Metered dose inhaler spacer

A metered dose inhaler (MDI) spacer comprising:

• a body that defines a dose receiving chamber;
• a proximal end portion coupled with said body;
• a mouth port coupled with said proximal end portion and through which a metered dose is configured to be inhaled by a user of said MDI spacer;
• a distal end portion coupled with said body;
• a channel that is configured to receive an actuator shaft of a metered dose inhaler and to conduct the metered dose directly from said actuator shaft into said dose receiving chamber;
• a combined one-way and flow rate control valve coupled with said distal end portion and configured for permitting external airflow into said dose receiving chamber and prohibiting internal airflow out of said dose receiving chamber from said distal end portion;
• and
• a flat velocity profile plate having a first opening and a plurality of through holes, the flat velocity profile plate being disposed within said body between said combined one-way and flow rate control valve and said dose receiving chamber such that external airflow is directed into the dose receiving chamber, prior to mixing with the metered dose, via the plurality of through holes and the metered dose is directed into the dose receiving chamber via the first opening.

A metered dose inhaler (MDI) spacer comprising:

• a body that defines a dose receiving chamber;
• a proximal end portion coupled with said body;
• a mouth port coupled with said proximal end portion and through which a metered dose is configured to be inhaled from said dose receiving chamber by a user of said MDI spacer;
• and
• an expiratory valve;
• and
• an exhaled breath deflecting mechanism coupled with said mouth port in an exhaled breath airflow path and configured for deflecting and reversing exhaled breath airflow, received via said mouth port, such that said exhaled breath airflow is directed out of said MDI spacer via said expiratory valve,
• wherein the exhaled breath deflecting mechanism is unresisting to an inhaled breath airflow.

A metered dose inhaler (MDI) spacer comprising:

• a body that defines a dose receiving chamber;
• a distal end portion coupled with said body;
• a combined one-way and flow rate control valve coupled with said distal end portion and configured for permitting external airflow into and prohibiting internal airflow out of said dose receiving chamber from said distal end portion;
• a collar coupled with said distal end portion and configured for receiving an actuator shaft of a metered dose inhaler and for forming a seal about an aerosol nozzle of said metered dose inhaler such that a metered dose of medication is admissible into said dose receiving chamber via said collar while airflow into and out of said dose receiving chamber via said collar is prohibited;
• a flat velocity profile plate having a central opening and a plurality of through holes positioned about the central opening, the flat velocity profile plate being disposed within said body between said combined one-way and flow rate control valve and said dose receiving chamber to form a wall of an inflow air receiving chamber such that external airflow is directed into the dose receiving chamber, prior to mixing with the metered dose, via the plurality of through holes and the metered dose of medication is directed into the dose receiving chamber via the central opening;
• a proximal end portion coupled with said body;
• a mouth port through which the metered dose of medication is configured to be inhaled from said dose receiving chamber by a user of said MDI spacer;
• an expiratory valve;
• and
• an exhaled breath deflecting mechanism coupled with said mouth port in an exhaled breath airflow path and configured for deflecting and reversing exhaled breath airflow, received via said mouth port, out of said MDI spacer via said expiratory valve.