Patent Application
20190030264
This invention relates to a medical dose inhaler (MDI), and more particularly, to a Luer type lock adapter for a MDI and for use with an oxygen delivery circuit and tracheostomy.
Induction of general anesthesia, emergency from anesthesia, emergency intubation of patients in respiratory distress, as well as numerous intraoperative and post-operative events may often result in constriction of bronchi and bronchioles. Such events necessitate administration of bronchodilators such as Albuterol and Ipratropium. While these medications are readily available in operating theaters, critical care units, emergency departments, and ambulances, the administration method of these medications to patients with an artificial airway in place is extremely cumbersome, time-consuming, and with efficacy that often may not be sufficient to achieve desired results.
Currently, such bronchodilators are provided as metered dose inhalers (MDIs), and were designed for patients who are awake, breathing spontaneously, and have enough mental and physical capacity to place the mouthpiece between their lips and press the top of the MDI to receive a dose of the medication upon inhalation.
In the various clinical setting mentioned above, bronchodilators delivered in the form of standard MDIs cannot presently be administered to patients efficiently with an artificial airway such as an endotracheal tube (ETT) or a laryngeal mask airway (LMA), without requiring a MDI delivery system specifically designed for oxygen delivery circuits, since the mouthpiece does not fit the adapter. Non-standard MDIs designed for oxygen delivery circuits cannot be used by patients without advanced airways.
Currently, the available options for administration of MDIs include:
1. Disconnecting oxygen delivery circuit, ventilator, or another oxygen source such as a bag valve mask, placing the MDI over the airway device and delivering a large number of puffs in the hope that an unquantifiable fraction of medication gets delivered to the conducting airways after reconnecting the oxygen source.
2. Dismantling the oxygen delivery circuit and adding an inline circuit adapter that can receive a nebulizer (similar to a standard MDI)
Neither of the two methods mentioned above is reliable, efficient, or particularly effective in delivering medication. Many practitioners have utilized both of these methods in an attempt to deliver the necessary medication and have struggled to obtain satisfactory results.
Currently, there are no effective medical devices which would allow physicians and other practitioners to readily administer bronchodilators to patients with an artificial airway or a tracheostomy via a standard MDI in a reliable, timely, and efficient manner.
It is, therefore, desirable to provide an improved medical system and device, which overcomes most, if not all, of the preceding problems.
An improved medical system and medical device comprising a Luer type lock adapter, which is also sometimes referred to as a Luer type adapter, Luer type taper adapter, or Luer type slip adapter, is provided for a metered dose inhaler (MDI) for use with an oxygen delivery circuit and tracheostomy. Advantageously, the novel Luer type lock adapter for a MDI provides an effective medical device which would allow practitioners to readily administer bronchodilators via a standard MDI in a reliable, timely, and efficient manner. Desirably, the improved medical system accommodates bronchodilators delivered in the form of MDIs to be administered to patients with an artificial airway such as an endotracheal tube (ETT) or a laryngeal mask airway (LMA), since the mouthpiece of the MDI can readily fit the novel Luer Lock type adapter. The user friendly Luer type adapter for a MDI is a lightweight, portable, single-patient use piece with two sides. One side is arranged and designed to adapt to the Luer type connection on an oxygen delivery system, while the other side is arranged and designed to be attached to the MDI mouthpiece.
The improved medical system, can include: (a) a medication container containing medication, such as a medication canister with a drug vial, and (b) a medical dose inhaler (MDI). The MDI can have a plastic holder comprising a MDI body with a body-passageway. The MDI body can have a MDI inlet for receiving the medication container or canister and can have a mouthpiece-supporting surface. The MDI can also have a mouthpiece connected to and extending from the mouthpiece-supporting surface of the MDI body. The mouthpiece can have an exterior mouthpiece surface and an interior mouthpiece surface, as well as define a mouthpiece-passageway providing a MDI outlet in fluid communication with the MDI inlet and the body-passageway for passage of medication.
The reliable effective Luer type adapter provides an effective medical connection device which features a special MDI-engaging cap. The cap can include a tubular cap-body comprising an inner tubular MDI-engaging end for engaging and receiving the mouthpiece of the MDI. The MDI-engaging end can have an exterior cap-surface and an interior cap-surface. The cap can also have an outer tubular standard artificial airway adapter end providing an outer connector for engaging and connection to an endotracheal tube (ETT), laryngeal mask airway (LMA), or tracheostomy tube. An elongated tubular stem can extend though the cap and can be coaxially surrounded by the tubular cap-body. The stem can have an inner stem-end and define a stem passageway in fluid communication with the mouthpiece-passageway for receiving the medication. Ribs can extend between and connect the stem to the cap-body to position the stem along an axis of the cap. The inner tubular stem can engage a recess surrounding the MDI nozzle to create a more effective seal. The nozzle face can snugly receive and engage the stem. The seal can be improved by adding an elastomeric interface such as an O-ring between the engaging stem and nozzle.
