Nebulizer apparatus and method

A nebulizer comprising:

• a housing having a chamber for holding an aerosol;
• an air outlet communicating with said chamber for permitting said aerosol to be withdrawn from said chamber;
• a liquid outlet located in said chamber;
• a pressurized gas outlet located in said chamber adjacent to said liquid outlet;
• and
• means for cycling generation of an aerosol from said liquid outlet, wherein said cycling means comprises a variable height nebulizing gap defined at a first boundary by a movable gas diverter and defined at a second boundary by said liquid outlet and said pressurized gas outlet, said gas diverter movable between a nebulizing position and a non-nebulizing position by changes in pressure associated with breathing of a patient.

A nebulizer for providing an aerosol flow of a medicine to a patient comprising:

• a housing having a chamber and a liquid reservoir;
• a biasing member attached to said housing;
• a first nozzle positioned inside said housing, said first nozzle having a first pressurized gas outlet and a first liquid outlet, said first pressurized gas outlet connected to a source of pressurized gas and first said liquid outlet connected to said liquid reservoir;
• and
• at least one adjustable gas diverter opposite said first nozzle and biased by said biasing member to an initial position, wherein said at least one adjustable gas diverter is movable from said initial position to a predetermined distance from said first pressurized gas outlet in response to a force from an inhalation of the patient.

A method of supplying nebulized medication to a patient comprising the steps of:

• providing a nebulizer having a chamber outlet for delivery to a patient, a chamber, a biasing member attached to said chamber, and a gas diverter attached to said biasing member inside said chamber;
• inhaling air from said chamber through said patient outlet;
• moving said biasing member with the force of said inhaled air, said biasing member moving said gas diverter from an initial position to a predetermined distance from a pressurized gas outlet;
• causing a negative pressure over a liquid outlet by injecting pressurized air from said gas outlet and deflecting said air into said chamber with said gas diverter;
• and
• drawing medication through said liquid outlet with said negative pressure.

A nebulizer for nebulizing a medication during a patient's inhalation stage comprising:

• a housing having a chamber, a chamber air outlet connected to said chamber, and a liquid reservoir;
• a biasing member attached to said housing;
• an air passageway comprising a hollow tube connecting an ambient air opening to a chamber opening located in said chamber;
• a variable height nebulizing gap defined at a first boundary by a movable breath-sensitive gas diverter and defined at a second boundary by a fixed nozzle, said gas diverter movable to a nebulizing position by said patient's inhalation, said gas diverter movable to a non-nebulizing position by said patient's exhalation;
• and
• said nozzle positioned inside said housing opposite said adjustable gas diverter, said nozzle having a pressurized gas outlet and a liquid outlet, said liquid outlet connected to said liquid reservoir.

A nebulizer comprising:

• a housing defining a chamber;
• a gas outlet located in said chamber;
• a liquid outlet located in said chamber, said liquid outlet located adjacent said gas outlet so that pressurized gas from said gas outlet is directed across said liquid outlet to cause nebulization thereof;
• a ring baffle located in said chamber on an inner wall of said housing;
• and
• an adjustable gas diverter opposite said liquid outlet and said gas outlet and biased by a biasing member to an initial position, wherein said adjustable gas diverter is movable from said initial position to a predetermined distance from said liquid outlet and said gas outlet in response to a force from an inhalation of a patient.

A nebulizer comprising:

• a housing having a chamber for holding an aerosol and a reservoir for holding a liquid to be nebulized,
• said reservoir comprising:
• a first relatively wide portion;
• and
• a second relatively narrow but high portion located underneath the first portion;
• a gas outlet located in said chamber;
• a liquid outlet located in said chamber and communicating with a liquid reservoir opening located in said second portion of said reservoir;
• and
• an adjustable gas diverter opposite said liquid outlet and said gas outlet and biased by a biasing member to an initial position, wherein said adjustable gas diverter is movable from said initial position to a predetermined distance from said liquid outlet and said gas outlet in response to a force from an inhalation of a patient.

A nebulizer for providing an aerosol flow of a medicine to a patient comprising:

• a housing having a chamber;
• a nozzle located in said chamber, said nozzle having a gas outlet and a liquid outlet;
• a diverter opposite said nozzle;
• wherein the diverter is movable into a nebulizing position in proximity with said nozzle and into a non-nebulizing position out of proximity with said nozzle as a function of a pressure difference resulting from a patient's breathing.