NEBULIZER APPARATUS AND METHOD

• US 20090272820A1
• Filed: 07/13/2009
• Published: 11/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trudell Medical International (Trudell Medical Limited)
• Original Assignee: Trudell Medical International (Trudell Medical Limited)
• Inventors: Blacker, Rick, Foley, Martin P., Grychowski, Jerry
• Granted Patent: US 8,397,712 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 239/338
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/002 by flow deviation causing inertial separation of transported particles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/06 of the injector type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0091 mechanically breath-triggered
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0093 without arming or cocking, e.g. acting directly on the delivery valve

Abstract

A nebulizer for efficiently and reliably delivering aerosolized fluid to an inhaling patient is disclosed. The nebulizer 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. Also provided is a method of providing nebulization including the steps of moving a fluid channel air inlet valve against a fluid channel air inlet so that a negative pressure may build up over the fluid in the fluid channel to draw fluid from the fluid reservoir and begin nebulization during inhalation.

Claims

1-35. -35. (canceled)

36. 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an air outlet communicating with the chamber for permitting the aerosol to be withdrawn from the chamber;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 pressurized gas inlet adjacent a fluid orifice, the pressurized gas inlet in communication with the chamber and the fluid orifice in communication with a fluid channel, wherein an end of the fluid channel is positioned in a fluid reservoir in the chamber;

a fluid channel air inlet in communication with the fluid channel and positioned between the fluid reservoir and the fluid orifice; and

a valve member positioned between the ambient air inlet and the fluid channel air inlet, wherein the valve member is responsive to a negative pressure in the chamber to permit air flow through the ambient air inlet and prevent air flow into the fluid channel air inlet, and wherein the valve member is responsive to a positive pressure in the chamber to permit air flow into the fluid channel air inlet and prevent air flow through the ambient air inlet.

37. The nebulizer of claim 36, further comprising a diverter positioned in the chamber adjacent to the pressurized gas inlet.

38. The nebulizer of claim 37, wherein the valve member comprises a flexible membrane.

39. The nebulizer of claim 38, wherein the flexible membrane comprises an elastomer.

40. The nebulizer of claim 38, wherein the flexible membrane comprises one of silicone and rubber.

41. The nebulizer of claim 36, wherein the valve member comprises a rigid material connected with a hinge.

42. The nebulizer of claim 36, wherein the housing comprises a lid resealably connectable to a container, and wherein the ambient air inlet is positioned in the lid.

43. The nebulizer of claim 42, wherein an end of the valve member is attached to the lid.

44. The nebulizer of claim 42, wherein an end of the valve member is attached to the container.

45. The nebulizer of claim 37, wherein the fluid orifice comprises an opening defined by an outer diameter of the pressurized gas inlet and an inner diameter of an end of a pressurized gas inlet cover.

46. The nebulizer of claim 45, wherein the diverter and the pressurized gas inlet are spaced apart at a fixed distance and the diverter is positioned to redirect a flow of pressurized gas at a substantially perpendicular direction from an initial direction of the flow of pressurized gas from the pressurized gas inlet.

47. The nebulizer of claim 36, wherein the pressurized gas inlet is oriented perpendicular to the fluid orifice.

49. The nebulizer of claim 45, wherein the pressurized gas inlet comprises a cone-shaped nozzle and the pressurized gas inlet cover comprises a cone-shaped sleeve coaxially positioned around the cone-shaped nozzle.

49-1. The nebulizer of claim 36, wherein the fluid orifice is in communication with a fluid reservoir positioned inside the nebulizer.

50. A nebulizer for providing an aerosol to an inhaling patient, the nebulizer comprising:

a housing having an air inlet and a chamber for holding the aerosol;

an air outlet communicating with the chamber for permitting the aerosol to be withdrawn from the chamber;

a pressurized gas inlet located in the chamber;

a fluid orifice located in the chamber adjacent the pressurized gas inlet, the fluid orifice in communication with a fluid channel and in a fixed position relative to the pressurized gas inlet, wherein an end of the fluid channel is positioned in a fluid reservoir in the chamber;

a fluid channel air inlet, wherein the fluid channel air inlet is in communication with the fluid channel; and

a valve member positioned between the air inlet and the fluid channel air inlet, wherein the valve member is movable in response to a patient'"'"'s breathing between a first position, wherein the valve member is spaced away from the fluid channel air inlet and covers the air inlet, and a second position, wherein the valve member is spaced away from the air inlet and covers the fluid channel air inlet.

51. The nebulizer of claim 50, further comprising a diverter positioned adjacent the pressurized gas inlet and in a fixed position relative to the pressurized gas inlet.

52. 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 pressurized gas inlet adjacent a fluid orifice, the pressurized gas inlet in communication with the chamber and the fluid orifice in communication with a fluid channel, wherein an end of the fluid channel is positioned in a fluid reservoir in the chamber; and

,

a valve member movable between a fluid channel air inlet defined by the fluid channel and positioned between the fluid orifice and the fluid reservoir, and an ambient air inlet, wherein when the fluid channel air inlet is sealed by the valve member nebulization is enabled and when the fluid channel air inlet is unsealed nebulization is disabled.

53. The nebulizer of claim 52, wherein the valve member is movable from the ambient air inlet to the fluid channel air inlet through physical contact with the valve member by a patient using the nebulizer.

54. The nebulizer of claim 53, wherein the valve member is moveable from the ambient air inlet to the fluid channel air inlet in response to patient inhalation through the air outlet.

55. The nebulizer of claim 52, wherein the valve member comprises a flexible membrane.