Inhalator with aerosolizing unit
First Claim
1. A portable, handheld breath actuated inhalator, to aerosolize and distribute a pressurised liquid, including, arranged in a housing,a breath flow path defined between an air inlet and a mouthpiece outlet, a container containing the liquid to be distributed, mechanical pressurizing means for constantly applying a pressure on the liquid in said container, a liquid conduit in flow communication with an interior of said container, an aerosolizing membrane with through pores of microscopic size in said breath flow path and in flow communication with said liquid conduit, said aerosolizing membrane aerosolizing the pressurized liquid and introducing the aerosolized liquid into the breath flow path, a mechanical valve means between said container and said aerosolizing membrane for controlling fluid communication between said container and said aerosolizing membrane, thereby controlling the introduction of the aerosolized liquid into the breath flow path, and a mechanical actuating means in said breath flow path, said mechanical actuating means for opening said mechanical valve means when a first level of an inhalation flow parameter in said breath flow path is reached and for closing said mechanical valve means when a second level of the inhalation flow parameter is reached.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A portable, handheld breath actuated inhalator, to aerosolize and distribute a pressurised liquid, including a breath flow path defined between an air inlet (132) and a mouthpiece (131) outlet, a container (30) for the liquid, an aerosolizing element (115) for introducing the aerosolized liquid into the breath flow path, a valve element (113) between the container and the aerosolizing means for allowing fluid communication between the container and the aerosolizing element, and an actuator to regulate the valve element. The actuator is mechanical and is energized by the flow of inhaled air.
155 Citations
11 Claims
-
1. A portable, handheld breath actuated inhalator, to aerosolize and distribute a pressurised liquid, including, arranged in a housing,
a breath flow path defined between an air inlet and a mouthpiece outlet, a container containing the liquid to be distributed, mechanical pressurizing means for constantly applying a pressure on the liquid in said container, a liquid conduit in flow communication with an interior of said container, an aerosolizing membrane with through pores of microscopic size in said breath flow path and in flow communication with said liquid conduit, said aerosolizing membrane aerosolizing the pressurized liquid and introducing the aerosolized liquid into the breath flow path, a mechanical valve means between said container and said aerosolizing membrane for controlling fluid communication between said container and said aerosolizing membrane, thereby controlling the introduction of the aerosolized liquid into the breath flow path, and a mechanical actuating means in said breath flow path, said mechanical actuating means for opening said mechanical valve means when a first level of an inhalation flow parameter in said breath flow path is reached and for closing said mechanical valve means when a second level of the inhalation flow parameter is reached.
-
11. A breath actuated inhalator for aerosolizing and distributing a pressurised liquid, comprising:
-
a breath flow path defined between an air inlet and a mouthpiece outlet;
a container for the liquid;
an aerosolizing membrane for aerosolizing the liquid and introducing the aerosolized liquid into said breath flow path;
a valve controlling the introduction of the aerosolized liquid into said breath flow path, said valve being between said container and said aerosolizing membrane and allowing fluid communication between said container and said aerosolizing membrane;
a mechanical actuator regulating said valve and being energized by a flow of inhaled air;
wherein the valve means is a moveable sealing member for closing a conduit in communication with said container and comprising a first magnetic member and wherein said mechanical actuating actuator comprises a flexible membrane moveable in response to an air pressure created by the flow of inhaled air and a second magnetic member connected to said flexible membrane for moving therewith, wherein said first and the second magnetic members are arranged in a repelling relationship to each other for urging said sealing member to close said conduit.
-
Specification