Nebulizer apparatus and method

Abstract

A nebulizer for efficiently and reliably delivering aerosolized fluid to an inhaling patient is disclosed. The nebulizer, in one embodiment, includes a fluid channel air inlet and fluid channel air inlet valve responsive to either a manual force external of the nebulizer, or a patient's breathing, to begin the nebulization process. The nebulizer also includes a fluid return channel to a fluid source, such as a removable vial, containing fluid to be aerosolized.

1 . A nebulizer comprising:
 a housing having a chamber for holding an aerosol;   an air outlet communicating with the chamber for permitting the aerosol to be withdrawn from the chamber;   an air inlet in communication with the chamber for allowing a supply of air to enter the chamber;   a pressurized gas inlet adjacent a fluid orifice, the pressurized gas inlet in communication with the chamber and the fluid orifice in communication with a fluid source via a fluid channel; and   a fluid return channel in communication with the chamber and the fluid source wherein a suction force generated by removal of fluid from the fluid source into the nebulizer during nebulization assists in recovering condensed fluid on a wall of the chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The nebulizer of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid source comprises a vial releasably attached to the nebulizer. 
     
     
         3 . The nebulizer of  claim 2 , wherein the vial comprises a nipple portion extending out from a bottom of the vial and configured to surround an end of the fluid channel. 
     
     
         4 . The nebulizer of  claim 1 , further comprising a fluid channel air inlet valve movably disposed across a fluid channel air inlet, wherein the fluid channel air inlet is in communication with the fluid channel and the fluid orifice 
     
     
         5 . The nebulizer of  claim 1 , further comprising a diverter positioned in the chamber adjacent to the pressurized gas inlet. 
     
     
         6 . The nebulizer of  claim 2 , wherein the diverter and the pressurized gas inlet are in a fixed position relative to each other. 
     
     
         7 . The nebulizer of  claim 4 , wherein the fluid channel air inlet valve comprises a flexible membrane. 
     
     
         8 . The nebulizer of  claim 1 , further comprising a fluid return channel shield positioned in the chamber and over a lower portion of the chamber wall, the fluid return channel shield positioned to prevent pressurized gas and aerosol from hindering fluid entering the fluid return channel. 
     
     
         9 . The nebulizer of  claim 4 , wherein the ambient air inlet comprises an ambient air inlet valve. 
     
     
         10 . The nebulizer of  claim 9 , wherein the ambient air inlet valve comprises a one-way valve positioned to permit an intake of ambient air into the chamber and prevent an escape of air from the chamber. 
     
     
         11 . The nebulizer of  claim 10 , wherein the ambient air inlet valve is integrally formed with the fluid channel air inlet valve. 
     
     
         12 . The nebulizer of  claim 8 , further comprising a cone-shaped fluid nozzle positioned coaxially with respect to the pressurized gas inlet. 
     
     
         13 . The nebulizer of  claim 12 , wherein the fluid return channel shield comprises a flange connected to, and extending radially from, the cone-shaped fluid nozzle. 
     
     
         14 . The nebulizer of  claim 1 , wherein the air inlet comprises an ambient air inlet and the supply of air comprises ambient air. 
     
     
         15 . A nebulizer for generating an aerosol, the nebulizer comprising:
 a housing having a chamber for holding the aerosol;   an air outlet communicating with the chamber for permitting the aerosol to be withdrawn from the chamber;   a pressurized gas inlet located in the chamber;   a fluid orifice positioned at a fixed location in the chamber relative to the pressurized gas inlet, the fluid orifice in communication with a removably attached vial via a fluid channel;   a diverter positioned in the chamber in a fixed position relative to the pressurized gas inlet and the fluid orifice, wherein pressurized gas from the pressurized gas inlet is diverted over the fluid orifice, and wherein the diverter defines an aerosolization plane along which generated aerosol is directed;   a fluid channel air inlet in communication with the fluid channel; and   a fluid channel air inlet valve movably positioned adjacent the fluid channel air inlet, wherein the fluid channel air inlet valve is moveable in response to a patient's breathing between a nebulizing position, where the fluid channel air inlet valve seals against the fluid channel air inlet to permit a negative pressure to draw a fluid through the fluid channel, and a non-nebulizing position, wherein the fluid channel air inlet valve permits air to enter the fluid channel air inlet so as to prevent formation of a negative pressure sufficient to draw fluid through the fluid channel; and   wherein the chamber has a first diameter in a plane substantially co-planar with the aerosolization plane and a second diameter in a plane other than the aerosolization plane, and wherein the first diameter is greater than the second diameter.   
     
     
         16 . The nebulizer of  claim 15 , wherein the fluid channel air inlet valve is positioned in the housing having a first side of the valve in contact with ambient air outside the container and a second side of the valve in contact with a body of air inside the chamber, whereby the valve is movable both by physical contact with the first side of the valve and in response to a pressure change in the chamber. 
     
     
         17 . The nebulizer of  claim 15 , wherein a one-way air inlet valve is disposed over the air inlet. 
     
     
         18 . The nebulizer of  claim 15 , further comprising a mouthpiece having at least one one-way exhalation valve configured to allow air to escape the chamber upon exhalation. 
     
     
         19 . The nebulizer of  claim 18 , wherein the mouthpiece is rotatably mounted in the air outlet. 
     
     
         20 . The nebulizer of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one one-way valve comprises a flexible membrane positioned over an opening defined in a wall of the mouthpiece.