Interface accessory for use with an aerosol inhalation system

An aerosol inhalation system comprising:

• a single source of gas;
• a Y-connector having a first port in fluid communication with the gas source via a first conduit and second and third ports;
• an accessory having a main conduit body that includes a first leg, a second leg, and a third leg, all of which are in fluid communication with the main conduit section, the first leg being fluidly connected to the second port of the Y-connector via a second conduit that is connected to the second port and a first gas inlet port associated with the first leg to permit gas from the single source to enter and flow through the first leg, the accessory including a patient interface conduit that is adapted to deliver aerosolized medication to a mouth of the patient;
• a nebulizer sealingly and removably disposed within the third leg, the nebulizer including a second gas inlet port that is fluidly connected to the third port of the Y-connector to permit gas from the single source to flow into the nebulizer to create the aerosolized medication that is delivered into the main conduit body and to the patient through the patient interface conduit, wherein the first gas inlet port has a first inner diameter and the second gas inlet port of the nebulizer has a second inner diameter which is greater than the first inner diameter;
• a holding chamber having a first compartment and a second compartment separated from the first compartment, with the first compartment being sealingly and fluidly coupled to the first leg and the second compartment being sealingly and fluidly coupled to the second leg, wherein the holding chamber is defined by a reservoir bag with the first and second compartments defined therein and separated from one another by a bi-furcating wall, the reservoir bag being formed of an expandable/collapsible material;
• and an arrangement of valves including a first inhalation valve, a second inhalation valve, and an exhalation valve, the first inhalation valve being associated with the first leg so as to control the flow of the gas through the first gas inlet port and into the main conduit body, the second inhalation valve being located within the main conduit body between the first leg and the third leg so as to control the flow of gas through the second gas inlet port and into the main conduit body, wherein inhalation by the patient results in the first and second inhalation valves assuming open positions to permit gas to flow to the patient, the exhalation valve opening when the patient exhales, while the inhalation valves are closed, thereby preventing flow of gas to the patient.

A method of delivering aerosolized medication to a patient comprising the steps of:

• connecting a single source of gas to a first port of a Y-connector via a first conduit, the Y-connector having second and third ports;
• providing an accessory having a main conduit body that includes a first leg and a second leg, both of which are in fluid communication with the main conduit section, the accessory having a patient interface conduit that is adapted to deliver aerosolized medication to a mouth of the patient;
• connecting the first leg to the second port of the Y-connector via a second conduit to permit gas from the single source to flow through the first leg and into the main conduit body;
• disposing a nebulizer within the third leg and connecting a first gas inlet port of the nebulizer to the source of gas via a third conduit that is connected to the third port of the Y-connector to permit gas from the single source to flow into the nebulizer to create the aerosolized medication that is delivered into the main conduit body and to the patient through the patient interface conduit
• attaching a holding chamber to the first and second legs of the main conduit body, the holding chamber having a first compartment and a second compartment separated from the first compartment, with the first compartment being sealingly and fluidly coupled to the first leg and the second compartment being sealingly and fluidly coupled to the second leg;
• and
• providing an arrangement of valves including a first inhalation valve, a second inhalation valve, and an exhalation valve, the first inhalation valve being associated with the first leg so as to control the flow of the gas into the main conduit body, the second inhalation valve being located within the main conduit body between the first leg and the third leg so as to control the flow of gas into the main conduit body, wherein the first compartment is located on one side of the second inhalation valve, while the second compartment is located on the other side of the second inhalation valve such that gas flowing from the nebulizer flows into the main conduit body and enters the second compartment when the second inhalation valve is closed due to the relative locations of the second inhalation valve in the main conduit body and the second leg that forms an entrance to the second compartment;
• wherein the holding chamber is defined by a reservoir bag with the first and second compartments defined therein and separated from one another by a bi-furcating wall, the reservoir bag being formed of an expandable/collapsible material.