Nebulizer with pressure-based fluidic control and related methods

Abstract

Various embodiments of a breath-activated nebulizer with fluidic control and related methods of using such a nebulizer are disclosed. The nebulizer may include a body comprising a reservoir for holding medication, a nozzle for emitting a jet of pressurized gas, and a fluid conduit in communication with the reservoir for delivery of the medication proximate the jet to produce an aerosol of medication. The nebulizer may also include a nebulizer outlet in communication with an interior of the body for delivery of the aerosol to a patient, a control conduit in fluid communication with the fluid conduit for delivery of a control gas to the fluid conduit to prevent the delivery of the medication proximate the jet, and a fluidic amplifier configured to control the delivery of the control gas to the control conduit.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate various embodiments consistent with the invention, and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a nebulizer system, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, illustrating a non-nebulizing mode.

FIG. 1A is a partial schematic view of a nebulizer system, according to another exemplary embodiment of the invention, illustrating that a venturi may be placed near an air entrainment port.

FIG. 1B is a partial schematic view of a nebulizer system, according to still another exemplary embodiment of the invention, illustrating an alternative or additional control flow regulator.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the nebulizer system of FIG. 1, illustrating a nebulizing mode.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional, perspective view of a fluidic amplifier, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 4-7 are schematic illustrations of flow connections in the fluidic amplifier shown in FIG. 3, according to various exemplary embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of a fluidic amplifier, according to another exemplary embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 9-12 are schematic illustrations of a flow control process for the fluidic amplifier of FIG. 8, according to an exemplary embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 13 is a schematic view of a nebulizer system, according to another exemplary embodiment of the invention, illustrating a non-nebulizing mode.

FIG. 14 is a schematic view of the nebulizer system of FIG. 13, illustrating a nebulizing mode.

Claims

1. A nebulizer comprising: a body comprising a reservoir for holding medication;a nozzle for emitting a jet of pressurized gas;a fluid conduit in communication with the reservoir for delivery of the medication proximate the jet to produce an aerosol of medication,;a nebulizer outlet in communication with the body for delivery of the aerosol to a patient;a control conduit in fluid communication with the fluid conduit for delivery of a control gas to the fluid conduit to prevent the delivery of the medication proximate the jet; anda fluidic amplifier configured to control the delivery of the control gas to the control conduit.

2. The nebulizer of claim 1, wherein the fluidic amplifier is configured to control the delivery of the control gas to the control conduit based on inhalation by the patient.

3. The nebulizer of claim 2, further comprising a signal conduit in fluid communication with the fluidic amplifier, the signal conduit for providing a negative pressure in response to the inhalation by the patient, the negative pressure for causing interruption of the delivery of the control gas to the fluid conduit via the control conduit.

4. The nebulizer of claim 2, wherein the fluidic amplifier comprises: an inlet port for receiving the control gas;a first outlet port;a second outlet port for directing the control gas to the fluid conduit; anda control port configured to selectively switch a flow direction of the control gas between the first outlet port and the second outlet port based on the inhalation by the patient.

5. The nebulizer of claim 4, wherein the control port is in fluid communication with the nebulizer outlet.

6. The nebulizer of claim 4, wherein the fluidic amplifier is configured such that the inhalation causes a negative pressure in the control port, causing a flow direction of the control gas to switch from the second outlet port to the first outlet port.

7. The nebulizer of claim 4, wherein the first outlet port is in fluid communication with atmosphere or an interior of the body.

8. The nebulizer of claim 4, wherein the fluidic amplifier further comprises an input flow port disposed substantially opposite to the control port with respect to the inlet port.

9. The nebulizer of claim 8, wherein the first outlet port is in fluid communication with the input flow port.

10. The nebulizer of claim 4, wherein the control port comprises a valve configured to close in response to the inhalation by the patient.

11. The nebulizer of claim 1, wherein the pressurized gas and the control gas are delivered from a same source of gas, the control gas being branched off from the pressurized gas.

12. The nebulizer of claim 1, further comprising a flow regulator for controlling a flow of the control gas.

13. The nebulizer of claim 12, whether the flow regulator comprises a through-hole in a sleeve that at least partially defines the fluid conduit.

14. The nebulizer of claim 1, further comprising a stationary diverter to which the jet of pressurized gas is directed.

15. The nebulizer of claim 1, further comprising a venturi through which fluid passes when the patient inhales through the nebulizer outlet.

