Breath activated inhaler
AssigneeSmoke-Stop
InventorsArthur Slutsky, Noe Zamel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of assisting a person to withdraw from cigarette induced nicotine dependency, comprising introducing a predetermined dose of a non-pressurized, particulate medicament comprising at least one nicotine formulation suitable for absorption into the bloodstream of the person through the alveoli and small airways of the person's lungs into a breath activated inhaler for use by said person as a cigarette substitute. A breath activated inhaler which may be used in accordance with this method is also disclosed.
Claims17
A method of assisting a person to withdraw from cigarette induced nicotine dependency by introducing a nicotine medicament into the lungs of a person using an inhaler comprising:
- (a) a storage chamber for storing a mass of particulate medicament varying in size from about 0.1 .mu.m to about 5 .mu.m and comprising at least one nicotine formulation suitable for absorption into the bloodstream of the person through the alveoli and small airways of the person's lungs;
- and,
- (b) an air conduit to conduct air flow to the person, the air conduit sized to permit an air flow rate there through of up to about 1 L/s upon inhalation by the patient and including an air entrance and an air exit, the air entrance being open without any media containing a desiccant inhibiting the free flow air flow through the air entrance, the air conduit producing a turbulent flow of air there through upon inhalation by the person to entrain the medicament in the air inhaled by the person;
- the method comprising:
- (a) introducing a predetermined dose of the particulate medicament into the air conduit;
- (b) creating an air flow through the air conduit responsive to the person inhaling through the inhaler;
- (c) producing a cloud of particles suitable for absorption into the bloodstream of the person through the alveoli and small airways of the person's lungs by dispersing said medicament into the air passing through the air conduit, the turbulence of the air passing through the air conduit being sufficient to produce the cloud of particles;
- and,
- (d) withdrawing from the inhaler the cloud of particles together with air passing through the air conduit
- whereby on inhalation by the person, the medicament is introduced to the person's lungs for use by said person as a tobacco substitute.
A method of introducing a medicament into the lungs of a patient using a breath activated inhaler comprising an air conduit, a first opening and a second opening, said first opening and said second opening being releasably sealed, said air conduit sized to permit an air flow rate therethrough of up to about 1 L/s upon inhalation by the patient when said first and second seals are released, one of said first opening and said second opening being adapted to deliver the medicament to the mouth of the patient;
- and, a non-pressurized, particulate medicament comprising individual medicament particles and being suitable for absorption into the bloodstream of the patient through the alveoli and small airways of the patient's lungs positioned in said air conduit, said individual medicament particles varying in size from about 0.1 .mu.m to about 5 .mu.m, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) agitating said medicament in said air conduit to disperse said medicament in said air conduit;
- (b) releasing said seals on said first and second openings;
- and
- (c) inhaling said medicament in the form of a cloud of particles entrained in air inhaled by the patient.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.