Inhalation valve

Claim 2

An inhalation valve including means defining a passageway (16) having an entering end (18) and an exit end (22), a mouthpiece (40) at said exit end for receipt in a patient's mouth, characterized in the provision of means (20) at said entering end for receiving structure for supplying inhalation medication, a diaphragm (58) adjacent said exit end and mounted with freedom to move at least in part towards-said mouthpiece upon inhalation by said patient to permit movement of inhalation medication from said passageway into said mouthpiece and the mouth of said patient, and means (30) immediately upstream of said diaphragm backing up said diaphragm against movement thereof away from said mouthpiece to prevent retrograde .flow upon exhalation by said patient.

Claim 3

An inhalation valve as set forth in claim 1 and further characterized in the provision of means (50, 62) providing exhaust port means from said means for receipt in a patient's mouth, said diaphragm upon inhalation sealing said exhaust port means to preclude mixing of ambient air with the medication, and opening said exhaust port means upon exhalation.

Claim 4

An inhalation valve as set forth in claim 1 or in claim 2 characterized in that said diaphragm is made of elastomeric material and has an opening therein which opens up upon inhalation.

Claim 5

An inhalation valve as set forth in any of the preceding claims characterized in that said means for backing up of said diaphragm includes means for backing up said opening upon exhalation.

Claim 6

An inhalation valve as set forth in any of claims 3-5 characterized in that said opening comprises a slit.

Claim 7

An inhalation valve as set forth in claim 6 characterized in that said spider has a rib (38) aligned with and backing up said slit.

Claim 8

An inhalation valve as set forth in any of the preceding claims characterized in that the receiving structure includes an elastomeric frusto-conical member (20).

Claim 9

An inhalation valve including an elongated body defining a passageway (16) having an entering upstream end (18) and an exit downstream end (22), means (20) at said entering end for receiving structure (12) for applying inhalation medication, a mouthpiece (40) at said exit end for receipt in a patient's mouth, an elastomeric diaphragm (58) having a central opening (60) therein and an imperforate portion outwardly of the central opening, means (52) engaging and gripping said diaphgram adjacent the periphery thereof and mounting said diaphragm adjacent said exit end transversely of said passageway, said diaphragm flexing downstream and freeing said opening for passage of medication upon inhalation by a patient, backup means (30) immediately upstream of said diaphragm preventing flexing of said diaphragm upstream upon exhalation by a patient and including a member (38) lying across said opening and against which said diaphragm is pressed upon exhalation to seal said opening to prevent retrograde flow upon exhalation, an annular flange (46) extending upstream from said mouthpiece and terminating at a rim presenting a valve seat normally spaced from said diaphragm downstream thereof, exhaled air (64) from said mouthpiece passing between said rim and said diaphragm, and exhaust port means (50) disposed outwardly of said annular flange to exhaust exhaled air to the atmosphere, the imperforate portion of the diaphgram presenting a valve surface movable in unison with the portion of the diaphragm containing the central opening and juxtaposed to the rim valve seat in position for engagement thereagainst with flexing of said diaphgram upon inhalation and bringing the valve surface of said diaphragm into engagement with said rim valve seat to seal off said exhaust port means and disengagement from the rim valve seat upon exhalation to exhaust through the exhaust port means.

Claim 10

An inhalation valve including an elongated body defining a passageway (16) having an entering upstream end (18) and an exit downstream end (22), means (20) at said entering end for receiving structure (12) for applying inhalation medication, a mouthpiece (40) at said exit end for receipt in a patient's mouth, an elastomeric diaphragm (58) having a central opening (60) therein and an imperforate portion outwardly of the central opening, means (52) engaging and gripping said diaphgram adjacent the periphery thereof and mounting said diaphragm adjacent said exit end transversely of said passageway, said diaphragm flexing downstream and freeing said opening for passage of medication upon inhalation by a patient, backup means (30) immediately upstream of said diaphragm preventing flexing of said diaphragm upstream upon exhalation by a patient and including a member (38) lying across said opening and against which said diaphragm is pressed upon exhalation to seal said opening to prevent retrograde flow upon exhalation, an annular flange (46) extending upstream from said mouthpiece and terminating at a rim presenting a valve seat normally spaced from said diaphragm downstream thereof, exhaled air (64) from said mouthpiece passing between said rim and said diaphragm, and exhaust port means (50) disposed outwardly of said annular flange to exhaust exhaled air to the atmosphere, the imperforate portion of the diaphgram presenting a valve surface movable in unison with the portion of the diaphragm containing the central opening and juxtaposed to the rim valve seat in position for engagement thereagainst with flexing of said diaphgram upon inhalation and bringing the valve surface of said diaphragm into engagement with said rim valve seat to seal off said exhaust port means and disengagement from the rim valve seat upon exhalation to exhaust through the exhaust port means.

Claim 11

An inhalation valve as set forth in claim 1 wherein said central opening comprises a diametral slit (60).

Claim 12

An inhalation valve as set forth in claim 2 wherein said mouthpiece includes an annular transverse plate (44), a tubular portion (42) extending downstream from said annular transverse plate adjacent the inner margin thereof for receipt in a patient's mouth, said annular flange (46) being spaced outwardly of said tubular portion and extending upstream from said annular transverse plate.

Claim 13

An inhalation valve as set forth in claim 3 wherein said exhaust port means comprise openings (50) in said annular transverse plate (44) outwardly of said annular flange (46).

Claim 14

An inhalation valve as set forth in claim 2 wherein said backup means comprises a spider (30).

Claim 15

An inhalation valve as set forth in claim 1 wherein said mouthpiece includes an annular transverse plate (44), a tubular portion (42) extending downstream from said annular transverse plate adjacent the inner margin thereof for receipt in a patient's mouth, said annular flange (46) being spaced outwardly of said tubular portion and extending upstream from said annular transverse plate.

Claim 16

An inhalation valve as set forth in claim 6 wherein said exhaust port means comprise openings (50) in said annular transverse plate outwardly of said annular flange.

Claim 17

An inhalation valve as set forth in claim 1 wherein said backup means comprises a spider (30).

Claim 18

An inhalation valve as set forth in claim 1 wherein said receiving means at said entering end comprises an open ended frusto-conical elastomeric member (20) secured to the entering end of and extending into said body.