US2696210A - Aerosol humidifier apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 7, I954 E. I.. HlcKMAN AEROSOL HUMIDIFIER APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed April 13, 1958 I I I I I I I l I l I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I l m M w? o." L 0 m T A .N F.. E v W Y4 a B o 4 9 8 ATTY.

Dec. 7, 1954 E. HlCKMAN 2,696,210

AEROSOL HUMIDIFIER APPARATUS Filed April 13, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 |NVENTOR= EARL. L-HCKMN BY ww ATT Y.

United States Patent O AEROSGL HUIVIIDIFIER APPARATUS Earl L. l-llickman, Greeley, Colo.

Application April 13, 1953, Serial No. 348,308

Claims. (Cl. 128-173) Aerosol is the smallest possible particle of moisture in air, and it can be accomplished only by a nebulizer creating a fog cloud, and is not to be confused with a spray of larger particles as conventionally formed by an atomizer.

Various aqueous solutions of medicinal formula, such as a detergent, C. 125 per cent, in combination with sodium bicarbonate 2 per cent and glycerin 5 per cent, said detergent being a member of the class Of detergent compounds identified as alkylaryl polyether alcohols, being an oxyethylated tertiary octylphenol-forrnaldehyde polymer, used either alone or as a vehicle for penicillin, streptomycin or decongestants, have been found capable of creating a greater density fog than water, in the use of my aerosol humidifier apparatus.

Heretofore, before the use of my apparatus, as far as known, it has not been possible to produce a fog nebulization of such aqueous solutions, in treatment of certain respiratory diseases, the method heretofore used failing 'to produce a fog or saturation of the air, because heretofore the only known method was by means of ordinary atomization of the solution into the air by large particle spray, which failed to nebulize or fog the air with the aqueous solution. t

Usually humidification is desired in connection with administration of Oxygen, either into an inhalation mask, an Oxygen tent, a hood, an incubator, or into a resuscitator for use on newborns, however same is not necessarily limited thereto.

In the case of use with Oxygen, a source of Oxygen supply is either available from an Oxygen bottle or tank, or, in larger hospitals, it is available from a pipe Outlet, being piped to each room from a common source. In either event, a flow meter is provided at the Oxygen source connection, at which source there is about fifty pounds of Oxygen pressure, to limit the flow possible therefrom. Heretofore, so far as known, the atomization apparatus for attempting to humidify the Oxygen, utilized the Oxygen pressure to try to push the water or aqueous solution up into a tube from a solution tank, accumulating the Oxygen pressure in a space in the tank above the solution level,

the tube leading to an atomizer, and such structure failed,

first, because only an atomization of the solution occurred and not a fog nebulization, and, secondly, because the back pressure in that tube and water against the Oxygen worked to defeat the function of the just explained flow meter at the Oxygen source, causing inaccuracy and ineffectualness of the flow meter and sometimes breaking the flow meter.

To Overcome said difliculty and deficiency, and to accomplish the needed and desired result, I have perfected my novel apparatus, in which new apparatus I utilize the power of the Oxygen stream, coming from the flow meter, to the extent of about five to six liters volume Of flow per minute, to accomplish nebulization of the aqueous solution, in combination with a true nebulizer, and not an atomizer, and accomplish a 100% fog nebulization of the Oxygen before it enters the desired receptacle of use for the patient.

Having thus explained the problem, it will be understood that a principal object of this invention is to construct an apparatus which utilizes the direct and unobstructed approximate five liter volume free flow per minute of Oxygen, or air pressure, into a sealed nebulizer, connected with the desired aqueous solution, for creating a saturated resultant fog nebulized mixture. g

Another principal object vof my invention is the construction of such an apparatus utilizing such Oxygen flow rice into a nebulzer, with the nebulizer connection with the desired aqueoussolution to be fog mixed thereby into the Oxygen, whereby there will be no back pressure on the Oxygen flow to defeat such flow.

Another principal Object is the construction of such an apparatus of strong and economical construction, and yet simple and convenient to handle and operate, and one which will last indefinitely and not deteriorate with use and be efficient of operation so as to be reliable.

Other and sundry objects will be apparent to those sklled in the art from the following detailed explanation, and from the drawings accompanying this application, in which drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of my apparatus;

Figure 2 is a top elevational view thereof;

Figure 3 is an enlarged elevational view of my excess flow control valve 33; and

Figure 4 is an enlarged partial view of the glass nebulizer 65.

Throughout the drawings like characters of reference have been used to represent like parts.

