Nebulizer for ventilation system

Abstract

A nebulizer assembly for engagement in a ventilator circuit is provided . The assembly includes a coupler having two end ports and a lateral port. The coupler defines a chamber in communication with each of the ports. Each of the two end ports are engageable to ventilator circuit hose segments. A tubular housing defines a first opening at a first end and a second opening at an opposite end. The housing defines a passageway between the ends that is in communication with the first opening and the second opening. The first end of the housing is engageable to the lateral port of the coupler. The housing has a bend adjacent the first end of the housing. A valve is disposed within the housing adjacent the first end of the housing. The valve has an open position and a closed position and is operable to hermetically seal a portion of the passageway in the chamber in the closed position. The valve includes a valve closing portion and a valve opening. The valve closing portion is rotatable to block the passageway and alternately rotatable to position the valve opening to communicate the passageway with the chamber in the open position. The valve is disposed between the first and second openings and arranged to be isolated from the chamber when the first end is engaged to the lateral port. A nebulizer defining a lower reservoir for containing liquid and an upper section defining an opening is also provided. The upper section is engageable to the second opening of the housing. The nebulizer includes an atomizer disposed within the reservoir. A medication port that is communicable with the reservoir is provided to deliver liquid medicine to the reservoir. A suction port is also provided for removing residual liquid from the reservoir.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A nebulizer assembly for engagement to a three port coupler of a ventilator circuit hose, the coupler having two end ports and a lateral port and defining a chamber in communication with each of the ports, the assembly comprising: 
 a tubular housing defining a first opening at a first end and a second opening at an opposite end, said housing defining a passageway between said ends and in communication with said first opening and said second opening, said first end engageable to the lateral port with said first opening in communication with the chamber of the coupler;    a valve disposed within said housing, said valve having an open position and a closed position and operable to hermetically seal a portion of said passageway from the chamber, said valve between said first and second openings and arranged to be isolated from the chamber when said first end is engaged to the lateral port; and    a nebulizer defining a lower reservoir for containing liquid and an upper section defining an opening, said upper section engageable to said second opening, said nebulizer including an atomizer disposed within said reservoir.    
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said valve includes a lever disposed on an outer surface of said housing and operably engaged to said valve to move said valve between said closed position and said open position.  
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 2 , wherein said valve includes a valve member defining a valve closing portion and a valve opening, said valve member connected to said lever for moving said valve member to a position with said valve closing portion blocking said passageway in said closed position and alternately to a position with said valve opening in communication with said passageway in said open position.  
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 3 , wherein said housing defines a valve seat within said passageway and valve member has an outer surface corresponding to a contact surface of said valve seat and slidably positioned within said valve seat.  
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 4 , wherein said outer surface of said valve member is rounded and said contact surface of said valve seat is rounded.  
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said valve is a ball valve.  
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said valve includes a flat valve face defining a valve closing portion and a valve opening, said valve rotatable to position said valve face with said valve closing portion blocking said passageway in said closed position and alternately rotatable to position said valve opening to communicate said passageway with said chamber in said open position.  
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 7 , wherein said valve includes a turning member disposed on an outer perimeter of said valve face and projecting beyond an outer surface of said housing, said turning member sized to be manually operable to turn said valve.  
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 8 , wherein said outer surface of said housing defines a flange for seating said valve and said valve defines a groove corresponding to said flange for slidingly receiving said flange.  
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a medication port communicable with said reservoir for delivering fluid to said reservoir.    
     
     
         11 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a suction port for removing residual liquid from said reservoir, said suction port including a suction tube having a first end adjacent a lowest portion of said reservoir and a second end projecting from an outer surface of said nebulizer.    
     
