Abstract:
A high flow nasal therapy system (1) has a gas supply (2), a nebulizer (12), and a nasal interface (7). There are two branches (11, 10) and a valve (6) linked with the controller, the branches including a first branch (11) for delivery of aerosol and a second branch (10) for delivery of non-aerosolized gas. The controller controls delivery into the branches (11, 10), in which flow is unidirectional in the first and second branches, from the gas supply towards the nasal interface. The first branch (11) includes the nebulizer (12) and a line configured to store a bolus of aerosol during flow through the second branch (10). The valve (6) comprises a Y-junction between the gas inlet on one side and the branches on the other side.
Abstract:
A method for humidifying gas in a ventilator circuit 100, 101, 102, 105. 106 comprises aerosolising a humidifying agent such as water or saline using aerosol generator 2 and delivering the aerosolised humidifying agent, to the inspiration line 101 of the ventilator circuit coupled to the respiratory system of a patient. The aerosol generator 2 comprises a vibratable member 40 having a plurality of apertures extending between a first surface and a second surface. A controller 3 controls the operation of aerosol generator 2, for example in response to the flow of air in the inspiration line 101 as detected by a sensor11.
Abstract:
A digital processor of a nebulizer controller controls and monitors drive current (I) applied to an aperture plate. The drive current is detected as a series of discrete values at each of multiple measuring points, each having a particular drive frequency The processor in real time calculates a slope or rate of change of drive current with frequency and additionally determines a minimum value for drive current leading up to the peak value. The processor uses both the value of the minimum drive current during the scan and also the maximum slope value to achieve reliable prediction of end of dose, when the aperture plate becomes dry.
Abstract:
A nebulizer has an aperture plate, a mounting, an actuator, and an aperture plate drive circuit (2- 4). A controller measures an electrical drive parameter at each of a plurality of measuring points, each measuring point having a drive frequency; and based on the values of the parameter at the measuring points makes a determination of optimum drive frequency and also an end-of-dose prediction. The controller performs a short scan at regular sub-second intervals at which drive current is measured at two measuring points with different drive frequencies. According to drive parameter measurements at these points the controller determines if a full scan sweeping across a larger number of measuring points should be performed. The full scan provides the optimum drive frequency for the device and also an end of dose indication.
Abstract:
A nebuliser 1 particularly for home use comprises a housing 2 having an aerosol generator 3 mounted therein. The housing is closed by a hinged cap 4 and has an outlet 5 through which aerosol generated by the generator 3 is delivered. A suitable connector such as a mouthpiece 6 may be connected to the outlet 5. The housing 2 has a receiver for receiving a nebule 8. The receiver comprises a slot 7 which is sized and/or shaped to accommodate only a nebule 8 of predetermined shape and/or size. The nebuliser cap 4 has a nebule opening means which may be in the form of a puncture pin 10 projecting therefrom to pierce the nebule 8 when the cap is moved to the closed position. The pin 10 is hollow or splined to regulate flow from the nebule. The nebuliser 1 also has a switch means for enabling operation of the aerosol generator 3 when the nebule 8 is opened. The switch means comprises a microswitch 12 on the housing which is engageable by a trigger 13 on the cap 4 when the cap is moved to the closed position. Aerosol generated by the aerosol generator 3 is delivered into a chamber defined by the nebuliser housing 2. Air passes into the chamber through air inlets 30. The air entrains the aerosolised medicament and the entrained aerosolised medicament is delivered from the nebuliser through the outlet 5.
Abstract:
A nebuliser has a housing (19) having a reservoir (2) for the medicament. An aerosol generator (7) receives the medicament by gravity flow and aerosolizes the medicament. A gas venting inlet (21) permits a gas to enter the nebuliser and forms a mixture with the aerosol. There is a passage (20, 24) through which the mixture of the aerosol and the gas is delivered to an outlet port (24) of the nebuliser. The housing has a baffle (25) to direct the mixture of the gas and the aerosol to the outlet port (24), the baffle having an inclined surface oriented to cause aerosol to flow through the outlet port, the baffle being inclined towards the outlet port
Abstract:
A method for humidifying gas in a ventilator circuit 100, 101, 102, 105, 106 comprises aerosolising a humidifying agent such as water or saline using an aerosol generator 2 and delivering the aerosolised humidifying agent to the inspiration line 101 of the ventilator circuit coupled to the respiratory system of a patient. The aerosol generator 2 comprises a vibratable member 40 having a plurality of apertures extending between a first surface and a second surface. A controller 3 controls the operation of aerosol generator 2, for example in response to the flow of air in the inspiration line 101 as detected by a sensor 11.
Abstract:
A high flow nasal therapy system (1) has a gas supply (2), a nebulizer (12), and a nasal interface (7). There are two branches (11, 10) and a valve (6) linked with the controller, the branches including a first branch (11) for delivery of aerosol and a second branch (10) for delivery of non-aerosolized gas. The controller controls delivery into the branches (11, 10), in which flow is unidirectional in the first and second branches, from the gas supply towards the nasal interface. The first branch (11) includes the nebulizer (12) and a line configured to store a bolus of aerosol during flow through the second branch (10). The valve (6) comprises a Y-junction between the gas inlet on one side and the branches on the other side.
Abstract:
A digital processor of a nebulizer controller controls and monitors drive current (I) applied to an aperture plate. The drive current is detected as a series of discrete values at each of multiple measuring points, each having a particular drive frequency The processor in real time calculates a slope or rate of change of drive current with frequency and additionally determines a minimum value for drive current leading up to the peak value. The processor uses both the value of the minimum drive current during the scan and also the maximum slope value to achieve reliable prediction of end of dose, when the aperture plate becomes dry.
Abstract:
A nebulizer 1 particularly for home use includes a housing 2 having an aerosol generator 3 mounted therein. The housing is closed by a hinged cap 4 and has an outlet 5 through which aerosol generated by the generator 3 is delivered. A suitable connector such as a mouthpiece 6 may be connected to the outlet 5. The housing 2 has a receiver for receiving a nebule 8. The receiver includes a slot 7 which is sized and/or shaped to accommodate only a nebule 8 of predetermined shape and/or size. The nebulizer cap 4 has a nebule opening device which may be in the form of a puncture pin 10 projecting therefrom to pierce the nebule 8 when the cap is moved to the closed position. The pin 10 is hollow or splined to regulate flow from the nebule. The nebulizer 1 also has a switch device for enabling operation of the aerosol generator 3 when the nebule 8 is opened. The switch device comprises a microswitch 12 on the housing which is engageable by a trigger 13 on the cap 4 when the cap is moved to the closed position. Aerosol generated by the aerosol generator 3 is delivered into a chamber defined by the nebulizer housing 2. Air passes into the chamber through air inlets 30. The air entrains the aerosolized medicament and the entrained aerosolized medicament is delivered from the nebulizer through the outlet 5.