Equine mask

Abstract

A mask is provided for administering medication, particularly asthmatic medication, to equine animals, particularly horses. The mask has a body that fits over the nostrils of the horse. An aerosolization chamber is secured to the body and opens into the interior thereof, and is supplied with misted medications such as from a metered dose inhaler, for inhalation by the animal. The mask and body is also provided with one or more exhalation ports, and a strap or band or the like for securing the body to the animals face overlying the nostrils.

The invention is claimed as follows:  
     
         1 . An improved therapy delivery system for an animal having a snout, for use with 
 (a) a source for providing an aerosol of medication;    (b) an aerosolization holding device having: 
 (i) a closed chamber;  
 (ii) an inlet for receiving the aerosol of medication from said source into said chamber;  
 (iii) an exit passage through which said aerosol can exit said chamber; and  
 (iv) an exit valve located in said exit passage to permit flow in a direction from said chamber and prevent flow into said chamber through said exit passage;  
   wherein the improvement comprises: 
 a mask comprised of: 
 (a) a mask body sized and adapted to conform to a forward portion of a head of an animal and to cover at least an animal's nostrils;  
 (b) a fitting defined around an opening through said mask, an inlet communicating with the exit passage of the aerosolization chamber;  
 (c) an exhalation valve in an opening through said mask, said exhalation valve adapted to permit air flow through said opening upon exhalation into said mask so as to permit an animal wearing said mask to exhale air through said opening, and to prevent air flow through said opening upon inhalation.  
 
   
     
     
         2 . A mask for an animal having a snout comprising: 
 a mask body sized and adapted to conform to a forward portion of a head of an animal to cover at least the animal's nostrils;    a chamber adjacent said mask body, said chamber having a support wall with an opening through which a source of aerosol is provided, a wall having a one-way valve located in an opening therein, said chamber communicating with said mask body via an opening in a plate thereof;    first and second exhalation valves located in openings through said mask body, said openings adjacent the animal's nostrils, said first and second exhalation valves adapted to prevent air flow in a direction from outside said mask body into said mask body through said openings, but permit air flow from inside said mask body out of said mask body through said openings; and    a gasket located along a rear edge of said mask body.    
     
     
         3 . The mask of  claim 2  wherein said opening comprises the only inlet through which ambient air can enter into said mask body.  
     
     
         4 . The mask of  claim 2  wherein said openings comprise first and second openings, wherein said first of said openings is located on one side of said opening and adjacent one of the animal's nostrils and said second of said openings is located opposite from said first opening on another side of said opening adjacent the other of the animal's nostrils.  
     
     
         5 . The mask of  claim 2  further including: 
 wherein said gasket comprises a close fitting seal whereby leakage of air into said mask body except through said opening is reduced.  
 
     
     
         6 . The mask of  claim 2  wherein said mask body is transparent.  
     
     
         7 . A mask for an animal having a snout comprising: 
 a mask body sized and adapted to conform to a forward portion of a head of an animal covering at least the animal's nostrils;    a mask inlet communicating with a source of aerosol medication and also comprising a means for providing breathing air to the animal, wherein said mask inlet comprises the only inlet into said mask body;    a one-way inhalation valve located with respect to said mask inlet to prevent flow of air from said mask body; and    first and second exhalation valves located in openings through said mask body, said openings adjacent the animal's nostrils, said first and second exhalation valves adapted to prevent air flow in a direction from outside said mask body into said mask body through said openings, but permit air flow from inside said mask body out of said mask body through said openings.    
     
     
         8 . The invention of  claim 7  wherein said openings comprise first and second openings, wherein first of said openings is located on one side of said mask inlet and adjacent one of the animal's nostrils and said second of said openings is located opposite from said first opening on another side of said mask inlet and adjacent the other of the animal's nostrils.  
     
     
         9 . The invention of  claim 7  further including: 
 a close fitting gasket located along a rear edge of said mask body and conforming in shape to an animal's head, whereby leakage of air into said mask body except through said mask inlet is reduced.  
 
     
     
         10 . The invention of  claim 7  wherein said mask body is transparent.  
     
     
         11 . A mask for an animal having a snout comprising: 
 a mask body sized and adapted to conform to a forward portion of a head of an animal to cover at least the animal's nostrils;    a mask inlet communicating with a source of aerosol medication, wherein said mask inlet comprises the only inlet into said mask body;    a one-way inhalation valve located in said mask inlet to prevent flow of air from said mask body into said source of aerosol medication;    first and second openings located through said mask body, wherein said first of said openings is located on one side of said mask inlet adjacent one of the animal's nostrils and said second of said openings is located opposite from said first opening on another side of said mask inlet adjacent the other of the animal's nostrils; and    a first exhalation valve located in said first opening through said mask body and a second exhalation valve located in said second opening through said mask body, said first and second exhalation valves adapted to prevent air flow in a direction from outside said mask body into said mask body through said openings, but permit air flow from inside said mask body out of said mask body through said openings.    
     
     
         12 . The invention of  claim 11  further including: 
 a close fitting gasket located along a rear edge of said mask body and conforming in shape to an animal's head, whereby leakage of air into said mask body except through said mask inlet is reduced.  
 
     
     
         13 . The invention of  claim 11  wherein said mask body is transparent.  
     
     
         14 . A mask for an animal having a snout comprising: 
 a mask body sized and adapted to conform to a forward portion of a head of an animal and to cover at least the animal's nostrils;    a first opening providing an air inlet into said mask body;    a one-way inhalation valve located with respect to said first opening to prevent flow of air from inside said mask body through said oneway inhalation valve;    a means for providing aerosol medication from a source thereof to said mask body, said providing means comprising a second inlet through which an aerosol can be provided to said first opening; and    first and second exhalation valves located in third and fourth openings through said mask body, said third and fourth openings adjacent the animal's nostrils, said first and second exhalation valves adapted to prevent air flow in a direction from outside said mask body into said mask body through said openings, but to permit air flow from inside said mask body out of said mask body through said openings.    
     
     
         15 . The invention of  claim 14  wherein said third opening is located on one side of said mask inlet adjacent one of the animal's nostrils and said fourth opening is located opposite from said third opening on another side of said mask inlet adjacent the other of the animal's nostrils.  
     
     
         16 . The equine mask of  claim 14  wherein said mask inlet comprises the only inlet into said mask body.  
     
     
         17 . The invention of  claim 14  further including: 
 a close fitting gasket located along a rear edge of said mask body and conforming in shape to an animal's head, whereby leakage of air into said mask body except through said mask inlet is reduced.  
 
     
     
         18 . The invention of  claim 14  wherein said mask body is transparent.