Nebulizer apparatus and method
First Claim
1. A nebulizer comprising:
- a housing comprising a cylindrically-shaped side wall portion, wherein said housing defines a chamber for holding an aerosol;
a cover removably mounted on said housing a chamber air outlet in communication with said chamber;
an air inlet in communication with said chamber for allowing a supply of air to enter said chamber;
a liquid outlet located in said chamber;
a gas outlet located in said chamber adjacent to said liquid outlet; and
a movable diverter located in said chamber and spaced from said gas outlet and said liquid outlet by a variable height nebulizing gap, wherein said movable diverter is movable between a nebulizing position and a non-nebulizing position so as to divert pressurized gas from said gas outlet across said liquid outlet to produce said aerosol in cycles in response to a patient'"'"'s breathing.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for providing a nebula or aerosol to a patient. In one aspect, a nebulizer is pressure sensitive so that nebulization is coordinated with a breathing cycle of the patient. The nebulizer includes a movable gas diverter that diverts pressurized gas across a liquid outlet. The diverter is moved in response to the patient'"'"'s breathing cycle. In one aspect, a biasing member moves the diverter. According to another aspect of the nebulizer, an annular liquid orifice disperses an aerosol in a radial direction in response to a pressurized gas flow from an orifice located concentrically thereto. Multiple liquid orifices may be provided. In a further aspect of the nebulizer, a reservoir includes an upper, wide portion and a lower narrow portion to apply relatively uniform pressure at a liquid orifice.
101 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A nebulizer comprising:
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a housing comprising a cylindrically-shaped side wall portion, wherein said housing defines a chamber for holding an aerosol;
a cover removably mounted on said housing a chamber air outlet in communication with said chamber;
an air inlet in communication with said chamber for allowing a supply of air to enter said chamber;
a liquid outlet located in said chamber;
a gas outlet located in said chamber adjacent to said liquid outlet; and
a movable diverter located in said chamber and spaced from said gas outlet and said liquid outlet by a variable height nebulizing gap, wherein said movable diverter is movable between a nebulizing position and a non-nebulizing position so as to divert pressurized gas from said gas outlet across said liquid outlet to produce said aerosol in cycles in response to a patient'"'"'s breathing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A nebulizer comprising:
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a housing defining a chamber for holding an aerosol;
a chamber air outlet communicating with said chamber;
a liquid outlet located in said chamber;
a gas outlet located in said chamber adjacent to said liquid outlet;
a movable gas diverter comprising a shaft having a circular end opposite said gas outlet, said movable gas diverter biased by a biasing member to an initial position, wherein said movable gas diverter is movable from said initial position to a predetermined distance from said gas outlet in response to a force from an inhalation of a patient. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A nebulizer comprising:
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a housing comprising a lower portion configured for holding a fluid for nebulizing, a cylindrically-shaped side wall portion and an upper portion, wherein said housing defines a chamber for holding an aerosol;
a cover removably mounted on said upper portion of said housing a chamber air outlet communicating with said chamber;
an air inlet in communication with said chamber for allowing a supply of air to enter said chamber;
a nozzle assembly positioned in said lower portion of said housing, said nozzle assembly defining a gas outlet and a liquid outlet;
a movable diverter located in said chamber, said movable diverter movable between a nebulizing position and a non-nebulizing position in response to a force of an inhalation through said chamber air outlet. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification