Powder nebulizer apparatus and method of nebulization

A nebulizer device comprising:

• a nebulizer housing having a generally conical-shaped or funicular lower housing portion defining an interior volume enclosed by the housing;
• a gas jet member at an upper portion of the housing, extending through the housing, comprising a first, upper gas jet member with an upper inlet portion coupleable to a source of carrier gas, and a lower portion forming a discharge passage and a second gas jet member, with the seond gas jet member coaxially disposed in closed flow communication with the first gas jet member, with the second gas jet member having an upper portion defining a receiving volume for receiving carrier gas discharged from the discharge passage of the first gas jet member, wherein the receiving volume is of greater transverse cross-section than the discharge passage of the first gas jet member, and the second gas jet member defines a lower discharge passage, which is of substantially reduced transverse cross-section relative to the receiving volume, for directing gas downwardly to the lower extremity of the conical-shaped or funicular lower portion of the nebulizer housing;
• and
• an exit port at the upper portion of the nebulizer housing, in transversely outwardly spaced relationship to the gas jet member, for discharge of solids-containing carrier gas from the nebulizer housing to an exterior treatment locus.

A method of forming a solid particle dispersion in a carrier gas stream, for delivery to a patient, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a nebulizer housing defining an enclosed interior volume and comprising (i) a generally conical-shaped or funicular lower housing portion containing particulate solid to be dispersed, in the lower housing portion interior volume, and (ii) an upper housing portion;
• introducing the carrier gas stream to the upper housing portion interior volume, and forming the carrier gas stream into a jet of carrier gas in said upper housing portion interior volume by passing the carrier gas stream in said upper housing portion interior volume through a first nozzle, expanding the gas from the first nozzle in an expansion zone, and passing expanded gas from the expansion zone through a second nozzle to discharge the gas in a jet, wherein the transverse cross-section of the expansion zone is substantially greater than the transverse cross-section of the first nozzle, and the transverse cross-section of the second nozzle is substantially less than the transverse cross-section of the expansion zone;
• directing the jet of carrier gas downwardly from the upper housing portion interior volume where it has been formed by gas passage through the first nozzle, expansion zone, and second nozzle, toward the lower housing portion comprising the lower extremity of the generally conical-shaped or funicular receptacle, to entrain particles of the particulate solid in the gas;
• and
• discharging particulate solids-containing gas from the receptacle.

Apparatus for forming a solid particle dispersion in a carrier gas stream, said apparatus comprising:

• a generally conical-shaped or funicular receptacle means containing particulate solid to be dispensed;
• a gas jet member which directs a jet of carrier gas downwardly toward the lower extremity of the generally conical-shaped or funicular receptacle to entrain particles of the particulate solid in the gas, wherein the gas jet member comprises a first, upper gas jet member with a discharge passage and a second gas jet member disposed in closed flow communication with the first gas jet member, with the second gas jet member having an upper portion defining a receiving volume for receiving carrier gas discharged from the discharge passage of the first gas jet member, and wherein the receiving volume is of substantially greater transverse cross-section than the discharge passage of the first gas jet member, and the second gas jet member defines a lower discharge passage which is of substantially reduced transverse cross-section, relative to the receiving volume;
• and
• means for discharging particulate solids-containing gas from the receptacle.

A nebulizer device comprising:

• a nebulizer housing having a generally conical-shaped or funicular lower housing portion defining an interior volume enclosed by the housing;
• a gas jet member at the upper portion of the housing, extending through the housing, with an upper inlet portion coupleable to a source of compressed carrier gas, and a lower portion forming a discharge structure for directing gas downwardly to the lower extremity of the conical-shaped or funicular lower portion of the nebulizer housing;
• an exit port at the upper portion of the nebulizer housing, in transversely outwardly spaced relationship to the gas jet member, for discharge of solids-containing carrier gas from the nebulizer housing to an exterior treatment locus;
• and
• passage means for receiving gas from the interior volume and channeling same to the discharge structure for entrainment in the gas directed from the discharge structure.