WO2001036032A1

WO2001036032A1 - Device for aiding administration of asthma drugs

Info

Publication number: WO2001036032A1
Application number: PCT/KR1999/000683
Authority: WO
Inventors: Chang Yeun Lee
Original assignee: Chang Yeun Lee
Priority date: 1999-11-13
Filing date: 1999-11-13
Publication date: 2001-05-25

Abstract

A device for use in administrating an asthma drug into a patient is provided with a cap (40) having a drug introduction hole (11) through which the asthma drug is introduced into the device and an inhalation tube (12) through which the patient inhales the asthma drug within the patient, and a peripheral protrusion (13) formed around a skirt of the cap (10). A transparent bellows (20) is contractible and expandable and fixed with the cap (10) at its upper end (21). An insertion plate (30) is fixed with a lower end (22) of the transparent bellows (20). The insertion plate (30) has a groove (32) with which the peripheral protrusion (13) is engaged.

Description

DEVICE FOR AIDING ADMINISTRATION OF ASTHMA DRUGS

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device for aiding administration of asthma drugs; and, more particularly, to a device which is convenient for an asthma patient to carry and allows an easy check of the asthma drug administration.

BACKGROUND ART

An asthma patient suffering from asthma normally carries spray type asthma drugs as a provision against an emergency situation. Since it is somewhat difficult to use the spray type asthma drugs, a separate device is often needed in administration of the asthma drugs, the administration usually being carried out by the patient inhaling the drugs. The aid is largely divided into a mask section and an introduction section.

However, the prior art aid for the administrating the asthma drugs has several shortcomings. First, the aid is bulky for the user to carry. Secondly, it is difficult for the patient to check out the administration process. Especially, if the patient is a baby or a small kid who has a strong tendency not to inhale the asthma drugs in powder forms, a guardian is not able to check out whether the baby has inhaled the asthma drugs or not .

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, a primary object of the invention to provide a device for aiding administration of asthma drugs which is easy to carry and allows an easy check of the asthma drug administration process .

The above and other objects of the invention are accomplished by providing an device for administrating an asthma drug to a patient comprising: a cap provided with a drug introduction hole through which the asthma drug is introduced into the device and an inhalation tube through which the patient inhales the asthma drug within the device, and a peripheral protrusion formed around a skirt of the cap; a transparent bellows being contractible and expandable, and fixed with the cap at its upper end; and an insertion plate fixed with a lower end of the transparent bellows and having a groove with which the peripheral protrusion is engaged.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects and features of the instant invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a device for aiding administration of asthma drugs in accordance with the present invention; and

Figs . 2 and 3 depict side sectional views of the inventive aids which are in an expanded condition and a collapsed condition, respectively.

MODES OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

There is shown in Figs. 1 through 3 the inventive device for use in administration of asthma drugs.

As shown in Fig. 1, the inventive device is provided with a cap 10, a transparent bellows 20 and an insertion plate 30.

The cap 10 has a drug introduction hole 11 through which an asthma drug is introduced into the inventive device. For the introduction of the asthma drug, a spray nozzle (not shown) is inserted into the drug introduction hole 11 until an appropriate amount of the asthma drug is charged in the inventive device. A diameter of the drug introduction hole 11 is preferably about 1 - 1.5 mm. The cap 10 also has an inhalation tube 12 through which the user inhales the asthma drug within the device into his mouth.

A peripheral protrusion 13 is formed on an inner surface of a skirt of the cap 10. The transparent bellows 20 is fixed with the cap 10 at its upper end 21, maintaining a sealing between the cap 10 and the upper end 21. The transparent bellows 20 is expandable and contractible in volume and constitutes a space where the asthma drug is stored. Therefore, the transparent bellows 20 allows the patient or the guardian to easily check out an inside of the device.

The insertion plate 30 is fixed to a lower end 22 of the transparent bellows 20 and provided with a groove 32 with which the peripheral protrusion 13 is engaged. The groove 32 is formed on a skirt 31 of the insertion plate 30.

The use of the inventive device is now described with reference to Figs . 1 and 2. The asthma drug is introduced into the inventive device by using the spray nozzle. At this time, the transparent bellows 20 enables the patient or the guardian to check out the amount of the asthma drug being charged in the inventive device. The patient then inhales the asthma drug through the inhalation tube 12, slightly blocking the drug introduction hole

11 with his finger. During this process, the transparent bellows 20 becomes contracted. For a subsequent inhalation, the patient reopens the drug introduction hole 11 by taking off his finger from the drug introduction hole 11.

In addition, the patient can inhale the asthma drug within the inventive device without blocking the drug introduction hole 11. In this case, the transparent bellows 20 is repeatedly contracted and expanded. That is, since the diameter of the drug introduction hole 11 is very small, the transparent bellows 20 becomes contracted by the patient inhaling in spite of an introduction of an air through the drug introduction hole 11. However, the transparent bellows 20 becomes expanded in response to a stopping of the administration .

During the administration processes described above, the transparent bellows 20 allows the patient or the guardian to easily check out the amount of the asthma drug remaining within the inventive device.

After the asthma drug has been administered, the inventive device can be packed in a compact form by engaging the peripheral protrusion 13 with the groove 32, allowing it to be easily carried.

Although the invention has been shown and described with respect to the preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims .

Claims

What is claimed is :

1. An device for administrating an asthma drug to a patient comprising: a cap provided with a drug introduction hole through which the asthma drug is introduced into the device and an inhalation tube through which the patient inhales the asthma drug within the device, and a peripheral protrusion formed around a skirt of the cap; a transparent bellows being contractible and expandable, and fixed with the cap at its upper end; and an insertion plate fixed with a lower end of the transparent bellows and having a groove with which the peripheral protrusion is engaged.