Patent ID: 6698422
Filing Date: 2004-03-02
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
An inhaler for delivery of medication from a single MDI canister, the MDI canister having a spray outlet, to the lungs of a patient after the patient actuates the MDI canister using the patient's hand and inhales the medication in one or more breaths through the patient's mouth, comprising:a universal MDI canister receiving section; a housing, the housing comprising an air inlet and an enclosed passage, wherein the universal canister receiving section allows the MDI canister spray outlet to be inserted into the housing, such that medication from the MDI canister enters the enclosed passage, when the MDI canister is actuated by the patient; a chamber body comprising a housing mating end, a shell defining the chamber body, wherein the chamber body extends out from the housing, and a mouthpiece mating end, wherein the chamber body is fixedly attached to the housing at the housing mating end, and wherein the mouthpiece mating end comprises at least one exhaust port; an inhalation valve, wherein the inhalation valve is fixed in the chamber body, wherein the inhalation valve allows inhalation of air by the patient, and wherein the inhalation valve blocks exhaled air from the patient from entering the chamber body; a mouthpiece comprising a first end, wherein the first end is shaped to fit in the patient's mouth, and a distal end, opposed to the first end, and wherein the distal end is comprised of a flexible, elastic material, wherein the distal end elastically extends over the mouthpiece mating end and fixedly engages the mouthpiece mating end, wherein the flexible, elastic material of the distal end covers the at least one exhaust port of the mouthpiece mating end of the chamber body; and an actuator lever having a lever arm and a distal end, wherein the distal end is pivotally mounted to the housing and wherein the lever arm opposes the chamber body, and wherein the actuator lever engages the single MDI canister, actuating the MDI canister, when the actuator lever is actuated by the patient's hand closing on the lever arm and the chamber body, wherein medication exits from the spray outlet of the MDI canister, enters the housing, and is drawn into the chamber body by the inhalation of the patient, whereby it mixes with air, and flows through the mouthpiece, through the patient's mouth, and into the lungs of the patient in one or more breaths.