communication between said aerosol generation means and said exposure room; measuring means for drawing a part of the aerosol flowing in the room and measuring its particle content.
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Specification