Control unit for flow regulation

• US 7,604,006 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2003
• Issued: 10/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Company Kg (C.H. Boehringer Sohn AG & Co. KG)
• Original Assignee: Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Company Kg (C.H. Boehringer Sohn AG & Co. KG)
• Inventors: Wolf, Harald, Memmesheimer, Holger, Fachinger, Andreas
• Primary Examiner(s): DEMILLE, DANTON D
• Application Number:
  US10/747,341
• Publication Number:
  US 20040261792A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,122 Days
• Field of Search: 128/203.12, 128/203.14, 128/203.15, 128/204.22, 128/204.21, 128/204.26, 128/204.23, 128/204.19, 128/204.29, 128/205.12, 600/529, 600/532
• US Class Current: 128/203.12
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/087 Measuring breath flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/00 Inhalators drug delivery in endotracheal tubes A61M16/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/064 Powder
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3331 Pressure; Flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/02 Equipment for testing the apparatus

Abstract

The invention relates to a control unit for flow regulation for use in an apparatus for testing the delivery of a dose of powder from a powder inhaler, a collecting tube for use in conjunction with the control unit and an apparatus containing the control unit and the collecting tube.

Claims

1. Control unit for flow regulation for use in an apparatus for testing the delivery of a dose of powder from a powder inhaler, containing

a first valve controllable by a time switch,

a time switch for controlling the first valve,

a connector connected to the first valve and allowing air to pass through,

a throughflow control valve connected to the connector,

a connector for a suction device provided on the first valve,

a connector for a collecting tube or an impactor, provided on the throughflow control valve, and

means for measuring the airflow volume through the collecting tube or an impactor,

two connecting points for a pressure gauge provided in front of and behind the throughflow control valve in the direction of suction,

pressure measuring gauges each mounted at the connecting point via a connecting member, wherein the connecting members include an inner capillary which carries the air and an outer tube which encases the capillary.

2. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein the means for measuring the airflow volume comprise a calibratable flow sensor.

3. The control unit according to claim 2, wherein the calibratable flow sensor is a flywheel flow sensor.

4. The control unit according to claims 2 or 3, wherein a damping filter is coupled to the collecting tube formed on the flow sensor.

5. The control unit according to one of claims 2 to 3, wherein the time switch and an apparatus for indicating the values measured by the calibratable flow sensor are integrated in a control device.

6. The control unit according to claim 4, wherein the time switch and an apparatus for indicating the values measured by the calibratable flow sensor are integrated in a control device.