Nebulizer with flow-based fluidic control and related methods

A nebulizer comprising:

• a body comprising a reservoir for holding medication;
• a nozzle for emitting a jet of pressurized gas;
• a fluid conduit in communication with the reservoir for delivery of the medication proximate the jet to produce an aerosol of medication;
• a nebulizer outlet in communication with an interior of the body for delivery of the aerosol to a patient;
• a control conduit in fluid communication with the fluid conduit for delivery of a control gas to the fluid conduit to prevent the delivery of the medication proximate the jet, a portion of the control conduit permitting a flow of the control gas across a gap;
• and
• a flow stopper movable between a first position, in which the stopper is disposed out of the gap to permit the flow of the control gas across the gap, and a second position, in which the stopper is disposed in the gap to substantially prevent the flow of the control gas across the gap;
• wherein the inhalation by the patient causes the stopper to move from the first position to the second position.

A method of controlling a nebulization process, comprising:

• providing medication in a reservoir within a body, the body comprising an outlet for delivery of medication to a patient and an entrainment passage for providing entrainment flow from atmosphere during inhalation by the patient;
• emitting a jet of pressurized gas into the body;
• providing a fluid conduit in communication with the reservoir for delivery of the medication proximate the jet;
• preventing delivery of the medication proximate the jet by delivering a control gas to the fluid conduit via a control conduit, the control conduit comprising a gas passage proximate the entrainment passage to allow the control gas to flow across the entrainment passage;
• and
• interrupting the flow of the control gas across the entrainment passage to prevent the delivery of the control gas to the control conduit, the interruption permitting delivery of the medication proximate the jet to produce an aerosol of medication.

A method of controlling a nebulization process, comprising:

• providing medication in a reservoir within a body, the body comprising an outlet for delivering medication to a patient;
• emitting a jet of pressurized gas into the body;
• providing a fluid conduit in communication with the reservoir for delivery of the medication proximate the jet;
• preventing delivery of the medication proximate the jet by delivering a control gas to the fluid conduit via a control conduit, a portion of the control conduit permitting a flow of the control gas across a gap;
• providing a flow stopper movable between a first position, in which the stopper is disposed out of the gap to permit the flow of the control gas across the gap, and a second position, in which the stopper is disposed in the gap to substantially prevent the flow of the control gas across the gap;
• and
• interrupting the flow of the control gas across the gap by the flow stopper to prevent the delivery of the control gas to the control conduit, the interruption permitting delivery of the medication proximate the jet to produce an aerosol of medication.