APPARATUS FOR AEROSOL THERAPY

TECHNICAL FIELD AND BACKGROUND ART.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for aerosol therapy of the type described in the preamble to claims 1 and 8.

As is well known, apparatuses for aerosol therapy are utilised for the therapeutic treatment of symptoms of the upper respiratory tracts, such as asthmatic or bronchial symptoms. This therapeutic system provides for the generation of an aerosol, i.e. of a dispersion or nebulisation of particles of appropriate medical liquids, whose action occurs by the inhalation of the medical liquid itself.

Such apparatuses are widely found and utilised especially in the case of paediatric therapies and they are provided in different formats able to meet the user's different needs. More specifically, apparatuses for nebulising can also be constructed in pocket formats, so that the user can have the necessary medication at all times, above all in the case of illnesses that entail frequent or difficult to predict respiratory crises, such as asthmatic illnesses. Mainly for home use, pneumatic apparatuses for nebulising are known, thus defined because they comprise a compressor which intakes air from the environment and sends it to a nebuliser ampoule containing the medical liquid. The compressor is generally housed in a rigid case, made for example of plastic material, which integrates the outlets of the intake and delivery conduits originating from the compressor. In use, the rigid case containing the compressor is usually set down on a plane, whilst the nebuliser ampoule is positioned in proximity to the user and it is connected to the outlet of the delivery conduit by means of a flexible tube.

The compressor may contain a head integrating both the intake conduit and the delivery conduit, interfacing directly with the exterior by means of outlets obtained directly on the head itself which adapt to the profile of the rigid containment case. These apparatuses have major drawbacks both with respect to the assembly stage and with respect to the utilisation of the apparatus itself. Both the nebuliser ampoule and the connecting tube, together with any accessories, such as templates or other items, are external to the rigid case and need to be housed separately from the apparatus or in portions of the case constituting a containment compartment. In both cases, the bulk of the apparatus, both when in use and when stowed, is markedly greater than the dimensions actually required by the compressor and by the connections inside the rigid case. Moreover, the excessive dimensions and the need for the connecting tube between the intake outlet and the nebuliser ampoule limit the use of the aforesaid apparatus as a substantially fixed station.

The aforementioned drawbacks also become apparent in the case of compressors comprising a head integrating both the intake conduit and the delivery conduit, although both the structural complexity and the dimensions are reduced. These apparatuses, too, are substantially intended exclusively for home use, in consideration of the fact that a connecting tube is always necessary between the delivery outlet and the nebuliser ampoule.

Also known are nebuliser apparatuses which exploit ultrasound devices with piezoelectric vibration systems, placed in communication with a container of medical liquid in order to generate high amplitude vibrations within the liquid

itself.

When the piezoelectric element is activated, the medical liquid undergoes an upward thrust, it assumes a substantially cone-like shape and it nebulises against a baffle. This type of apparatus for nebulising can be utilised for home use or to obtain an apparatus with pocket format.

However, these apparatuses have some drawbacks. In the first place, the ultrasound device generates a high dispersion of the dimensions of the nebulised particles of medical liquid, so that respectively too small and too large particles are obtained with respect to optimal dispersion values. Based on the experience matured by the Applicant in the sector, this excessive dispersion generates reductions in the therapeutic effect of the nebulised medical liquid. Moreover, the use of an ultrasound device produces effects that are not fully known within the structure of the medical liquid, with consequent possible risks for the user's health. The Patent EP 1106195 by the same Applicant describes a compact apparatus for aerosol therapy of the type comprising a box-like case and a compressor assembly housed inside said box-like case and provided with an air intake conduit and with an air delivery conduit. A device for operating the compressor assembly is housed inside the box-like case and it is provided with an external control which can be operated by the user. A nebuliser ampoule is housed in the box-like case, has a terminal mouthpiece and it is provided with an air inlet section positioned directly in communication with the delivery conduit of the compressor assembly. A drawback of compact aerosol therapy apparatuses is represented by the difficulty of using a pair of mutually opposite compressors positioned at a very

short distance from each other, given the complexity of connecting tubes of reduced length, preventing the tubes from being accidentally pinched and thereby reducing the cross section for the passage of the air flow. This drawback is particularly important, because it prevents the construction of apparatuses for aerosol therapy with extremely compact dimensions. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION.

An object of the present invention is to eliminate the aforesaid drawbacks making available a pneumatic apparatus for aerosol therapy, which can be adapted to a broad range of formats and which in particular allows to obtain a pocket-sized, compact format, without accessories or tubes outside the rigid containment case, in order to be available in every situation of need by the user. An additional object of the present invention is to propose an apparatus for aerosol therapy which, although it is provided with a pair of compressors, is extremely compact. In particular, an additional object of the present invention is to connect said compressors to each other, without using flexible tubes.

An additional object of the present invention is to propose an apparatus for aerosol therapy that is easy to assemble, reliable and quiet. Said objects are fully achieved by the apparatus for aerosol therapy of the present invention, which is characterised by the content of the claims set out below:

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION. This and other objects shall become more readily apparent in the description that follows of a preferred embodiment, illustrated purely by way of non limiting example in the accompanying drawing tables, in which: - Figure 1 shows a global view of an apparatus for aerosol therapy according to

the present invention;

- Figures 2, 3, 4, 5, 9 and 10 show axonometric section views of a constructive detail in accordance with the present invention;

- Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1, - Figures 7 and 8 illustrate two section views that schematically show the operation of the invention.

