Surgery – Liquid medicament atomizer or sprayer – Gas stream aspirating medicament from reservoir
Patent
1996-09-11
1998-01-27
Millin, Vincent
Surgery
Liquid medicament atomizer or sprayer
Gas stream aspirating medicament from reservoir
12820018, 12820014, A61M 1100
Patent
active
057112924
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a device for producing a very fine non-homogeneous aerosol, such device normally being referred to as a nebulizer. The invention also relates to the use of the nebulizer to produce a non-homogeneous aerosol. The device is particularly useful in medical treatment, i.e. for administering medicines or drugs in aerosol form.
European Patent Specification 0191018 describes a nebulizer for producing an homogenous aerosol. The known device includes a container in which two mutually parallel and mutually spaced discs are arranged, of which discs one has a larger area then the other. The smaller of the discs has a central opening through which gas is caused to flow in a direction towards the opposing disc. This disc, the smaller disc, also has liquid openings placed outside the gas opening. The gas delivered to the container generates, between the disc, a subpressure which causes liquid to flow towards the opposing larger disc. Utilizing the so-called coanda-effect, there is produced on the larger of the discs a liquid film which is transformed into liquid droplets of essentially equal size at the edges of the disc, i.e. homogeneous or uniformly-sized liquid droplets which form the aerosol together with the gas.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One object of the present invention is to provide a highly efficient nebulizer with which non-homogeneous aerosols, i.e., aerosols comprised of liquid droplets of non-uniform or different sizes, can be produced.
Another object is to provide a nebulizer with which the percentage of minute droplets of liquid is high.
These object are achieved in accordance with the invention by means of a device which functions to produce a fine non-homogeneous aerosol and which includes a liquid container and a liquid passageway whose one end discharges in a first disc and whose other end extends towards the container bottom, wherein the discharge orifice of the liquid passageway in the first disc is located in the proximity of a second disc and is directed at least generally at right angles to said second disc.
The device includes a liquid container, a liquid conducting pipe whose outlet orifice is disposed in a first disc and whose other end extends toward the container bottom. The outlet orifice is located adjacent to a second disc. The device further includes a gas conduit which is connected to a pressurized gas container and which terminates in the pipe proximal the outlet orifice.
In further accordance with the present invention, the second disc is smaller than the first disc and the gas conduit leads gas to the pipe and draws liquid through the passageway and generates a first aerosol adjacent the outlet orifice. The first aerosol is directed toward and impinges upon the second disc and forms a radially-spreading film thereon. The film thins and breaks down at the border edges of the second disc to form droplets. The droplets form in the gas a second non-homogeneous aerosol which combines with the portion of the first aerosol that doesn't impinge upon the second disc.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to an exemplifying embodiment thereof and also with reference to the accompanying drawing, the single FIGURE of which is a schematic vertical section view of the inventive device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The illustrated device includes a container 1, which may have a circular cross-section, and a part which tapers conically towards the bottom of the container 1. A liquid conducting pipe or conduit 2 extends from the bottom of the container through a relatively large, first disc 5 where it forms a liquid discharge orifice 6. A second disc 4 is mounted above the first disc 5 parallel therewith and at a distance of at most 2 mm therefrom. The discs 4 and 5 are held fixed in relation to one another with the aid of respective arms 7 and 8, which connect the discs to the container wall. Only one arm is shown for each disc. A gas pipe or condui
REFERENCES:
patent: 2826454 (1958-03-01), Coanda
patent: 4512341 (1985-04-01), Lester
patent: 4588129 (1986-05-01), Shanks
patent: 4757812 (1988-07-01), Arborelius, Jr.
patent: 4792097 (1988-12-01), Kremer et al.
AGA Aktiebolag
Deane, Jr. William J.
Millin Vincent
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