Metering system for stimulating bronchial spasm
First Claim
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1. A system for metering an aerosol provocative substance for patient inhalation comprising:
- nebulizing means for normally containing the provocative substance in a liquid medium, the nebulizing means having an inlet and an outlet, the outlet delivering nebulized provocative substance to a patient;
means mounted to the nebulizing means for detecting the initiation of inhalation by the patient and generating a detection signal in response thereto;
timing means having its input connected in circuit with the detecting means and responsive thereto for generating a timing signal of preselected duration;
a source of compressed gas;
valving means responsive to said timing signal and driven open during the timing signal and connected between the gas source and said inlet of the nebulizer for nebulizing a metered dose of the nebulized provocative substance, depending upon the timing signal duration;
means connected in circuit between the detecting means and the timing means for triggering the timing means;
gating means connected in circuit between the output of the triggering means and the input of the timing means for permitting the passage of a triggering signal to the timing means;
means responsive to the end of the timing signal for blocking the gating means from passage of an erroneous trigger signal; and
means for selectively resetting the blocking means thereby enabling a subsequent passage of a triggering signal.
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Abstract
A system for administering a metered dose of nebulized antigen tests a patient'"'"'s pulmonary response. The system includes a thermistor detector for sensing initiation of patient inhalation. A variable electronic timer meters the amount of nebulized antigen introduced to the patient. Safety switching means is provided for insuring against erroneous administration of more than a single dose at a time. Separate measuring equipment is used to measure pulmonary airflow resistance which will increase in response to bronchial spasm.
236 Citations
2 Claims
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1. A system for metering an aerosol provocative substance for patient inhalation comprising:
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nebulizing means for normally containing the provocative substance in a liquid medium, the nebulizing means having an inlet and an outlet, the outlet delivering nebulized provocative substance to a patient; means mounted to the nebulizing means for detecting the initiation of inhalation by the patient and generating a detection signal in response thereto; timing means having its input connected in circuit with the detecting means and responsive thereto for generating a timing signal of preselected duration; a source of compressed gas; valving means responsive to said timing signal and driven open during the timing signal and connected between the gas source and said inlet of the nebulizer for nebulizing a metered dose of the nebulized provocative substance, depending upon the timing signal duration; means connected in circuit between the detecting means and the timing means for triggering the timing means; gating means connected in circuit between the output of the triggering means and the input of the timing means for permitting the passage of a triggering signal to the timing means; means responsive to the end of the timing signal for blocking the gating means from passage of an erroneous trigger signal; and means for selectively resetting the blocking means thereby enabling a subsequent passage of a triggering signal.
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2. A system for metering an aerosol provocative substance for patient inhalation comprising:
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nebulizing means for normally containing the provocative substance in a liquid medium, the nebulizing means having an inlet and an outlet, the outlet delivering nebulized provocative substance to a patient; means mounted to the nebulizing means for detecting the initiation of inhalation by the patient and generating a detection signal in response thereto; timing means having its input connected in circuit with the detecting means and responsive thereto for generating a timing signal of preselected duration; a source of compressed gas; valving means responsive to said timing signal and driven open during the timing signal and connected between the gas source and said inlet of the nebulizer for nebulizing a metered dose of the nebulized provocative substance, depending upon the timing signal duration; means connected in circuit between the detecting means and the timing means for triggering the timing means; the detecting means being a thermistor having a surface which changes its temperature as air flows across it during inhalation initiation; a relay having an input thereof connected to the timing means output, the relay being connected at its output to the valving means for the control thereof; gating means connected in circuit between the output of the triggering means and the input of the timing means for permitting the passage of a triggering signal to the timing means; means responsive to the end of the timing signal for blocking the gating means from passage of an erroneous trigger signal; and means for selectively resetting the blocking means thereby enabling a subsequent passage of a triggering signal.
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Specification