Small particle aerosol generator for treatment of respiratory disease including the lungs
First Claim
1. A nebulizer comprising,a nebulizer chamber,a nebulizer head in the nebulizer chamber having at least one atomizer port,a drug line in fluid communication between the port and a source of drug,a face mask,an outflow line extending from the nebulizer chamber to the face mask for providing aerosol containing drug to the patient,means for providing air to the nebulizer head,a combination exhaust and aerosol reservoir line adjacent the face mask in fluid communication with the outflow line and the face mask, said exhaust and aerosol reservoir line having an unobstructed passage,the combination exhaust and aerosol reservoir line effective to permit air exhaled by the patient and the aerosol containing drug to flow into the exhaust and aerosol line thereby flushing the exhaust and aerosol line of air exhaled when the patient is exhaling, and the aerosol containing drug to flow from the exhaust and aerosol line to the patient while inhaling.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed is a small particle aerosol or nebulizer apparatus effective for providing small particles of aerosol containing drug; that is, particles having a maximum diameter of 10 microns but predominantly 1-2 microns, effective for treating the respiratory tract and lungs and providing respiratory retention of most drugs of at least 50 milligrams up to about 100 milligrams per hour. It has features which result in more efficient output of aerosol containing drugs, provides very small aerosol particles which are readily deposited in the lower respiratory tract and lungs, and provides even flow of drug containing aerosol to a patient when exhaling and inhaling.
174 Citations
7 Claims
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1. A nebulizer comprising,
a nebulizer chamber, a nebulizer head in the nebulizer chamber having at least one atomizer port, a drug line in fluid communication between the port and a source of drug, a face mask, an outflow line extending from the nebulizer chamber to the face mask for providing aerosol containing drug to the patient, means for providing air to the nebulizer head, a combination exhaust and aerosol reservoir line adjacent the face mask in fluid communication with the outflow line and the face mask, said exhaust and aerosol reservoir line having an unobstructed passage, the combination exhaust and aerosol reservoir line effective to permit air exhaled by the patient and the aerosol containing drug to flow into the exhaust and aerosol line thereby flushing the exhaust and aerosol line of air exhaled when the patient is exhaling, and the aerosol containing drug to flow from the exhaust and aerosol line to the patient while inhaling.
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2. A nebulizer comprising,
a nebulizer chamber, a drug chamber, a nebulizer head in the nebulizer chamber having at least one atomizer port, a drug line in fluid communication between the atomizer port and drug in the drug chamber, a face mask, an outflow line extending from the nebulizer chamber to the face mask for providing aerosol containing drug to a patient, means for providing air to the nebulizer head, a combination exhaust and aerosol reservoir line adjacent the face mask in fluid communication with the outflow line and the face mask, said exhaust and aerosol reservoir line having an unobstructed flow passage, and the combination exhaust and aerosol reservoir line effective to permit air exhaled by the patient and the aerosol containing drug to flow into the exhaust and aerosol reservoir line thereby flushing the exhaust and aerosol reservoir line of air exhaled when the patient is exhaling, and the aerosol containing drug to flow from the exhaust and aerosol line to the patient while inhaling, a dryer connected in the outflow line effective to dry the aerosol containing drug and thereby shrink its particle size, the outflow line'"'"'s flow passage between the dryer and the face mask being unobstructed.
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3. A nebulizer comprising,
a nebulizer chamber, a drug chamber, a nebulizer head in the nebulizer chamber having at least one atomizer port, a drug line in fluid communication between the atomizer port and drug in the drug chamber, an outflow line having a discharge end extending from the nebulizer chamber for providing aerosol containing drug to the patient, means for providing air to the nebulizer head, a combination exhaust and aerosol reservoir line adjacent the outflow line'"'"'s discharge end and in fluid communication with the outflow line and its discharge end, the exhaust and aerosol reservoir line having an unobstructed flow passage, the combination exhaust and aerosol reservoir line effective to permit air exhaled by the patient and the aerosol containing drug to flow into the exhaust and aerosol line thereby flushing the exhaust and aerosol line of air exhaled when the patient is exhaling and the aerosol containing drug to flow from the exhaust and aerosol line to the patient while inhaling, a dryer connected in the outflow line effective to dry the aerosol containing drug and thereby shrink its particle size, the outflow line downstream of the dryer to the patient being unobstructed, and an air dilution line connected to the dryer in fluid communication with the outflow line.
Specification
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- Resources
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Current AssigneeBaylor College of Medicine (Baylor College)
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Original AssigneeBaylor College of Medicine (Baylor College)
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InventorsWilson, Samuel Z. Jr., Knight, Jack V.
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Primary Examiner(s)Cohen, Lee S.
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Application NumberUS06/837,463Time in Patent Office375 DaysField of Search128/200.14, 128/200.21, 128/203.12, 128/203.15, 239/338US Class Current128/200.21CPC Class CodesA61M 11/06 of the injector typeA61M 15/00 Inhalators drug delivery in...
