Nebulizer

• US 4,629,590 A
• Filed: 10/15/1984
• Issued: 12/16/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/1984
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Vital Signs Incorporated (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: CIMCO, S.L.
• Inventors: Bagwell, James T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chiesa, Richard L.
• Application Number:
  US06/661,149
• Time in Patent Office: 792 Days
• Field of Search: 261/78 A, 261/79 A, 261/123, 261/142, 261/141, 261/64 R, 261/DIG. 65, 261/DIG. 77, 239/338, 128/200.18, 128/200.21, 128/203.26, 128/203.27, 128/202.27, 128/204.17, 422/228, 55/257 PV, 55/257 R, 215/200, 220/378, 219/271-276
• US Class Current: 261/78.2
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/06 of the injector type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/125 Diluting primary gas with ambient air
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/16 Devices to humidify the respiration air A61M16/1045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/20 Valves specially adapted to medical respiratory devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/2133 using electric, sonic or ultrasonic energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 261/65 Vaporizers

Abstract

A nebulizer providing a moistened breathing mixture for inhalation therapy is arranged to flow a gas-liquid mixture in a circular path around the inner surface of a container that is provided with shallow baffle forming ribs extending vertically across the circular flow path to trap relatively large water particles. A heater is detachably connected to the nebulizer discharge fitting and provides additional structure for trapping and removing larger water particles.

Claims

1. A nebulizer for producing a stream of moisturized gas for inhalation therapy, said nebulizer comprising

a container having a circular wall for confining a quantity of liquid,

a mixing body connected to an upper part of said container and having a discharge port communicating with the interior of said container,

means in said mixing body for projecting a stream of gas into the interior of the container through said discharge port,

means in said mixing body for drawing liquid from said container and mixing such liquid with said stream of gas within said mixing body to provide a stream of moisturized gas projected along an axis laterally offset from the center of said container,

means for directing said projected stream of moisturized gas at an acute angle to the surface of the container wall so as to be redirected to flow circumferentially in a swirling path extending around the container,

baffle means at the container wall extending vertically across said path for separation of liquid droplets from said stream of gas, and

output port means for discharging moisturized gas from said container.

2. The nebulizer of claim 1 wherein said swirling path extends substantially horizontally around the inner surface of said container, said baffle means comprising a plurality of mutually spaced vertically extending ribs fixed to said container inner surface and projecting a small distance toward the interior of the container.

3. The nebulizer of claim 1 wherein said mixing body includes a venturi tube extending therefrom and having an end positioned within said upper part of said container, said venturi tube end comprising said discharge port, said means for directing said projected stream of moisturized gas comprising deflecting means on the end of said venturi tube for changing direction of a stream of gas flowing through said discharge port.

4. The nebulizer of claim 3 wherein said venturi tube projects downwardly into said upper part of said container and has an opening in an end portion thereof, said opening extending across the end of said venturi tube and upwardly along one side thereof, said deflecting means comprising a member extending partly across said tube to partially block said opening in the tube end.

5. A nebulizer for producing a stream of moisturized gas for inhalation therapy comprising

a closed container having a liquid in a lower portion and having a circular upper portion above the liquid,

mixing means secured to said container for producing a stream comprising a mixture of gas having liquid from said container lower portion entrained therein,

means for projecting said stream at an acute angle to the upper portion of said container so as to flow in a generally horizontal circumferential swirling path around the inner surface of said upper portion,

elongated substantially vertically extending baffle means on said inner surface extending across said path for removing liquid droplets from said stream, and

means for discharging said mixture from said container.

6. The nebulizer of claim 5 wherein said baffle means comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced vertically extending ribs fixed to said container inner surface and projecting slightly inwardly from said inner surface.

7. The nebulizer of claim 6 wherein said container comprises a vessel having an open top, wherein said mixing means comprises a lid secured to and sealing the top of said vessel, a mixer body mounted to said lid and defining a mixing chamber therein, said mixer body having a gas input port communicating with said mixing chamber, and wherein said means for projecting said stream comprises a venturi tube mounted in said mixer body and extending through said lid into said container upper portion, and nozzle means in said mixer body for projecting gas from said input port through said venturi tube.

8. The nebulizer of claim 7 including a deflector fixed to an end of said venturi tube.

9. The nebulizer of claim 8 wherein said container, said lid and said mixer body are fixedly assembled to one another and sealed together with a quantity of liquid in the container to provide a unitized and sanitized assembly of mixer, liquid and container all pre-packaged and ready for use without further assembly.

10. The nebulizer of claim 8 wherein said means for discharging said mixture comprises an output fitting on said lid in fluid communication with the interior of said vessel, and including a heater detachably coupled to said output fitting for passing and heating mixture that is discharged from said interior.

