Nebulizer with auxiliary gas input

• US 4,767,576 A
• Filed: 11/06/1986
• Issued: 08/30/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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:
  US06/927,812
• Time in Patent Office: 663 Days
• Field of Search: 261/78.2, 261/79.2, 261/123, 261/141, 261/16, 261/142, 261/64.1, 261/DIG. 65, 261/DIG. 77, 220/378, 239/338, 215/200, 128/200.18, 128/200.21, 128/203.26, 128/203.27, 128/202.27, 128/204.17, 55/257 R, 55/257 PV, 219/271-276
• US Class Current: 261/16
• 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: B01F 23/2133 using electric, sonic or ultrasonic energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 261/65 Vaporizers

Abstract

A nebulizer has a mixing chamber into which is projected a high velocity jet of oxygen that aspirates water from a container connected with the mixing chamber. A compressed air input port in the chamber projects a stream of compressed air adjacent to and alongside the oxygen jet to impinge upon the tapered entrance surface of a venturi tube that forms an exit from the mixing chamber. The percentage of oxygen in the output is effectively rendered independent of output back pressure, the lower limit of the amount of oxygen in the output is lowered, the amount of water entrained in the output is increased, and the amount of waste water is decreased.

Claims

1. A nebulizer for inhalation therapy comprising a mixer housing having a mixing chamber therein with an open end, said housing having first and second input ports,

a venturi tube mounted in said open end, said venturi tube including an input end having an entrance surface tapering inwardly toward the axis of said tube and toward said open end,

nozzle means in said chamber connected to said first port for projecting a first stream of high velocity oxygen from said first port along a first axis in said chamber,

an aspirating conduit having an end in said chamber adjacent said nozzle means and adapted to be connected to a body of liquid for flowing liquid to said first stream at a point adjacent said nozzle means, thereby entraining liquid in said first stream,

means for projecting a second stream of compressed air into said chamber in proximate relation to said nozzle means,

deflector means in the path of said second stream and being configured and arranged for deflecting said second stream in a downwardly swirling path toward said entrance surface in a direction substantially parallel to said first stream and along a second axis adjacent the axis of said first stream, whereby said first and second streams are mixed with fluid in said chamber to provide a moisturized oxygen enriched air mixture, and,

means for discharging said moisturized mixture from said chamber,

said deflector means being oriented to direct said second stream along an axis intersecting said entrance surface of the venturi tube,

said deflector means including an input fitting for said second stream having an axis transverse to said first mentioned axis, and means on said deflector means for redirecting air from said input fitting,

said deflector means comprising a channel-shaped member having a web in proximate relation to said nozzle means and first and second side walls, said web and side walls being configured to redirect said second stream in said downwardly swirling path toward said entrance surface.

2. A nebulizer for inhalation therapy comprising

a mixer housing having a mixing chamber therein, said mixer housing comprising a hollow body open at one end, and having first and second input ports,

nozzle means in said chamber connected to said first port for projecting a first stream of high velocity oxygen from said first port along a first axis in said chamber,

an aspirating conduit having an end in said chamber adjacent said nozzle means and adapted to be connected to a body of liquid for flowing liquid to said first stream at a point adjacent said nozzle means, thereby entraining liquid in said first stream,

means for projecting a second stream of air in said chamber in a direction substantially parallel to said first stream and along a second axis adjacent the axis of said first stream, said means for projecting said second stream comprising a deflector on said nozzle means, an input fitting for said second stream having an axis transverse to said first-mentioned axis, and means on said deflector for redirecting air from said input fitting, said deflector comprising a channel-shaped member having a web fixed to said nozzle means and first and second side walls, and wherein said first and second streams are introduced to said chamber at points that are displaced from said one end, said first and second streams being directed to flow toward said one end, whereby said first and second streams are mixed with liquid in said chamber to provide a moisturized oxygen enriched air mixture, and

means including a venturi tube mounted in said one end of the chamber for discharging said moisturized mixture from said chamber, said venturi tube including an input end having an entrance surface tapering inwardly toward the axis of said tube and toward said one end of said housing, said web and side walls of said deflector being configured to redirect said second stream in a downwardly swirling path toward said entrance surface, and wherein said second stream is directed along an axis intersecting said entrance surface.

3. A nebulizer for producing a mixture of oxygen enriched air and liquid for inhalation therapy comprising

a container confining a body of liquid,

a mixer body mounted to the container and comprising

a mixer housing defining a mixing chamber, said mixer housing comprising a hollow body open at one end,

a venturi tube mounted in said one end, said venturi tube including an input end having an entrance surface tapering inwardly toward the axis of said tube and toward said one end of said housing,

nozzle means in said housing for projecting a first stream of gas at a high velocity along a first axis through said chamber, through said venturi tube and into said container, said first stream being introduced to said chamber at a point displaced from said one end and directed to flow toward said one end,

aspirating means connected between a lower portion of said container and a point adjacent said nozzle means for flowing liquid from said container to said high velocity stream within said chamber,

second gas input means for projecting a second stream of a second gas into said chamber along an axis transverse to said first axis, said second stream being introduced to said chamber at a point displaced from said one end, and

deflector means in proximate relation to said second gas input means, said deflector means comprising a channel-shaped member having a web adjacent to said nozzle means and first and second side walls, said web and side walls being configured to redirect said second stream along a path generally parallel and in proximate relation to said first axis and in a downwardly swirling path toward said entrance surface, for producing a stream through said venturi tube comprising a moisturized mixture of liquid and said first and second gases.

4. A nebulizer for inhalation therapy comprising

a mixer housing having a mixing chamber therein, said mixer housing comprising a hollow body open at one end,

a venturi tube mounted in said one end, said venturi tube including an input end having an entrance surface tapering inwardly toward the axis of said tube and toward said one end of said housing,

nozzle means in said housing for projecting a first stream of gas at a high velocity along a first axis through said chamber, through said venturi tube and into said container, said first stream being introduced to said chamber at a point displaced from said one end and directed to flow toward said one end,

aspirating means connected between a lower portion of said container and a point adjacent said nozzle means for flowing liquid from said container to said high velocity stream within said chamber,

second gas input means for projecting a second stream of a second gas into said chamber along an axis transverse to said first axis, and second stream being introduced into said chamber at a point displaced from said one end, and

deflector means in proximate relation to said second gas input means, said deflector means comprising a channel-shaped member having a web adjacent to said nozzle means and first and second side walls, said web and side walls being configured to redirect said second stream along a path generally parallel and in proximate relation to said first axis and in a downwardly swirling path toward said entrance surface, for producing a stream through said venturi tube comprising a moisturized mixture of liquid and said first and second gases.