Development on Inhalation Activated Mechanism of the Intelligent Adapter for Metered Dose Inhaler

智慧型定量吸入器的吸氣驅動裝置的設計研究

張明容(Mingrong Zhang) ； 王松浩(Songhao Wang) ； 楊俞青(Yu-Ching Yang)

《中國機械工程學刊》 38卷6期 (2017/12) Pp. 621-628

摘要

An inhalation activated mechanism was developed for an intelligent adapter to automatically activate commercial Metered Dose Inhalers (MDI), to overcome coordination problems between inhalation and aerosol-release for patients. For this mechatronic system, computer aided engineering analysis was used to better understand and search better design parameters. An experimental inhalation simulator was designed and in-vitro experiments were conducted to assess the switch-on flowrate (Qs) and repeatability under different inhalation patterns. Major consideration was on the layout geometry of the layout and the deformation of cantilever switch cantilever, to achieve better sensibility and stability of this medical device. After optimization, Qs as low as 8 L/min was achieved, much lower than commercial breath-activated metered dose inhalers, whose switch-on flowrate are 20 L/min or 30 L/min respectively. Not only the device of high sensitivity and stability can overcome the coordination problem between inhalation and aerosol-release for regular patients and it is more beneficial for pediatric, geriatric and seriously ill patients.

關鍵字

Inhalation Activated Mechanism ； Intelligent adapter ； Metered Dose Inhaler ； Switch-on flowrate

並列摘要

為瞭解決病人在使用定量吸入器時吸氣與藥物釋放的配合問題，設計了一種智慧型定量吸入器的吸氣驅動裝置。該裝置是通過開關平板的變形來接通整個電路。因此，設計時主要考慮開關平板在不同吸氣流量時的變形以及吸入器與裝置間的間隙，確保整個裝置的敏感性和穩定性。通過電腦輔助分析對相關參數進行了設計。為了評估吸氣驅動裝置在不同吸入流量時的開啟流量的大小，設計了一個呼吸模擬器進行體外實驗。實驗表明，本裝置實現了低開啟流量（Qs）（低至8 L/min），比現有的吸氣啟動型定量吸入器的開啟流量（20 L／min或30 L／min）低很多。因此，這種新的高靈敏度和穩定性的裝置將更適合於兒童、老年人和重病患者使用。