Nebulizer heater
First Claim
1. For use with a nebulizer having a mixing head including a mixing chamber for producing aerosol, said chamber having a lower connecting section with a lower opening therein, said chamber also having an outlet port for discharging aerosol, an improved heater assembly comprising:
- a heater chamber,a heater in said chamber,a heated platen extending across said heater chamber at an upper end thereof,an accumulator housing having;
an axially extending central chamber with a lower end adjacent said heated platen, said central chamber being configured and arranged to collect droplets of liquid precipitated from said aerosol,an outer annular chamber circumscribing said central chamber, said annular chamber having input and output ports,means on an upper portion of said accumulator housing for connecting said housing to said mixing head with said central chamber in communication with said lower opening of said lower connecting section of said mixing chamber, andmeans for flowing liquid collected in said central chamber to said outer annular chamber to be heated and vaporized by said heated platen,means on a lower portion of said accumulator housing for connecting said housing to said heater chamber with said platen forming a bottom of said outer annular chamber, andmeans for flowing aerosol from said outlet port into said annular chamber input port.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A nebulizer providing a moistened breathing mixture of aerosol for inhalation therapy is provided with an improved accumulator chamber and heater configured to heat aerosol discharged from the nebulizer so as to most efficiently utilize the heat energy and to most efficiently transfer heat energy from the heater to the aerosol. Passage of the aerosol through and accumulation in a relatively long annular accumulator chamber that adjoins the heater allows introduction of heated water vapor into the aerosol. A central chamber collects precipitated droplets from the mixing chamber, and a wicking disc flows the collected liquid, under pressure or by wicking action, into the accumulator chamber where it is heated and vaporized.
-
Citations
28 Claims
-
1. For use with a nebulizer having a mixing head including a mixing chamber for producing aerosol, said chamber having a lower connecting section with a lower opening therein, said chamber also having an outlet port for discharging aerosol, an improved heater assembly comprising:
-
a heater chamber, a heater in said chamber, a heated platen extending across said heater chamber at an upper end thereof, an accumulator housing having; an axially extending central chamber with a lower end adjacent said heated platen, said central chamber being configured and arranged to collect droplets of liquid precipitated from said aerosol, an outer annular chamber circumscribing said central chamber, said annular chamber having input and output ports, means on an upper portion of said accumulator housing for connecting said housing to said mixing head with said central chamber in communication with said lower opening of said lower connecting section of said mixing chamber, and means for flowing liquid collected in said central chamber to said outer annular chamber to be heated and vaporized by said heated platen, means on a lower portion of said accumulator housing for connecting said housing to said heater chamber with said platen forming a bottom of said outer annular chamber, and means for flowing aerosol from said outlet port into said annular chamber input port. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A heater assembly comprising:
-
a heater chamber, a heater in said chamber, a heated platen extending across said heater chamber at an upper end thereof, an accumulator housing having a wall dividing the housing into a precipitate chamber and a flow passage, said precipitate chamber including means for receiving liquid, said accumulator flow passage including means for receiving a gas mixture and means for discharging said mixture therefrom, and means for inducing flow of liquid from said precipitate chamber to said flow passage. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. For use with a nebulizer having a mixing head including a mixing chamber for producing aerosol, said chamber having a lower connecting section with a lower opening therein, said chamber also having an outlet port for discharging aerosol, an improved heater assembly comprising:
-
a heater chamber, a heater in said chamber, a heated platen extending across said heater chamber at an upper end thereof, an accumulator housing having; a central precipitate chamber configured and arranged to collect droplets of liquid precipitated from said aerosol, an outer chamber circumscribing the central chamber and having input and output ports, means on an upper portion of the accumulator housing for connecting the housing to a mixing head, with said central chamber in communication with the lower opening of the lower connecting section of the mixing chamber, and means for inducing flow of liquid at a controlled flow rate from said central chamber to said outer chamber to be heated and vaporized by said heated platen, and means on a lower portion of said accumulator housing for connecting said housing to said heater chamber with said platen forming a bottom of said outer chamber. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
-
-
26. A heater assembly comprising:
-
an accumulator housing defining an accumulator chamber having input and output ports, said accumulator chamber including means for receiving an aerosol mixture of gas and liquid vapor at said input port and discharging said mixture from said output port. a precipitate collection chamber having a precipitate input port adapted to receive liquid precipitate, heating means for vaporizing liquid in said accumulator chamber, and means for inducing liquid flow at a controlled rate from said precipitate collection chamber to said accumulator chamber. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
-
Specification