16. The nebulizer of claim 15, wherein the venturi is located inside the nebulizer outlet and is in fluid communication with the fluidic amplifier.

17. The nebulizer of claim 15, wherein the venturi is located inside the body and is in fluid communication with the fluidic amplifier.

18. The nebulizer of claim 1, further comprising an override mechanism configured to selectively disable operation of the fluid amplifier.

19. A nebulizer comprising: a body comprising a reservoir for holding medication;a nozzle for emitting a jet of pressurized gas;a fluid conduit in communication with the reservoir for delivery of the medication proximate the jet to produce an aerosol of medication;a nebulizer outlet in communication with the body for delivery of the aerosol to a patient;a control conduit in fluid communication with the fluid conduit for delivery of a control gas to the fluid conduit to prevent the delivery of the medication proximate the jet; anda flow switch configured to control the delivery of the control gas to the control conduit based on inhalation by the patient,wherein the flow switch includes no part that moves in response to the inhalation by the patient.

20. The nebulizer of claim 19, further comprising a signal conduit in fluid communication with the flow switch, the signal conduit for providing a negative pressure in response to the inhalation by the patient, the negative pressure for causing interruption of the delivery of the control gas to the fluid conduit via the control conduit.

21. The nebulizer of claim 19, wherein the flow switch comprises: an inlet port for receiving the control gas;a first outlet port;a second outlet port for directing the control gas to the fluid conduit; anda control port configured to selectively switch a flow direction of the control gas between the first outlet port and the second outlet port based on the inhalation by the patient.

22. The nebulizer of claim 21, wherein the control port is in fluid communication with the nebulizer outlet.

23. The nebulizer of claim 21, wherein the flow switch is configured such that the inhalation by the patient causes a negative pressure in the control port, causing a flow direction of the control gas to switch from the second outlet port to the first outlet port.

24. The nebulizer of claim 21, wherein the first outlet port is in fluid communication with atmosphere or an interior of the body.

25. The nebulizer of claim 21, wherein the flow switch further comprises an input flow port disposed substantially opposite to the control port with respect to the inlet port.

26. The nebulizer of claim 19, wherein the pressurized gas and the control gas are delivered from a same source of gas, the control gas being branched off from the pressurized gas.

27. The nebulizer of claim 19, further comprising a flow regulator for controlling a flow of the control gas.

28. The nebulizer of claim 27, wherein the flow regulator comprises a through-hole in a fluid sleeve that at least partially defines the fluid conduit.

29. The nebulizer of claim 19, further comprising a venturi through which fluid passes when the patient inhales through the nebulizer outlet.

30. The nebulizer of claim 29, wherein the venturi is located inside the nebulizer outlet and is in fluid communication with the flow switch.

31. The nebulizer of claim 29, wherein the venturi is located inside the body and is in fluid communication with the flow switch.

32. The nebulizer of claim 19, further comprising an override mechanism configured to selectively disable operation of the flow switch.

33. A nebulizer comprising: a body comprising a reservoir for holding medication;a nozzle for emitting a jet of pressurized gas;a fluid conduit in communication with the reservoir for delivery of the medication proximate the jet to produce an aerosol of medication;a nebulizer outlet in communication with the body for delivery of the aerosol to a patient;a control conduit in fluid communication with the fluid conduit for delivery of a control gas to the fluid conduit to prevent the delivery of the medication proximate the jet; anda flow switch comprising: an inlet port for receiving the control gas;a first outlet port;a second outlet port for directing the control gas to the fluid conduit; anda control member configured to selectively switch a flow direction of the control gas between the first outlet port and the second outlet port.

34. The nebulizer of claim 33, wherein the control member is configured to switch the flow direction based on inhalation by the patient.

35. The nebulizer of claim 34, wherein the control member comprises a control port in fluid communication with the nebulizer outlet via a signal conduit, the signal conduit providing a negative pressure in response to the inhalation by the patient for causing a flow direction of the control gas to switch from the second outlet port to the first outlet port, so as to interrupt the delivery of the control gas to the control conduit.

36. The nebulizer of claim 34, wherein the control member comprises a valve configured to selectively open the first outlet port in response to the inhalation by the patient, opening the first outlet port causing the flow direction of the control gas to switch from the second outlet port to the first outlet port.

