US 11,883,580 B2 · Nebulizer and cartridge

Abstract

A nebulizer for nebulizing a fluid from a cartridge and a cartridge for such a nebulizer is proposed. The cartridge comprises a container containing the fluid to be nebulized and is fluidically connected to the nebulizer by inserting a connecting element of the nebulizer for conveying the fluid out of the container. The cartridge is preferably adapted to sealingly receive the connecting element and can optionally comprise a membrane or sealing wall which seals the cartridge initially and is piercable or breakable by the connecting element upon insertion. The cartridge can further comprise an at least partially flexible and/or bendable tube for conveying the fluid out of the container. The tube is preferably wettable with the fluid and/or comprises an at least partially hydrophilic and/or polar surface. Further, the tube can at least partially be shaped as a helix. When the cartridge is connected to the nebulizer, the tube and the connecting element preferably form a continuous capillary and/or an at least essentially constant flow area.

Claims57

Dependent claims

A cartridge (3) for a nebulizer (1) for nebulizing of a fluid (2), the fluid (2) being a pharmaceutical composition/formulation and/or a liquid medicament, the cartridge (3) comprising:

a container (4) containing the fluid (2) to be nebulized,
a tube (25) disposed within the container (4) for conveying the fluid (2) out of the container (4), and being at least partially flexible and/or bendable,
a closure (7) with a connection port (9) cooperating with an opening of the container (4) for fluidically and/or sealingly connecting the container (4) to a nebulizer (1),
an adapter (26) mechanically and/or fluidically connecting the tube (25) to the connection port (9) of the closure (7) by sealingly receiving the connection port (9) therein, such that the container (4) is in fluidic communication with a connecting element (14) of the nebulizer (1), and
a rigid intermediate piece (29) to fluidically connect the tube (25) to the connecting element (14), wherein
the intermediate piece (29) is axially moveably, and axially pushable, into or onto or together with the tube (25) by the connecting element (14) in order to compensate length tolerances of the connecting element (14).

3 more elements

A nebulizer (1) for a fluid (2), comprising:

a cartridge (3) with a container (4) containing the fluid (2),
a housing (20) for receiving the cartridge (3),
a delivery mechanism (10) for pressurizing the fluid (2) after the fluid is withdrawn from the cartridge, and
a connecting element (14) for fluidically connecting the cartridge (3) to the delivery mechanism (10), wherein:
the cartridge (3) comprises a tube (25) disposed within the container (4) for conveying the fluid (2) out of the container (4), and being at least partially flexible and/or bendable,
a closure (7) with a connection port (9) cooperating with an opening of the container (4) for fluidically and/or sealingly connecting the container (4) to the nebulizer (1),
an adapter (26) mechanically and/or fluidically connecting the tube (25) to the connection port (9) of the closure (7) by sealingly receiving the connection port (9) therein, such that the container (4) is in fluidic communication with the connecting element (14) of the nebulizer (1),
the cartridge (3) comprises a rigid intermediate piece (29) to fluidically connect the tube A (25) to the connecting element (14), and wherein
the intermediate piece (29) is axially moveably, and axially pushable, into or onto or together with the tube (25) by the connecting element (14) in order to compensate length tolerances of the connecting element (14).

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Nebulizer and cartridge

Life of this patent

Nebulizer and cartridge

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims57