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an air outlet communicating with the chamber for permitting the aerosol to be withdrawn from the chamber;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 and the fluid orifice in communication with a fluid channel, wherein an end of the fluid channel is positioned in a fluid reservoir in the chamber; and
,a fluid channel air inlet valve movably disposed across a fluid channel air inlet, wherein the fluid channel air inlet is in communication with the fluid channel and is positioned between the fluid reservoir and the fluid orifice.
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Abstract
A nebulizer for efficiently and reliably delivering aerosolized fluid to an inhaling patient is disclosed. The nebulizer includes a fluid channel air inlet and fluid channel air inlet valve responsive to either a manual force external of the nebulizer, or a patient'"'"'s breathing, to begin the nebulization process. Also provided is a method of providing nebulization including the steps of moving a fluid channel air inlet valve against a fluid channel air inlet so that a negative pressure may build up over the fluid in the fluid channel to draw fluid from the fluid reservoir and begin nebulization during inhalation.
208 Citations
22 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and a chamber for holding an aerosol; an air outlet communicating with the chamber for permitting the aerosol to be withdrawn from the chamber; a pressurized gas inlet adjacent a fluid orifice, the pressurized gas inlet in communication with the chamber and the fluid orifice in communication with a fluid channel, wherein an end of the fluid channel is positioned in a fluid reservoir in the chamber; and
,a fluid channel air inlet valve movably disposed across a fluid channel air inlet, wherein the fluid channel air inlet is in communication with the fluid channel and is positioned between the fluid reservoir and the fluid orifice. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A 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 channel and in a fixed position relative to the pressurized gas inlet, wherein an end of the fluid channel is positioned in a fluid reservoir in the chamber; and a fluid channel air inlet valve movably disposed across a fluid channel air inlet, wherein the fluid channel air inlet is in communication with the fluid channel and is positioned between the fluid reservoir and the fluid orifice. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. 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 and the fluid orifice in communication with a fluid channel, wherein an end of the fluid channel is positioned in a fluid reservoir in the chamber; and
,a fluid channel air inlet valve movably disposed across a fluid channel air inlet defined by the fluid channel and positioned between the fluid orifice and the fluid reservoir, and wherein when the fluid channel air inlet is sealed by the fluid channel air inlet valve, nebulization is enabled and when the fluid channel air inlet is unsealed nebulization is disabled. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification