AU740126B2 - Holder for bronchodilator dispenser - Google Patents

Description

-1-

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

0 0 0-0: 0 Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor: Address of Service: Invention Title: JAMES WALTERS James Walters BALDWIN SHELSTON WATERS MARGARET STREET SYDNEY NSW 2000 HOLDER FOR BRONCHODILATOR DISPENSER Details of Associated Provisional Application Nos. PP1259 and PP3265 Dated 7 January 1998 and 29 April 1998 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- -2- The present invention relates to a device for use by asthmatics.

Asthma is a condition which afflicts a significant proportion of the population.

Asthma attacks may occur without warning and can even result in death if the asthmatic does not receive treatment.

In many instances the effects of an asthma attack can be reduced by the administration of an inhaled bronchodilator, such as salbutamol. Typically the inhaled bronchodilator is provided in a pressurised canister which is fitted to a dispenser for administration to the asthmatic.

As asthma attacks often occur without warning it is highly desirable for an asthmatic to have a bronchodilator dispenser readily available at all times. However i there exists a risk that the asthmatic may forget to carry a dispenser or that the dispenser may be mislaid. Furthermore the need to carry a dispenser can often prove to be .o00oi inconvenient, particularly where the asthmatic may be partaking in sport or other o oooo activities.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a device for use by asthmatics which facilitates the ready availability of a bronchodilator dispenser to a asthmatic.

To this end the present invention provides a holder for a bronchodilator dispenser, said holder including: a sleeve of stretchable material sized such that the sleeve is stretched upon insertion of the dispenser to retain the dispenser within the holder, the sleeve including an opening from which an outlet of the dispenser extends so as to enable the outlet to be positioned in the mouth of a patient; and San attachment means for releasably securing said holder to another object.

Z In one preferred embodiment the attachment means is a releasable clip.

2a- Preferably the holder further includes a releasable fastening means to provide for opening and closing of the holder to facilitate the insertion and removal of the bronchodilator dispenser.

Preferably the holder is formed from a continuous piece of stretchable material which can be stretched to allow for the insertion and removal of the bronchodilator dispenser.

Preferably the holder includes a first opening to provide access to a canister of bronchodilator held by the dispenser and a second opening from which the outlet of the dispenser protrudes to enable the outlet to be positioned in the mouth of an asthma 10 patient.

*oo i Preferably the holder is formed from a suitably shaped piece of stretchable material which is subsequently folded or rolled and joined to form a sleeve within which the bronchodilator dispenser is held.

In one preferred embodiment a tape is utilised to join adjacent edges of the material and thereby form a seam. Preferably the tape is a heat activated adhesive tape.

Preferably the tape forms a loop so as to facilitate attachment of the holder to another object.

Preferably the material from which the holder is made possesses good thermal insulating properties.

Preferably the material from which the holder is made is suitably buoyant such that if the bronchodilator dispenser and holder is placed in water the bronchodilator dispenser remains buoyant.

-3- The present invention will be better understood and appreciated from the following discussion of the preferred features of the invention. Reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a side elevation view of a typical dispenser of an inhaled bronchodilator; Fig. 2 is a side elevation view of a first preferred embodiment of the holder for a bronchodilator dispenser according to the present invention, with the holder shown encapsulating the dispenser shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a side elevation view of the holder shown in Fig. 2, including a releasable attachment means to enable the holder to be attached to another object; 10 Fig. 4 is a part sectional view A-A of the holder and dispenser shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a part sectional view B-B of the holder and dispenser shown in Fig. 2; S"Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a second preferred embodiment of the holder for a bronchodilator dispenser according to the present invention; Fig. 7 is a side elevation of a third preferred embodiment of the holder for a 15 bronchodilator dispenser according to the present invention; and Fig. 8 illustrates a clip for use with the holder shown in Figs. 6 and 7.

Referring to Fig. 1, a typical dispenser 1 of an inhaled bronchodilator, such as S° salbutamol, is shown. The bronchodilator is provided in a pressurised canister 2 which is releasably mounted in the dispenser 1. The dispenser includes a body portion 3, typically made of plastic, which is adapted to receive the canister 2 through an open end 4. At the opposing end of the canister there is provided an outlet 5 adapted to provide for the passage of the bronchodilator to the patient. In use the outlet 5 is inserted into the mouth of the asthmatic. In the embodiment shown a covering cap 6 is fitted over the outlet -4- The canister and dispenser are adapted such that upon pressing the canister into the dispenser in the direction shown by the arrow 7 a valve is opened in the canister.

Upon opening of the valve, the bronchodilator is released from the canister under pressure and flows through the outlet 5 of the dispenser and is inhaled by the asthmatic.

Figs. 2 to 5 illustrate a first preferred embodiment of a holder 10 for a bronchodilator dispenser in accordance with the present invention.

The holder 10 forms a sheath, or sleeve, within which the dispenser 1 is held. The holder may include a releasable fastening means 11, such as a zip, to provide for the opening of the holder to facilitate the insertion and removal of the dispenser.

10 Alternatively the holder may be formed from a continuous piece of stretchable material which may be stretched to allow for the insertion and removal of the dispenser.

S" Preferably one end of the holder includes an opening 12 to provide access to the canister 2. The opposing end includes an opening 13 from which the outlet 5 of the dispenser protrudes to enable the outlet to be positioned in the mouth of the patient.

I5 Referring to Figs. 6 and 7, further preferred embodiments of the holder 10 are shown, with those features which are common to the first embodiment being denoted o with the same reference numerals as used in Figs. 1 to 5. The holder 10 is cut or oO..

S' otherwise formed from a suitably shaped piece of stretchable material which is subsequently folded or rolled and then joined to form a sleeve within which the dispenser is held. A tape is utilised to join adjacent edges of the material and thereby form a seam 15. Preferably the tape is a heat activated adhesive tape. It is further preferable for the tape to form a loop 16 at one end of the holder so as to facilitate attachment of the holder to another object, such as a clip. In the embodiment depicted in Fig. 6, the loop is located at the end with the opening 12. However, referring to Fig. 7, it is particularly preferred that the loop be located at the mouthpiece end of the holder.

Preferably the holder is made from a flexible, stretchable material, such as rubber or the like. The holder is sized so that it is stretched upon insertion of the dispenser, thereby acting to retain the inhaler within the holder.

It is further preferable that the material from which the holder is made exhibits good thermal insulating properties in order to avoid the pressurised canister from being heated to temperatures in excess of 30 degrees Celsius (typical recommended maximum temperature for such canisters) when exposed to the sun.

10 Preferably the material from which the holder is made also provides a degree of oooo shock absorption so as to provide protection for the dispenser in the event that it is S accidentally dropped.

It is further preferable that the material from which the holder is made is suitably buoyant such that in the event that the dispenser and holder is accidentally dropped in 15 water, such as at a swimming pool or at the beach, the dispenser remains buoyant thereby assisting the dispenser to be retrieved.

In a particularly preferred embodiment it has been found that 8 millimetre thick g wetsuit material is a suitable material from which the holder can be made.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 8, the preferred embodiment of the holder 10 further includes a releasable attachment means, such as clip 14, to enable the holder to be attached to an asthmatics clothing or other personal items such as a key ring. By providing a releasable attachment means the dispenser can be located for easy availability in times of need.

It has been found that the present invention is particularly useful for asthmatic children, enabling the dispenser to be retained in their possession during school and whilst playing. Furthermore the invention is particularly useful for active people, such as joggers, bushwalkers, cyclists and the like, who suffer from asthma as it enables the bronchodilator to be easily carried and readily available if needed.

Whilst the present invention has been described with reference to a specific example, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many alternative forms.

Claims (12)

1. A holder for a bronchodilator dispenser, said holder including: a sleeve of stretchable material sized such that the sleeve is stretched upon insertion of the dispenser to retain the dispenser within the holder, the sleeve including an opening from which an outlet of the dispenser extends so as to enable the outlet to be positioned in the mouth of a patient; and an attachment means for releasably securing said holder to another object.

2. The holder as claimed in claim 1 wherein said attachment means is a releasable clip.

3. The holder as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 2 further including a releasable fastening means to provide for opening and closing of the holder to facilitate the insertion and removal of the bronchodilator dispenser.

4. The holder as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 2 wherein the holder is formed from a continuous piece of stretchable material which can be stretched to allow for the insertion and removal of the bronchodilator dispenser.

The holder as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the holder includes a first opening to provide access to a canister of bronchodilator held by the dispenser and a second opening from which the outlet of the dispenser protrudes to enable the outlet to be positioned in the mouth of an asthma patient.

6. The holder as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the holder is formed from a suitably shaped piece of stretchable material which is subsequently folded or rolled and joined to form a sleeve within which the bronchodilator dispenser is held.

7. The holder as claimed in claim 6 wherein a tape is utilised to join adjacent edges of the material and thereby form a seam. -8-

8. The holder as claimed in claim 7 wherein the tape is a heat activated adhesive tape.

9. The holder as claimed in claim 7 or 8 wherein the tape forms a loop so as to facilitate attachment of the holder to another object.

10. The holder as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the material from which the holder is made possesses good thermal insulating properties.

11. The holder as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein the material from which the holder is made is suitably buoyant such that if the bronchodilator dispenser and holder is placed in water the bronchodilator dispenser remains buoyant. 10

12. A holder for a bronchodilator dispenser substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this 6th Day of September, 2001 •JAMES WALTERS Attorney: RUSSELL J. DAVIES S: Fellow Institute of Patent Attorneys of Australia of BALDWIN SHELSTON WATERS ooo°