GB2491178A

GB2491178A - Spacer for inhaler

Info

Publication number: GB2491178A
Application number: GB1108910.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Simon John Rooney
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-05-27
Filing date: 2011-05-27
Publication date: 2012-11-28
Anticipated expiration: 2031-05-27
Also published as: GB2491178B; GB201108910D0

Abstract

A compact, portable and universal asthma spacer 1 which allows the use of all major brands and designs of Inhaler by means of interchangeable end caps 2. The main body of the unit consists of two or three interlocking cylinders 4,5 which extend and retract in a similar way to that of a telescope. The smallest cylinder 5 contains the mouthpiece 7 and the largest cylinder 4 is where the end cap 2 is connected and the metered dose inhaler is attached. When retracted the unit 1 will be not much larger than the metered dose inhaler itself and able to store the inhaler inside thus preventing any accidental discharge.

Description

Asthma Spacer This invention relates to a eompactable asthma inhaler spacer Conventional Asthma Inhalers rely on the patient having a good technique when administering their medication. Poor technique often causes a quantity of the medication to be wasted by being expelled through the top of the inhaler. Poor technique often leads to the patient either not receiving the full dose of the medication or overcompensating for poor technique by over medicating.

Those with poor technique and those with chronic lung conditions often use a spacer device, but these are not only quite large they are also brand specific meaning that the patient not only would have a bulky item to carry around but would also be tied to a specific brand or brands of inhaler that would be compatible with that particular spacer device.

To overcome this, the present invention proposes a spacer device consisting of a series of interlocking cylinders, which can be extended telescopically when in use and retracted for storage. Interchangeable end caps will allow the use of multiple brands and designs of metered dose inhaler. Each end cap will allow for the attachment for a specific brand/design of metered dose inhaler. Potentially giving medical staff greater choice in what medication they can prescribe without the patient having to own more than one spacer device.

In compacted form, the metered dose inhaler can also be stored inside the spacer thus protecting against accidental discharge of the inhaler. It will also mean that the inhaler/spacer can be carried around conveniently in the patient's pocket or bag.

An example of the invention will now be described by referring to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1. Shows the device (1) in exploded form and detailing all major components and assemblies Figure 2. Shows the device (1) assembled and in extended form Figure 2a. Shows a rear view of the device (1) assembled and in extended form Figure 3. Shows a side view of the device (1) assembled and in compacted form.

Figure 4. Shows the device (1) assembled and in extended form with cylinder (5) rotated and locked in position Figure 5. Shows a exploded view of valve (6), Mouthpiece (7), auxiliary air vent (15) and the end of cylinder (5) Figure 6. Shows a side and front view of Cylinder (4) Figure 7. Shows a side and front view of cylinder (5) Figure 8. Shows a side/front/ and 3D view of the end cap (2) Figure 9. Shows the device (1) in exploded form, detailing all major components/assemblies, and made using tapered cylinders.

Figure 10. Shows the device (1) made using tapered cylinders assembled and in extended form Figure ii. Shows a side view of the device (1) in exploded form, detailing all major components/assemblies, and made using locking tabs Figure 12. Shows the device (1) assembled, detailing all major components/assemblies, and made using locking tabs The device would be a series of two or more rigid plastic cylinders. With cylinder (5) located inside cylinder (4). The two cylinders 4 and 5) would extend and collapse in a similar way as to that of a pocket telescope. The smallest cylinder (5) would have the mouthpiece (7) and valve (6) attached to it, and the largest cylinder (4) would be where the end cap (2) would attach by either a twist lock with raised tabs at the end of cylinder (4) and corresponding recesses cut into the end cap (2), or by means of a screw thread. At the opposite end of this, cylinder (4) will have an inward facing lip (9), with two tabs (10) cut out of this lip at equal and opposite sides. The second cylinder (5) will have an outward facing lip and two raised bars (ii) running along 95% of the length of cylinder. To extend the unit, cylinder (5) would be rotated until the raised bars (11) match the position of the tabs (10) in cylinder (4).

Cylinder (5) would then be drawn through cylinder (4) and then rotated so that the ends of the raised bars (11) no longer correspond with the two tabs (10) but rest against the inward facing lip (9) effectively locking the unit in the extended position. in it's compacted form, if the two raised bars (ii) on cylinder (5) are not in alignment with the two tabs (10) on cylinder (4), then cylinder (5) cannot pass through cylinder (4) effectively locking it in the closed position.

Alternatively the cylinders (4 and 5) could be made larger at one end and slightly smaller at the other, thus creating a tapered effect. When extended, friction and pressure would lock the cylinders in place.

Or alternatively the largest cylinder (4) will have an inward facing lip (9) and two locating tabs (16) to which the second cylinder (5) would pass through. The end of the second cylinder (5) would have an outward facing lip (8) and two recesses (14) which when the unit is extended would allow the two cylinders to lock in place.

The unit would come with different end caps (2) for the different designs of metered dose inhalers, and the patient would select the appropriate one for their particular type of inhaler. The end caps would be a rigid plastic cap for the largest cylinder (4) and a moulded female recess (3) for the inhaler to attach.

Each end cap (2) would support a different brand of inhaler.

The mouthpiece of the inhaler (7) would contain a simple plastic valve (6) and would be attached to the smallest cylinder (5). The valve (6) itself would consist of a plastic disc loosely sandwiched between the cylinder (5) and the mouthpiece (7) which when the patient breathes in, the suction generated would force the disc to move forward and allow passage of the air/medicine mixture through it. The outer part of the mouthpiece would also have extra air vents around its circumference not only to make the device more comfortable to use for patients with more serious conditions including poor lung capacity and poor peak flow, but also to provide a means of attaching the mouthpiece assembly to cylinder (5). As the patient inhales, the air/medicine mixture is sucked out of the spacer unit (1) and air is drawn in through the top of the metered dose inhaler, thus preventing a vacuum.

To use the device (1) it would simply be a case of extending the device fully and rotating cylinder (5) to lock in thc open position and make gastight, then attaching thc appropriate end cap (2) and finally the metered dose inhaler itself. The device would then be used the exact same way as a normal spacer device.

After use the device can be cleaned by removing the end cap and washing the device in the exact same The size of the unit (1) is not much larger than the actual inhaler itself, making the unit very small and compact. By removing the end cap (2) after use, the inhaler can be stored inside the unit at which point the end cap can be refitted thus preventing any accidental discharge of the inhaler.

