Apparatus, system and method for measuring resistance of an inhaler
First Claim
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
- a first device comprising a first chamber configured to mount an inhaler and having a first valve;
a second device comprising a second chamber having a second valve;
wherein said second device is movable and sealably attachable to said first device;
a pressure controller connected to said first device, and comprising a pressure sensor which communicates a first set of signals to a first microprocessor and integrally connected to a power source;
a flow controller connected to said second device and comprising a flow sensor and a pressure sensor which communicate a second set of signals with a second microprocessor configured to detect and analyze signals from said second chamber; and
said first microprocessor and said second microprocessor configured to control opening and closing first valve and second valve, respectively and corresponding to said first chamber and said second chamber.
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Abstract
An apparatus, a closed-loop system and method for measuring the resistance of inhalation systems and/or devices are disclosed.
56 Citations
14 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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a first device comprising a first chamber configured to mount an inhaler and having a first valve; a second device comprising a second chamber having a second valve;
wherein said second device is movable and sealably attachable to said first device;a pressure controller connected to said first device, and comprising a pressure sensor which communicates a first set of signals to a first microprocessor and integrally connected to a power source; a flow controller connected to said second device and comprising a flow sensor and a pressure sensor which communicate a second set of signals with a second microprocessor configured to detect and analyze signals from said second chamber; and said first microprocessor and said second microprocessor configured to control opening and closing first valve and second valve, respectively and corresponding to said first chamber and said second chamber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for measuring the resistance to airflow of an inhaler, comprising:
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attaching an inhaler including an inhaler air pathway to a first device comprising a first chamber, a first valve, a pressure controller including a pressure sensor which communicates a first set of signals to a first microprocessor and integrally connected to a power source, and a holder for said inhaler so that an air pathway from the first chamber and through the inhaler air pathway is formed; attaching a second device comprising a second chamber to said first device to enclose said inhaler within the second chamber, wherein the second device includes a second valve and a flow controller comprising a flow sensor and a pressure sensor which communicate a second set of signals to a second microprocessor configured to detect and analyze signals from said second chamber; actuating the apparatus to obtain a controlled constant pressure environment in the second chamber; and simultaneously measuring pressure differential across the inhaler and flow rate through the inhaler by controlling opening and closing of the first valve and the second valve by said first microprocessor and said second microprocessor respectively to generate pressure and flow rate measurements. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for determining resistance to airflow of an inhaler, comprising:
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attaching an inhaler including an inhaler air pathway to a first device comprising a first chamber, a first valve, a pressure controller including a pressure sensor which communicates a first set of signals to a first microprocessor and integrally connected to a power source, and a holder for said inhaler so that an air pathway from the first chamber and through the inhaler air pathway is formed; attaching a second device comprising a second chamber to said first device to enclose said inhaler within the second chamber, wherein the second device includes a second valve and a flow controller comprising a flow sensor and a pressure sensor which communicate a second set of signals to a second microprocessor configured to detect and analyze signals from said second chamber; actuating the apparatus to obtain a controlled constant pressure environment in the second chamber; determining a range of measurements at which square root of the pressure differential versus flow rate curve for an inhaler type is linear to yield predetermined value settings; obtaining pressure differential and flow rate measurements by controlling opening and closing of the first valve and the second valve by said first microprocessor and said second microprocessor respectively at various predetermined value settings within the linear range for a second inhaler and; and
determining the slope of the curve to obtain a resistance value for the inhaler. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification