JP2000157634A - Inhaler - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an inhaler excellent in operability, capable of preventing a liquid medicine from being sprayed around a mouth of a user since the liquid medicine spouts out through the user does not sufficiently apply his/her mouth to a mouth receiving part and capable of eliminating labor for manually switching the atomizing and the stopping. SOLUTION: This inhaler 1 sprays a liquid medicine by steam and pressurized air spouted out of the inside of a main body 2. In this case, the inhaler has a human body detecting electrode part 8 arranged in a mouth receiving part 7 of the main body 2 or in the vicinity and a power source controller for automatically turning on a power source by applying a prescribed electric current to the electrode part 8 when a mouth of a user touches the mouth receiving part 7 and automatically turning off the power source by becoming an electric current not more than a prescribed value when the mouth of the user leaves from the mouth receiving part 7.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an inhaler used for treating inflammation or the like in a human respiratory system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an inhaler used for treatment or the like when inflammation or the like occurs in the respiratory system of the human body, a boiler for generating steam, a steam generated by the boiler and a drug solution (inhalation solution) supplied from a drug solution tank are used. ) And a nozzle part for spraying
2. Description of the Related Art There is known an inhaler in which a mouth of a user is applied to an inhalation attachment portion so that the user can inhale from a throat or a nose of the user.

The conventional inhaler employs a structure in which a power supply is turned on by a switch operation and a chemical solution is sprayed, so that a switch operation is performed by mistake before a user's mouth is applied to a mouthpiece. In many cases, the drug solution squirts out and sprays around the user's mouth, causing unpleasant mood before use and further wasting the drug solution. Since the spraying and the stopping of the spray were manually performed, the operation was troublesome.

[0004]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to solve the problem that the user does not sufficiently put his mouth on the mouthpiece. An object of the present invention is to provide an inhaler excellent in operability, in which a chemical solution is not spouted and sprayed around a user's mouth, and the trouble of manually switching between spraying and stopping the spraying can be omitted.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention relates to an inhaler for spraying a chemical solution with steam or pressurized air ejected from the inside of a main body 2 or a mouthpiece 7 of the main body 2 or the like. Electrode part 8 for human body detection provided near it
When the user's mouth hits the mouth receiving portion 7, a predetermined current flows through the electrode portion 8 to automatically turn on the power supply, and when the user's mouth leaves the mouth receiving portion 7, the current becomes lower than the predetermined value. And a power supply control device 10 for automatically turning off the power supply.
The medical solution can be sprayed only when the user's mouth is applied to the mouth receiving portion 7 to perform the treatment. Therefore, even though the user does not sufficiently apply the mouth to the mouth receiving portion 7, the medical solution is ejected. This eliminates the problem of spraying around the user's mouth and the problem of waste of the chemical solution, and furthermore, the power can be turned on simply by applying the user's mouth to the electrode 9 provided in the mouth receiving portion 7. It can be turned off simply by releasing the mouth, so that the trouble of manually switching can be saved.

It is preferable that the electrode portion 8 is composed of a plurality of divided electrodes 9. In this case, the user's mouth can be kept at a minimum without the user's mouth being in contact with the entire mouth receiving portion 7. The power can be turned on only by contacting the two electrodes 9.

The electrode section 8 is preferably composed of two electrodes 9 provided at the cheek position B of the mouth receiving section 7 on which the user's cheek contacts. In this case, the electrode section 8 is provided at the cheek position B of the mouth receiving section 7. If the left and right electrodes 9 are provided, the electrodes 9 will be located at positions where it is estimated that the possibility of contact with the skin of the user is the highest.

Further, an insulating convex portion 13 is protruded at least on one side of the electrode 9 so that an electrode surface with which a human body comes into contact with the convex portion 1.
3 is preferably formed one step lower than the upper end. In this case, although the electrode 9 is provided on the surface of the mouth receiving portion 7, a portion other than the user's skin hardly hits the electrode surface. By pushing the skin of the user into the mouth receiving portion 7, the skin can be brought into contact with the electrode surface. Therefore, even when a plurality of electrodes 9 are provided on the surface of the mouth receiving portion 7, it is effective in preventing malfunction. Become.

A first electrode 9a is provided at the jaw position A of the mouth receiving portion 7, and a second electrode 9b is provided at or near the mouth receiving portion 7 other than the jaw position A. When contacting the first electrode 9a, the medicinal solution can be inhaled from the throat, and when the user's chin separates from the first electrode 9a and contacts only the second electrode 9b, the medicinal solution can be inhaled from the nose. It is preferable to provide a spray direction switching means 11 in which the chin of the user is connected to the first electrode 9.
When the user's chin is separated from the first electrode 9a, the inhalation liquid can be inhaled from the user's nose when the user's chin separates from the first electrode 9a.

The present invention also relates to an inhaler 1 for spraying a chemical solution with steam or pressurized air ejected from the inside of a main body 2 for detecting a human body provided substantially over the entire periphery of a mouth receiving portion 7 of the main body 2. And a power source for automatically turning on the power supply when the user's mouth pushes the movable contact member 12, and for automatically turning off the power supply when the user's mouth is separated from the movable contact member 12. It is characterized by having the control device 10. With this configuration, the user can apply a load by applying a load to an arbitrary portion of the movable contact member 12, and the movable contact member 12 The power is turned on by contacting the receiving portion 7, so that even a person who has resistance to contact the skin with the electrode 9 can use it with confidence. In addition, the power can be turned on simply by applying the mouth to the movable contact member 12, the power can be turned off simply by releasing the mouth, and it is possible to save the trouble of manually switching, and the user needs to sufficiently close the mouth to the mouth receiving portion 7. However, it is possible to solve the problem that the chemical solution is spouted out and sprayed around the mouth of the user, and the problem that the chemical solution is wasted, though it is not applied.

Preferably, the power on / off operation is performed only when a condition for automatically turning on or off the power supply is satisfied for a predetermined time. In this case, switching of the power supply is performed. It is possible to prevent occurrence of a failure due to instantaneous repetition.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will be described below. An inhaler 1 is used for performing a spray treatment on both affected parts of a throat and a nose, and a steam generator provided inside a main body 2. A boiler 3 for spraying, a nozzle unit 5 for spraying a vapor generated by the boiler 3 and a chemical solution supplied from a chemical solution tank 4, and one suction attachment unit 6 for both throat and nose. The mouth receiving portion 7 of the inhalation attachment portion 6 is provided with an electrode portion 8 for detecting a human body. When a mouth of a user hits the mouth receiving portion 7 in the main body 2, a predetermined current is applied to the electrode portion 8. A power supply control device 10 is provided which automatically turns on the power supply and turns off the power supply when the user's mouth separates from the mouthpiece 7 with a current below a predetermined level.

The power supply control device 10 includes, for example, a comparison circuit for comparing the current flowing through the electrode 9 with a predetermined current, and turning on the power supply when the current flowing through the electrode 9 becomes larger than the predetermined current; A drive circuit is provided for turning off the power supply when the current flowing through the electrode 9 is smaller than a predetermined current.

In this example, the electrode portion 8 is constituted by a plurality of divided electrodes 9, and the plurality of divided electrodes 9 are provided at a plurality of positions of the mouth receiving portion 7. Thereby, it is not necessary to bring the user's mouth into contact with the entire mouth receiving portion 7, and if the user's mouth contacts at least two electrodes 9,
The circuit structure is such that the power can be turned on (FIG. 2).

When the user's mouth is applied to the mouth receiving portion 7 of the main body 2 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 9, a current flows to the electrode 9 provided in the mouth receiving portion 7 and a predetermined current flows. When the current is larger than the current, the human body is detected by the human body detection circuit, and the power of the main body 2 is automatically turned on. Therefore, only when the user's mouth (indicated by H in FIG. 2) is applied to the mouth receiving portion 7, the medical treatment can be performed by spraying the liquid medicine, so that the user sufficiently attaches the mouth to the mouth receiving portion 7. In spite of this, there is no problem that the chemical solution is ejected and sprayed around the mouth of the user, and the problem that the chemical solution is wasted does not occur. In addition, the power can be turned on simply by applying the user's mouth to the electrode 9 provided in the mouth receiving portion 7, and the power can be turned off simply by releasing the mouth, thereby saving the trouble of manually switching. In addition, the electrodes 9
Is provided, the power can be turned on without bringing the mouth of the user into contact with the entire mouth receiving portion 7. That is,
Since the user's mouth only needs to contact at least two electrodes 9,
Easy to use.