With reference to Figure 1, an apparatus for aerosol therapy in accordance with the present invention is globally designated by the number 1.

The apparatus 1 comprises a box-like case 2 within which is housed a first compressor assembly 3, provided with a first air intake conduit 4 and with a first air delivery conduit 5.

Inside the box-like case is housed a second compressor assembly 6, provided with a second air intake conduit 7 and with a second air delivery conduit 8.

In particular, the first compressor assembly 3 and the second compressor assembly 6 are positioned opposite and facing each other.

Preferably, both compressor assembly are provided with a single-cylinder pump or, alternatively, with a membrane pump.

With reference to Figure 1, the apparatus 1 comprises a nebuliser assembly 9 indirectly connected to the air delivery conduits 5, 8. With particular reference to Figures 2, 3 and 4, the apparatus 1 comprises a junction element 10 connected to the first and to the second compressor assembly and operatively connected to the nebuliser assembly 9. Specifically, the functions of said junction element 10 are to collect and distribute the air flow which is aspirated and the one under pressure which must be sent to the nebuliser assembly 9.

In the preferred embodiment, illustrated in Figures 2 through 6, the junction element 10 is provided with a plurality of housings 11, preferably four, able to receive respectively the first and the second delivery conduit 5, 8 and the first and the second intake conduit 4, 7. The junction element 10 further comprises means for conveying external air into at least one of said air intake conduits and means for sending pressurised air to the nebuliser assembly 9, said air coming from at least one of the delivery conduits 5, 8.

According to a possible embodiment variant (not illustrated), said means for conveying external air comprise an intake channel connected to the intake conduits and having an inlet section communicating with the external environment.

In accordance with the preferred embodiment, illustrated in Figures 3, 4 and 9, said means for conveying external air comprise an intake chamber 12 communicating with said air intake conduits 4, 7 and an intake channel 13 having an inlet section 13a communicating with the external environment and an outlet section 13b communicating with said intake chamber 12. With particular reference to Figures 3 and 4, the intake chamber 12 and the expansion chamber 14 interpenetrate and are so shaped that a first portion of the intake chamber at the first intake conduit 4 is connected to a first portion of the expansion chamber 14 at the second delivery conduit 8, whilst a second portion of the intake chamber 12 at the second intake conduit 7 is connected to a second portion of the expansion chamber at the first intake conduit 5. In essence, the intake chamber 12 is substantially entwined with the expansion chamber 14. In accordance with a possible embodiment variant (not illustrated), said means for sending pressurised air to the nebuliser assembly comprise a delivery

channel communicating with the delivery conduits and having an outlet section operatively connected to the nebuliser assembly.

In accordance with the preferred embodiment, said means for sending pressurised air to the nebuliser assembly 9 comprise an expansion chamber 14 communicating with said air delivery conduits 5, 8 and a delivery channel 15 having an inlet section 15a communicating with said expansion chamber 14 and an outlet section 15b operatively connected to the nebuliser assembly 9. In the preferred embodiment, illustrated in Figure 6, the junction element 10 comprises a base body 10a so shaped as to define a first portion of the intake chamber 12, an intermediate body 10b whereon are obtained said housings 11 able to receive the intake conduits 4, 7 and the delivery conduits 5, 8. In particular, the intermediate body 10b is so shaped as to define a second portion of the intake chamber 12 and a first portion of the expansion chamber 14. The junction element 10 comprises an upper body 10c so shaped as to define a second portion of the expansion chamber.

Specifically, the base body, the intermediate body and the upper body are coupled together by means of fastening screws 20, in such a way as to form the aforesaid intake and expansion chambers. With reference to Figures 2, 3 and 6, the upper body 10c has a seat 16 able to contain a filtering element (not shown), preferably of the spongy type, able to filter the air that is aspirated by the intake conduits 4, 7.

In the preferred embodiment, illustrated in particular in Figure 10, the intake channel 13 is defined by a pair of through holes 17, 18 aligned and obtained respectively on the upper body 10c and on the intermediate body 10b. With particular reference to Figures 7 and 8, the operation of the present

invention shall now be described.

External air enters the intake channel 13, flowing through the seat 16 and hence the filtering element.

After flowing along the intake channel 13, external air reaches the intake chamber 12, whereon terminate the inlet sections 4a, 7a of the intake conduits 4,

7 respectively of the first compressor assembly 3 and of the second compressor assembly 6.

From the intake chamber, the air is aspirated by effect of the descent motion of the piston of the single-cylinder pump associated to each of said compressor assemblies, or of the motion of the membrane, if a membrane pump is used.

Subsequently, the upward motion of the piston, or the motion of the membrane, compresses the aspirated air and sends it to the expansion chamber 14, through the delivery conduits 5, 8, whose outlet sections 5a, 8a communicate with said expansion chamber. From the expansion chamber, air flows towards the nebuliser assembly 9 through the delivery channel 15, to be mixed with the substance to be nebulised.

The nebuliser assembly 9 is known and therefore it is not described or illustrated.

The invention achieves important advantages. First of all, an apparatus for aerosol therapy in accordance with the invention is extremely compact and has no accessories or tubes outside the box-like containment case. In particular, the presence of the junction element allows to optimise the volume existing between the two compressor assemblies, thereby considerably reducing their mutual distance. Advantageously, the presence of the junction element allows a simple, reliable

connection of the two compressor assemblies. In particular, the absence of flexible tubes eliminates the risk of formation of chokes or flow losses. Another advantage is that the presence of the junction element considerably simplifies the assembly of the apparatus.