Breath-enhanced nebulizer for delivery of aerosolized drugs to ventilated patients

A breath-enhanced jet nebulizer adapted for use in administering a nebulized pharmaceutical composition to a patient (70) by inhalation wherein the patient is connected to a mechanical ventilator (60), comprising

• a. a housing (100) in a generally vertical orientation with a breathing gas channel, wherein the breathing gas channel comprises an inlet (204) in fluid communication with a mechanical ventilator (60) and an outlet (122) in fluid communication with a patient interface, and wherein breathing gases (300) flow from the inlet to the outlet (122) when the ventilator is in an inhalation phase of a breathing cycle, and wherein breathing gases (300) from the ventilator (60) are in fluid communication with the inlet (204);
• b. wherein the breathing gas channel is further defined by an internal body (200) nested in the housing (100) such that a flow of the breathing gases has a 180° turn;
• C. wherein the breathing gas channel further comprises a Venturi section in a fixed position relative to the internal body (200) having a constriction (222) in the breathing gas channel, and wherein a nebulizer air jet (260) and a liquid orifice (262) are co-located in the Venturi section, such that the air jet (260) is enclosed within the internal body (200), and wherein the liquid orifice is in fluid communication via a liquid channel (255) with a pharmaceutical composition solution (131) in a reservoir (130);
• d. wherein a nebulizer air flow (310) at the air jet (260) creates a Venturi effect that draws the pharmaceutical composition solution (131) through the liquid channel (255) to the liquid orifice (262) and wherein the pharmaceutical composition solution (131) is directed towards the air jet (260) such that the pharmaceutical composition solution is nebulized by contact with the air jet;
• e. wherein the breathing gases (300), flowing through the constriction (222) in the gas channel (220) during an inhalation enhances the Venturi effect to increase a rate of flow of the pharmaceutical composition solution to the liquid orifice (262);
• and
• f. wherein the nebulized pharmaceutical composition is carried by the breathing gas flow to the patient interface, and wherein the breathing gas flow through the nebulizer is the exclusive source of breathing gases delivered to the patient from the mechanical ventilator.