Nebulizer and inhalation device containing same
OwnerMichael Bono, Gary Ruffinventors
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Abstract
Improved nebulizers and aerosol inhalation devices including these nebulizers are provided by this invention. The disclosed nebulizers are suitable for supplying an aerosol mist to a patient and include a liquid inlet for receiving a liquid, a gas inlet for receiving a pressurized gas and an aerosol outlet for providing an aerosol mist. An important aspect of this invention is the addition of gas swirling means or flow controlling means for creating a swirling action or a tangential velocity to the gas forming the aerosol. The nebulizer and other devices of this invention can produce an aerosol mist having an obscuration of at least 10% and a median droplet size of less than 1 .mu.m.
Claims23
An aerosol inhalation device for supplying an aerosol mist to a patient, comprising:
- a nebulizer having a liquid reservoir for containing a liquid, a gas inlet for receiving a pressurized gas, and an aerosol outlet;
- a first conduit connected to said nebulizer and in open communication with said aerosol outlet;
- a second conduit for receiving an exhaust gas from said patient;
- said nebulizer further comprising gas flow controlling means for providing a swirling action to said gas prior to contacting said gas with said liquid to improve a/delivery of said liquid to the lungs of said patient.
A nebulizer for use in an aerosol inhalation device for supplying an aerosol mist to a patient, comprising:
- a liquid inlet for receiving a liquid;
- a gas inlet for receiving a pressurized gas;
- an aerosol outlet for providing an aerosol mist;
- and
- gas swirling means for providing a swirling action to said gas prior to contacting said gas with said liquid to form said aerosol mist.
A method of providing an aerosol mist to a patient, comprising:
- providing an aerosol inhalation device including a nebulizer having a liquid inlet for receiving a liquid, a gas inlet for receiving a pressurized gas, and an aerosol outlet for providing an aerosol mist;
- a first conduit connected to said nebulizer and in open communication with said aerosol outlet;
- a second conduit for receiving an exhaust gas from said patient;
- said nebulizer further including gas flow controlling means for providing a tangential velocity to said gas to improve its shearing action prior to contacting said liquid;
- permitting said patient to breathe said aerosol mist through said aerosol inhalation device;
- said aerosol mist having an obscuration rating of at least about 10% and a median liquid droplet size of no greater than 1 .mu.m.
A nebulizer for use in an aerosol inhalation device for supplying an aerosol mist to a patient, comprising:
- a liquid reservoir for storing a prescribed liquid;
- a gas inlet for receiving a pressurized gas;
- a venturi tube connected to said gas inlet for providing an axial jet velocity to said pressurized gas, said venturi tube having:
- a conical cross-section;
- a larger venturi tube inlet opening located distally from said gas inlet;
- and
- a relatively smaller venturi tube outlet opening located distally from said venturi tube inlet opening;
- a gas deflection member located within said venturi tube between said venturi tube inlet and outlet openings for providing a tangential velocity to said pressurized gas prior to contacting said liquid;
- a fluid conduit for providing passage of a portion of said prescribed liquid from said liquid reservoir to a point located distally from said venturi tube outlet opening upon the production of a vacuum by said venturi tube;
- a baffle located distally from said venturi tube outlet opening for contacting said aerosol mist and reducing an amount of droplets in said aerosol mist which exceed about 3 .mu.m;
- and
- an aerosol outlet for connecting to a first conduit of an aerosol inhalation device;
- said nebulizer providing an aerosol mist having an obscuration rating of at least 10% and a median droplet size of less than 1 .mu.m.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.