Apparatus, system and method for measuring resistance of an inhaler
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus, comprising:
- a first chamber configured to mount an inhaler and having a first valve;
a second chamber having a second valve;
wherein said second chamber is movable and sealably attachable to said first chamber;
a pressure controller connected to said first chamber and comprising a pressure sensor configured to communicate a first set of signals to at least one microprocessor; and
a flow controller including a flow sensor and a pressure sensor connected to said second chamber configured to communicate a second set of signals to the at least one microprocessor,wherein the at least one microprocessor is configured to control opening and closing the first valve and the second valve.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus, a closed-loop system and method for measuring the resistance of inhalation systems and/or devices are disclosed.
-
Citations
15 Claims
-
1. An apparatus, comprising:
-
a first chamber configured to mount an inhaler and having a first valve; a second chamber having a second valve;
wherein said second chamber is movable and sealably attachable to said first chamber;a pressure controller connected to said first chamber and comprising a pressure sensor configured to communicate a first set of signals to at least one microprocessor; and a flow controller including a flow sensor and a pressure sensor connected to said second chamber configured to communicate a second set of signals to the at least one microprocessor, wherein the at least one microprocessor is configured to control opening and closing the first valve and the second valve. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
-
-
6. A method for measuring the resistance to airflow of an inhaler, comprising:
-
attaching a second chamber having a second valve to a first chamber having a first valve to enclose said inhaler and form an air pathway from the first chamber, through the inhaler air pathway, and into the second chamber; obtaining a controlled constant pressure environment in the second chamber; controlling with at least one microprocessor opening and closing of the first and the second valves; and simultaneously measuring pressure differential across the inhaler and flow rate through the inhaler to generate pressure and flow rate measurements. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A method for determining resistance to airflow of an inhaler, comprising:
-
attaching a second chamber having a second valve to a first chamber having a first valve to enclose said inhaler and form an air pathway from the first chamber, through the inhaler air pathway, and into the second chamber; obtaining a controlled constant pressure environment in the second chamber; and controlling with at least one microprocessor opening and closing of the first and the second valves; simultaneously measuring pressure differential across the inhaler and flow rate through the inhaler to generate pressure and flow rate measurements; determining the range of measurements at which a 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 at various predetermined value settings within the linear range for a second inhaler and determining the slope of the curve to obtain a resistance for the inhaler. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
-
Specification