Claims

Asthma Spacer Claims 1 A compact collapsible! expandable asthma inhaler spacer unit comprising of a removable attachment means for a metered dose inhaler (not shown), a spacer body and a mouthpiece to allow the suspended gas!air mixture to the inhaled.
2.A compact collapsible!expandable asthma inhaler spacer according to claim 1, in which the spacer body is expandable and retractable.
3.A compact collapsible!expandable asthma inhaler spacer according to claims 1 and 2 in which the spacer body comprises of a series of interlocking cylinders.
4.A compact collapsible!expandable asthma inhaler spacer according to claims 1 and 2 in which the smaller cylinder has raised locking guide bars running along the length of the cylinder.
S.A compact collapsible!expandable asthma inhaler spacer according to claims 1 and 2 in which the larger cylinder has an inward facing lip at one end with cut out recesses slightly greater than the width of the locking guide bars of the smaller cylinder.
6.A compact collapsible!expandable asthma inhaler spacer according to claims 1 and 2 in which the spacer body comprises of a series of tapered cylinders.
7.A compact collapsible!expandable asthma inhaler spacer according to claims 1 and 2 in which the inward facing lip (9) on cylinder (4) has a series of recesses (16) and the outward facing lip on cylinder (5) has a series of raised tabs (14) to allow it to lock in the expanded position.
8.A compact collapsible!expandable asthma inhaler spacer according to claim 1, in which the attachment means for a metered dose inhaler is provided by an interchangeable end cap 9.A compact collapsible!expandable asthma inhaler spacer according to claim 1, in which the mouthpiece of the device comprises of a plastic outer body and a simple disc valve assembly.I O.A compact collapsible!expandable asthma inhaler spacer according to claim 1, in which the interchangeable end caps allow the use of different brands of metered dose inhaler.11.A compact collapsible!expandable asthma inhaler spacer according to claim 1, in which the outer body of the mouthpiece contains at least one auxiliary air vent.l2.A compact collapsible!expandable asthma inhaler spacer according to claim 1, in which the auxiliary air vents contained in the mouthpiece outer body allows for the mouthpiece to be attached to the spacer body.13.A compact collapsible! expandable asthma inhaler spacer according to claim 1, in which the spacer body is made of rigid plastic 14.A compact collapsible! expandable asthma inhaler spacer according to claims 1 and 3, in which the attachment means for a metered dose inhaler is made of rigid plastic 15.A compact collapsible! expandable asthma inhaler spacer according to claims 1 and 4, in which the mouthpiece is made of rigid plastic 16.A compact collapsible! expandable asthma inhaler spacer according to claims 1 and 4, in which the disc valve is made of rigid plastic 17.A compact collapsible! expandable asthma inhaler spacer according to claim 1, in which the metered dose inhaler can be stored inside the collapsed spacer body.Amendments to the Claims have been filed as followsCLAIMS1. A spacer device system for an asthma inhaler, comprising: a spacer body comprising at least a first cylinder and a second cylinder adapted to telescopically move with respect to each other between a first retracted position and a second extended position, wherein said first cylinder and said second cylinder are releasably lockable in said second extended position; a mouthpiece, at a first end portion of said second cylinder, and a removable end cap, attachable at a first end portion of said first cylinder, opposite said mouthpiece, and said end cap being adapted to operably receive a respective metered dose inhaler.2. A spacer device system according to claim 1, comprising at least two removable, interchangeable end caps attachable to said first end portion of said first r cylinder.o 3. A spacer device system according to any one of claims 2, wherein said at least two removable, interchangeable end caps are configured to operably receive different designs of metered dose inhaler.4. A spacer device system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said removable, interchangeable end cap is a rigid plastic cap for said first cylinder comprising a moulded female recess to operably receive the metered dose inhaler.5. A spacer device system according to claim 4, wherein said interchangeable end cap is attachable to said first cylinder by a bayonet-style fitting.6. A spacer device system according to claim 5, wherein said first cylinder comprises lugs each receivable by a bayonet slot of said interchangeable end cap.7. A spacer device system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said mouthpiece is releasably mountable to said first end portion of said second cylinder.8. A spacer device system according to claim 1, wherein said mouthpiece comprises a plastic outer body and a simple disc valve assembly.
9. A spacer device system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said mouthpiece comprises a unidirectional valve adapted to allow fluid flow from an interior region formed by said first and second cylinder through said mouthpiece and towards the mouth of a user.
10. A spacer device system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said mouthpiece further comprises at least one air vent arranged C circumferentially on said mouthpiece and adapted to allow fluid communication o between an outer region and the interior region of said mouthpiece. r11. A spacer device system according to any one of claims 2 to 10, wherein each one of said at least two interchangeable end caps comprises a recess shaped so as to fit onto the mouthpiece of the respective metered dose inhaler types.12. A spacer device system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the outer diameter of said second cylinder is smaller than the inner diameter of said first cylinder.13. A spacer device system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said second cylinder comprises an outward facing lip arranged circumferentially on a second end portion of said second cylinder 14. A spacer device system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said first cylinder comprises an inward facing lip arranged circumferentially on a second end portion of said first cylinder.15. A spacer device system according to any one of claims 13 and 14, wherein said second cylinder further comprises guide bars arranged longitudinally along and on opposite sides of the outer surface of said second cylinder.16. A spacer device system according to claim 15, wherein said guide bars are raised locking guide bars running along the length of said second cylinder.17. A spacer device system according to claim 16, wherein said first cylinder has an inward facing lip at one end with cut out recesses slightly greater than the width of said locking guide bars of the second cylinder.18. A spacer device system according to any one of claims 15 to 17, wherein o said second cylinder comprises two guide bars. r19. A spacer device according to claim 18, wherein said two guide bars are arranged so as to provide an offset from said outward facing lip that is adapted to receive said inward facing lip.20. A spacer device system according to claim 19, wherein said inward facing lip of said first cylinder comprises two recesses adapted to slidably receive said two 2S guide bars of said second cylinder.21. A spacer device system according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein said inward facing lip comprises a plurality of recesses and said outward facing lip comprises a plurality of respective protrusions adapted to interlock with said plurality of recesses when said first and said second cylinders are in said second extended position.22. A spacer device system according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein said inward facing lip on said first cylinder has a series of recesses and said outward facing lip on said second cylinder has a series of raised tabs to allow it to lock in said second extended position.23. A spacer device system according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein said first cylinder and said second cylinder are frustum shaped so as to provide a conical interference fit between said first cylinder and said second cylinder when in said second extended position.24. A spacer device system according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein said spacer body comprises a series of tapered cylinders.0 25. A spacer device system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said first and second cylinders are adapted to storably receive any one of the at least two metered dose inhaler types when in said first retracted position.26. A spacer device system according to claim 1, wherein said spacer body comprises a series of interlocking cylinders.27. A spacer device system according to claim 1, in which said interchangeable end caps allow the use of different brands of metered dose inhaler.28. A spacer device system according to claim 1, in which the outer body of the mouthpiece contains at least one auxiliary air vent.29. A spacer device system according to claim 27, in which the auxiliary air vents contained in the mouthpiece outer body allows for the mouthpiece to be attached to said spacer body.30. A spacer device system according to any one of claims 1 to 29, in which said spacer body is made of rigid plastic.31. A spacer device system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said removable end cap is made of rigid plastic.32. A spacer device system according to claims 1 and 16, in which the mouthpiece is made of rigid plastic.33. A spacer device system according to claim 9, in which the disc valve is made of rigid plastic.0 34. A spacer device system according to claim 1, in which the metered dose inhaler can be stored inside said spacer body when in said first retracted position.35. A kit for an asthma inhaler, comprising at least two interchangeable end caps attachable to a first end portion of a spacer device system, wherein each one of said at least two interchangeable end caps is adapted to operably receive a respective metered dose inhaler.36. A mouthpiece for an asthma inhaler connectable to a spacer device system, comprising at least one auxiliary air vent.37. An interchangeable end cap for an asthma inhaler spacer device system, attachable at a first end portion of said spacer device system and adapted to operably receive a respective metered dose inhaler.38. A spacer device system as shown in any one of Figures 1, 10 and
11. c\J r Co r