Breath actuated nebulizer having a pressurized gas diverter with a diverter orifice
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A nebulizer comprising:
- an internal medication chamber configured for holding a medication;
a pressurized gas diverter that includes a diverter orifice; and
a diverter override mechanism configured to actuate the pressurized gas diverter when engaged, the diverter override mechanism comprising a flexible button and a rotatable flange, the rotatable flange configured to restrict the button from actuating the pressurized gas diverter when rotated in a first direction, the rotatable flange configured to permit the button to actuate the pressurized gas diverter when rotated in a second direction.
11 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A nebulizer is provided that includes an internal medication chamber and a pressurized gas diverter. The internal medication chamber is configured for holding a medication. The pressurized gas diverter includes a diverter orifice.
-
Citations
24 Claims
-
1. A nebulizer comprising:
-
an internal medication chamber configured for holding a medication; a pressurized gas diverter that includes a diverter orifice; and a diverter override mechanism configured to actuate the pressurized gas diverter when engaged, the diverter override mechanism comprising a flexible button and a rotatable flange, the rotatable flange configured to restrict the button from actuating the pressurized gas diverter when rotated in a first direction, the rotatable flange configured to permit the button to actuate the pressurized gas diverter when rotated in a second direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A nebulizer, comprising:
-
a housing having an internal medication chamber configured for holding a medication that is capable of being converted into a medical aerosol; a chamber air outlet coupled with the internal medication chamber for transferring the medical aerosol to a living being; one or more liquid outlet orifices configured for permitting pressurized gas to mix with the medication; a gas outlet orifice configured for permitting pressurized gas to shear across a surface of the one or more liquid outlet orifices, wherein the gas outlet orifice is adjacent to the one or more liquid outlet orifices; a pressurized gas diverter containing a diverter orifice configured for preventing the pressurized gas from shearing across a surface of the one or more liquid outlet orifices when an opening in the pressurized gas diverter is not at least substantially sealed; and a diverter override mechanism configured to actuate the pressurized gas diverter when engaged, the diverter override mechanism comprising a flexible button and a rotatable flange, the rotatable flange configured to restrict the button from actuating the pressurized gas diverter when rotated in a first direction, the rotatable flange configured to permit the button to actuate the pressurized gas diverter when rotated in a second direction. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A method of deactuating a nebulizer in response to breathing of a living being, the method comprising:
-
deactivating a diverter override mechanism, the diverter override mechanism configured to actuate a pressurized gas diverter when activated, the diverter override mechanism comprising a flexible button and a rotatable flange, the rotatable flange configured to deactivate the diverter override mechanism when rotated in a first direction; receiving pressurized gas into the pressurized gas diverter at a diverter orifice of the pressurized gas diverter from a gas outlet orifice of a nozzle assembly; when an opening at a top of the diverter is substantially sealed, wherein the opening at the top of the diverter is at an opposing end of the diverter from the diverter orifice, creating aerosol by permitting pressurized gas that entered an internal medication chamber by shearing across one or more liquid outlet orifices to mix with medication located in the internal medication chamber; and when the opening at the top of the diverter is not substantially sealed, reducing aerosol production by allowing the pressurized gas that entered the diverter to escape the diverter through the opening. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
-
-
24. A breath actuated nebulizer comprising:
-
an internal medication chamber configured for holding a medication that is capable of being converted into a medical aerosol; a pressurized gas diverter that includes a diverter orifice, wherein the pressurized gas diverter enables creation of the medical aerosol when actuated in response to inhalation and reduces creation of the medical aerosol when deactuated in response to a lack of breathing or exhalation; and a diverter override mechanism configured to actuate the pressurized gas diverter when engaged, the diverter override mechanism comprising a flexible button and a rotatable flange, the rotatable flange configured to restrict the button from actuating the pressurized gas diverter when rotated in a first direction, the rotatable flange configured to permit the button to actuate the pressurized gas diverter when rotated in a second direction.
-
Specification