US3774602A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ultrasonic nebulizer for inhalation therapy
Assignee: American Hospital Supply Corp
•
Filing: 1972-01-03
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Granted: 1973-11-27
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Expires: 1992-01-03
Abstract
Abstract A disposable ''''single shot'''' ultrasonic nebulizer that includes a sealed thermoplastic shell encasing a measured unit dose of nebulizable liquid that occupies less than one half of the shell''s volume. The single shot cartridge type nebulizer includes an integral outwardly protruding liquid collecting nebulizer cup that progressively thins to an ultrasonically transparent dome shaped bottom wall. At an opposite end of the shell cartridge are three outwardly protruding measuring cups that provide a frangible inlet-outlet structure and also provide supporting feet for the cartridge when the cartridge is stored, shipped, etc., upside down.
Inventors
- 👤 F Edwards
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 20:49
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M15/00; A61M15/0085; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S128/00; Y10S128/909
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
221 words
A disposable, measured-dosage, hermetically closed, ultrasonic nebulizer cartridge unit for use in medical therapy comprising in combination: a single semi-rigid, self-supporting thermoplastic shell; a measured unit dose of a nebulizable liquid in said shell occupying substantially less than one-half the shell internal volume; said shell including an upper body member including inletoutlet structure for connection with means for communicating the nebulized dose to a patient; means hermetically sealing said inlet-outlet structure and maintaining the interior of said shell in a medical-sterile condition; said upper body member having a wall connected to an outer margin of an inwardly directed, downwardly converging drain wall forming a drain ring of a substantial area terminating in a substantially reduced area inner margin of the drain wall, said shell including a liquid collection cup having a mouth connected to the inner margin of said drain wall and a side wall depending therefrom and terminating in a bottom wall for concentrating the entire volume of the nebulizable liquid thereat, the cross section of said collection cup being substantially reduced as compared with said upper body member for concentrating the liquid dose immediately over an ultrasonic energy source; and universal support means on said shell adjacent the lower margin of said upper body member for adapting the cartridge to a plurality of differently constructed ultrasonic energy source apparatuses.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
221 words
A disposable, measured-dosage, hermetically closed, ultrasonic nebulizer cartridge unit for use in medical therapy comprising in combination: a single semi-rigid, self-supporting thermoplastic shell; a measured unit dose of a nebulizable liquid in said shell occupying substantially less than one-half the shell internal volume; said shell including an upper body member including inletoutlet structure for connection with means for communicating the nebulized dose to a patient; means hermetically sealing said inlet-outlet structure and maintaining the interior of said shell in a medical-sterile condition; said upper body member having a wall connected to an outer margin of an inwardly directed, downwardly converging drain wall forming a drain ring of a substantial area terminating in a substantially reduced area inner margin of the drain wall, said shell including a liquid collection cup having a mouth connected to the inner margin of said drain wall and a side wall depending therefrom and terminating in a bottom wall for concentrating the entire volume of the nebulizable liquid thereat, the cross section of said collection cup being substantially reduced as compared with said upper body member for concentrating the liquid dose immediately over an ultrasonic energy source; and universal support means on said shell adjacent the lower margin of said upper body member for adapting the cartridge to a plurality of differently constructed ultrasonic energy source apparatuses.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
64 words
The combination as claimed in claim 1 in which said means hermetically sealing sid inlet-outlet structure comprises manually removable frangible seal means capable of withstanding sterilization temperatures of from 240* to 260*F and forming visual indication means whereby fracture of the hermatic seal indicates contamination of the medical dose liquid and aprizes a user that the cartridge should not be administered to a patient.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
The combination as claimed in claim 2 in which said inlet-outlet structure comprises tubular sleeve elements terminating in peripheral flanges to which said frangible seal means is secured, said seal means including a projecting tab portion projecting beyond the peripheral flange to faciliate manual rupture and removal of the seal means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The structure as claimed in claim 2 in which said bottom wall is convex and comprises the thinnest portion of said collection cup.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
The combination as claimed in claim 1 in which said collection cup comprises a progressively thinned side wall terminating in a transverse bottom wall ranging from 0.002 to 0.008 inches thick to form an ultrasonically responsive window.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein the collecting cup converges toward a bottom outwardly facing convex dome area, and said cup progressively thins from its mouth to a center portion of said convex dome section.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The combination as set forth in claim 6 wherein the central dome area is between 0.002 and 0.008 inch thick.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
The combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein the shell has a plurality of measuring cup members, at least one of which is openable for draining liquid from the shell to leave a measured amount of liquid within said shell.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said shell includes at least three outwardly protruding measuring cup members having generally co-planar outer surfaces for combining to provide a tripod support for the thermoplastic shell.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
50 words
The combination as set forth in claim 9, wherein the collecting cup and measuring cup members are on opposite ends of the thermoplastic shell, whereby liquid measured by said measuring cup member will dump into said collecting cup with orientation of the thermoplastic shell to place the collecting cup lowermost.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein the thermoplastic shell includes an upper body portion and a lower portion including the collection cup which are integrally fused together.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The combination as set forth in claim 11 wherein the lower portion and upper portion telescopically fit together adjacent said fusion bond.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein the outer margin of the drain ring fits in a recess of the upper body member and is fused there to said upper body member.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein the thermoplastic shell is generally cylindrical and substantially larger in diameter than the collection cup''s side wall.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
39 words
The combination as set forth in claim 14 wherein the thermoplastic shell includes a skirt member which encircles said collecting cup at a space distance outwardly therefrom, said collecting cup having a dome area protruding below said skirt member.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein the thermoplastic shell universal support means includes a pair of parallel exterior circumferential flanges for supporting the shell on an ultrasonic energy source.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein the universal support means includes at least one external annular flange integral with said upper body member adjacent said drain wall.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
86 words
The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein the universal support means includes an outer annular support surface adjacent the outer margin of the drain wall, said outer annular support surface being spaced outwardly from the drain wall''s inner margin so that the cartridge can be supported by structure surrounding an opening that is approximately the size of the outer margin of the collection cup, and can also be supported by structure surrounding an opening approximately the size of the inner margin of the drain wall.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
49 words
The combination as set forth in claim 1 in which said thermoplastic shell has sealable vent means, said vent means being fused shut after sterilization of the shell and the liquid contents being maintained in a medically sterile condition by subjecting the cartridge to temperatures of 240* to 250*F.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-11-26 | 1977-05-28 | 1977-11-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-11-26 | 1981-05-28 | 1981-11-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-11-26 | 1985-05-28 | 1985-11-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |