Devices and methods for nebulizing fluids for inhalation
First Claim
1. A nebulizer comprising:
- a medicine vial assembly having a tab, wherein the medical vial assembly contains a medicine fluid;
a reservoir assembly having a detent, wherein the reservoir assembly engages the medicine vial assembly in fluid communication therewith and the detent and the tab interlock to hold together the medical vial assembly and the reservoir assembly;
an aerosol generator mounted in fluid communication with the reservoir assembly; and
a titration mechanism comprising;
a plunger situated to act upon the medicine vial assembly, a screw assembly mechanically engaged with the plunger, a dose selection mechanism mechanically engaged with the screw assembly to permit a user to select an amount of medical fluid to be moved from the medical vial assembly into the reservoir assembly, and an actuator button moveably mounted to act upon the screw assembly to cause linear movement of the plunger;
wherein operation of the dose selection mechanism selectively sets the linear distance the plunger will be caused to move when the actuator button is pressed, wherein movement of the plunger causes the plunger to act upon the vial assembly in such a manner so as to displace fluid from the vial assembly into the reservoir assembly, and wherein the fluid in the reservoir assembly can be ejected from the reservoir as a mist by operation of the aerosol generator.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A nebulizer comprising an aerosol generator and a titration mechanism comprising a dosing mechanism, a screw assembly, a plunger and an actuator, wherein the dosing mechanism is rotatably mounted in the nebulizer and the plunger is mounted in the nebulizer to travel along a longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to the plane of rotation of the dosing mechanism. The actuator is mounted to the nebulizer to travel in the direction of the longitudinal axis. The screw mechanism allows the rotation of the dosing mechanism to fix a variable distance of travel of the plunger based on the selected dose, without moving the plunger longitudinally. This allows the user to verify and if necessary correct the selected dose prior to any drug being released from the vial. Operation of the actuator causes longitudinal movement, through the screw mechanism, to the plunger. The actuator always moves a fixed distance along the longitudinal axis, while the plunger always moves a variable distance depending on rotation of the dosing mechanism to a selected dose.
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Citations
53 Claims
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1. A nebulizer comprising:
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a medicine vial assembly having a tab, wherein the medical vial assembly contains a medicine fluid; a reservoir assembly having a detent, wherein the reservoir assembly engages the medicine vial assembly in fluid communication therewith and the detent and the tab interlock to hold together the medical vial assembly and the reservoir assembly; an aerosol generator mounted in fluid communication with the reservoir assembly; and a titration mechanism comprising;
a plunger situated to act upon the medicine vial assembly, a screw assembly mechanically engaged with the plunger, a dose selection mechanism mechanically engaged with the screw assembly to permit a user to select an amount of medical fluid to be moved from the medical vial assembly into the reservoir assembly, and an actuator button moveably mounted to act upon the screw assembly to cause linear movement of the plunger;wherein operation of the dose selection mechanism selectively sets the linear distance the plunger will be caused to move when the actuator button is pressed, wherein movement of the plunger causes the plunger to act upon the vial assembly in such a manner so as to displace fluid from the vial assembly into the reservoir assembly, and wherein the fluid in the reservoir assembly can be ejected from the reservoir as a mist by operation of the aerosol generator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A nebulizer comprising:
a container having a tab, wherein the container contains fluid, a reservoir having a detent, wherein the reservoir is in fluid communication with the container and the detent and the tab interlock to hold together the container and the reservoir, an aerosol generator situated to eject fluid from the reservoir as an aerosol, a dose selection mechanism permitting a user to select an amount of fluid to be moved from the container into the reservoir, an actuator moveably mounted on the nebulizer wherein operation of the actuator by a user causes the selected amount of fluid to be moved from the container into the reservoir, and a plunger moveably mounted in the nebulizer, wherein operation of the actuator moves the plunger to act upon the container, and the dose selection mechanism sets the distance of movement of the plunger. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method of delivering a nebulized fluid for inhalation, comprising:
