Apparatus to administer drugs to mechanically ventilated patients
Inventors
AGAZZI, RUBEN • CAMPOLO, BENEDETTA • DALLACASA, NICOLÒ • DAVICO, EDOARDO • Speziali, Chantal Erika
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12097329-B2
Publication Date
2024-09-24
Expiration Date
Abstract
An apparatus to administer drugs to mechanically ventilated patients includes a mechanical ventilator, an artificial airway to be associated to a patient and a ventilation circuit connecting the mechanical ventilator to the artificial airway. The ventilation circuit includes: an inspiratory line, a dry powder inhaler disposed in line on the inspiratory line and a connector operatively connected to the dry powder inhaler and to the inspiratory line. The connector includes: a first duct facing an outlet port of the dry powder inhaler and connected or configured to be connected to a tube section of the inspiratory line placed downstream the dry powder inhaler; a second duct facing an air inlet port of the dry powder inhaler and connected or configured to be connected to a tube section of the inspiratory line placed upstream the dry powder inhaler.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to an apparatus to administer drugs to mechanically ventilated patients. A mechanical ventilator is connected to an artificial airway via a ventilation circuit including an inspiratory line, and a dry powder inhaler is disposed in line on the inspiratory line. A connector operatively connects the dry powder inhaler to the inspiratory line.
The connector comprises a connector body having a first duct facing an outlet port of the dry powder inhaler and connected or configured to be connected to a first tube section of the inspiratory line placed downstream of the dry powder inhaler. The connector also comprises a second duct facing an air inlet port of the dry powder inhaler and connected or configured to be connected to a second tube section of the inspiratory line placed upstream of the dry powder inhaler, with the first duct and the second duct presenting respective first and second openings placed side by side on the connector body.
The ventilation circuit architecture is further configured for delivering doses from an in-line dry powder inhaler without disconnecting ventilation. The circuit includes a main inspiratory branch and an auxiliary branch, with at least one valve arranged to selectively route ventilation air through the auxiliary branch during inspiration. In-line actuation of the dry powder inhaler is described as being driven by inhalation-breath-actuated structure, including a protective member and a flap mechanism.
Claims Coverage
The provided independent claim set includes one independent apparatus claim. The core claim includes an in-line dry powder inhaler in a mechanical ventilation inspiratory circuit, with a connector that routes the dry powder inhaler outlet downstream and the dry powder inhaler inlet upstream via first and second ducts with side-by-side openings.
Side-by-side multi-duct connector for in-line DPI on inspiratory line
A ventilation circuit with an inspiratory line carries an in-line dry powder inhaler, and a connector operatively connects the dry powder inhaler and the inspiratory line, wherein the connector includes a first duct facing an outlet port of the dry powder inhaler and connected or configured to be connected to a first tube section downstream of the dry powder inhaler, and a second duct facing an air inlet port of the dry powder inhaler and connected or configured to be connected to a second tube section upstream of the dry powder inhaler, with the first and second ducts presenting respectively a first opening and a second opening placed side by side on the connector body.
Across the claim scope shown in the partial content, the key inventive theme is an in-line dry powder inhaler integrated into a mechanical ventilation inspiratory circuit through a connector that routes the DPI outlet port downstream and the DPI inlet port upstream using two ducts with side-by-side openings.
Stated Advantages
Enables administration of dry powder inhaled drugs to mechanically ventilated patients without disconnecting ventilation.
Reports extrafine particle fraction >20% and comparable performance between NGI/HPLC aerosol performance for FF and BDP versus DPI at release.
Documented Applications
Administration of dry powder inhaled drugs using a mechanically ventilated patient ventilation circuit integrated with an in-line dry powder inhaler and a connector without disconnecting ventilation.
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