37. The nebulizer of claim 33, wherein the flow switch comprises a T-junction with each branch constituting the inlet port, the first outlet port, and the second outlet port, respectively.

38. The nebulizer of claim 33, wherein the flow switch includes no part that moves in response to inhalation by the patient.

39. The nebulizer of claim 33, wherein the pressurized gas and the control gas are delivered from a same source of gas, the control gas being branched off from the pressurized gas.

40. The nebulizer of claim 33, further comprising a flow regulator for controlling a flow of the control gas.

41. The nebulizer of claim 40, wherein the flow regulator comprises a through-hole in a fluid sleeve that at least partially defines the fluid conduit.

42. The nebulizer of claim 33, further comprising a venturi through which fluid passes when the patient inhales through the nebulizer outlet.

43. The nebulizer of claim 33, further comprising an override mechanism configured to selectively disable operation of the flow switch.

44. A nebulizer comprising: a body comprising a reservoir for holding medication;a nozzle for emitting a jet of pressurized gas, the pressurized gas supplied to the nozzle via a main gas conduit;a fluid conduit in communication with the reservoir for delivery of the medication proximate the jet to produce an aerosol of medication;a nebulizer outlet in communication with an interior of the body for delivery of the aerosol to a patient;a control conduit branching off from the main gas conduit and in fluid communication with the fluid conduit, the control conduit for delivery of a control gas to the fluid conduit to prevent the delivery of the medication proximate the jet; anda control system configured to control the delivery of control gas to the control conduit.

45. The nebulizer of claim 44, wherein the control system is configured to control the delivery of control gas to the control conduit based on inhalation by the patient.

46. The nebulizer of claim 45, further comprising a signal conduit in fluid communication with the control system, the signal conduit for providing a negative pressure in response to the inhalation by the patient, the negative pressure for causing interruption of the delivery of the control gas to the fluid conduit via the control conduit.

47. The nebulizer of claim 45, wherein the control system comprises: an inlet port for receiving the control gas;a first outlet port;a second outlet port for directing the control gas to the fluid conduit; anda control port configured to selectively switch a flow direction of the control gas between the first outlet port and the second outlet port based on the inhalation by the patient.

48. The nebulizer of claim 44, further comprising a flow regulator for controlling a flow of the control gas.

49. The nebulizer of claim 48, wherein the flow regulator comprises a through-hole in a fluid sleeve that at least partially defines the fluid conduit.

50. The nebulizer of claim 44, further comprising a stationary diverter to which the jet of pressurized gas is directed.

51. The nebulizer of claim 44, wherein the control system includes no part that moves in response to the inhalation by the patient.

52. The nebulizer of claim 44, further comprising a venturi through which fluid passes when patient inhales through the nebulizer outlet.

53. The nebulizer of claim 44, further comprising an override mechanism configured to selectively disable operation of the control system.

54. A method of controlling a nebulization process, comprising: providing medication in a reservoir within a body, the body comprising an outlet for inhalation by a patient;emitting a jet of pressurized gas into the body;providing a fluid conduit in communication with the reservoir for delivery of the medication proximate the jet;preventing delivery of the medication proximate the jet by delivering a control gas to the fluid conduit via a control conduit; andusing a fluidic amplifier to interrupt the delivery of the control gas to the control conduit based on inhalation by the patient, the interruption permitting delivery of the medication proximate the jet to produce an aerosol of medication.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein the fluidic amplifier comprises: an inlet port for receiving the control gas;a first outlet port;a second outlet port for directing the control gas to the fluid conduit; anda control port configured to selectively switch a flow direction of the control gas between the first outlet port and the second outlet port based on the inhalation by the patient.

56. The method of claim 55, wherein the control port is in fluid communication with the outlet.

57. The method of claim 56, further comprising creating a negative pressure in the control port by inhalation of the patient, the negative pressure causing a flow direction of the control gas to switch from the second outlet port to the first outlet port.

58. The method of claim 55, further comprising biasing the control gas to flow from the inlet port to the second outlet port when the patient is not inhaling.

59. The method of claim 54, wherein the pressurized gas and the control gas are delivered from a same source of gas, the control gas being branched off from the pressurized gas.

60. The method of claim 54, further comprising regulating a flow of the control gas to the control conduit via a flow regulator.

61. The method of claim 54, further comprising directing the jet of pressurized gas towards a stationary diverter.

62. The method of claim 54, wherein the fluidic amplifier includes no part that moves in response to the inhalation by the patient.

63. A method of controlling a nebulization process, comprising: providing medication in a reservoir within a body, the body comprising an outlet for inhalation by a patient;emitting a jet of pressurized gas;providing a fluid conduit in communication with the reservoir for delivery of the medication proximate the jet;preventing delivery of the medication proximate the jet by delivering a control gas to the fluid conduit; andusing a flow switch to interrupt the delivery of the control gas to the control conduit based on inhalation by the patient, the interruption permitting delivery of the medication proximate the jet to produce an aerosol of medication,wherein the flow switch includes no part that moves in response to the inhalation by the patient.

64. The method of claim 63, wherein the flow switch comprises: an inlet port for receiving the control gas;a first outlet port;a second outlet port for directing the control gas to the fluid conduit; anda control port configured to selectively switch a flow direction of the control gas between the first outlet port and the second outlet port based on the inhalation by the patient.

65. The method of claim 64, wherein the control port is in fluid communication with the outlet.

66. The method of claim 65, further comprising creating a negative pressure in the control port by inhalation of the patient, the negative pressure causing a flow direction of the control gas to switch from the second outlet port to the first outlet port.

67. The method of claim 64, further comprising biasing the control gas to flow from the inlet port to the second outlet port when the patient is not inhaling.

68. The method of claim 63, wherein the pressurized gas and the control gas are delivered from a same source of gas, the control gas being branched off from the pressurized gas.

69. A method of controlling a nebulization process, comprising: providing medication in a reservoir within a body, the body comprising an outlet for inhalation by a patient;emitting a jet of pressurized gas;providing a fluid conduit in communication with the reservoir for delivery of the medication proximate the jet;preventing delivery of the medication proximate the jet by delivering a control gas to the fluid conduit via a control conduit; andusing a flow switch to interrupt the delivery of the control gas to the control conduit, the flow switch comprising: an inlet port for receiving the control gas;a first outlet port;a second outlet port for directing the control gas to the fluid conduit; anda control member configured to switch a flow direction of the control gas between the first outlet port and the second outlet port.

70. The method of claim 69, wherein the control member is configured to switch the flow direction of the control gas between the first outlet port and the second outlet port based on inhalation by the patient.

71. The method of claim 69, wherein the control member comprises a control port in fluid communication with the outlet via a signal conduit, the signal conduit providing a negative pressure in response to the inhalation by the patient for causing a flow direction of the control gas to switch from the second outlet port to the first outlet port, so as to interrupt the delivery of the control gas to the control conduit.

72. The method of claim 69, wherein the control member comprises a valve configured to selectively open the first outlet port in response to the inhalation by the patient, opening the first outlet port causing the flow direction of the control gas to switch from the second outlet port to the first outlet port.

73. The method of claim 69, wherein the flow switch comprises a T-junction with each branch constituting the inlet port, the first outlet port, and the second outlet port, respectively.

74. The method of claim 69, wherein the pressurized gas and the control gas are delivered from a same source of gas, the control gas being branched off from the pressurized gas.

75. A method of controlling a nebulization process, comprising: providing medication in a reservoir within a body, the body comprising an outlet for inhalation by a patient;emitting a jet of pressurized gas, the pressurized gas supplied via a main gas conduit;providing a fluid conduit in communication with the reservoir for delivery of the medication proximate the jet;preventing delivery of the medication proximate the jet by delivering a control gas to the fluid conduit via a control conduit; andusing a control system to interrupt the delivery of the control gas to the control conduit based on inhalation by the patient,wherein the control conduit branches off from the main gas conduit and is in fluid communication with the fluid conduit.

76. The method of claim 75, wherein the control system comprises: an inlet port for receiving the control gas;a first outlet port;a second outlet port for directing the control gas to the fluid conduit; anda control port configured to selectively switch a flow direction of the control gas between the first outlet port and the second outlet port based on the inhalation by the patient.

77. The method of claim 76, further comprising connecting the control port to the outlet, so that the inhalation by the patient creates a negative pressure for causing the flow direction of the control gas to switch from the second outlet port to the first outlet port, so as to interrupt the delivery of the control gas to the control conduit.

78. The method of claim 75, wherein the control system includes no part that moves in response to the inhalation by the patient.