Surgery – Liquid medicament atomizer or sprayer
Reexamination Certificate
2002-06-17
2004-05-18
Pham, Minh-Chau T. (Department: 1724)
Surgery
Liquid medicament atomizer or sprayer
C128S200160, C128S200180, C128S200210, C128S200230, C128S204210, C055S385100, C055S385400, C239S338000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06736135
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a nebulizer pump adapter for use in connection with nebulizers. The nebulizer pump adapter has particular utility in connection with providing a source of gas flow when a compressed gas tank or electrical air compressor is not available.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Nebulizer pump adapters are desirable for allowing the attachment of a bicycle pump to a nebulizer when a source of compressed air is not otherwise available. In order for a nebulizer to work, there must be a source of gas flow sufficient to nebulize the solution. The compressed gas tank or electrical air compressor which is normally used may not be available in certain situations, such as in the wilderness or during a blackout. As a result, having the option of using a hand-operated pump may be critical in administering inhaled aerosol medications.
The use of nebulizer bacteria filters is known in the prior art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,932,153 to Byrns discloses a nebulizer bacteria filter. However, the Byrns '153 patent does not have a Schrader valve-sized pump connector, and has further drawbacks of not having a hollow cylindrical filter with a beveled bottom.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,776,342 to Hiranaga et al. discloses a filter assembly that provides increased strength. However, the Hiranaga et al. '342 patent does not have a Schrader valve-sized pump connector, and additionally does not have a hollow cylindrical filter with a beveled bottom.
Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,195,527 to Hicks discloses respiratory filters that are included in a respiratory system used in anesthesia and/or patient ventilation. However, the Hicks '527 patent does not have a Schrader valve-sized pump connector, and also lacks a hollow cylindrical filter with a beveled bottom.
In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 4,148,732 to Burrow et al. discloses a bacteria filter unit that comprises a two-piece molded housing. However, the Burrow et al. '732 patent does not have a Schrader valve-sized pump connector, and also does not have a hollow cylindrical filter with a beveled bottom.
Furthermore, U.S. Pat. No. 4,444,661 to Jackson et al. discloses a filter device that has a plastic housing with inlet and outlet chambers separated by a filter disc. However, the Jackson et al. '661 patent does not have a Schrader valve-sized pump connector, and further lacks a hollow cylindrical filter with a beveled bottom.
Lastly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,230,727 to Pound et al. discloses an air filter for medical ventilation equipment and the like that is an inexpensive, bidirectional, low flow resistance air filter. However, the Pound et al. '727 patent does not have a Schrader valve-sized pump connector, and has the additional deficiency of not having a hollow cylindrical filter with a beveled bottom.
While the above-described devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not describe a nebulizer pump adapter that allows providing a source of gas flow when a compressed gas tank or electrical air compressor is not available. The above patents make no provision for connecting a Schrader valve-sized pump to the filtering apparatus. Furthermore, none of the above patents have a hollow cylindrical filter with a beveled bottom.
Therefore, a need exists for a new and improved nebulizer pump adapter that can be used for providing a source of gas flow when a compressed gas tank or electrical air compressor is not available. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need. In this respect, the nebulizer pump adapter according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of providing a source of gas flow when a compressed gas tank or electrical air compressor is not available.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of nebulizer bacteria filters now present in the prior art, the present invention provides an improved nebulizer pump adapter, and overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages and drawbacks of the prior art. As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and improved nebulizer pump adapter which has all the advantages of the prior art mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a nebulizer pump adapter which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by the prior art, either alone or in any combination thereof.
To attain this, the present invention essentially comprises a hollow pump connection and a hollow tubing connection removably attached to the pump connection. An additional significant element is a hollow cylindrical filter with a beveled bottom housed within the hollow pump connection and hollow tubing connection.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. The invention may also include the hollow pump connection having a hollow pump connector which is sized to accept a Schrader valve-sized pump. The hollow tubing connection may have a hollow tubing connector sized to accept nebulizer tubing. The hollow pump connection may also be permanently attached to the hollow tubing connection. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims attached.
Numerous objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description of presently current, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiments of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In this respect, before explaining the current embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of descriptions and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved nebulizer pump adapter that has all of the advantages of the prior art nebulizer bacteria filters and none of the disadvantages.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved nebulizer pump adapter that may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved nebulizer pump adapter that has a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such nebulizer pump adapter economically available to the buying public.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new nebulizer pump adapter that provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith.
Even still another object
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