NEBULIZER APPARATUS

• US 20170113006A1
• Filed: 12/05/2016
• Published: 04/27/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trudell Medical International (Trudell Medical Limited)
• Original Assignee: Trudell Medical International (Trudell Medical Limited)
• Inventors: Pevler, Jennifer
• Granted Patent: US 10,668,229 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 16/0063 Compressors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/14 by mixing different fluids, one of them being in a liquid phase
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2206/14 Static flow deviators in tubes disturbing laminar flow in tubes, e.g. archimedes screws
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/0012 Apparatus for achieving spraying before discharge from the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/2435 the carried liquid and the main stream of atomising fluid being brought together by parallel conduits placed one inside the other

Abstract

A nebulizer includes 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having a chamber for holding an aerosol, an air outlet communicating with the chamber for permitting the aerosol to be withdrawn from the chamber, and a reservoir for holding a liquid to be aerosolized. The nebulizer also includes a liquid orifice located in the chamber, one or more liquid channels defined between the reservoir and the liquid orifice, the one or more liquid channels having a liquid volume, and a pressurized gas outlet located in the chamber adjacent to the liquid orifice. A baffle is located in the chamber and positioned relative to the pressurized gas outlet and the liquid outlet so as to divert pressurized gas from the pressurized gas outlet and over the liquid orifice. The baffle has a diverter surface area. The liquid volume is at least 80 mm³. The diverter surface area is less than 5.0 mm².

Claims

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A method of providing nebulizer therapy, the method comprising:

receiving a flow of pressurized gas at a flow rate of 3-5 liters per minute (lpm) through a pressurized gas outlet in a chamber of a nebulizer, the nebulizer having a liquid orifice located in the chamber adjacent the pressurized gas outlet and at least one liquid channel connecting a reservoir for holding a liquid to the liquid orifice;

diverting the flow of pressurized gas with a baffle having a diverter surface area of less than 5.0 mm² positioned over the liquid orifice in the chamber to generate a diverted flow of gas;

drawing the liquid through the at least one liquid channel with the diverted flow of pressurized gas, wherein the at least one liquid channel has a liquid volume of at least 80 mm³.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the diverter surface area of the baffle is at least 50% of a cross-sectional area of the liquid orifice.

23. The method of claim 21 further comprising receiving the pressurized gas at a pressure in the range of 15 to 30 pounds per square inch (psi).

24. The method of claim 21 further comprising receiving the pressurized gas from a home care compressor.

25. The method of claim 21 further comprising forming aerosolized particles having a diameter less than 4.7 micrometers (μ

m).

26. The method of claim 21, further comprising receiving a second flow of pressurized gas into the chamber through the pressurized gas outlet at a flow rate of 4-10 liters per minute (lpm), the second flow of pressurized gas being received from a source different than a source of the flow of pressurized gas received at 3-5 liters per minute.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the second flow of pressurized gas is received from a source of pressurized gas in a medical treatment facility.

28. A method of providing nebulizer therapy, the method comprising:

receiving a flow of pressurized gas at a flow rate of 3-5 liters per minute (lpm) through a pressurized gas outlet in a chamber of a nebulizer, the nebulizer having a liquid orifice located in the chamber adjacent the pressurized gas outlet and at least one liquid channel connecting a reservoir for holding a liquid to the liquid orifice;

diverting the flow of pressurized gas with a baffle positioned over the liquid orifice in the chamber to generate a diverted flow of gas;

drawing the liquid through the at least one liquid channel with the diverted flow of pressurized gas, wherein the at least one liquid channel has a liquid volume of at least 80 mm³.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein a diverter surface area of the baffle is at least 50% of a cross-sectional area of the liquid orifice.

30. The method of claim 28 further comprising receiving the pressurized gas at a pressure in the range of 15 to 30 pounds per square inch (psi).

31. The method of claim 28 further comprising receiving the pressurized gas from a home care compressor.

32. The method of claim 28 further comprising forming aerosolized particles having a diameter less than 4.7 micrometers (μ

m).

33. The method of claim 28, further comprising receiving a second flow of pressurized gas into the chamber through the pressurized gas outlet at a flow rate of 4-10 liters per minute (lpm), the second flow of pressurized gas being received from a source different than a source of the flow of pressurized gas received at 3-5 liters per minute.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the second flow of pressurized gas is received from a source of pressurized gas in a medical treatment facility.

35. A method of providing nebulizer therapy, the method comprising:

receiving a flow of pressurized gas at a flow rate of 3-5 liters per minute (lpm) through a pressurized gas outlet in a chamber of a nebulizer, the nebulizer having a liquid orifice located in the chamber adjacent the pressurized gas outlet and at least one liquid channel connecting a reservoir for holding a liquid to the liquid orifice;

diverting the flow of pressurized gas with a baffle having a diverter surface area of less than 5.0 mm² positioned over the liquid orifice in the chamber to generate a diverted flow of gas;

drawing the liquid through the at least one liquid channel with the diverted flow of pressurized gas.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the diverter surface area of the baffle is at least 50% of a cross-sectional area of the liquid orifice.

37. The method of claim 35 further comprising receiving the pressurized gas at a pressure in the range of 15 to 30 pounds per square inch (psi).

38. The method of claim 35 further comprising receiving the pressurized gas from a home care compressor.

39. The method of claim 35 further comprising forming aerosolized particles having a diameter less than 4.7 micrometers (μ

m).

40. The method of claim 35, further comprising receiving a second flow of pressurized gas into the chamber through the pressurized gas outlet at a flow rate of 4-10 liters per minute (lpm), the second flow of pressurized gas being received from a source different than a source of the flow of pressurized gas received at 3-5 liters per minute.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein the second flow of pressurized gas is received from a source of pressurized gas in a medical treatment facility.