Nebulizer apparatus
First Claim
1. A method of providing nebulizer therapy, the method comprising:
- receiving a flow of pressurized gas through a pressurized gas outlet in a chamber of a nebulizer, the nebulizer having a liquid orifice located in the chamber adjacent the pressurized gas outlet and at least one liquid channel connecting a reservoir for holding a liquid to the liquid orifice;
diverting the flow of pressurized gas with a baffle having a diverter surface area of less than 5.0 mm2 positioned over the liquid orifice in the chamber to generate a diverted flow of pressurized gas;
drawing the liquid through the at least one liquid channel with the diverted flow of pressurized gas, wherein the at least one liquid channel has a liquid volume between 250 mm3 and 300 mm3; and
nebulizing the liquid from the reservoir in the nebulizer during inhalation in a breathing cycle.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A nebulizer includes a housing having a chamber for holding an aerosol, an air outlet communicating with the chamber for permitting the aerosol to be withdrawn from the chamber, and a reservoir for holding a liquid to be aerosolized. The nebulizer also includes a liquid orifice located in the chamber, one or more liquid channels defined between the reservoir and the liquid orifice, the one or more liquid channels having a liquid volume, and a pressurized gas outlet located in the chamber adjacent to the liquid orifice. A baffle is located in the chamber and positioned relative to the pressurized gas outlet and the liquid outlet so as to divert pressurized gas from the pressurized gas outlet and over the liquid orifice. The baffle has a diverter surface area. The liquid volume is at least 80 mm3. The diverter surface area is less than 5.0 mm2.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method of providing nebulizer therapy, the method comprising:
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receiving a flow of pressurized gas through a pressurized gas outlet in a chamber of a nebulizer, the nebulizer having a liquid orifice located in the chamber adjacent the pressurized gas outlet and at least one liquid channel connecting a reservoir for holding a liquid to the liquid orifice; diverting the flow of pressurized gas with a baffle having a diverter surface area of less than 5.0 mm2 positioned over the liquid orifice in the chamber to generate a diverted flow of pressurized gas; drawing the liquid through the at least one liquid channel with the diverted flow of pressurized gas, wherein the at least one liquid channel has a liquid volume between 250 mm3 and 300 mm3; and nebulizing the liquid from the reservoir in the nebulizer during inhalation in a breathing cycle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A nebulizer comprising:
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a housing having a chamber for holding an aerosol; an air outlet communicating with the chamber for permitting the aerosol to be withdrawn from the chamber; a reservoir for holding a liquid to be aerosolized; a liquid orifice located in the chamber; at least one liquid channel defined between the reservoir and the liquid orifice, the at least one liquid channel having a liquid volume; a pressurized gas outlet located in the chamber adjacent to the liquid orifice; a baffle located in the chamber and positioned relative to the pressurized gas outlet and the liquid orifice so as to divert a flow of pressurized gas received from the pressurized gas outlet over the liquid orifice, the baffle having a diverter surface area; wherein the at least one liquid channel has a liquid volume between 250 mm3 and 300 mm3; wherein the diverter surface area is less than 5.0 mm2; and wherein the nebulizer is configured to only nebulize the liquid from the reservoir during inhalation in a breathing cycle. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification