Nebulizer having combined structure for removing particles over two microns

Claim 1

A nebulizer comprising: a base part including a base wall extending to an apex; a gas input including an input connector; a gas jet hole extending through the base wall connecting with the interior of the input connector; a gas/liquid output; a flange plate extending above said base wall over the gas jet hole, the under surface of said flange plate generally matching the upper surface of the base wall and being spaced from said base wall by a sufficiently small distance to provide a capillary path; a reservoir for liquid being provided by said base wall communicating with said capillary path; and, a gas/liquid mixing jet for mixing gas from the gas jet hole through the base wall with liquid from the capillary path to produce an aerosol of liquid droplets having a wide range of sizes, the gas/liquid mixing jet comprising a hole through the flange plate opposite and in axial alignment with said gas jet hole through the base wall; and means for removing a substantial portion of the droplets greater than approximately 2 microns, including a generally flat annular baffle plate, including a target having a lowest point in the form of a protuberance from said baffle plate and centrally mounted thereon opposite said gas/liquid mixing jet against which the aerosol of liquid droplets formed by the gas/liquid mixing jet impinges to further break up some of the liquid droplets, and a ring member having a lower edge is positioned to extend downwardly from the surface of the annular baffle plate, and being generally coaxial with the target to trap larger droplets, wherein said lower edge of said ring extends below the lowest point of said target, and, outlet aperture means adjacent the outer peripheral edge of said baffle plate for allowing direct passage of the nebulized gas/liquid mixture from the nebulizer.