Device for producing high pressure in a fluid in miniature
AssigneeBoehringer Ingelheim GmbH
InventorsJoachim Jaeger, Pasquale Cirillo, Joachim Eicher, Johannes Geser
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A miniaturized device for pressurizing fluid. The device includes a hollow piston that provides a fluid path and a valve member. The valve member is configured for axial movement so that the valve axis remains parallel to the piston axis. The valve member is arranged at one end of the hollow piston. The valve member may be partially or completely disposed within the hollow piston. The device is particularly adapted for use in a mechanically operated atomizer to produce an inhalable aerosol of a liquid medicament without the use of propellant gas.
Claims22
A device for atomizing fluid, comprising:
- a housing having an upper housing part and a lower housing part;
- a pump housing disposed in said upper housing part;
- a nozzle disposed at one end of said pump housing;
- a cylinder disposed in said pump housing, said cylinder defining a pressure chamber;
- a hollow piston having a piston axis disposed in said cylinder;
- a valve member having a valve axis, said valve member configured for axial movement with said piston wherein the valve axis remains parallel to the piston axis, said valve member movable between an open position and a closed position, wherein fluid flows into said pressure chamber when said valve member is in the open position;
- a spring housing rotatably mounted on said upper housing part;
- a spring disposed in said spring housing;
- and
- a blocking mechanism for retaining said spring in a biased state, wherein release of said spring from the biased state causes said valve member to move to the closed position and causes said hollow piston to pressurize fluid in said pressure chamber to form pressurized fluid that is atomized by said nozzle as it exits the device.
An atomizer for spraying pressurized liquid, comprising:
- an atomizing nozzle;
- a pump for pressurizing a predetermined volume of liquid and discharging it through said atomizing nozzle, said pump comprising
- a cylinder,
- a tubular piston reciprocable in said cylinder, wherein said piston provides an inlet flow path to said cylinder beyond a first end of said piston;
- a valve member movable with said piston;
- a liquid reservoir;
- a cap for said liquid reservoir, wherein said cap is penetrated by a second end of said piston remote from said first end to permit liquid to flow from said liquid reservoir through said piston into said cylinder on an induction stroke of said pump, wherein said piston and said liquid reservoir are fixed relative to each other during operation of said pump;
- and
- pump reciprocating means for providing relative movement between said piston and said cylinder.
A reciprocating pump device for pressurizing fluid, comprising:
- a cylinder;
- a hollow cylindrical piston having a piston axis reciprocable in said cylinder, said piston providing a path for fluid to flow therethrough, wherein a portion of said piston defines a valve seat;
- a pressure chamber disposed in said cylinder, wherein fluid flows through said piston into said pressure chamber;
- a valve member movable by said piston between a closed position in contact with said valve seat and an open position spaced apart from said valve seat, said valve member comprising a surface that engages said valve seat, wherein said valve member is configured so that it cannot rotate about an axis transverse to the piston axis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.