     
         12 . A nebulizer assembly for engagement in a ventilator circuit, comprising: 
 a coupler having two end ports and a lateral port and defining a chamber in communication with each of said ports, each of said two end ports engageable to ventilator circuit hose segments;    a tubular housing defining a first opening at a first end and a second opening at an opposite end, said housing defining a passageway between said ends and in communication with said first opening and said second opening, said first end engageable to said lateral port, said housing having a bend adjacent said first end of said housing;    a valve disposed within said housing and adjacent said first end of said housing, said valve having an open position and a closed position and operable to hermetically seal a portion of said passageway from said chamber; and    a nebulizer defining a lower reservoir for containing liquid and an upper section defining an opening, said upper section engageable to said second opening of said housing, said nebulizer including an atomizer disposed within said reservoir.    
     
     
         13 . The assembly of  claim 12  wherein said valve is disposed between said lateral port and said bend.  
     
     
         14 . The assembly of  claim 12 , wherein said bend forms an angle of between about 85° and about 150°.  
     
     
         15 . The assembly of  claim 14 , wherein said bend forms an angle of about 90°.  
     
     
         16 . The assembly of  claim 13  wherein said valve is disposed between said first and second openings and arranged to be isolated from the chamber when said first end is engaged to said lateral port.  
     
     
         17 . The assembly of  claim 16 , wherein said valve includes a flat valve face defining a valve closing portion and a valve opening, said valve rotatable to position said valve face with said valve closing portion blocking said passageway in said closed position and alternately rotatable to position said valve opening to communicate said passageway with said chamber in said open position.  
     
     
         18 . The assembly of  claim 17 , further comprising: 
 a step up element disposed adjacent said lateral port, said step up element blocking a portion of said lateral port.    
     
     
         19 . The assembly of  claim 18 , wherein said valve is disposed adjacent to said lateral port and said valve closing portion cooperating with said step up element to close said valve.  
     
     
         20 . The assembly of  claim 19 , wherein said valve includes a turning member disposed on an outer perimeter of said valve face and projecting beyond an outer surface of said housing, said turning member sized to be manually operable to turn said valve.  
     
     
         21 . The assembly of  claim 19 , wherein said outer surface of said housing defines a flange for seating said valve and said valve defines a groove corresponding to said flange for slidingly receiving said flange.  
     
     
         22 . The assembly of  claim 12 , further comprising: 
 an outlet tube disposed in said lateral port and extending into said chamber, said outlet tube in communication with said first opening and said chamber, said outlet tube having a tubular wall forming a barrier to fluid in said chamber from entering said first opening.    
     
     
         23 . The assembly of  claim 12 , wherein said valve, further comprises: 
 a wall blocking a portion of said passageway to form a smaller dimensioned portion of said passageway, said wall disposed between said lateral port and said bend; and    a flat valve face defining a valve closing portion and a valve opening, said valve rotatable to position said valve face with said valve closing portion blocking said smaller dimensioned portion of said passageway in said closed position and alternately rotatable to position said valve opening to communicate said passageway with said chamber in said open position.    
     
     
         24 . An assembly for engaging a nebulizer in a ventilator circuit, comprising: 
 a coupler having two end ports and a lateral port and defining a chamber in communication with each of said ports, each of said two end ports engageable to ventilator circuit hose segments;    a tubular housing defining a first opening at a first end and a second opening at an opposite end, said housing defining a passageway between said ends and in communication with said first opening and said second opening, said first end engageable to said lateral port;    a shoulder portion engaged to said opposite end of said housing, said shoulder portion engageable to a nebulizer, said shoulder portion defining a first opening for receiving a medication port and a second opening for receiving a suction port;    a medication port disposed within said first opening of said shoulder portion, said medication port configured to deliver liquid to a reservoir of a nebulizer when the nebulizer is engaged to the shoulder;    a suction port disposed within said second opening of said shoulder portion, said suction port having a first end positionable within the reservoir of the nebulizer when the nebulizer is engaged to the shoulder portion and a second end projecting from said shoulder portion for removing liquid from the reservoir; and    a valve disposed within said housing and adjacent said first end of said housing, said valve having an open position and a closed position and operable to hermetically seal a portion of said passageway from said chamber.