Patient interface member for use in an aerosol inhalation system

• US 8,534,280 B2
• Filed: 11/19/2007
• Issued: 09/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2007
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: Aeon Research And Technology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Aeon Research And Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Dhuper, Sunil Kumar, D'Alo, Herbert Fred
• Primary Examiner(s): Dixon, Annette
• Application Number:
  US11/942,494
• Publication Number:
  US 20090126723A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,129 Days
• Field of Search: 128/200.24, 128/203.12, 128/203.15, 128/203.25, 128/204.18, 128/205.25, 128/206.12, 128/206.21, 128/205.24, 239/338
• US Class Current: 128/203.15
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/00 Sprayers or atomisers specially adapted for therapeutic purposes in general B05B; aerosol containers B65D83/14
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/00 Inhalators drug delivery in endotracheal tubes A61M16/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/06 Respiratory or anaesthetic masks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/08 Bellows; Connecting tubes having means for taking samples G01N1/22; Water traps; Patient circuits
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/1065 in the expiratory path

Abstract

A device for use in an aerosol inhalation system for delivering aerosolized medication includes a housing that is operatively connected to a source of aerosolized medication such that the aerosolized medication is delivered to the housing. The device also includes a patient interface member removably connected to the housing and being separate therefrom. The patient interface member is in the form of a face mask for placement about a face of the patient and in communication with a mouth of the patient for delivering the aerosolized medication. The patient interface member incorporates an integral inhalation valve and safety feature for protecting against displacement of the inhaltation valve.

Claims

1. A device for use in an aerosol inhalation system for delivering aerosolized medication comprising:

a means for generating aerosolized medication;

a reservoir having a first compartment and a second compartment;

an accessory having a housing that is operatively connected to the means for generating aerosolized medication such that the aerosolized medication is delivered to the housing, wherein the housing includes a first leg that is fluidly attached to the means of generating aerosolized medication, a second leg that is in selective communication with the first storage compartment and a third leg that is always in fluid communication with the second storage compartment, wherein there is an unobstructed flow path between the first and third legs; and

a patient interface member removably connected to the housing and being separate therefrom, the patient interface member for placement about a face of the patient and in communication with a mouth of the patient for delivering the aerosolized medication, wherein the patient interface member comprises a face mask that includes a main body and an integral fluid receiving section that extends therefrom and is sealingly coupled to a patient interface section of the housing to permit the aerosolized medication to selectively flow into the interior of the face mask by passing through the fluid receiving section, wherein there is an unobstructed flow path between the second storage compartment and the fluid receiving section of the face mask, the face mask having a first flow control means that is free of attachment to the housing and is integral to the face mark and is positionable between an open position where aerosolized medication flows into an interior of the mask when the patient interface section of the housing is mated with the fluid receiving section of the face mask and when the patient inhales and a closed position when the patient exhales, the first flow control means being positioned within a flow path that is defined by the fluid receiving section, the exhaled gas being vented from the interior of the patient interface member through at least one vent port that is part of the face mask;

wherein the housing includes a main body section that is in communication with first end of each of the first, second and third legs, the main body section having a patient interface section that sealingly mates with a complementary fluid receiving section of the patient interface member so that gas flowing into and through the housing is directed to the patient interface member;

wherein the second compartment is for storing aerosolized medication that is delivered into the housing through the first leg and flows through the third leg to the second compartment and the first compartment stores non-medicated gas;

wherein the second leg has a second flow control means associated therewith and a supplemental gas port associated therein for receiving a supplemental gas, the second flow control means being in the form of an inhalation valve that is disposed between the main body section and the supplemental gas port such that a clear open flow path is always defined between the supplemental gas port and the first compartment such that the supplemental gas can flow into the main body section only when the second flow control means is open; and

when the second flow control means is closed, the supplemental gas flows into the first compartment where it is stored until the second flow control means opens.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the first flow control means comprising a first inhalation valve that is attached to a valve seat that is disposed between an interface between the main body of the face mask and one end of the fluid receiving section.

3. The device of claim 2, further comprising a valve safety feature to prevent the first inhalation valve from entering the patient'"'"'s mouth in the event that the first inhalation valve becomes separated from the face mask, the valve safety feature being disposed between the first inhalation valve and the interior of the face mask.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the valve safety feature comprises a cage structure that surrounds the first inhalation valve and is attached to the face mask and permits the first inhalation valve to fully open, the cage structure being formed of interconnected bars that define a plurality of interstitial spaces.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the cage has a hemi-spherical shape.

6. The device of claim 1, further comprising at least one exhalation valve assembly that is part of the patient interface member, the exhalation valve being provided in a protrusion that extends outwardly from the patient interface member.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the protrusion is configured to mate with a filter attachment for filtering the exhaled gas.

