Abstract: An aerosol inhalation system includes a single source of gas; a connector and an accessory having a main conduit body and a patient interface member that delivers aerosolized medication to a mouth of the patient. A nebulizer is sealingly and removably coupled to the main conduit body. The nebulizer includes a gas inlet port that is fluidly connected to the connector to permit gas from the single source to flow into the nebulizer to create the aerosolized medication that is delivered to the patient. A supplemental gas inlet port is in fluid communication with the connector for introducing a flow of supplemental gas from the single gas source to the patient under select conditions. The gas from the gas source that flows to the supplemental gas inlet port passes through a flow metering member that is remote from the supplemental gas inlet port that controls the flow rate of the supplemental gas to the patient interface.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an aerosol inhalation system includes a single source of gas and a Y-connector having a first port in fluid communication with the )as source via a first conduit and second and third ports. The system also has 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 is fluidly connected to the second part of the Y-connector via a second conduit to permit gas from the single source to flow through the first leg, the accessory including a patient interface conduit that delivers aerosolized medication to a mouth of the patient.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the present invention, an aerosol inhalation system including an accessory is defined by a first conduit member for delivering medication in the form of aerosol particles to a patient, as well as a first holding chamber for holding the aerosol particles prior to deliver to the first conduit member. The accessory includes a valve mechanism associated with the first conduit member and including a first valve assembly and a second valve assembly. The aerosol inhalation system includes at least one device in fluid communication with the first holding chamber for producing the aerosol particles. For example, the device can be either an MDI, a nebulizer or both devices can be used simultaneously. According to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the aerosol inhalation system is a closed system and is therefore capable of delivering a fixed concentration of the medication to the patient, thereby overcoming the above deficiencies that are associated with the prior art devices.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the present invention, a ventilator system includes (a) a ventilator device having an inhalation port and exhalation port; (b) a patient conduit for delivering to and removing gas from the patient; (c) an exhalation conduit fluidly connected to the exhalation port and the patient conduit; (d) an inhalation conduit fluidly connected to the inhalation port and the patient conduit; and (e) a device for generating aerosolized medication, the device being fluidly connected to the inhalation conduit so that the aerosolized medication is delivered to the patient as the patient inhales. According to the present invention, at least the inhalation conduit has a variable length to position the device for generating aerosolized medication a predetermined distance from the patient conduit.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the present invention, an accessory for an aerosol inhalation system includes a main conduit body having an outlet end for placement close to a mouth of a patient, and first and second leg conduits that are in fluid communication with the main conduit body. The accessory further includes 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 one port associated with the first leg conduit and the second compartment is sealingly and fluidly coupled to a port associated with the second leg conduit. An arrangement of valves is provided for directing fluid along prescribed flow paths depending on whether the patient inhales or exhales.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the present invention, an accessory for an aerosol inhalation system includes a main conduit body having an outlet end for placement close to a mouth of a patient, and first and second leg conduits that are in fluid communication with the main conduit body. The accessory further includes 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 one port associated with the first leg conduit and the second compartment being sealingly and fluidly coupled to a port associated with the second leg conduit. An arrangement of valves is provided such that when the patient exhales, the first leg conduit is sealingly closed off from the main conduit body and the second leg conduit resulting in the aerosol particles flowing into and being held in the first compartment of the holding chamber.