Patent ID: 6039042
Filing Date: 2000-03-21
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
A medication inhalation apparatus for use with an MDI inhaler, comprising in combination:a housing for receiving a plume of medication particles ejected by an MDI inhaler;a mouthpiece connected to one opening of the housing;a one-way inhalation valve disposed between the mouthpiece and the housing for allowing flow of gas from the housing to the mouthpiece;a one-way exhalation valve connected to the mouthpiece for allowing flow of gas from within the mouthpiece to ambient atmosphere;an adapter connected to another opening of the housing for receiving a mouthpiece of the MDI inhaler;a longitudinal axis extending between the other opening and the mouthpiece, the longitudinal axis forming a path along which inhaled air travels symmetrically from the other opening through the mouthpiece;the one-way inhalation valve including an inhalation membrane and a valve seat, an exhalation by a patient through the mouthpiece pressing the inhalation membrane against the valve seat to prevent flow of exhaled gas from the mouthpiece into the housing, the exhaled gas flowing through the one-way exhalation valve,inhalation through the mouthpiece causing the inhalation membrane to swing away from the first valve seat and substantially out of a substantially straight-line path of flow of gas along the longitudinal axis from the first volume into the mouthpiece.