Portable, handheld, pneumatic driven medicinal nebulizer

• US 20030121517A1
• Filed: 12/17/2002
• Published: 07/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joseph L. Mcfarland Jr
• Original Assignee: Joseph L. Mcfarland Jr
• Inventors: McFarland, Joseph L. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 6,729,327 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/200.14
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/02 operated by air or other gas pressure applied to the liquid or other product to be sprayed or atomised sprayers for horticulture A01G, A01H; killing insects A01M; air humidifying by nozzles F24F6/14, F24F6/18; cooling by spraying F28B, F28C
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0021 Mouthpieces therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/008 Electronic counters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0081 Locking means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0083 Timers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/18 with alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3553 remote, e.g. between patient's home and doctor's office
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3584 using modem, internet or bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/50 with microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/502 User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6081 Colour codes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/702 automatically during use
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/80 voice-operated command
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8225 using incorporated gas cartridges for the driving gas
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0662 Ears
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/201 Glucose concentration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/43 Composition of exhalation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7793 With opening bias [e.g., pressure regulator]

Abstract

A portable, handheld medicine delivery device capable producing atomized agents that are adapted to be inhaled through a nebulizer by a patient suffering from a respiratory condition. In addition, the present invention provides a means wherein the dose of the inhaled agent can be remotely monitored and, if required altered, by a physician or doctor. Finally, the present invention embodies an apparatus and method for reducing a high-pressure delivery gas into a lower pressure gas suitable for atomizing a medicinal agent and for inhalation.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring and administering an atomized liquid medication from a portable, compressed gas cartridge, comprising the steps of:

providing a cartridge administer adapted for receiving a portable cartridge of a high pressure gas;

reducing the pressure of the high pressure gas to a reduced pressure gas having a pressure no greater than about 50 psig;

generating a plurality of aerosol sized particles from said reduced pressure gas which have a diameter no greater than about 3 microns;

introducing a predetermined dose of a prescribed medicine into a stream of said aerosol sized particles to create a prescribed medicinal gas; and

dispensing said prescribed medicinal gas to a patient at a predetermined rate of flow.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said high pressure gas is substantially oxygen.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of filtering said high-pressure gas.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of modifying said dispensing step from a remote location.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of storing historical data related to said dispensing step.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of modifying a concentration of said prescribed medicine from a remote location.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said cartridge administrator and associated portable oxygen gas cartridge weigh less than about 0.50 pounds.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing a source of music or instructions to a patient receiving said prescribed medicinal gas.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing a global positioning system which is interconnected to an apparatus utilized in said dispensing step to locate said apparatus if said apparatus is lost or stolen.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said reduced pressure gas has a temperature at least about 20 degrees Fahrenheit less than the ambient temperature of said portable cartridge of high pressure gas.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said reducing the pressure of the high-pressure gas step utilizes a gas pressure regulator with a length no greater than about 3.0 inches.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said high-pressure gas has a pressure of at least about 1000 psi.

13. A handheld portable gas storage and pressure regulator device, comprising:

a housing adapted for receiving a portable container of a high pressure gas;

a discharge means interconnected to said housing and in operable relationship with said high pressure container, wherein the high pressure gas may be selectively released from said portable container into a main gas passage positioned downstream from said housing;

a filtering means positioned downstream from said main gas passage for removing impurities from the high pressure gas;

a needle valve positioned downstream from said main gas passage and in operable communication with the high pressure gas to create a low pressure gas; and

a low pressure gas transfer chamber comprising a biasing means engaged to a piston communicated to a calibrated spool to reduce said pressure of said gas exiting the regulator.

14. The pressure regulator of claim 13, wherein said piston is magnetized for retention in an upright position.

15. The pressure regulator device of claim 13, further comprising an exhaust port to further reduce the pressure of said low-pressure gas.

16. The pressure regulator device of claim 13, wherein said high-pressure gas is reduced in pressure at least about 500 psi.

17. The pressure regulator device of claim 13, wherein said biasing means comprises a helical spring.

18. The pressure regulator of claim 13, wherein said device has a total length no greater than about 6.0 inches.

19. The pressure regulator device of claim 13, wherein said discharge means comprises a lever operably positioned for engagement by a user'"'"'s hand.

20. The pressure regulator of claim 13, wherein said device may be selectively operated in a non-continuous, interim mode of flow.

21. The pressure regulator device of claim 13, wherein said high pressure gas is oxygen.

22. A method for monitoring and administering an atomized liquid medication from a portable, compressed gas cartridge, comprising the steps of:

providing a cartridge administer adapted for receiving a portable cartridge of a high pressure gas;

reducing the pressure of the high pressure gas to a reduced pressure gas having a pressure no greater than about 50 psig;

generating a plurality of aerosol sized particles from said reduced pressure gas which have a diameter no greater than about 3 microns;

introducing a predetermined dose of a prescribed medicine into a stream of said aerosol sized particles to create a prescribed medicinal gas;

dispensing said prescribed medicinal gas to a patient at a predetermined rate of flow;

monitoring the patient'"'"'s response to said dispensation of said medicine;

comparing said patient'"'"'s response to a protocol approved by a medical professional; and

modifying, if necessary, said predetermined dose of said prescribed medicine or said predetermined rate of flow to conform with said protocol.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein said monitoring is performed remotely by a medical professional.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein said monitoring and said comparison step is performed remotely by a computer program.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein said monitoring is performed by a unit integrated into the medicine and pressurization system which is pre-programmed with said protocol prior to a patient'"'"'s use.

26. A portable medicine delivery device, comprising:

a high pressure gas;

a gas delivery means in communication with said gas;

a gas pressure reduction means in communication with said gas delivery means;

a monitoring means in communication with said gas pressure reduction means;

a medicine receptacle adapted to receive a predetermined amount of medicine;

a medicine delivery means interconnected to said medicine;

a mouthpiece in communication with said medicine delivery means and said monitoring means, wherein said gas and said medicine combine to generate a plurality of aerosol sized particles that are adapted for inhalation by a patient.

27. A method of remotely monitoring and altering a dose of a predetermined medicine for a patient, comprising the steps of:

receiving inputs that indicate a patient'"'"'s condition;

comparing said inputs with a predetermined protocol;

analyzing said comparison to determine a preferred amount of medicine dosage required; and

initiating change in said dosage when necessary.