Metered dose inhaler cloud chamber

• US 6,026,807 A
• Filed: 02/27/1998
• Issued: 02/22/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dhd Healthcare Corporation
• Original Assignee: Diemolding Corporation
• Inventors: Puderbaugh, George, Laun, Deborah A., Middleton, David T. Jr., Richards, Fredrick M., Weinstein, Lawrence A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Weiss, John G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ANDERSON, CHARLES WENDELL
• Application Number:
  US09/031,867
• Time in Patent Office: 725 Days
• Field of Search: 128/200.14, 128/200.22, 128/200.23, 128/202.28, 128/202.29, 128/203.11, 128/205.24, 128/203.15, 128/203.12
• US Class Current: 128/200.23
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0016 located downstream of the dispenser, i.e. traversed by the product
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0026 Hinged caps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0086 Inhalation chambers
• 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 2205/183 the sound being generated pneumatically
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/581 by audible feedback

Abstract

A cloud chamber for use with a source of pressurized medication in a MDI system wherein the cloud chamber has a unique one-way inspiratory air and one-way expiratory air valving system which utilizes the same valve body to provide both functions through utilization of different parts of the same valve body for performing the different and mutually exclusive functions. The present invention also provides for the storage of the pressurized medication container within the cloud chamber so that the medication can be conveniently and safely stored when the device in not in use.

Claims

1. A cloud chamber for use with a pressurized medication dispenser comprising:

a chamber having an open distal end for receiving therethrough a portion of a pressurized medication dispenser for dispensing a predetermined quantity of medication in a spray or mist form into said chamber,

said distal end of said chamber including a retainer carried thereby for forming a closure of said distal end and releasably retaining a pressurized medication dispenser in said distal end,

said chamber having an open proximal end for receiving a removable chamber cap forming a closure for the open proximal end of said chamber when received thereon and providing access to the interior of said chamber when removed from the proximal end,

a chamber cap for positioning onto said proximal end of said chamber including a mouthpiece through which a user inhales inspiratory air and exhales expiratory air,

an air flow control valve positioned between said mouthpiece and said chamber cap for mutually exclusively passing inspiratory and expiratory air as a user inhales and exhales through said mouthpiece,

said air valve comprising an ellipse of resilient material having a central flapper valve portion between said mouthpiece and said chamber cap in fluid communication with said chamber, and at least one peripheral portion extending outwardly from between said mouthpiece and said chamber cap forming a peripheral flapper valve in fluid communication between said mouthpiece and an ambient environment,

said central flapper valve portion moveable upon the inhalation of inspiratory air by a user from a closed position blocking the flow of expiratory air through said central flapper valve portion into said chamber upon the exhalation of expiratory air by a user and blocking the flow of inspiratory air from said chamber through said central flapper valve portion to the user, to an open position allowing inspiratory air to be inhaled through said chamber, and

said peripheral flapper valve moveable upon the exhalation of expiratory air by a user from a closed position blocking the flow of inspiratory air through said peripheral flapper valve into said mouthpiece upon the inhalation of inspiratory air by a user and blocking the flow of expiratory air from said mouthpiece through said peripheral flapper valve into the ambient environment, to an open position allowing expiratory air to be expelled through said peripheral flapper valve into the ambient environment.

2. The cloud chamber of claim 1 further including a vibrating reed signaling device supported in the distal end of said chamber outside a path of air flow from the distal end of said cloud chamber to the proximal end thereof for monitoring a users inspiratory air flow rate.

3. The cloud chamber of claim 1 wherein the open proximal end thereof is of a size sufficient to receive therethrough a pressurized medication dispenser for retaining the dispenser within the cloud chamber when not in use.

4. The cloud chamber of claim 1 wherein said chamber cap is hingedly connected to said chamber.

5. The cloud chamber of claim 1 further including a mouthpiece cap for removably covering an open end of said mouthpiece through which a user inhales and exhales to close the open end of said mouthpiece to keep said mouthpiece clean and to prevent foreign objects from entering.

6. The cloud chamber of claim 5 wherein said mouthpiece cap is hingedly attached to said chamber cap to prevent the mouthpiece cap from being lost.

7. A valve for use with a cloud chamber wherein a pressurized medication dispenser dispenses a predetermined amount of medication into a cloud chamber from where a bolus of medication and air is inhaled by a user, the valve comprising

a chamber cover for attachment to a cloud chamber wherein a bolus of air and medication is formed to be inhaled by a user,

said chamber cover having a cloud chamber engaging face for receiving a cloud chamber and forming a closure thereof,

said chamber cover having a mouthpiece engaging face for receiving a mouthpiece through which a user inhales inspiratory air and exhales expiratory air,

said mouthpiece engaging face having an opening formed therein through which inspiratory air can be inhaled by a user,

an elliptically-shaped flexible valve body positioned against a portion of said mouthpiece engaging face and across said opening formed in said mouthpiece engaging face, said elliptically-shaped flexible valve body having a central portion having an "X"-shaped cut extending therethrough and of a size corresponding to the diagonal dimension of said opening formed in said mouthpiece engaging face for forming a one-way inspiratory air valve,

said mouthpiece opening having an "X"-shaped spider positioned therein forming a backing member for said "X"-shaped cut in said flexible valve body permitting opening movement of said "X"-shaped cut portion toward said mouthpiece when a user is inhaling through said mouthpiece and preventing movement of said "X"-shaped cut portion when a user is exhaling through said mouthpiece,

said mouthpiece engaging face having at least one undercut portion adjacent to said mouthpiece opening for receiving a peripheral portion of said emliptically-shaped flexible valve body,

said mouthpiece having abutment plates for engaging an opposite side of said elliptically-shaped flexible valve body at a position adjacent to the opening formed in said mouthpiece engaging face for securing said elliptically-shaped flexible valve body between said mouthpiece and said mouthpiece engaging face of said chamber cover, and

said elliptically-shaped flexible valve body having a peripheral portion thereof extending outwardly from said central portion forming a one-way expiratory air valve with one face thereof in fluid communication with said mouthpiece and another face thereof adjacent to said undercut portion of said chamber cover permitting opening movement of said expiratory air valve away from said mouthpiece into said undercut portion of said chamber cover when a user is exhaling through said mouthpiece and preventing movement of said expiratory air valve away from said mouthpiece when a user is inhaling through said mouthpiece.

8. The valve of claim 7 wherein said elliptically-shaped flexible valve body has a one-way expiratory valve forming peripheral portion extending outwardly from two sides of said one-way inspiratory air valve forming central portion.