A Luer type connector can be connected to the Luer-lock engaging end of the stem for connection to an oxygen delivery circuit. Preferably, the Luer lock type connector defines a connector-passageway in fluid or pneumatic communication with the elongated stem passageway.
In a preferred embodiment, the MDI engaging cap is comprised of a single unitary piece injection mold medical grade plastic. Alternatively, it may be comprised of other medical grade materials such as stainless steel.
In a variant embodiment, the outer tubular standard artificial airway adapter of the cap can comprise or be attached to an elastomeric material or silicon for providing a gasket and/or seal for sealingly engaging the endotracheal tube, laryngeal mask airway (LMA), or tracheostomy tube.
The inner end and/or outer end of the cap can also have pressure relief openings for enhancing removal of the cap from the MDI, endotracheal tube or tracheostomy tube. The pressure relief openings can comprise perforations or apertures for creating a venturi like effect. Furthermore, the pressure relief openings allow a conscious patient that is spontaneously breathing to draw in surrounding air during application. The pressure relief openings can also comprise slits or circular holes.
In a variant embodiment, the MDI-engaging end can comprise an elastomeric material or silicon for providing a gasket and/or a seal for sealing engaging the MDI mouthpiece. Furthermore, the gasket can allow for the MDI cap to provide a seal against the mouthpiece of MDIs of various shaper and size, thereby providing a universal adapter compatible with multiple MDIs.
A more detailed explanation of the invention is provided in the following detailed descriptions and appended claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
The following is a detailed description and explanation of the preferred embodiments of the invention and best modes for practicing the invention.
Referring to the drawings, a user friendly medical system 20 (
Advantageously, the improved medical system has a user friendly special Luer type lock adapter 44 (
As best shown in
One or more transverse radial ribs 66 (
A tubular Luer-type lock connector 58 (
In a variant embodiment the outer tubular standard artificial airway end 56 (
Furthermore, the inner MDI-engaging end of the cap and/or the outer tubular standard artificial airway end of the cap can have pressure relief openings 72 (
The novel Luer-type cap can be used for any type of patient, but has the additional advantage over a normal, standard or conventional MDI in that the novel Luer type cap can be used for an intubated patient via endotracheal tube (ETT), laryngeal mask airway (LMA) and a patient with a tracheostomy inserted.
Desirably, the inventive Luer lock type cap permits and facilitates the MDI to be reused between patients (or in the USA with strict OSHA laws reusable with the same patient) since the portion (cap) that interacts with the patient can be discarded and replaced. The novel Luer type cap can be removable and disposable for OSHA/multi-use benefits.
The Luer type connector allows connection to an oxygen delivery circuit without the necessity and need to disconnect the oxygen delivery circuit as is a problem and issue with conventional circuit adapters.
The Luer type connector 58 also allows for connection to other devices, such as a flexible cannula by engaging the flexible cannula Luer type connector portion of the flexible cannula (
The Luer type connector allows the anesthesiologist to connect to the Luer type lock sampling port 70 of the endotracheal tube (ETT) circuit (
The stem interacts with outlet on the MDI to minimize pressure loss that occurs. The stem terminates in the Luer type connector.
The user can also connect directly to a tracheotomy via the outer connector on the medical device. The outer connector can also have perforations or a slit opening. The perforations reduce the force needed to remove the device because of the frictional fit. The perforations also allow a conscious patient to draw air without creating a vacuum. Significantly, the perforations allow for a venturi like effect to occur. As the medication exits the centralized Luer type connector, surrounding air will be drawn in to increase drug dispersion (
The slots around the tracheostomy connector can be of any shape such as circular holes or non-existent.
The portion that connects to the MDI can be of various shapes such as a tapered circular opening and be made of a silicone like material to create a gasket like seal. In that way the device can function as a universal adapter for different MDIs. For a universal version fit there can be no stem.
Among the many other advantages of the improved medical system and novel Luer type adapter and cap are:
1. Superior performance.
2. User friendly.
3. Reliable
4. Easy to install and use.
5. Portable.
6. Light weight.
7. Durable.
8. Economical.
9. Safe.
10. Efficient.
11. Effective.
Although embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it is to be understood that various modifications, substitutions, and rearrangements of parts, components, and/or equipment, as well as other uses, shapes, construction, and design of the improved medical system and novel Luer type adapter and cap can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the novel spirit and scope of this invention.
