Ultrasonic fog maker and methods of drug delivery and air freshening

• US 20030094508A1
• Filed: 11/15/2002
• Published: 05/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Palantic Trading Co.
• Original Assignee: Palantic Trading Co.
• Inventors: Hu, Deming, Wu, Zuoxin, Deng, Weitao, Peng, Kuang
• Granted Patent: US 6,799,730 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 239/102.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0085 using ultrasonics spraying or atomising liquids using ultrasonic vibrations in general B05B17/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/16 Devices to humidify the respiration air A61M16/1045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 17/0615 spray being produced at the free surface of the liquid or other fluent material in a container and subjected to the vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/70 Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating

Abstract

An ultrasonic fog generator creates a fog of a liquid such as water. The visual appearance of the fog may be altered such as by being illuminated by one or more lights having one or more colors. Further, the fog may be used to deliver pharmaceuticals to one or both of the lungs of a patient.

Claims

1. A housing for an ultrasonic fog generator, the housing comprising:

a transducer adapted to vibrate ultrasonically, wherein when the housing is positioned in a source comprising a liquid and when the transducer vibrates ultrasonically, the housing is adapted to create a fog from the liquid in the source, the fog emanating from the liquid source; and

a visually appealing display adapted to alter an appearance of the fog.

2. The housing according to claim 1, wherein the housing is adapted to be hand-held.

3. The housing according to claim 1, wherein the liquid is water.

4. The housing according to claim 1, wherein the fog is in the form of a mist.

5. The housing according to claim 1, further comprising:

a sensor.

6. The housing according to claim 5, wherein the sensor is adapted to monitor a property of the liquid contacting the housing, and wherein a current control system is adapted to stop vibration of the transducer in response to the monitored property.

7. The housing according to claim 1, wherein the visually appealing display comprises at least one light.

8. The housing according to claims 1, wherein the visually appealing display comprises at least two lights, and wherein the lights are adapted to radiate light of at least two different colors.

9. The housing according to claim 8, wherein the colors which the lights are adapted to radiate are variable.

10. The housing according to claim 8, wherein the visual display further comprises a light diffuser through which the at least two colors of light pass.

11. The housing according to claim 8, wherein the visually appealing display further comprises a stand adapted to support the housing.

12. The housing according to claim 11, wherein the stand maintains the housing and the liquid source above a surface, and wherein the fog is adapted to fall toward the surface after emanating from the liquid source.

13. The housing according to claim 1, wherein the transducer is adapted to vibrate at between about 1.6 MHz and about 1.8 MHz.

14. The housing according to claim 1, wherein the transducer is adapted to vibrate at about 1.7 MHz.

15. The housing according to claim 1, wherein the liquid comprises a fragrance that is dispersed in the fog.

16. A method for delivering at least one pharmaceutical to at least one lung of a patient, the method comprising the steps of:

providing at least one pharmaceutical, wherein each of the at least one pharmaceutical is in a substantially liquid form;

positioning a transducer in the at least one pharmaceutical;

vibrating ultrasonically the at least one pharmaceutical with the transducer, to create a fog of the at least one pharmaceutical;

inhaling the fog formed of the at least one pharmaceutical, wherein the inhaling is done by the patient; and

delivering the fog to the at least one lung of the patient.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the step of inhaling the fog comprises:

passing the fog through an outlet of a dispenser which contains the transducer and the at least one pharmaceutical; and

delivering the fog to the mouth of the patient through a conduit connected to the outlet.

18. The method according to claim 16, further comprising the step of:

monitoring a property of the at least one pharmaceutical with a sensor.

19. The method according to claim 18, further comprising the step of:

stopping the vibrating of the transducer if the property of the at least one pharmaceutical, as measured by the sensor, is outside a predetermined range for the property.

20. The method according to claim 16, wherein the step of vibrating ultrasonically the at least one pharmaceutical with the transducer comprises:

vibrating the transducer at between about 1.6 MHz and about 1.8 MHz.

21. The method according to claim 16, wherein the step of vibrating ultrasonically the at least one pharmaceutical with the transducer comprises:

vibrating the transducer at about 1.7 MHz.

27. The method according to claim 16, wherein the step of vibrating ultrasonically the at least one fragrance with the transducer comprises:

vibrating the transducer at about 1.7 MHz.

22. A method for adding at least one fragrance to ambient air in a room, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a source comprising the at least one fragrance, wherein each of the at least one fragrance is in a substantially liquid form;

positioning a transducer in the source comprising the at least one fragrance;

vibrating ultrasonically the at least one fragrance with the transducer, to create a fog of the at least one fragrance; and

emanating the fog formed of the at least one fragrance into the ambient air.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein the fragrance is dissolved in a liquid solvent.

24. The method according to claim 23, further comprising the step of:

monitoring a property of the at least one fragrance and the liquid solvent in the source with a sensor.

25. The method according to claim 24, further comprising the step of:

stopping the vibrating of the transducer if property of the at least one fragrance and the liquid solvent in the source, as measured by the sensor, is outside a predetermined range for the property.

26. The method according to claim 22, wherein the step of vibrating ultrasonically the at least one fragrance with the transducer comprises:

vibrating the transducer at between about 1.6 MHz and about 1.8 MHz.

28. A device for ultrasonically generating a fog of at least one liquid pharmaceutical, the device comprising:

a source containing the at least one liquid pharmaceutical; and

a transducer adapted to vibrate ultrasonically, the transducer being positioned in the at least one liquid pharmaceutical,

wherein when the transducer vibrates ultrasonically, at least a portion of the at least one liquid pharmaceutical is changed into a fog, and wherein the fog emanates from the device.

29. The device according to claim 28, wherein the device is adapted to be hand-held.

30. The device according to claim 28, wherein the fog emanates from the device through an outlet.

31. The device according to claim 30, wherein a conduit is connected to the outlet, wherein the conduit is adapted to transport the fog to a mouth of a patient.

32. The device according to claim 31, wherein an air inlet is provided in the device to prevent a vacuum from developing in the device if the pressure at the outlet is greatly reduced.

33. The device according to claim 31, wherein the conduit is formed a material selected from the group consisting of rubber and plastic.

34. The device according to claim 28, wherein the at least one pharmaceutical is adapted to treat a condition of a lung.

35. The device according to claim 32, wherein the condition is asthma.

37. The device according to claim 28, wherein the transducer is adapted to vibrate at about 1.7 MHz.

36. The device according to claim 38, wherein the transducer is adapted to vibrate at between about 1.6 MHz and about 1.8 MHz.