Portable gas operating inhaler

Abstract

The invention relates to an inhaler comprising a compressed gas, such as Heliox gas in a first chamber which is in communication with an equalization chamber having pressure lower than the pressure of the gas in the first compressed chamber and having a drug storage chamber which is detachably coupled to the equalization chamber operable such that a portion of the compressed gas from the equalization chamber fluidizes and aerosolizes the drug to produce a drug cloud and which can then be injected into a spacer where it can be inhaled by a user.

1 - 50 . (canceled) 
   
   
       51 . A method of introducing a drug from a metered dose inhaler into a spacer, the metered dose inhaler comprising an outlet in flow communication with the spacer, a drug storage section, a gas equalization chamber coupled to the drug storage section and the outlet, a propellant gas disposed in the gas equalization chamber at a predetermined pressure and a drug source disposed in the drug storage section, the method comprising the steps of:
 injecting a first volume of the propellant gas from the gas equalization chamber directly into the spacer via the outlet;   injecting a second volume of propellant gas from the gas equalization chamber into the drug storage section to aerosolize the drug, thereby producing a drug cloud; and   directing the drug cloud into the spacer via the outlet.   
   
   
       52 . The method of  claim 51  wherein the propellant gas contains helium. 
   
   
       53 . The method of  claim 51  wherein the first volume of the propellant gas is about 9 times the second volume of propellant gas. 
   
   
       54 . The method of  claim 51  wherein the step of directing the drug cloud into the spacer further comprises inducing a laminar flow of the drug cloud in the spacer. 
   
   
       55 . The method of  claim 51  wherein the pressure of the propellant gas in the gas equalization chamber is between about 20 psig and 100 psig. 
   
   
       56 . The method of  claim 51  wherein the steps of injecting a first volume of the propellant gas and injecting a second volume of propellant gas are performed successively. 
   
   
       57 . A method of introducing a drug from an inhaler into a spacer, the inhaler comprising a high pressure gas container, a gas equalization chamber fluidically coupled to the high pressure gas container, a drug storage section containing a drug source and selectively coupled to the gas equalization chamber and an outlet coupled to the gas equalization chamber and the drug storage section, the method comprising the steps of:
 supplying a propellant gas from high pressure gas container to the gas equalization chamber;   delivering a first volume of the propellant gas from the gas equalization chamber directly into the spacer via the outlet;   delivering a second volume of propellant gas from the gas equalization chamber into the drug storage section to aerosolize the drug, thereby producing a drug cloud; and   directing the drug cloud into the spacer via the outlet.   
   
   
       58 . The method of  claim 57  wherein the propellant gas contains helium. 
   
   
       59 . The method of  claim 57  wherein the first volume of the propellant gas is greater than about 5 times the second volume of propellant gas. 
   
   
       60 . The method of  claim 57  wherein the pressure of the gas in the high pressure gas container is between about 100 psig to 1600 psig and the pressure of the propellant gas in the gas equalization chamber is between about 20 psig and 100 psig. 
   
   
       61 . The method of  claim 60  wherein the gas from the high pressure gas container refills the equalization chamber with propellant gas after delivery of the first volume and second volume of the propellant gas. 
   
   
       62 . The method of  claim 57  wherein the steps of delivering a first volume of the propellant gas and delivering a second volume of propellant gas are performed successively.