Breath actuated nebulizer with valve assembly having a relief piston
First Claim
1. A breath actuated nebulizer for providing an aerosol to an inhaling patient, the nebulizer comprising:
- a housing having a chamber for holding the aerosol;
an air outlet communicating with the chamber for permitting the aerosol to be withdrawn from the chamber;
an air outlet communication with the chamber for allowing a supply of air to enter the chamber;
a liquid outlet located in the chamber;
a pressurized gas outlet located in the chamber adjacent to the liquid outlet;
means for generating an aerosol in the chamber from the liquid outlet during an inhalation through the air outlet, the means for generating an aersol comprising a movable diveter; and
means for reducing an inhalation effort of the inhaling patient in a desired range after an initial period of inhalation, wherein the means for reducing an inhalation effort is movable independently of the means for generating an aerosol and movable relative to the housing.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A breath actuated nebulizer for efficiently and reliably delivering aerosolized liquid to an inhaling patient is disclosed. The nebulizer includes a valve assembly having an actuator piston for quickly responding to an inhalation and beginning the nebulization process, and a relief piston to lower the inhalation effort required of the inhaling patient. Also provided is a method of providing breath actuated nebulization including the steps of moving an actuator piston connected to a diverter so that the diverter reaches a nebulizing position during an initial period of inhalation, and moving a relief valve to allow a greater flow of air, and thereby reduce inhalation effort, after the initial period of inhalation.
163 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A breath actuated nebulizer for providing an aerosol to an inhaling patient, the nebulizer comprising:
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a housing having a chamber for holding the aerosol;
an air outlet communicating with the chamber for permitting the aerosol to be withdrawn from the chamber;
an air outlet communication with the chamber for allowing a supply of air to enter the chamber;
a liquid outlet located in the chamber;
a pressurized gas outlet located in the chamber adjacent to the liquid outlet;
means for generating an aerosol in the chamber from the liquid outlet during an inhalation through the air outlet, the means for generating an aersol comprising a movable diveter; and
means for reducing an inhalation effort of the inhaling patient in a desired range after an initial period of inhalation, wherein the means for reducing an inhalation effort is movable independently of the means for generating an aerosol and movable relative to the housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A nebulizer comprising:
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a housing having a chamber for holding an aerosol;
an air outlet communicating with the chamber for permitting the aerosol to be withdrawn from the chamber;
an air inlet in communication with the chamber for permitting air into the chamber;
a liquid orifice in communication with the chamber;
a pressurized gas inlet adjacent the liquid orifice, the pressurized gas inlet in communication with the chamber;
a diverter movably positioned in the chamber and relative to the pressurized gas inlet and liquid orifice so as to divert pressurized gas from the pressurized gas inlet and over the liquid orifice when the diverter is in a nebulizing position; and
,a valve assembly for permitting controlled amounts of air to enter into the chamber during a patient'"'"'s inhalation, the valve assembly comprising;
an actuator piston connected to the diverter and positioned in the chamber, the actuator piston responsive to an initial period of inhalation through the air outlet to move the diverter into the nebulizing position; and
a relief piston located in the chamber, the relief piston responsive to additional negative pressure in the chamber after the initial period of inhalation and movable to allow increased air flow into the chamber, whereby the effort necessary for a patient inhaling through the air outlet is reduced. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification