US5115971A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Nebulizer device
Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute Inc
•
Filing: 1988-09-23
•
Granted: 1992-05-26
•
Expires: 2008-09-23
Abstract
Abstract The present invention constitutes a portable neubulizer capable of producing a finely divided aerosol having uniformly sized droplets. The nebulizer includes a source of fluid such as a capillary tube coupled to a fluid reservoir to which a high voltage is applied in order to generate the aerosol by electrical atomization. The nebulizer further includes a piezoelectric crystal and a mechanism for deforming the crystal so as to generate the required voltage. By using electrical atomization to generate the aerosol and by piezoelectrically generating the voltage required for atomization, a nebulizer is provided which may be of small size so as to be suitable for hand held operations yet is capable of producing measured amounts of finely divided aerosols which are substantially monodispersed.
Inventors
- 👤 Bernard J. Greenspan
- 👤 Owen R. Moss
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 02:46
CPC Classifications
B; B05; B05B; B05B5/00; B05B5/025; B05B5/0255; B05B5/053; B05B5/0531
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
87 words
A method of administering a medication in aerosol form, said method comprising: dispensing a medicinal fluid; generating an electrical potential by exerting pressure on a piezoelectric member; electrically attracting said fluid with said potential, including regulating the value of said potential as applied to attract said fluid to provide a monodispersed fan spray; and directing said spray for medicinal application; including automatically regulating the duration as well as the value of said potential as applied to attract said fluid to provide a predetermined dose of aid medication.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
87 words
A method of administering a medication in aerosol form, said method comprising: dispensing a medicinal fluid; generating an electrical potential by exerting pressure on a piezoelectric member; electrically attracting said fluid with said potential, including regulating the value of said potential as applied to attract said fluid to provide a monodispersed fan spray; and directing said spray for medicinal application; including automatically regulating the duration as well as the value of said potential as applied to attract said fluid to provide a predetermined dose of aid medication.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of administering a medication in aerosol form, said method comprising: dispensing a medicinal fluid from a small capillary; generating a high voltage by exerting pressure on a piezoelectric member; electrically attracting said fluid outwardly from said capillary by applying said high voltage, as said high voltage exceeds a predetermined value, to said capillary with respect to a point of reference potential to form a fan spray of small particle size; and directing said spray for medicinal application; including automatically regulating the duration of application of said high voltage to said capillary to provide a predetermined dose of medication.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of administering a medication in aerosol form, said method comprising: dispensing a medicinal fluid from a small capillary; generating a high voltage by exerting pressure on a piezoelectric member; electrically attracting said fluid outwardly from said capillary by applying said high voltage, as said high voltage exceeds a predetermined value, to said capillary with respect to a point of reference potential to form a fan spray of small particle size; and directing said spray for medicinal application; including automatically regulating the duration of application of said high voltage to said capillary to provide a predetermined dose of medication.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
107 words
A nebulizer which is adapted for producing finely divided aerosols having uniformly sized droplets yet which is manually powered by hand gripping pressure, said nebulizer comprising: a piezoelectric crystal; means for manually deforming said crystal so as to generate a high voltage; a projection constructed and arranged for being supplied with a flow of liquid to be atomized; means for applying voltage generated by said crystal to said projection; and means for regulating the value of the voltage as applied to said projection as well as for automatically controlling the duration of said application of said voltage in order to provide a predetermined dose of said liquid.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
107 words
A nebulizer which is adapted for producing finely divided aerosols having uniformly sized droplets yet which is manually powered by hand gripping pressure, said nebulizer comprising: a piezoelectric crystal; means for manually deforming said crystal so as to generate a high voltage; a projection constructed and arranged for being supplied with a flow of liquid to be atomized; means for applying voltage generated by said crystal to said projection; and means for regulating the value of the voltage as applied to said projection as well as for automatically controlling the duration of said application of said voltage in order to provide a predetermined dose of said liquid.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US705691A
Cited
US3114654A
Cited
US3262019A
Cited
US3558903A
Cited
US3579245A
Cited
US3802625A
Cited
US3930614A
Cited
US3997817A
Cited
US4356528A
Cited
US4381533A
Cited
US4476515A
Cited
US4106697A
Cited
US4113809A
Cited
US4334531A
Cited
US4341347A
Cited
US4634057A
Cited
GB2128900A
Cited
US4549243A
Cited
US4561037A
Cited
US4663639A
Cited
US4545525A
Cited
US4630169A
Cited
US4702418A
Cited
EP0224352A1
Cited
US4795330A
Cited
US4829996A
Cited
US4788016A
Cited
US4776515A
Cited
US4749125A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-05-26 | 1995-11-25 | 1996-05-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-05-26 | 1999-11-25 | 2000-05-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-05-26 | 2003-11-25 | 2004-05-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |