Base isolated nebulizing device and methods
First Claim
1. An aerosol generator comprising:
- a vibratable member having a front, a rear, an outer periphery and a plurality of apertures extending between the front and the rear;
a support element disposed about the outer periphery of the vibratable member;
a vibratable element coupled to the support element, the vibratable element being configured to vibrate the vibratable member at ultrasonic frequencies; and
an isolating structure coupled to the support element that is configured to couple the aerosol generator to a support structure, wherein the isolating structure has a vibrational impedance that is sufficient to substantially vibrationally isolate the aerosol generator from the support structure, and wherein the isolating structure comprises a plurality of arms extending from the support element.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An aerosol generator comprises a vibratable member having a front, a rear, an outer periphery and a plurality of apertures extending between the front and the rear. A support element is disposed about the outer periphery of the vibratable member, and a vibratable element is coupled to the support element. The vibratable element is configured to vibrate the vibratable member at ultrasonic frequencies. An isolating structure is coupled to the support element and is configured to couple the aerosol generator to a support structure. The isolating structure has a mechanical vibrational impedance that is sufficient to substantially vibrationally isolate the aerosol generator from the support structure.
-
Citations
24 Claims
-
1. An aerosol generator comprising:
-
a vibratable member having a front, a rear, an outer periphery and a plurality of apertures extending between the front and the rear;
a support element disposed about the outer periphery of the vibratable member;
a vibratable element coupled to the support element, the vibratable element being configured to vibrate the vibratable member at ultrasonic frequencies; and
an isolating structure coupled to the support element that is configured to couple the aerosol generator to a support structure, wherein the isolating structure has a vibrational impedance that is sufficient to substantially vibrationally isolate the aerosol generator from the support structure, and wherein the isolating structure comprises a plurality of arms extending from the support element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
-
11. An aerosolization device comprising:
-
a housing; and
an aerosol generator disposed within the housing, the aerosol generator comprising a vibratable member having a front, a rear, an outer periphery and a plurality of apertures extending between the front and the rear, a support element disposed about the outer periphery of the vibratable member, a vibratable element coupled to the support element, the vibratable element being configured to vibrate the vibratable member at ultrasonic frequencies, an isolating structure coupled to the support element, and operably connected to the housing, wherein the isolating structure has a vibrational impedance that is sufficient to substantially vibrationally isolate the aerosol generator from the housing; and
wherein the isolating structure comprises a plurality of arms extending from the support element.
-
-
21. A method for aerosolizing a liquid, the method comprising:
-
providing an aerosol generator comprising a vibratable member having a front, a rear, and a plurality of apertures extending between the front and the rear, and a vibratable element to vibrate the vibratable member;
supplying a liquid to the rear of the vibratable member; and
vibrating the vibratable member with the vibratable element to eject liquid droplets through the apertures while substantially vibrationally isolating the aerosol generator with an isolating structure;
wherein the isolating structure comprises a plurality of arms extending from the aerosol generator, wherein the isolating structure is configured such that the ratio of forces transmitted to a support structure to forces at an outer edge of the aerosol generator is less than about 30%. - View Dependent Claims (22)
-
-
23. A method for forming an aerosol generator, the method comprising:
-
stamping an isolating structure from a sheet of material;
coupling a vibratable member to the isolating structure, the vibratable member having a plurality of apertures; and
coupling a vibratable element to the vibratable member or the isolating structure, the vibratable element being vibratable at ultrasonic frequencies;
wherein the isolating structure has a mechanical vibrational impedance that is sufficient to substantially vibrationally isolate the aerosol generator, wherein the isolating structure comprises an annular member and a plurality of arms extending from the annular member. - View Dependent Claims (24)
-
Specification