Abstract: A respiratory muscle endurance training device (RMET) includes a chamber and a patient interface. In one implementation, one or both of a CO2 sensor or a temperature sensor can be coupled to the chamber or patient interface to provide the user or caregiver with indicia about the CO2 level in, or the temperature of, the chamber or patient interface, and/or the duration of use of the device. In another implementation, the RMET may have a fixed volume portion adjustable to contain a measured portion of a specific patient's inspiratory volume capacity. Methods of using the device are also provided.

Abstract: Ventilator circuit aerosol delivery systems used to administer medication to a patient are disclosed. In one implementation, a metered dose inhaler (“MDI”) ventilator assembly may include a housing that defines an interior space, an inhalation port that defines an inhalation passageway in communication with the interior space, an exhalation port that defines an exhalation passageway in communication with the interior space, a patient port that defines a patient passageway in communication with the interior space, and a MDI receptacle positioned on the housing and in communication with the interior space. The MDI receptacle is operative to receive a MDI container and dispense an aerosolized medication within the MID container into the interior space so that during inhalation, an inhalation flow including the aerosolized medication may flow through the inhalation port, the interior space, and the patient port.

Abstract: A respiratory muscle endurance training device (RMET) includes a chamber and a patient interface. In one implementation, one or both of a CO2 sensor or a temperature sensor can be coupled to the chamber or patient interface to provide the user or caregiver with indicia about the CO2 level in, or the temperature of, the chamber or patient interface, and/or the duration of use of the device. In another implementation, the RMET may have a fixed volume portion adjustable to contain a measured portion of a specific patient's inspiratory volume capacity. Methods of using the device are also provided.

Abstract: A medicament dispensing device for dispensing metered dosages of a medicament includes an actuator housing having a longitudinally extending cavity and a container disposed in the cavity and having a cylinder with a first outer diameter. The cylinder is adapted to hold the medicament. The container is reciprocally movable relative to the actuator housing along a longitudinal axis. An indicating device includes an indicator housing having a tubular portion connected to said container, with the indicating device being reciprocally movable with the container relative to the actuator housing. The tubular portion has a second outer diameter that is of substantially the same diameter as the first outer diameter. A longitudinally extending side wall has a viewing window formed therein. An indicator is rotatably mounted in the indicator housing, with a surface thereof having indicia visible through the viewing window.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for indicating breathing cycle of a patient using an aerosol delivery device. In one aspect, an aerosol delivery device includes a visual indicator that is moveable in response to a patient's breathing cycle and is positioned away from an inspiration path of the aerosol. In another aspect, a method of cycling a visual indicator between a first position and a second position in response to a patient's breathing cycle is described.

Abstract: A ventilator circuit for use in administering medication to a patient includes a housing, a one-way inhalation valve and a one-way exhalation valve. A metered does inhaler receptacle is in fluid flow communication with an interior space of the housing holding chamber. An exhaust conduit communicates between input and output passageways disposed on opposite sides of the interior space.

Abstract: A medicament dispensing device for dispensing metered dosages of a medicament includes an actuator housing having a longitudinally extending cavity and a container disposed in the cavity and having a cylinder with a first outer diameter. The cylinder is adapted to hold the medicament. The container is reciprocally movable relative to the actuator housing along a longitudinal axis. An indicating device includes an indicator housing having a tubular portion connected to said container, with the indicating device being reciprocally movable with the container relative to the actuator housing. The tubular portion has a second outer diameter that is of substantially the same diameter as the first outer diameter. A longitudinally extending side wall has a viewing window formed therein. An indicator is rotatably mounted in the indicator housing, with a surface thereof having indicia visible through the viewing window.

Abstract: A ventilator circuit for use in administering medication to a patient includes a chamber housing defining an interior space and having an input end and an output end and a one-way inhalation valve positioned upstream of the interior space. The one-way inhalation valve is operative to permit a flow of medication into the interior space of the chamber housing. An inhalation conduit communicates with the output end of the chamber and is adapted to transmit the medication to the patient. An exhaust conduit is connected to the inhalation conduit and a one-way exhaust valve is located in the exhaust conduit. The one-way exhaust valve is adapted to prevent a backflow of gas from the exhaust conduit into the inhalation conduit. A method of administering a medication to a patient is also provided.

Abstract: A medicament dispensing device for dispensing metered dosages of a medicament includes an actuator housing having a longitudinally extending cavity and a container disposed in the cavity and having a cylinder with a first outer diameter. The cylinder is adapted to hold the medicament. The container is reciprocally moveable relative to the actuator housing along a longitudinal axis. An indicating device includes an indicator housing having a tubular portion connected to said container, with the indicating device being reciprocally moveable with the container relative to the actuator housing. The tubular portion has a second outer diameter that is of substantially the same diameter as the first outer diameter. A longitudinally extending side wall has a viewing window formed therein. An indicator is rotatably mounted in the indicator housing, with a surface thereof having indicia visible through the viewing window.

