Breath actuated nebulizer for ventilator circuit

A breath actuated jet nebulizer in a ventilator circuit apparatus for the administration of nebulized drugs through an endotracheal tube to a patient on a mechanical ventilator that provides breathing gases for inhalation by the patient, comprising:

• c. A ventilator breathing circuit having a mechanical ventilator and an inspiratory limb and an expiratory limb, with a jet nebulizer on the inspiratory limb, wherein the jet nebulizer requires a pressurized air supply to cause nebulization to occur;
• and
• d. A pressure sensor on the inspiratory limb, wherein the pressure sensor is in electronic communication with a solenoid that controls the pressurized air supply to the nebulizer, such that pressurized air is only supplied to the nebulizer during a pressure increase on the inspiratory limb caused by an increase in air pressure from the ventilator to force an inhalation by the patient.

A method of administering an inhaled drug to a patient on a mechanical ventilator, comprising a ventilator breathing circuit having a mechanical ventilator and an inspiratory limb and an expiratory limb;

• wherein a nebulizer and a pressure sensor are provided on the inspiratory limb, wherein the pressure sensor is in electronic communication with a solenoid that controls a pressurized air supply to the nebulizer required for nebulization to occur, such that pressurized air is only supplied to the nebulizer during a portion of the breathing cycle when the patient is inhaling, thereby nebulizing drug that is administered to the patient only when the patient is on an inhalation portion of a breathing cycle.

A method of administering an inhaled drug to a patient on a mechanical ventilator, comprising a ventilator breathing circuit having a mechanical ventilator and an inspiratory limb and an expiratory limb;

• wherein a nebulizer and a pressure sensor are provided on the inspiratory limb, wherein the pressure sensor is in electronic communication with a solenoid that controls a pressurized air supply to the nebulizer required for nebulization to occur, such that pressurized air is only supplied to the nebulizer during a pressure increase on the inspiratory limb caused by an increase in air pressure from the ventilator to force an inhalation by the patient, thereby nebulizing drug that is administered to the patient only when the patient is on an inhalation portion of a breathing cycle.