# US 10,245,396 B2 · Inhalation devices and systems and methods including the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,245,396 B2 - Document ID: US10245396B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/153,482 - Filed: 2016-05-12 - Published: 2017-01-26 - Granted: 2019-04-02 - Earliest claimed: 2012-04-20 - Assignees: Cerecor, Inc. - Applicants: Cerecor, Inc. - Inventors: Peter Wayne Steelman; James Edward Flynn; John Zeis; Karla Worley-Ham - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10245396B2 ## CPC - A61M 15/0088: {with variable volume} - A61M 15/0013: {with inhalation check valves} - A61M 15/0016: {located downstream of the dispenser, i.e. traversed by the product} - A61M 15/0018: {with exhalation check valves} - A61M 15/0021: {Mouthpieces therefor} - A61M 15/0023: {retractable} - A61M 15/0068: {Indicating or counting the number of dispensed doses or of remaining doses} - A61M 15/0081: {Locking means} - A61M 15/0086: {Inhalation chambers} - A61M 15/009: {using medicine packages with incorporated spraying means, e.g. aerosol cans (pocket atomiser of the injector type A61M11/08)} - A61M 16/20: Valves specially adapted to medical respiratory devices - A61M 16/209: {Relief valves} - A61M 15/0071: {having a display or indicator} - A61M 15/008: {Electronic counters} - A61M 16/107: {in the inspiratory path} - A61M 16/208: {Non-controlled one-way valves, e.g. exhalation, check, pop-off non-rebreathing valves} - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A collapsible inhalation device for use with a metered dose inhaler (MDI) dispenser, the MDI dispenser operable to dispense a dose of a medication therefrom, the inhalation device comprising: an outlet end member including a mouthpiece; an inlet end member including an inlet port and an MDI dispenser mount structure configured to receive and engage the MDI dispenser; and a tubular, pliable, collapsible sleeve member having first and second opposed ends attached to the inlet end member and the outlet end member, respectively; wherein the inhalation device is positionable in each of an open position, wherein 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, and a closed position, wherein the sleeve member is collapsed and the outlet end member and the inlet end member are proximate one another and envelope the sleeve member; and wherein, when the inhalation device is in the open position with the MDI dispenser mounted in the MDI dispenser mount structure, a dose of the medication can be dispensed from the MDI dispenser into the chamber through the inlet port to mix with air in the chamber and thereby form a mixture of the air and the dose of the medication that can be inhaled by a patient from the chamber through the mouthpiece. ### Claim 2 A collapsible inhalation device for use with a metered dose inhaler (MDI) dispenser, the MDI dispenser operable to dispense a dose of a medication therefrom, the inhalation device comprising: an outlet end member including a mouthpiece; an inlet end member including an inlet port and an MDI dispenser mount structure configured to receive and engage the MDI dispenser; and a tubular, pliable, collapsible sleeve member having first and second opposed ends attached to the inlet end member and the outlet end member, respectively; wherein the inhalation device is positionable in each of an open position, wherein 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, and a closed position, wherein the sleeve member is collapsed and the outlet end member and the inlet end member are proximate one another and envelope the sleeve member; wherein, when the inhalation device is in the open position with the MDI dispenser mounted in the MDI dispenser mount structure, a dose of the medication can be dispensed from the MDI dispenser into the chamber through the inlet port to mix with air in the chamber and thereby form a mixture of the air and the dose of the medication that can be inhaled by a patient from the chamber through the mouthpiece; wherein the inlet end member includes a ring member to which the sleeve member is affixed, and a cover member mounted on the ring member, wherein the cover member is removable from and replaceable on the ring member to provide access to the interior of the inhalation device for cleaning; and wherein 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. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The inhalation device of claim 2 wherein the ring member is formed of a rigid or semi-rigid material. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The inhalation device of claim 3 wherein the ring member is formed of high density polyethylene. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The inhalation device of claim 2 wherein the ring member is formed of a polymeric material blended and/or coated with a supplemental material that imparts an anti-static property to the polymeric material. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The inhalation device of claim 2 wherein the cover member is formed of a thermoplastic elastomer or silicone rubber. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The inhalation device of claim 2 wherein the cover member is formed of a polymeric material blended and/or coated with a supplemental material that imparts an anti-static property to the polymeric material. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The inhalation device of claim 2 wherein, when the inhalation device is in the closed position, the outlet end member and the inlet end member fully envelope the sleeve member. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The inhalation device of claim 2 wherein the MDI dispenser includes an MDI aerosol canister mounted in an MDI holder having a dispensing section, and the inlet port and the MDI dispenser mount structure are configured to receive and engage the dispensing section such that the dispensing section extends through the inlet port. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) The inhalation device of claim 2 wherein the outlet end member includes a one-way inhalation valve that enables outflow of air from the chamber through the mouthpiece and prevents inflow of air into the chamber through the mouthpiece. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The inhalation device of claim 10 wherein the outlet end member includes a one-way blowback relief valve that enables outflow of air from the mouthpiece through the one-way blowback relief valve and prevents inflow of ambient air into the mouthpiece through the one-way blowback relief valve. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The inhalation device of claim 10 wherein the mouthpiece includes a grill configured to catch and prevent a component of the one-way inhalation valve from being inhaled through the mouthpiece. ### Claim 13 (depends on 2) The inhalation device of claim 2 wherein the sleeve member is substantially cylindrical when the inhalation device is in the open position. ### Claim 14 (depends on 2) The inhalation device of claim 2 wherein the sleeve member is formed of a polymeric film having a thickness in the range of from about 4 to 8 mil. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The inhalation device of claim 14 wherein the polymeric film has a thickness in the range of from about 4 to 6 mil. ### Claim 16 (depends on 2) The inhalation device of claim 2 wherein the sleeve member is formed of a low density polyethylene (LDPE) film. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The inhalation device of claim 16 wherein the LDPE film is an anti-static LDPE film having a surface resistivity of 1×1012 Ohms/square or less as measured according to ASTM D257-07. ### Claim 18 (depends on 2) The inhalation device of claim 2 wherein the outlet end member includes a body and the mouthpiece is hingedly coupled to the body to rotate between an extended, deployed position and a retracted, stored position. ### Claim 19 A method for administering a dose of a medication to a patient from a metered dose inhaler (MDI) dispenser, the method comprising: a) providing a collapsible inhalation device including: an outlet end member including a mouthpiece; an inlet end member including an inlet port and an MDI dispenser mount structure configured to receive and engage the MDI dispenser; and a tubular, pliable, collapsible sleeve member having first and second opposed ends attached to the inlet end member and the outlet end member, respectively; wherein the inhalation device is positionable in each of an open position, wherein 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, and a closed position, wherein the sleeve member is collapsed and the outlet end member and the inlet end member are proximate one another and envelope the sleeve member; b) placing the inhalation device in the open position; c) mounting the MDI dispenser in the MDI dispenser mount structure; and thereafter; d) dispensing a dose of the medication from the MDI dispenser into the chamber through the inlet port to mix with air in the chamber and thereby form a mixture of the air and the dose of the medication that can be inhaled by a patient from the chamber through the mouthpiece; wherein the inlet end member includes a ring member to which the sleeve member is affixed, and a cover member mounted on the ring member, wherein the cover member is removable from and replaceable on the ring member to provide access to the interior of the inhalation device for cleaning; and wherein 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. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19 wherein, when the inhalation device is in the closed position, the outlet end member and the inlet end member fully envelope the sleeve member.