Then, after the treatment, by separating the mouth from the mouth receiving portion 7 from the mouth receiving portion 7, the current flowing through the electrode 9 becomes smaller than a predetermined current, so that the power supply is automatically turned off. Therefore, forgetting to cut can be prevented, and waste of the chemical solution and the electricity cost can be eliminated.

The number of electrodes 9 is not limited to a plurality, but may be one. In this case, one electrode 9 is connected to, for example, an earth circuit (not shown), and when a human body comes into contact with the electrode 9, a current flowing from the electrode 9 to the earth circuit is detected by a human body detection circuit and a power supply is provided. Can be turned on and off.

The power on / off operation is preferably performed only when a condition for automatically turning on or off the power is satisfied for a predetermined time. If the power is turned on and off instantaneously, it may cause malfunction or failure. Therefore, in the present example, as shown in FIG. 2, the power supply control device 10 does not immediately turn on the power supply when the user's skin comes into contact with the divided electrodes 9, but the same condition (the same condition) within a predetermined time ( The ON operation is performed only when the condition that the skin is kept in contact with the electrode 9) is satisfied. Further, the power is not turned off immediately after the user's skin is separated, but is turned off only when the same condition (a state where the skin is not in contact with the electrode 9) is satisfied within a predetermined time. With such a configuration, the problem that the power is switched even when the mouth is separated from the mouth receiving portion 7 or touches the mouth in a short time is eliminated, so that the occurrence of a failure due to the repeated switching of the power can be prevented. it can.

FIG. 4 shows that the jaw position A of the mouth receiving portion 7 has a first electrode 9a and the mouth receiving portion 7 other than the jaw position A has the second electrode 9b. When contacting one of the electrodes 9a, the liquid medicine can be inhaled from the throat, and
The user's chin moves away from the first electrode 9a and the second electrode 9
The figure shows a case in which the spray direction switching means 11 is provided to allow the chemical solution to be inhaled from the nose when the contact is made only with the b. For example, when the user's chin contacts the first electrode 9a and exceeds a predetermined current, the internal switching plate 11a is moved to the state shown in FIG.
, The inhalation liquid can be inhaled from the user's mouth, and when the user's chin separates from the first electrode 9a and the current falls below a predetermined current, the switching plate 11a is moved to the position shown in FIG.
By directing in the direction of (a), it becomes possible to inhale the inhalation liquid from the nose of the user. Therefore, the trouble of manually switching the spray direction can be saved.

As shown in FIG. 4 (b), each of the electrodes 9 has an insulating protrusion 13 projecting from both sides of the electrode 9 so that the electrode surface with which a human body comes into contact is located at a position higher than the upper end of the protrusion 13. It is preferably formed one step lower. In other words, if a plurality of electrodes 9 are provided on the surface of the mouth receiving portion 7, a malfunction may occur when a portion other than the user's skin hits the electrodes 9. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the convex portion 13 made of a molded product is protruded on at least one side of the electrode 9, and the skin of the user is pushed into the mouth receiving portion 7 so that the skin can contact the electrode surface, thereby turning on the power. It is to let. Therefore, although the structure is such that a plurality of electrodes 9 are exposed and installed on the surface of the mouth receiving portion 7, portions other than the user's skin are unlikely to hit the electrodes 9.
This is effective for preventing malfunction. The protrusion 13 may be provided on only one side of the electrode 9, or the protrusion 13 may be provided on four sides of the electrode 9. What is necessary is just to make it the structure which does not contact easily.

FIG. 6 shows a case where the electrode section 8 is composed of two electrodes 9 provided at the cheek position B of the mouth receiving section 7 to be touched by the user's cheek. In other words, instead of installing a plurality of electrodes 9 over the entire mouth receiving portion 7 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, two electrodes 9 are installed at the cheek position B of the mouth receiving portion 7 where the user's cheek contacts. The mouthpiece 7
If the left and right electrodes 9 are located at the cheek position B, the electrodes 9 are located at positions where it is estimated that there is the highest possibility of contact with the user's skin, and the use detection accuracy is improved.

