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US 6,578,571 B1Granted
Drug delivery device and methods therefor
AssigneeInfamed Ltd.
InventorPaul M. Watt
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An incentive inhaler device includes an inhalation device, at least one incentive toy coupled to the inhalation device, and at least one separator. The inhalation device has a respiration device and a connector that is linkable to a delivery device. The delivery device can deliver drugs, aerosols, powder and gas. The incentive toy is respiration driven and has at least one of a visible characteristic and an audible characteristic. The separator decouples the toy from at least one component of the inhalation device to ensure directional flow of respirational air which drives the toy. The separator can include a valve, a filter, or a baffle.
Claims56
An incentive inhaler device, comprising:
- an inhalation device comprising a respiration device and a connector that is linkable to a drug delivery device such that there is a main inspiration flow of a medicament from said drug delivery device into said respiration device via said connector during inspiration by a subject through said respiration device;
- at least one incentive toy coupled to the inhalation device, the toy being driven by inhaled or exhaled air passing over said toy or through said toy, wherein said toy has a visible characteristic or an audible characteristic;
- and
- a separator element positioned so as to separate said toy from said main inspiration flow of a medicament and provide a separate air flow passage over or through said toy from or to outside said main inspiration flow, wherein said separator element includes an integer selected from the group consisting of:
- a valve, a filter, and a baffle.
2 more elements
An incentive inhaler device for administering an anaesthetic, comprising:
- a mask;
- a drug delivery tube that is linkable to a drug delivery device such that during inspiration there is a main inspiration flow of anaesthetic from the drug delivery device to the mask via said drug delivery tube;
- at least one incentive toy driven by exhaled air passing over said toy or through said toy wherein said toy has a visible characteristic or an audible characteristic;
- and
- a separator element comprising a conduit, wherein said conduit comprises three adaptor ends that are connected separately to said mask, said drug delivery tube and said incentive toy, and wherein said conduit comprises a one-way valve in sealing engagement with an interior wall of an adaptor end juxtaposed to the incentive toy to prevent a flow of inhaled air from the incentive toy to the mask and to separate said toy from said main inspiration flow of anaesthetic.
2 more elements
A method of operating an incentive inhaler device to administer an inhalable medicament to a child, comprising:
- (a) providing an incentive inhaler device comprising:
- (i) an inhalation device comprising a respiration device and a connector that is linkable to a drug delivery device such that there is a main inspiration flow of a medicament from said drug delivery device into said respiration device via said connector during inspiration by a child;
- (ii) at least one incentive toy coupled to the inhalation device, being driven by inhaled or exhaled air passing over said toy or through said toy, wherein said toy has a visible characteristic or an audible characteristic;
- and
- (iii) at least one separator element positioned so as to separate said toy from said main inspiration flow of a medicament and provide a separate air flow passage over or through said toy from or to outside said main inspiration flow wherein said separator element includes an integer selected from the group consisting of:
- a valve, a filter and a baffle;
- (b) bringing the respiration device in contact with a child's face;
- and
- (c) causing a child to inhale through the respiration device or exhale into the respiration device thereby activating said toy.
6 more elements
A method of operating an incentive inhaler device to administer an anaesthetic to a child comprising:
- (a) providing an incentive inhaler device comprising:
- (i) a mask;
- (ii) a drug delivery tube that is linkable to a drug delivery device such that during inspiration there is a main inspiration flow of anaesthetic from the drug delivery device to the mask via said drug delivery tube;
- (iii) at least one incentive toy driven by exhaled air passing over said toy or through said toy, wherein said toy has a visible characteristic or an audible characteristic;
- and
- (iv) a separator element comprising a conduit, wherein said conduit comprises three adaptor ends that are connected separately to said mask, said drug delivery tube and said incentive toy and wherein said conduit comprises a one-way valve in sealing engagement with an interior wall of adaptor end juxtaposed to said incentive toy to prevent a flow of inhaled air from the incentive toy to the mask and to separate said toy from said main inspiration flow of anaesthetic;
- (b) bringing the mask in contact with a child's face;
- (c) causing said child to exhale into the mask thereby activating the incentive toy;
- and
- (d) optionally, exhausting the exhaled air into a scavenger system.
7 more elements
An incentive inhaler device comprising:
- (i) an inhalation device comprising a respiration device and a connector that is linkable to a drug delivery device such that there is a main inspiration flow of a medicament from said drug delivery device into said respiration device via said connector during inhalation by a subject through said respiration device;
- (ii) two incentive toys coupled to the inhalation device, the toys having an audible characteristic or a visible characteristic, wherein said toys are driven by inhaled air and/or exhaled air passing over them or through them;
- and
- (iii) a separator element consisting of a three-way conduit comprising:
- (a) an adaptor end for operable attachment of the incentive toys to the inhalation device;
- (b) a venturi comprising a frustoconical portion tapered at one end, said venturi being positioned:
- (i) coaxially within the conduit such that a circumference of an outer wall of said venturi is in sealable engagement with a circumference of an interior wall of said separator element;
- and (ii) sufficiently near to said adaptor end such that a velocity of air passing through said venturi is increased thereby increasing a velocity of air passing from said venturi over or through said incentive toys attached to said adaptor end;
- and
- (c) a one-way valve in sealing engagement with an interior wall of an adaptor end juxtaposed said drug delivery device or said connector to ensure a directional flow of air, wherein said separator element is positioned so as to separate said toys from said main inspiration flow of a medicament.
7 more elements
A method of operating an incentive inhaler device for administering a medicament to a child comprising:
- (a) providing an incentive inhaler device comprising:
- (i) an inhalation device comprising a respiration device and a connector that is linkable to a drug delivery device such that there is a main inspiration flow of a medicament from said drug delivery device into said respiration device via said connector during inhalation by a child through said respiration device;
- (ii) two incentive toys coupled to the inhalation device, the toys having an audible characteristic or a visible characteristic, wherein said toys are driven by inhaled air and/or exhaled air passing over them or through them;
- (iii) a separator element consisting of a three-way conduit comprising:
- (a) an adaptor end for operable attachment of the incentive toys to the inhalation device;
- (b) a venturi comprising a frustoconical portion tapered at one end, said venturi being positioned:
- (i) coaxially within said conduit such that a circumference of an outer wall of said venturi is in sealable engagement with a circumference of an interior wall of said separator element;
- and (ii) sufficiently near to said adaptor end such that a velocity of air passing through said venturi is increased thereby increasing a velocity of air passing from said venturi over or through said incentive toys attached to said adaptor end;
- and
- (c) a one-way valve in sealing engagement with an interior wall of an adaptor end juxtaposed said drug delivery device or said connector to ensure a directional flow of air, wherein said separator element is positioned so as to separate said toys from said main inspiration flow of a medicament;
- (b) bringing the respiration device in contact with a child's face;
- and
- (c) causing said child to inhale and exhale into the respiration device thereby activating said toys.
10 more elements
An incentive inhaler device comprising:
- (i) an inhalation device comprising a respiration device and a connector that is linkable to a drug delivery device such that there is a main inspiration flow of a medicament from said drug delivery device into said respiration device via said connector during inhalation by a subject through said respiration device;
- (ii) a toy unit comprising two incentive toys coupled to said inhalation device wherein one toy has an audible characteristic activated by air passing over or through it and wherein one toy has a visible characteristic activated by air passing over or through it;
- (iii) a separator element comprising a three-way conduit operably connected at one end to said respiration device and at another end to said connector, said conduit including an adaptor end for operable attachment of the toy unit to the inhalation device, said adaptor end including a one-way valve in sealing engagement with an interior wall of said adaptor end juxtaposed to the toy unit to ensure a directional flow of inhaled or exhaled air over or through said toy unit, said separator element positioned so as to separate said toy unit from said main inspiration flow of a medicament.
A method of operating an incentive inhaler device for administering a medicament to a child comprising:
- (a) providing an incentive inhaler device comprising:
- (i) an inhalation device comprising a respiration device and a connector that is linkable to a drug delivery device such that there is a main inspiration flow of a medicament from said drug delivery device into said respiration device via said connector during inhalation by a child through said respiration device;
- (ii) a toy unit comprising two incentive toys coupled to said inhalation device wherein one toy has an audible characteristic activated by air passing over or through it and wherein one toy has a visible characteristic activated by air passing over or through it;
- (iii) a separator element comprising a three-way conduit operably connected at one end to said respiration device and at another end to said connector, said conduit including an adaptor end for operable attachment of the toy unit to the inhalation device, said adaptor end including a one-way valve in sealing engagement with an interior wall of said adaptor end juxtaposed to the toy unit to ensure a directional flow of inhaled or exhaled air over or through said toy unit, said separator element positioned so as to separate said toy unit from said main inspiration flow of a medicament;
- (b) bringing the respiration device in contact with a child's face;
- and
- (c) causing a child to inhale or exhale to thereby activate said toys.
4 more elements
A separator element for connecting an incentive toy to an inhalation device having a respiration device and a connector that is linkable to a drug delivery device such that there is a main inspiration flow of a medicament from said drug delivery device into said respiration device via said connector during inspiration by a subject through said respiration device, the toy being driven by inhaled or exhaled air passing over said toy or through said toy, said separator element comprising a three-way conduit having a first end for connection to said respiration device, a second end for connection to said connector and an adaptor end for connection to said incentive toy, said separator element including a one-way valve in sealable engagement with an interior wall thereof to ensure a directional flow of inhaled or exhaled air over or through said toy, said separator element separating said toy from said main inspiration flow of a medicament.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.