Nebulizer apparatus and method

• US 7,634,995 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2006
• Issued: 12/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Trudell Medical International (Trudell Medical Limited)
• Original Assignee: Trudell Medical International (Trudell Medical Limited)
• Inventors: Baran, George, Foley, Martin P., Grychowski, Jerry R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yu; Justine R
• Assistant Examiner(s): OSTRUP, CLINTON T
• Application Number:
  US11/452,100
• Publication Number:
  US 20070023036A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,288 Days
• Field of Search: 128/200.14, 128/200.18, 128/200.11, 128/203.16, 128/203.24, 128/205.23, 128/204.19, 128/203, 128/15, 222/30, 222/36, 222/38, 735/10, 239/338
• US Class Current: 128/200.21
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/002 by flow deviation causing inertial separation of transported particles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/06 of the injector type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0021 Mouthpieces therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/008 Electronic counters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0091 mechanically breath-triggered
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0093 without arming or cocking, e.g. acting directly on the delivery valve
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0833 T- or Y-type connectors, e.g. Y-piece
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/107 in the inspiratory path
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/206 Capsule valves, e.g. mushroom, membrane valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0027 pressure meter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3306 Optical measuring means

Abstract

An apparatus and method for providing a nebula or aerosol to a patient. In one aspect, a nebulizer is pressure sensitive so that nebulization is coordinated with a breathing cycle of the patient. The nebulizer includes a movable gas diverter that diverts pressurized gas across a liquid outlet. The diverter is moved in response to the patient'"'"'s breathing cycle. In one aspect, a biasing member moves the diverter. According to another aspect of the nebulizer, an annular liquid orifice disperses an aerosol in a radial direction in response to a pressurized gas flow from an orifice located concentrically thereto. Multiple liquid orifices may be provided. In a further aspect of the nebulizer, a reservoir includes an upper, wide portion and a lower narrow portion to apply relatively uniform pressure at a liquid orifice.

Claims

1. A nebulizer comprising:

a housing defining a chamber for holding an aerosol;

a chamber air outlet in communication with the chamber;

an air inlet in communication with the chamber for allowing a supply of air to enter the chamber;

a nozzle assembly positioned in the chamber, the nozzle assembly defining a liquid outlet and a gas outlet;

a nebulization actuator, wherein at least a portion of the nebulization actuator is movably positioned within the chamber and mechanically moveable in a linear continuous manner between a first position, wherein nebulization takes place, to a second position, wherein no nebulization takes place; and

a sensor associated with the housing, the sensor configured to sense motion of the nebulization actuator and monitor a number of cycles of operation of the nebulizer based on the sensed motion.

2. The nebulizer of claim 1, further comprising a variable height nebulizing gap defined by a surface of a diverter and an upper surface of the nozzle assembly, wherein the nebulizing gap varies from a nebulizing position, where pressurized gas from the gas outlet is diverted across the liquid outlet to produce aerosol in response to a patient'"'"'s breathing, to a non-nebulizing position, where no aerosol is produced, in response to a patients breathing.

3. The nebulizer of claim 2, further comprising at least one stop member positioned in said chamber to prevent the variable height nebulizing gap from dropping below a minimum gap height during patient inhalation.

4. The nebulizer of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises an electronic sensor.

5. The nebulizer of claim 4, wherein the electronic sensor is configured to sense a change in capacitance during operation of the nebulizer.

6. The nebulizer of claim 4, wherein the electronic sensor is configured to be responsive to a magnet.

7. The nebulizer of claim 4, wherein the electronic sensor is configured to measure an optical parameter.

8. The nebulizer of claim 4, wherein the electronic sensor further comprises a display.

9. The nebulizer of claim 4, wherein the electronic sensor is configured to provide a count of operational cycles of the nebulizer.

10. The nebulizer of claim 4, wherein the electronic sensor further comprises programming code defining instructions for causing the electronic sensor to report on at least one of duration, frequency or speed of operation of the nebulizer.

11. The nebulizer of claim 1, further comprising a ventilator circuit removably attached to said chamber air outlet.

12. The nebulizer of claim 1, further comprising a mouthpiece removably attached with said chamber air outlet.

13. The nebulizer of claim 1, wherein the air inlet is positioned at a top portion of the chamber.

14. A method of supplying a nebulized substance, the method comprising:

providing a nebulizer having a housing and a sensor associated with the housing;

in coordination with a breathing cycle of a patient, changing a nebulizing gap between a gas outlet and a diverter, where a size of the nebulizing gap is changed in a linear continuous manner, between a nebulizing position where gas from the outlet is diverted across a liquid outlet in the housing to nebulize a substance, and a non-nebulizing position, where no aerosol is produced; and

monitoring a movement of the nebulizing gap to monitor a number of cycles of operation of the nebulizer with the sensor.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the sensor comprises an electronic sensor and monitoring the number of cycles comprises monitoring the number of cycles with the electronic sensor.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein monitoring the number of cycles comprises sensing a change in capacitance during operation of the nebulizer.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein monitoring the number of cycles comprises providing a count of operational cycles of the nebulizer.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein monitoring the number of cycles comprises monitoring at least one of duration, frequency or speed of operation of the nebulizer.