Equine mask with MDI adapter

• US 5,954,049 A
• Filed: 09/24/1992
• Issued: 09/21/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Trudell Medical Limited
• Original Assignee: Trudell Medical Limited
• Inventors: Jenkins, David, Foley, Martin P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Asher, Kimberly L.
• Application Number:
  US07/947,821
• Time in Patent Office: 2,553 Days
• Field of Search: 128/200.14, 128/200.18, 128/200.21, 128/200.23, 128/200.24, 128/203.12, 128/203.25, 128/203.29, 128/204.11, 128/204.12 , 128/204.14, 128/206.21, 128/206.24, 128/206.26-206.28, 128/203.23
• US Class Current: 128/203.29
• CPC Class Codes: A61D 7/04 Devices for anaesthetising animals by gases or vapours; Inhaling devices

Abstract

A mask is provided for administering medication, particularly asthmatic medication, to equine animals, particularly horses. The mask has a body that fits over the nostrils of the horse. An aerosolization chamber is secured to the body and opens into the interior thereof, and is supplied with misted medications such as from a metered dose inhaler, for inhalation by the animal. The mask and body is also provided with one or more exhalation ports, and a strap or band or the like for securing the body to the animals face overlying the nostrils.

Claims

1. An improved therapy delivery system for horses, for use with

(a) a source for providing an aerosol of medication;

(b) an aerosolization holding device having;

(i) a closed chamber;

(ii) an inlet for receiving the aerosol of medication from said source into said chamber;

(iii) an exit passage through which said aerosol can exit said chamber; and

(iv) an exit valve located in said exit passage to permit flow in a direction from said chamber and prevent flow into said chamber through said exit passage;

wherein the improvement comprises;

an equine mask comprised of;

(a) a mask body sized and adapted to conform to a forward portion of a head of a horse and to cover at least a horse'"'"'s nostrils;

(b) a fitting defined around an opening through said mask an inlet communicating with the exit passage of the aerosolization chamber;

(c) an exhalation valve in an opening through said mask, said exhalation valve adapted to permit air flow through said opening upon exhalation into said mask so as to permit a horse wearing said mask to exhale air through said opening, and to prevent air flow through said opening upon inhalation.

2. An equine mask comprising:

a mask body (38k) sized and adapted to conform to a forward portion of a head of a horse to cover at least the horse'"'"'s nostrils;

a chamber (46k) adjacent said mask body (38k), said chamber having a support wall (256) with an opening (254) through which a source of aerosol is provided, a wall (258) having a one-way valve (262) located in an opening therein, said chamber (46k) communicating with said mask body (38k) via an opening (240) in a plate (234) thereof;

first and second exhalation valves (46k) located in openings (242) through said mask body (38k), said openings (242) adjacent the horse'"'"'s nostrils, said first and second exhalation valves (46k) adapted to prevent air flow in a direction from outside said mask body (38k) into said mask body (38k) through said openings (242), but permit air flow from inside said mask body (38k) out of said mask body (38k) through said openings (242); and

a gasket (98k) located along a rear edge (226) of said mask body (38k).

3. The equine mask of claim 2 wherein said opening (240) comprises the only inlet through which ambient air can enter into said mask body (38k ).

4. The equine mask of claim 2 wherein said openings (242) comprise first and second openings, wherein said first of said openings (242) is located on one side of said opening (240) and adjacent one of the horse'"'"'s nostrils and said second of said openings (242) is located opposite from said first opening on another side of said opening (240) adjacent the other of the horse'"'"'s nostrils.

5. The equine mask of claim 2 further including:

wherein said gasket (98k) comprises a close fitting seal whereby leakage of air into said mask body (38k) except through said opening (240) is reduced.

6. The equine mask of claim 2 wherein said mask body (38k) is transparent.

7. An equine mask comprising:

a mask body sized and adapted to conform to a forward portion of a head of a horse covering at least the horse'"'"'s nostrils;

a mask inlet communicating with a source of aerosol medication and also comprising a means for providing breathing air to the horse, wherein said mask inlet comprises the only inlet into said mask body;

a one-way inhalation valve located with respect to said mask inlet to prevent flow of air from said mask body; and

first and second exhalation valves located in openings through said mask body, said openings adjacent the horse'"'"'s nostrils, said first and second exhalation valves adapted to prevent air flow in a direction from outside said mask body into said mask body through said openings, but permit air flow from inside said mask body out of said mask body through said openings.

8. The equine mask of claim 7 wherein said mask inlet comprises the only inlet into said mask body.

9. The invention of claim 7 wherein said openings comprise first and second openings, wherein said first of said openings is located on one side of said mask inlet and adjacent one of the horse'"'"'s nostrils and said second of said openings is located opposite from said first opening on another side of said mask inlet and adjacent the other of the horse'"'"'s nostrils.

10. The invention of claim 7 further including:

a close fitting gasket located along a rear edge of said mask body and conforming in shape to a horse'"'"'s head, whereby leakage of air into said mask body except through said mask inlet is reduced.

11. The invention of claim 7 wherein said mask body is transparent.

12. An equine mask comprising:

a mask body sized and adapted to conform to a forward portion of a head of a horse to cover at least the horse'"'"'s nostrils;

a mask inlet communicating with a source of aerosol medication, wherein said mask inlet comprises the only inlet into said mask body;

a one-way inhalation valve located in said mask inlet to prevent flow of air from said mask body into said source of aerosol medication;

first and second openings located through said mask body, wherein said first of said openings is located on one side of said mask inlet adjacent one of the horse'"'"'s nostrils and said second of said openings is located opposite from said first opening on another side of said mask inlet adjacent the other of the horse'"'"'s nostrils; and

a first exhalation valve located in said first opening through said mask body and a second exhalation valve located in said second opening through said mask body, said first and second exhalation valves adapted to prevent air flow in a direction from outside said mask body into said mask body through said openings, but permit air flow from inside said mask body out of said mask body through said openings.

13. The invention of claim 12 further including:

a close fitting gasket located along a rear edge of said mask body and conforming in shape to a horse'"'"'s head, whereby leakage of air into said mask body except through said mask inlet is reduced.

14. The invention of claim 12 wherein said mask body is transparent.

15. An equine mask comprising:

a mask body sized and adapted to conform to a forward portion of a head of a horse and to cover at least the horse'"'"'s nostrils;

a first opening providing an air inlet into said mask body;

a one-way inhalation valve located with respect to said first opening to prevent flow of air from inside said mask body through said one-way inhalation valve;

a means for providing aerosol medication from a source thereof to said mask body, said providing means comprising a second inlet through which an aerosol can be provided to said first opening; and

first and second exhalation valves located in third and fourth openings through said mask body, said third and fourth openings adjacent the horse'"'"'s nostrils, said first and second exhalation valves adapted to prevent air flow in a direction from outside said mask body into said mask body through said openings, but to permit air flow from inside said mask body out of said mask body through said openings.

16. The invention of claim 15 wherein said third opening is located on one side of said mask inlet adjacent one of the horse'"'"'s nostrils and said fourth opening is located opposite from said third opening on another side of said mask inlet adjacent the other of the horse'"'"'s nostrils.

17. The equine mask of claim 15 wherein said mask inlet comprises the only inlet into said mask body.

18. The invention of claim 15 further including:

a close fitting gasket located along a rear edge of said mask body and conforming in shape to a horse'"'"'s head, whereby leakage of air into said mask body except through said mask inlet is reduced.

19. The invention of claim 15 wherein said mask body is transparent.