Nebulizer apparatus and method
First Claim
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1. A breath-actuated nebulizer comprising:
- a housing having a horizontal section defining an upper airway and an air outlet for transporting an aerosol to a patient, and a vertical section defining a fluid reservoir;
a pressurized gas inlet adjacent a fluid orifice, the pressurized gas inlet positioned to direct pressurized gas from the vertical section in a direction perpendicular to the horizontal section; and
an actuating assembly horizontally movable relative to the pressurized gas inlet in response to breathing of the patient through the horizontal section, wherein the actuating assembly comprises;
a shaft extending through the horizontal section, the shaft having a first end movably connected with the horizontal section; and
first and second arms each having a proximal end connected to a second end of the shaft at a perpendicular angle to the shaft, and the first and second arms each having a distal end movable relative to the pressurized gas inlet, wherein the actuating assembly is movable to a nebulizing position in response to an inhalation of the patient and wherein the actuating assembly is movable to a non-nebulizing position in response to exhalation of the patient.
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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.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A breath-actuated nebulizer comprising:
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a housing having a horizontal section defining an upper airway and an air outlet for transporting an aerosol to a patient, and a vertical section defining a fluid reservoir; a pressurized gas inlet adjacent a fluid orifice, the pressurized gas inlet positioned to direct pressurized gas from the vertical section in a direction perpendicular to the horizontal section; and an actuating assembly horizontally movable relative to the pressurized gas inlet in response to breathing of the patient through the horizontal section, wherein the actuating assembly comprises; a shaft extending through the horizontal section, the shaft having a first end movably connected with the horizontal section; and first and second arms each having a proximal end connected to a second end of the shaft at a perpendicular angle to the shaft, and the first and second arms each having a distal end movable relative to the pressurized gas inlet, wherein the actuating assembly is movable to a nebulizing position in response to an inhalation of the patient and wherein the actuating assembly is movable to a non-nebulizing position in response to exhalation of the patient. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A breath-actuated nebulizer comprising:
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a housing having a horizontal section defining an upper airway and an air outlet for transporting an aerosol to a patient, and a vertical section defining a fluid reservoir; a pressurized gas inlet adjacent a fluid orifice, the pressurized gas inlet positioned in a vertical orientation that is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the horizontal section of the housing, the pressurized gas inlet fixedly positioned to direct pressurized gas from the vertical section in a direction perpendicular to the horizontal section; an actuating assembly comprising; a shaft that is horizontally movable in the upper airway in response to breathing of the patient through the horizontal section; a pair of arms extending from the shaft, and movable with the shaft in a direction perpendicular to the vertical orientation of the pressurized gas inlet; a gap defined between a first distal end of a first of the pair of arms and a second distal end of a second of the pair or arms; and wherein the first and second distal ends, and the gap, are movable to a nebulizing position in response to an inhalation of the patient and wherein the first and second distal ends, and the gap, are movable to a non-nebulizing position in response to exhalation of the patient. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification