Collapsible, disposable medication inhalation spacer and method
Inventors
Hyde, Joel • Johnson, Jennifer
Assignees
Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Publication Number
US-11266797-B2
Publication Date
2022-03-08
Expiration Date
Abstract
A medication inhalation apparatus includes an outer housing, movable between collapsed and expanded states, encompassing a first volume. An inner housing within the outer housing encompasses an inner volume. An inhaler opening to the first volume is within a wall of the outer housing at a first location. A mouth opening to the inner volume is within a wall of the outer housing and the inner housing at a second location. A one-way inhalation valve connecting the first volume and the inner volume is within a wall of the inner housing. A one-way exhalation valve connecting the inner volume and the exterior of the outer housing is within a wall of the outer housing and inner housing at a third location. In the expanded state, gas flows from the inhaler to the first volume, the first volume to the inner volume, and the inner volume to a user's mouth.
Core Innovation
The invention is a disposable, collapsible medication inhalation apparatus that functions as a valved holding chamber for MDI use. The apparatus includes an outer housing that is collapsible into a substantially flat configuration and expandable to bound a first volume adapted to receive a plume of medication particles ejected by the MDI, and a fully contained inner housing that is also collapsible into a substantially flat configuration and expandable to bound a second volume.
The apparatus forms a first opening through a wall of the outer housing at a first location, in fluid communication with the first volume and adapted to accommodate a mouthpiece of the MDI. The apparatus also forms second and third openings through the wall of the outer housing and the wall of the inner housing, respectively, adapted to form a user mouth opening in fluid communication with the second volume.
One-way inhalation and one-way exhalation valves are provided, with the inhalation valve connecting the first volume and the second volume, and the exhalation valve connecting the second volume and the exterior of the outer housing. In the expanded state, gas is flowable from the connected MDI to the first volume, from the first volume to the second volume, and from the second volume to the mouth of the user, and the side panels with diagonal skip-scored fold lines form a substantially air tight interface between the first volume and the second volume.
Claims Coverage
Independent claim coverage centers on a collapsible flat-to-expanded valved holding chamber that interfaces an MDI with a user mouth opening via a nested outer and fully contained inner housing, with one-way inhalation and exhalation valves and a substantially airtight interface in the expanded state. The inventive features include the collapsible volume layout, the coordinated gas flow path, and the substantially airtight seal between internal volumes formed by side panels with diagonal skip-scored fold lines.
Flat-to-expanded outer housing bounding a first volume
An outer housing, collapsible into a substantially flat configuration and expandable to bound a first volume adapted to receive a plume of medication particles ejected by an MDI.
Fully contained collapsible inner housing bounding a second volume
A fully contained inner housing also collapsible into a substantially flat configuration, located within the outer housing and expandable to bound a second volume.
MDI interface opening into the first volume
A first opening formed through a wall of the outer housing at a first location, in fluid communication with the first volume, and adapted to accommodate a mouthpiece of the MDI.
User mouth opening via second and third openings
Second and third openings formed through the wall of the outer housing and a wall of the inner housing, respectively, adapted to form a user mouth opening in fluid communication with the second volume.
One-way inhalation valve connecting first and second volumes
A one-way inhalation valve located within the wall of the inner housing, the inhalation valve connecting the first volume and the second volume.
Substantially airtight interface between first and second volumes via side panels and skip-scored fold lines
Side panels extending from the wall of the inner housing, said side panels having diagonal skip-scored fold lines, wherein said side panels form a substantially air tight interface between the first volume and the second volume when the apparatus is in an expanded state.
One-way exhalation valve connecting second volume to exterior
A one-way exhalation valve located within the wall of the outer housing and the wall of the inner housing, the exhalation valve connecting the second volume and the exterior of the outer housing.
Expanded-state gas flow path from MDI to user mouth
Wherein, in the expanded state, gas is flowable from the connected MDI to the first volume, from the first volume to the second volume, and from the second volume to the mouth of the user.
Across the independent claim, the coverage is directed to the structural combination of a nested, flat-to-expanded outer housing and fully contained inner housing with a defined inhalation and exhalation valve arrangement. The claims further emphasize a substantially airtight interface between the first and second volumes formed by side panels with diagonal skip-scored fold lines, enabling the expanded-state flow path from the MDI plume to the user mouth opening.
Stated Advantages
A substantially air tight interface between the first volume and the second volume when the apparatus is in an expanded state.
Documented embodiments are intended to reduce leakage and improve delivery efficiency.
Test data compares delivery under coordinated versus uncoordinated breathing, reporting no drop in total emitted dose for the subject device while a reference shows a 38% drop.
Documented Applications
Use as a disposable medication inhalation spacer/valved holding chamber for MDI use.
Evaluation of particle/dose delivery under coordinated versus uncoordinated breathing relative to a non-disposable valved chamber (Monaghan Aerochamber Z-Stat reference).
Health care/training and clinical settings are mentioned as contexts in the documented description.
Interested in licensing this patent?