I provide a basket-like portable container Or housing, having Vertical side walls 10, with a top 10a and a bottom 10b secured thereto, and a carrying handle 11 secured to the top.

I cut an opening in the top portion 10a and secure an Open top tank 12 concentrically thereunder through the top portion. Vertically midway of that tank I secure a screen 12a to the wall thereof, which screen is adapted to hold an inverted open top bottle 15. Said bottle, in actual use, usually is a 500 cc. bottle of the aqueous fluid used to nebulize the Oxygen. It will be'understood that barometric pressure against the fluid level in the tank 12, around the inverted open top of the bottle, will hold the fluid in the bottle and in the tank, of a tank level, as illustrated. A slidable upright holding post 16, suitably slidably and adjustably held to the housing -1011 by means of screw lug 19, having a companion strap member 17, acts to hold the bottle 15 from tilting once the bottle has been inverted and placed on the screen 12a. Strap 17 is removably secured to post 16 by screw 18, and is of a length just slightly larger than the outer diameter of the bottle, so that when screw 18 is seated into post 16 the strap will act to bind the bottle to the post. I provide a division or auxiliary reservoir tank 14, also open-topped, connected for gravity feed by pipe 13, with reservoir tank 12, and with 14 spacedly hung from the top 10a.

A source of Oxygen, not illustrated, being either an Oxygen so-called tank or bottle, or, in the case of larger or modern hospitals with the Oxygen piped to each room from a central tank supply, is provided, and a tube 30 connects my apparatus with that source, as the case may be. Between tube 30 and that source of Oxygen a flow meter gauge and valve, not illustrated, is placed, to limit the escape pressure at the Oxygen source. That supply pressure, before it is thus limited, is normally about a fifty pound pressure. Oxygen is administered to a patient in terms of liter volume flow per minute. Since the nebulizer 65 will not accommodate over five to six liter volume flow per minute, in the size used, and it may be desired to bypass the nebulizer to get additional Oxygen volume fiow per minute to the patient`s receptacle, such as an Oxygen tent, in some cases, I provide an excess flow control escape or pet-Cook type valve 33, suitably mounted in a frame 33a inside the lower left of the housing, as illustrated, having an arm 32 extending through an arc opening 37 in the housing side wall. A liter volume flow per minute scale 38, to correspond with the action of valve 33, is secured to thezoutside wall above the opening 37, to indicate the excess Oxygen flow by-passing the nebulizer. Referring to Figure 3, the Oxygen inlet from tube 30 connects to pipe 34. The flow pressure into pipe 34 is Controlled by the flow meter valve and gauge at the Oxygen source, as explained and not illustrated. Pipe 34 is of the configuration shown, having an off-set pipe 36 therefrom. I-Iose 70 connects olf-set pipe 36 with the lower reduced portion of the nebulizer 65b. The other end of pipe 34, designated as 34a in Figure 3, is connected to the said excess flow control valve 33. It will be understood that should the source flow meter be set to release over five to six liter volume fiowof Oxygen perminute, to

enter pipe 34, then valve 33 is then to be manually Opened to permit any excess above five to six liter volume flow per minute to pass through 33. For example, should the fiow from the source be ten liters per minute, then the excess fiow valve is set at approximately four liters fiow per minute escape therethrough. The escape fiow through valve 33 enters pipe 35, from whence, not illustrated, it is directed into the patient's receptacle, such as the Oxygen tent, Without humidification thereof. Humidification, by means of nebulization, occurs to the Oxygen escaping out pipe 36 and tube 70, as will be explained.

I provide a drip gauge cut-Out window space 39 in upper central part Of one side wall of the housing 10. Auxiliary reservoir 14 has a gravity Outlet tube 60 extending from its fioor, at a point adjacent the upper part of window 39, and a drip needle valve 88, having valve wheel 89 for regulating same, of conventional construction, in Cooperation with tube 60, controls the amount of aqueous solution, capable of leaving reservoir 14. A glass gauge pipe 62 is suitably connected, by rubber tube 61, with a conventional Outlet drip reduced portion under drip valve 88, and the other end of that glass tube is connected with the nebulizer 65.

Nebulizer 65 is a glass bulb, as illustrated, having a reduced lower end 65h and an offset larger tube-like upper end 84. The lower reduced end 65b has a washer 81 sealed therein, as illustrated in Figure 4, and in that washer hole 81a a hollow glass-like needle 82 is sealed therein, around the outside of that needle, with the needle extending that hole vertically upwardly about one-third of the inside height of the nebulizer. The hole in needle 82 is very minute, being about M14 to 1/100 of an inch in diameter. Tube 70, connecting the Oxygen supply from pipe 36, has its other end connected with the lower portion of reduced end 65h of the nebulizer, and the construction of parts is such that the Oxygen enters the lower end of the hollow needle 82. A hole 65a is provided in the lower side wall portion of the nebulizer 65, as illustrated, and a rubber cork 66 is removably placed in that hole. A hollow injection type needle 67 is pierced through said cork 66, and suitable plastic and rubber tube connecting means, 68, 69, 69a and 63, act to connect the hollow needle 67 with the lower hollow reduced neck portion of the glass drip tube 62, so that the aqueous solution, dripping into tube 62 will be directed and flow by gravity down into and through needle 67. As the drops 80 fall into the lower part of nebulizer 65, from the inner nebulizer end of needle 67, a supply of the aqueous solution is collected in the lower part of the hollow nebulizer, of a level indicated by 90, as a result of the washer 81 and vertical needle 82 being sealed together and to the nebulizer, as illustrated, the lower inside portion of the nebulizer forms a reservoir for that purpose. When the Vertical glass needle 82 is formed, it is formed with a web-like side extension 83, about mid-way of its two ends, and at the extremity of said web portion, opposite the needle 82, a curved needle like tube 83a, of configuration illustrated, is formed integral therewith. Curved tube 83a is made hollow, its entire length and also the outer extremity of the web portion, as indicated in dotted lines 83h, with said hollow tube-like opening being also very restricted of about 1A, to 1A00 of an inch in diameter.

In the operation of my aerosol humidifier, five to six liter fiow of Oxygen volume per minute, from the fifty pound pressure supply meter fiow Outlet, enters pipe 34 and from there through pipe 36 and tube 70 into hollow needle 82, and the latter directs it to point 82a Outlet therefrom. As that oxygen fiow leaves the hollow end point 82a the force thereof creates a suction draft at the upper adjacent aligned open end of curved tube 83a, and that suction acts to draw the aqueous solution up the opening 83h, as a result of a resultant vacuum created up tube 83a opening 83b, which vacuum in turn sucks the solution up that tube and out its upper end, where the Oxygen exhaust from hollow needle 82 point 82a causes a nebulization or fogging of the solution from tube 83a into the finest aerosol fog nebulization particles of humidity in suspension, so-called, in the Oxygen. Such nebulized or fogged or so humidified Oxygen then leaves the nebulizer 65 by means Of the upper offset open end 84 of the nebulizer 65. Suitable means is used to direct this 100% saturated Oxygen from the nebulizer end 84 to the desired receptacle, such as to an Oxygen tent or other receptacle, such as by tubes 85, 86 and 87.

As heretofore explained, there are times when the fiow meter at the Oxygen source, not illustrated, will have to be set to permit more than the maximum fiow which can be accommodated or pass through the nebulizer unit 65, as when the patient is ordered by the physician to receive more than that fiow, in certain emergency cases.

' In such an event, I provide my excess flow by-pass control valve 33, which, as previously explained, is provided for just such an emergency, to permit any excess as may be desired to go to the patient's receptacle, as an Oxygen tent, to get there by by-passing the nebulizer, by a proper setting of that valve to permit such excess to go by the nebulizer into excess fiow tube 35, from which latter tube the Oxygen is directed by suitable tubing to the Oxygen tent or other patienfs receptacle. It is, of course, to be understood that a nebulizer could be constructed as would accommodate varying quautities of liter fiow per minute, in excess of that capable of being accommodated by the one I use, in such an event, and in which event my excess fiow valve would not be necessary. I have found, however, in an average case, a five to six liter volume fiow per minute is sufficient, using the now prevalent size Oxygen bottles, so that such a bottle supply will last about twenty four hours at that setting.

I provide an excess door opening 40 in the side wall of the housing 10, adjacent the nebulizer 65, provided with sliding door channels 40a and a sliding door operable in the Channels, so that the nurse or technician may open the door When desired, or for any other use, to provide access to the nebulizer 65. In use, the dripper valve 88, by set wheel 89, is set so that, per the physicians orders, the supply thereof in bottle 15 will last anywhere from one to twenty-four hours. It is to be understood, that while for illustrative purposes, I have shown the supply thereof in the lower part of the nebulizer 65, as being at a level 90, that same may not be such during use, but, that said level position there will depend upon the speed or setting permitting drops to leave valve 88. That level may never rise above the lowest point of the webbed curved tube 33a. Of course, to have saturated or nebulized Oxygen leaving the upper end 84, of the nebulizer 65, the dripper wheel 89 must be set to permit sufficient dripping into the nebulizer to accurnulate a supply of the aqueous solution in the lower part of the nebulizer as to maintain a level thereof in that lower part of the nebulizer at a point slightly always above the lower open end of curved tube 83h, for the reason that there can be no vacuum suction created in that tube 831), as explained, unless that supply of liquid is above that lowermost point.

