Inhaler assistive device
OwnerMartin W. Ferrisinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Method and apparatus for enabling a user having reduced manual dexterity and/or strength to operate an aerosol inhaler by modifying the inhaler to have a lever juxtaposed adjacent the flat end of the aerosol cannister, or inserting an inhaler into a device having a lever juxtaposed to the flat end of the aerosol cannister, the lever adapted to be moved by the user to depress the aerosol cannister and dispense medication contained in said aerosol cannister.
Claims12
An apparatus for enabling a user having diminished manual dexterity and or diminished strength to use an inhaler of the type, being one of, a combination of an aerosol cannister and housing where the cannister is moveable in but not removable from the housing, a combined aerosol cannister and housing, or having a housing to removeably receive an aerosol cannister, said cannister having a medication discharge end opposite a generally flat end, said cannister containing medication under pressure, said housing having a mouthpiece to direct medication into the mouth and down into the lungs of said user when said user applies pressure to said bottom of said cannister inserted in said housing, the improvement comprising:
- a generally elongated body adapted to receiving and hold said housing and said cannister so that said user can position said mouthpiece for dispensing of said medication said body having a portion projecting above said bottom of said aerosol cannister;
- means is said portion or said body projecting above said bottom of said aerosol cannister to enable said user to effect greater pressure or said bottom of said cannister than said user, with diminished manual dexterity and/or diminished strength, could produce manually.
An apparatus for enabling a user having diminished manual dexterity and/or diminished strength to use an inhaler of the type, being one of, a combination of an aerosol cannister and housing where the cannister is moveable in but not removable from the housing, a combined cannister and housing, or having a housing to removeably receive an aerosol cannister, said cannister having a medication discharge end opposite a generally flat end, said cannister containing medication under pressure, said housing having a mouthpiece to direct medication into the mouth and down into the lungs of said user when said user applies pressure to said bottom of said cannister inserted in said housing, the improvement comprising:
- a body adapted to surround and frictionally engage a portion of said housing, said body adapted to support means to enable a user to effect greater pressure on said flat end of said cannister, than said user, with diminished manual dexterity and/or diminished strength, could produce manually.
An apparatus for enabling a user having diminished manual dexterity and/or diminished strength to use an inhaler of the type, being one of, a combination of an aerosol cannister and housing where the cannister is moveable in but not removeable from the housing, or having a housing to removeably receive an aerosol cannister, said can having a medication discharge end opposite a generally flat end, said cannister containing medication under pressure, said housing having a mouthpiece to direct medication into the mouth and down into the lungs of said user when said user applies pressure to said flat end of said cannister inserted in said housing, the improvement comprising:
- constructing said housing with a face side extending from said mouthpiece to a location above said flat end of said aerosol cannister, means in a portion of said face side extending above said flat end of said cannister to receive means to contact said bottom of said aerosol cannister, said means adapted to permit said user to exert increased force on said flat end of said cannister to permit dispensing of medication from said can.
An apparatus for enabling a user having diminished manual dexterity and/or diminished strength to use an inhaler of the type, being one of a combination of an aerosol cannister and housing where the cannister is moveable in but not removeablc from the housing, a combined aerosol cannister and housing, or having a housing to removeably receive an aerosol cannister, said cannister having a medication discharge end opposite a generally flat end, said cannister containing medication under pressure, said housing having a mouthpiece to direct medication into the mouth of said user when said user applies pressure to said flat end of said cannister inserted in said housing, the improvement comprising:
- force enhancing means adapted to be removeably attached to said housing at a location above said mouthpiece and proximate a face of said housing extending vertically from said mouthpiece;
- said force enhancing means having a generally flat elongated user contact surface portion disposed generally perpendicular to a generally flat extension portion, said extension portion having a length so that when said force enhancing means is fixed to said housing said contact surface overlies and projects beyond said flat end or said aerosol cannister in a direction away from said mouthpiece, whereby when a user exerts force on said contact surface said force enhancing means causes said aerosol cannister to dispense said medication.
An apparatus for enabling a user having diminished manual dexterity and/or diminished strength to use an inhaler of the type, being one of, a combination of an aerosol cannistcr and housing where the cannister is moveable in but not removeable from the housing, a combined aerosol cannister and housing, or having a housing to removeably receive an aerosol cannister, said cannister having a medication discharge end opposite a generally flat end, said caninister containing medication under pressure, said housing having a mouthpiece to direct medication into the mouth of said user when said user applies pressure to said flat end of said cannister inserted in said housing, the improvement comprising:
- a generally elongated mounting piece adapted to be removeably fixed to said housing, said mounting piece having an aperture at one end, said aperture adapted to removeably and pivotably receive a lever arm, said mounting piece positioned on said housing so that said aperture is above said flat end of said aerosol cannister;
- lever means positioned in said mounting piece in contact with said flat end of said aerosol can to enable a user to effect greater pressure on said flat end of said cannister than said user, with diminished manual dexterity and/or diminished strength, could produce manually.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.