Dual-canister inhaler having a spacer and easy to operate lever mechanism

• US 6,523,536 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2001
• Issued: 02/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sp Medical, LLC
• Original Assignee: Birdsong Medical Devices Incorporated
• Inventors: Fugelsang, Eric, Muszak, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Dawson, Glenn K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Erezo, Darwin P.
• Application Number:
  US09/804,508
• Publication Number:
  US 20020148462A1
• Time in Patent Office: 715 Days
• Field of Search: 128/200.23, 128/203.15, 128/203.12, 128/203.23, 128/200.14, 239/338, 239/305, 221/451, 221/445, 221/35
• US Class Current: 128/200.14
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0003 with means for dispensing more than one drug
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0016 located downstream of the dispenser, i.e. traversed by the product
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0018 with exhalation check valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0021 Mouthpieces therefor
• 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

The present invention relates to a dual-cannister inhaler for effectively delivering medications by inhalation through the mouth of patients, having a spacer for more effectively mixing the medication and air, and easy to operate lever and canister selection mechanisms. A preferred embodiment of the invention has universal receptors for two metered dose inhaler canisters. A lever arm is provided that is opposed to the body of the inhaler, which allows a patient to use the entire hand to activate the metered dose inhaler canister. A simple and easy to operate sliding selector permits one-handed control of the canister selector. In a preferred embodiment a valve assembly and whistle are included in the inhaler to improve the consistency and effectiveness of delivery of medication to the lungs of a patient.

Claims

1. An inhaler for delivery of medication from either of a first canister or a second canister to the lungs of a patient by inhalation through the patient'"'"'s mouth, each of the first and second canisters having a compression spray outlet, the inhaler comprising:

a cowling having a support structure, a first canister receptor and a second canister receptor, wherein each of the first canister receptor and the second canister receptor has a flexible fitting and a ring, wherein the flexible fitting is supported within the ring, and wherein the support structure has a first end, an opposite end, an inner surface, and an outer surface, wherein the ring is fixed in the first end of the support structure, and wherein the opposite end of the support structure is open, allowing the patient to insert the first canister and the second canister into the cowling, and wherein the shape of the inner surface of the cowling is selected to guide each of the first canister and the second canister into the flexible fitting of the first canister receptor and the second canister receptor, respectively, and to hold the first canister and the second canister in place within the cowling;

a sliding selector switch having a first operating position and a second operating position;

a housing, wherein the housing further comprises a chamber receiving section, a cowling receiving section, a sliding selector switch support, a fresh air inlet, a compression spray outlet compression mechanism, and an enclosed passage, and wherein the cowling is fixedly seated in the cowling receiving section, and wherein the cowling receiving section has a first cowling receiving section inlet port and a second cowling receiving section inlet port, and wherein, the compression spray outlets of each of the first canister and the second canister extend through the corresponding flexible fitting of the cowling, through the corresponding first cowling receiving section inlet port and second cowling receiving section inlet port, and into the enclosed passage of the housing, and wherein the enclosed passage is defined by the surfaces of the housing and ends in the chamber receiving section, wherein the chamber receiving section is an opening in the housing;

an actuator lever having a lever arm and a distal end, wherein the distal end is pivotally mounted on the sliding selector switch support of the housing, whereby the distal end engages the sliding selector switch, when the actuator lever is depressed by the patient;

a chamber further comprising a mouthpiece, a chamber body, and a housing mating section, wherein the housing mating section is an opening in the chamber body, and wherein the chamber body is a shell that joins the mouthpiece to the housing mating section, and wherein the housing mating section of the chamber engages the chamber receiving section of the housing, and wherein the mouthpiece is shaped to fit the patient'"'"'s mouth and further comprises a mouthpiece vent, and wherein the chamber body opposes the actuator lever, whereby the patient can depress the actuator lever by squeezing the lever arm to the chamber body, and whereby depressing the actuator lever engages the sliding selector switch, whereby, if the sliding selector switch is in the first operating position, then sliding selector switch engages the first canister, and the compression spray outlet of the first cannister is activated, and whereby, if the sliding selector switch is in the second operating position, then the sliding selector switch engages the second canister, and the compression spray outlet of the second canister is activated, whereby medication enters into the enclosed passage of the housing and the chamber body, and whereby, when the patient inhales through the mouthpiece, fresh air enters the enclosed passage through the fresh air inlet of the housing, whereby the mixture of air and medication in the enclosed passage of the housing and the chamber body is drawn into the lungs of the patient.

2. The inhaler of claim 1, wherein the mouthpiece further comprises a valve assembly, and wherein the valve assembly is fixed in the mouthpiece, and wherein the valve assembly comprises a diaphragm valve and a valve body, wherein the diaphragm valve opens during inhalation and closes against the valve body during exhalation.

3. The inhaler of claim 1, wherein the mouthpiece further comprises a valve assembly and a exhalation vent, and wherein the valve assembly is fixed in the mouthpiece, and wherein the valve assembly comprises a valve body and a diaphragm valve, the diaphragm valve having a top slit and a bottom slit, and wherein the top slit opens during inhalation and closes against the valve body during exhalation, and wherein the bottom slit closes against the valve body during inhalation and opens during exhalation, whereby air exhaled by the patient exits through the exhalation vent.

4. The inhaler of claim 3, wherein the valve body includes a whistle, wherein the whistle emits an audible signal, when the rate of patient inhalation causes an undesirable over-pressure.

5. The inhaler of claim 3, wherein the inhaler further comprises a canister locking plate sandwiched between the cowling and the housing, wherein the canister locking plate locks both of the first canister and the second canister into the cowling.

6. The inhaler of claim 3, wherein the sliding selector switch has a non-operative locking position, and wherein, when the patient selects the non-operative locking position, the sliding selector switch does not engage either of the first canister or the second canister.

7. The inhaler of claim 3, wherein the compression spray outlet engaging mechanism is an integral compression spray outlet engaging stage.

8. The inhaler of claim 3, wherein the compression spray outlet engaging mechanism is a compression spray outlet engaging device.

9. The inhaler of claim 1, wherein the inhaler further comprises a canister locking plate sandwiched between the cowling and the housing, wherein the canister locking plate locks both of the first canister and the second canister into the cowling.

10. The inhaler of claim 1, wherein the sliding selector switch has a non-operative locking position, and wherein, when the patient selects the non-operative locking position, the sliding selector switch does not engage either of the first canister or the second canister.

11. The inhaler of claim 1, wherein the compression spray outlet engaging mechanism is an integral compression spray outlet engaging stage.

12. The inhaler of claim 1, wherein the compression spray outlet engaging mechanism is a compression spray outlet engaging device.

13. An inhaler for delivery of medication from either of a first canister or a second canister to the lungs of a patient by inhalation through the patient'"'"'s mouth, each of the first and second canisters having a compression spray outlet, the inhaler comprising:

a cowling having a support structure, a first canister receptor and a second canister receptor, wherein each of the first canister receptor and the second canister receptor has a flexible fitting and a ring, wherein the flexible fitting is supported within the ring, and wherein the support structure has a first end, an opposite end, an inner surface, and an outer surface, wherein the ring is fixed in the first end of the support structure, and wherein the opposite end of the support structure is open, allowing the patient to insert the first canister and the second canister into the cowling, and wherein the shape of the inner surface of the cowling is selected to guide each of the first canister and the second canister into the flexible fitting of the first canister receptor and the second canister receptor, respectively, and to hold the first canister and the second canister in place within the cowling;

a sliding selector switch having a first operating position, a second operating position, and a non-operative locking position;

a housing, wherein the housing further comprises a chamber receiving section, a cowling receiving section, a sliding selector switch support, a fresh air inlet, an integral compression spray outlet compression stage, and an enclosed passage, and wherein the cowling is fixedly seated in the cowling receiving section, and wherein the cowling receiving section has a first cowling receiving section inlet port and a second cowling receiving section inlet port, and wherein, the compression spray outlets of each of the first canister and the second canister extend through the corresponding flexible fitting of the cowling, through the corresponding first cowling receiving section inlet port and second cowling receiving section inlet port, and into the enclosed passage of the housing, and wherein the enclosed passage is defined by the surfaces of the housing and ends in the chamber receiving section, wherein the chamber receiving section is an opening in the housing;

an actuator lever having a lever arm and a distal end, wherein the distal end is pivotally mounted on the sliding selector switch support of the housing, whereby the distal end engages the sliding selector switch, when the actuator lever is depressed by the patient;

a chamber further comprising a mouthpiece, a chamber body, and a housing mating section, wherein the housing mating section is an opening in the chamber body, and wherein the chamber body is a shell that joins the mouthpiece to the housing mating section, and wherein the housing mating section of the chamber engages the chamber receiving section of the housing, and wherein the mouthpiece is shaped to fit the patient'"'"'s mouth, and the mouthpiece comprises a mouthpiece vent, a valve assembly and a exhalation vent, and wherein the valve assembly is fixed in the mouthpiece, and wherein the valve assembly comprises a valve body and a diaphragm valve, the diaphragm valve having a top slit and a bottom slit, and wherein the top slit opens during inhalation and closes against the valve body during exhalation, and wherein the bottom slit closes against the valve body during inhalation and opens during exhalation, whereby air exhaled by the patient exits through the exhalation vent, and wherein the chamber body opposes the actuator lever, whereby the patient can depress the actuator lever by squeezing the lever arm to the chamber body, and whereby depressing the actuator lever engages the sliding selector switch, whereby, if the sliding selector switch is in the first operating position, then sliding selector switch engages the first canister, and the compression spray outlet of the first cannister is depressed by the integral compression outlet engaging stage, and whereby, if the sliding selector switch is in the second operating position, then the sliding selector switch engages the second canister, and the compression spray outlet of the second canister is depressed by the integral compression spray outlet engaging stage, whereby medication enters into the enclosed passage of the housing and the chamber body, and whereby, when the patient inhales through the mouthpiece, fresh air enters the enclosed passage through the fresh air inlet of the housing, whereby the mixture of air and medication in the enclosed passage of the housing and the chamber body is drawn into the lungs of the patient, and whereby, if the sliding selector switch is in the non-operative locking position, then the sliding selector switch does not engage either of the first canister or the second canister and no medication enters the enclosed passage of the housing.

14. The inhaler of claim 13, wherein the actuator lever moves freely, when the patient selects the non-operative position of the sliding selector switch, and wherein the inhaler further comprises a means for securing the actuator lever to the chamber body.