Portable chamber for metered dose inhaler dispensers
First Claim
1. A medication inhalation apparatus for use with an MDI inhaler, comprising in combination:
- a housing for receiving a plume of medication particles ejected by an MDI inhaler;
a mouthpiece connected to one opening of the housing;
a one-way inhalation valve disposed between the mouthpiece and the housing for allowing flow of gas from the housing to the mouthpiece;
a one-way exhalation valve connected to the mouthpiece for allowing flow of gas from within the mouthpiece to ambient atmosphere;
an adapter connected to another opening of the housing for receiving a mouthpiece of the MDI inhaler;
a longitudinal axis extending between the other opening and the mouthpiece, the longitudinal axis forming a path along which inhaled air travels symmetrically from the other opening through the mouthpiece;
the one-way inhalation valve including an inhalation membrane and a valve seat, an exhalation by a patient through the mouthpiece pressing the inhalation membrane against the valve seat to prevent flow of exhaled gas from the mouthpiece into the housing, the exhaled gas flowing through the one-way exhalation valve,inhalation through the mouthpiece causing the inhalation membrane to swing away from the first valve seat and substantially out of a substantially straight-line path of flow of gas along the longitudinal axis from the first volume into the mouthpiece.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A medication inhalation apparatus for use with an MDI inhaler includes an elongated housing for receiving a plume of medication particles ejected by the MDI inhaler, a mouthpiece, and an inhalation valve disposed between the mouthpiece and the housing. An exhalation valve in the mouthpiece allows exhalation through the mouthpiece, presenting very little resistance to the exhalation effort of the patient. An adapter receives and stabilizes a mouthpiece of the MDI inhaler. The inhalation valve includes an inhalation membrane hanging adjacent to a valve seat. Exhalation into the mouthpiece presses the inhalation membrane against the valve seat, forcing exhaled gas through the exhalation valve. Inhalation causes the inhalation membrane to swing away from the valve seat and mostly out of a path of the medication plume. Impaction of medication particles against the inhalation membrane is avoided, and very little resistance is presented to the inhalation effort of the patient.
177 Citations
15 Claims
-
1. A medication inhalation apparatus for use with an MDI inhaler, comprising in combination:
-
a housing for receiving a plume of medication particles ejected by an MDI inhaler; a mouthpiece connected to one opening of the housing; a one-way inhalation valve disposed between the mouthpiece and the housing for allowing flow of gas from the housing to the mouthpiece; a one-way exhalation valve connected to the mouthpiece for allowing flow of gas from within the mouthpiece to ambient atmosphere; an adapter connected to another opening of the housing for receiving a mouthpiece of the MDI inhaler; a longitudinal axis extending between the other opening and the mouthpiece, the longitudinal axis forming a path along which inhaled air travels symmetrically from the other opening through the mouthpiece; the one-way inhalation valve including an inhalation membrane and a valve seat, an exhalation by a patient through the mouthpiece pressing the inhalation membrane against the valve seat to prevent flow of exhaled gas from the mouthpiece into the housing, the exhaled gas flowing through the one-way exhalation valve, inhalation through the mouthpiece causing the inhalation membrane to swing away from the first valve seat and substantially out of a substantially straight-line path of flow of gas along the longitudinal axis from the first volume into the mouthpiece.
-
-
2. A medication inhalation apparatus for use with an MDI inhaler, comprising in combination:
-
an elongated housing for receiving a plume of medication particles ejected by an MDI inhaler, having a medication inlet end and a medication outlet end; a mouthpiece connected to the medication outlet end; a one-way inhalation valve disposed between the mouthpiece and the housing for allowing flow of gas from the housing to the mouthpiece; a one-way exhalation valve connected to the mouthpiece for allowing flow of gas from within the mouthpiece to ambient atmosphere; an elastomeric adapter connected to the medication inlet end for receiving a mouthpiece of the MDI inhaler; a longitudinal axis extending between the other opening and the mouthpiece, the longitudinal axis forming a path along which inhaled air travels symmetrically from the other opening through the mouthpiece; the one-way inhalation valve including an inhalation membrane connected in hinged relationship to a continuous first valve seat, an exhalation by a patient through the mouthpiece pressing the inhalation membrane against the first valve seat to prevent flow of exhaled gas from the mouthpiece into the housing so the exhaled gas flows from the mouthpiece through the one-way exhalation valve, inhalation through the mouthpiece by the patient causing the inhalation membrane to swing away from the first valve seat and substantially out of a substantially straight-line path of flow of gas along the longitudinal axis from the housing into the mouthpiece. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
Specification