Respiratory care system with electronic indicator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10894142-B2
Application number	US-201715467450-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 23, 2017
Priority date	Mar 24, 2016
Publication date	Jan 19, 2021
Grant date	Jan 19, 2021

Abstract

A respiratory care system includes a user interface. A flow indicator is moveable in response to inhalation and/or exhalation, or both, by a user through the user interface. An electronic indicator is operable in response to an electronic signal transmitted in response to the movement of the floe indicator. Methods of use and assembly are also provided.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A respiratory delivery system comprising:
a holding chamber having an input end, an output end comprising a user interface having an outlet and an interior volume of space defined between said input and output ends;
a mechanical flow indicator moveable between at least first and second positions in response to inhalation or exhalation by a user through said outlet, wherein said mechanical flow indicator is configured with a first conductive region;
a seat comprising a second conductive region;
a circuit comprising a switch, wherein said first conductive region of said mechanical flow indicator is moveable into or out of contact with said second conductive region of said seat, wherein said switch is closed or opened, as said mechanical flow indicator is moved between said first and second positions; and
an electronic indicator operable in response to an electronic signal transmitted by said circuit in response to said switch being opened or closed by the movement of said mechanical flow indicator, wherein said mechanical flow indicator comprises a deformable flap, wherein said first conductive region is arranged along a free end of said deformable flap.

2. The respiratory delivery system of claim 1 wherein said mechanical flow indicator comprises an inhalation valve.

3. The respiratory delivery system of claim 1 wherein said electronic indicator comprises a visual indicator.

4. The respiratory delivery system of claim 1 wherein said mechanical flow indicator comprises an exhalation valve.

5. The respiratory delivery system of claim 4 wherein said exhalation valve is disposed on a mask.

6. The respiratory delivery system of claim 1 wherein said mechanical flow indicator comprises a flow indicator positioned outside an inhalation flow path.

7. A respiratory care system comprising:
a user interface having an outlet;
a flow indicator moveable between at least first and second positions in response to inhalation or exhalation by a user through said outlet, wherein said flow indicator is configured with a first conductive region;
a seat comprising a second conductive region;
a circuit comprising a switch, wherein said first conductive region of said flow indicator is moveable into or out of contact with said second conductive region, wherein said switch is closed or opened, as said flow indicator is moved between said at least first and second positions; and
an electronic indicator operable in response to an electronic signal transmitted by said circuit in response to said switch being opened or closed by the movement of said mechanical flow indicator, wherein said mechanical flow indicator comprises a deformable flap, wherein said first conductive region is arranged along a free end of said deformable flap.

8. The respiratory care system of claim 7 , wherein the respiratory delivery system is a medication delivery device.

9. The respiratory care system of claim 7 , wherein the respiratory delivery system is a respiratory exercise device.

10. The respiratory care system of claim 7 , wherein the respiratory delivery system is an accessory device.

11. The respiratory care system of claim 7 , wherein said flow indicator comprises an inhalation valve.

12. The medication care system of claim 7 wherein said electronic indicator comprises a visual indicator.

13. The respiratory care system of claim 7 wherein said flow indicator comprises an exhalation valve.

14. The respiratory care system of claim 13 wherein said exhalation valve is disposed on a mask.

15. The respiratory care system of claim 7 wherein said flow indicator is positioned outside an inhalation flow path.

16. A method of indicating administration of a medicament from a respiratory delivery system comprising: providing the device of claim 1 , actuating a medicament dispensing device and dispensing a medicament; inhaling the medicament; exhaling; moving a flow indicator from a first position to a second position in response to said inhaling or said exhaling, and
actuating an electronic indicator in response to said closing or opening said switch.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said flow indicator comprises an axially moveable actuator.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein said flow indicator is positioned outside an inhalation flow path.

19. A respiratory delivery system comprising: a holding chamber having an input end, an output end comprising a user interface having an outlet and an interior volume of space defined between said input and output ends; a mechanical flow indicator moveable between at least first and second positions in response to inhalation or exhalation by a user through said outlet, wherein said mechanical flow indicator is configured with a first conductive region; a seat comprising a second conductive region; a circuit comprising a switch, wherein said first conductive region of said mechanical flow indicator is moveable into or out of contact with said second conductive region of said seat, wherein said switch is closed or opened, as said mechanical flow indicator is moved between said first and second positions; and an electronic indicator operable in response to an electronic signal transmitted by said circuit in response to said switch being opened or closed by the movement of said mechanical flow indicator, wherein said mechanical flow indicator comprises an annular valve, wherein said first conductive region is arranged along an inner or outer periphery of said annular valve.

20. The respiratory delivery system of claim 19 wherein said mechanical flow indicator comprises an inhalation valve.

21. The respiratory delivery system of claim 19 wherein said electronic indicator comprises a visual indicator.

22. The respiratory delivery system of claim 19 wherein said mechanical flow indicator comprises an exhalation valve.

23. The respiratory delivery system of claim 22 wherein said exhalation valve is disposed on a mask.

24. A respiratory care system comprising: a user interface having an outlet; a flow indicator moveable between at least first and second positions in response to inhalation or exhalation by a user through said outlet, wherein said flow indicator is configured with a first conductive region; a seat comprising a second conductive region; a circuit comprising a switch, wherein said first conductive region of said flow indicator is moveable into or out of contact with said second conductive region, wherein said switch is closed or opened, as said flow indicator is moved between said at least first and second positions; and an electronic indicator operable in response to an electronic signal transmitted by said circuit in response to said switch being opened or closed by the movement of said flow indicator, wherein said mechanical flow indicator comprises an annular valve, wherein said first conductive region is arranged along an inner or outer periphery of said annular valve.

25. The respiratory care system of claim 24 , wherein the respiratory delivery system is a medication delivery device.

26. The respiratory care system of claim 24 , wherein the respiratory delivery system is a respiratory exercise device.

27. The respiratory care system of claim 24 , wherein the respiratory delivery system is an accessory device.

28. The respiratory care system of claim 24 , wherein said flow indicator comprises an inhalation valve.

Assignees

• Trudell Medical Int

Inventors

• Costella Stephen
• Kirchner Alanna
• Nowak Bart
• Alizoti Neritan
• Meyer Adam
• Romanczuk Greg
• Sakaria Ronak

Classifications

• A61M11/06 Primary

  of the injector type · CPC title

• A61M16/06

  Respiratory or anaesthetic masks · CPC title

• A61M15/009

  using medicine packages with incorporated spraying means, e.g. aerosol cans (pocket atomiser of the injector type A61M11/08) · CPC title

• A61M2202/064

  Powder · CPC title

• A61M2205/3317

  Electromagnetic, inductive or dielectric measuring means · CPC title