Patient respiratory system drug applicator

• US 5,613,489 A
• Filed: 12/07/1994
• Issued: 03/25/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Westmed Inc. (SunMed Group Holdings LLC)
• Original Assignee: Westmed Inc. (SunMed Group Holdings LLC)
• Inventors: McKinnon, Robert J., Miller, Warren C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis, Aaron J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Deane, Jr., William J.
• Application Number:
  US08/351,660
• Time in Patent Office: 839 Days
• Field of Search: 128/205.13, 128/203.12, 128/203.28, 128/205.11, 128/205.24, 128/204.29, 128/200.14, 128/200.16
• US Class Current: 128/203.28
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0086 Inhalation chambers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0088 with variable volume
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/08 Bellows; Connecting tubes having means for taking samples G01N1/22; Water traps; Patient circuits

Abstract

A respiratory system drug applicator for a patient is disclosed which may include a number of features to enhance the administration of the aerosolized drug to the patient. For instance, an adjustable flow regulator may be utilized which regulates the air flow during inhalation by the patient (during which the aerosolized drug is also administered to the patient'"'"'s respiratory system), and thus affects the patient'"'"'s breathing pattern. Moreover, a distensible drug reservoir which changes shape during inhalation and exhalation by the patient may be utilized. This may be used to provide biofeedback to the patient regarding the patient'"'"'s breathing pattern.

Claims

1. A patient respiratory system drug applicator, comprising:

a drug dispenser;

a patient inhalator;

a first conduit fluidly interconnecting said drug dispenser and said patient inhalator and comprising first and second ports, said drug dispenser being interconnected with said first port and said second port fluidly interconnecting said patient inhalator with an oxygen source;

a distensible drug reservoir fluidly interconnected with said patient inhalator; and

an adjustable flow regulator associated with said second port, wherein said adjustable flow regulator allows for an adjustment of an amount of a flow provided to the patient which is from said oxygen source and thereby also an adjustment of an amount of said flow provided to the patient which is from said distensible drug reservoir, whereby said adjustable flow regulator may be used to establish a certain pulsation of said distensible drug reservior, due to patient inhalations and exhalations, which provides biofeedback to the patient regarding the patient'"'"'s breathing pattern and thereby the respiratory administration of the drug to the patient.

2. A drug applicator, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said drug dispenser comprises a nebulizer.

3. A drug applicator, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said first conduit is substantially axially extending and comprises first and second ends and a sidewall, said patient inhalator being interconnected with said first end of said first conduit in axial alignment with said first conduit, and wherein said first port is positioned on said sidewall.

4. A drug applicator, as claimed in claim 3, wherein:

said second port is on said sidewall axially displaced from and substantially perpendicular to said first port.

5. A drug applicator, as claimed in claim 4, wherein:

said distensible drug reservoir is interconnected with said second end of said first conduit.

6. A drug applicator, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said adjustable flow regulator comprises an orifice and a valve movable between first and second positions to change a size of said orifice, wherein a cross-sectional area of said orifice taken perpendicularly to a flowpath through said orifice with said valve in said first position is no more than about 0.3 square inches and wherein said cross-sectional area of said orifice with said valve in said second position is less than said cross-sectional area of said orifice with said valve in said first position.

7. A drug applicator, as claimed in claim 6, wherein:

said cross-sectional area of said orifice with said valve in said first position is no more than about 0.1 square inches.

8. A drug applicator, as claimed in claim 7, wherein:

said cross-sectional area of said orifice with said valve in said second position is at least about 0.02 square inches.

9. A drug applicator, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said patient inhalator interfaces with said first conduit on a first side of first port and wherein said drug reservoir interfaces with said first conduit on a second side of said first port.

10. A method for administering an aerosolized drug to a patient'"'"'s respiratory system utilizing a distensible drug reservoir fluidly connected to the patient, comprising the steps of:

inhaling oxygen by the patient from an outside source;

providing the aerosolized drug to the patient during said inhaling step from at least the distensible drug reservior;

exhaling by the patient after said inhaling step;

monitoring a degree of said inhaling step, said monitoring step comprising preserving a changing shape of the distensible drug reservior during said inhaling and exhaling steps, wherein said observing step provides biofeedback to the patient regarding the patient'"'"'s breathing pattern and thereby the respiratory administration of the aerosolized drug to the patient;

controlling an oxygen flow condition for said inhaling step, wherein said controlling step comprising providing a resistance between the outside source and the patient;

adjusting the resistance based upon said observing step, wherein said adjusting step provides an adjustment of an amount of a flow provided to the patient which is from said oxygen source and thereby also an adjustment of an amount of said flow provided to the patient which is from said distensible drug reservior, whereby said adjusting step is used to establish a certain pulsation of said distensible drug reservoir, due to patient inhalations and exhalations, which provides biofeedback to the patient regarding the patient'"'"'s breathing pattern and thereby the respiratory administration of drug to the patient; and

repeating said inhaling, providing, exhaling and monitoring steps a plurality of times.

11. A method, as claimed in claim 10, wherein:

said providing step comprises nebulizing the drug.

12. A method, as claimed in claim 10, wherein:

the drug reservoir has a first gas volume of the aerosolized drug in one of the inhaling steps and a second gas volume of the aerosolized drug in a subsequent exhaling step, the second volume being greater than the first volume and providing an observable difference in the shape of the drug reservoir.

13. A method, as claimed in claim 10, further comprising the step of:

changing a degree of said inhaling step based upon said observing step.

14. A method, as claimed in claim 10, further comprising the step of:

producing a greater degree of difference in the change in the shape of the distensible drug reservoir based upon said observing step.