Nebulizer apparatus and method
First Claim
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1. A nebulizer comprising:
- a housing having an ambient air inlet and a chamber for holding an aerosol;
an air outlet communicating with the chamber for permitting the aerosol to be withdrawn from the chamber;
a pressurized gas inlet adjacent a fluid orifice, the pressurized gas inlet in communication with the chamber;
a diverter positioned in the chamber in a fixed position relative to the pressurized gas inlet;
an actuator piston connected with a pressurized gas inlet cover defining a portion of the fluid orifice and positioned in the housing, the actuator piston responsive to an initial period of inhalation through the air outlet to adjust the fluid orifice to a nebulizing position wherein at least one portion of the fluid orifice is adjustable, in response to a patient'"'"'s breathing, between the nebulizing position and a non-nebulizing position.
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Abstract
A nebulizer for efficiently and reliably delivering aerosolized fluid to an inhaling patient is disclosed. The nebulizer includes a fixed diverter and a movable fluid orifice or fluid pathway connected with an actuator for responding to an inhalation or a manual actuation and beginning the nebulization process. Also provided is a method of providing nebulization including the steps of moving a fluid orifice or fluid pathway connected to an actuator so that the fluid orifice or fluid pathway reaches a nebulizing position during inhalation.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A nebulizer comprising:
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a housing having an ambient air inlet and a chamber for holding an aerosol;
an air outlet communicating with the chamber for permitting the aerosol to be withdrawn from the chamber;
a pressurized gas inlet adjacent a fluid orifice, the pressurized gas inlet in communication with the chamber;
a diverter positioned in the chamber in a fixed position relative to the pressurized gas inlet;
an actuator piston connected with a pressurized gas inlet cover defining a portion of the fluid orifice and positioned in the housing, the actuator piston responsive to an initial period of inhalation through the air outlet to adjust the fluid orifice to a nebulizing position wherein at least one portion of the fluid orifice is adjustable, in response to a patient'"'"'s breathing, between the nebulizing position and a non-nebulizing position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A breath actuated nebulizer for providing an aerosol to an inhaling patient, the nebulizer comprising:
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a housing having an air inlet and a chamber for holding the aerosol;
an air outlet communicating with the chamber for permitting the aerosol to be withdrawn from the chamber;
a pressurized gas inlet located in the chamber;
a fluid orifice located in the chamber adjacent the pressurized gas inlet, the fluid orifice in communication with a fluid pathway, wherein the fluid orifice comprises an opening defined by an outer diameter of the pressurized gas inlet and an inner diameter of an end of a pressurized gas inlet cover;
an actuator piston movably positioned adjacent the air inlet and connected with the at least a portion of the pressurized gas inlet cover, wherein the actuator piston and the at least a portion of the pressurized gas inlet cover are movable in response to inhalation at the air outlet; and
wherein at least a portion of the fluid pathway is adjustable in response to a patient'"'"'s breathing between a nebulizing position, wherein a flow of fluid from a fluid reservoir to the fluid orifice is uninterrupted, and a non-nebulizing position wherein the flow of fluid from the fluid reservoir to the fluid orifice is interrupted. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of providing a patient with an aerosol flow of fluid comprising:
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providing a nebulizer having an air inlet for receiving air and an outlet for delivering the aerosol to the patient, a chamber in communication with the outlet, a diverter fixedly mounted in the chamber, and a movable fluid orifice responsive to movement of an actuator piston;
inhaling air from the chamber through the outlet;
moving the actuator piston so that the fluid orifice moves from an initial position to a predetermined distance from a pressurized gas inlet in the chamber;
creating a negative pressure over a fluid orifice by injecting pressurized gas into the chamber and deflecting the gas against the diverter;
drawing medication through the fluid orifice with the negative pressure; and
wherein the fluid orifice is an opening defined by an outer circumference of the pressurized gas inlet and an inner circumference of an end of a coaxially positioned pressurized gas inlet cover connected with the actuator piston, and wherein moving the actuator piston comprises moving the pressurized gas inlet cover relative to the pressurized gas inlet such that the fluid orifice moves to the predetermined position. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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Specification