8. A device for use in an aerosol inhalation system for delivering aerosolized medication comprising:

a means for generating aerosolized medication;

a reservoir having a first compartment and a second compartment;

an accessory having a housing that is operatively connected to the means for generating aerosolized medication such that the aerosolized medication is delivered to the housing, wherein the housing includes a first leg that is fluidly attached to the means of generating aerosolized medication, a second leg that is in selective communication with the first storage compartment and a third leg that is always in fluid communication with the second storage compartment, wherein there is an unobstructed flow path between the first and third legs and there is an unobstructed flow path between the second storage compartment and the fluid receiving section of the face mask; and

a patient interface member removably connected to the housing and being separate therefrom, the patient interface member for placement about a face of the patient and in communication with a mouth of the patient for delivering the aerosolized medication, wherein the patient interface member comprises a face mask that includes a main body and an integral fluid receiving section that extends therefrom and is sealingly coupled to a patient interface section of the housing to permit the aerosolized medication to selectively flow into the interior of the face mask by passing through the fluid receiving section, the face mask having a first flow control means that is free of attachment to the housing and is integral to the face mark and is positionable between an open position where aerosolized medication flows into an interior of the mask when the patient interface section of the housing is mated with the fluid receiving section of the face mask and when the patient inhales and a closed position when the patient exhales, the first flow control means being positioned within a flow path that is defined by the fluid receiving section, the exhaled gas being vented from the interior of the patient interface member through at least one vent port that is part of the face mask;

wherein the housing includes a main body section that is in communication with first ends of each of the first, second and third legs, the main body section having a patient interface section that sealingly mates with a complementary fluid receiving section of the patient interface member so that gas flowing into and through the housing is directed to the patient interface member;

wherein the second compartment is for storing aerosolized medication that is delivered into the housing through the first leg and flows through the third leg to the second compartment and the first compartment stores non-medicated gas;

wherein the second leg has a second flow control means associated therewith and a supplemental gas port associated therein for receiving a supplemental gas, the second flow control means being disposed between the main body section and the supplemental gas port so that the supplemental gas can flow into the main body section only when the second flow control means is open; and

when the second flow control means is closed, the supplemental gas flows into the first compartment where it is stored until the second flow control means opens;

wherein the second leg has a safety flow control means that is associated therein and is open to atmosphere and opens only when there is insufficient gas flow of both aerosolized medication and supplemental gas.

9. A device for use in an aerosol inhalation system for delivering aerosolized medication comprising:

a means for generating aerosolized medication from a single source of gas;

a housing that is operatively connected to the means for generating aerosolized medication such that the aerosolized medication is delivered to a main port of the housing, the housing having a supplemental gas port for receiving a flow of supplemental gas;

a patient interface member in the form of a face mask that is fluidly coupled to the housing and for placement about a face of the patient and in communication with a mouth of the patient for delivering the aerosolized medication, the face mask having a first inhalation valve that is part of the face mask and is positionable between an open position where aerosolized medication flows into an interior of the patient interface member when the patient inhales and a closed position when the patient exhales, the exhaled gas being vented from the interior of the face mask through at least one vent port that is part of the face mask;

a flexible, expandable reservoir having a first compartment that is in fluid communication with the supplemental gas port for receiving and storing the supplemental gas and a second compartment that is always in fluid communication with the main port for receiving and storing the aerosolized medication when the first inhalation valve is in the closed position, the second compartment being fluidly attached to the housing at a location remote from but in fluid communication with the main port, wherein the reservoir comprises a bifurcated bag and the first compartment has a different volume compared to the second compartment, the reservoir being removably attached to the housing; and

a safety vent formed as part of the first compartment and open to atmosphere, the safety vent opening to vent the supplemental gas in the first compartment to atmosphere when an excess of supplemental gas is stored in the first compartment, the safety vent comprising a valve that is formed in expandable material that forms the first compartment of the reservoir.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the vent port is provided in a protrusion that extends outwardly from the face mask and when it opens, gas within the interior of the face mask is vented to atmosphere.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein the housing includes first, second and third legs, the first leg including the main port and being in fluid communication with the means for generating aerosolized medication, the second leg being in fluid communication with the supplemental gas and the third leg being in fluid communication with the second compartment of the reservoir that is fluidly separated from the first compartment, the second leg being in fluid communication with a second flow control means in the form of a second inhalation valve that is located such that gas flowing through the supplemental gas port and gas stored in the first compartment of the reservoir must flow through the second inhalation valve to flow to the patient interface member and be inhaled by the patient after passing through the first inhalation valve.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the housing is configured as a tripod structure and includes a first hollow fitting that mates with a second hollow fitting that is part of the patient interface member in a sealed manner to permit gas to flow from the housing into the patient interface member and then to the patient.

13. A device for use in an aerosol inhalation system for delivering aerosolized medication comprising:

a means for generating aerosolized medication from a single source of gas;

a housing that is operatively connected to the means for generating aerosolized medication such that the aerosolized medication is delivered to a main port of the housing, the housing having a supplemental gas port for receiving a flow of supplemental gas;

a patient interface member in the form of a face mask that is fluidly coupled to the housing and for placement about a face of the patient and in communication with a mouth of the patient for delivering the aerosolized medication, the face mask having a first inhalation valve that is part of the face mask and is attached to and movable relative to a valve seat structure and is positionable between an open position where aerosolized medication flows into an interior of the patient interface member when the patient inhales and a closed position when the patient exhales, the exhaled gas being vented from the interior of the face mask through at least one vent port that is part of the face mask; and

a valve safety feature to prevent the first inhalation valve from entering the patient'"'"'s mouth in the event that the first inhalation valve becomes separated from the face mask, the valve safety feature disposed between the first inhalation valve and the patient'"'"'s mouth, the valve safety defining a structure that allows air to flow therethrough regardless of a position of the first inhalation valve, wherein the valve safety feature has a frame with an opening being defined therein, the valve seat structure being integrally attached to the frame of the valve safety feature so as to allow the valve to move within a hollow interior space defined within the frame of the valve safety structure.