Aerosol enhancement device
First Claim
1. An aerosol enhancement device, comprising:
- a mouthpiece;
a tower member fluidly attached to said mouthpiece, said tower member having an outer body which defines an interior volume;
an inner wall disposed in said outer body, said inner wall extending a substantial distance through said interior volume and defining a holding chamber interiorly of said inner wall, said inner wall and said outer body defining an air passage therebetween;
an inlet port disposed in said tower member for receiving a medicated aerosol from an exterior source into said holding chamber;
an air inlet port disposed in said tower member for receiving air into said air passage; and
a T-piece for connecting said mouthpiece to said tower member;
wherein the air in said air passage flows therethrough around said inner wall and into said holding chamber, to be entrained with said medicated aerosol.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An aerosol medication delivery apparatus includes a fixed volume holding chamber which is constructed to allow for a uniformly mixed, concentrated bolus of medicated aerosol to be delivered with each breath. The device further includes a universal inlet, so that any standard small volume nebulizer, as well as any standard metered dose inhaler (MDI), may be utilized therewith. Also filtration can be added to address contaminated patient air and aerosol. A one-way valve is positioned between the holding chamber and a tee piece for attaching the holding chamber to a patient mouthpiece, to help control the loss of aerosol, and thereby reduce waste. The device is simply constructed of two molded plastic members, which are readily engaged to complete its assembly.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. An aerosol enhancement device, comprising:
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a mouthpiece;
a tower member fluidly attached to said mouthpiece, said tower member having an outer body which defines an interior volume;
an inner wall disposed in said outer body, said inner wall extending a substantial distance through said interior volume and defining a holding chamber interiorly of said inner wall, said inner wall and said outer body defining an air passage therebetween;
an inlet port disposed in said tower member for receiving a medicated aerosol from an exterior source into said holding chamber;
an air inlet port disposed in said tower member for receiving air into said air passage; and
a T-piece for connecting said mouthpiece to said tower member;
wherein the air in said air passage flows therethrough around said inner wall and into said holding chamber, to be entrained with said medicated aerosol. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An aerosol enhancement device, comprising:
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a mouthpiece;
a tower member fluidly attached to said mouthpiece, said tower member having an outer body which defines an interior volume;
an inlet port disposed in said tower member for receiving a medicated aerosol from an exterior source into said interior volume; and
an adapter disposed in said medicated aerosol inlet port, said adapter comprising a universal fitting which is capable of attaching said tower member to either a nebulizer or a metered dose inhaler (MDI). - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. The aerosol enhancement device as recited in claim 20, said adapter further comprising a flange portion for engaging said adapter with said tower member.
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21. A tower member usable with a mouthpiece, for dispensing medicated aerosol to a patient, said tower member comprising:
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an outer body which defines an interior volume;
an inner wall disposed in said outer body, said inner wall extending a substantial distance through said interior volume and defining a holding chamber interiorly of said inner wall, said inner wall and said outer body defining an air passage therebetween;
an inlet port disposed in said tower member for receiving a medicated aerosol from an exterior source into said holding chamber;
an air inlet port disposed in an upper portion of said tower member and adjacent to an upper portion of said inner wall for receiving air into said air passage; and
an outlet port for dispensing medicated aerosol entrained in air from said holding chamber to said mouthpiece;
wherein the air in said air passage flows therethrough around said inner wall and into said holding chamber, to be entrained with said medicated aerosol. - View Dependent Claims (22, 31, 32)
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23. A tower member usable with a mouthpiece, for dispensing medicated aerosol to a patient, said tower member comprising:
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an outer body which defines an interior volume;
an inlet port disposed in said tower member outer body for receiving a medicated aerosol from an exterior source into said interior volume; and
an adapter disposed in said medicated aerosol inlet port, said adapter comprising a universal fitting which is capable of attaching said tower member to either a nebulizer or a metered dose inhaler (MDI). - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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27. A tower member usable with a mouthpiece, for dispensing medicated aerosol to a patient, said tower member comprising:
