Abstract: An apparatus for delivering medicine to one or more eyes is provided. The apparatus includes a mask worn around the eyes. The mask has a substantially transparent mask face and one or more fog outlets proximate to the eyes. An atomizer nebulizes medicine into a medicine-carrying fog such that the fog discharges from the fog outlets to deliver medicine carried by the fog to one or more eyes. The momentum of the liquid fog droplets is low so that the eyes do not adversely react to the droplet impact, yet the droplet density is sufficient to deliver an effective amount of medication. Additionally, the apparatus may include a power supply, a propellant source and one or more conduits. Methods of delivering medication to the eyes are also provided.

Abstract: An aerosol medication delivery apparatus includes a fixed volume holding chamber which is constructed to allow for a uniformly mixed, concentrated bolus of medicated aerosol to be delivered with each breath. The device further includes a universal inlet, so that any standard small volume nebulizer, as well as any standard metered dose inhaler (MDI), may be utilized therewith. Also filtration can be added to address contaminated patient air and aerosol. A one-way valve is positioned in the patient mouthpiece, to help control the loss of aerosol, and thereby reduce waste.

Abstract: The invention provides an aerosol medication delivery apparatus for use with a pMDI canister having medication and a propellant contained therein under pressure, wherein the pMDI canister has a discharge orifice from which the medication and propellant can be discharged forming an aerosol. The apparatus has a chamber housing having an input end and an output end and defining an interior space, wherein the input end receives the medication discharged from the discharge orifice of the pMDI canister into the interior space and wherein the medication can be withdrawn from the interior space by inhalation by a patient from the output end. The aerosol medication delivery apparatus also includes a valve at the output end. The valve has a valve seat and a valve member. The valve seat has a sealing surface and the valve member has a central open area and a sealing portion at the perimeter of the open area that mates with the sealing surface when the valve is closed.

Abstract: There is provided a dispenser suitable for dispensing medicament, particularly medicament for use in the treatment of respiratory disorders. The dispenser comprises a housing (1) having a support (5); a container (2), locatable within said housing (1), having an outlet member, wherein said container (2) is movable relative to the housing (1) to enable dispensing therefrom and said outlet member is connectable with said support (5) to prevent relative movement there-between; and a dose indicator (13, 43), locatable within said housing (1). The container (2) and dose indicator (13, 43) are reversably removable from the housing (1) as a single unit.

Abstract: A drug delivery device for the delivery of a fluid carrying or including a therapeutic agent. The device including a reservoir for storing the fluid, and in fluid connection therewith a regulatable pump for dispensing the fluid via an outlet. A control device is further provided, for selectively controlling the pumping mode of the pump such that in a first mode the pump acts to dispense the fluid and in a second mode the pump acts such that substantially no fluid is dispensed.

Abstract: A de-agglomerator is provided for use with a breath-actuated dry powder inhaler for breaking up aggregates and micronizing particles of dry powder prior to inhalation of the powder by a patient using the inhaler. The de-agglomerator includes an inner wall defining a swirl chamber extending along an axis from a first end to a second end, a dry powder supply port, an inlet port, and an outlet port. The supply port is in the first end of the swirl chamber for providing fluid communication between a dry powder delivery passageway of an inhaler and the first end of the swirl chamber. The inlet port is in the inner wall of the swirl chamber adjacent to the first end of the swirl chamber and provides fluid communication between a region exterior to the de-agglomerator and the swirl chamber.

Abstract: A nebulizing attachment having a body with an open conical chamber formed therein. The body includes a nozzle with a sharp edge behind which a perforation is formed for supplying air under pressure. Another nozzle is provided in communication with the open conical chamber for supplying liquid therein. The liquid is sucked into the chamber by the effect of vacuum brought about by the passage of the air flow from the nozzle to an outlet therefor. The liquid is fractionated and mixed by the effect of turbulence in this chamber.

Abstract: An inhalation therapy device includes a collapsible aerosol storage bag (7) having an opening which connects to the end of a dual port member, one port (8) of which is in fluid communication with a nebulizer. During patient exhalation the aerosol storage bag becomes partially inflated with exhaled gas during the first part of exhalation. The laminar coherent aerosol jet exits the dual port member and remains coherent until reaching the end of the aerosol storage bag, at which time it diverges and expels all exhaled gas from the aerosol storage bag, thus filling the aerosol storage bag with aerosol. All escaping gas exits the aerosol storage bag via the remaining port (9) of the dual port member, where it escapes into the ambient environment through the ambient port. The remaining dual port of the dual port member, in addition to providing means for escaping gas from the aerosol storage bag, is also in fluid communication with the ambient port and the mouthpiece (1).

Abstract: There is provided a dispenser suitable for dispensing medicament, particularly medicament for use in the treatment of respiratory disorders. The dispenser comprises a housing (1) having a support (5), a container (2), locatable within said housing (1), having an outlet (3), wherein said container (2) dispenses through said outlet (3) in response to movement of the container (2) relative to the housing (1) and an actuation indicator having an indexing mechanism (13,43) actutable by movement of the container (2) relative to the housing (1). The indexing mechanism (13, 43) includes a coupling element to compensate for excess movement of the container (2) relative to the housing (1).

Abstract: A dry powder inhaler comprises a body 1 defining a storage chamber for a powder and further defining an inhalation passage 2 through which air is drawn via a mouthpiece 3. A flow duct passing through the mouthpiece includes a circulatory section 25 in which the flow duct is in the form of one or more passageways. The flow duct further includes a cyclone chamber 35 between the circulatory section and the outlet of the mouthpiece.

Abstract: An improved aerosol medication delivery apparatus and system. The aerosol medication delivery apparatus includes a canister-holding portion and a chamber housing. The canister-holding portion has a receptacle for receipt of a pMDI canister containing a medication and a propellant to provide the aerosol medication delivery system. The canister-holding portion has a discharge orifice communicating with the receptacle to direct an aerosol into an interior of the chamber housing at an input end thereof. The chamber housing also has an output end from which medication can be withdrawn by inhalation by a patient. According to one aspect, the aerosol delivery system includes a containment baffle located at the output end of the chamber housing to partially block the output. According to another aspect, the canister-holding portion and the chamber housing are coupled together by a mechanism that provides for the canister-holding portion to be retracted into the chamber housing for storage.

Abstract: A pneumatic nebulizer that produces a high volume of aerosols for inhalent delivery of medications and other constituencies. High pressure gas formed into a gas jet is passed through a thin choked region of fluid that is entrailed and impinged upon an aerosol amplifier which creates a spray whose aerosol components are directed up through vents to an aerosol outlet for delivery. Larger-sized liquid particles are caused to pool up in a region surrounding the aerosol amplifer and then drip down back into the liquid medication reservoir.

Abstract: A nebulizer assembly for engagement in a ventilator circuit is provided in which the nebulizer can be used, maintained and serviced without breaking the ventilation circuit or causing turbulence in the system or loss of pressure. The assembly includes a coupler having two end ports and a lateral port. The coupler defines a chamber in communication with each of the ports. Each of the two end ports are engageable to ventilator circuit hose segments. A tubular housing defines a first opening at a first end and a second opening at an opposite end. The housing defines a passageway between the ends that is in communication with the first opening and the second opening. The first end of the housing is engageable to the lateral port of the coupler. The housing has a bend adjacent the first end of the housing. A valve is disposed within the housing adjacent the first end.

Abstract: The metering valve which includes a material reservoir formed generally above a load bearing bottom hollow, with a toroidal gas chamber formed thereabout. Both the gas chamber and the material reservoir include metering spindles which allow the material to be dispensed and gas to be mixed precisely in a mixing chamber, and dispensed through an orifice.

Abstract: A hand-held compressor nebulizer suitable for vaporizing liquid medication, comprising a casing (2) and a motor-driven air pump (5). The nebulizer includes a liquid medication supply unit and a vaporizing unit. The vaporizing unit comprises upper and lower vaporizing chamber (9 and 6), said lower chamber (6) including a reservoir (12) for liquid medication from the liquid medication supply unit. The vaporizing unit includes a hollow conical member located within lower chamber (6) and defining an internal conical passage (11) having a relatively smaller upper end and a relatively larger lower end, said lower end being in communication with the air pump (5) for receiving an upward airflow produced by the air pump (5). The airflow increases in speed in the upward direction and creates a negative pressure upon exit from the upper end of the conical passage (11).

Abstract: The invention provides an aerosol medication delivery apparatus for use with a pMDI canister having medication and a propellant contained therein under pressure, wherein the pMDI canister has a discharge orifice from which the medication and propellant can be discharged forming an aerosol. The apparatus has a chamber housing having an input end and an output end and defining an interior space, wherein the input end receives the medication discharged from the discharge orifice of the pMDI canister into the interior space and wherein the medication can be withdrawn from the interior space by inhalation by a patient from the output end. The aerosol medication delivery apparatus also includes a valve at the output end. The valve has a valve seat and a valve member. The valve seat has a sealing surface and the valve member has a central open area and a sealing portion at the perimeter of the open area that mates with the sealing surface when the valve is closed.

Abstract: An ultrasonic nebulizer having a control button on the outside, a storage chamber on the inside, a medicine cup positioned in the storage chamber to hold a liquid medicine, a cover covered on the storage chamber, the cover having a spray output port through which nebulized aerosol medicine is driven out of the nebulizer body, a reservoir provided in the storage chamber to hold water below the medicine cup, a slotted conical guide tube vertically suspended in the reservoir and aimed at the medicine cup, and a transducer fastened to the reservoir at a bottom side and controlled to oscillate water in the reservoir and the liquid medicine in the medicine cup, causing the liquid medicine to be nebulized and forced out of the spray output port.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for an aerosol chamber having an input opening and an output opening with back pressure created in the chamber by an apertured barrier, such as a disk having a plurality of concentric and circumferentially disposed sets of openings to reduce the size of particles applied at the input opening before leaving the output opening, which is of lesser diameter than the input opening and extends to the input opening by an arcuate surface of revolution that serves to redirect interiorally of the chamber aerosol particles that have entered the chamber and reached the surface of revolution.

Abstract: An inhalation device (10) for use with an aerosol container comprises a housing (11) for receiving an aerosol container (12) and a spacer member (13) having a mouthpiece (14) defining an outlet (15) through which a user can inhale. The housing and the spacer member are attached together so as to be movable with respect to each other between an inoperative position in which the housing is received within the spacer member and an operative position in which the housing is withdrawn from the spacer member and oriented at a substantial angle thereto. The device further comprises a dispensing member (16) for receiving material to be dispensed from the container and delivering it into the spacer member. The dispensing member (16) is located in the housing and supported spaced from the walls thereof by a plurality of spaced ribs (19).

Abstract: Improved aerosol inhalation devices are provided. The devices include an aerosol source for generating an aerosol; a first conduit, having a proximal end, the first conduit providing passage of the aerosol to the patient; a first chamber at the proximal end of the first conduit, adjacent to the aerosol source; a second conduit providing passage of gaseous medium from the patient; a second chamber; and a first valve disposed between the first chamber and the second chamber. The first valve remains closed during exhalation by the patient and opens at least partially during inhalation. The device also includes a second valve disposed between the second conduit and the second chamber, which remains closed during inhalation by the patient and opens at least partially during exhalation by said patient. The gaseous medium exhaled by the patient can optionally contain material of which the aerosol is formed, such as liquid droplets.

Abstract: A nebulizer and method for forming a finely atomized aerosol are provided. A first aerosol is formed by passing a gas jet across the mouth of a liquid channel that communicates with a liquid reservoir. The first aerosol then strikes a stop surface and is converted into a second, more finely atomized aerosol. The second aerosol impacts a buffer plate. The larger liquid particles in the second aerosol strike the plate and are either broken up or returned to the liquid reservoir. The smaller particles follow a labyrinthine path through at least one slit-shaped passage in the buffer plate, in the process forming a third, final aerosol. Selection of the passage size allows control of the particle size distribution of the third, final aerosol.

Abstract: A mouth piece exhalation valve for a nebulizer or breathing circuit. The nebulizer has an internal passageway containing an offset causing an inspiration mist flow to bypass the exhaust valve without impingement. The offset includes a deflector which aids in the deflection of the inspiration mist flow away from the exhaust valve. The deflector is also utilized for directing the exhaust flow upon expiration by a patient through the exhaust valve. The exhaust valve design includes a flap or disc having leaves formed by peripheral arcuate cuts to facilitate the opening and the closing of the leafs in accordance with the expiration and inhalation of a patient respectively. The cuts also aid in the re-introduction of any accumulation of fluid on the external surface of the disc and valve back into the inspirational cycle so as to minimize any external buildup of fluid.