11. A nebulizer for producing a stream of moisturized gas for inhalation therapy comprising

a closed container having a liquid in a lower portion and having a circular upper portion above the liquid,

mixing means secured to said container for producing a stream comprising a mixture of gas having liquid from said container lower portion entrained therein,

means for projecting said stream at an angle to the upper portion of said container so as to flow in a generally horizontal circumferential path around the inner surface of said upper portion,

baffle means on said inner surface extending across said path for removing liquid droplets from said stream, said baffle means comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced vertically extending ribs fixed to said container inner surface and projecting slightly inwardly from said inner surface,

means for discharging said mixture from said container, said container comprising a vessel having an open top,

said mixing means comprising a lid secured to and sealing the top of said vessel, a mixer body mounted to said lid and defining a mixing chamber therein, said mixer body having a gas input port communicating with said mixing chamber,

said means for projecting said stream comprising a venturi tube mounted in said mixer body and extending through said lid into said container upper portion, and nozzle means in said mixer body for projecting gas from said input port through said venturi tube, said venturi tube having a generally vertical axis, extending downwardly from said lid and having an end portion positioned in said container upper portion, said venturi tube end portion having an opening extending for a distance along a side of the tube from the tube end, and a deflector fixed to the tube and extending at an angle to the tube axis.

12. A nebulizer for producing a stream of moisturized gas for inhalation therapy comprising

a closed container having a liquid in a lower portion and having a circular upper portion above the liquid,

mixing means secured to said container for producing a stream comprising a mixture of gas having liquid from said container lower portion entrained therein,

means for projecting said stream at an angle to the upper portion of said container so as to flow in a generally horizontal circumferential path around the inner surface of said upper portion,

baffle means on said inner surface extending across said path for removing liquid droplets from said stream, said baffle means comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced vertically extending ribs fixed to said container inner surface and projecting slightly inwardly from said inner surface,

means for discharging said mixture from said container, said container comprising a vessel having an open top,

said mixing means comprising a lid secured to and sealing the top of said vessel,

a mixer body mounted to said lid and defining a mixing chamber therein, said mixer body having a gas input port communicating with said mixing chamber,

said means for projecting said stream comprising a venturi tube mounted in said mixer body and extending through said lid into said container upper portion, and nozzle means in said mixer body for projecting gas from said input port through said venturi tube, said container, said lid and said mixer body being fixedly assembled to one another and sealed together with a quantity of liquid in the container to provide a unitized and sanitized assembly of mixer, liquid and container all pre-packaged and ready for use without further assembly, said mixer body including an air admitting aperture, an apertured sleeve adjustably mounted on said body and having a sleeve aperture for variably opening or blocking said air admitting aperture, said sleeve being incapable of completely blocking said air admitting aperture, a sealing plug extending through both said apertures and completely sealing said air admitting aperture, and means for holding said sealing plug in and sealed to said air admitting aperture, whereby said sealing plug can be used to seal said air admitting aperture for handling and shipping of said nebulizer and can also be used to seal said air admitting aperture during use of the nebulizer to provide air free oxygen for inhalation therapy.

13. A nebulizer for producing a stream of moisturized gas for inhalation therapy comprising

a closed container having a liquid in a lower portion and having a circular upper portion above the liquid,

mixing means secured to said container for producing a stream comprising a mixture of gas having liquid from said container lower portion entrained therein,

means for projecting said stream at an angle to the upper portion of said container so as to flow in a generally horizontal circumferential swirling path around the inner surface of said upper portion,

baffle means on said inner surface extending across said path for removing liquid droplets from said stream,

means for discharging said mixture from said container, said means for discharging said mixture comprising an output fitting on said lid in fluid communication with the interior of said vessel, and including a heater detachably coupled to said output fitting for passing and heating said mixture that is discharged from said interior, said heater comprising input and output heater fittings and a heater chamber between said heater fittings, said heater chamber having a cross sectional area greater than the cross sectional area of said input heater fitting, whereby the velocity of mixture flowing from said input heater fitting to said chamber decreases in said chamber, said heater input fitting having means for trapping liquid droplets, and a heater mounted in said heater chamber.

14. The nebulizer of claim 13 wherein said means for trapping liquid droplets comprises heater baffle means in said heater input fitting.

15. A nebulizer for producing a stream of a mixture of gas and liquid for inhalation therapy comprising

a container confining a body of liquid,

mixing means connected with said container for mixing gas with liquid in said container,

a discharge fitting connected with said container for discharging a liquid gas mixture from the container, and

a heater detachably connected with said discharge fitting, said heater comprising

a heater input fitting adapted to be connected to said discharge fitting,

a heater output fitting adapted to be coupled to an inhalation therapy conduit,

a heater chamber connected to and between said heater input and output fittings,

said heater comprising a unitary heater body having an enlarged intermediate section forming said heater chamber, said heater input fitting comprising a first end section of said body having an input bore, comprising a second end portion of said heater body having an output bore, a heater element mounted within said heater chamber, and baffle means in said heater body adjacent said heater input fitting for trapping liquid particles, said heater chamber adapted to collect trapped liquid particles, said mixture passing through said relatively larger heater chamber to said heater output fitting with a decreased velocity thereby to enhance vaporization of liquid particles collected in said heater chamber.

