Indirect flow measurement through a breath-operated inhaler

• US 6,904,907 B2
• Filed: 11/19/2002
• Issued: 06/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Speldrich, Jamie W., Murray, Martin G., Gehman, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Bennett, Henry
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, MITAL B
• Application Number:
  US10/300,442
• Publication Number:
  US 20040094151A1
• Time in Patent Office: 938 Days
• Field of Search: 128/200.23, 128/200.22, 128/203.23, 128/204.22, 128/202.22, 128/203.12, 128/200.14
• 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 2016/0039 in the inspiratory circuit

Abstract

Indirect airflow measurement through breath-operated device is accomplished by incorporating an airflow sensor into the inhaler device along a low resistance channel disposed away from the exhaust chamber of the device and having an input port in airflow communication with a low resistance channel and output input port and low resistance channel are formed in the main housing body of the device, and further incorporating an output port formed near the exhaust changer near the mouthpiece assembly, the output port also in airflow communication with the low resistance channel. A method of measuring airflow in an inhalation device is also described that measures air flowing through the low resistance channel. Another aspect of the invention provides a method that allows for the closure of the devices'"'"' airflow ports, by allowing for the rotation of the mouthpiece assembly from open to closed positions relative to the inhaling device'"'"'s main housing body and towards handle assembly.

Claims

1. An inhaler device, comprising:

a housing body including an aerosol canister holding and aerosol delivery assembly and a handle assembly, said housing body having a low resistance channel formed therein;

a mouthpiece assembly having an exhaust port formed therein and defining an opening for an exhaust chamber, wherein said mouthpiece assembly is adapted to receive aerosol from an aerosol canister held by said aerosol canister holding and aerosol delivery assembly;

an airflow sensor installed on said housing body and adapted to provide measurement of airflow through said low resistance channel;

an input port in airflow communication with said airflow sensor through said low resistance channel, said input port formed to allow air to flow into said housing body through said low resistance channel; and

an output port in airflow communication with said airflow sensor through said low resistance channel, said output port formed within said mouthpiece assembly near said exhaust port, wherein air flowing from said output port merges with aerosol provided from said aerosol canister holding and aerosol delivery assembly within said exhaust chamber;

wherein said mouthpiece assembly is rotatable attached to said main housing such that said exhaust port of said mouthpiece assembly and said mouthpiece assembly can be rotated 180 degrees toward said handle assembly accomplishing complete closure of the input port and exhaust port.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said airflow sensor is a thermal microsensor.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein inhaler device is formed from plastic.

4. An inhaler device, comprising:

a housing comprising an aerosol canister holding and aerosol delivery assembly and a handle assembly, wherein said aerosol canister holding and aerosol delivery assembly and said handle assembly form said main housing body;

a flow sensor attached to said main housing, wherein said flow sensor is adapted for carrying out indirect measurement of air flowing through said inhaler device;

an input port in communication with said flow sensor, said input port formed in said main housing and adapted for enabling air to flow into said inhaler device; and

a mouthpiece assembly having an exhaust port and an output port formed therein, wherein;

said mouthpiece assembly is rotatably attached to said housing at said aerosol canister holding and aerosol delivery assembly such that said exhaust port and said mouthpiece assembly can be rotated 180 degrees toward said handle assembly for storage of said inhaler device accomplishing complete closure of the input port and exhaust port;

said mouthpiece assembly is further adapted to receive aerosol from an aerosol canister held by said aerosol canister holding and aerosol delivery assembly;

said output port is in airflow communication with said flow sensor, said output port formed within said mouthpiece assembly near said exhaust port;

air flowing from said output port can merge with aerosol from said aerosol canister holding and aerosol delivery assembly within said exhaust chamber, and

air entering said inhaler device from said input port is received by said flow sensor and is discharged from said inhaler device through said exhaust port.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein said airflow sensor is provided as a silicon chip.

6. The device of claim 4, wherein said airflow sensor is provided as a thermal microsensor.

7. The device of claim 4, wherein inhaler device is formed from plastic.

8. A method of using an inhalation device, comprising the steps of:

providing an inhalation device, which further comprises a housing having a low resistance channel formed therein and including an aerosol canister holding and aerosol delivery assembly, a handle assembly, a mouthpiece assembly having an exhaust port formed therein and defining an opening for an exhaust chamber, wherein said mouthpiece assembly is adapted to receive aerosol from an aerosol canister held by said aerosol canister holding and aerosol delivery assembly, an airflow sensor incorporated within said inhaler device that allows for indirect measurement of airflow through said low resistance channel, an input port in airflow communication with said airflow sensor, said input port formed in said handle assembly, wherein air flows into said housing from said input port through said low resistance channel, and an output port formed within said mouthpiece assembly near the exhaust chamber and in airflow communication with said low resistance channel and said airflow sensor, wherein air flowing from said output port merges into air flowing from said aerosol canister holding and aerosol deliver assembly within said exhaust chamber, said mouthpiece assembly rotatabley attached to said housing at said aerosol canister holding and aerosol delivery assembly such that said exhaust port and said mouthpiece assembly can be rotated 180 degrees toward said handle assembly accomplishing complete closure at the input port and exhaust port;

rotating said mouthpiece assembly on said housing 180 degrees such that said exhaust port and said input port are opened;

drawing air through said inhalation device from said mouthpiece assembly, causing air to flow through said input port, low resistance channel, output port, exhaust chamber, and exhaust port; and

sensing air flowing through said low resistance channel by said drawing step using said airflow sensor.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of:

providing aerosol from an aerosol canister held by said aerosol canister holding and aerosol deliver assembly in response to airflow sensed by said airflow sensor.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein aerosol provide from said aerosol canister held by said aerosol canister holding and aerosol delivery assembly is controlled by said airflow sensor.