Inhalation Flow Controller for Laminar Medicament Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current inhalation devices, such as pressurized metered dose inhalers (pMDIs) and spacers, face challenges in delivering precise and consistent dosages of medicaments to patients with reduced lung capacity, particularly young children and the elderly, due to issues like medicament settling, improper timing, and high inspiratory flow rates leading to turbulent flow patterns, which can result in overdosing or underdosing and reduced medication effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A mouthpiece and flow rate controller designed to administer medicaments at a controlled flow rate of 25.8 to 30.2 L/minute, utilizing a flexible material and a baffle structure within a container to facilitate a snug fit and low inspiratory pressure, promoting laminar flow and ensuring accurate delivery of medicaments to the lungs, compatible with pMDIs, nebulizers, and other intrapulmonary devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a spacer or holding chamber is used to capture medicament from pMDI, then medicament can be held in a contained space, but the patient has difficulty inhaling the medicament due to high inspiratory flow rates causing turbulent flow patterns
Solution Approach 1:
The device changes the flow rate parameter by incorporating a flow controller that limits the inspiratory flow rate to a specific range (25.8-30.2 L/minute), transforming high turbulent flow into controlled laminar flow to improve medicament inhalation efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The flow controller acts as an intermediary component between the spacer/holding chamber and the patient's lungs, mediating the flow of medicament to ensure optimal delivery by controlling flow rate and promoting laminar flow patterns
2Loss of time
If the patient inhales at high flow rates to clear the spacer quickly, then inhalation time is reduced, but turbulent flow patterns reduce medication deposition in the lungs
Solution Approach 1:
The device changes the flow rate parameter from high (clearing the spacer quickly) to controlled (25.8-30.2 L/minute), which promotes laminar flow patterns that improve medication deposition while still maintaining reasonable inhalation time
Solution Approach 2:
The flow controller provides feedback control by monitoring and regulating the flow rate through the flow sensor and control mechanism, ensuring the flow remains within the optimal range for both timely inhalation and effective medication deposition
3Reliability
If a flow rate controller is added to control inspiratory flow rate, then laminar flow is promoted improving medication delivery, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flow controller is designed to be compatible with multiple device types (pMDI, nebulizer, spacer, holding chamber), making it a universal component that can be integrated into various inhalation delivery systems without requiring separate designs for each
Solution Approach 2:
The flow controller serves as an intermediary component that can be integrated between existing devices and the patient interface, allowing flow control functionality to be added without fundamentally redesigning the entire inhalation delivery system
4Reliability
If the flow rate is limited to 25.8-30.2 L/minute, then laminar flow is achieved improving medication deposition, but the device must accommodate various patient age groups with different breathing patterns
Solution Approach 1:
The flow controller incorporates adjustable or variable flow control mechanisms that can adapt to different patient age groups and breathing patterns, allowing the device to maintain optimal flow rates (25.8-30.2 L/minute) across children, adults, and elderly patients
Solution Approach 2:
The flow controller is designed with universal compatibility to work with various patient age groups including children, adults, and elderly patients, accommodating different breathing patterns while maintaining consistent laminar flow control for effective medication delivery
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device enables efficient and accurate delivery of medicaments, reducing the time required for inhalation, increasing medication deposition in the lungs, and improving compliance by accommodating natural tidal volume breathing, thus enhancing the effectiveness and reliability of pulmonary medication administration.
Implementation Method 1
promoting laminar flow and ensuring accurate delivery of medicaments to the lungs
Implementation Method 2
high inspiratory flow rates leading to turbulent flow patterns
Data Source
AI summary
This invention relates to a therapeutic device and method of administering precisely measured doses of a therapeutic substance via inhalation to pediatric and adult patients. More specifically, the invention relates to a therapeutic device and method of administering inhaled medication which delivers a controlled flow rate to a mouthpiece for administration of medicament to young children and adults with a diminished capacity, at a rate of about 25.8 L/minute to 30.2 L/minute.