16. A nebulizer comprising

an upright container having a body of liquid confined in a lower portion thereof and having an open top,

a lid sealed to and closing the top of said container,

a mixer body fixed to said lid above the container, said mixer body having an input fitting adapted to receive pressurized gas,

a nozzle connected to said input fitting for projecting a stream of said gas of increased velocity,

means for aspirating liquid from said container into said stream of gas to provide a moisturized stream of gas of increased velocity,

a venturi tube mounted to said mixer body and having an end portion projecting through said lid into an upper portion of said container, said venturi tube being positioned to receive and guide a moisturized stream of increased velocity gas projected from said nozzle, said venturi tube including means for directing said moisturized stream of increased velocity gas in a generally horizontal direction and at an angle to an inner surface of the upper portion of said container, whereby said moisturized stream of gas is deflected by said container inner surface to flow in a circumferential path about the interior of the container,

a plurality of mutually spaced vertically extending ribs fixed to and positioned circumferentially around the inner surface of said container upper portion for obstructing circumferential flow of said moisturized stream of gas around said container to thereby trap liquid particles, and

means for discharging moisturized gas from the interior of said container.

17. A nebulizer for producing a stream of moisturized gas for inhalation therapy comprising

a container for confining a quantity of liquid,

mixing means secured to said container for providing a stream comprising a mixture of gas having liquid from said container entrained therein, said mixing means having a plurality of apertures including an input port adapted to receive a flow of oxygen, and an air admitting aperture for receiving ambient air to be mixed with said oxygen in said mixing means,

adjusting means for adjustably closing said air admitting aperture,

a removable sealing plug positioned in said air admitting aperture for completely sealing said aperture, whereby said nebulizer may be completely sealed by sealing said plurality of apertures in the nebulizer, and whereby said nebulizer may be operated with said air admitting aperture completely sealed to provide a flow of moisturized oxygen that is free of air, and

means for maintaining said sealing plug in said air admitting aperture comprising an elastic ring secured to said plug and extending around said mixer body.

18. The nebulizer of claim 17 wherein said sealing plug includes a body portion precisely conforming to the size and shape of said air admitting aperture and a flange portion fixed to said body portion and extending laterally from the body portion along the exterior surface of said mixing means when said plug is inserted in said air admitting aperture, said flange portion having an inner surface comforming precisely to the shape of a portion of said mixing means adjacent said air admitting aperture.

19. The nebulizer of claim 18 wherein said mixing means includes a second air admitting aperture oppositely disposed on said mixing means with respect to the first mentioned air admitting aperture, a second plug seated in and sealing said second air admitting aperture, and first and second resilient elastic members interconnecting said sealing plugs to form a continuous plug assembly encircling said mixing body.

20. A nebulizer comprising

an upright container having a body of liquid confined in a lower portion thereof and having an open top,

a lid closing the top of said container,

a mixer body fixed to said lid above the container, said mixer body having an input fitting adapted to receive pressurized gas,

a nozzle connected to said input fitting for projecting a stream of said gas of increased velocity,

means for aspirating liquid from said container into said stream of gas to provide a moisturized stream of gas of increased velocity,

a venturi tube mounted to said mixer body and having an end portion projecting into an upper portion of said container, said venturi tube being positioned to receive and guide said moisturized stream of increased velocity gas projected from said nozzle,

means for directing said moisturized stream of increased velocity gas from said venturi tube in a generally horizontal direction along a line offset from the center of said container and at an acute angle to an inner surface of the upper portion of said container, whereby said moisturized stream of gas is deflected by said container inner surface to flow in a circumferential path about the interior of the container,

a plurality of vertically extending baffles positioned circumferentially around the inner surface of said container upper portion of obstructing circumferential flow of said moisturized stream of gas around said container to thereby trap liquid particles, and

means for discharging moisturized gas from the interior of said container.

21. A nebulizer for producing a stream of a mixture of gas and liquid for inhalation therapy comprising

a container confining a body of liquid,

mixing means connected with said container for mixing gas with liquid in said container,

a discharge fitting connected with said container for discharging a liquid gas mixture from the container, and

heater means detachably connected with said discharge fitting for heating the discharged mixture and removing liquid droplets therefrom, said heater means comprising,

a heater input fitting adapted to be connected to said discharge fitting, a heater output fitting adapted to be coupled to an inhalation therapy conduit,

a heater chamber connected to and between said heater input and output fittings, and having a diameter greater than the diameter of said heater input fitting to cause decreased velocity of said mixture and increased removal of liquid droplets in said chamber

means for increasing velocity of the mixture entering said heater chamber and for trapping liquid droplets, said last mentioned means comprising baffle means at said input fitting for decreasing the effective area of said input fitting, and

means for heating a gas-liquid mixture within said heater chamber.