FIG. 7 shows still another embodiment. In the above-described embodiment, the case where the human body detection is performed using the electrode 9 has been described. However, in the present embodiment, the human body detection for the human body detection is performed over substantially the entire circumference of the mouth receiving portion 7 of the main body 2 without using the electrode 9. When the user's mouth presses the movable contact member 12, the movable contact member 12 contacts the mouth receiving portion 7 to automatically turn on the power source, and the user's mouth is moved to the movable contact member 12. 12
Power control device 1 that automatically turns off the power when away from
0 is provided. Since the movable contact member 12 is provided on the entire periphery of the mouth receiving portion 7, the user's mouth is applied to the movable contact member 12, and by applying a load, the movable contact member 12 comes into contact with the mouth receiving portion 7 and the power is supplied. The switch is turned on, so that even a person who has resistance to contact the skin with the electrode 9 can use it with confidence. In addition, as shown in FIG. 8, the contact can be closed and the power can be turned on simply by applying an opening (indicated by H in FIG. 8) to the movable contact member 12, and the contact can be opened and turned off simply by releasing the opening. Therefore, the trouble of manually switching can be saved. Also in this example, it is preferable that the power on / off operation is performed only when a condition for automatically turning on or off the power is satisfied for a predetermined time. In other words, the power is not turned on immediately after the movable contact member 12 is pressed and comes into contact with the mouth receiving portion 7, but the same condition (the skin becomes
ON state only when the condition is held down), the problem that the mouth is separated from the mouth receiving portion 7 in a short time or the power is switched even when the mouth is touched is eliminated, so that the power switching is repeated. This is effective in preventing a failure from occurring.

In the above embodiment, the suction attachment section 6
Is described integrally with the main body 2, but a separate suction attachment unit 6 may be attached to the main body 2.

[0024]

As described above, the present invention according to the first aspect of the present invention is directed to an inhaler for spraying a chemical solution with steam or pressurized air ejected from the inside of a main body. When a user's mouth hits the mouth receiving portion, a predetermined current flows through the electrode portion to automatically turn on the power supply, and when the user's mouth separates from the mouth receiving portion. Since it has a power supply control device that automatically turns off the power supply when the current becomes less than a predetermined value, it is possible to perform treatment by spraying the drug solution only when the user's mouth is applied to the mouth receiving part. However, there is no problem that the chemical does not squirt and spray around the user's mouth even though the user does not sufficiently put the mouth to the mouth receiving portion, and there is also a problem that the chemical is wasted. Disappears. Moreover, the power can be turned on simply by applying the user's mouth to the electrode provided in the mouth receiving part, and it can be turned off just by releasing the mouth,
The trouble of manually switching can be omitted, and an inhaler excellent in operability can be obtained.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the first aspect, since the electrode portion is composed of a plurality of divided electrodes, the user's mouth does not contact the entire mouth receiving portion. In this case, the power can be turned on simply by bringing the user's mouth into contact with at least two electrodes, thereby facilitating use.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the second aspect, the electrode portion is composed of two electrodes provided at the cheek position of the mouth receiving portion on which the user's cheek is applied. If there are left and right electrodes at the cheek position of the receiving part, the electrodes will be located at the position that is most likely to be in contact with the user's skin, and the detection accuracy of the user's mouth with a small number of electrodes Can be improved.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the first aspect, an insulative convex portion is provided on at least one side of the electrode so that an electrode surface with which a human body comes into contact is more than the upper end of the convex portion. Because it is formed one step lower, it is a structure where the electrode is installed on the surface of the mouth receiving part, but the part other than the user's skin is difficult to hit the electrode, and the skin of the user is pushed into the mouth receiving part Can be brought into contact with the electrode surface, which is effective in preventing malfunction even when a plurality of electrodes are provided on the surface of the mouthpiece.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the second aspect, the first electrode is provided at the jaw position of the mouth receiving portion, and the second electrode is provided at or near the mouth receiving portion other than the jaw position. The user's jaw contacts the first electrode so that the drug solution can be inhaled from the throat, and the user's jaw separates from the first electrode and contacts only the second electrode. When it does, since it is provided with the spray direction switching means that allows the liquid medicine to be inhaled from the nose, it becomes possible to inhale the inhaled liquid from the user's mouth when the chin of the user contacts the first electrode,
When the user's chin separates from the first electrode, the inhalation liquid can be inhaled from the user's nose, thereby eliminating the need to manually switch the spray direction.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an inhaler for spraying a chemical solution with steam or pressurized air ejected from the inside of a main body, the human body detecting means being provided over substantially the entire periphery of a mouth receiving portion of the main body. A movable contact member, and a power supply control device that automatically turns on the power by the user's mouth pressing the movable contact member, and automatically turns off the power when the user's mouth is separated from the movable contact member. Since the movable contact member comes into contact with the mouth receiving portion, the power is turned on, and the skin is brought into contact with the electrode simply by applying a load to the user's mouth at an arbitrary position of the movable contact member. Even people who are resistant to this will be able to use it with peace of mind. Moreover, despite the fact that the user does not sufficiently apply the mouth to the mouth receiving portion, there is no problem that the chemical solution is ejected and sprayed around the user's mouth, and there is also a problem that the chemical solution is wasted. Disappears. Further, the power can be turned on simply by applying the mouth to the movable contact member, and the power can be turned off simply by releasing the mouth, so that the trouble of manually switching can be omitted, and the operability is excellent.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effects of the first or sixth aspect, the power on / off operation is performed by automatically turning the power on or off for a predetermined time. The operation is performed only when the condition is satisfied. Therefore, the power is not turned on immediately when the user's skin comes into contact with the electrode or the movable contact member. ) Is turned on only when the condition is satisfied, so that even if the mouth comes into contact with or away from the mouth receiving portion for a short time, the power supply can be prevented from being instantaneously switched, and the switching of the power supply is repeated instantaneously. This can prevent the occurrence of a failure due to the failure.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of a state where a user's mouth is in contact with the electrode of the above.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the inhaler according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 4A is a perspective view of another embodiment, and FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view of a portion A of FIG.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are explanatory diagrams of the operation of the spray direction switching means.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing still another embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing still another embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a state where a user's mouth is in contact with the movable contact member.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a use state of the above.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Inhaler 2 Main body 7 Mouth receiving part 8 Electrode part 9 Electrode 9a 1st electrode 9b 2nd electrode 10 Power control device 13 Convex part A Chin position B Cheek position

