Medical nebulization device

Abstract

The improved medical nebulization device includes a head and a removeable depending liquid reservoir. The head has a closed top, closed sides and open bottom defining a central space in which is secured a nebulization chamber having closed sides and an open top and open bottom. A nebulization baffle is connected to the head top and extends into the nebulization chamber. A liquid draw tube is connected to the baffle and depends from the chamber into the reservoir. A nebulized aerosol output port extends between the space outside the chamber and a point peripheral of the head for supplying nebulized aerosol to a patient. An auxiliary multiple gas entrainment inlet port, with removeable cap, extends into the chamber at a point remote from the output port and is adapted to supply auxiliary gases such as a mixture of oxygen and helium. The liquid reservoir in one embodiment includes a graduated liquid measuring scale and is transparent. The baffle in one embodiment is an annular flow aerosol nozzle secured to the underside of the top of the head. The device permits accurate adjustment of the types of nebulized liquid-gas mixture supplied to a patient.

1. An improved medical nebulization device, said device comprising, in combination:
 a) a nebulizer head comprising, in combination: 
 i) a shell having a closed top and sides and open bottom defining a generally central space;  
 ii) a nebulization chamber having an open top and bottom and closed sides secured at said nebulization chamber sides to said shell sides within said shell central space, said nebulization chamber sides being curved downwardly and inwardly to form a secondary entrainment throat;  
 iii) an annular flow aerosol nozzle secured to the underside of said shell top within said nebulization chamber;  
 iv) an oxygen supply inlet extending through said shell top into said nozzle;  
 v) a liquid draw tube connected to said nozzle and depending extending downwardly therefrom;  
 vi) a nebulized aerosol output port defined in one of said shell sides peripheral of said nebulization chamber, and,  
 vii) an auxiliary multiple gas entrainment inlet port having a removable cap, said auxiliary inlet port being defined in another of said shell sides and extending into the upper portion of said nebulization chamber, the bottom of said head having means for releasably connecting said head to a liquid reservoir; and,  
 
 b) a liquid reservoir extending below and releasably connected to said head through said connector means, said liquid draw tube extending into said reservoir, said reservoir including a closed bottom and sides and open top sealed by said connector means to said head.  
 
     
     
       2. The improved nebulization device of  claim 1  wherein said shell top includes adapter means for releasably connecting said head to a source of oxygen. 
     
     
       3. The improved nebulization device of  claim 2  wherein said auxiliary multiple gas entrainment inlet port has a plurality of separate spaced injection lines, each one of which lines has a removable cap. 
     
     
       4. The improved nebulization device of  claim 3  wherein said nebulized aerosol output port extends peripheral of said shell and forms a funnel for directing said nebulized aerosol to a patient. 
     
     
       5. The improved nebulization device of  claim 4  wherein said auxiliary multiple gas entrainment inlet port extends into said shell peripheral of said annular flow aerosol nozzle. 
     
     
       6. The improved nebulization device of  claim 5  wherein said liquid draw tube extends into the bottom of said annular flow aerosol nozzle and wherein said nebulization chamber is curved downwardly in an hour-glass shape to form said secondary entrainment throat. 
     
     
       7. The improved nebulization device of  claim 6  wherein said device comprises at least one of glass and clear plastic and wherein auxiliary multiple gas entrainment inlet port is adapted to be connected to sources of oxygen and helium. 
     
     
       8. A method of administering a medicinal aerosol to a patient, comprising:
   providing a medical nebulization device comprising a reservoir, a nebulizing nozzle spaced from the reservoir and communicating with a primary gas inlet, a draw tube extending from the reservoir and having an opening adjacent the nebulizing nozzle, an outlet, and a secondary gas inlet, the secondary gas inlet being operable between an open and a closed condition;        at least partially filling the reservoir with liquid medicine;        attaching the primary gas inlet to a source of pressurized gas to that pressurized gas flows through the nozzle, thus nebulizing liquid medicine flowing from the reservoir through the draw tube;        directing nebulized medicine through the outlet and into the patient's airway;        opening the secondary gas inlet and attaching a source of a secondary gas comprising helium to the secondary gas inlet so that secondary gas flows into the nebulization device and is mixed with the nebulized medicine within the nebulization device; and        detaching the source of secondary gas from the secondary gas inlet and closing the secondary gas inlet.     
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the primary gas comprises oxygen. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the secondary gas comprises a mixture of helium and oxygen. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 8 , wherein nebulized medicine is directed into the patient's airway both before and after attachment and detachment of the source of secondary gas. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , wherein attaching and detaching the source of secondary gas does not interrupt the flow of nebulized medicine to the patient. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the source of secondary gas is repeatedly temporarily attached to and detached from the secondary gas inlet. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the secondary gas inlet has a removable cap, and opening and closing the secondary gas inlet comprises removing and replacing the cap. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the secondary gas has a lighter weight than the primary gas. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the secondary gas is selectively introduced into the nebulization device without interrupting the nebulization of medicine by the primary gas and the flow of nebulized medicine through the outlet. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 8 , additionally comprising providing a tertiary gas inlet operable between an open and a closed condition, and selectively attaching a source of tertiary gas to the tertiary gas inlet so that tertiary gas flows into the nebulization device and is mixed with the nebulized medicine. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the secondary gas inlet comprises a first connector and a second connector configured so that the secondary gas inlet can be attached to more than one gas source. 
     
     
       19. A method of treating a patient, comprising:
   providing a container comprising a reservoir, a nebulizing apparatus, a primary gas inlet communicating with the nebulizing apparatus and configured to be attached to a source of pressurized primary gas, a secondary gas inlet, and an outlet;        at least partially filling the reservoir with liquid;        placing the primary gas inlet into communication with the source of pressurized primary gas so that the primary gas and a portion of the liquid flow to the nebulizing apparatus and the primary gas nebulizes the liquid to produce an aerosol in the container, at least a portion of the aerosol exiting the container through the outlet;        selectively placing the secondary gas inlet into communication with a source of secondary gas without interrupting the production of aerosol and the exit of aerosol through the outlet, wherein the secondary gas is lighter than air.     
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 19 , wherein the primary gas is chosen from the group containing oxygen and air. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 20 , wherein the secondary gas comprises helium. 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 20 , wherein the secondary gas comprises a mixture of oxygen and helium. 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 22 , wherein the secondary gas comprises a mixture of about  80 %  oxygen and  20   %  helium.   
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 19 , wherein the secondary gas is lighter than the primary gas. 
     
     
       25. The method of  claim 19 , wherein the liquid comprises a medication, and the medicine is nebulized to produce a medicinal aerosol. 
     
     
       26. The method of  claim 25 , wherein the medication comprises a bronchodilator medication. 
     
     
       27. The method of  claim 25 , wherein the medication comprises albuterol. 
     
     
       28. The method of  claim 19  additionally comprising removing the secondary gas inlet from communication with the source of secondary gas without interrupting the production of aerosol and the exit of aerosol through the outlet. 
     
     
       29. The method of  claim 28  additionally comprising selectively sealing the secondary gas inlet with a sealing member when the secondary gas inlet is not in communication with the source of secondary gas.