Nebulizer and cartridge

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

• an insertable cartridge (3) containing the fluid (2) to be nebulized,
• a holder (6) for holding the cartridge (3),
• a delivery mechanism (5) for delivering and/or pressurizing the fluid (2), and
• a connecting element (9) for fluidically connecting the cartridge (3) to the delivery mechanism (5) or a pump thereof, wherein:
• the cartridge (3) comprises a container (20) containing the fluid (2) and a closure (21) with an opening (23D) for receiving the connecting element (9) for fluidically connecting the cartridge (3) to the nebulizer (1),
• the connecting element (9) includes a rigid capillary tube sized and shaped to be received into the opening (23D) when the connecting element (9) is moved axially onto the cartridge (3),
• the closure (21) comprises a moveable closure element (24) forming a valve (29) that is opened when the rigid capillary tube of the connecting element (9) is received in order to provide a fluidic connection of the cartridge (3) or fluid (2) to the connecting element (9), wherein the valve (29) is adapted to stay open as long as the connecting element (9) is held in the closure (21) or opening (23D) thereof,
• axial movement of the rigid capillary tube against one end of the closure element (24) causes an opposite end of the closure element (24) to move axially into the fluid (2) as the connecting element (9) is received into the opening (23D), such that the opposite end of the closure element (24) displaces a displacement volume of the fluid (2) through an axial channel (24G) within the closure element (24) and into the rigid capillary tube of the connecting element (9), and thereafter to the delivery mechanism (5), and
• a size of the displacement volume is at least two doses of the fluid (2) to be nebulized, where one dose of the fluid is defined as an amount of the fluid (2) that is nebulized out to a user upon one actuation of the nebulizer (1) by the user.

A method, comprising:

• arranging a cartridge (3) containing a fluid (2) to be nebulized by a nebulizer (1) for nebulizing the fluid (2), where the cartridge (3) comprises a closure (21) with an opening (23D),
• fluidically connecting the cartridge (3) to a delivery mechanism (5) of the nebulizer (1), and
• inserting a connecting element (9) of the nebulizer (1) into the closure (21) of the cartridge (3) to fluidically connect the cartridge (3) with the delivery mechanism (5) or a pump thereof, where the connecting element (9) includes a rigid capillary tube sized and shaped to be received into the opening (23D) when the connecting element (9) is moved axially onto the cartridge (3), such that:
• (i) a moveable closure element (24) of the closure (21) forms a valve (29) that is opened when the rigid capillary tube of the connecting element (9) is received in order to provide a fluidic connection of the cartridge (3) or fluid (2) to the connecting element (9), wherein the valve (29) is adapted to stay open as long as the connecting element (9) is held in the closure (21) or opening (23D) thereof, and
• (ii) axial movement of the rigid capillary tube against one end of the closure element (24) causes an opposite end of the closure element (24) to move axially into the fluid (2) as the connecting element (9) is received into the opening (23D), such that the opposite end of the closure element (24) displaces a displacement volume of the fluid (2) through an axial channel (24G) within the closure element (24) and into the rigid capillary tube of the connecting element (9), and thereafter to a delivery mechanism (5) of the nebulizer (1),
• wherein a size of the displacement volume is at least two doses of the fluid (2) to be nebulized, where one dose of the fluid is defined as an amount of the fluid (2) that is nebulized out to a user upon one actuation of the nebulizer (1) by the user.