Exhalation valve for face mask with spacer chamber connection

• US 5,645,049 A
• Filed: 07/05/1994
• Issued: 07/08/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canadian Monaghan Limited
• Original Assignee: Trudell Medical Limited
• Inventors: Morton, Robert, Foley, Martin P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Asher, Kimberly L.
• Application Number:
  US08/270,752
• Time in Patent Office: 1,099 Days
• Field of Search: 128/200.14, 128/200.23, 128/203.12, 128/203.29, 128/205.25, 128/206.21, 128/207.12, 128/200.29, 128/205.23, 128/206.28
• US Class Current: 128/203.29
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/00 Inhalators drug delivery in endotracheal tubes A61M16/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0018 with exhalation check valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/06 Respiratory or anaesthetic masks

Abstract

A mask is provided for the inhalation of medication, such as asthmatic medication. The mask is molded of a resilient plastic or rubber material and has a central through opening and includes an open front portion adapted to receive an aerosolization chamber which receives medication from a metered dose inhaler. A sidewall expands outwardly from the open front portion and is adapted to fit sealingly on a face covering the mouth and nose. The sidewall is provided with an extension to accommodate the nose. A one-way exhalation valve is provided in the mask, preferably at the far end of the nose accommodating extension for conveying exhaled air to the outside, and preventing entrance of outside air therethrough into said mask.

Claims

1. A mask for the inhalation of medication by a human being, said mask being molded of plastic material or the like having an interior and a central through opening comprising an open front portion adapted to receive a hollow body having air with medication dispersed therein, said mask comprising:

means for minimizing dead space inside said mask yet providing efficient inhalation and exhalation flow paths that purge said mask of exhaled air;

a sidewall expanding outwardly from said front portion to a rear portion adapted to fit sealingly on a human face and covering the mouth and nose, said sidewall including a tunnel-like extension projecting outwardly of said sidewall and substantially parallel thereto, and adapted to overlie a nose, said extension extending substantially from said rear portion toward said front portion and having a front end terminating short of said front portion of said mask, and

means for providing a short exhalation flow path comprising a normally closed one-way exhalation valve adjacent said front end of said extension and adapted for positioning directly adjacent the nostrils of the nose, said exhalation valve communicating on one side inwardly of said mask into said extension and on the other side communicating outwardly of said mask to outside air,

said exhalation valve opening on exhalation to pass exhaled air from said mask and closing in the absence of exhaled air to prevent entry of outside air.

2. A mask as set forth in claim 1 wherein said valve is positioned in its entirety short of said front portion of said mask.

3. A mask as set forth in claim 1 and further including a transverse wall adjacent the end of said nose receiving extension relatively toward the mask open front portion, said valve being located in an opening through said transverse wall.

4. A mask as set forth in claim 3 wherein said valve includes an exhalation opening through said transverse wall and an adjacent anchor opening through said transverse wall, said valve including a valve closure element comprising a head and an integral stem of plastic material, said head normally covering said exhalation opening relatively toward the exterior of said mask and said stem extending into said anchor opening to anchor said head, said head resiliently moving at least in part from said exhalation opening upon exhalation.

5. A mask as set forth in claim 4 wherein said stem extends entirely through said transverse wall and has an enlargement thereon engaging said transverse wall opposite to said valve member head.

6. A mask as set forth in claim 5 wherein said head is resilient and flexes away from said exhalation opening upon exhalation.

7. A mask as set forth in claim 6 wherein there are two exhalation openings through said transverse wall and lying on opposite sides of said anchor opening, said head having an undersurface inherently concave and pulled substantially flat by said stem, said head flexing outwardly upon exhalation.

8. A mask as set forth in claim 1 wherein said exhalation valve comprises a duckbill valve extending from said front end of said extension toward said front end portion of said mask but terminating short of said front end portion.

9. A mask for inhalation of medication by a human being, said mask being molded of plastic material or the like having an interior and a through opening comprising a front portion adapted to receive a hollow body having air with medication dispersed therein, said mask comprising:

means for minimizing dead space inside said mask yet providing efficient inhalation and exhalation flow paths that purge said mask of exhaled air

a sidewall expanding outwardly from said front portion to a rear portion adapted to fit sealingly on a human face and covering the mouth and nose, and

means for providing a short exhalation flow path comprising a normally closed one-way exhalation valve in the front portion of said mask, adapted for positioning directly adjacent the nostrils of the nose,

said exhalation valve including a passageway through said front portion and having a transverse wall comprising a valve seat, said transverse wall having an exhalation opening therethrough and an adjacent anchor opening through said transverse wall, said exhalation valve including a valve closure element comprising a head and an integral stem of plastic material, said head normally covering said exhalation opening and disposed relatively toward the exterior of said mask and said stem extending into said anchor opening to anchor said head, said head resiliently moving at least in part from said exhalation opening upon exhalation.

10. A mask as set forth in claim 9 wherein said stem extends entirely through said transverse wall and has an enlargement thereon engaging said transverse wall opposite to said valve member head.

11. A mask for the exhalation of medication by a human being, said mask being molded of plastic material or the like having an interior and a through opening comprising an open front portion receiving a hollow body having air with medication dispersed therein, said mask comprising

means for minimizing dead space inside said mask yet providing efficient inhalation and exhalation flow paths that purge said mask of exhaled air;

a one-way inhalation valve for said mask, said inhalation valve normally being closed and opening upon inhalation,

a sidewall expanding outwardly from said front portion to a rear portion adapted to fit sealingly on a human face and covering the mouth and nose, said sidewall including a forward extension projecting outwardly of said sidewall and substantially parallel thereto, and adapted to overlie a nose, said extension extending substantially from said rear portion toward said front portion, and

means for providing a short exhalation flow path comprising a normally closed one-way exhalation valve adjacent said extension adapted for positioning directly adjacent the nostrils of the nose,

said exhalation valve opening on exhalation to pass exhaled air from said mask and closing in the absence of exhaled air to prevent entry of outside air, said inhalation valve and said exhalation valve holding air with medication in said mask for most effective utilization of said medication.

12. A mask for the inhalation of medication by a human being, said mask being molded of a plastic material or the like having

an interior and

a central through opening including an open front portion for receiving a hollow body having aerosol with medication dispersed therein,

a substantially frusto-conical sidewall expanding outwardly from said front portion to a rear portion adapted to fit sealingly on a human face and covering the mouth and nose, said mask comprising

means for minimizing dead space inside said mask yet providing efficient inhalation and exhalation flow paths that purge said mask of exhaled air including

a tunnel-like extension projecting outwardly of said mask sidewall and substantially parallel thereto, and adapted to overlie a human nose, said extension extending substantially from said rear portion toward said front portion and having a front end terminating short of said front portion of said mask, and

means for providing a short exhalation flow path comprising

a normally closed one-way exhalation valve adjacent said front end of said extension adapted for positioning directly adjacent the nostrils of the nose, said exhalation valve communicating on one side inwardly of said mask into said extension and on the other side communicating outwardly of said mask to outside air,

said exhalation valve having a quick acting lightweight valve body extending outwardly from a central stem to provide a light weight seal on the outside edge of said exhalation valve,

said valve body providing a minimum resistance to exhaled air and quick response to exhalation of air and minimizing the amount of exhaled air retained in said mask, said exhalation valve closing in the absence of exhaled air to prevent entry of outside air.

13. A mask as set forth in claim 12 wherein said valve is positioned in its entirety short of said mask extension to reduce access to prying fingers.

14. A mask as set forth in claim 13 and further including a transverse wall adjacent the end of said nose receiving extension relatively toward the mask open front portion, an exhalation opening through said transverse wall, said valve including a valve closure member.

15. In combination:

a source for providing an aerosol of medication upon activation;

an aerosolization chamber for receiving the aerosol from said source of aerosol medication, said aerosolization chamber having an exit end with a first valve to prevent flow into said aerosolization chamber from said exit end; and

a mask having an inlet connected to the exit end of the aerosolization chamber, said inlet in alignment with a mouth of a patient wearing said mask, wherein said mask has minimal dead space inside yet provides efficient inhalation and exhalation flow paths that purge said mask of exhaled air;

and further wherein said mask provides a short exhalation flow path comprised of a second valve located in an opening adjacent said inlet and into said mask, said second valve adapted for positioning directly adjacent the nostrils of the nose, said second valve adapted

to permit air flow through said opening upon exhalation into said mask so as to permit a patient wearing said mask to exhale air through said opening, and

to prevent air flow through said opening upon patient inhalation;

and further wherein said first valve in said exit end of said aerosolization chamber permits flow from said aerosolization chamber into said mask, but not vice versa.

16. The invention of claim 15 in which said second valve is adapted to open when the pressure across the valve is 0.50 inch of water above ambient.

17. The invention of claim 15 in which said mask has a diameter of approximately 3 inches.

18. The invention of claim 15 in which said mask has a length of approximately just over two inches.

19. The invention of claim 15 in which the second valve is inaccessible manually.

20. The invention of claim 15 in which said closed mask is sized to cover a patient'"'"'s nose and mouth.

21. The invention of claim 15 in which said mask is sized to cover a nose and mouth of an infant.

22. The invention of claim 15 in which said mask is sized to cover a nose and mouth of an elderly person.

23. The invention of claim 15 in which an upper edge of said mask is sized to fit against a patient'"'"'s face between the patient'"'"'s eyes and nose.

24. The invention of claim 15 wherein said source for providing an aerosol of medication is a metered dose inhaler.

25. An improved system for delivering aerosol medication to an infant, the system using a metered dose inhaler for producing an aerosol of medication upon activation and an aerosolization chamber for receiving the aerosol produced from said metered dose inhaler, the aerosolization chamber having an exit end with a first valve to prevent flow into said aerosolization chamber from said exit end, the improvement comprising:

a close-fitting mask comprising;

an inlet connected to the exit end of the aerosolization chamber so that said inlet is aligned with a mouth of an infant wearing said mask to provide minimal dead space inside said mask yet provide efficient inhalation and exhalation flow paths that purge said mask of exhaled air; and

wherein said mask comprises a short exhalation flow path comprised of a second valve covering an opening through said close-fitting mask, said second valve having a low threshold of operation so as to permit air flow through said opening from said mask upon exhalation, said second valve adapted for positioning directly adjacent the nostrils of the nose,

and further wherein said first valve in said exit end of said aerosolization chamber permits flow from said aerosolization chamber into said mask, but not vice versa.

26. A method of delivering a medication to an infant comprising:

providing a metered dose inhaler having an output thereof connected to a chamber, said chamber having an exit end with a first valve therein to prevent air flow into said chamber from said exit end, and a mask having an inlet connected to the exit end of the aerosolization chamber, said mask comprising a short exhalation flow path comprised of a second valve adapted to open upon exhalation into said mask, said second valve adapted for positioning directly adjacent the nostrils of the nose, and further wherein said mask comprises minimal dead space inside said yet provides efficient inhalation and exhalation flow paths that purge said mask of exhaled air;

positioning the mask over a mouth and nose of the infant so that said inlet of said mask is aligned with the mouth of the infant;

actuating the metered dose inhaler to provide an aerosol of medication into the chamber; and

maintaining the mask on the infant while observing at least one exhalation of the infant through the second valve.

27. The method of claim 26 further comprising the step of maintaining the mask on the infant for a first and second inhalation.