Backpiece for receiving an MDI adapter in an aerosolization spacer

The combination comprising one of a plurality of metered dose inhalers including a cartridge and a metered dose inhaler adapter having an outlet mouthpiece, a cylindrical aerosolization spacer having a cylindrical inlet end, and a fitting mounted on said aerosolization spacer inlet end and receiving the outlet mouthpiece of said metered dose inhaler adapter, said fitting comprising a one-piece integral member molded of a resilient flexible elastomeric material and including an outer cylindrical portion having a longitudinally extending axis of rotation and being received on the inlet end of said aerosolization spacer, said fitting further including an integral transverse wall extending radially inwardly from said cylindrical portion and having a substantially central opening for receipt of the outlet mouthpiece of said metered dose inhaler adapter and having a peripheral edge shaped substantially as a truncated oval having a major axis and having a pair of curved sides and opposite ends directed chordally of said oval and substantially perpendicular to said major axis of said oval, and a plurality of ribs in angularly spaced relation about said transverse wall and said cylindrical portion and integral with said wall and with said cylindrical portion, said ribs extending from said wall in the direction of said axis of rotation, each rib having an inner longitudinally extending edge substantially parallel to said axis of rotation for engaging and supporting said outlet mouthpiece of said metered dose inhaler adapter and for bracing and reinforcing said transverse wall, said edges of all of said ribs being of substantially equal length parallel to said axis of rotation, said ribs extending substantially radially outwardly from said longitudinally extending edges toward said cylindrical portion, there being no portion of said fitting extending radially inwards of said rib edges, whereby only said peripheral edge of said wall opening and said longitudinally extending rib edges are engageable with said metered dose inhaler adapter outlet mouthpiece.

In combination:

• a metered dose inhaler canister;
• a metered dose inhaler adapter for receiving the metered dose inhaler canister and dispensing an aerosol from the metered dose inhaler canister through a mouthpiece of the metered dose inhaler adapter;
• and
• an aerosolization spacer having
• an inlet connected to said mouthpiece of said metered dose inhaler adapter to receive the aerosol dispensed therefrom and
• an outlet from which a patient can receive said aerosol,
• wherein the improvement comprises:
• a backpiece connected to the inlet of said aerosolization spacer, said backpiece comprising means for accommodating various sizes and shapes of metered dose inhaler adapter mouthpieces said accommodating means comprising a flexible, resilient opening means that flexibly conforms to different sizes of metered does inhaler mouthpieces.

A fitting for selectively mounting a metered dose inhaler adapter on an inlet end of a cylindrical aerosolization spacer, wherein said metered dose inhaler adapter has an outlet mouthpiece and wherein said fitting comprises a one-piece integral member molded of a resilient, flexible elastomeric material, said fitting comprising:

• an outer cylindrical portion having a longitudinal extending axis of rotation for mounting said fitting on a cylindrical aerosolization spacer;
• an integral transverse wall extending radially inwardly from said outer cylindrical portion, said integral transverse wall having a substantially central opening for receipt of an outlet mouthpiece of a metered dose inhaler adapter, said central opening having a peripheral edge shaped substantially as a truncated oval having a major axis and having a pair of curved sides and a pair of opposite ends directed chordally of said oval and substantially perpendicular to the major axis of said oval;
• a shelf protruding longitudinally from said integral transverse wall adjacent one of said pair of curved sides of said central opening;
• a brace protruding longitudinally from said integral transverse wall adjacent the other of said pair of curved sides of said central opening;
• and
• a plurality of ribs in angularly spaced relation about said transverse wall and said cylindrical portion and integral with said wall and said cylindrical portion, said ribs extending longitudinally in a direction of said axis of rotation and radially inward from said shelf and said brace, each rib having an inner longitudinally extending edge substantially parallel to said axis of rotation.

A fitting for mounting a metered dose inhaler adapter on an inlet end of a cylindrical aerosolization spacer, wherein said metered dose inhaler adapter has an outlet mouthpiece, said fitting comprising a one-piece integral member molded of a resilient, flexible elastomeric material, said fitting comprising:

• an outer cylindrical portion having a longitudinal extending axis of rotation for mounting said fitting on the cylindrical aerosolization spacer;
• an inner ring spaced radially inward from said outer cylindrical portion and extending in a longitudinal direction;
• an integral transverse wall extending radially inwardly from said outer cylindrical portion and said inner ring, said integral transverse wall having a substantially central opening for receipt of an outlet mouthpiece of a metered dose inhaler adapter, said central opening having a peripheral edge shaped substantially as a truncated oval having a major axis and having a pair of curved sides and a pair of opposite ends directed chordally of said oval and substantially perpendicular to the major axis of said oval;
• a shelf protruding longitudinally from said integral transverse wall adjacent one of said pair of curved sides of said central opening;
• a brace protruding longitudinally from said integral transverse wall adjacent the other of said pair of curved sides of said central opening;
• and
• a first pair of ribs located on said shelf on a side thereof facing said central opening and extending longitudinally in a direction of said axis of rotation;
• and
• a second pair of ribs located on said brace on a side thereof facing said central opening and extending longitudinally in a direction of said axis of rotation.

An aerosol delivery system for a metered dose inhaler adapter wherein said metered dose inhaler adapter has an outlet mouthpiece, said aerosol delivery system comprising:

• a cylindrical aerosolization spacer having an inlet end and an outlet end;
• and
• a fitting mounted on said inlet end of said cylindrical aerosolization spacer, said fitting formed of a one-piece integral member molded of a resilient, flexible elastomeric material and comprising:
• an outer cylindrical portion having a longitudinal extending axis of rotation;
• an inner ring spaced radially inward from said outer cylindrical portion and extending in a longitudinal direction, wherein said outer cylindrical portion and said inner ring define a circular cavity into which said inlet end of said cylindrical aerosolization spacer is received;
• an integral transverse wall extending radially inwardly from said outer cylindrical portion and joining upstream edges of said outer cylindrical portion and said inner ring, said integral transverse wall having a substantially central opening for receipt of the outlet mouthpiece of the metered dose inhaler adapter, said central opening having a peripheral edge shaped substantially as a truncated oval having a major axis and having a pair of curved sides and a pair of opposite ends directed chordally of said oval and substantially perpendicular to the major axis of said oval;
• a shelf extending longitudinally from said integral transverse wall adjacent one of said pair of curved sides of said central opening;
• a brace extending longitudinally from said integral transverse wall adjacent the other of said pair of curved sides of said central opening;
• a first plurality of ribs located on said shelf on a side thereof facing said central opening and extending longitudinally in a direction of said axis of rotation, and
• a second plurality of ribs located on said brace on a side thereof facing said central opening and extending longitudinally in a direction of said axis of rotation.