Valve system and method for aerosol delivery

• US 7,146,977 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2003
• Issued: 12/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
• Original Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
• Inventors: Howlett, David J., Gray, Larry B., Beavis, Russell
• Primary Examiner(s): Bennett, Henry
• Assistant Examiner(s): LOPEZ, AMADEUS SEBASTIAN
• Application Number:
  US10/670,924
• Publication Number:
  US 20050066963A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,174 Days
• Field of Search: 128/200.14, 128/200.18, 128/200.21, 128/200.22, 128/203.12, 128/203.14, 128/205.23, 128/205.24, 731/49, 137/565.01, 137/565.34, 261/27
• US Class Current: 128/203.12
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0003 with means for dispensing more than one drug
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/002 with air flow regulating means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0045 using multiple prepacked dosages on a same carrier, e.g. blisters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0048 the dosages being arranged in a plane, e.g. on diskettes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0065 Inhalators with dosage or measuring devices A61M15/0028 takes precedence; dosage devices incorporated in aerosol cans B65D83/52
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0066 with means for varying the dose size
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0068 Indicating or counting the number of dispensed doses or of remaining doses
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/008 Electronic counters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0085 using ultrasonics spraying or atomising liquids using ultrasonic vibrations in general B05B17/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/009 using medicine packages with incorporated spraying means, e.g. aerosol cans pocket atomiser of the injector type A61M11/08
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0021 with a proportional output signal, e.g. from a thermistor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0039 in the inspiratory circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/03 Gases in liquid phase, e.g. cryogenic liquids
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3306 Optical measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3368 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3375 Acoustical, e.g. ultrasonic, measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3379 Masses, volumes, levels of fluids in reservoirs, flow rates
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/50 with microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/006 Pressure or flow rate sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/085 : responsive to flow or pressure of liquid or other fluent material to be discharged B05B1/3006, B05B1/323, B05B7/1254 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/007 : by measuring the level variations of storage tanks relative to the time
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 17/00 : Methods or apparatus for determining the capacity of containers or cavities, or the volume of solid bodies measuring linear dimensions to determine volume G01B
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 22/00 : Methods or apparatus for measuring volume of fluids or fluent solid material, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/14 : by measurement of pressure
• CPC Class Codes: G01H 3/00 : Measuring characteristics of vibrations by using a detector in a fluid G01H7/00, G01H9/00, G01H11/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 9/04 : by compressed gases, e.g. compressed air

Abstract

An apparatus comprises a variable acoustic source and a microphone, both acoustically coupled to a volume having a fluid region and an air region. The apparatus also can include a processor to determine a volume of the air region based on signals received from the microphone and the variable acoustic source. A fluid valve is coupled to the processor, and is configured to allow an amount of fluid to exit the fluid region associated with the volume of the air region. An atomizer, coupled to the fluid region, is configured to aerosolize at least a portion of the fluid.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a variable acoustic source acoustically coupled to a volume, the volume being divided into an air region and a fluid region, the fluid region having a fluid output;

a microphone acoustically coupled to the volume;

a processor configured to receive a signal from the microphone, and further configured to determine a volume of the air region;

a fluid valve configured to allow an amount of fluid to exit the fluid region, the amount of fluid being associated with the determined volume of the air region, and wherein the processor is further configured to send a control signal to the fluid valve;

a target region coupled to the fluid valve and in selective communication with an air tank through an air valve and wherein the fluid valve and the air valve are positioned so that a substantial portion of the fluid exits the target region; and

an atomizer coupled to the fluid output, the atomizer configured to aerosolize at least a portion of the amount of fluid to exit the fluid region.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a light source and light detector, the detector configured to output a signal associated with light scattering from the aerosol;

a flow rate sensor configured to output a signal associated with a flow rate of the aerosol; and

wherein the calculation of the aerosol volume is associated with the output signal from the light detector and with the output signal from the flow rate sensor.

3. An apparatus comprising:

a processor configured to calculate a fluid volume and to output a volume signal associated with the calculated fluid volume;

a fluid valve configured to allow an amount of fluid to exit the fluid region, the amount of fluid being associated with the calculated fluid volume, and wherein the processor is further configured to send a control signal to the fluid valve; and

a target region in communication with an atomizer, the target region coupled to the fluid valve and in selective communication with an air tank through an air valve, wherein the fluid valve and the air valve are positioned so that a substantial portion of the fluid exits the target region.