Nebulizer apparatus and method

A breath actuated nebulizer for providing an aerosol to an inhaling patient, the nebulizer comprising:

• a housing having an air inlet and a chamber for holding the aerosol;
• an air outlet communicating with the chamber for permitting the aerosol to be withdrawn from the chamber;
• a pressurized gas inlet located in the chamber;
• a fluid orifice located in the chamber adjacent the pressurized gas inlet, the fluid orifice in communication with a fluid pathway;
• and
• wherein at least a portion of the fluid pathway is adjustable in response to a patient's breathing between a nebulizing position, wherein a flow of fluid from a fluid reservoir to the fluid orifice is uninterrupted, and a non-nebulizing position wherein the flow of fluid from the fluid reservoir to the fluid orifice is interrupted.

A breath actuated nebulizer for generating an aerosol for delivery to a patient, the nebulizer comprising:

• a housing having an air inlet and a chamber for holding the aerosol;
• an air outlet communicating with the chamber for permitting the aerosol to be withdrawn from the chamber;
• a pressurized gas inlet located in the chamber;
• a pressurized gas inlet cover comprising a fixed portion and a movable portion, the pressurized gas inlet cover positioned substantially coaxially about the pressurized gas inlet, wherein a fixed fluid orifice is defined by an inner diameter of an end of the fixed portion and an outer diameter of the pressurized gas inlet;
• a diverter positioned in the chamber in a fixed position relative to the pressurized gas inlet and fixed fluid orifice, wherein pressurized gas from the pressurized gas inlet is diverted over the fluid orifice;
• and
• wherein the movable portion of the pressurized gas inlet cover moves in response to a patient's breathing between a nebulizing position, where the fluid reservoir is in communication with the fluid orifice, and a non-nebulizing position, wherein the fluid reservoir is not in communication with the fluid orifice.

A method of providing a patient with an aerosol flow of fluid comprising:

• providing a nebulizer having an air inlet for receiving air and an outlet for delivering the aerosol to the patient, a chamber in communication with the outlet, a diverter fixedly mounted in the chamber, and a movable fluid orifice responsive to movement of an actuator piston;
• inhaling air from the chamber through the outlet;
• moving the actuator piston so that the fluid orifice moves from an initial position to a predetermined distance from a pressurized gas inlet in the chamber;
• creating a negative pressure over a fluid orifice by injecting pressurized gas into the chamber and deflecting the gas against the diverter;
• and
• drawing medication through the fluid orifice with the negative pressure.

A method of generating an aerosol of a fluid comprising:

• providing a nebulizer having a diverter fixedly positioned with respect to a pressurized gas inlet in a chamber, a fluid reservoir in communication with the chamber, and an adjustable fluid pathway movably positioned to communicate fluid in the fluid reservoir with a fluid orifice in response to inhalation by the patient;
• inhaling through an air outlet connected to the chamber in the nebulizer;
• and
• adjusting a position of the fluid pathway with the force of the inhalation and beginning to aerosolize a fluid in the chamber.

A nebulizer comprising:

• a housing having an ambient air inlet and a chamber for holding an aerosol;
• an air outlet communicating with the chamber for permitting the aerosol to be withdrawn from the chamber;
• a fluid orifice movably connected with an actuator piston, the actuator piston positioned over the ambient air inlet and movable in response to an inhalation at the air outlet;
• a pressurized gas inlet adjacent the fluid orifice, the pressurized gas inlet in communication with the chamber;
• a diverter positioned in the chamber in a fixed position relative to the pressurized gas inlet;
• and,
• wherein the fluid orifice is adjustable by the actuator piston between a nebulizing position and a non-nebulizing position in response to a patient's breathing.

A breath actuated nebulizer for providing an aerosol to an inhaling patient, the nebulizer comprising:

• a housing having an air inlet and a chamber for holding the aerosol;
• an air outlet communicating with the chamber for permitting the aerosol to be withdrawn from the chamber;
• a pressurized gas inlet located in the chamber adjacent to a gas diverter, wherein the gas diverter is maintained at a fixed distance from the pressurized gas inlet;
• and
• fluid supply means for providing a supply of fluid from a reservoir to a position adjacent the pressurized gas inlet during a period of inhalation, and for restricting the supply of fluid to the position adjacent the pressurized gas inlet during an absence of inhalation, wherein at least a portion of the supply of fluid is nebulized during the period of inhalation.

A breath actuated nebulizer for providing an aerosol to an inhaling patient, the nebulizer comprising:

• a housing having an air inlet and a chamber for holding the aerosol;
• an air outlet communicating with the chamber for permitting the aerosol to be withdrawn from the chamber;
• a pressurized gas inlet located in the chamber;
• a fluid orifice located in the chamber adjacent the pressurized gas inlet, the fluid orifice in communication with a fluid pathway;
• and
• means for adjusting at least a portion of the fluid pathway in response to a patient's breathing between a nebulizing position, wherein a flow of fluid from a fluid reservoir to the fluid orifice is uninterrupted, and a non-nebulizing position wherein the flow of fluid from the fluid reservoir to the fluid orifice is interrupted.