Intra-oral nebulizer

• US 20070163572A1
• Filed: 05/10/2006
• Published: 07/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pneumoflex Systems, LLC
• Original Assignee: Pneumoflex Systems, LLC
• Inventors: Miller, Stuart, Briganti, Mary, Addington, W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,712,466 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/200.140
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/08 Detecting, measuring or recording devices for evaluating the respiratory organs A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/02 operated by air or other gas pressure applied to the liquid or other product to be sprayed or atomised sprayers for horticulture A01G, A01H; killing insects A01M; air humidifying by nozzles F24F6/14, F24F6/18; cooling by spraying F28B, F28C
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/06 of the injector type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/009 using medicine packages with incorporated spraying means, e.g. aerosol cans pocket atomiser of the injector type A61M11/08
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2206/11 Laminar flow

Abstract

An improved nebulizer places a venturi in close proximity to or inside a patient'"'"'s oral cavity. One or more medicine feed lines feeds the medicine to a location proximate to a venturi. A plurality of medicines may be administered simultaneously to the patient, with preferably each medicine vial being shape-keyed to a medicine receiver of corresponding shape. The medicine vial or vials may contain a standard unit dose of medication. A portable gas canister can be utilized to supply air pressure to the venturi when a press open release closed type valve is actuated.

Claims

1. A nebulizer having a venturi positioned to be located within the oral cavity of a patient when used.

2. The nebulizer of claim 1 having a main body including at least one medicine receiver for receiving a medicine container

3. The nebulizer of claim 2 in which the at least one medicine receiver contains at least one puncture tube for piercing the medicine container.

4. The nebulizer of claim 3 in which the at least one puncture tube delivers medicine from the medicine container to a medicine feed line.

5. The nebulizer of claim 4 in which the medicine feed line delivers medicine to a location proximate to the venturi.

6. The nebulizer of claim 2 in which the medicine receiver is shaped to match a shape uniquely associated with medicine containers contain a particular medicine.

7. The nebulizer of claim 2 in which the nebulizer contains a plurality of medicine receivers, each having a different shape, and each medicine receiver is shaped to match the shape uniquely associated with a different medicine.

8. The nebulizer of claim 7 in which each medicine receiver communicates with a respective medicine feed line that delivers medicine to a location proximate to the venturi.

9. The nebulizer of claim 2 in which the medicine receiver receives a cup that can be manually filled with the medicine to be administered.

10. The nebulizer of claim 2 in which the medicine receiver receives a container containing a unit dose of medicine.

11. The nebulizer of claim 10 in which the unit dose is a standardized dose.

12. The nebulizer of claim 1 in which the venturi is provided with a source of gas from an air line.

13. The nebulizer of claim 1 in which the venture is provided with a source of gas from an attached gas canister.

14. The nebulizer of claim 13 in which application of the gas to the venture is activated by actuation of a valve.

15. The nebulizer of claim 1 in which the venturi and a medicine feed line communicate with a mixing chamber.

16. The nebulizer of claim 15 in which the mixing chamber contains a baffle.

17. The nebulizer of claim 15 in which the medicine exits from the mixing chamber by way of a plurality of small holes, sized to limit the maximum droplet size of the medication.

18. A nebulizer comprising:

a. a main body having at least an air line, a medicine line and a medicine receiver communicating with said medicine line;

b. a fluid air channel section connected to said main body having an air line terminating in a venturi and a medicine line connecting with the medicine line of the main body;

c. a fluid combiner and nozzle section connected to said fluid air channel section permitting medicine from said medicine line to combine with air from the venturi in a mixing chamber, and

d. a diffuser connected to said fluid combiner and nozzle section.

19. The nebulizer of claim 18 in which the air line is supplied by a portable gas container.

20. A method of administering a medicine to a patient, comprising the step of nebulizing the medicine using a venturi placed within the patient'"'"'s oral cavity.