Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
172 words
An improved aerosol chamber for use with an ultrasonic nebulizer base comprising a generally cylindrically shaped housing having a top surface containing an air inlet and a curved side wall containing an outlet, a mist tube having an axis and depending axially from said top surface to at least as far as a bottom of said outlet to form an annular space defining a curved flow path along said side wall between said mist tube and said housing, said mist tube surrounding said air inlet, means for mounting said housing on the nebulizer base whereby a geyser of nebulized medicament erupts from the base axially upwardly into said mist tube, said mist tube having a passage formed in a wall of said mist tube to face said curved housing side wall diametrically opposite said outlet whereby air flow from said air inlet to said outlet passes downwardly through said mist tube to entrain nebulized medicament droplets and then flows through said mist tube passage and along said curved path to said outlet.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
172 words
An improved aerosol chamber for use with an ultrasonic nebulizer base comprising a generally cylindrically shaped housing having a top surface containing an air inlet and a curved side wall containing an outlet, a mist tube having an axis and depending axially from said top surface to at least as far as a bottom of said outlet to form an annular space defining a curved flow path along said side wall between said mist tube and said housing, said mist tube surrounding said air inlet, means for mounting said housing on the nebulizer base whereby a geyser of nebulized medicament erupts from the base axially upwardly into said mist tube, said mist tube having a passage formed in a wall of said mist tube to face said curved housing side wall diametrically opposite said outlet whereby air flow from said air inlet to said outlet passes downwardly through said mist tube to entrain nebulized medicament droplets and then flows through said mist tube passage and along said curved path to said outlet.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
An improved aerosol chamber for use with an ultrasonic nebulizer base, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said top housing surface is generally spherical.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
54 words
An improved aerosol chamber for use with an ultrasonic nebulizer base, as set forth in claim 1, and further including a check valve mounted in said air inlet, said check valve preventing fluid flow from said mist tube through said air inlet while permitting air flow from said air inlet into said mist tube.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
An improved aerosol chamber for use with an ultrasonic nebulizer base, as set forth in claim 1, wherein air flow and entrained droplets flow from said passage to said outlet along either of two curved paths extending along diametrically opposite portions of said side wall.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
66 words
An improved aerosol chamber for use with an ultrasonic nebulizer base, as set forth in claim 1, and further including a baffle secured in said mist tube above said passage, said baffle angling upwardly from adjacent said passage to a gap between said mist tube and said baffle, said mist tube deflecting larger nebulized medicament droplets in the geyser away from said geyser and said passage.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
An improved aerosol chamber for use with an ultrasonic nebulizer base, as set forth in claim 5, wherein said mist tube passage is a longitudinal slot extending from a lower edge of said mist tube parallel to the axis of said mist tube.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
An improved aerosol chamber for use with an ultrasonic nebulizer base, as set forth in claim 6, wherein said housing, said mist tube and said baffle are molded as an integral unit from a polycarbonate resin.