Device for the controlled inhalation of therapeutic aerosols

• US 7,766,012 B2
• Filed: 03/16/2001
• Issued: 08/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Vectura GmbH (Vectura Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Activaero GmbH
• Inventors: Meyer, Thomas, Müllinger, Bernhard, Scheuch, Gerhard, Greindl, Axel, Sommerer, Knut
• Primary Examiner(s): Yu; Justine R
• Assistant Examiner(s): OSTRUP, CLINTON T
• Application Number:
  US09/810,988
• Publication Number:
  US 20010037806A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,427 Days
• Field of Search: 128/200.14, 128/200.23, 128/203.12, 128/204.18, 128/204.21, 128/204.23, 128/204.26, 128/205.23, 128/207.14, 128/207.18, 128/200.24, 128/203.14, 128/203.15, 128/203.23, 128/203.18, 128/203.21, 128/200.11, 239/338, 239/373
• US Class Current: 128/203.21
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0072 Tidal volume piston pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/01 specially adapted for anaesthetising A61M16/104, A61M16/18 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/22 Carbon dioxide-absorbing devices ; Other means for removing carbon dioxidecartridges with absorbing substances for respiratory apparatus A62B19/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0021 with a proportional output signal, e.g. from a thermistor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0039 in the inspiratory circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0042 in the expiratory circuit

Abstract

A device for the controlled inhalation of therapeutic aerosols comprises means providing individual patient parameters and/or aerosol parameters for the inhalation. The aerosol doses, such as the tidal volume and the respiratory flow, are individually adjusted on the basis of these individual parameters. Thus, the inhalation device may be individually adjusted to the patient to be treated.

Claims

1. A method for administering a controlled inhalation of therapeutic aerosols for a patient during an adjusted breathing maneuvers comprising the steps of:

inputting into an inhalation device a plurality of inhalation parameters for the inhalation;

wherein the inhalation parameters are selected from the group consisting of;

a) a plurality of individual patient parameters for the patient;

b) a plurality of aerosol parameters; and

c) a combination of a) and b);

individually adjusting the inhalation device to the patient to be treated by adapting a dosage of at least one aerosol on the basis of the inhalation parameters to obtain a predetermined amount of aerosol deposition in a lung of the patient, comprising the substeps of;

evaluating the inhalation parameters for the inhalation; and

adjusting a breathing maneuver of the patient according to capabilities of the patient by adjusting a respiratory flow or a tidal volume of the inhalation device based on the inhalation parameters such that an optimal dose of at least one active ingredient of at least one aerosol is applied to a desired section of the lung of the patient during the controlled inhalation.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of adjusting is accomplished using at least one valve.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein an air flow through the inhalation device is controlled based on the inhalation parameters.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of inhaling through the inhalation device by the patient.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of inputting comprises the substep of receiving the inhalation parameters through a modem.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of inputting comprises the substep of manually inputting the inhalation parameters.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of controlling an air flow through the inhalation device during inhalation by the patient.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the inputting step comprises the substeps of:

inserting a memory medium into the inhalation device; and

storing the inhalation parameters on the memory medium before the inhalation.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the memory medium also stores data from breathing maneuvers carried out.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the memory medium is selected from the group consisting of:

a) a SmartCard;

b) a FlashCard; and

c) a SmartLabel.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the memory medium is reprogrammable such that the individual patient parameters stored on the memory medium are adapted if a pulmonary function of the patient changes.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the memory medium also stores an action blockage pre-setting such that a period of time lapses between successive inhalations to prevent an overdose.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the substep of storing the inhalation parameters on the memory medium occurs prior to the substep of inserting the memory medium into the inhalation device.

14. A method for administering a controlled inhalation of therapeutic aerosols for a patient during breathing maneuvers comprising the steps of:

inputting into an inhalation device a plurality of individual patient parameters for the patient for the inhalation;

individually adjusting the inhalation device to the patient to be treated by adapting a dosage of at least one aerosol on the basis of the individual patient parameters to obtain a predetermined amount of aerosol deposition in a lung of the patient, comprising the substeps of;

evaluating the individual patient parameters for the inhalation; and

adjusting a breathing maneuver of the patient according to capabilities of the patient by adjusting a respiratory flow or a tidal volume of the inhalation device based on the individual patient parameters such that an optimal dose of at least one active ingredient of at least one aerosol is applied to a desired section of the lung of the patient during the controlled inhalation.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the inputting step comprises the substeps of:

inserting a memory medium into the inhalation device; and

storing the individual patient parameters on the memory medium before the inhalation.

16. A method for administering a controlled inhalation of therapeutic aerosols for a patient during breathing maneuvers comprising the steps of:

inputting into an inhalation device a plurality of aerosol parameters for the inhalation;

individually adjusting the inhalation device to the patient to be treated by adapting a dosage of at least one aerosol on the basis of the aerosol parameters to obtain a predetermined amount of aerosol deposition in a lung of the patient, comprising the substeps of;

evaluating the aerosol parameters for the inhalation; and

adjusting a breathing maneuver of the patient according to capabilities of the patient by adjusting a respiratory flow or a tidal volume of the inhalation device based on the aerosol parameters such that an optimal dose of at least one active ingredient of at least one aerosol is applied to a desired section of the lung of the patient during the controlled inhalation.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the inputting step comprises the substeps of:

inserting a memory medium into the inhalation device; and

storing the aerosol parameters on the memory medium before the inhalation.