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 . A valve positioned on a chamber holding a nebulized medicament, said valve comprising:
 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, so that said valve seat is provided on one side of said resilient valve member and said valve member positioning means is provided on said opposite side of said resilient valve member, and, in the second position different from said first 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 valve according to  claim 1 , wherein the spacing apart is achieved by the fixing of the valve member. 
     
     
         3 . The valve according to  claim 1 , wherein said valve member is attached in the vicinity of or to said valve member positioning means. 
     
     
         4 . The valve according to  claim 1 , wherein said valve member is attached in the vicinity of or to said valve seat. 
     
     
         5 . The valve according to  claim 1 , wherein said valve member is positioned in a pre-tensioned manner on said valve seat. 
     
     
         6 . The valve according to  claim 1 , wherein the pre-tension is produced by bending said valve member. 
     
     
         7 . The valve 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 valve according to  claim 1 , wherein said chamber has at least one opening in a wall of said chamber and wherein a portion of said wall, in which said opening is disposed, is movable relative to said chamber. 
     
     
         9 . The valve according to  claim 8 , wherein the movable portion of said wall is designed as a lid of said chamber. 
     
     
         10 . The valve according to  claim 9 , wherein said lid is attached in a fold-down manner to a stationary part of said chamber. 
     
     
         11 . The valve according to  claim 8 , wherein said movable portion, in particular said lid, is attached in a fold-down manner by means of a film hinge. 
     
     
         12 . The valve according to  claim 11 , wherein said film hinge is bistable. 
     
     
         13 . The valve 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 chamber. 
     
     
         14 . The valve 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 chamber. 
     
     
         15 . The valve 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 . The valve 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. 
     
     
         17 . The valve 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. 
     
     
         18 . The valve 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. 
     
     
         19 . The valve according to  claim 1 , wherein said valve member is essentially made of silicone rubber or thermoplastic elastomer. 
     
     
         20 . The valve 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. 
     
     
         21 . The valve according to  claim 1 , wherein said valve seat comprises a circumferential sealing lip. 
     
     
         22 . The valve according to  claim 1 , wherein said valve is an inhalation valve or an exhalation valve. 
     
     
         23 . A valve positioned on a chamber holding an nebulized medicament, said valve comprising:
 a valve seat and   a resilient valve member   
       said valve seat being movable, 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 in a pre-tensioned manner by said valve seat and, in the second position different from said first position, said valve member is spaced apart from said valve seat, wherein a portion of said wall is movable relative to said chamber. 
     
     
         24 . The valve according to  claim 23 , wherein said chamber has at least one opening in a wall of said chamber, and wherein said opening is disposed in said movable portion of said wall. 
     
     
         25 . The valve according  claim 24 , wherein the movable portion of said wall is designed as a lid of said chamber. 
     
     
         26 . The valve according to  claim 25 , wherein said lid is attached in a fold-down manner to a stationary part of said chamber. 
     
     
         27 . The valve according to  claim 24  wherein said movable portion, in particular said lid, is attached in a fold-down manner by means of a film hinge. 
     
     
         28 . The valve according to  claim 27 , wherein said film hinge is bi-stable. 
     
     
         29 . The valve according to  claim 23 , 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 chamber. 
     
     
         30 . The valve according to  claim 23 , 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 chamber. 
     
     
         31 . The valve according to  claim 23 , wherein said valve member is positioned in a pre-tensioned manner on said valve seat. 
     
     
         32 . The valve according to  claim 31 , wherein the pre-tension is produced by bending said valve member. 
     
     
         33 . The valve according to  claim 31 , 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. 
     
     
         34 . The valve according to  claim 23 , wherein said movable portion, in particular on said lid, can be locked in a closed state by means of at least one snap connection. 
     
     
         35 . The valve according to  claim 23 , wherein the parts valve seat, valve member and movable portion or stationary part are injection-moulded as a single part from different materials. 
     
     
         36 . The valve according to  claim 23 , wherein the parts valve seat, valve member and/or movable portion or stationary part are produced in a two-component injection-moulding process. 
     
     
         37 . The valve according to  claim 23 , wherein said valve member is essentially made of a softer material than said valve seat. 
     
     
         38 . The valve according to  claim 23 , wherein said valve member is essentially made of silicone rubber or thermoplastic elastomer. 
     
     
         39 . The valve according to  claim 23 , wherein said valve member is essentially made of a harder material than said valve seat. 
     
     
         40 . The valve according to  claim 23 , wherein said valve seat includes a circumferential sealing lip. 
     
     
         41 . The valve according to  claim 23 , wherein said valve is an inhalation valve or an exhalation valve.