AEROSOL MEDICATION HOLDING CHAMBER

CAVITE DE RETENUE DE MEDICAMENT EN AEROSOL

English Abstract

A B S T R A C T
A device is provided for use with an aerosol
medication dispenser which dispenses medication to be inhaled by
a user thereof. The device has a first end adapted to receive an
aerosol medication dispenser and a second end adapted to serve as
a mouthpiece through which a user may inhale medication injected
into said device. The two ends communicate with an aerosol holding
chamber disposed therebetween that is of a size selected to hold
a predetermined quantity of aerosol medication injected therein.
The device is characterized in that said chamber is constructed
from at least two elements that engage each other telescopically
and are movable relative to one another from a first, opened
position to a second, closed position.

Claims

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A device for use with an aerosol medication dispenser which
dispenses medication to be inhaled by a user thereof, said
device having a first end adapted to receive an aerosol
medication dispenser and a second end adapted to serve as a
mouthpiece through which a user may inhale medication injected
into said device, said two ends communicating with an aerosol
holding chamber disposed therebetween that is of a size
selected to hold a predetermined quantity of aerosol
medication injected therein, characterized in that said
chamber is constructed from at least two elements that engage
each other telescopically and are movable relative to one
another from a first, opened position to a second, closed
position.
2. A device for use with an aerosol medication dispenser as
claimed in Claim 1, wherein between each said element is
located a sealing ring, whereby when said elements are in said
open position, said chamber is sealed about said ring.
3. A device for use with an aerosol medication dispenser as
described in Claim 2, wherein said ring is substantially
connected to a said element, and the next element,
telescopically engaging same is provided with a stop portion

to engage said ring when said chamber is in said open
position.
4. A device for use with an aerosol medication dispenser as
described in Claim 3, wherein the first of said elements is
connected to said first end, and the last of said at least two
elements is connected to said second end.
5. A device for use with an aerosol medication dispenser as
described in Claim 4, wherein at least one element is provided
between said first and said last elements.
6. A device for use with an aerosol medication dispenser as
described in Claim 5, wherein said device is molded from
plastic and said sealing rings are made of synthetic or
natural rubber.

Description

2~3~3
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The present invention relates to the field of
medical devices and in particular provides an improved aerosol
holding chamber for use with an aerosol inhaler device.
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As a treatment for many respiratory problems such
as asthmatic conditions the prescribed treatment involves
inhaling of medication which is delivered from an aerosol
container. In order for a patient to conveniently inhale such
a medication without the loss of excessive amounts of
medication, aerosol holding chambers have been developed.
These consist of a tubular member one end of which is provided
with a mouth piece through which a patent may inhale
medication and the other end of which is provided with an
opening which may be connected with an aerosol medication
dispenser. The patient injects quantity of aerosol into the
~15 tubular member and breaths inwardly through the mouth piece,
thereby inhaling the medication. The interior volume of the
tubular member is selected to correspond with one dose of
~ medication. The aerosol holding chamber has proved to be a
.~ ~ very effective and user friendly form of medication
administering apparatus. It overcomes a significant drawback
of aerosol medication, that a breath had to be timed with
releasing of the medication from its dispensing apparatus, a
disadvantage which is magnified by the fact that the user of
the medication will usually be suffering from a respiratory
~25 ailment.
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A drawback associated with the use of an aerosol
holding chamber is that it is quite large and bulky, usually
being about 6" long and 1" to 1.5" in diameter. Moreover,
since it is usually necessary for the user of an aerosol
medication to carry his or her medication at all times, then
using an aerosol chamber may become quite inconvenient.
In a broad aspect, the present invention relates
to a device for use with an aerosol medication dispenser which
~ dispenses medication to be inhaled by a user thereof, said
3 10 device having a first end adapted to receive an aerosol
medication dispenser and a second end adapted to serve as a
~ mouthpiece through which a user may inhale medication injected
`~ into said device, said two ends communicating with an aerosol
~ holdinq chamber disposed therebetween that is of a size
-~15 selected to hold a predetermined quantity of aerosol
medication injected therein, characterized in that said
chamber is constructed from at least two elements that engage
each other telescopically and are movable relative to one
another from a first, opened position to a second, closed
`20 position.
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The object of the present invention is to provide
an aerosol holding chamber which may conveniently be collapsed
.;,
to a small enough size to be easily carried in the pocket or
~ in a handbag. ~ ~
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In drawings which illustrate the present invention
by way of example~
Figure l is a side view of an aerosol holding
chamber according to the prior art:
, 5 Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of an aerosol
I holding chamber according to the present invention;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of an aerosol
~ holding chamber according to the present invention; and
! Figure 4 is an end view of the present invention.
Referring to the figures in general, it will be
seen that the prior art aerosol holding chamber is a one piece
device and is quite large, too large to be conveniently
carried in, for instance, a trousers pocket. one end of the
~ device is provided with a mouthpiece l and the other end of
.~15 the device is provided with an opening for the dispensing
apparatus 2. A rubber O ring is provided inside the opening
for the dispensing apparatus so as to provide a tight fit
between the two. It will be noted that the rubber ring
between the aerosol dispensing apparatus and the aerosol
holding chamber is vented to prevent the formation of a vacuum
~; in the holding chamber when a patient breathes in medication
, ~ . , i ~ ! '
which is held in the chamber. The aerosol holding chamber may
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also be vented near the mouth piece thereof for the same
purpose.
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Referring now to Figures 2 and 3, it will be seen
that the present invention provides an aerosol holding chamber
which comprises several telescoping cylindrical sections.
When not in use, the sections may be telescoped into the ~
largest piece thereof which in the embodiment illustrated is
the piece adjacent the mouthpiece, but may be the piece
adjacent the opening for the aerosol dispensing apparatus.
The user merely pulls the telescoping tubing outwardly until
the stops in each section engage in the rubber rings on the
section connected therewith, at which time the holding chamber
is in its operative position. The aerosol dispensing
apparatus is then inserted into the end remote from the
mouthpiece, the mouthpiece inserted into the user's mouth, and
the aerosol is dispensed into the fully extended chamber and
~15 inhaled by the user. After the user has taken a sufficient
; dose of medication the aerosol dispensing apparatus is then `~
~; pulled of the end of the holding chamber and the holding ~;~
chamber is collapsed by pushing the ends towards one another.
i~ It will be noted from Figure 4 that the rubber
.20 ring adjacent the aerosol dispensing apparatus receiving end
of the device of the present invention is vented so that when
the user filis the aerosol chàmber of the present invention
with aerosol medication and then breathes in there is no
tendency to create a vacuum in the holding chamber. ~ ;
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It is to be understood that the examples described
above are not meant to limit the scope of the present
invention. It is expected that numerous variants will be
~ obvious to the person skilled in the field of medication
.1 5 delivery apparatus design, without any departure from the
spirit of the present invention. The appended claims,
~j properly construed, form the only limitation upon the scope
¦ of the present invention.
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Representative Drawing