It will thus be seen that I utilize the Oxygen fiow and a novel apparatus for effecting true nebulization or fogging saturation of the Oxygen by aerosol particles, being far Superior to all known methods heretofore used, some of the latter having been first mentioned herein. Others of the known methods of attempting to humidify Oxygen have been, efort to so-call bubble Oxygen up through water, or by injecting steam into a hood receptacle, all without any degree of satisfactory saturation whatsoever.

The constant Oxygen flow up tube 82, without interruption, and the shape of the nebulizer causing that flow stream to be directed up, outwardly, down and around by point 82a of the nebulizer, several times before the mixture all leaves the nebulizer, as indicated by the arrows of Fig. 4, assures a 100% saturated mixture leaving the exit point 34. No electric motor and pump is needed to accomplish such pressure fiow by the point 82a. Thus I have eliminated many parts, and have accomplished a new result.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many changes and modifications may be made in my preferred embodiment of my invention herein illustrated and explained, and I therefore wish to be distinctly understood that I will not Vbe bound thereby but only by and within the scope and teaching of the hereunto appended claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an aerosol humidifier apparatus, adapted for use with a supply of non-aqueous Oxygen held under pressure, a liter per minute fiow control valve for controlling the pressured amount Of release of said Oxygen supply, and a patients receptacle adapted for confiningly receiving nebulized Oxygen from a nebulizer, in combination therewith, a frame, an Open reservoir tank secured tO the upper part of said frame and adapted for receiving medicated aqueous solution therein, means for so securing said tank, a substantially continuous supply of such aqueous solution in said tank, a nebulizer of the class described adapted to be operated by only a given maximum liter flow volume per minute of Oxygen passing therethrough per minute and for nebulizing such Oxygen flow therethrough thereby, combined drip conduit and control means connecting the lower part of the reservoir tank with the lower part of the nebulizer and adapted for. supplying a gravity drip controlled supply of the aqueous solution into the lower part of the nebulizer, for nebulization of the Oxygen passing through the nebulizer with said aqueous solution, said last named means including an operable drip set Valve, a glass tube and tube means, conduit means connecting the upper part of the nebulizer with said patient's receptacle, means for holding said nebulizer in Vertical position in cooperation With the frame, and direct tube connecting means between the Oxygen supply flow control valve and then with the lower end of the nebulizer and adapted for directing the Oxygen supply from said Valve into the nebulizer, said last named direct tube Oxygen supply connecting means having a manually operable excess flow control valve means associated therewith and which excess flow control valve means is adapted for permitting any excess Oxygen flow from the Oxygen supply flow control valve as may exceed said given maximum liter flow volume per minute of Oxygen as can pass through the nebulizer to by-pass the nebulizer and said excess fiow control valve means including tube means for directing any such excess so bypassed into the patienfis receptacle.

2. In combination, an aerosol humidifier apparatus as defined in preceding claim No. 1, and characterized further by the definition of the nebulizer as comprising a vertically positioned egg-shaped bulb having an open upper end and another opening adjacent its lower side wall and with a main tube-like Vertical needle sealed as a floor in its lowermost portion, means positioned between the ends of tube-needle for sealing the outside of said needle to the lowermost portion of the bulb and comprising the floor of the bulb, means for so positioning the nebulizer in the frame below the drip set valve and the glass tube, the upper end of the main tube needle extending up into the bulb about one-third of the height thereof to a point above the said opening adjacent the Vlower side wall of the bulb, said drip conduit means having its lowermost end extending through said opening in the lower side wall of the bulb, cork means cooperating with said extension of the conduit means and also sealing said opening in the lower side wall of the bulb, and a web-like crescent shaped arm extending from and parallel with said main tube needle within the bulb, said crescent arm being preformed with a tube like Opening extending therein throughout its length, said crescent tube arm being positioned with its end positioned directly over and in alignment with the upper end of said main tube needle and in close proximity thereabove and with the lower end of said crescent tube arm being positioned a short distance above the lower floor sealed portion of the bulb and below the level of said cork sealed lower side wall opening of the bulb, the inner diameter of each of the main Vertical tube and the crescent arm tube being substantially identical.