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a first member comprising a fitting for attachment of said tower member to said mouthpiece and a disk having an air inlet port disposed therein; and
a second member comprising an outer body which defines an interior volume and an inlet port disposed in said tower member outer body for receiving a medicated aerosol from an exterior source into said interior volume;
wherein said first and second members are engageable to form said tower member. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
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33. A tower member usable with a mouthpiece, for dispensing medicated aerosol to a patient, said tower member comprising:
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an outer body which defines an interior volume;
an inlet port disposed in said tower member outer body for receiving a medicated aerosol from an exterior source into said interior volume;
an adapter disposed in said medicated aerosol inlet port, said adapter comprising a fitting which is capable of attaching said tower member to said exterior source; and
a drainage channel disposed near a joint between said fitting and said outer body for draining liquid from said interior volume into said exterior source. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35)
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36. An aerosol enhancement device, comprising:
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a mouthpiece;
a tower member fluidly attached to said mouthpiece, said tower member having an outer body which defines an interior volume;
an inner wall disposed in said outer body, said inner wall extending a substantial distance through said interior volume and defining a holding chamber interiorly of said inner wall, said inner wall and said outer body defining an air passage therebetween;
an inlet port disposed in said tower member for receiving a medicated aerosol from an exterior source into said holding chamber;
an air inlet port disposed in said tower member for receiving air into said air passage; and
a one-way valve disposed in said air inlet port;
wherein the air in said air passage flows therethrough around said inner wall and into said holding chamber, to be entrained with said medicated aerosol.
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37. An aerosol enhancement device, comprising:
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a mouthpiece;
a tower member fluidly attached to said mouthpiece, said tower member having an outer body which defines an interior volume;
an inner wall disposed in said outer body, said inner wall extending a substantial distance through said interior volume and defining a holding chamber interiorly of said inner wall, said inner wall and said outer body defining an air passage therebetween;
an inlet port disposed in said tower member for receiving a medicated aerosol from an exterior source into said holding chamber, an air inlet port disposed in said tower member for receiving air into said air passage; and
an adapter disposed in said medicated aerosol inlet port, said adapter comprising a universal fitting which is capable of attaching said tower member to either a nebulizer or a metered dose inhaler (MDI);
wherein the air in said air passage flows therethrough around said inner wall and into said holding chamber, to be entrained with said medicated aerosol.
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38. An aerosol enhancement device, comprising:
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a mouthpiece;
a tower member fluidly attached to said mouthpiece, said tower member having an outer body having a total length and which defines an interior volume;
an inner wall disposed in said outer body, said inner wall extending more than half of said total length through said interior volume and defining a holding chamber inferiorly of said inner wall, said inner wall and said outer body defining an air passage therebetween;
an inlet port disposed in said tower member for receiving a medicated aerosol from an exterior source into said holding chamber;
an air inlet port disposed in said tower member for receiving air into said air passage;
wherein the air in said air passage flows therethrough around said inner wall and into said holding chamber, to be entrained with said medicated aerosol.
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39. An aerosol enhancement device, comprising:
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a mouthpiece;
a tower member fluidly attached to said mouthpiece, said tower member having an outer body which defines an interior volume;
an inner wall disposed in said outer body, said inner wall extending a substantial distance through said interior volume and defining a holding chamber interiorly of said inner wall, said inner wall and said outer body defining an air passage therebetween;
an inlet port disposed in said tower member for receiving a medicated aerosol from an exterior source into said holding chamber;
an air inlet port disposed in said tower member for receiving air into said air passage;
wherein the air in said air passage flows therethrough around said inner wall, into said holding chamber, to be entrained with said medicated aerosol, and then through an outlet from an upper end of said holding chamber;
said air inlet port and said holding chamber outlet having a barrier disposed therebetween, so that there is no fluid flow communication therebetween.
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Specification