Medication delivery system

An apparatus for delivering aerosolized medication to a patient, of the type including a medication container and metering means, said apparatus comprising:

• a first rigid chamber;
• a second collapsible chamber;
• a mouthpiece, said mouthpiece having a first end and a second end, said mouthpiece having a first passageway extending lengthwise therethrough from said first end to said second end, said first end being shaped to accommodate the human mouth for inhalation purposes, said mouthpiece further having a second passageway transverse to said first passageway, said second passageway being positioned between said first end and said second end and being in open communication with said first passageway, said mouthpiece further including means for connecting to the medication container, and passage means for directing medication from the container out the second end of said mouthpiece for discharge into said first rigid chamber;
• said first rigid chamber having first and second end walls, said first end wall having an opening which is pneumatically connected to said first passageway of said mouthpiece at the second end thereof, the second end wall of said first rigid chamber having means for limiting the volumetric flow of air therethrough;
• and
• said second collapsible chamber being pneumatically connected to said second passageway in said mouthpiece;
• thereby allowing the patient to meter medication into said first rigid chamber, and to inhale through said mouthpiece, automatically inhaling the non-medicated contents of said second collapsible chamber before inhaling the medication from the rigid first chamber.

A device for aiding a patient in inhaling medication, of the type having a pressurized aerosol medication container and having a metering means, said device comprising:

• a first rigid chamber;
• a second collapsible chamber, said second collapsible chamber including means for adjusting the volume of air contained therein and indicia means to indicate said adjustable volume;
• a mouthpiece, said mouthpiece having a near and far end, said mouthpiece having a first opening therethrough, said first opening connecting said near end to said far end, said near end being shaped to accommodate the human mouth, said mouthpiece further having a second opening between said near end and said far end, said second opening meeting said first opening, and said mouthpiece further including means for connecting said mouthpiece to the medication container, and means for directing the medication out the far end of said mouthpiece into said first rigid chamber;
• said first rigid chamber having a first and second end, said first end having an opening pneumatically connected to said far end of said mouthpiece;
• said first rigid chamber further including one or more small orifices in its second end for the purpose of limiting the volumetric flow of air therethrough so that the volumetric flow rate is at or below 30 liters per minute;
• and
• said second collapsible chamber being pneumatically connected to said second opening in said mouthpiece;
• thereby allowing the patient to first meter medication into said first rigid chamber, and to inhale through said mouthpiece, while automatically inhaling the non-medicated contents of said second collapsible chamber for inhaling medication through the rigid first chamber.