Nebulizer

Claim 2

A nebulizer for generating an aerosol using pressurized gas, comprising: a housing having a reservoir containing material to be nebulized, said housing having an inlet, and nebulizing means mounted to said housing in fluid communication with said inlet and said reservoir and having jet power means for receiving pressurized gas through said inlet and transmitting a high-velocity gas jet, having tension means in front of said jet power means, having mixing means between said jet power means and said tension means, and having a space between said jet power means and said mixing means for said material to be drawn into the space between said jet power means and said mixing means, said tension means contiguous with said mixing means forming a restrictive passage therebetween for depositing the mixed gas and material solely on a first portion of said tension means causing the deposited mixture to move over the surface of said tension means to a second portion thereof at which point the tendency to move further and the surface tension of the mixture cause the mixture to atomize into aerosol particles of a predetermined size range minimizing unwanted small and large heavy particles.

Claim 3

The nebulizer of claim 1, wherein said mixing means has an orifice and a single recessed cavity on the exit side of said orifice enabling said gas and material to flow into said restrictive passage.

Claim 4

The nebulizer of claim 1, wherein said jet power means, said mixing means, and said tension means are slidably aligned with each other to facilitate assembly and disassembly as well as accurate alignment thereof.

Claim 5

The nebulizer of claim 1, including pressurized gas supply means slidably mating with said jet power means and pressing said jet power means against the inside wall of said inlet forming an air tight fit between said inlet, said jet power means, and said gas supply means.

Claim 6

A nebulizer for generating an aerosol using pressurized gas, comprising: a housing having an outlet for the discharge of the aerosol and an inlet aperture; a supply tube coupled to the source of pressurized gas and said inlet aperture; a reservoir mounted to said housing for containing the material to be nebulized; and an aerosol generating subassembly within said housing including, a power jet piece having an inlet section coupled to said supply tube at the inlet aperture for receiving said pressurized gas and a primary orifice for the gas to exit therefrom, a cap piece having a secondary orifice and a recessed cavity on the exit side of the secondary orifice including a rim-like surface, said cap piece being mounted on said power jet piece such that a chamber is formed between said orifices which is connected to the material to be nebulized, and a target piece mounted in alignment with said cap piece and having a target surface with a portion thereof being in close proximity to the rim-like surface forming a restrictive passage such that the material to be nebulized is uniformly deposited on said target surface as it passes through the restrictive passage and is spread over the target surface prior to separating from the target surface in the form of an aerosol, the housing further including a planar surface contiguous to the inlet aperture and two housing guideways on opposite sides of the housing, the power jet piece inlet section including a shoulder for aligning said power jet piece against the planar surface of the housing, and the target piece further including two wing plates for locating said target piece against thE housing guideways.

Claim 7

A nebulizer for generating an aerosol using pressurized gas, comprising: a housing having an outlet for the discharge of the aerosol and an inlet aperture; a supply tube coupled to the source of pressurized gas and said inlet aperture; a reservoir mounted to said housing for containing the material to be nebulized; and an aerosol generating subassembly within said housing including, a power jet piece having an inlet section coupled to said supply tube at the inlet aperture for receiving said pressurized gas and a primary orifice for the gas to exit therefrom, a cap piece having a secondary orifice and a recessed cavity on the exit side of the secondary orifice including a rim-like surface, said cap piece being mounted on said power jet piece such that a chamber is formed between said orifices which is connected to the material to be nebulized, and a target piece mounted in alignment with said cap piece and having a target surface with a portion thereof being in close proximity to the rim-like surface forming a restrictive passage such that the material to be nebulized is uniformly deposited on said target surface as it passes through the restrictive passage and is spread over the target surface prior to separating from the target surface in the form of an aerosol, the housing further including a planar surface contiguous to the inlet aperture and two housing guideways on opposite sides of the housing, the power jet piece inlet section including a shoulder for aligning said power jet piece against the planar surface of the housing, and the target piece further including two wing plates for locating said target piece against thE housing guideways.

Claim 8

A nebulizer for generating an aerosol using pressurized gas, comprising: a housing having a reservoir containing material to be nebulized, said housing having an inlet, and nebulizing means mounted to said housing in fluid communication with said inlet and said reservoir and having jet power means for receiving pressurized gas through said inlet and transmitting a high-velocity gas jet, having tension means in front of said jet power means, and having mixing means between and spaced from said jet power means and said tension means and having the center point thereof aligned with the center point of said jet power means and said tension means, said housing including a planar surface contiguous to said inlet and two housing guideways on opposite sides of said housing, said power jet means including a shoulder for aligning said power jet means against said planar surface, and said tension means including two wing plates for locating said tension means against the housing guideways.

Claim 9

A nebulizer for generating an aerosol using pressurized gas, comprising: a housing having a reservoir containing material to be nebulized, said housing having an inlet, and nebulizing means mounted to said housing in fluid communication with said inlet and said reservoir and having jet power means for receiving pressurized gas through said inlet and transmitting a high-velocity gas jet, having tension means in front of said jet power means, and having mixing means between and spaced from said jet power means and said tension means and having the center point thereof aligned with the center point of said jet power means and said tension means, said housing including a planar surface contiguous to said inlet and two housing guideways on opposite sides of said housing, said power jet means including a shoulder for aligning said power jet means against said planar surface, and said tension means including two wing plates for locating said tension means against the housing guideways.

Claim 10

A nebulizer for generating an aerosol using pressurized gas, comprising: a housing having a reservoir containing material to be nebulized, said housing having an inlet, and nebulizing means mounted to said housing in fluid communication with said inlet and said reservoir and having jet power means for receiving pressurized gas through said inlet and transmitting a high-velocity gas jet, having tension means in front of said jet power means, and having mixing means between and spaced from said jet power means and said tension means and having the center point thereof aligned with the center point of said jet power means and said tension means, said housing having guideways, said mixing means having guideways, said tension means fitting between said housing and tension means guideways for proper alignment and to enhance the rigidity of said nebulizing means.

Claim 11

A nebulizer for generating an aerosol using pressurized gas, comprising: a housing having a reservoir containing material to be nebulized, said housing having an inlet, and nebulizing means mounted to said housing in fluid communication with said inlet and said reservoir and having jet power means for receiving pressurized gas through said inlet and transmitting a high-velocity gas jet, having tension means in front of said jet power means, and having mixing means between and spaced from said jet power means and said tension means and having the center point thereof aligned with the center point of said jet power means and said tension means, said housing having guideways, said mixing means having guideways, said tension means fitting between said housing and tension means guideways for proper alignment and to enhance the rigidity of said nebulizing means.

Claim 12

A nebulizer for generating an aerosol using pressurized gas comprising a housing having an outlet for the discharge of the aerosol, an inlet aperture, a planar surface contiguous to said aperture, and two housing guideways on opposite sides of the housing and removed from said planar surface, a supply tube coupled to the source of pressurized gas and said inlet aperture; a reservoir mounted to said housing for containing the material to be nebulized; and an aerosol generating subassembly within said housing including, a power jet piece having an inlet section coupled to said supply tube at the inlet aperture for receiving said pressurized gas, said inlet section including a shoulder for aligning said power jet piece against the planar surface of the housing, and a primary orifice for the gas to exit therefrom, a cap piece having, a secondary orifice, a recessed cavity on the exit side of the secondary orifice including a rim-like surface, and guideways on the exit side of the secondary orifice, said cap piece being mounted on said power jet piece such that a chamber is formed between said orifices which is connected to the material to be nebulized, a target piece designed to snugly fit between the housing guideways and cap piece guideways for proper alignment and to enhance the rigidity of the aerosol generating subassembly, and having a target surface with a portion thereof being in close proximity to said rim-like surface forming a restrictive passage such that the material to be nebulized is uniformly deposited on said target surface as it passes through the restrictive passage and is spread over the target surface prior to separating from the target surface in the form of an aerosol.

Claim 13

A nebulizer for generating an aerosol using pressurized gas comprising a housing having an outlet for the discharge of the aerosol, an inlet aperture, a planar surface contiguous to said aperture, and two housing guideways on opposite sides of the housing and removed from said planar surface, a supply tube coupled to the source of pressurized gas and said inlet aperture; a reservoir mounted to said housing for containing the material to be nebulized; and an aerosol generating subassembly within said housing including, a power jet piece having an inlet section coupled to said supply tube at the inlet aperture for receiving said pressurized gas, said inlet section including a shoulder for aligning said power jet piece against the planar surface of the housing, and a primary orifice for the gas to exit therefrom, a cap piece having, a secondary orifice, a recessed cavity on the exit side of the secondary orifice including a rim-like surface, and guideways on the exit side of the secondary orifice, said cap piece being mounted on said power jet piece such that a chamber is formed between said orifices which is connected to the material to be nebulized, a target piece designed to snugly fit between the housing guideways and cap piece guideways for proper alignment and to enhance the rigidity of the aerosol generating subassembly, and having a target surface with a portion thereof being in close proximity to said rim-like surface forming a restrictive passage such that the material to be nebulized is uniformly deposited on said target surface as it passes through the restrictive passage and is spread over the target surface prior to separating from the target surface in the form of an aerosol.