Patent US5613489A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5613489A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Patient respiratory system drug applicator
Assignee: WestMed Inc
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Filing: 1994-12-07
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Granted: 1997-03-25
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Expires: 2014-12-07
Abstract
Abstract A respiratory system drug applicator for a patient is disclosed which may include a number of features to enhance the administration of the aerosolized drug to the patient. For instance, an adjustable flow regulator may be utilized which regulates the air flow during inhalation by the patient (during which the aerosolized drug is also administered to the patient's respiratory system), and thus affects the patient's breathing pattern. Moreover, a distensible drug reservoir which changes shape during inhalation and exhalation by the patient may be utilized. This may be used to provide biofeedback to the patient regarding the patient's breathing pattern.
Inventors
- 👤 Warren C. Miller
- 👤 Robert J. McKinnon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 05:16
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M15/00; A61M15/0086; A61M15/0088; A61M16/00; A61M16/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
166 words
A patient respiratory system drug applicator, comprising: a drug dispenser; a patient inhalator; a first conduit fluidly interconnecting said drug dispenser and said patient inhalator and comprising first and second ports, said drug dispenser being interconnected with said first port and said second port fluidly interconnecting said patient inhalator with an oxygen source; a distensible drug reservoir fluidly interconnected with said patient inhalator; and an adjustable flow regulator associated with said second port, wherein said adjustable flow regulator allows for an adjustment of an amount of a flow provided to the patient which is from said oxygen source and thereby also an adjustment of an amount of said flow provided to the patient which is from said distensible drug reservoir, whereby said adjustable flow regulator may be used to establish a certain pulsation of said distensible drug reservior, due to patient inhalations and exhalations, which provides biofeedback to the patient regarding the patient's breathing pattern and thereby the respiratory administration of the drug to the patient.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
166 words
A patient respiratory system drug applicator, comprising: a drug dispenser; a patient inhalator; a first conduit fluidly interconnecting said drug dispenser and said patient inhalator and comprising first and second ports, said drug dispenser being interconnected with said first port and said second port fluidly interconnecting said patient inhalator with an oxygen source; a distensible drug reservoir fluidly interconnected with said patient inhalator; and an adjustable flow regulator associated with said second port, wherein said adjustable flow regulator allows for an adjustment of an amount of a flow provided to the patient which is from said oxygen source and thereby also an adjustment of an amount of said flow provided to the patient which is from said distensible drug reservoir, whereby said adjustable flow regulator may be used to establish a certain pulsation of said distensible drug reservior, due to patient inhalations and exhalations, which provides biofeedback to the patient regarding the patient's breathing pattern and thereby the respiratory administration of the drug to the patient.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
A drug applicator, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said drug dispenser comprises a nebulizer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
55 words
A drug applicator, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said first conduit is substantially axially extending and comprises first and second ends and a sidewall, said patient inhalator being interconnected with said first end of said first conduit in axial alignment with said first conduit, and wherein said first port is positioned on said sidewall.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A drug applicator, as claimed in claim 3, wherein: said second port is on said sidewall axially displaced from and substantially perpendicular to said first port.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
A drug applicator, as claimed in claim 4, wherein: said distensible drug reservoir is interconnected with said second end of said first conduit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
93 words
A drug applicator, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said adjustable flow regulator comprises an orifice and a valve movable between first and second positions to change a size of said orifice, wherein a cross-sectional area of said orifice taken perpendicularly to a flowpath through said orifice with said valve in said first position is no more than about 0.3 square inches and wherein said cross-sectional area of said orifice with said valve in said second position is less than said cross-sectional area of said orifice with said valve in said first position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
A drug applicator, as claimed in claim 6, wherein: said cross-sectional area of said orifice with said valve in said first position is no more than about 0.1 square inches.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
A drug applicator, as claimed in claim 7, wherein: said cross-sectional area of said orifice with said valve in said second position is at least about 0.02 square inches.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
A drug applicator, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said patient inhalator interfaces with said first conduit on a first side of first port and wherein said drug reservoir interfaces with said first conduit on a second side of said first port.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
246 words
A method for administering an aerosolized drug to a patient's respiratory system utilizing a distensible drug reservoir fluidly connected to the patient, comprising the steps of: inhaling oxygen by the patient from an outside source; providing the aerosolized drug to the patient during said inhaling step from at least the distensible drug reservior; exhaling by the patient after said inhaling step; monitoring a degree of said inhaling step, said monitoring step comprising preserving a changing shape of the distensible drug reservior during said inhaling and exhaling steps, wherein said observing step provides biofeedback to the patient regarding the patient's breathing pattern and thereby the respiratory administration of the aerosolized drug to the patient; controlling an oxygen flow condition for said inhaling step, wherein said controlling step comprising providing a resistance between the outside source and the patient; adjusting the resistance based upon said observing step, wherein said adjusting step provides an adjustment of an amount of a flow provided to the patient which is from said oxygen source and thereby also an adjustment of an amount of said flow provided to the patient which is from said distensible drug reservior, whereby said adjusting step is used to establish a certain pulsation of said distensible drug reservoir, due to patient inhalations and exhalations, which provides biofeedback to the patient regarding the patient's breathing pattern and thereby the respiratory administration of drug to the patient; and repeating said inhaling, providing, exhaling and monitoring steps a plurality of times.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
246 words
A method for administering an aerosolized drug to a patient's respiratory system utilizing a distensible drug reservoir fluidly connected to the patient, comprising the steps of: inhaling oxygen by the patient from an outside source; providing the aerosolized drug to the patient during said inhaling step from at least the distensible drug reservior; exhaling by the patient after said inhaling step; monitoring a degree of said inhaling step, said monitoring step comprising preserving a changing shape of the distensible drug reservior during said inhaling and exhaling steps, wherein said observing step provides biofeedback to the patient regarding the patient's breathing pattern and thereby the respiratory administration of the aerosolized drug to the patient; controlling an oxygen flow condition for said inhaling step, wherein said controlling step comprising providing a resistance between the outside source and the patient; adjusting the resistance based upon said observing step, wherein said adjusting step provides an adjustment of an amount of a flow provided to the patient which is from said oxygen source and thereby also an adjustment of an amount of said flow provided to the patient which is from said distensible drug reservior, whereby said adjusting step is used to establish a certain pulsation of said distensible drug reservoir, due to patient inhalations and exhalations, which provides biofeedback to the patient regarding the patient's breathing pattern and thereby the respiratory administration of drug to the patient; and repeating said inhaling, providing, exhaling and monitoring steps a plurality of times.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method, as claimed in claim 10, wherein: said providing step comprises nebulizing the drug.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
61 words
A method, as claimed in claim 10, wherein: the drug reservoir has a first gas volume of the aerosolized drug in one of the inhaling steps and a second gas volume of the aerosolized drug in a subsequent exhaling step, the second volume being greater than the first volume and providing an observable difference in the shape of the drug reservoir.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method, as claimed in claim 10, further comprising the step of: changing a degree of said inhaling step based upon said observing step.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method, as claimed in claim 10, further comprising the step of: producing a greater degree of difference in the change in the shape of the distensible drug reservoir based upon said observing step.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-03-24 | 2000-09-23 | 2001-03-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-03-24 | 2004-09-23 | 2005-03-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-03-24 | 2008-09-23 | 2009-03-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |