Nebulizer device
First Claim
1. A nebulizer device for use with a source of sxygen flow, a source of atmospheric gas, a fluid supply vessel and respiratory ducting equipment leading to a patient, comprising:
- a housing having means for coupling said housing to said fluid supply vessel, said housing having a mixing chamber therein;
an oxygen inlet duct coupled to said housing and adapted for connection to said source of oxygen flow, said oxygen inlet duct opening into said mixing chamber to direct oxygen flow toward the patient;
means for selectively adjusting the restriction of said oxygen inlet;
means for supplying liquid from said fluid supply vessel to said mixing chamber proximate said oxygen inlet duct;
said mixing chamber having an atmosphere inlet port communicating with said atmospheric gas source;
means for selectively restricting said atmosphere inlet port to regulate the rate of gas flow therethrough, said atmosphere inlet port restricting means including an atmosphere restricting panel movably mounted on said housing so as to selectively block said atmosphere inlet port;
said atmosphere inlet port restricting means coupled to said oxygen inlet duct restriction adjusting means such that adjusting the restriction of said oxygen inlet duct simultaneously adjusts said atmosphere inlet port restricting means;
said oxygen inlet duct restriction adjusting means including said oxygen inlet duct having a plurality of oxygen outlet ports disposed in said mixing chamber and means for selectively blocking at least one of said oxygen outlet ports while simultaneously adjusting said atmosphere inlet port restricting means, said oxygen outlet port blocking means including an oxygen blocking panel movably mounted on said housing to selectively block said one oxygen outlet port, said oxygen blocking panel coupled to said atmosphere restricting panel, whereby the oxygen flow through the nebulizer can be increased and decreased while the atmospheric gas flow is simultaneously adjusted to provide a selected gas mixture to said patient.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A nebulizer device having an atmosphere adjusting collar both slidably and rotatably mounted on the housing so as to adjust restriction of atmosphere inlet ports on the housing. An additional high oxygen port on the nebulizing nozzle is restricted by a flow rate adjusting collar. The flow rate adjusting collar is coupled to the atmosphere adjusting collar so as to maintain rate of flow as the atmospheric inlet is adjusted, but the atmospheric inlet is automatically adjusted as the oxygen flow rate is adjusted. An atmosphere entraining valve located downstream of the nebulizer housing provides additional entrainment of atmosphere to further reduce the fraction of inspired oxygen in the humidified air.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. A nebulizer device for use with a source of sxygen flow, a source of atmospheric gas, a fluid supply vessel and respiratory ducting equipment leading to a patient, comprising:
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a housing having means for coupling said housing to said fluid supply vessel, said housing having a mixing chamber therein; an oxygen inlet duct coupled to said housing and adapted for connection to said source of oxygen flow, said oxygen inlet duct opening into said mixing chamber to direct oxygen flow toward the patient; means for selectively adjusting the restriction of said oxygen inlet; means for supplying liquid from said fluid supply vessel to said mixing chamber proximate said oxygen inlet duct; said mixing chamber having an atmosphere inlet port communicating with said atmospheric gas source; means for selectively restricting said atmosphere inlet port to regulate the rate of gas flow therethrough, said atmosphere inlet port restricting means including an atmosphere restricting panel movably mounted on said housing so as to selectively block said atmosphere inlet port; said atmosphere inlet port restricting means coupled to said oxygen inlet duct restriction adjusting means such that adjusting the restriction of said oxygen inlet duct simultaneously adjusts said atmosphere inlet port restricting means; said oxygen inlet duct restriction adjusting means including said oxygen inlet duct having a plurality of oxygen outlet ports disposed in said mixing chamber and means for selectively blocking at least one of said oxygen outlet ports while simultaneously adjusting said atmosphere inlet port restricting means, said oxygen outlet port blocking means including an oxygen blocking panel movably mounted on said housing to selectively block said one oxygen outlet port, said oxygen blocking panel coupled to said atmosphere restricting panel, whereby the oxygen flow through the nebulizer can be increased and decreased while the atmospheric gas flow is simultaneously adjusted to provide a selected gas mixture to said patient. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A nebulizer device for use with a source of oxygen flow, a source of atmospheric gas, a fluid supply vessel and respiratory ducting equipment leading to a patient, comprising:
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a housing having means for coupling said housing to said fluid supply vessel, said housing having a mixing chamber therein; an oxygen inlet duct coupled to said housing and adapted for connection to said source of oxygen flow, said oxygen inlet duct opening into said mixing chamber to direct oxygen flow toward the patient, said oxygen inlet duct having a longitudinal side and mixing chamber end, and said oxygen inlet duct having a plurality of oxygen outlet ports disposed in said mixing chamber, at least one oxygen outlet port opening through said longitudinal side and another of said oxygen outlet ports opening through said mixing chamber end; means for supplying liquid from said fluid supply vessel to said mixing chamber proximate said oxygen inlet duct; said mixing chamber having an atmosphere inlet port communicating with said atmospheric gas source; means for selectively restricting said atmosphere inlet port to regulate the rate of gas flow therethrough, said atmosphere inlet port restricting means including an atmosphere restricting panel movably mounted on said housing so as to selectively block said atmosphere inlet port, said atmosphere restricting panel including an atmosphere collar movably mounted on said housing and configured to adjust the blocking of said atmosphere inlet port when moved in a first direction and when moved in a second direction nonparallel to said first direction; said atmosphere collar having at least one atmosphere aperture therethrough, said atmosphere aperture configured to selectively align with said atmospheric inlet port and adjustably restrict said atmosphere inlet port as said atmosphere collar is moved in said first direction and in said second direction; means for selectively adjusting the restriction of said oxygen inlet duct and simultaneously adjusting said atmosphere inlet port restricting means, said oxygen inlet duct restriction adjusting means including means for selectively blocking said one of said oxygen outlet ports while simultaneously adjusting said atmosphere inlet port restricting means, said oxygen outlet port blocking means including an oxygen blocking panel movably mounted on said housing to selectively block said one oxygen outlet port and said oxygen blocking panel coupled to said atmosphere collar; said oxygen blocking panel configured to adjust the blocking of said one oxygen outlet port when moved in said first direction but maintain the blocking of said oxygen outlet port when moved in said second direction, said oxygen blocking panel including a duct collar movably mounted on said oxygen inlet duct; one of said housing and said atmosphere collar having a guide track with track courses and the other of said housing and said atmosphere collar having a track follower registering with said track, said track having a first track course extending in said first direction and joining two second track courses, said second track courses extending in said second direction, whereby the oxygen flow through the nebulizer can be increased and decreased while the atmospheric gas flow is simultaneously adjusted to provide a selected gas mixture to said patient. - View Dependent Claims (7)
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8. A nebulizer device for use with a source of oxygen flow, a source of atmospheric gas, a fluid supply vessel and respiratory ducting equipment leading to a patient, comprising:
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housing having means for coupling said housing to said fluid supply vessel, said housing having a mixing chamber therein; an oxygen inlet duct coupled to said housing and adapted for connection to said source of oxygen flow, said oxygen inlet duct opening into said mixing chamber to direct oxygen flow toward the patient; means for selectively adjusting the restriction of said oxygen inlet; means for supplying liquid from said fluid supply vessel to said mixing chamber proximate said oxygen inlet duct; said mixing chamber having an atmosphere inlet port communication with said atmospheric gas source; means for selectively restricting said atmosphere inlet port to regulate the rate of gas flow therethrough, said atmosphere inlet port restricting means including an atmosphere restricting panel movably mounted on said housing so as to selectively block said atmosphere inlet port; said atmosphere inlet port restricting means coupled to said oxygen inlet duct restriction adjusting means such that adjusting the restriction of said oxygen inlet duct simultaneously adjusts said atmosphere inlet port restricting means, said oxygen inlet duct restriction adjusting means including said oxygen inlet duct having a plurality of oxygen outlet ports disposed in said mixing chamber and means for selectively blocking at least one of said oxygen outlet ports while simultaneously adjusting said atmosphere inlet port restricting means; said oxygen outlet port blocking means including an oxygen blocking panel movably mounted on said housing to selectively block said one oxygen outlet port, said oxygen blocking panel coupled to said atmosphere restricting panel, said oxygen blocking panel configured to adjust the blocking of said one oxygen outlet port when moved in a first direction but maintain the blocking of said oxygen outlet port when moved in a second direction nonparallel to said first direction; said atmosphere restricting panel configured to adjust the blocking of said atmosphere inlet port when moved in said first direction and when moved in said direction, said atmosphere restricting panel including a housing collar movably mounted on said housing so as to move in said first direction and said second direction, said housing collar coupled to said oxygen blocking panel; said housing collar having at least two atmosphere apertures therethrough, said atmosphere apertures each configured to separately selectively align with said atmosphere inlet port and adjustably restrict said atmosphere inlet port as said housing collar is moved in said second direction, said atmosphere apertures located to shift alignment with said atmosphere inlet port between said atmosphere apertures as said housing collar is moved in said first direction, whereby the oxygen flow through the nebulizer can be increased and decreased while the atmospheric gas flow is simultaneously adjusted to provide a selected gas mixture to said patient. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. A nebulizer device for use with a source of oxygen flow, a source of atmospheric gas, a fluid supply vessel and respiratory ducting equipment leading to a patient, comprising:
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a housing having means for coupling said housing to said fluid supply vessel, said housing having a mixing chamber therein; an oxygen inlet duct coupled to said housing and adapted for connection to said source of oxygen flow, said oxygen inlet duct opening into said mixing chamber to direct oxygen flow toward the patient; means for selectively adjusting the restriction of said oxygen inlet; means for supplying liquid from said fluid supply vessel to said mixing chamber proximate said oxygen inlet duct; said mixing chamber having an atmosphere inlet port communicating with said atmospheric gas source; means for selectively restricting said atmosphere inlet port to regulate the rate of gas flow therethrough, said atmosphere inlet port restricting means includes an atmosphere restricting panel movably mounted on said housing so as to selectively block said atmosphere inlet port; said atmosphere inlet port restricting means coupled to said oxygen inlet duct restriction adjusting means such that adjusting the restriction of said oxygen inlet duct simultaneously adjusts said atmosphere inlet port restricting means, said atmosphere restricting panel coupled to said oxygen inlet duct restriction adjusting means so as to adjust the restriction of said oxygen inlet duct as said atmosphere restricting panel is moved in a first direction; said atmosphere restricting panel having at least one atmosphere aperture therethrough, said atmosphere aperture configured to selectively align with said atmosphere inlet port and adjustably restrict said atmosphere inlet port as said atmosphere restricting panel is moved in a second direction nonparallel to said first direction, whereby the oxygen flow through the nebulizer can be increased and decreased while the atmospheric gas flow is simultaneously adjusted to provide a selected gas mixture to said patient.
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13. A nebulizer device for use with a source of oxygen flow, a source of atmospheric gas, a fluid supply vessel and respiratory ducting equipment leading to a patient, comprising:
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a housing having means for coupling said housing to said fluid supply vessel, said housing having a mixing chamber therein; an oxygen inlet duct coupled to said housing and adapted for connection to said source of oxygen flow, said oxygen inlet duct opening into said mixing chamber to direct oxygen flow toward the patient; means for selectively adjusting the restriction of said oxygen inlet; means for supplying liquid from said fluid supply vessel to said mixing chamber proximate said oxygen inlet duct; said mixing chamber having an atmosphere inlet port communicating with said atmospheric gas source; means for selectively restricting said atmosphere inlet port to regulate the rate of gas flow therethrough; said atmosphere inlet port restricting means coupled to said oxygen inlet duct restriction adjusting means such that adjusting the restriction of said oxygen inlet duct simultaneously adjusts said atmosphere inlet port restricting means; said atmosphere inlet port restricting means including an atmosphere restricting panel movably mounted on said housing so as to selectively block said atmosphere inlet port, said atmosphere restricting panel coupled to said oxygen inlet duct restriction adjusting means so as to adjust the restriction of said oxygen inlet duct as said atmosphere restricting panel is moved in a first direction; said atmosphere restricting panel having at least two atmosphere apertures therethrough, said atmosphere apertures each configured to separately, selectively align with said atmosphere inlet port and adjustably restrict said atmosphere inlet port as said atmosphere restricting panel is moved in a second direction nonparallel to said first direction, said atmosphere apertures located to shift alignment with said atmosphere inlet port between said atmosphere apertures as said atmosphere restricting panel is moved in said first direction, whereby the oxygen flow through the nebulizer can be increased and decreased while the atmospheric gas flow is simultaneously adjusted to provide a selected gas mixture to said patient. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. A nebulizer device for use with a source of oxygen flow, a source of atmospheric gas, a fluid supply vessel and respiratory ducting equipment leading to a patient, comprising:
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a housing having means for coupling said housing to said fluid supply vessel, said housing having a mixing chamber therein; an oxygen inlet duct coupled to said housing and adapted for connection to said source of oxygen flow, said oxygen inlet duct opening into said mixing chamber to direct oxygen flow toward the patient; means for selectively adjusting the restriction of said oxygen inlet; means for supplying liquid from said fluid supply vessel to said mixing chamber proximate said oxygen inlet duct; said mixing chamber having an atmosphere inlet port communicating with said atmospheric gas source; means for selectively restricting said atmosphere inlet port to regulate the rate of gas flow therethrough; said atmosphere inlet port restricting means coupled to said oxygen inlet duct restriction adjusting means such that adjusting the restriction of said oxygen inlet duct simultaneously adjusts said atmosphere inlet port restricting means; said atmosphere inlet port selective restricting means including a housing collar movably mounted on said housing so as to move in a first direction and in a second direction nonparallel to said first direction, said housing collar coupled to said oxygen inlet duct restriction adjusting means so as to adjust the restriction of said oxygen inlet duct as said housing collar is moved in said first direction; said housing collar having at least two atmosphere apertures therethrough, said atmosphere apertures each configured to separately, selectively align with said atmosphere inlet port and adjustably restrict said atmosphere inlet port as said housing collar is moved in said second direction, said atmosphere apertures located to shift alignment with said atmosphere inlet port between said atmosphere apertures as said housing collar is moved in said first direction, whereby the oxygen flow through the nebulizer can be increased and decreased while the atmospheric gas flow is simultaneously adjusted to provide a selected gas mixture to said patient. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A nebulizer device for use with a source of oxygen flow, a source of atmospheric gas, a fluid supply container and respiratory ducting equipment leading to a patient, comprising:
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a housing having means for coupling to said fluid supply container, a mixing chamber therein and an atmosphere inlet port opening into said mixing chamber; an oxygen duct having means for coupling to said source of oxygen flow, said oxygen duct having an oxygen outlet disposed in said mixing chamber; means for conveying fluid from said fluid supply container to said mixing chamber proximate said oxygen outlet; an atmosphere restricting gate movably mounted on said housing so as to move in a first direction and a second direction nonparallel to said first direction, said atmosphere restricting gate configured to adjustably close said atmosphere inlet port and thereby selectively restrict air flow therethrough as said atmosphere restricting gate is moved in said first direction an in said second direction; an oxygen restricting gate movably mounted on said oxygen duct so as to move in at least said first direction, said oxygen restricting gate coupled to said atmosphere restricting gate and configured to adjustably close said oxygen outlet and thereby selectively restrict oxygen flow therethrough as said atmosphere restricting gate is moved in said first direction, and said oxygen restricting gate coupled to said atmosphere restricting gate so as to not vary restriction of oxygen flow through said oxygen outlet as said atmosphere restricting gate is moved in said second direction. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A nebulizer device for use with a source of oxygen flow, a source of atmospheric gas, a fluid supply vessel and respiratory ducting equipment leading to a patient, comprising:
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a housing having means for coupling said housing to said fluid supply vessel, said housing having a mixing chamber therein; an oxygen inlet duct coupled to said housing and adapted for connection to said source of oxygen flow, said oxygen inlet duct opening into said mixing chamber to direct oxygen flow toward the patient, said oxygen inlet duct having a longitudinal side with a first oxygen outlet port opening therethrough, and said oxygen inlet duct having a mixing chamber end with a second oxygen outlet port opening therethrough; means for supplying liquid from said fluid supply vessel to said mixing chamber proximate at least said second oxygen inlet duct; said mixing chamber having an atmospheric inlet port communicating with said atmospheric gas source; means for selectively restricting said atmosphere inlet port to regulate the rate of gas flow therethrough, said atmosphere inlet port restricting means including a housing collar movably mounted on said housing so as to move in a first direction and in a second direction nonparallel to said first direction, said housing collar including at least two atmosphere apertures therethrough, said atmosphere apertures each configured to separately selectively align with said atmosphere inlet port and adjustably restrict said atmosphere inlet port as said housing collar is moved in said second direction, said atmosphere apertures located to shift alignment with said atmosphere inlet port between said atmosphere apertures as said housing collar is moved in said first direction; means for selectively adjusting the restriction of said oxygen inlet duct and simultaneously adjusting said atmosphere inlet port restricting means, said oxygen inlet duct restriction adjusting means including a duct collar movably mounted on said oxygen inlet duct so as to selectively block said first oxygen outlet port, said duct collar configured to adjust the blocking of said first oxygen outlet port when moved in said first direction but maintained the blocking of said first oxygen outlet port when moved in said second direction, and said duct collar coupled to said housing collar; one of said housing and said housing collar having a guide track with track courses and the other of said housing and said housing collar having a follower registering with said guide track, said track having a first track course extending in said first direction and joining two second track courses, said second track courses extending in said second direction, whereby the oxygen flow through the nebulizer can be increased and decreased while the atmospheric gas flow is simultaneously adjusted to provide a selected gas mixture to said patient. - View Dependent Claims (33)
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Specification