Valved holding chamber for use with an aerosol medication delivery system

• US 7,748,385 B2
• Filed: 05/18/2004
• Issued: 07/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RIC INVESTMENTS LLC (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: RIC INVESTMENTS LLC (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Lieberman, Eric, Von Hollen, Dirk
• Primary Examiner(s): Yu; Justine R
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ostrup; Clinton
• Application Number:
  US10/848,213
• Publication Number:
  US 20040231665A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,240 Days
• Field of Search: 128/205.24, 128/200.14, 128/200.23, 128/203.12, 128/203.11, 128/203.15, 128/203.29, 128/202.28, 128/202.29, 128/207.12, 128/207.16, 128/202.08, 137/846, 137/859, 137/512.3, 137/102
• US Class Current: 128/207.12
• 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 15/0086 Inhalation chambers
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 15/144 the closure elements being fixed along all or a part of their periphery
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/2544 Supply and exhaust type
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7842 Diverse types
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7882 Having exit lip

Abstract

The present invention pertains to a valved holding chamber suitable for use in an aerosol medication delivery system. The valved holding chamber includes a housing and a mouthpiece coupled to the housing. A one-way valve assembly is coupled to the housing, the mouthpiece, or both so that fluid flows in a first direction from the housing to the mouthpiece passes through the valve assembly but does not pass back into the housing. The valve assembly includes a conical flange disposed such that the conical flange tapers in the first direction to smooth the fluid flow in the first direction toward the patient. In a further embodiment, the mouthpiece includes an exhaust port defined in a conical collar portion of the mouthpiece, and an exhaust valve element is disposed over the exhaust port to provide a one-way flow of fluid from within the mouthpiece to ambient atmosphere via the exhaust port.

Claims

1. A valved holding chamber comprising:

(a) a housing having a first end portion, a second end portion, and a chamber defined in the housing, wherein a first chamber opening is defined in the first end portion and a second chamber opening is defined in the second end portion;

(b) a mouthpiece having a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portion of the mouthpiece is coupled to the first end portion of the housing; and

(c) a valve assembly operatively coupled to the first end portion of the housing or the first end portion of mouthpiece such that fluid flow in a first direction from the housing to the mouthpiece passes through the valve assembly defining a fluid flow path, wherein the valve assembly comprises;

(1) a conical flange having a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portion of the conical flange is operatively coupled to the housing, or the mouthpiece, wherein the conical flange is disposed such that the conical flange tapers inwardly along a first direction extending from the first end portion of the conical flange to the second end portion of the conical flange, wherein the first end portion of the conical flange abuts an interior wall of the chamber, and

(2) a one-way valve element disposed at the second end portion of the conical flange, the one-way valve element is integral with the conical flange, the one-way valve element is movable to selectively permit or impede fluid flow, wherein no portion of the valved holding chamber downstream of the housing intersects the fluid flow path perpendicularly relative to the longitudinal axis of the housing.

2. The valved holding chamber of claim 1, wherein the first end portion of the mouthpiece includes a conical collar.

3. The valved holding chamber of claim 2, further comprising an exhaust port defined in the conical collar, and an exhaust valve element disposed over the exhaust port.

4. The valved holding chamber of claim 1, further comprising a mask attached to the second end portion of the mouthpiece.

5. The valved holding chamber of claim 1, where the one-way valve element is a duck-bill valve or a cross-slit valve.

6. The valved holding chamber of claim 1, wherein the first end portion of the housing and the first end portion of the mouthpiece are connected to each other such that first end portion of the conical flange is sandwiched between the first end portion of the housing and the first end portion of the mouthpiece.

7. The valved holding chamber of claim 1, wherein the valve assembly has a shape that substantially matches a shape of the mouthpiece.

8. The valved holding chamber of claim 1, wherein the housing and the mouthpiece are defined from a rigid material and the valve assembly is defined from a unitary piece of non-rigid material.

9. The valved holding chamber of claim 1, wherein the valve assembly is integrally formed as a unitary, non-rigid piece of material.

