NEBULIZER HAVING FLOW METER FUNCTION

• US 20100204602A1
• Filed: 03/16/2010
• Published: 08/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pneumoflex Systems, LLC
• Original Assignee: Pneumoflex Systems, LLC
• Inventors: STEPHENS, Robert E., PHELIPA, Michael M., MILLER, Stuart P., ADDINGTON, W. Robert
• Granted Patent: US 8,109,266 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/538
• 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 15/0003 with means for dispensing more than one drug
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/002 with air flow regulating means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0065 Inhalators with dosage or measuring devices A61M15/0028 takes precedence; dosage devices incorporated in aerosol cans B65D83/52
• 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 15/06 Inhaling appliances shaped like cigars, cigarettes or pipes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/20 Valves specially adapted to medical respiratory devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0021 with a proportional output signal, e.g. from a thermistor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0036 in the breathing tube and used in both inspiratory and expiratory phase
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0468 non-physiological
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3553 remote, e.g. between patient's home and doctor's office
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3569 sublocal, e.g. between console and disposable
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3584 using modem, internet or bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/502 User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6045 having complementary physical shapes for indexing or registration purposes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8225 using incorporated gas cartridges for the driving gas
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2206/18 Coaxial flows, e.g. one flow within another

Abstract

In accordance with non-limiting examples, a nebulizer includes a main body comprising an air channel section and further comprising a mixing chamber and a venturi positioned to be placed within the patient'"'"'s oral cavity and configured to receive medicine and air and mix the medicine and air within the mixing chamber and receive the air flow through the venturi and cause the medicine entering the mixing chamber to be atomized by the action of air flowing through the venturi. An air flow sensor is associated with the main body and configured to measure the air flow created by the patient'"'"'s one of at least inhaling and exhaling air.

Claims

1. A nebulizer, comprising:

a main body comprising an air channel section and further comprising a mixing chamber and a venturi positioned to be placed within the patient'"'"'s oral cavity and configured to receive medicine and air and mix the medicine and air within the mixing chamber and receive the air flow through the venturi and cause the medicine entering the mixing chamber to be atomized by the action of air flowing through the venturi; and

an air flow sensor associated with the main body and configured to measure the air flow created by the patient'"'"'s one of at least inhaling and exhaling air.

2. The nebulizer according to claim 1, wherein said air flow sensor is positioned within the air channel section and configured to measure air flow created by the patient'"'"'s one of at least inhaling and exhaling air.

3. The nebulizer according to claim 1, and further comprising a processor configured to process the measured air flow over time to determine a respiratory function of the patient.

4. The nebulizer according to claim 3, wherein said processor is configured to process measured air flow over time to determine a neurological deficiency in a patient based on air flow measurements derived from an involuntary reflex cough.

5. The nebulizer according to claim 3, wherein said processor comprises a handheld processing device that receives data regarding the measured air flow.

6. The nebulizer according to claim 1, and further comprising a wireless module carried by the main body that transmits wireless signals containing data about the measured air flow created by the patient'"'"'s one of at least inhaling and exhaling air.

7. The nebulizer according to claim 1, and further comprising an air flow metering valve positioned within the air flow channel and configured to adjust the resistance to air flow to a predetermined level for respiratory exercise training and incentive spirometry use.

8. The nebulizer according to claim 1, wherein said flow sensor comprises a separate flow meter device removably attached to said main body and configured for use by a patient after nebulizing.

9. The nebulizer according to claim 1, wherein said mixing chamber is configured as a rainfall chamber and a diffuser is positioned within the rainfall chamber upon which the medicine that is nebulized impacts and configured to break up droplets of medicine expelled from the venturi into smaller sizes.

10. The nebulizer according to claim 1, and further comprising a plurality of medicine receivers on the main body, each shaped to match a shape uniquely associated with a different medicine receiver, and said air channel section is configured to receive medicine from a medicine container that is received within the medicine receiver.

11. The nebulizer according to claim 1, and further comprising air curtain conduits that are configured to supply a curtain of air above and below the nebulized medicine and air to enhance penetration of nebulized medicine into the airway of the patient.

12. The nebulizer according to claim 1, wherein said air flow sensor is configured to measure air velocity.

13. The nebulizer according to claim 1, wherein said air flow sensor is configured to measure air pressure.

14. A method of administering a medicine to a patient using a nebulizer, comprising:

nebulizing the medicine by passing air through a fluid air channel section of a main body of the nebulizer comprising a mixing chamber and venturi that is positioned to be placed within the patient'"'"'s oral cavity and configured to receive medicine and air and mix the medicine and air within the mixing chamber and receive the air flow from the venturi and cause the medicine entering the mixing chamber to be atomized by the action of air flowing through the venturi;

measuring the air flow created by the patient'"'"'s one of at least inhaling and exhaling air; and

processing the measured air flow over time to determine a respiratory function of the patient.

15. The method according to claim 14, and further comprising forming the mixing chamber as a rainfall chamber and positioning a diffuser within the rainfall chamber upon which the medicine that is nebulized impacts and configured to break up droplets of medicine expelled from the venturi nozzle into smaller sizes.

16. The method according to claim 14, and further comprising forming a plurality of medicine receivers on the main body, each shaped to match a shape uniquely associated with a different medicine receiver, and receiving medicine from a medicine container received within the medicine receiver.

17. The method according to claim 14, and further comprising supplying a curtain of air above and below the nebulized medicine and air to enhance penetration of nebulized medicine into the airway of the patient.

18. The method according to claim 14, and further comprising attaching a separate flow meter device onto the nebulizer body after nebulizing, and measuring the air flow created by the patient'"'"'s one of at least inhaling and exhaling air using the separate flow meter device attached to the nebulizer.

19. The method according to claim 14, and further comprising determining the velocity of air over time during the one of at least inhaling and exhaling air.

20. The method according to claim 14, and further comprising determining the pressure of the air flow over time during one of at least inhaling and exhaling air.

21. The method according to claim 14, and further comprising adjusting the resistance to the air flow through the nebulizer to a predetermined level for respiratory exercise training and incentive spirometry use.

22. The method according to claim 14, and further comprising measuring involuntary reflex cough as induced by supplying to the throat of the patient an aerosol containing a chemo-irritant agent effective for inducing at least one involuntary cough as an involuntary reflex and measuring air flow during the period of the involuntary cough and processing the measured air flow to determine a neurological deficiency in the patient.

23. The method according to claim 14, and further comprising transmitting from a wireless module carried by the nebulizer body wireless signals having data comprising the measured air flow of the patient, receiving the measured air flow of the patient and processing the measured air flow to determine a respirator function of the patient.

24. The method according to claim 23, and further comprising receiving the wireless signals within a handheld processing device.