HEATED NEBULIZER DEVICES, NEBULIZER SYSTEMS, AND METHODS FOR INHALATION THERAPY

• US 20100258114A1
• Filed: 02/05/2010
• Published: 10/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vapotherm, Inc
• Original Assignee: Vapotherm, Inc
• Inventors: McGarrity, George, Boyd, Peter, Buyer, Carl, Cortez, Felino V. JR., Niland, William F.
• Granted Patent: US 8,561,607 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/200.230
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/002 by flow deviation causing inertial separation of transported particles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/005 using ultrasonics spraying or atomising liquids using ultrasonic vibrations in general B05B17/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/06 of the injector type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0666 Nasal cannulas or tubing devices for improving normal breathing through the nose A61F5/08; nose filters A62B23/06; outside holding devices A61M25/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0808 Condensation traps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0816 Joints or connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0833 T- or Y-type connectors, e.g. Y-piece
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/109 the humidifying liquid or the beneficial agent
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/1095 in the connecting tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/14 by mixing different fluids, one of them being in a liquid phase
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/16 Devices to humidify the respiration air A61M16/1045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3633 thermally insulated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/366 by liquid heat exchangers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/583 by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/7536 allowing gas passage, but preventing liquid passage, e.g. liquophobic, hydrophobic, water-repellent membranes

Abstract

Nebulizer assemblies and systems are disclosed. A nebulizer assembly includes a reservoir and a nebulizer for producing an aerosolized gas. An aerosolized gas outlet passes the aerosolized gas. A breathing gas mixing chamber is coupled to an outlet port of the nebulizer to entrain nebulized medication into a breathing gas. A system and method of heating medication in a reservoir and adding medication to a gas flow is also provided.

Claims

1. A nebulizer assembly comprising:

a reservoir for containing a liquid;

a nebulizer for producing an aerosolized gas using the liquid;

an aerosolized gas outlet coupled to the nebulizer to pass the aerosolized gas; and

a heating chamber disposed around an exterior of the reservoir, wherein the heating chamber includes a heating fluid inlet in fluid communication with the heating chamber for providing heating fluid to the heating chamber and a heating fluid outlet in fluid communication with the heating chamber for discharging the heating fluid from the heating chamber.

2. The nebulizer assembly according to claim 1, wherein the aerosolized gas outlet is in fluid communication with a flow of a breathing gas at a junction.

3. The nebulizer assembly according to claim 2, further comprising:

a breathing gas conduit having an inlet end and an outlet end in fluid communication with the junction; and

a manifold,

wherein the inlet end of the breathing gas conduit, the heating fluid inlet, and the heating fluid outlet are coupled to the manifold.

4. A method of heating a medication to be nebulized and providing the nebulized medication to a patient for inhalation, the method comprising the steps of:

generating a heated and humidified breathing gas;

transmitting the heated and humidified breathing gas through a first lumen in a delivery tube;

insulating the heated and humidified breathing gas with a fluid flowing through a second lumen in the delivery tube;

discharging the heated and humidified breathing gas from the delivery tube to a chamber;

providing a medication in a nebulizer reservoir;

transmitting the fluid from the second lumen to a heating cavity surrounding the nebulizer reservoir;

thereby heating the medication in the nebulizer reservoir with the fluid;

nebulizing the medication in the nebulizer reservoir;

combining the nebulized medication with the heated and humidified breathing gas in the chamber; and

transmitting the combined nebulized medication and heated and humidified breathing gas to a patient for inhalation.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising the step of flowing the fluid from the heating cavity to a third lumen in the delivery tube.

6. A nebulizer system comprising:

a nebulizer for generating an aerosol mist of a medication, wherein the nebulizer includes a nebulizer outlet port;

a breathing gas mixing chamber coupled to the nebulizer outlet port, wherein the breathing gas mixing chamber comprises;

a nebulizer coupling port in fluid communication with the nebulizer outlet port;

a breathing gas inlet adapted to couple to a gas delivery system;

a breathing gas outlet adapted to couple to a breathing device; and

an opening between the breathing gas inlet and the breathing gas outlet, the opening being in fluid communication with the nebulizer outlet port.

7. The nebulizer system according to claim 6, wherein the breathing gas chamber further comprises a drain port, and further comprising:

a drain collector coupled to the drain port.

8. The nebulizer system according to claim 7, wherein the drain collector includes a heat moisture exchanger-absorbent media disposed therein.

9. The nebulizer system according to claim 8, wherein the media changes color responsive to a fluid present in the media.

10. The nebulizer system according to claim 8, wherein the media comprises an anti-microbial material.

11. The nebulizer system according to claim 6, wherein the breathing gas mixing chamber further comprises a through-passage extending from the breathing gas inlet to the breathing gas outlet, the through-passage including the opening.

12. The nebulizer system according to claim 6, wherein the opening comprises a gap.

13. The nebulizer system according to claim 12, wherein the gap is less than about 5 millimeters.

14. The nebulizer system according to claim 6, further comprising a nasal cannula coupled to the breathing gas outlet port.

15. The nebulizer system according to claim 14, wherein the nasal cannula has an overall length of about 4½

inches for neonatal use.

16. A method of adding a medication to a gas flow comprising the steps of:

a) nebulizing the medication; and

b) entraining the nebulized medication into the gas flow.

17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising the step of passing the entrained, nebulized medication to a nasal cannula.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein step (b) comprises:

b1) transmitting the nebulized medication to a breathing gas mixing chamber; and

b2) transmitting the gas flow from an inlet to an outlet within the chamber, the chamber including an opening between the inlet and the outlet, wherein the gas flow draws the nebulized medication into the opening for mixing with the gas flow and passage to the outlet.

19. The method according to claim 18, further comprising the step of transmitting the gas flow with the nebulized medication to a breathing device for inhalation by a patient.

20. The method according to claim 18, further comprising the step of collecting nebulized medication not drawn into the gap in a drain collector.

21. The method according to claim 18, wherein transmitting the gas flow comprises transmitting a heated and humidified gas flow.

22. A nebulizer adaptor for entraining a nebulized medication into a breathing gas, the nebulizer adaptor comprising:

a mixing chamber;

a nebulizer coupling port adapted to coupled to a nebulizer outlet port;

a breathing gas inlet adapted to couple to a gas delivery system;

a breathing gas outlet adapted to couple to a breathing device; and

an opening between the breathing gas inlet and the breathing gas outlet, the opening being in fluid communication with the nebulizer coupling port.