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an air outlet communicating with the chamber for permitting the aerosol to be withdrawn from the chamber;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 gas inlet adjacent a moveable fluid orifice, the gas inlet in communication with the chamber, wherein the moveable fluid orifice comprises an opening defined by an outer diameter of the gas inlet and an inner diameter of an end of a gas inlet cover;
a diverter positioned in the chamber relative to the gas inlet; and
,a nebulization activation member accessible outside the housing, the nebulization activation member operably connected with the moveable fluid orifice and configured to maintain the nebulizer in a first operational mode at a first setting, and in a second operational mode at a second setting, wherein at the first setting the nebulization activation member is positioned to maintain the fluid orifice in a nebulizing position and the first operational mode comprises continuous nebulization.
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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.
220 Citations
16 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and a chamber for holding an aerosol; an air outlet communicating with the chamber for permitting the aerosol to be withdrawn from the chamber; a gas inlet adjacent a moveable fluid orifice, the gas inlet in communication with the chamber, wherein the moveable fluid orifice comprises an opening defined by an outer diameter of the gas inlet and an inner diameter of an end of a gas inlet cover; a diverter positioned in the chamber relative to the gas inlet; and
,a nebulization activation member accessible outside the housing, the nebulization activation member operably connected with the moveable fluid orifice and configured to maintain the nebulizer in a first operational mode at a first setting, and in a second operational mode at a second setting, wherein at the first setting the nebulization activation member is positioned to maintain the fluid orifice in a nebulizing position and the first operational mode comprises continuous nebulization. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A nebulizer for providing an aerosol to a 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 gas inlet located in the chamber; a fluid orifice located in the chamber adjacent the gas inlet, the fluid orifice in communication with a fluid pathway from a fluid reservoir, wherein the fluid orifice comprises an opening defined by an outer diameter of the gas inlet and an inner diameter of an end of a gas inlet cover; a nebulization activation member accessible outside the housing, the nebulization activation member operably connected with the fluid pathway and configured to maintain the nebulizer in a first operational mode at a first setting, and in a second operational mode at a second setting, wherein in the first setting the nebulization activation member is positioned to maintain the fluid pathway in a nebulizing position and the first operational mode comprises continuous nebulization, wherein a flow of fluid from the fluid reservoir to the fluid orifice is uninterrupted; and an actuator piston movably positioned adjacent the air inlet and connected with at least a portion of the gas inlet cover, wherein the actuator piston and the at least a portion of the gas inlet cover are movable in response to inhalation at the air outlet, in the second operational mode. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. 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 gas inlet adjacent a fluid orifice, the gas inlet in communication with the chamber; a diverter positioned in the chamber relative to the gas inlet; a nebulization activation member accessible outside the housing, the nebulization activation member operably connected with the chamber to control forming or disrupting a fluid pathway between a fluid reservoir and a fluid orifice and configured to maintain the nebulizer in a first operational mode at a first setting, and in a second operational mode at a second setting, wherein at the first setting the nebulization activation member is positioned to maintain the fluid pathway as a continuous fluid pathway and the first operational mode comprises continuous nebulization; and wherein at least one portion of the fluid orifice is adjustable in response to a patient'"'"'s breathing in the second operational mode. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification