A medication inhalation apparatus includes an outer housing, movable between collapsed and expanded states, encompassing a first volume. An inner housing within the outer housing encompasses an inner volume. An inhaler opening to the first volume is within a wall of the outer housing at a first location. A mouth opening to the inner volume is within a wall of the outer housing and the inner housing at a second location. A one-way inhalation valve connecting the first volume and the inner volume is within a wall of the inner housing. A one-way exhalation valve connecting the inner volume and the exterior of the outer housing is within a wall of the outer housing and inner housing at a third location. In the expanded state, gas flows from the inhaler to the first volume, the first volume to the inner volume, and the inner volume to a user's mouth.

A medication inhalation apparatus preferably formed of a single, unitary sheet of stock, includes an outer housing, movable between collapsed and expanded states, encompassing a first volume. An inner housing within the outer housing encompasses an inner or second volume. An inhaler opening to the first volume is within a wall of the outer housing at a first location. A mouth opening to the inner volume is within a wall of the outer housing and the inner housing at a second location. A one-way inhalation valve connecting the first volume and the inner volume is within a wall of the inner housing. A one-way exhalation valve connecting the inner volume and the exterior of the outer housing is within a wall of the outer housing and inner housing at a third location. The valve preferably includes an elongated spring body formed of a semi-pliant material with a strength and rigidity providing limited flexibility. A first separation is perpendicular to the elongate axis of the spring body, and extends from a first edge of the spring body across at least a portion of a width of the spring body. A second separation perpendicular to the elongate axis of the spring body extends from a second edge of the spring body across at least a portion of the width of the spring body.

An aerosol generator for generating an aerosol from a fluid, comprising: a vibratable membrane having a first side for being in contact with the fluid and an opposite second side, the membrane having a plurality of through holes penetrating the membrane in an extension direction from the first side to the second side, whereby the fluid passes the through holes from the first side to the second side when the membrane is vibrated for generating the aerosol at the second side, each through hole having along its extension direction a smallest diameter, a larger diameter that is larger than the smallest diameter and defined by that diameter that is closest to triple, preferably twice said smallest diameter, each through hole having a nozzle portion defined by that continuous portion of the through hole in the extension direction comprising the smallest diameter of the through hole and bordered by the larger diameter of the through hole, wherein the ratio of the total length of each through hole in the extension direction to the length of a respective one of said nozzle portions in the extension direction is at least 4, preferably at least 4.5 and most preferred equal to or larger than 5.

A respiratory therapy management system includes intelligent valved holding chamber devices (IVHCs) corresponding to patients. Each IVHC generates air inflow data during an inhalation therapy session, and determines an inhalation technique score for the session. For each IVHC, a mobile computing device receives and processes inhalation technique scores; generates composite inhalation technique scores and inhalation therapy regimen compliance scores corresponding to multiple inhalation therapy sessions; and presents visual representations of such scores. A remote therapy management server manages patient incentive awards; provides a social media platform and/or games accessible to patients; and communicates with physician computing devices to facilitate physician review of composite inhalation technique scores and inhalation therapy regimen compliance scores, and physician access to the social media platform. For a given patient, provision of incentive awards, aspects of social media interaction, and/or game play depend upon their composite inhalation technique scores and/or inhalation therapy regimen compliance scores.

A nebulizer device includes an air intake port positioned downstream of a nebulizer element, and a mouthpiece positioned upstream of the nebulizer element. A flow sensor is coupled to a controller. The controller is configured to integrate an inhaled air flow signal received from the flow sensor for determining an inhaled air volume. The controller is also configured to turn on the nebulizer element when the inhaled air volume reaches a first predetermined threshold, and turn off the nebulizer element when the inhaled air volume reaches a second predetermined threshold. A method for targeted delivery of aerosolized particles to the lungs is also disclosed.

A breath actuated nebulizer for administration of an inhaled medication to a patient is provided with a generally cylindrical body in a horizontal orientation to the patient. Within the body is a Venturi configured to nebulizer a liquid medication in a reservoir. Within the body is a shaft integrated with a baffle and diaphragm that slides horizontally in response to the breathing of a patient. During inhalation by the patient, the diaphragm flexes shifting the baffle over the Venturi, allowing nebulization to occur. When the patient exhales, the diaphragm flexes to a default position in which the baffle is distal to the Venturi, thereby stopping the nebulization. The diaphragm is biased to rest in this default position until the patient inhales again.

A medication inhalation apparatus includes an outer housing, movable between collapsed and expanded states, encompassing a first volume. An inner housing within the outer housing encompasses an inner volume. An inhaler opening to the first volume is within a wall of the outer housing at a first location. A mouth opening to the inner volume is within a wall of the outer housing and the inner housing at a second location. A one-way inhalation valve connecting the first volume and the inner volume is within a wall of the inner housing. A one-way exhalation valve connecting the inner volume and the exterior of the outer housing is within a wall of the outer housing and inner housing at a third location. In the expanded state, gas flows from the inhaler to the first volume, the first volume to the inner volume, and the inner volume to a user's mouth.

An aerosol generator for generating an aerosol from a fluid, comprising: a vibratable membrane having a first side for being in contact with the fluid and an opposite second side, the membrane having a plurality of through holes penetrating the membrane in an extension direction from the first side to the second side, whereby the fluid passes the through holes from the first side to the second side when the membrane is vibrated for generating the aerosol at the second side, each through hole having along its extension direction a smallest diameter, a larger diameter that is larger than the smallest diameter and defined by that diameter that is closest to triple, preferably twice said smallest diameter, each through hole having a nozzle portion defined by that continuous portion of the through hole in the extension direction comprising the smallest diameter of the through hole and bordered by the larger diameter of the through hole, wherein the ratio of the total length of each through hole in the extension direction to the length of a respective one of said nozzle portions in the extension direction is at least 4, preferably at least 4.5 and most preferred equal to or larger than 5.

A filtered face mask apparatus for CPAP applications can include a body, an inlet port, a mouth portion having a mouth exhaust port, a nose portion having a nose exhaust port, a plurality of adjustable straps, a seal, a mouth exhaust filter disposed over the mouth exhaust port, a nose exhaust filter disposed over the nose exhaust port, and an intake filter disposed over the inlet port. The inlet port may be configured for attachment to a gas supply tube that is attached to a CPAP device on the other end. The mouth exhaust filter, nose exhaust filter, and intake filter may each comprise a N95 or N99 material configured to block the passage of pathogens. A disposable filter patch and a method of operating a positive airway pressure device are also disclosed herein.

A nasal delivery device for and method of delivering substance to a nasal airway of a subject, the delivery device comprising: a nosepiece (117) for fitting to a nasal cavity of a subject, a mouthpiece (119) into which the subject in use exhales; a delivery unit, which comprises an actuation part which is manually displaceable to actuate the delivery unit to deliver substance from the nosepiece; and a valve assembly (127) which is fluidly connected to the nosepiece and the mouthpiece, wherein the valve assembly comprises a body element (128) and a valve element (131) which is movably disposed to the body element between closed and open configurations by manual displacement of the actuation part of the delivery unit to provide for an air flow through the nosepiece simultaneously with delivery of substance.