Metered dosage inhaler system with variable positive pressure settings

• US 6,708,688 B1
• Filed: 12/11/2001
• Issued: 03/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Darren Rubin
• Original Assignee: Darren Rubin
• Inventors: Rubin, Howard, Rubin, Darren
• Primary Examiner(s): Dawson, Glenn K.
• Application Number:
  US10/014,618
• Time in Patent Office: 833 Days
• Field of Search: 600/529-543, 128/200-4-2, 128/202.13, 128/203.12, 128/203.15, 128/204.18, 128/203.23, 128/205.23, 128/207-4-2, 482/13
• US Class Current: 128/200.23
• 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 16/0833 T- or Y-type connectors, e.g. Y-piece
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0866 Passive resistors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/12 by mixing different gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/20 Valves specially adapted to medical respiratory devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/583 by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/59 Aesthetic features, e.g. distraction means to prevent fears of child patients

Abstract

A metered dosage inhaler system with variable positive pressure settings has a hollow housing with a front portion with a cylindrical protruding user adaptor portion, a top face having apertures, a user controlled air resistance dial, a bottom face having a handle/input, and a cylindrical downwardly extending hollow handle portion. The first end of the handle portion is adapted to form an airtight removable coupling with the handle/input adaptor. An end piece with holes is adapted to couple to the second end of the handle portion. A spherical ball has a diameter less than that of the handle portion and removably rests in the handle portion. The ball rises in response to a vacuum caused by a,patient. A mouth piece portion has a cylindrical first portion removably coupled to the adapter portion and a tapered second portion adapted to fit comfortably within the mouth of a patient.

Claims

1. A metered dosage inhaler system with variable positive pressure settings for providing medication and exercise to the lungs of a patient comprising, in combination:

a one piece housing having an oblong configuration with a generally planar top face and bottom face, a rounded rear face and a generally rounded front portion, the front portion having a cylindrical protruding user adaptor portion, the top face having apertures and a user controlled air resistance dial with supplemental apertures and parallel with the top face rotatable for controlling the amount of additional air allowed to enter through apertures associated with the dial, the top face further includes a flush circular medication adaptor, the medication adaptor having a small aperture passing therethrough with a circular lip extending outwardly for supporting a container within the small aperture, the bottom face having a handle/input adaptor comprising of a cylindrical extension pointing downward and lying in a common axis with the resistance dial, the housing having a hollow interior coupling a handle adaptor aperture with an aperture of the user adaptor portion;

a downwardly extending handle portion of a cylindrical configuration with a first end and a second end, the first end being adapted to form an airtight removably coupling with the handle/input adaptor of the housing;

an end piece with holes adapted to couple to the second end of the handle portion to define an interior space and allow air passage through the system;

a spherical ball having a diameter less than that of the handle portion and adapted to removably rest in the handle portion and forming a resistance to the air flow through the holes of the end piece thus contributing to the resistant flow of air through the housing, the ball adapted to rise and open the holes in response to a vacuum caused by a patient during use;

a mouth piece portion having a cylindrical first portion adapted to removably couple with respect to the adapter portion and a tapered second portion, the second portion adapted to fit comfortably within the mouth of a patient;

an extension portion of a generally hollow cylindrical configuration with a body, a primary end and a secondary end, the primary end adapted to removably couple with the user adaptor portion and the secondary end adapted to couple with the first portion of the mouth piece, the body having a downward facing aperture with a neck; and

an additional extension portion with a downward facing aperture with a supplemental medication container adapted to couple with the downwardly facing aperture to a patient.

2. A metered dosage inhaler system with variable positive pressure settings comprising:

a hollow housing having a front portion with a cylindrical protruding user adaptor portion and a top face having apertures and a user controlled air resistance dial and a bottom face having a handle/input adaptor;

a downwardly extending hollow handle portion of a cylindrical configuration with a first end and a second end, the first end being adapted to form an airtight removable coupling with the handle/input adaptor;

an end piece with holes adapted to couple to the second end of the handle portion;

a spherical ball having a diameter less than that of the handle portion and adapted to removably rest in the handle portion, the ball adapted to rise and open the holes in response to a vacuum caused by a patient during use; and

a mouth piece portion having a cylindrical first portion adapted to removably couple with respect to the adapter portion and a tapered second portion adapted to fit comfortably within the mouth of a patient.

3. The system as set forth in claim 2 and further including:

an optional extension portion of a generally hollow cylindrical configuration with a body, a primary end and a secondary end, the primary end adapted to removably couple with the user adaptor portion and the secondary end adapted to couple with the first portion of the mouth piece, the body having a downward facing aperture with a neck.

4. The system as set forth in claim 3 and further including:

an additional extension portion having a downward facing aperture with a supplemental medication container adapted to couple with the downwardly facing aperture.

5. The system as set forth in claim 2 wherein the housing is shaped as an airplane.

6. The system as set forth in claim 2 wherein the housing has indicia thereon.

7. The system as set forth in claim 2 and further including a liquid crystal display panel on the side of the housing with a power source in the form of a battery electrically coupled thereto and an electrically conductive contacts adapted to be seated on the ball prior to a suction being created by the user but adapted to complete the circuit between the panel, power source and contacts when used by a user whereby the panel will illuminate and display in seconds the amount of time the ball is raised by the suction of the user.