Liquid reservoir for nebulizer
First Claim
1. Liquid reservoir means for supplying liquid to a nebulizer for atomization, said liquid reservoir means comprising:
- a liquid reservoir formed of first and second membranes positioned in a generally opposing relationship to form a closed chamber between the membranes for containing liquid, said first and second membranes being formed of a resilient material, said first and second membranes having opposing surfaces which are contiguous when the chamber is empty and spaced when said chamber is filled with liquid and thereby expanded, the expansion of the chamber distending said resilient material membranes to cause said resilient material membranes to apply pressure to liquid in the said chamber;
flow control means in communication with the chamber for controlling the discharge of liquid from the reservoir to the nebulizer under the pressure applied to the liquid by the distended resilient material membranes; and
a member in the nebulizer having a surface to which one of said first and second membranes is applied, said surface of said member being formed to deform at least one of said first and second membranes to further increase the pressure on the liquid in said chamber.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A liquid reservoir for a nebulizer is comprised of a pair of membranes formed of resilient material and sealed about their edges to form a closed chamber between them for containing a liquid to be nebulized. When the chamber is filled with liquid and thereby expanded, the resilient membranes are distended to apply pressure to the liquid in the chamber. A discharge valve controls the discharge of liquid from the reservoir to the nebulizer under the pressure applied by the membranes. The reservoir is mounted on the nebulizer so that one of the membranes abuts a surface of the nebulizer that concavely deforms the membrane to increase the pressure applied to the liquid in the chamber to reduce or eliminate any residual volume of liquid in the chamber at the end of the discharging operation.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. Liquid reservoir means for supplying liquid to a nebulizer for atomization, said liquid reservoir means comprising:
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a liquid reservoir formed of first and second membranes positioned in a generally opposing relationship to form a closed chamber between the membranes for containing liquid, said first and second membranes being formed of a resilient material, said first and second membranes having opposing surfaces which are contiguous when the chamber is empty and spaced when said chamber is filled with liquid and thereby expanded, the expansion of the chamber distending said resilient material membranes to cause said resilient material membranes to apply pressure to liquid in the said chamber;
flow control means in communication with the chamber for controlling the discharge of liquid from the reservoir to the nebulizer under the pressure applied to the liquid by the distended resilient material membranes; and
a member in the nebulizer having a surface to which one of said first and second membranes is applied, said surface of said member being formed to deform at least one of said first and second membranes to further increase the pressure on the liquid in said chamber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification