Housing for an inhaler

• US 6,932,083 B2
• Filed: 02/14/2001
• Issued: 08/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Glaxo Group Limited (Glaxosmithkline Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Glaxo Group Limited (Glaxosmithkline Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Robertson, Duncan, Jones, Anthony Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): Bennett, Henry
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ragonese, Andrea M.
• Application Number:
  US10/203,725
• Publication Number:
  US 20030075171A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,651 Days
• Field of Search: 600/538, 600/540, 482/13, 128/200.14, 128/200.18, 128/200.21, 128/200.22, 128/200.23, 128/202.22, 128/204.23, 128/204.25, 128/204.26, 128/203.12, 128/205.23
• US Class Current: 128/200.23
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0068 Indicating or counting the number of dispensed doses or of remaining doses
• 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 2016/0021 with a proportional output signal, e.g. from a thermistor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/59 Aesthetic features, e.g. distraction means to prevent fears of child patients

Abstract

There is provided a housing for a dispenser suitable for dispensing medicament, particularly for use in the treatment of respiratory disorders. The housing comprises a body; said body including a support for receipt of said aerosol container; a first outlet port connectable to a first pressure recorder for recording change of pressure on firing of said aerosol container; and a second outlet port connectable to a second pressure recorder for recording air pressure within the body; wherein said first outlet port and said second outlet port are separate such that the change of pressure on firing and the air pressure within the body are individually recordable.

Claims

1. A housing for an aerosol container for the delivery of inhalable medicament comprising

a body defining an internal chamber having an open first end and an outlet;

said body including a support, said support defining

a valve stem seat for receipt of a valve stem of an aerosol container,

a nozzle directed toward said outlet, said nozzle in fluid communication with said valve stem seat, and

a first outlet port in fluid communication with said valve stem seat, said first outlet port being connectable to a first pressure recorder for recording change of pressure on firing of said aerosol container; and

a second outlet port in fluid communication with the interior chamber of said body and connectable to a second pressure recorder for recording air pressure within the body;

wherein said first outlet port and said second outlet port are separate such that the change of pressure on firing and the air pressure within the body are individually recordable.

2. A housing according to claim 1 wherein the support defines a well and the first outlet port extends from said well and the body defines the second outlet port extending from said internal chamber.

3. A housing according to claim 1 wherein the body defines a socket for receipt of a plug having a first duct for communicating with the first outlet port and a second duct for communicating with the second outlet port.

4. A housing according to claim 1 wherein said support has a passage for delivery of said inhalable medicament from said aerosol container.

5. A housing according to claim 4 wherein the exit of said passage defines a nozzle.

6. A housing according to claim 5 wherein the first outlet port communicates with the passage.

7. A housing according to claim 4 wherein the diameter of the first outlet port is narrower than the passage.

8. A housing according to claim 1 wherein the second outlet port is adjacent to the support.

9. A housing according to claim 1 wherein the first outlet port connects to a first pressure recorder and the second outlet port connects to a second pressure recorder.

10. An assembly comprising a housing according to claim 1 and a plug comprising a first duct in communication with the first outlet port and a second duct in communication with the second outlet port.

11. An assembly according to claim 10 wherein said plug is reversibly attachable to said socket by a snap-fit connection.

12. An assembly according to claim 10 additionally comprising a first pressure recorder in communication with the first outlet port through said first duct and a second pressure recorder in communication with the second outlet port through said second duct.

13. An assembly according to claim 10 additionally comprising a first strand of tubing which connects to the first duct and a second strand of tubing which connects to the second duct.

14. An assembly according to claim 13 wherein said tubing comprises an inert material such as stainless steel or an organic polymer.

15. An assembly according to claim 13 additionally comprising a first pressure recorder in communication with the first outlet port via the first duct and the first strand of tubing and a second pressure recorder in communication with the second outlet port via the second duct and the second strand of tubing.

16. An assembly according to claim 9 wherein said pressure recorders comprise pressure transducers.

17. An assembly according to claim 9 additionally comprising an electronic processor capable of storing, manipulating and visually displaying data captured by the pressure recorders as pressure release profiles.

18. An assembly according to claim 17 wherein said electronic processor compares said pressure release profiles with standard inhalation and firing profiles.

19. A training device comprising an assembly according to claim 18 wherein the electronic processor compares pressure release profiles with standard profiles and displays instructions to coordinate inhalation and firing.

20. A training device comprising an assembly according to claim 17 wherein educational or games software display said instructions to different patient groups such as adults or children.

21. A training device comprising an assembly according to claim 17 wherein the electronic processor comprises a personal computer.

22. A training device comprising an assembly according to claim 1 additionally comprising an aerosol container.

23. A training device according to claim 22 wherein said aerosol container provides measured doses.

24. A training device according to claim 22 actuable in response to the breath of a user.

25. A kit of parts comprising a housing according to claim 1 and a first pressure recorder connectable to the first outlet port and a second pressure recorder connectable to the second outlet port.

26. A kit of parts according to claim 25 additionally comprising an electronic processor capable of recording and comparing pressure release profiles.

27. A kit of parts comprising a housing according to claim 1 and a plug for attachment to said housing having a first duct connectable to the first outlet port and a second duct connectable to the second outlet port.

28. A kit of parts according to claim 27 additionally comprising two pressure recorders, tubing connectable to said plug and an electronic processor which is capable of recording and comparing pressure release profiles.

29. Use of a training device according to claim 22 for dispensing medicament.

30. Use of a training device according to claim 22 to train patients in the operation of a medicament dispenser.