Inhalation devices and systems and methods including the same
Inventors
Steelman, Peter Wayne • Flynn, James Edward • Zeis, John • Worley-Ham, Karla
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10245396-B2
Publication Date
2019-04-02
Expiration Date
Abstract
A collapsible inhalation device for use with a metered dose inhaler (MDI) dispenser includes an outlet end member, an inlet end member and a tubular, pliable, collapsible sleeve member attached at either end to the inlet and outlet members. The outlet end member includes a mouthpiece. The inlet end member includes an inlet port and an MDI dispenser mount structure configured to receive and engage the MDI dispenser. The inhalation device is positionable in each of an open position, wherein the sleeve member defines a chamber, and a closed position, wherein the sleeve member is collapsed and enveloped by the outlet end member and the inlet end member.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a collapsible inhalation device for use with a metered dose inhaler (MDI) dispenser. The device includes an outlet end member having a mouthpiece, an inlet end member having an inlet port and an MDI dispenser mount structure, and a tubular, pliable, collapsible sleeve member with opposed ends attached to the inlet end member and the outlet end member. The inlet end member and outlet end member are connected by the sleeve member so that the device is positionable in an open position and a closed position.
In the open position, the outlet end member and the inlet end member are spaced apart and the sleeve member is extended such that the outlet end member, the inlet end member, and the sleeve member define a chamber. With the MDI dispenser mounted in the MDI dispenser mount structure, a dose of the medication can be dispensed from the MDI dispenser through the inlet port into the chamber to mix with air in the chamber. The resulting mixture of air and the dose of the medication can then be inhaled by a patient from the chamber through the mouthpiece.
In the closed position, the sleeve member is collapsed and the outlet end member and the inlet end member are proximate one another so that they envelope the sleeve member for compact storage. The device further includes a ring member to which the sleeve member is affixed, and a cover member mounted on the ring member. The cover member is removable and replaceable to provide access to the interior of the inhalation device for cleaning, and the cover member is formed of a resilient, deformable elastomer while the ring member is formed of a more rigid material.
Claims Coverage
The document includes three independent claims: one apparatus claim with the open/closed collapsible spacer chamber and MDI mixing function, a second apparatus claim that further requires a removable and replaceable cleaning cover with elastomer and rigid ring materials, and one method claim for administering the dose using the same collapsible device structure and the same cleaning-cover features. Across the independent claims, the core inventive features are organized around a collapsible chamber spacer for MDI dosing and inhalation, plus a cleaning-access cover using specified material relationships.
Collapsible MDI mixing chamber via extended sleeve
The inhalation device includes an outlet end member with a mouthpiece, an inlet end member with an inlet port and an MDI dispenser mount structure, and a tubular, pliable, collapsible sleeve with opposed ends attached to the inlet and outlet end members; the device is positionable in an open position in which the end members are spaced apart and the sleeve is extended to define a chamber.
MDI dose dispensed through inlet port for air medication mixture inhalation
In the open position with the MDI dispenser mounted in the MDI dispenser mount structure, a dose can be dispensed from the MDI dispenser into the chamber through the inlet port to mix with air in the chamber, thereby forming a mixture of the air and the dose that can be inhaled by a patient from the chamber through the mouthpiece.
Envelope storage by collapsed sleeve and proximate end members
The inhalation device is positionable in a closed position in which the sleeve member is collapsed and the outlet end member and the inlet end member are proximate one another and envelope the sleeve member.
Removable and replaceable cover for cleaning access
The inlet end member includes a ring member to which the sleeve member is affixed, and a cover member mounted on the ring member; the cover member is removable from and replaceable on the ring member to provide access to the interior of the inhalation device for cleaning.
Elastomer cover and rigid ring material relationship
The cover member is formed of a first material including a resilient, deformable elastomer, and the ring member is formed of a second material more rigid than the first material.
Administration method using open position chamber dosing and inhalation
A method includes providing the collapsible inhalation device with the outlet end member, inlet end member, inlet port, MDI dispenser mount structure, and tubular, pliable, collapsible sleeve; placing the inhalation device in the open position; mounting the MDI dispenser in the mount structure; and dispensing a dose from the MDI dispenser into the chamber through the inlet port to mix with air and thereby form an air and medication mixture inhalable through the mouthpiece.
Collectively, the independent claims cover a collapsible sleeve-based chamber spacer for MDI dosing and inhalation in an open position, dose dispensation through an inlet port into the chamber to mix with air for inhalation through the mouthpiece, closed-position enveloping storage by collapsing the sleeve, and, in the second apparatus and the method, a removable and replaceable cleaning cover mounted on a ring member, with the cover formed of a resilient, deformable elastomer and the ring formed of a more rigid material.
Stated Advantages
Provides compact storage in a closed position by enveloping the collapsed sleeve member.
Provides access to the interior of the inhalation device for cleaning via a removable and replaceable cover member.
Documented Applications
Administering a dose of a medication to a patient from a metered dose inhaler (MDI) dispenser using the collapsible inhalation device.
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