EP0251443A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Medication delivery system
Assignee: Johns Hopkins University
•
Filing: 1987-04-28
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2007-04-28
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for use in inhaling pharmaceutical aerosols. The apparatus comprises mouthpiece means for supplying a pharmaceutical composition to the mouthpiece, a rigid chamber for holding the aerosol prior to inhalation, the rigid chamber having orifices to limit the flow of air therethrough, and a collapsable chamber from which the patient inhales unmedicated air prior to inhaling the medicated air from the rigid chamber. The apparatus increases medication delivered to the small peripheral bronchi, while it limits deposition in the oropharynx. The patient is aided in inhaling a volume of unmedicated air, after which he automatically begins to receive the aerosolized medication with the inhaled air. The volumetric flow rate of the inhaled medication is kept below required limits for optimal dosing.
Inventors
- 👤 Bart Joseph Zoltan
- 👤 Beth Louise Laube
- 👤 George Kenneth Adams Iii
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 01:58
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M15/00; A61M15/0086; A61M15/0088; A61M15/009
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
81 words
A device for delivery of aerosolized medication to a patient, said device comprising: a mouthpiece having an inhalation end and another end; means for connecting a medication container to said mouthpiece intermediate said ends; first chamber means fixed to said mouthpiece at said other end for holding said aerosolized medication from said container before inhalation thereof; and further chamber means fixed to said mouthpiece for supplying a variable volume of air to said inhalation end before said aerosolized medication is inhaled.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
81 words
A device for delivery of aerosolized medication to a patient, said device comprising: a mouthpiece having an inhalation end and another end; means for connecting a medication container to said mouthpiece intermediate said ends; first chamber means fixed to said mouthpiece at said other end for holding said aerosolized medication from said container before inhalation thereof; and further chamber means fixed to said mouthpiece for supplying a variable volume of air to said inhalation end before said aerosolized medication is inhaled.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device of claim 1 including means for varying the resistance of said first chamber means to the flow of air therethrough.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The device of claim 2 wherein said first chamber includes one or more orifices as the means for varying the resistance of said first chamber means to the flow of air therethrough.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
254 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 for delivering aerosolized medication to a patient, of the type including a medication container and metering means, said apparatus comprising: a first rigid chamber; a second collapsible chamber; a mouthpiece, said mouthpiece having a first end and a second end, said mouthpiece having a first passageway extending lengthwise therethrough from said first end to said second end, said first end being shaped to accommodate the human mouth for inhalation purposes, said mouthpiece further having a second passageway transverse to said first passageway, said second passageway being positioned between said first end and said second end and being in open communication with said first passageway, said mouthpiece-further including means for connecting to said medication container, and passage means for directing medication from said container out the second end of said mouthpiece for discharge into said first rigid container; said first rigid chamber having first and second end walls, said first end wall having an opening which is pneumatically connected to said first passageway of said mouthpiece at the second end thereof, the second end wall of said first rigid chamber having one or more orifices for the purpose of limiting the volumetric flow of air therethrough; and said second collapsible chamber being pneumatically connected to said second opening in said mouthpiece; - thereby allowing the patient to meter medication into said first rigid chamber, and to inhale through said mouthpiece, automatically inhaling the non-medicated contents of said second collapsible chamber before inhaling said medication from the rigid first chamber.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus according to Claim 4, wherein said medication container comprises a pressurized aerosol.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus according to Claim 4, wherein said medication container comprises a spray dispenser.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus according to Claim 4, wherein said one or more orifices limit the volumetric flow of air through said first rigid chamber to 30 liters per minute or less.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus according to Claim 4, wherein the volume of said second collapsible chamber is adjustable.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus according to Claim 8, wherein the outside of said collapsible chamber is marked with indicia to indicate said adjustable volume.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus according to Claim 9, including means for closing one or more of said orifices for the purpose of limiting the flow of air.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
270 words
A device for aiding a patient in inhaling medication, of the type having a pressurized aerosol medication container and having a metering means, said device comprising: a first rigid chamber; a second collapsible chamber, said second collapsible chamber including means for adjusting the volume of air contained therein and indicia means to indicate said adjustable volume; a mouthpiece, said mouthpiece having a near and a far end, said mouthpiece having a first opening therethrough, said first opening connecting said near end to said far end, said near end being shaped to accommodate the human mouth, said mouthpiece further having a second opening between said near end and said far end, said second opening meeting said first opening, and said mouthpiece further including means for connecting to a medication container, and means for directing said -medication-out the far-end of said mouthpiece into said first rigid chamber; said first rigid chamber having a first and second end, said first end having an opening pneumatically connected to the end of said opening at said far end of said mouthpiece; said first rigid chamber further including one or more orifices for the purpose of limiting the volumetric flow of air therethrough and means for closing said orifices so that the volumetric flow rate is at or below 30 liters per minute; and said second collapsible chamber being pneumatically connected to said second opening in said mouthpiece; thereby allowing the patient to first meter medication into said first rigid chamber, and to inhale through said mouthpiece, while automatically inhaling the non-medicated contents of said second collapsible chamber for inhaling medication through the rigid first chamber.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
270 words
A device for aiding a patient in inhaling medication, of the type having a pressurized aerosol medication container and having a metering means, said device comprising: a first rigid chamber; a second collapsible chamber, said second collapsible chamber including means for adjusting the volume of air contained therein and indicia means to indicate said adjustable volume; a mouthpiece, said mouthpiece having a near and a far end, said mouthpiece having a first opening therethrough, said first opening connecting said near end to said far end, said near end being shaped to accommodate the human mouth, said mouthpiece further having a second opening between said near end and said far end, said second opening meeting said first opening, and said mouthpiece further including means for connecting to a medication container, and means for directing said -medication-out the far-end of said mouthpiece into said first rigid chamber; said first rigid chamber having a first and second end, said first end having an opening pneumatically connected to the end of said opening at said far end of said mouthpiece; said first rigid chamber further including one or more orifices for the purpose of limiting the volumetric flow of air therethrough and means for closing said orifices so that the volumetric flow rate is at or below 30 liters per minute; and said second collapsible chamber being pneumatically connected to said second opening in said mouthpiece; thereby allowing the patient to first meter medication into said first rigid chamber, and to inhale through said mouthpiece, while automatically inhaling the non-medicated contents of said second collapsible chamber for inhaling medication through the rigid first chamber.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
56 words
A method for delivering aerosolized medication to a patient which comprises metering out a volume of non-medicated air to be initially inhaled; metering out an amount of aerosol medication into a chamber having a predetermined amount of air; initially inhaling the metered volume of non-medicated air and only thereafter inhaling the suspension of medication and air.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
56 words
A method for delivering aerosolized medication to a patient which comprises metering out a volume of non-medicated air to be initially inhaled; metering out an amount of aerosol medication into a chamber having a predetermined amount of air; initially inhaling the metered volume of non-medicated air and only thereafter inhaling the suspension of medication and air.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.