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providing an aerosol generator; providing a container having a tab, wherein the container contains a fluid to be nebulized; providing a reservoir having a detent, wherein the reservoir is in fluid communication with the container and with the aerosol generator; interlocking the tab and the detent to hold together the container and the reservoir; providing a plunger positioned to act upon the container in a manner to displace fluid therefrom; providing a screw assembly operable through a range of operating positions situated to act upon the plunger to selectively limit the distance of movement of the plunger; selecting a distance of movement of the plunger by a dose selection mechanism operating the screw assembly to a selected operating position; providing an actuator movably mounted to act upon the screw assembly to cause linear movement of the plunger through the selected distance of movement to displace fluid from the container into the reservoir; and operating the aerosol generator to eject fluid from the reservoir as a nebulized fluid for inhalation. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A nebulizer comprising:
- a container having a tab, wherein the container contains fluid, a reservoir having a detent, wherein the reservoir is in fluid communication with the container and the detent and the tab interlock to hold together the container and the reservoir, an aerosol generator situated to eject fluid from the reservoir as an aerosol, a dose selection mechanism permitting a user to select an amount of fluid to be moved from the container into the reservoir, an actuator moveably mounted on the nebulizer wherein operation of the actuator by a user causes the selected amount of fluid to be moved from the container into the reservoir, and a plunger moveably mounted in the nebulizer, wherein the distance of movement of the plunger is set by operation of the dose selection mechanism and the movement of the plunger is effected by operation of the actuator.
- View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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49. A method of aerosolizing a liquid, comprising,
providing a nebulizer comprising an aerosol generator; -
providing a titration mechanism in the nebulizer, the titration mechanism comprising a dosing mechanism, a screw mechanism, an actuator and a plunger, the plunger movable along a longitudinal axis within the nebulizer, the actuator movable a fixed distance X along the axis defined by the plunger and the dosing mechanism rotatable in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; providing a vial mechanism comprising a vial and a tab, the vial having a longitudinal axis and a movable seal movable along the longitudinal axis; providing a reservoir mechanism having a detent, wherein the reservoir mechanism is in fluid communication with the vial mechanism; interlocking the tab and the detent to hold together the vial mechanism and the reservoir mechanism; inserting the vial mechanism into the nebulizer such that the longitudinal axis of the vial is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the plunger; rotating the dosing mechanism to select a dose, operating the screw mechanism, by rotating the dosing mechanism, to set a variable distance Y of travel of the plunger corresponding to a selected dose without imparting longitudinal travel of the plunger; moving the actuator longitudinally the fixed distance X to move the plunger longitudinally the selected variable distance Y; moving a movable stopper the variable distance Y by movement of the plunger the selected variable distance Y; displacing a volume of liquid, corresponding to the selected dose, from the vial to contact the aerosol generator; and operating the aerosol generator to aerosolize the liquid. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51, 52)
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53. A method of nebulizing a liquid comprising:
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providing a titration mechanism comprising a longitudinally moveable plunger, the movement thereof defining a longitudinal axis, a longitudinally moveable actuator to move the plunger, the movement of the actuator defining a longitudinal axis, and a screw mechanism to set the distance of travel of the plunger; providing a rotatably mounted dosing mechanism, the rotation thereof defining an axis of rotation, providing a vial mechanism comprising a vial defining a longitudinal access, a tab, and a moveable seal moveable along the longitudinal access of the vial; providing a reservoir mechanism having a detent;
interlocking the tab and the detent to hold together the vial mechanism and the reservoir mechanism;providing an aerosol generator; controlling operation of the aerosol generator; placing the vial mechanism within the nebulizer such that the longitudinal axis of the vial is substantially coaxial with the axis of rotation of the dosing mechanism; rotating the dosing mechanism to select a dose; moving the actuator to move the plunger such that fluid is dispensed from the vial; and operating the aerosol generator to nebulize the liquid.
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Specification