| abstract |
A medication delivery apparatus and method for a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) system such as used in emergency treatment of severe respiratory distress. The apparatus of the invention includes a 3-port Tee fitting, one port of which is connected to the inlet port of a CPAP face mask operable at an elevated pressure. A second port is connected to a CPAP gas conduit supplying an oxygen-containing gas at a pressure above atmospheric. The third port is connected to a flexible tube receiving aerosolized medication from an upper outlet of an openable/refillable lightweight nebulizer. The flexible tubing is only long enough to bend vertically downward to support a lightweight nebulizer in a vertical attitude, whereby full nebulization takes place, no medication is spilled, and the tubing length is minimized for maximal transfer of medication to a patient. In addition, cutting of the CPAP gas supply tube and placement of a T fitting between the cut ends, with its concomitant wastage of condensed medication, is avoided. The patient head does not need to be in an upright position. The patient's airway is continuously maintained at an elevated pressure to maintain an open airway and oxygenate the patient, permitting repeated doses of nebulized medications at independently controlled nebulization rates, minimizing downtime of both the pressurized oxygen and aerosolized medication. |