Nebulizer and method of operation of a nebulizer

• US 9,192,957 B2
• Filed: 07/20/2011
• Issued: 11/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: system Assistance Medical
• Original Assignee: system Assistance Medical
• Inventors: Cinquin, Sebastien
• Primary Examiner(s): Hand, Melanie
• Assistant Examiner(s): HAIRELL, AUNDRIA C
• Application Number:
  US13/186,990
• Publication Number:
  US 20120017894A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,588 Days
• Field of Search: 12820011-20022, 128/200.24, 128/203.12, 128/203.15, 128/202.22, 128/205.23
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/005 using ultrasonics spraying or atomising liquids using ultrasonic vibrations in general B05B17/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0085 using ultrasonics spraying or atomising liquids using ultrasonic vibrations in general B05B17/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/18 with alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3375 Acoustical, e.g. ultrasonic, measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3386 Low level detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/581 by audible feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/583 by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/002 designed to reduce the generation or the transmission of noise or to produce a particular sound; associated with noise monitoring means
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/004 comprising sensors for monitoring the delivery, e.g. by displaying the sensed value or generating an alarm B05B12/08 takes precedence; registering or indicating the condition or the working of machines or other apparatus in general G07C3/00
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/08 responsive to condition of liquid or other fluent material to be discharged, of ambient medium or of target ; responsive to condition of spray devices or of supply means, e.g. pipes, pumps or their drive means
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/081 responsive to the weight of a reservoir or container for liquid or other fluent material; responsive to level or volume of liquid or other fluent material in a reservoir or container
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 15/14 Arrangements for preventing or controlling structural damage to spraying apparatus or its outlets, e.g. for breaking at desired places; Arrangements for handling or replacing damaged parts
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 17/0615 spray being produced at the free surface of the liquid or other fluent material in a container and subjected to the vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/14 using acoustic emission techniques echo of particles G01N29/046; measuring mechanical vibrations or acoustic waves in solids in general G01H1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/4427 with stored values, e.g. threshold values
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/4454 Signal recognition, e.g. specific values or portions, signal events, signatures

Abstract

Nebulizer and method of operation of a nebulizer comprising a cupel capable of containing a liquid and a vibrating member (4) capable of emitting, under the effect of a control signal originating from a control circuit (10), an ultrasound beam making it possible to transform the liquid into mist, in which the vibrating member (4) is sensitive to the sound wave produced during the transformation of the liquid into mist and detection means (14) detect the presence and/or the absence and/or the value of a sound signal originating from the vibrating member, or of a signal corresponding to a sound signal originating from said vibrating member.

Claims

1. A nebulizer comprising:

a cup to contain a liquid; and

a vibrating member configured to emit, under an effect of a control signal originating from a control circuit, an ultrasound beam to transform the liquid into mist; and

analysis circuitry configured to

detect a sound signal originating or coming from said vibrating member, representative of a sound wave produced during the transformation of the liquid into the mist in the cup,

determine variations in emitted sound associated with the liquid in the cup by comparing a value of the sound signal, which represents a quantity of the liquid in the cup, to a threshold (TH), which represents a predetermined minimum quantity of the liquid for the cup, at successive determined comparison times,

count a number of consecutive different times at which the value of said sound signal, which represents the quantity of the liquid in the cup, is equal to or less than said sound signal threshold, which represents the predetermined minimum quantity of the liquid for the cup, and

deliver, based on the variations in emitted sound associated with the liquid in the cup, a warning signal representing an insufficient quantity of the liquid in the cup, when the number of consecutive different times is equal to a predetermined second threshold that is different from said sound signal threshold.

2. The nebulizer according to claim 1, further comprising a sound or light warning element subjected to the analysis circuitry.

3. The nebulizer according to claim 1, wherein the vibrating member is located beneath the cup.

4. The nebulizer according to claim 1, wherein the vibrating member is a piezoceramic component.

5. A method for a nebulizer including a cup to contain a liquid and a vibrating member configured to emit, under an effect of a control signal originating from a control circuit, an ultrasound wave to transform the liquid into mist, the method comprising:

detecting a sound signal (Sc) originating from said vibrating member, representative of a sound wave produced during the transformation of the liquid into the mist in the cup;

determining variations in emitted sound associated with the liquid in the cup by comparing a value of said sound signal, which represents a quantity of the liquid in the cup, to a sound signal threshold (TH), which represents a predetermined minimum quantity of the liquid for the cup, at successive determined comparison times;

counting a number of consecutive different times at which the value of said sound signal, which represents the quantity of the liquid in the cup, is equal to or less than said sound signal threshold, which represents the predetermined minimum quantity of the liquid for the cup; and

delivering, based on the variations in emitted sound associated with the liquid in the cup, a warning signal representing an insufficient quantity of the liquid in the cup, when the number of consecutive different times is equal to a predetermined second threshold that is different from said sound signal threshold.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising deactivating the control circuit when the warning signal is delivered.

7. The method according to claim 5, further comprising emitting, by the vibrating member, the ultrasound wave of which the frequency is between two and three megahertz, the sound signal to be detected, that originates from said vibrating member, having a frequency of less than or equal to one hundred Hertz.

8. The method according to claim 5, wherein said comparing

compares a first value of said sound signal to said sound signal threshold during a first period of time,

compares a second value of said sound signal to said sound signal threshold during a second period of time that is different than said first period of time, in response to said first value of said sound signal being greater than said sound signal threshold during said first period of time, and

compares a third value of said sound signal to said sound signal threshold during a third period of time that is different from said first period of time and said second period of time, in response to said second value of said sound signal being equal to or less than said sound signal threshold during said second period of time.

9. The method according to claim 5, wherein said predetermined second threshold corresponds to a plural number of times.

10. A method of monitoring a liquid quantity within a nebulizer including a cup containing a liquid and a vibrating member configured to emit an ultrasound wave under an effect of a control signal originating from a control circuit, the method comprising:

detecting a first value of a sound signal, which represents a first quantity of the liquid in the cup, at a first time;

comparing the first value of the sound signal, which represents the first quantity of the liquid in the cup, to a threshold value, which represents a predetermined minimum quantity of the liquid for the cup;

determining whether the first value of the sound signal, which represents the first quantity of the liquid in the cup, is below the threshold value, which represents the predetermined minimum quantity of the liquid for the cup;

detecting a second value of the sound signal, which represents a second quantity of the liquid in the cup, at a second time, in response to the first value being below the threshold value, which represents the predetermined minimum quantity of the liquid for the cup;

determining whether the second value, which represents the second quantity of the liquid in the cup, is below the threshold value, which represents the predetermined minimum quantity of the liquid for the cup; and

delivering a warning signal representing an insufficient quantity of the liquid for the cup to the control circuit, in response to the second value being below the threshold value.