Indicator for a medicament inhaler

• US 5,758,638 A
• Filed: 05/15/1996
• Issued: 06/02/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jeffry W. Kreamer
• Original Assignee: Jeffry W. Kreamer
• Inventors: Kreamer, Jeffry W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Millin, V.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Deane, Jr., William J.
• Application Number:
  US08/647,633
• Time in Patent Office: 748 Days
• Field of Search: 128/200.23, 128/200.14, 128/202.22, 128/205.23
• US Class Current: 128/200.23
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/43 making noise when used correctly
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/44 making noise when used incorrectly

Abstract

An inhaler indicator for a dispenser of an inhaled medicament, for example an asthma medicine. An inhaler body is releasably attached to the dispenser and includes a port through which air is drawn when a user of the inhaler inhales preparatory to the administration of a dose of the medicament as is required for proper administration of such medicaments. The flow of air through the port activates an audio or visual signal generator, such as a whistle or a flag, that signals to the user that the user is inhaling and that conditions are appropriate for the administration of the medicament. In an alternative embodiment, an indicator for releasable attachment to a conventional metered dose inhaler includes a passageway through which air is drawn during an inhalation of a user prepatory to the discharge of medicament. A whistle in the passageway creates an audible tone when the conditions are appropriate for discharge of the medicament. The indicator is useful as a trainer of proper technique.

Claims

1. An indicator for a metered dose inhaler which indicates to a user a condition appropriate for the discharge of a medicament from the inhaler, comprising:

(a) means for indicating to a user when conditions are appropriate for discharge of the medicament from the inhaler, said means including

(i) a generally tubular indicator body having an interior and an exterior of a size and shape to be attached to said inhaler;

(ii) said indicator body including a mouthpiece for insertion into the mouth of the user and through which the medicament is dispensed to a user, said mouthpiece including a proximal edge;

(iii) a passageway in said indicator body communicating between said exterior of said indicator body and said proximal edge of said mouthpiece;

(iv) said passageway permitting ambient air to be drawn from said exterior of said indicator body to said mouthpiece and into the mouth of a user when the user is inhaling with said mouthpiece in the user'"'"'s mouth; and

(v) indicator means actuated by said air drawn through said passageway for indicating to a user when the user is inhaling with said mouthpiece in the user'"'"'s mouth.

2. An indicator as defined in claim 1, wherein said indicator means includes audio generating means for producing a sound audible to a user in response to said air drawn through said passageway.

3. An indicator as defined in claim 2, wherein said audio generating means includes a whistle.

4. A method for administration of a medicament from a metered dose inhaler having a generally tubular indicator body having an interior and an exterior of a size and shape to be attached to said inhaler and including a mouthpiece having a proximal edge for insertion into the mouth of the user and through which the medicament is dispensed to a user, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a passageway in said indicator body communicating between said exterior of said indicator body and the proximal edge of said mouthpiece;

(b) drawing ambient air from said exterior of said indicator body to said mouthpiece and into the mouth of a user when the user is inhaling with said mouthpiece in the user'"'"'s mouth; and

(c) actuating indicator means by said air drawn through said passageway for indicating to a user when the user is inhaling with said mouthpiece in the user'"'"'s mouth.

5. A method as defined in claim 4, wherein said step of actuating indicator means produces an audible tone.

6. A method as described in claim 4, wherein actuating of said indicating means is continuous throughout the step of dispensing of the medicament from the dispenser.

7. An indicator for administrating a medicament from a metered dose inhaler having a generally tubular indicator body having an interior and an exterior of a size and shape to be attached to said inhaler and including a mouthpiece having a proximal edge for insertion into the mouth of the user and through which the medicament is dispensed to a user, comprising:

a) said indicator body containing a passageway communicating between said exterior of said indicator body and said proximal edge of the mouthpiece;

b) said passageway configured such that medicament and ambient air combine at said mouthpiece; and

indicator means actuated by said ambient air drawn through said passageway for indicating to a user when the user is inhaling with said mouthpiece in the user'"'"'s mouth.

8. An indicator as defined in claim 7, wherein actuating of said indicator means is uninterrupted by dispensing of the medicament from the dispenser.

9. An indicator as defined in claim 7, wherein said indicator means actuates when the ambient air flow through said indicator means exceeds a predetermined threshold flow rate.