Nebulizer

Abstract

A water supply is adapted as a source for nebulized liquid through the agency of an adapter which couples oxygen pressure to a container for the water. A venturi within the adapter draws from the water supply and directs highly atomized water and oxygen through an outlet pipe on the adapter. The adapter is also provided with means of providing air to the outgoing stream in order to dilute the oxygen content. A depending suspended ball is disposed in the path of flow downstream of the venturi in a chamber. It traps water particles which should not pass to the patient. The water particles or drops collected in the chamber are drained into a means located at the bottom of the chamber. Means is located along and at the bottom to assist in collecting the liquid water and conducting it to the drain means. Conduit means is fluidally connected to the drain means and to the container for both carrying back the collected liquid water and for stabilizing pressure in the container by providing gas replacement for water removed from the system.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A nebulizer adapted to be screwed onto a receptacle having an upwardly facing threaded portion adapted to receive the nebulizer, the receptacle being closed at said threaded portion by a breachable membrane.Iadd., said nebulizer .Iaddend.comprising a body having a hollow portion and downwardly facing socket, said socket being threaded whereby the nebulizer may be screwed onto the threaded portion of said receptacle, said socket having concentrically a breaching tubular means adapted for one end to breach said membrane, said body having a venturi means positioned in the hollow portion, the other end of said breaching tubular means being in fluid communication with a conduit terminating at the venturi transverse with the venturi means, a second socket means adapted to receive a connection means from a source of pressurized fluid, said second socket means being in fluid communication with the upstream portion of said venturi means, said body having a chamber means, the downstream portion of said venturi means terminating in said chamber means, said chamber means having a ball means disposed downstream of said venturi and displaced therefrom, whereby fluid emanating from said venturi impinges on said ball, said chamber means having an outlet at the bottom thereof for draining liquid, said chamber means having at the bottom an elongated axially disposed ridge, said hollow portion being at one side in fluid communication with said chamber means, and said body having an opening at substantially the other side thereof in communication with said hollow portion. 
     
     
       2. .[.The nebulizer of claim 1.]. .Iadd.A nebulizer adapted to be screwed onto a receptacle having an upwardly facing threaded portion adapted to receive the nebulizer, the receptacle being closed at said threaded portion by a breachable membrane, said nebulizer comprising a body having a hollow portion and downwardly facing socket, said socket being threaded whereby the nebulizer may be screwed onto the threaded portion of said receptacle, said socket having concentrically a breaching tubular means adapted for one end to breach said membrane, said body having a venturi means positioned in the hollow portion, the other end of said breaching tubular means being in fluid communication with a conduit terminating at the venturi transverse with the venturi means, a second socket means adapted to receive a connection means from a source of pressurized fluid, said second socket means being in fluid communication with the upstream portion of said venturi means, said body having a chamber means, the downstream portion of said venturi means terminating in said chamber means, said chamber means having a ball means disposed downstream of said venturi and displaced therefrom, whereby fluid emanating from said venturi impinges on said ball, said chamber means having an outlet at the bottom thereof for draining liquid, said hollow portion being at one side in fluid communication with said chamber means, and said body having an opening at substantially the other side thereof in communication with said hollow portion, .Iaddend.wherein .[.the.]. .Iadd.an .Iaddend.elongated axially disposed ridge bridges said outlet and has a member downwardly depending into said outlet from said bridging portion. 
     
     
       3. .[.The nebulizer of claim 1.]. .Iadd.A nebulizer adapted to be screwed onto a receptacle having an upwardly facing threaded portion adapted to receive the nebulizer, the receptacle being closed at said threaded portion by a breachable membrane, said nebulizer comprising a body having a hollow portion and downwardly facing socket, said socket being threaded whereby the nebulizer may be screwed onto the threaded portion of said receptacle, said socket having concentrically a breaching tubular means adapted for one end to breach said membrane, said body having a venturi means positioned in the hollow portion, the other end of said breaching tubular means being in fluid communication with a conduit terminating at the venturi transverse with the venturi means, a second socket means adapted to receive a connection means from a source of pressurized fluid, said second socket means being in fluid communication with the upstream portion of said venturi means, said body having a chamber means, the downstream portion of said venturi means terminating in said chamber means, said chamber means having a ball means disposed downstream of said venturi and displaced therefrom, whereby fluid emanating from said venturi impinges on said ball, said chamber means having an outlet at the bottom thereof for draining liquid, said hollow portion being at one side in fluid communication with said chamber means, and said body having an opening at substantially the other side thereof in communication with said hollow portion, .Iaddend.wherein a filter is positioned in the opening at the side of the body opposite to the chamber means. 
     
     
       4. The nebulizer of claim 3 wherein the opening has a valve means to control the size thereof. 
     
     
       5. .[.The nebulizer of claim 1.]. .Iadd.A nebulizer adapted to be screwed onto a receptacle having an upwardly facing threaded portion adapted to receive the nebulizer, the receptacle being closed at said threaded portion by a breachable membrane, said nebulizer comprising a body having a hollow portion and downwardly facing socket, said socket being threaded whereby the nebulizer may be screwed onto the threaded portion of said receptacle, said socket having concentrically a breaching tubular means adapted for one end to breach said membrane, said body having a venturi means positioned in the hollow portion, the other end of said breaching tubular means being in fluid communication with a conduit terminating at the venturi transverse with the venturi means, a second socket means adapted to receive a connection means from a source of pressurized fluid, said second socket means being in fluid communication with the upstream portion of said venturi means, said body having a chamber means, the downstream portion of said venturi means terminating in said chamber means, said chamber means having a ball means disposed downstream of said venturi and displaced therefrom, whereby fluid emanating from said venturi impinges on said ball, said chamber means having an outlet at the bottom thereof for draining liquid, said hollow portion being at one side in fluid communication with said chamber means, and said body having an opening at substantially the other side thereof in communication with said hollow portion, .Iaddend.wherein the said ball is secured to a base means and is suspended from an internal wall portion of said chamber means, said wall portion having converging rails adapted to receive said base means. 
     
     
       6. The nebulizer of claim 5 wherein the ball is secured to substantially one end of said base means. 
     
     
       7. The nebulizer of claim 1 wherein the breaching tubular means has a radially extending portion adapted to fit said downwardly facing socket to constitute the end thereof and to constitute the bottom of the hollow portion of said hollow body. 
     
     
       8. The nebulizer of claim 7 wherein the breaching tubular means is retained in position by a threaded annular member adapted to be screwed into said downwardly facing socket and to lie in abutment against the underside of said radially extending portion. 
     
     
       9. .[.The nebulizer of claim 1.]. .Iadd.A nebulizer adapted to be screwed onto a receptacle having an upwardly facing threaded portion adapted to receive the nebulizer, the receptacle being closed at said threaded portion by a breachable membrane, said nebulizer comprising a body having a hollow portion and downwardly facing socket, said socket being threaded whereby the nebulizer may be screwed onto the threaded portion of said receptacle, said socket having concentrically a breaching tubular means adapted for one end to breach said membrane, said body having a venturi means positioned in the hollow portion, the other end of said breaching tubular means being in fluid communication with a conduit terminating at the venturi transverse with the venturi means, a second socket means adapted to receive a connection means from a source of pressurized fluid, said second socket means being in fluid communication with the upstream portion of said venturi means, said body having a chamber means, the downstream portion of said venturi means terminating in said chamber means, said chamber means having a ball means disposed downstream of said venturi and displaced therefrom, whereby fluid emanating from said venturi impinges on said ball, said chamber means having an outlet at the bottom thereof for draining liquid, said hollow portion being at one side in fluid communication with said chamber means, and said body having an opening at substantially the other side thereof in communication with said hollow portion, .Iaddend.wherein the said second socket means include an internally threaded rotatable portion. 
     
     
       10. .[.The nebulizer of claim 1.]. .Iadd.A nebulizer adapted to be screwed onto a receptacle having an upwardly facing threaded portion adapted to receive the nebulizer, the receptacle being closed at said threaded portion by a breachable membrane, said nebulizer comprising a body having a hollow portion and downwardly facing socket, said socket being threaded whereby the nebulizer may be screwed onto the threaded portion of said receptacle, said socket having concentrically a breaching tubular means adapted for one end to breach said membrane, said body having a venturi means positioned in the hollow portion, the other end of said breaching tubular means being in fluid communication with a conduit terminating at the venturi transverse with the venturi means, a second socket means adapted to receive a connection means from a source of pressurized fluid, said second socket means being in fluid communication with the upstream portion of said venturi means, said body having a chamber means, the downstream portion of said venturi means terminating in said chamber means, said chamber means having a ball means disposed downstream of said venturi and displaced therefrom, whereby fluid emanating from said venturi impinges on said ball, said chamber means having an outlet at the bottom thereof for draining liquid, said hollow portion being at one side in fluid communication with said chamber means, and said body having an opening at substantially the other side thereof in communication with said hollow portion, .Iaddend.wherein the venturi means comprises a separate tubular means and said nebulizer has a bore in a block means in the hollow portion adapted to operatively accept said separate tubular means.