GB2182249A - Compressible nebuhaler - Google Patents

Abstract

A compressible nebuhaler has a spindle shaped, transparent polythene bag like the bellows of an accordion (1) which is attached at either end to the centres of circular discs (2 and 3) encircling the openings of the mouth piece and the opening for the insertion of an aerosol (5). Aerial like or 'telescopic' metallic rods (4) around the spindle shaped compressible chamber expand or compress the nebuhaler chamber by lengthening or shortening when appropriate pressure is applied. The compressed nebuhaler has a shape of a 'burger' and can easily be carried in a vanity bag or school bag. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Compressible nebuhaler This invention relates to a compressible nebuhaler used by asthmatic patients.

Asthmatic patients are given bronchodilatorand locally acting steroids increasingly by the inhalers.

Administering the drugs in this way involves synchronisation bythepatientofinspirationandde- livery ofthe aerosol drug from theinhalerintothe patient's mouth by pressing the bottom end of the inhalerwhich is held in an inverted position. Many patients find this act difficultto achieve and hence a I bigger nebu haler was desig ned. However, many patients find the big nebuhaler inconvenient to carry in the vanity bag or children intheirschool bag.

According to the present invention a compressible nebuhaler comprises a spindle shaped transparent polythene chamber which is compressible likethe bellows of an accordion, secured at both endstocircular perspex discs which have opening at their centres one forthe inhaler containing the aerosol drug and the other for the mouth piece with one-way valve to suck out the drug from thecompressiblechamber.

Three "telescopic" or aerial type metallic rods fixed attheir both ends to the perspex circular discs outside the compressible chambergive stabilitytothe chamberwhen the drug is being inhaled.

A specific embodiment of the invention is described herewith reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 Shows in perspective the nebuhaler ex panded and readyforuse.

Figure 2 shows the circular perspex disc with in wardly protruding opening forthe insertion ofthe aerosol containing inhaler at its centre. The disc also hasthree holes (NO.10) Figure 3 shows the circular perspex disc with an outwardly protruding mouth piece at its centre. The disc has three holes (No. 10). The mouth piece has a one-way valve at its root (No.12), and a pair of vents forthe escape ofexhaled air (No.11).

Figure 4shows the three "telescopic" or aerial type rods of light metal which can easily be shortened or lengthened by applying gentle pressure.

Figure 5shows the transparent polythene bag, compressible like bellows of an accordion, without the attached perspex circular discs at it either end.

Figure 6shows compressed nebuhaler with the perspex discs and the shortened supporting metallic rods.

Figure 7shows the expanded nebuhaler being used by the patient with its mouth piece in her mouth. Aerosol containing inhaler is inserted into the inhaler opening at the centre of the other disc (No. 5).

Figure 8shows the 'poke wheel' type of perspex disc with inhaler entrance hole at its centre.

Figure 9 shows the 'poke wheel' type of perspex disc with the protruding mouth piece at its centre.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, the compressible nebuhaler comprises two perspex discs of two millimetre thickness and ten centimetre diameter held together by the compressible chamber (No.

1 ) in the middle andthethree 'telescopic' metallic rods around this chamber. The compressible chamber is spindle shaped, polythene bag like the bellows of an accordion. This bag is attached at its either end to the mouth piece and an inhaierentrance. The inhaler entrance and the mouth piece are at the centre ofthe circular perspex discs. The two end plates (No 2 and 3) are 2 millimetre thick and 10 centimetre in diameter. The inhaler entrance end plate has at its centre an opening (No 9) which is just adequatetosnuglyfittheaerosol drug containing inhalers available in the market at present.Each end platehasthree holes around the central opening (No 10), in which the patient can introducethethumb and two otherfingers of one hand and similarly in the holes of the other end platethethumbandtwofin- gers ofthe other hand and pull apart these end plates gently to expand the nebuhaler.

Mouth piece end-plate is a circular perspex disc with an outwardly protruding mouth piece at its centre which the patient puts into his/her mouth (Figure 7), and breathes in and out, thus sucking all the aerosol drug present in the compressible chamber.

The mouth piece (No 8) has a one-way valve (No 12) in the form of a small circulardiscwhich allows movementoftheairfromthechamber(No. 1)topat- ient's mouth only.

The small slit like vents at the root of the mouth piece (No.11) allow exhaled airto go into the atmosphere.

To give stability to the expanded compressible polythene bag during the process of inhaling the aerosol drug, three aerial ortelescopictype metallic rods (No 4), 20 centimetre in length, are fixed to the two perspex discs (No.2 and No. 3) attheircircumferences.

The aerosol drug containing inhaler (No.5) is isintro- duced into the central opening (No. 9) in the perspex dise and is now ready for delivery of the drug into the compressible polythene bag.

Once the aerosol drug in the polythene bag has been inhaled bythe patient, the bag is compressed flat by applying gentle pressureto boththecircular discs by both hands.

Alternatively, to reduce the total weight of the whole apparatus further, both the end-plates (No 2 and No. 3) can be replaced by a different design i.e.

poke wheel like (Figure 8 and Figure 9) perspexdesign i.e. poke wheel like (Figure 8 and Figure 9) per spex discs. Again, this design has the advantage that the patient's nose won4 rub the perspex disc while he or she is breathing the aerosol drug from the compressible polythene bag.

The compressed nebuhaler (Figure 6) which gets the shape of a 'burger' can be easily carried in a carry case.

Claims (6)

1. A compressible nebuhaler comprising a compressible spindle shaped polythene bag with supporting aerial like ortelescopic metallic rods and two circular perspex discs with openings for insertion of the aerosol inhaler at one end and mouth pieceto suckoutthe drug from the nebuhalerchamberatthe other end.

2. Acompressible nebuhaleras claimed in Claim 1, wherein perspex discs at either end are provided with three holes to insert a thumb and two otherfingersofboth handstoassistto pull apartandexpand the nebuhaler.

3. Acompressible nebuhaleras claimed in claim 1 and Claim 2, has three aerial like or'telescopic' metallic rods which lengthen to the total length of the compressible polythene bag when expanded and give stability to the compressible, bellows like polythene bag during the act of inhaling the drug bythe patient.

4. Acompressible nebuhaleras claimed in Claim 1, Claim 2, and Claim 3, wherein the mouth piece perspex disc has a mouth piece protruding from its centre and this mouth piece has a one-way valve at its root in the form of a small circular perspex disc which allows air to move from the nebuhalertothe mouth through the mouth piece.

5. Acompressible nebuhaleras claimed in Claim 1, Claim 2, Claim 3, and Claim 4, has a circular perspex disc atthe other end with the nebuhaler chamber fixed to it at its centre surrounding the central opening meantforthe insertion of the aerosol containing inhalerfrom outside.

6. Alternatively, a compressible nebuhaler can be constructed using poke wheel shaped perspex discs at either end ofthe accordion like compressible poly- thene chamberto reduce the weight of the whole apparatus i.e. a compressible nebuhaler.