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an air outlet communicating with the chamber for permitting the aerosol to be withdrawn from the chamber;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 plurality of conduits positioned in the chamber, each of the plurality of conduits oriented to direct a respective one of a gas or a fluid into the chamber;
a conduit blocking portion attached to an actuator piston assembly and movably positioned in the chamber relative to the plurality of conduits, the conduit blocking portion configured for movement in response to a manual force applied to an actuator attached to the actuator piston assembly and positioned on an exterior of the housing, and configured for movement in response to a pressure change in the chamber, between a nebulizing position and a non-nebulizing position to block at least a portion of one of the plurality of conduits in the non-nebulizing position and to unblock the at least the portion of the one of the plurality of conduits in the nebulizing position.
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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.
200 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and a chamber for holding an aerosol; an air outlet communicating with the chamber for permitting the aerosol to be withdrawn from the chamber; a plurality of conduits positioned in the chamber, each of the plurality of conduits oriented to direct a respective one of a gas or a fluid into the chamber; a conduit blocking portion attached to an actuator piston assembly and movably positioned in the chamber relative to the plurality of conduits, the conduit blocking portion configured for movement in response to a manual force applied to an actuator attached to the actuator piston assembly and positioned on an exterior of the housing, and configured for movement in response to a pressure change in the chamber, between a nebulizing position and a non-nebulizing position to block at least a portion of one of the plurality of conduits in the non-nebulizing position and to unblock the at least the portion of the one of the plurality of conduits in the nebulizing position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A breath actuated nebulizer for providing an aerosol to an inhaling patient, the nebulizer comprising:
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a housing having an ambient air inlet and a chamber defining an open area for holding an aerosol; an air outlet communicating with the chamber for permitting the aerosol to be withdrawn from the chamber; a plurality of conduits positioned in the chamber, each of the plurality of conduits oriented to direct a respective one of a gas or a fluid into the chamber; a conduit blocking portion movably positioned in the open area of the chamber relative to the plurality of conduits, the conduit blocking portion movable between a nebulizing position and a non-nebulizing position to block at least a portion of one of the plurality of conduits in response to an exhalation of air into the chamber via the air outlet and to unblock the at least the portion of the one of the plurality of conduits in the nebulizing position in response to an inhalation of air from the chamber via the air outlet. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification