Multi-use inhalation therapy apparatus

• US 3,892,235 A
• Filed: 07/31/1973
• Issued: 07/01/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Creditanstalt-Bankverein (Unicredit SPA)
• Original Assignee: Edward Van Amerongen, Glenn Lee Beall, John Charles Clark, Richard Joseph Reilly
• Inventors: Beall, Glenn Lee, Van Amerongen, Edward, Clark, John Charles, Reilly, Richard Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaudet, Richard A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Recla, Henry J.
• Application Number:
  US05/384,267
• Time in Patent Office: 700 Days
• Field of Search: 128/194,193,185,186,187,272,DIG.2 141/360,363,364,308,33R,309 206/56R,56A 137/453,454 261/DIG.48,DIG.65,119R 239/338,370
• US Class Current: 128/200.16
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0085 using ultrasonics spraying or atomising liquids using ultrasonic vibrations in general B05B17/06
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 17/0615 spray being produced at the free surface of the liquid or other fluent material in a container and subjected to the vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 1/06 with closable apertures at bottom
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 23/00 Details of bottles or jars not otherwise provided for closure-securing elements B65D45/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 261/48 Sonic vibrators
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 261/65 Vaporizers

Abstract

Nebulizing apparatus adapted particularly for use in ultrasonicvibration induced nebulizing inhalation therapy systems. The nebulizing apparatus hereof particularly includes an aseptically liquid filled container to serve as a nebulizer reservoir, which container is disposed for superimposed cooperation with and upon a container-supporting housing embodying a cup-like nebulizing chamber. The bottom of the container has a recessed neck-like duct terminated in a breachable seal which aseptically isolates the liquid therein. The necklike duct cooperates with a complemental socket on the upper part of the container-supporting housing of the nebulizing chamber. Supported within the chamber and socket are combined seal penetrating-and-fluid-conduit means, whereupon assembly of the container and housing effects breaching of the seal to permit the liquid to be admitted in a predeterminable amount into the cup-like nebulizing chamber. The amount and subsequent replacement flow of liquid from the reservoir being effected by the relative vertical spacing of orificed lower end portions of dual passages in the combined penetrating-and-conduit means, of which the lowermost orifice is below the liquid level and the other lower end orifice is generally level with and periodically covered and uncovered by varying levels of the liquid responsive to periodical forming of an air lock to permit intermittent feed of liquid from the reservoir into the nebulizing chamber. The bottom of the nebulizing chamber includes an ultrasonic vibration permeable window for cooperation with an ultrasonic vibration producing base. The nebulizing chamber has fluid inlet and outlet conduit connectors above the normal level of the liquid in the nebulizing chamber.

Claims

1. Nebulizing apparatus adapted particularly for use in ultrasonic-vibration-induced nebulizing inhalation therapy systems, said nebulizing apparatus comprising in combination:

a. a liquid container having a body defining a nebulizer reservoir chamber for and containing a predetermined amount of liquid;

b. said container body having an upper portion with at least one neck portion and a lower portion with a generally planar bottom provided with a pronounced recess therein extending longitudinally toward said upper portion;

c. a duct integral with said body generally centrally within said recess, and communicating with a lower interior part of said reservoir chamber and the liquid therein;

d. said duct having an axis and extending axially downward, and terminating in a closed breachable seal defining an integral penetratable sterile barrier for aseptically isolating the liquid in said chamber;

e. a container-supporting housing having a bottom and upwardly extending side walls defining a cup-like nebulizing chamber beneath said container, said housing side walls having upper portions in physical contact with said container bottom during nebulizing operation;

f. penetrating-and-conduit means for penetrating said breachable seal in a generally axial manner, and connected with and supported by housing-connected support means for disposition in a generally vertical manner;

g. said penetrating-and-conduit means including a generally vertically oriented elongated tubular member having an upper seal-penetrating end, and an opposite lower end extending downwardly within said nebulizing chamber but spaced above said housing bottom thereof, whereby h. said seal-penetrating end penetrating said breachable seal of said duct when the liquid-filled container is operatively mounted on said housing, whereby the liquid in said reservoir chamber is permitted to flow by gravity into said housing;

through a part of said conduit means thereof; and

i. said housing having inlet means for introducing of a gas thereinto, and further having outlet means through which moisture-laden gaseous fluid is discharged during nebulizing operation.

2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the conduit means of said penetrating-and-conduit means (paragraph g) includes dual vertical passages within said tubular member and having respective upper orifices in said upper penetrating end, and having respective lower orifices terminating in vertically longitudinal spaced relationship, whereby the lowermost of said lower orifices is adapted to be disposed substantially beneath a surface of a predetermined amount of liquid receivable into said cup-like nebulizing chamber after breaching of said seaL by said penetrating means, and the other of said lower orifices is adapted to be periodically essentially coplanar with and periodically closed off by the surface liquid during operation of said nebulizing apparatus;

whereby during operation when said water in said nebulizing chamber falls below said latter lower orifice, ambient air is drawn upward through its passage and enters said container through said duct of paragraphs (c) and (d) to displace an amount of water therein which is thereby permitted to flow down the other passage to again raise the water level back up to the level of said lowermost orifice to cover it again.

3. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said duct-terminated breachable seal is disposed generally coplanarly with said bottom of said container.

4. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said container bottom recess is disposed generally centrally of the container bottom and extends generally diametrically fully across the bottom thereof.

5. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, further including in combination therewith ultrasonic vibration inducing means connected with said housing of said cup-like nebulizing chamber.

6. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said bottom of said container-supporting housing of paragraph (e) includes an ultrasonic-wave-vibration-permeable window as a portion thereof, and including ultrasonic-vibration inducing means disposed therebeneath in operative engagement with said window.

7. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said container-supporting housing includes on an upper portion thereof, means for supporting and defining a neck-like socket for complemental connection with said duct of paragraph (c) and (d), said socket communicating with said nebulizing chamber defined within said housing.

8. The apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said duct and said socket have complemental screw threads thereon to facilitate assembly.

9. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said container bottom is provided with a shallow, generally circular recess, and the upper wall portions of said nebulizing chamber are engaged in said shallow recess.