Delivery of nebulized medicines

Abstract

Devices are disclosed that include a positionable elongated member configured to support and delivery tube and maintain a distal end of the tube in a desired position, and to allow the position of the distal end of the tube to be adjusted by a user, and an attachment device configured to allow a proximal end of the elongated member to be secured in a fixed position. These devices may be used, for example, in the delivery of vaporized medicine to a patient, e.g., a child or infant on a bed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a positionable elongated member configured to support a delivery tube and maintain a distal end of the tube in a desired position, and to allow the position of the distal end of the tube to be adjusted by a user; and   an attachment device configured to allow a proximal end of the elongated member to be supported in a fixed position.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the positionable elongated member comprises an articulated arm assembly. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the positionable elongated member contains a light or lamp configured to allow the user to illuminate a treatment area. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the light or lamp is configured to be used as a targeting system to locate the distal end of the tube with respect to the patient's nose and mouth. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the articulated arm assembly comprises two or more pivotably connected arm segments. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the positionable elongated member comprises a positionable tubular member. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the tubular member comprises gooseneck tubing, or continuously adjustable/flexible hollow tubing 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a nozzle disposed at a distal end of the positionable elongated member. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the nozzle is configured to deliver vaporized medicament from the delivery tube. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the nozzle is configured to allow a user to adjust a distribution pattern of the vaporized medicament. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the nozzle may contain a light or lamp configured to allow the user to illuminate a treatment area and/or to target specific areas of a patients face with respect to the nozzle outflow. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the light or lamp is configured to allow light intensity to increase/decrease proportionately with mist delivery/density with respect to the patient's nose and mouth. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the nozzle is attached to the distal end of the positionable elongated member by a ball joint that defines a bore. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a vaporizer mounted on the positionable elongated member in fluid communication with the delivery tube during use of the apparatus. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the vaporizer is mounted so that a long axis of the vaporizer will remain substantially vertical during use of the apparatus. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising the delivery tube. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the delivery tube is disposable. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the positionable member includes at least three arm segments. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the attachment device comprises a base. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein the base is configured to slip under a mattress. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein the base is configured to rest flat on a floor or table. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the attachment device comprises a wall mount or clamp. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the proximal end is coupled to the attachment device so as to allow rotational or pivoting motion of the proximal end. 
     
     
         24 . A method comprising:
 delivering a vaporized medicine to a patient, without contact between the delivery device and the patient or the use of a mask, by positioning the distal end of a delivery tube adjacent the face of the patient using a positionable elongated member configured to support the delivery tube in a desired position relative to the patient.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24  further comprising, prior to delivering, adding a supply of the medicine, in liquid form, to a vaporizer configured to deliver the vaporized medicine to the elongated member. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24  wherein the patient is lying down. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24  wherein the patient is an infant or child. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the medicine comprises an asthma medicine. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 24  wherein an adjustable nozzle is mounted at the distal end of the delivery tube and the method further comprises adjusting a distribution pattern of the vaporized medicine using the adjustable nozzle. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 24  further comprising directing a light that is associated with the positionable elongated member to illuminate a target area on the face of the patient during treatment. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30  further comprising switching the light off during or after treatment. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 24  further comprising, during delivery of the vaporized medicine to the patient, delivering a vaporized medicine to a second patient, without the use of a mask, by positioning the distal end of a second delivery tube adjacent the face of the second patient using a positionable elongated member configured to support the delivery tube in a desired position relative to the second patient.