Nebulizer apparatus and method
First Claim
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1. A nebulizer comprising:
- a housing having a chamber for holding an aerosol;
an air outlet communicating with the chamber for permitting the aerosol to be withdrawn from the chamber;
an air inlet in communication with the chamber for allowing a supply of air to enter the chamber;
a pressurized gas inlet positioned adjacent a fluid orifice, wherein the pressurized gas inlet is in communication with the chamber and the fluid orifice is in communication with a fluid channel, wherein the fluid channel comprises a needle having an end configured to pierce a sealed fluid source removably attachable to the nebulizer;
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 the fluid orifice;
a diverter positioned in the chamber adjacent the pressurized gas inlet, and configured to divert pressurized gas over the fluid orifice, wherein a gap defined by the diverter and the fluid orifice defines a position of an aerosolization plane extending substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the pressurized gas inlet; and
wherein the chamber has a first diameter in a plane substantially co-planar with the aerosolization plane and a second diameter in a plane other than the aerosolization plane, and wherein the first diameter is greater than the second diameter.
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Abstract
A nebulizer for efficiently and reliably delivering aerosolized fluid to an inhaling patient is disclosed. The nebulizer, in one embodiment, 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. The nebulizer also includes a fluid return channel to a fluid source, such as a removable vial, containing fluid to be aerosolized.
125 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A nebulizer comprising:
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a housing having a chamber for holding an aerosol; an air outlet communicating with the chamber for permitting the aerosol to be withdrawn from the chamber; an air inlet in communication with the chamber for allowing a supply of air to enter the chamber; a pressurized gas inlet positioned adjacent a fluid orifice, wherein the pressurized gas inlet is in communication with the chamber and the fluid orifice is in communication with a fluid channel, wherein the fluid channel comprises a needle having an end configured to pierce a sealed fluid source removably attachable to the nebulizer; 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 the fluid orifice; a diverter positioned in the chamber adjacent the pressurized gas inlet, and configured to divert pressurized gas over the fluid orifice, wherein a gap defined by the diverter and the fluid orifice defines a position of an aerosolization plane extending substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the pressurized gas inlet; and wherein the chamber has a first diameter in a plane substantially co-planar with the aerosolization plane and a second diameter in a plane other than the aerosolization plane, and wherein the first diameter is greater than the second diameter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A nebulizer for generating an aerosol, the nebulizer comprising:
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a housing having a chamber, the chamber defined by a base removably connected with a cover, wherein the chamber is configured to hold the aerosol and the base is configured to releasably connect with a sealed fluid source; an air outlet communicating with the chamber for permitting the aerosol to be withdrawn from the chamber; an air inlet in communication with the chamber for permitting a supply of air to enter the chamber, the air inlet having a one-way air inlet valve; a pressurized gas inlet located in the chamber; a fluid orifice positioned at a fixed location in the chamber relative to the pressurized gas inlet, the fluid orifice adapted to receive fluid via a fluid channel, wherein the fluid channel comprises a needle having an end configured to pierce the sealed fluid source removably attachable to the nebulizer; 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 the fluid orifice; a diverter positioned in the chamber in a fixed position relative to the pressurized gas inlet and the fluid orifice to divert pressurized gas from the pressurized gas inlet over the fluid orifice; and wherein the fluid channel air inlet valve is configured to close the fluid channel air inlet in response to a first negative pressure level in the chamber and the air inlet valve is configured to open the air inlet to a permit air to enter the chamber in response to a second negative pressure level in the chamber, wherein the first negative pressure level is less than the second negative pressure level. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A nebulizer for generating an aerosol, the nebulizer comprising:
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a housing defining a chamber configured to hold an aerosol; an air outlet communicating with the chamber for permitting the aerosol to be withdrawn from the chamber; an air inlet in communication with the chamber for permitting a supply of air to enter the chamber; a pressurized gas inlet located in the chamber; a fluid orifice positioned at a fixed location in the chamber relative to the pressurized gas inlet, the fluid orifice adapted to receive fluid via a fluid channel, wherein the fluid channel comprises a needle having an end configured to pierce a sealed fluid source removably attachable to the nebulizer; 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 the fluid orifice; a valve seat positioned at the fluid channel air inlet and sized to receive the fluid channel air inlet valve, wherein the seat has a curved surface and the fluid channel air inlet valve comprises a complementary curved surface positioned to mate with the curved surface of the valve seat; and a diverter positioned in the chamber in a fixed position relative to the pressurized gas inlet and the fluid orifice to divert pressurized gas from the pressurized gas inlet over the fluid orifice. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification