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US 12,514,993 B2Granted
Spacer device with flow rate spirometer
AssigneeAerovu Technologies, Inc.
InventorsKhaja H. Khan, Alex Stenzler, Steve Han
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention provides a spacer device having a flow rate spirometer. The flow rate indicator allows users to use a measured, consistent flow rate leading to improved synchronicity and actuation.
Claims23
A system, comprising:
- a pressurized metered dose inhaler device;
- a spacer device configured to be operably coupled to the pressurized metered dose inhaler device, the spacer device comprising:
- a main body extending from a first end to a second end and defining a longitudinal axis;
- a flow chamber comprising a generally circular reservoir sized to accommodate the pressurized metered dose inhaler device, the flow chamber disposed continuously through the main body from the first end to the second end along the longitudinal axis, the flow chamber being less than 10 cm in length as measured along the longitudinal axis;
- a mouthpiece in fluid communication with the flow chamber, the mouthpiece configured to be aligned with the longitudinal axis during use of the spacer device;
- and
- a spirometer coupled to the main body, the spirometer comprising:
- a fluid chamber having an upper portion and a lower portion along an elongated central axis, the fluid chamber being in fluid communication with the flow chamber via a fluid pathway;
- a float slidably disposed within the fluid chamber;
- and
- an entrainment port disposed within a wall of the lower portion of the fluid chamber, wherein:
- the spacer device is configured such that drawing a fluid through the mouthpiece draws the fluid through the flow chamber and the entrainment port, thereby generating a pressure difference within the fluid chamber causing the float to move toward the upper portion of the fluid chamber,
- the float is configured as an indicator of flow rate during operation of the spacer device,
- the flow chamber comprises an opening for receiving the mouthpiece of the pressurized metered dose inhaler device, the opening for receiving the mouthpiece of the pressurized metered dose inhaler device being arranged opposite the mouthpiece of the spacer device and in fluid communication with the flow chamber,
- wherein the pressurized metered dose inhaler device is configured to be used by a user with and without the spacer device.
12 more elements
A method of administering a medicinal agent to a subject, the method comprising:
- coupling a mouthpiece of a pressurized metered dose inhaler device to an opening of a spacer device, the opening of the spacer device arranged opposite the mouthpiece of the spacer device and in fluid communication with a flow chamber of the spacer device, the spacer device comprising a spirometer and a main body that extends from a first end to a second end and defines a longitudinal axis, a fluid chamber of the spirometer having an upper portion and a lower portion along an elongated central axis, the fluid chamber being in fluid communication with the flow chamber of the pressurized metered dose inhaler device via a fluid pathway, the flow chamber extending from the opening of the spacer device to the mouthpiece of the pressurized metered dose inhaler device, the flow chamber disposed continuously through the main body from the first end to the second end along the longitudinal axis, the flow chamber being less than 10 cm in length as measured along the longitudinal axis;
- actuating the pressurized metered dose inhaler device to release a drug into the flow chamber to administer the medicinal agent to a pulmonary tract of the subject;
- responsive to the actuating the pressurized metered dose inhaler device, generating a vacuum by inhalation of the subject and drawing a mist of the medicinal agent through the flow chamber into a mouth of the subject by way of the mouthpiece of the spacer device;
- responsive to a pressure difference across a float of the spirometer exceeding a threshold flow rate, causing the float to rise within the fluid chamber during the inhalation;
- and
- responsive to the subject exceeding a maximum flow rate during the inhalation, providing a visual indication that the subject exceeded the maximum flow rate, the maximum flow rate being about 35 liters per minute,
- wherein the pressurized metered dose inhaler device is configured to be used by a user with and without the spacer device.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.