Nebulizer Apparatus And Method
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A nebulizer for efficiently and reliably delivering aerosolized fluid to an inhaling patient is disclosed. The nebulizer, in one embodiment, includes a fluid channel air inlet and fluid channel air inlet valve responsive to either a manual force external of the nebulizer, or a patient'"'"'s breathing, to begin the nebulization process. The nebulizer also includes a fluid return channel to a fluid source, such as a removable vial, containing fluid to be aerosolized.
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Citations
48 Claims
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1-20. -20. (canceled)
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21. 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an air outlet communicating with the chamber for permitting the aerosol to be withdrawn from the chamber;
an air inlet in communication with the chamber for allowing a supply of air to enter the chamber;
a pressurized gas inlet positioned adjacent a fluid orifice, wherein the pressurized gas inlet is in communication with the chamber and the fluid orifice is in communication with a fluid source removably attachable to the housing;
a diverter positioned in the chamber adjacent the pressurized gas inlet, and configured to divert pressurized over the fluid orifice, wherein a gap defined by the diverter and the fluid orifice defines a position of an aerosolization plane extending substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the pressurized gas inlet; and
wherein the chamber has a first diameter in a plane substantially co-planar with the aerosolization plane and a second diameter in a plane other than the aerosolization plane, and wherein the first diameter is greater than the second diameter. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A nebulizer for generating an aerosol, the nebulizer comprising:
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a housing having a chamber, the chamber defined by a base removably connected with a cover, wherein the chamber is configured to hold the aerosol;
an air outlet communicating with the chamber for permitting the aerosol to be withdrawn from the chamber, the air outlet extending through the cover at a position parallel to, and offset from, a central axis of the chamber, and wherein the air outlet is sized to cooperate with a mouthpiece;
an air inlet in communication with the chamber for allowing a supply of air to enter the chamber;
a pressurized gas inlet located in the chamber;
a fluid orifice positioned at a fixed location in the chamber relative to the pressurized gas inlet, the fluid orifice adapted to receive a fluid via a fluid channel;
a diverter positioned in the chamber in a fixed position relative to the pressurized gas inlet and the fluid orifice to divert pressurized gas from the pressurized gas inlet over the fluid orifice. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A nebulizer for generating an aerosol, the nebulizer comprising:
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a housing having a chamber, the chamber defined by a base removably connected with a cover, wherein the chamber is configured to hold the aerosol and the base is configured to releasably connect with a fluid source;
an air outlet communicating with the chamber for permitting the aerosol to be withdrawn from the chamber;
an air inlet in communication with the chamber for permitting a supply of air to enter the chamber, the air inlet having a one-way air inlet valve;
a pressurized gas inlet located in the chamber;
a fluid orifice positioned at a fixed location in the chamber relative to the pressurized gas inlet, the fluid orifice adapted to receive fluid via a fluid channel;
a fluid channel air inlet valve movably disposed across a fluid channel air inlet, wherein the fluid channel air inlet is in communication with the fluid channel and the fluid orifice;
a diverter positioned in the chamber in a fixed position relative to the pressurized gas inlet and the fluid orifice to divert pressurized gas from the pressurized gas inlet over the fluid orifice; and
wherein the fluid channel air inlet valve is configured to close the fluid channel air inlet in response to a first negative pressure level in the chamber and the air inlet valve is configured to open the air inlet to a permit air to enter the chamber in response to a second negative pressure level in the chamber, wherein the first negative pressure level is less than the second negative pressure level. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44)
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45. A nebulizer for generating an aerosol, the nebulizer comprising:
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a housing defining a chamber configured to hold an aerosol;
an air outlet communicating with the chamber for permitting the aerosol to be withdrawn from the chamber;
an air inlet in communication with the chamber for permitting a supply of air to enter the chamber;
a pressurized gas inlet located in the chamber;
a fluid orifice positioned at a fixed location in the chamber relative to the pressurized gas inlet, the fluid orifice adapted to receive fluid via a fluid channel;
a fluid channel air inlet valve movably disposed across a fluid channel air inlet, wherein the fluid channel air inlet is in communication with the fluid channel and the fluid orifice;
a valve seat positioned at the fluid channel air inlet and sized to receive the fluid channel air inlet valve, wherein the seat has a curved surface and the fluid channel air inlet valve comprises a complementary curved surface positioned to mate with the curved surface of the valve seat; and
a diverter positioned in the chamber in a fixed position relative to the pressurized gas inlet and the fluid orifice to divert pressurized gas from the pressurized gas inlet over the fluid orifice. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48)
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Specification