Nebulizer and inhalation device containing same

Claim 2

An aerosol inhalation device for supplying an aerosol mist to a patient, comprising: a nebulizer having a liquid reservoir for containing a liquid, a gas inlet for receiving a pressurized gas, and an aerosol outlet; a first conduit connected to said nebulizer and in open communication with said aerosol outlet; a second conduit for receiving an exhaust gas from said patient; said nebulizer further comprising gas flow controlling means for providing a swirling action to said gas prior to contacting said gas with said liquid to improve a/delivery of said liquid to the lungs of said patient.

Claim 3

The inhalation device of claim 1, wherein said gas flow controlling means comprises an inlet opening and an outlet opening.

Claim 4

The inhalation device of claim 2, wherein said gas flow controlling means comprises a venturi tube.

Claim 5

The inhalation device of claim 2, wherein said gas flow controlling means comprises gas swirling means for providing a swirling motion to said gas.

Claim 6

The inhalation device of claim 4, wherein said gas swirling means comprises a plurality of helical ridges.

Claim 7

The inhalation device of claim 5, wherein said gas swirling means comprises a conical tube concentrically disposed around said helical ridges.

Claim 8

The inhalation device of claim 6, wherein said conical tube comprises a decreasing cross-section between said inlet opening and said outlet opening.

Claim 9

The inhalation device of claim 1, wherein said gas flow controlling means comprises: a venturi tube located between said gas inlet and said aerosol outlet for providing an axial velocity to said gas; and a gas swirling device disposed within said venturi tube for swirling said gas to provide said tangential velocity to said gas.

Claim 10

The inhalation device of claim 1 further comprising a deflector dome having a curved surface thereon for contacting an aerosol exiting from said aerosol outlet.

Claim 11

The inhalation device of claim 1, wherein said gas flow controlling means exerts shear forces on said pressurized gas to improve an atomization of said liquid.

Claim 12

The inhalation device of claim 10, wherein said swirling means produces an increase in a delivery rate of liquid droplets in said aerosol within the size range of 0.5-1.5 micrometers.

Claim 13

A nebulizer for use in an aerosol inhalation device for supplying an aerosol mist to a patient, comprising: a liquid inlet for receiving a liquid; a gas inlet for receiving a pressurized gas; an aerosol outlet for providing an aerosol mist; and gas swirling means for providing a swirling action to said gas prior to contacting said gas with said liquid to form said aerosol mist.

Claim 14

A nebulizer for use in an aerosol inhalation device for supplying an aerosol mist to a patient, comprising: a liquid inlet for receiving a liquid; a gas inlet for receiving a pressurized gas; an aerosol outlet for providing an aerosol mist; and gas swirling means for providing a swirling action to said gas prior to contacting said gas with said liquid to form said aerosol mist.

Claim 15

The nebulizer of claim 12, wherein said gas swirling means comprises a gas deflection member having a solid axial core and a plurality of helical ridges disposed on said axial core.

Claim 16

The nebulizer of claim 12 further comprising a conical tube having a gradually reducing cross-section disposed around a portion of said swirling means.

Claim 17

The nebulizer of claim 12 further comprising a liquid channel disposed between said liquid source and said aerosol outlet.

Claim 18

The nebulizer of claim 15, wherein said swirling means comprises gas inlet and outlet portions and said liquid channel comprises a liquid outlet orifice located distally from said gas outlet portion.

Claim 19

The nebulizer of claim 16, wherein said aerosol mist has an obscuration rating of at least 10% and a median droplet size of less than 1 μm.

Claim 20

The nebulizer of claim 16, wherein said aerosol mist has at least 17% of its droplets within the size range of about 0.2-0.48 μm.

Claim 23

The method of claim 19, wherein said improvement to said shearing action is created in said gas prior to contacting said liquid and forming said aerosol.

Claim 24

The method of claim 19 further comprising storing said liquid within a liquid reservoir in said nebulizer proximally from said aerosol outlet.

Claim 25

The method of claim 19, wherein said swirling means atomizes said liquid to form an aerosol having at least 17% droplets within the size range of about 0.2-0.48 μm.

Claim 26

A nebulizer for use in an aerosol inhalation device for supplying an aerosol mist to a patient, comprising: a liquid reservoir for storing a prescribed liquid; a gas inlet for receiving a pressurized gas; a venturi tube connected to said gas inlet for providing an axial jet velocity to said pressurized gas, said venturi tube having: a conical cross-section; a larger venturi tube inlet opening located distally from said gas inlet; and a relatively smaller venturi tube outlet opening located distally from said venturi tube inlet opening; a gas deflection member located within said venturi tube between said venturi tube inlet and outlet openings for providing a tangential velocity to said pressurized gas prior to contacting said liquid; a fluid conduit for providing passage of a portion of said prescribed liquid from said liquid reservoir to a point located distally from said venturi tube outlet opening upon the production of a vacuum by said venturi tube; a baffle located distally from said venturi tube outlet opening for contacting said aerosol mist and reducing an amount of droplets in said aerosol mist which exceed about 3 μm; and an aerosol outlet for connecting to a first conduit of an aerosol inhalation device; said nebulizer providing an aerosol mist having an obscuration rating of at least 10% and a median droplet size of less than 1 μm.

Claim 27

A nebulizer for use in an aerosol inhalation device for supplying an aerosol mist to a patient, comprising: a liquid reservoir for storing a prescribed liquid; a gas inlet for receiving a pressurized gas; a venturi tube connected to said gas inlet for providing an axial jet velocity to said pressurized gas, said venturi tube having: a conical cross-section; a larger venturi tube inlet opening located distally from said gas inlet; and a relatively smaller venturi tube outlet opening located distally from said venturi tube inlet opening; a gas deflection member located within said venturi tube between said venturi tube inlet and outlet openings for providing a tangential velocity to said pressurized gas prior to contacting said liquid; a fluid conduit for providing passage of a portion of said prescribed liquid from said liquid reservoir to a point located distally from said venturi tube outlet opening upon the production of a vacuum by said venturi tube; a baffle located distally from said venturi tube outlet opening for contacting said aerosol mist and reducing an amount of droplets in said aerosol mist which exceed about 3 μm; and an aerosol outlet for connecting to a first conduit of an aerosol inhalation device; said nebulizer providing an aerosol mist having an obscuration rating of at least 10% and a median droplet size of less than 1 μm.