10. A valved holding chamber comprising:

(a) a housing having a first end portion, a second end portion, and a chamber defined in the housing, wherein a first chamber opening is defined in the first end portion and a second chamber opening is defined in the second end portion;

(b) a mouthpiece having a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portion of the mouthpiece is coupled to the first end portion of the housing; and

(c) a valve assembly operatively coupled to the first end portion of the housing or the first end portion of mouthpiece such that fluid flow in a first direction from the housing to the mouthpiece passes through the valve assembly defining a fluid flow path, wherein the valve assembly comprises;

(1) a conical flange having a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portion of the conical flange is operatively coupled to the housing, or the mouthpiece, wherein the conical flange is disposed such that the conical flange tapers inwardly along a first direction extending from the first end portion of the conical flange to the second end portion of the conical flange, and

(2) a one-way valve element disposed at the second end portion of the conical flange, the one-way valve element is integral with the conical flange, the one-way valve element is movable to selectively permit or impede fluid flow, wherein no portion of the valved holding chamber downstream of the housing intersects the fluid flow path perpendicularly relative to the longitudinal axis of the housing, wherein the first end portion of the mouthpiece includes a conical collar, wherein said valved holding chamber further comprises an exhaust port defined in the conical collar, and an exhaust valve ring disposed over the conical collar, wherein the exhaust valve ring comprises an exhaust valve element disposed over the exhaust port, and wherein the exhaust valve ring maintains the exhaust valve element on the conical collar.

11. A valved holding chamber comprising:

(a) a housing having a first end portion, a second end portion, and a chamber defined in the housing, wherein a first chamber opening is defined in the first end portion and a second chamber opening is defined in the second end portion;

(b) a mouthpiece having a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portion of the mouthpiece is coupled to the first end portion of the housing;

(c) a valve assembly operatively coupled to the first end portion of the housing or the first end portion of mouthpiece such that fluid flow in a first direction from the housing to the mouthpiece passes through the valve assembly defining a fluid flow path, wherein the valve assembly comprises;

(1) a conical flange having a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portion of the conical flange is operatively coupled to the housing, or the mouthpiece, wherein the conical flange is disposed such that the conical flange tapers inwardly along a first direction extending from the first end portion of the conical flange to the second end portion of the conical flange, and

(2) a one-way valve element disposed at the second end portion of the conical flange, the one-way valve element is integral with the conical flange, the one-way valve element is movable to selectively permit or impede fluid flow, wherein no portion of the valved holding chamber downstream of the housing intersects the fluid flow path perpendicularly relative to the longitudinal axis of the housing;

(d) a cap adapted to selectively close the second end portion of the mouthpiece; and

(e) a tether coupling the cap to the valve assembly.

12. An aerosol medication delivery system comprising:

(a) a canister adapted to dispense a medicine;

(b) a canister holder adapted to couple to the canister; and

(c) a valved holding chamber coupled to an end of the canister holder comprising;

(1) a housing having a first end portion, a second end portion coupled to an end portion of the canister holder, and a chamber defined in the housing, wherein a first chamber opening is defined in the first end portion and a second chamber opening is defined in the second end portion;

(2) a mouthpiece having a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portion of the mouthpiece is coupled to the first end portion of the housing; and

(3) a valve assembly operatively coupled to the first end portion of the housing or the first end portion of the mouthpiece such that fluid flow in a first direction from the housing to the mouthpiece passes through the valve assembly defining a fluid flow path, wherein the valve assembly comprises;

(i) a conical flange having a first end portion, the first end portion of the conical flange is operatively coupled to the housing, or the mouthpiece; and

a second end portion of the conical flange, wherein the conical flange is disposed such that the conical flange tapers inwardly along a first direction extending from the first end portion of the conical flange towards the second end portion of the conical flange, and

(ii) a one-way valve element disposed as the second end portion of the conical flange, the one-way valve element is integral with the conical flange, the one-way valve element is movable to selectively permit or impede fluid flow, wherein no portion of the valved holding chamber downstream of the housing intersect the fluid flow path perpendicularly relative to the longitudinal axis of the housing;

(d) a cap adapted to selectively close the second end portion of the mouthpiece; and

(e) a tether coupling the cap to the valve assembly.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the first end portion of the mouthpiece includes a conical collar.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising an exhaust port defined in the conical collar, and an exhaust valve element disposed over the exhaust port.

15. The system of claim 12, further comprising a mask attached to the second end of the mouthpiece.

16. The system of claim 12, where the one-way valve element is a duck-bill valve or a cross-slit valve.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the first end portion of the housing and the first end portion of the mouthpiece are connected to each other such that first end portion of the conical flange is sandwiched between the first end portion of the housing and the first end portion of the mouthpiece.

18. The of claim 12, wherein the valve assembly has a shape that substantially matches a shape of the mouthpiece.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein the housing and the mouthpiece are defined by a rigid material and the valve assembly is defined from a unitary piece of non-rigid material.

20. The system of claim 12, wherein the valve assembly is integrally formed as a unitary, non-rigid piece of material.

21. An aerosol medication delivery system comprising:

(a) a canister adapted to dispense a medicine;

(b) a canister holder adapted to couple to the canister; and

(c) a valved holding chamber coupled to an end of the canister holder comprising;

(1) a housing having a first end portion, a second end portion coupled to an end portion of the canister holder, and a chamber defined in the housing, wherein a first chamber opening is defined in the first end portion and a second chamber opening is defined in the second end portion;

(2) a mouthpiece having a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portion of the mouthpiece is coupled to the first end portion of the housing; and

(3) a valve assembly operatively coupled to the first end portion of the housing or the first end portion of the mouthpiece such that fluid flow in a first direction from the housing to the mouthpiece passes through the valve assembly defining a fluid flow path, wherein the valve assembly comprises;

(i) a conical flange having a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portion of the conical flange is operatively coupled to the housing, or the mouthpiece; and

a second end portion of the conical flange wherein the conical flange is disposed such that the conical flange tapers inwardly along a first direction extending from the first end portion of the conical flange towards the second end portion of the conical flange, and

(ii) a one-way valve element disposed at the second end portion of the conical flange, the one-way valve element being integral with the conical flange, the one-way valve element being movable to selectively permit or impede fluid flow,

wherein no portion of the valved holding chamber downstream of the housing intersects the fluid flow path perpendicularly relative to the longitudinal axis of the housing, wherein the first end portion of the mouthpiece includes a conical collar,

wherein the mouthpiece further comprises an exhaust port defined in the conical collar,

wherein the mouthpiece further comprises an exhaust valve ring disposed over the conical collar, wherein the exhaust valve ring comprises an exhaust valve element disposed over the exhaust port, and

wherein the exhaust valve ring maintains the exhaust valve element on the conical collar.

22. A valved holding chamber comprising:

(a) a housing having a first end portion, a second end portion, and a chamber defined in the housing, wherein a first chamber opening is defined in the first end portion and a second chamber opening is defined in the second end portion;

(b) a mouthpiece having a conical collar coupled to the first end portion of the housing, wherein an exhaust port is defined in the conical collar;

(c) an exhaust valve ring disposed over the conical collar, wherein the exhaust valve ring comprises an exhaust valve element disposed over the exhaust port so as to provide a one-way flow of fluid from within the mouthpiece to ambient atmosphere; and

(d) a valve assembly operatively coupled to the first end portion of the housing or the first end portion of mouthpiece such that fluid flow in a first direction from the housing to the mouthpiece passes through the valve assembly defining a fluid flow path, wherein the valve assembly comprises;

(1) a conical flange having a first end portion and a second end portion, the first portion of the conical flange is operatively coupled to the housing, or the mouthpiece, wherein the conical flange is disposed such that the conical flange tapers inwardly along a first direction extending from the first end portion of the conical flange to the second end portion of the conical flange, and

(2) a one-way valve element disposed at the second end portion of the conical flange, the one-way valve element is integral with the conical flange, the one-way valve element is movable to selectively permit or impede fluid flow.

23. A valved holding chamber comprising:

(a) a housing having a first end portion, a second end portion, and a chamber defined in the housing, wherein a first chamber opening is defined in the first end portion and a second chamber opening is defined in the second end portion;

(b) a mouthpiece having a conical collar coupled to the first end portion of the housing, wherein an exhaust port is defined in the conical collar;

(c) a one-way valve operatively coupled to the housing or the mouthpiece such that fluid flow in a first direction from the housing to the mouthpiece passes through the valve assembly; and

(d) an exhaust valve ring disposed over the conical collar, wherein the exhaust valve ring comprises an exhaust valve element disposed over the exhaust port so as to provide a one-way flow of fluid from within the mouthpiece to ambient atmosphere, and wherein the valved holding chamber further comprises a mask attached to the second end of the mouthpiece.

24. A valved holding chamber comprising:

(a) a housing having a first end portion, a second end portion, and a chamber defined in the housing, wherein a first chamber opening is defined in the first end portion and a second chamber opening is defined in the second end portion;

(b) a mouthpiece having a conical collar coupled to the first end portion of the housing, wherein an exhaust port is defined in the conical collar;

(c) a one-way valve operatively coupled to the housing or the mouthpiece such that fluid flow in a first direction from the housing to the mouthpiece passes through the valve assembly; and

(d) an exhaust valve ring disposed over the conical collar, wherein the exhaust valve ring comprises an exhaust valve element disposed over the exhaust port so as to provide a one-way flow of fluid from within the mouthpiece to ambient atmosphere, and wherein the valved holding chamber further comprises a cap adapted to selectively close the second end of the mouthpiece and a tether coupling the cap to the valve assembly.