3. In combination with a flow meter liter Volume per minute controlled source of pressured non-aqueous gaseOus-lke matter, and a patient's receptacle adapted for confinmgly receiving the non-aqueous matter therein, the combmation of, an aerosol humidifier apparatus comprising, a portable housing member having a top, side-walls and bottom portions, a reservoir tank in the top portion thereof and having a fixed screen spaced Off the bottom of the reservoir adapted for holding an inverted open flat topped bottle of medicated aqueous solution thereon for `supplymg the reservoir with said solution by barometric pressure, a nebulizer of the class described having an upper Open end and being vertically supported within said. housing, means for so supporting the nebulizer, gravity flow tube-like means connecting the tank with the lower portion of the inside of the nebulizer and being adapted for permitting a gravity flow of the aqueous solutron mto that part of the nebulizer, said tube means havmg a manually operable drip set valve associated therewith, and a drip inspection glass tube included therein, pipe connecting means directly connecting the lower end of the nebulizer with the flow meter controlled source of non-aqueous matter for permitting said matter to enter said end of the nebulizer, said nebulizer being adapted to utilize the pressure of the non-aqueous matter so entering its lower e'nd as the force directly Operating the nebulizer and thereby eausing aerosolization of the said non-aqueous matter so entering that end with the aqueous solution so gravity flow entering the lower portion of the nebulizer, tube conduit means connecting the upper end of the nebulizer with the patienfs receptacle for directing the so aerosoled matter thereinto, and said side wall portion of the housing adjacent the glass tube and nebulizer having an access Opening therein.

4. The combination of atnie aerosol humidifier apparatus for aerosolizing pressured non-aqueous matter, as defined in claim 3, and characterized further by the definition of the nebulizer comprising an egg-shaped bulb having an upper open end and a sealed lower end except for a Vertical tube extending through that lower end and extending part way up inside the bulb, the lower side portion of the bulb having an opening through which the gravity flow tube from the reservoir extends into the bulb, means for Sealing said tube to said Opening, said pipe connecting means connecting the source of non-aqueous matter with the lower end of the nebulizer in aifect being a direct connection with the lower end Of said Vertical tube extending through the lower end of the bulb, and an auxiliary tuberwithin the bulb positioned with relation to the Vertical tube therein with its upper end bent Over and immediately adjacent and aligned with the upper end of the said Vertical tube and with the lower end of the auxiliary tube being a small spaced distance above the sealed lower end of the bulb, whereby the pressure flow of non-aqueous matter upwardly through said bulb vertical tube and by the upper adjaeent end of the auxiliary tube causes a Vacuum suction through said auxiliary tube and thereby sucks aqueous solution up through said auxiliary tube, the Vertical positioning of the egg-shaped nebulizer bulb being on one of its smaller ends, and the upper open end of said bulb being at the Other of its smaller ends, said nebulizer bulb Shape eausing an inherent vacuum downward swirling action of the resultant mixture within the bulb upon operation of the nebulizer when the flow of the aqueous solution from the reservoir into the bulb is of a level above lower end of the auxiliary tube and as some of said mixture leaves the bulb's upper open end via said ltube conduit means.

5. In an aerosolizer nebulizer of the class described, adapted to be Operated by a flow meter liter volume per minute controlled source of pressured Oxygen and to be positioned in the connection between that source of Oxygen and a patientis receptacle for confiningly receiving that Oxygen, in combination with that source of such Oxygen and such a receptacle, the combination of a housing, a source of medicated aqueous solution carried by the housing, a nebulizer vertically supported by the housing below the source of said solution, means for so supporting the nebulizer, gravity tube means for connecting the source of said medicated solution with the lower portion of the inside of the nebulizer and including a drip set valve, pipe connecting means for directly connecting the lower end of the nebulizer with said flow meter controlled source of pressured Oxygen for permitting said Oxygen to enter said end of the nebulizer, said nebulizer being adapted to utilize the pressure of the Oxygen so entering its lower end as the force directly Operating the nebulizer for eifecting aerosolization of the Oxygen so entering that end of the nebulizer with the said aqueous solution so gravity flow entering that end of the nebulizer, and tube conduit means connecting the upper end of the nebulizer with said patienfs receptacle for directing the aerosolized Oxygen from the nebulizer into said receptacle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,624,337 Gibbon Jan. 6, 1953

Images