Passive inspiratory nebulizer system

• US 5,570,682 A
• Filed: 12/14/1993
• Issued: 11/05/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ethex International, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Ethex International, Inc.
• Inventors: Johnson, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis, Aaron J.
• Application Number:
  US08/166,694
• Time in Patent Office: 1,057 Days
• Field of Search: 128/200.14, 128/200.16, 128/200.18, 128/202.27, 128/203.12, 128/204.23, 128/204.26, 128/912, 128/205.11
• US Class Current: 128/200.14
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/06 of the injector type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0091 mechanically breath-triggered

Abstract

A hand-held nebulizer system is provided which nebulizes during the patient'"'"'s inspiration cycle only. The system includes a universal sensor port adapter which is adapted to fluidly connect an airway device with a sensor port of the system'"'"'s source of pressurized gas in such a manner as to permit the patient to inhale and exhale atmospheric air, while permitting the use of standard airway devices. A unique valve arrangement is also provided in the device for supplying the pressurized gas which permits the system to be extremely sensitive to small pressure differentials, thereby ensuring that the system detects the respiratory cycle phases of even the weakest patients.

Claims

1. A system for delivering pressurized gas to a patient during the inspiratory phase and for preventing delivery of pressurized gas to the patient during the expiratory phase of said patient'"'"'s respiratory cycle, said system comprising:

a pressurized gas supply device comprising a driver unit having a housing, the housing further having disposed thereon a sensor port, a pressurized gas inlet port for receiving pressurized gas from a source of supply, and a pressurized gas outlet port;

an airway device having a first port adapted to receive pressurized gas from said supply device, a second port adapted to receive a mouthpiece through which a patient may inhale and exhale, a third port which is open to the atmosphere, and a fluid passage interconnecting said first, second, and third ports;

an adapter device for coupling said third port to said sensor port, said adapter device comprising a first end adapted for insertion into the third port and a second end adapted to be coupled to said sensor port, and further comprising structure for ensuring that said third port remains open to atmosphere when said first adapter end is inserted therein;

a fluidic valve disposed within said housing which is adapted to be actuated responsive to pressure variations in the patient'"'"'s respiratory cycle, the fluidic valve including an element which moves responsive to pressure sensed at the sensor port; and

a gas pressure driven on/off valve disposed within said housing and adapted to be actuated responsive to a gas flow from said fluidic valve at a pressure above a predetermined trigger pressure, such that said on/of valve shuts off the flow of pressurized gas to said airway device during the patient'"'"'s expiratory cycle;

whereby when the pressure sensed at the sensor port is relatively low, indicating that the patient is inhaling, said fluid valve element moves responsive thereto to open said fluidic valve and permit a flow of gas at said triggering pressure to enter said on/off valve, thereby opening the on/off valve and triggering a full flow of pressurized gas to exit said driver unit through the pressurized gas outlet port for delivery to the first port in said airway device.

2. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said fluidic valve may be adjusted to respond to a pressure differential of as little as 1/10 PSI during said respiratory cycle.

3. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said driver unit further includes a controller for regulating the rate of flow of said pressurized gas from the pressurized gas outlet port.

4. A system as recited in claim 1, and further comprising a nebulizer unit adapted to be in-line between said pressurized gas supply device and said first port, said nebulizer unit including a reservoir for containing a supply of medication and having an inlet for receiving pressurized gas from said pressurized gas supply device, and an outlet adapted for fluid communication with said first port, through which a mixture of pressurized gas and aerosolized medication may flow for inhalation by said patient.

5. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said device is adapted to initiate the flow of pressurized gas to said first port responsive to inhalation by the patient, and to shut off the flow of pressurized gas to said first port responsive to exhalation by the patient.

6. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said fluidic valve further comprises a sensor yoke having a pair of upstanding legs, said fluidic valve element being adapted to be actuated into a position substantially blocking fluid flow between said two legs when the pressure sensed at said pressure port is relatively high.

7. An apparatus for delivering pressurized gas to a patient during the inspiratory phase and for preventing delivery of pressurized gas to the patient during the expiratory phase of said patient'"'"'s respiratory cycle, said apparatus comprising:

a pressurized gas supply device;

an airway device having a first port adapted to receive pressurized gas from said supply device, a second port adapted to receive a mouthpiece through which a patient may inhale and exhale, a third port which is open to the atmosphere, and a fluid passage interconnecting said first, second, and third ports; and

an adapter device for coupling said third port to a sensor port associated with said pressurized gas supply devices whereby said device is adapted to provide pressurized gas to said first port responsive to pressure variations generated by the patient'"'"'s respiration cycle, said adapter device comprising a generally tubular element having a fluid passage therethrough and having a first end adapted for insertion into the third port and a second end adapted to be coupled to said sensor port, said first end comprising a connector end adapted for insertion into the third port, and said second end comprising a sensor end adapted to be coupled to a proximal end of a fluid line, the distal end of said fluid line being adapted to be coupled to said sensor port, such that said third port and said sensor port are in fluid communication through said generally tubular fluid passage and said fluid line;

the adapter device further including structure for ensuring that the third port remains open to atmosphere when the first adapter end is inserted therein, said structure comprising a generally disk-shaped element circumscribing said tubular element between the sensor end and the connector end, the disk-shaped element having at least one hole extending therethrough, such that when the connector end is inserted into said third port, the disk-shaped element abuts the end of the airway device and the airway device is open to the atmosphere through said at least one hole.

8. A system as recited in claim 7, wherein said disk-shaped element has a plurality of holes extending therethrough, arranged in an annular pattern surrounding said tubular element.

9. A system as recited in claim 7, wherein said disk-shaped element further comprises a first smaller diameter portion closest to the connector end of the adapter device and a second larger diameter portion closest to the sensor end of the adapter device, said at least one hole extending continuously through both of said disk diameter portions, wherein when said connector end is inserted into the airway device third port, the smaller diameter disk portion enters said airway device fluid passage while the larger diameter disk portion abuts the end of said airway device.

10. A system as recited in claim 9, wherein said first smaller diameter portion has a greater axial length than said second larger diameter portion.

11. A system as recited in claim 7, wherein said connector end is tapered for easier insertion into the proximal end of said fluid line.

12. An apparatus for delivering pressurized gas to a patient during the inspiratory phase and for preventing delivery of pressurized gas to the patient during the expiratory phase of said patient'"'"'s respiratory cycle, said apparatus comprising:

a pressurized gas supply device comprising a driver unit having a housing, the housing further having disposed thereon a sensor port, a pressurized gas inlet port for receiving pressurized gas from a source of supply, and a pressurized gas outlet port;

an airway device having a first port adapted to receive pressurized gas from said supply device, a second port adapted to receive a mouthpiece through which a patient may inhale and exhale, a third port which is open to the atmosphere, and a fluid passage interconnecting said first, second, and third ports;

a fluidic valve disposed within said housing which is adapted to be actuated responsive to pressure variations in the patient'"'"'s respiratory cycle, the fluidic valve including an element which moves responsive to pressure sensed at the sensor port; and

a gas pressure driven on/off valve disposed within said housing and adapted to be actuated responsive to a gas flow from said fluidic valve at a pressure above a predetermined trigger pressure, such that said on/of valve may be triggered to the on position to permit the flow of pressurized gas to the airway device first port only during the patient'"'"'s inspiratory cycle;

whereby when the pressure sensed at the sensor port is relatively low, indicating that the patient is inhaling, said fluid valve element moves responsive thereto to open said fluidic valve and permit a flow of gas at said triggering pressure to enter said on/off valve, thereby opening the on/off valve and triggering a full flow of pressurized gas to exit said driver unit through the pressurized gas outlet port for delivery to the first port in said airway device.