Abstract: An indicating device suitable for indicating the number of dosages of a substance that have been dispensed from or remain in a container. The indicating device includes an indicator member having an outwardly facing first surface with indicia visible to a user and an opposite inwardly facing surface having a plurality of teeth. The first surface further includes a groove. A cover is disposed over at least a portion of the first surface of the indicator member such that only a portion of the indicia are visible at any one time. The cover includes an inwardly extending projection disposed in the groove. The indicator member is rotatable relative to the cover with the projection being moveable in the groove as the indicator member is rotated relative to the cover. In another aspect, a rotatable member is rotatable relative to an outer cover.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing a nebula or aerosol to a patient. In one aspect, a nebulizer is pressure sensitive so that nebulization is coordinated with a breathing cycle of the patient. The nebulizer includes a movable gas diverter that diverts pressurized gas across a liquid outlet. The diverter is moved in response to the patient's breathing cycle. In one aspect, a biasing member moves the diverter. According to another aspect of the nebulizer, an annular liquid orifice disperses an aerosol in a radial direction in response to a pressurized gas flow from an orifice located concentrically thereto. Multiple liquid orifices may be provided. In a further aspect of the nebulizer, a reservoir includes an upper, wide portion and a lower narrow portion to apply relatively uniform pressure at a liquid orifice.

Abstract: An indicating device suitable for indicating the number of metered dosages that have been dispensed from or remain in a container including a base member, a cap member moveably connected to the base member, an indicator member rotatably mounted to one of the cap member and base member and a drive member. The indicator member comprises a first stop member, and the drive member comprises a second stop member. The first stop member engages the second stop member as the indicator is moved to the final position. The engagement between the first and second stop members prevents the drive member from being rotated about the second axis. In another preferred embodiment, an inhalation device for dispensing metered dosages of medicaments from a container includes a container having a predetermined number of metered doses and the indicating device. A method for indicating the number of metered dosages of medicaments dispensed from or remaining in the container is also provided.

Abstract: A respiratory muscle endurance training device (RMET) includes a chamber and a patient interface. In one implementation, one or both of a CO2 sensor or a temperature sensor can be coupled to the chamber or patient interface to provide the user or caregiver with indicia about the CO2 level in, or the temperature of, the chamber or patient interface, and/or the duration of use of the device. In another implementation, the RMET may have a fixed volume portion adjustable to contain a measured portion of a specific patient's inspiratory volume capacity. Methods of using the device are also provided.

Abstract: An indicating device for indicating the number of dosages of a substance that have been dispensed from or remain in a container includes a first indicator member incrementally moveable to a plurality of positions and a second indicator member operably connected to the first indicator member. The second indicator member is moveable in response to a predetermined number of movements of the first indicator member. One of the first and second indicator members includes numerical indicia and the other thereof includes color indicia.

Abstract: An indicating device includes an indicator housing member having a first circumferential wall defining an interior surface and a substantially circumferential cavity having a longitudinal axis. An engagement member is formed on the interior surface and a viewing window is formed through the first wall. An indicator member has a second circumferential wall with an exterior surface having dosage indicia and a bottom rim. The indicator member is rotatably mounted within the indicator housing member about the longitudinal axis and interiorly of the substantially circumferential cavity with at least a portion of the dosage indicia being progressively visible through the viewing window as the indicator member is rotated about the longitudinal axis relative to the indicator housing. The bottom rim of the indicator member is supported by the engagement member.

Abstract: Ventilator circuit aerosol delivery systems used to administer medication to a patient are disclosed. In one implementation, a metered dose inhaler (“MDI”) ventilator assembly may include a housing that defines an interior space, an inhalation port that defines an inhalation passageway in communication with the interior space, an exhalation port that defines an exhalation passageway in communication with the interior space, a patient port that defines a patient passageway in communication with the interior space, and a MDI receptacle positioned on the housing and in communication with the interior space. The MDI receptacle is operative to receive a MDI container and dispense an aerosolized medication within the MID container into the interior space so that during inhalation, an inhalation flow including the aerosolized medication may flow through the inhalation port, the interior space, and the patient port.

Abstract: An indicating device for indicating the number of dosages of a substance that have been dispensed from or remain in a container includes a first indicator member incrementally moveable to a plurality of positions and a second indicator member operably connected to the first indicator member. The second indicator member is moveable in response to a predetermined number of movements of the first indicator member. One of the first and second indicator members includes numerical indicia and the other thereof includes color indicia.

Abstract: An aerosol medication delivery apparatus includes a holding chamber having an input end and an output end and defining an interior space. The output end comprises an orifice having a cross-sectional area of less than about 60 mm2. In one preferred embodiment, the orifice has a circular cross-section. Preferably, the orifice has a diameter of between about 2.0 mm and about 7.50 mm. In one preferred embodiment, an inhalation and exhalation valve is located at the output end. A method of using the holding chamber is also provided.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing a nebula or aerosol to a patient. In one aspect, a nebulizer is pressure sensitive so that nebulization is coordinated with a breathing cycle of the patient. The nebulizer includes a movable gas diverter that diverts pressurized gas across a liquid outlet. The diverter is moved in response to the patient's breathing cycle. In one aspect, a biasing member moves the diverter. According to another aspect of the nebulizer, an annular liquid orifice disperses an aerosol in a radial direction in response to a pressurized gas flow from an orifice located concentrically thereto. Multiple liquid orifices may be provided. In a further aspect of the nebulizer, a reservoir includes an upper, wide portion and a lower narrow portion to apply relatively uniform pressure at a liquid orifice.

Abstract: A medicament dispensing device for dispensing metered dosages of medicaments from a container. The device includes a container and an indicating device. The container has a first end and an opposite second end spaced from the first end along a longitudinal axis. The first end includes a valve stem extending longitudinally therefrom and moveable between a closed position and an open position. The container contains a plurality of metered dosages of medicaments, with the valve stem dispensing one of the plurality of metered dosages when the valve stem is moved to the open position. The second end has an end surface. The indicating device includes a housing and an indicator member disposed in the housing. The housing is mounted to the second end of the container with a bottom surface thereof disposed adjacent the end surface of the second end of the container. The housing and the second end of the container have substantially the same shape.