Inhalation Therapy Device Comprising a Valve

Abstract

The inhalation therapy device according to the invention comprises a nebulizer chamber which accommodates an aerosol generator that emits aerosol into the nebulizer chamber. A valve that has a valve seat, a resilient valve member and a valve member positioning means is arranged at an opening of the nebulizer chamber. The valve member positioning means can be moved out of a first position and into a second position so as to position the valve member on the valve seat in such a manner that in the first position, the valve member, in a flow-free state, is positioned on the valve seat in a pre-tensioned manner and in a second position, is spaced apart from the valve seat.

1 . An inhalation therapy devices comprising 
 a nebulizer chamber,    an aerosol generators arranged such as to emit a generated aerosol into said nebulizer chambers,    at least one opening in a wall of said nebulizer chamber, and    at least one valve arranged on said at least one opening in said wall of said nebulizer chamber,    wherein said valve comprises:    a valve seat,    a resilient valve member and    a valve member positioning means,    said valve member positioning means being movable, relative to said valve seat and said valve member, out of a first position and into a second position such that in the first position, said valve member, in a flow-free state, is positioned on said valve seat by said valve member positioning means and, in the second position, said valve member is spaced apart from said valve seat, wherein at least two of the parts valve seat, valve member and valve member positioning means are injection-moulded as a single part.    
   
   
       2 . The inhalation therapy device according to  claim 1 , wherein the spacing apart is achieved by the fixing of the valve member.  
   
   
       3 . The inhalation therapy device according to  claim 1 , wherein said valve member is attached in the vicinity of or to said valve member positioning means.  
   
   
       4 . The inhalation therapy device according to  claim 1 , wherein said valve member is attached in the vicinity of or to said valve seat.  
   
   
       5 . The inhalation therapy device according to  claim 1 , wherein said valve member is positioned in a pre-tensioned manner on said valve seat.  
   
   
       6 . The inhalation therapy device according to  claim 1 , wherein the pre-tension is produced by bending said valve member.  
   
   
       7 . The inhalation therapy device according to  claim 6 , wherein said valve seat has a curved, rounded or sloping design so as to bend said valve member positioned on said valve seat to produce the pre-tension.  
   
   
       8 . The inhalation therapy device according to  claim 1  wherein a portion of said wall, in which said opening is disposed, is movable relative to said nebulizer chambers.  
   
   
       9 . The inhalation therapy device according to  claim 8 , wherein the movable portion of said wall is designed as a lid of said nebulizer chamber.  
   
   
       10 . The inhalation therapy device according to  claim 9 , wherein said lid is attached in a fold-down manner to a stationary part of said nebulizer chamber.  
   
   
       11 . The inhalation therapy device according to  claim 8 , wherein said movable portions, in particular said lid, is attached in a fold-down manner by means of a film hinge.  
   
   
       12 . The inhalation therapy device according to  claim 11 , wherein said film hinge is bi-stable.  
   
   
       13 . The inhalation therapy device according to  claim 8 , wherein said valve seat is provided on said movable portion, in particular said lid, and said valve member positioning means is provided on said stationary part of said nebulizer chambers.  
   
   
       14 . The inhalation therapy device according to  claim 8 , wherein said valve member positioning means is provided on said movable portion, in particular said lid, and said valve seat is provided on said stationary part of said nebulizer chamber.  
   
   
       15 . The inhalation therapy device according to  claim 1 , wherein said movable portion, in particular on said lid, can be locked in a closed state by means of at least one snap connection.  
   
   
       16 . (canceled)  
   
   
       17 . The inhalation therapy device according to  claim 1 , wherein the parts valve seat, valve member and valve member positioning means are injection-moulded as a single part from different materials.  
   
   
       18 . The inhalation therapy device according to  claim 1 , wherein the parts valve seat, valve member and/or valve member positioning means are produced in a two-component injection-moulding process.  
   
   
       19 . The inhalation therapy device according to  claim 1 , wherein said valve member is essentially made of a softer material than said valve seat and/or said valve member positioning means.  
   
   
       20 . The inhalation therapy device according to  claim 1 , wherein said valve member is essentially made of silicone rubber or thermoplastic elastomer.  
   
   
       21 . The inhalation therapy device according to  claim 1 , wherein said valve member is essentially made of a harder material than said valve seat and/or said valve member positioning means.  
   
   
       22 . The inhalation therapy device according to  claim 1 , wherein said valve seat comprises a circumferential sealing lip.  
   
   
       23 . The inhalation therapy device according to one  claim 1 , wherein said valve is an inhalation valve or an exhalation valve.  
   
   
       24 . An inhalation therapy device comprising 
 a nebulizer chamber,    an aerosol generator arranged such as to emit a generated aerosol into said nebulizer chambers,    at least one opening in a wall of said nebulizer chambers, and    at least one valve arranged on said at least one opening in said wall of said nebulizer chamber,    wherein said valve comprises:    a valve seat and    a resilient valve member    said valve seat being moveable, relative to said valve member, out of a first position and into a second position such that in the first position, said valve member, in a flow-free state, is positioned on said valve seat and, in the second position, said valve member is spaced apart from said valve seat, wherein a portion of said wall is movable relative to said nebulizer chamber, and wherein at least two of the parts valve seat, valve member and movable portion or stationary part are injection-moulded as a single part.    
   
   
       25 . The inhalation therapy device according to  claim 24 , wherein said opening is disposed, in said movable portion of said wall.  
   
   
       26 . The inhalation therapy device according  claim 24 , wherein the movable portion of said wall is designed as a lid of said nebulizer chamber.  
   
   
       27 . The inhalation therapy device according to  claim 26 , wherein said lid is attached in a fold-down manner to a stationary part of said nebulizer chamber.  
   
   
       28 . The inhalation therapy device according to  claim 25 , wherein said movable portion, in particular said lid, is attached in a fold-down manner by means of a film hinge.  
   
   
       29 . The inhalation therapy device according to  claim 28 , wherein said film hinge is bi-stable.  
   
   
       30 . The inhalation therapy device according to  claim 24 , wherein said valve seat is provided on said movable portion, in particular said lid, and said valve member is provided on said stationary part of said nebulizer chamber.  
   
   
       31 . The inhalation therapy device according to  claim 24 , wherein said valve member is provided on said movable portion, in particular said lid, and said valve seat is provided on said stationary part of said nebulizer chamber.  
   
   
       32 . The inhalation therapy device according to  claim 24 , wherein said valve member is positioned in a pre-tensioned manner on said valve seat.  
   
   
       33 . The inhalation therapy device according to  claim 32 , wherein the pre-tension is produced by bending said valve member.  
   
   
       34 . The inhalation therapy device according to  claim 32 , wherein said valve seat has a curved, rounded or sloping design so as to bend said valve member positioned on said valve seat to produce the pre-tension.  
   
   
       35 . The inhalation therapy device according to  claim 24 , wherein said movable portion, in particular on said lid, can be locked in a closed state by means of at least one snap connection.  
   
   
       36 . (canceled)  
   
   
       37 . The inhalation therapy device according to  claim 24 , wherein the parts valve seat, valve member and movable portion or stationary part are injection-moulded as a single part from different materials.  
   
   
       38 . The inhalation therapy device according to  claim 24 , wherein the parts valve seat, valve member and/or movable portion or stationary part are produced in a two-component injection-moulding process.  
   
   
       39 . The inhalation therapy device according to  claim 24 , wherein said valve member is essentially made of a softer material than said valve seat.  
   
   
       40 . The inhalation therapy device according to  claim 24 , wherein said valve member is essentially made of silicone rubber or thermoplastic elastomer.  
   
   
       41 . The inhalation therapy device according to  claim 24 , wherein said valve member is essentially made of a harder material than said valve seat.  
   
   
       42 . The inhalation therapy device according to  claim 24 , wherein said valve seat includes a circumferential sealing lip.  
   
   
       43 . The inhalation therapy device according to  claim 24 , wherein said valve is an inhalation valve or an exhalation valve.