AEROSOL APPARATUS FOR INHALATION THERAPY

• US 3,838,686 A
• Filed: 10/14/1971
• Issued: 10/01/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: George Szekely
• Original Assignee: George Szekely
• Inventors: Szekely, George
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaudet, Richard A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Recla, Henry J.
• Application Number:
  US05/189,270
• Time in Patent Office: 1,083 Days
• Field of Search: 128/173,185,194,193,201,203,205,207,208,211,273,274,230,332,335,237,272 239/338,225,228,242,255,321 55/226,355 53/266
• US Class Current: 128/200.18
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/00 Sprayers or atomisers specially adapted for therapeutic purposes in general B05B; aerosol containers B65D83/14
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/002 by flow deviation causing inertial separation of transported particles
• 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 15/0086 Inhalation chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1001 Piston pumps B05B11/1087, B05B11/1088, B05B11/109 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/0012 Apparatus for achieving spraying before discharge from the apparatus

Abstract

Aerosol apparatus is provided which is of the type wherein a liquid spray is propelled from spray jet means through an inlet neck which is open to the atmosphere and which is bordered at each end, respectively, by converging and diverging surfaces into a chamber so that the spray from said spray jet means impinges on a baffle member interposed between the inlet neck and an outlet. Features of the invention include the employment of cone-shaped baffle means having external surfaces stream-lined in substantial alignment with the periphery of the cone-shaped spray, said cone having an open ended hollow interior in proximate spaced relation to the outlet from the chamber. An outlet conduit is slidably disposed in said outlet so that its inner end may be adjusted in relation to the open end of the cone and the hollow interior thereof. Further disclosed features include means for closing and maintaining closed draining means which when open drains the chamber into a receptacle for receiving liquid collected from the spray in said chamber. There is a suction type pump for propelling liquid to said spray jet means from a container having an opening for the admission of air in combination with means for closing said opening and maintaining it closed when the apparatus is not in use. The means for closing the said draining means and the said opening are actuated responsive to the movement of a common manually actuatable movable member which may be comprised in a pump for pumping liquid to said spray jet means and may be actuated responsive to closing the cover of a case for the apparatus which cover can be held closed by a fastener so as to maintain closed the said draining means and the said opening.

Claims

1. In an aerosol apparatus for inhalation therapy comprising a casing forming a chamber, said casing forming an axially extending inlet orifice arranged to communicate with the interior of the chamber and with the atmosphere about said casing, an outlet spaced from and in approximate axial alignment with said inlet and a wall structure disposed within said chamber and located between said inlet orifice and said outlet, spray jet means arranged to discharge therefrom a conical liquid spray, a container for liquid, and liquid propelling means arranged for selectively causing a liquid in said chamber to be propelled to said spray jet means to be discharged therefrom in the form of a spray, the improvement which is characterized by said inlet orifice having a first end adjacent the outer surface of said casing and a second end within said chamber, the axially extending inner surface of said inlet orifice comprising a first annular surface extending in the axial direction of said orifice from the first end thereof with said first surface converging toward the axis of said inlet orifice toward said second end and a second annular surface extending from said first surface to said second end with said second surface diverging from the axis of said inlet orifice from said first surface to said second end thereof and said first and second surfaces providing a Venturi effect on gases passing therethrough, the axis of said jet means being in substantial alignment with the axis of said inlet orifice and the outlet from said spray jet means being located in said inlet orifice in the range of said first surface thereof for passage of said spray through said inlet orifice into said chamber for contacting said wall structure of said casing and the periphery of said conical liquid spray being contiguous with respect to said inner surface of said inlet orifice so that air is propelled therethrough by the action of said spray with enhanced velocity as it passes through said inlet orifice, baffle means positioned within said chamber and being in the form of a cone disposed with its axis in substantial alignment with the axis of said inlet orifice and the axis of said conical spray emitted from said spray jet means, the small end of said cone being arranged facing toward said inlet orifice in proximate spaced relation therewith and being rounded affording a convexly shaped surface directed toward said inlet orifice, the frustoconical sidewall of said cone extending from its rounded small end being substantially aligned with respect to the periphery of the conical spray emitted from said spray jet means and said cone being hollow and open at its larger end which is arranged in proximate spaced relation to said outlet, the interior surface of said wall structure of said casing comprises a portion which is in surrounding spaced juxtaposed relation to the external surface of said cone and said portion is concave with the maximum spacing between said concave portion and the external surface of said cone being in opposed relation to an intermediate portion of said cone between its rounded small end and open larger end such that a secondary Venturi is provided in the space between the interior surface of said casing and said cone in the region where the spray from said spray jet means impinges on said cone adjacent its smaller end.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the interior surface of said cone presents a concave inner surface in juxtaposition to and facing toward said outlet from said chamber, and an outlet conduit mounted in said outlet and being adjustably movable in the axial direction between said inlet orifice and outlet for adjusting the position of the inner end of said conduit relative to the concave interior surface of said baffle means.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said outlet conduit is axially adjustable so that the inner end of said conduit can be positioned in a plurality of different positions within the concavely surfaced hollow interior of said cone.

4. Apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein drain means are arranged to drain liquid from said chamber, means for closing said drain means and maintaining said drain means closed to prevent accidental return of liquid into said chamber, said means for closing said drain means associated with said liquid propelling means so that said drain means is closed when said liquid propelling means are displaced for propelling the liquid to said spray jet means.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said liquid propelling means comprises a reciprocal pump mounted on said container and being manually operable for withdrawing liquid from said container and propelling it through said jet spray means in the form of a spray, said container having an opening therein affording the entry of air into said container when liquid is withdrawn therefrom, and means associated with said pump for closing the opening in said container and maintaining it closed to prevent accidental loss of liquid through the opening when the apparatus is not in use, said reciprocal pump comprises a manually actuatable movable member, said means for closing the opening in said container being associated with said movable member and responsive to the movement thereof, means for holding said movable member in position in which the opening in said container is maintained closed, and means associated with said movable member and movable therewith for closing said drain means and for maintaining said drain means closed when said movable member is maintained in the position at which the opening in said container is closed.

6. Apparatus, according to claim 5, wherein said means for holding said movable member in position at which the opening in said container is maintained closed comprises a case arranged to receive therein said container and said casing, said case including a cover and means associated with said cover so that as said cover is moved said movable member on said container is displaced into position for closing the opening in said container and for closing said draining means, and a fastener associated with said cover for securing said cover in the closed position for maintaining the closure of the opening in said container and the closing of said drain means.