Nebulizer apparatus
Inventors
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10022514-B2
Publication Date
2018-07-17
Expiration Date
Abstract
A collapsible joint for use with a nebulizer includes a housing connected to the source of carrier gas flow, an extensible and flexible airway and an extension connected to a patient applicator. A swivel joint for use with a nebulizer includes a swivel housing, a rotating airway pivoted in the swivel housing about a first axis of rotation; and an airway base coupling coupled to the swivel housing rotatable with respect to the swivel housing about a second axis of rotation. The first and second axes of rotation are mutually orthogonal at least in part to each other.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a nebulizer apparatus and a collapsible joint for use with a source of carrier gas flow for providing aerosolized medication to a patient. The collapsible joint includes a housing defining a chamber having a top and bottom portion and a collapsible airway having two opposing ends. A first opposing end of the collapsible airway is integrally formed with the housing and communicates with the top portion of the chamber, thereby providing communication between the chamber and the collapsible airway.
The second opposing end of the collapsible airway comprises an extension configured to form a compression fit within a receiving portion of a nebulizer apparatus and communicates the collapsible airway with the nebulizer apparatus. The housing comprises a rapid injection port defined within a surface of the housing at an angle which is normal to the surface of the housing. The rapid injection port is communicated directly with the top portion of the chamber and is configured to accommodate direct insertion of a drug dispenser.
The collapsible airway has bellows formed behavior and a bellows formed wall made of multiple frustoconical sections arranged in an alternating orientation to create an accordion-pleated cylindrical airway. In further embodiments, a swivel retainer couples the collapsible airway to the nebulizer apparatus so that the collapsible airway can rotate relative to the nebulizer apparatus while delivering aerosolized medication to the patient. The joint is also described in a context in which a medication reservoir contains liquid medication and receives carrier gas input that delivers pressurized gas for aerosolizing the medication.
Claims Coverage
The document provides two independent claims. Both independent claims center on a nebulizer-use joint having a housing with a chamber, an extensible and flexible or collapsible airway with an integral first end to the chamber top, a compression-fit or receiving-portion connection at the second end, and a rapid injection port oriented normal to a housing surface for direct insertion of a drug dispenser.
Rapid injection port communicating with the chamber top for direct insertion of a drug dispenser
A rapid injection port defined within a surface of the housing at an angle which is normal to the surface of the housing, directly communicated with the top portion of the chamber, and configured to accommodate the direct insertion of a drug dispenser.
Collapsible airway with integral end communicating with the housing chamber
A collapsible airway having two opposing ends, with a first opposing end integrally formed with the housing and communicating with the top portion of the chamber defined in the housing.
Extension configured as a compression fit for coupling the collapsible airway to a nebulizer apparatus
The second opposing end comprises an extension configured to form a compression fit within a receiving portion of a nebulizer apparatus and to communicate the collapsible airway with the nebulizer apparatus.
Extensible and flexible airway selectively vertically extendible and compliantly bendable in any radial direction
Extensible and flexible airway means for coupling with the housing means and for communicating the carrier gas flow of aerosolized medication to the applicator, the airway means being selectively vertically extendible and collapsible and being compliantly bendable in any radial direction.
Across the independent claims, the claim coverage focuses on combining a housing chamber with an integral-end collapsible or extensible airway, a coupling extension at the opposing end, and a rapid injection port oriented normal to a housing surface and communicated directly with the chamber top for direct insertion of a drug dispenser.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
No documented applications found
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