Nasal inhalation system

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In accordance with the invention, an improved nasal inhalation system is provided for quickly and easily mounting a conventional nasal inhaler tube in a position for flow-through passage of air from a power-driven air source and for convenient inhalation of the medicinal or other vapors produced thereby.
In one preferred form, the improved inhalation system comprises a generally cup-shaped mounting base for removable mounting onto the discharge end of the power-driven air source, which preferably includes means for heating the air, to receive the air flow discharged therefrom.
The mounting base includes a downstream end wall carrying an open nozzle having a size and shape for supporting a conventional medicament-containing inhaler tube.
The nozzle has a shape converging toward its downstream end to define an air flow clearance chamber between the upstream end of the nozzle and the base end of the inhaler tube, thereby permitting air flow into the nozzle annularly about the inhaler tube base end for entry into the inhaler tube via circumferentially open inlet ports and flow-through passage for discharge through an inhaler tube exit port at the downstream end tip disposed outside the nozzle.
An adapter sleeve is provided and may be carried removably or fixed about the downstream end tip of the inhaler tube.
The adapter sleeve has a length protruding beyond the exit port of the inhaler tube to prevent direct human contact with the inhaler tube.
In addition, the adapter sleeve is provided with vent means for exhausting a portion of the air flow in a direction away from a person's nostril to quantitatively limit the air flow available for passage into the nostril.
In a modified form of the invention, a plurality of inhaler tubes are carried by a cup-shaped mounting base sized for removable connection onto the discharge end of an air flow source, wherein the mounting base comprises part of a turret assembly.
These inhaler tubes protrude into a rotatable turret cap having an open discharge tube for alignment with a selected one of the inhaler tubes and seal means for closing off the exit ports of the remaining inhaler tubes