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An inhaler for spraying a chemical solution with steam or pressurized air ejected from the inside of a main body, wherein an electrode part for human body detection provided at or near a mouth receiving part of the main body and a user's mouth are provided. A power source that automatically turns on the power supply when a predetermined current flows to the electrode portion when the battery hits the mouth receiving portion, and automatically turns off the power source when the user's mouth is separated from the mouth receiving portion with a current below a predetermined value. An inhaler comprising a control device. 2. The inhaler according to claim 1, wherein the electrode portion is composed of a plurality of divided electrodes. 3. The inhaler according to claim 2, wherein the electrode portion comprises two electrodes provided at the cheek position of the mouth receiving portion on which the user's cheek contacts. 4. An electrode according to claim 2, wherein an insulative projection is protruded on at least one side of the electrode, and an electrode surface in contact with a human body is formed one step lower than an upper end of the projection.
Inhaler as described. 5. A first electrode is provided at a jaw position of a mouth receiving portion, and a second electrode is provided at a mouth receiving portion other than the jaw position or in the vicinity thereof, so that a user's jaw contacts the first electrode. Spraying direction switching means for inhaling the liquid medicine from the throat when the user's chin is separated from the first electrode and in contact with only the second electrode when the user's chin contacts the second electrode only. The inhaler according to claim 2, characterized in that: 6. A movable contact member for detecting a human body, which is provided over substantially the entire periphery of a mouth receiving portion of a main body, wherein the movable contact member is used for spraying a chemical solution with steam or pressurized air ejected from inside the main body. And a power supply control device for automatically turning on the power by the user's mouth pressing the movable contact member and automatically turning off the power when the user's mouth is separated from the movable contact member. And inhaler. 7. The power supply on / off operation is performed only when a condition for automatically turning on / off the power supply is satisfied for a predetermined time.
Or the inhaler according to claim 6.