Super atomizing nonchlorinated fluorocarbon medication inhaler

An atomizer for atomizing a liquid comprising:

• a body having a tip end and a base end;
• an elastomeric barrier mounted to the body, the barrier having outer and inner surfaces and a slit formed therethrough to provide restricted fluid communication between the inside and outside surfaces, the outside surface facing the ambient environment;
• and
• pressure means for providing the liquid to the inside surface at an elevated pressure so to force the liquid through the slit, the barrier configured so the liquid is atomized as it passes into the ambient environment, the pressure means including:
• a cylinder, housed within the body, opening onto the inner surface of the barrier;
• a piston mounted within the body for reciprocal movement within the cylinder between a retracted position, at least partially withdrawn from the cylinder, and a discharged position, substantially within the cylinder;
• a spring, coupled to the piston, for biasing the piston from the retracted position to the discharged position;
• a cap slidably mounted to the body at the base end;
• means for connecting the cap to the piston, so that moving the cap moves the piston therewith;
• and
• maintaining means for selectively maintaining the piston in the retracted position, the maintaining means including an outwardly biased resilient arm having an end, a catch positioned to engage the end of the arm when the piston is at the retracted position, and a trigger, manipulable by a user, for deflecting the end of the arm away from the catch to permit the spring to force the piston to the discharged position;
• the body including an axially extending annular reservoir for the liquid to be atomized in fluid communication with the cylinder when the piston is in the retracted position;
• and
• means for urging the liquid in the reservoir into the cylinder, the urging means including an axially movable ring seal mounted within the axially extending annular reservoir and a coil spring biasing the ring seal along the annular reservoir.

An atomizer for atomizing a liquid comprising:

• a body;
• an elastomeric barrier mounted to the body, the barrier having outer and inner surfaces and a slit formed therethrough to provide restricted fluid communication between the inner and outer surfaces, the outer surface facing the ambient environment;
• pressure means for providing the liquid to the inner surface at an elevated pressure so to force the liquid through the slit, the barrier configured so the liquid is atomized as it passes into the ambient environment, wherein the pressure means includes:
• a cylinder, housed within the body, opening onto the inner surface of the barrier;
• and
• a piston mounted within the body for reciprocal movement within the cylinder between a retracted position, at least partially withdrawn from the cylinder, and a discharged position, substantially within the cylinder;
• wherein the body includes an axially extending annular reservoir for the liquid to be atomized in fluid communication with the cylinder when the piston is in the retracted position;
• and,
• means for urging the liquid in the reservoir into the cylinder, the urging means including an axially movable ring seal mounted within the axially extending annular reservoir and a coil spring biasing the ring seal along the annular reservoir.

A method of atomizing a liquid comprising the steps of:

• providing a body and a cylinder housed within the body, the cylinder housing a dose of the liquid to be atomized providing an elastomeric barrier;
• fluidly coupling the dose of liquid within the cylinder to an inner surface of an elastomeric barrier having an outer surface facing an ambient environment and a slit formed therethrough to provide restricted fluid communication between the inner and outer surfaces providing a piston;;
• moving a piston from a retracted position, at least partially withdrawn from the cylinder, to a discharged position, substantially within the cylinder;
• and
• driving at least a portion of the dose of liquid in the cylinder through the slit formed in the elastomeric barrier from the inner surface to the outer surface and atomizing the liquid.