US3806100A - Reservoir for ultrasonically operated nebulizer - Google Patents

Abstract

A container is disclosed which is a reservoir for water from which water is to be and can be atomized by ultrasonic means as in an ultrasonic nebulizer. The container is constructed of plastic. It is blow molded; prior to closing of the container, the water is introduced and the container is closed. A first port is provided for introduction of a gas, such as oxygen under pressure. A second port is provided for removal of atomized or mist of water in an oxygen medium for use by a patient requiring treatment. The plastic container has a relatively thin bottom which may be suitably coupled to an ultrasonic energy producing means. Additionally, means is provided for breaking open the two ports to provide access to the inside of the container. The container is also provided, in one embodiment with a continuous feeder so that additional water may be added, whereby the container is useful as a reservoir. The additional water is provided by means of a ''''chicken feeder'''' which is insertable through a breachable port located off-center on the top of the container.

Description

United States Patent [191 Cornett, III et a1.

[11] 3,806,100 [451 Apr. .23, 1974 1 RESERVOIR FOR ULTRASONICALLY OPERATED NEBULIZER [75] Inventors; Walter Goza Cornett, III; Edward Van Amerongen, both of Wilmette, 111-.

[73] Assignee: Respiratory Care, Inc., Arlington Heights, 11].

[22] Filed: Sept. 6, 1972 [21] App]. No.: 286,750

[52] US. Cl 261/1, 128/186, 128/194,

. 261/119, 26l/DIG. 48 [51] Int. Cl B0lf 3/04 [58] Field of Search 128/188, 186, 194, 232,

128/272; 261/119, 1, DIG. 48; 239/308, 327; 259/DIG. 43, DIG. 44

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,690,317. 9/1972 Millman 128/194 3,744,771 7/1973 Deaton 261/78 A Primary ExaminerAndrew R. .luhasz Assistant Examiner-W. R. Briggs Attorney, Agent, or Firm-:Eric P. Schellin; Martin P. Hoffman I [57] I ABSTRACT A container is disclosed which is a reservoir for water from which water is to be and can be atomized by ultrasonic means as in an ultrasonic nebulizer. The container is constructed of plastic. it is blow molded; prior to closing of the container, the water is introduced and the container is closed. A first port is provided for introduction of a gas, such as oxygen under pressure. A second port is provided for removal of atomized or mist of water in an oxygen medium for use 'by a patient requiring treatment.

The plastic container has a relatively thin bottom which may be suitably coupled to an ultrasonic energy producing means. Additionally, means is provided for breaking open the two ports to provide access to the inside of the container.

The container is also'provided, in one embodiment with a continuous feeder so that additional water may be added, whereby the container is useful as a reservoir. The additional water is provided by means of a chicken feeder which is insertable througha breachable port located off-center on the top of the container.

6 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures in amode of operation.

RESERVOIR FOR ULTRASONICALLY OPERATED NEBULIZER FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present disclosure relates to inhalation therapy. Particularly, it relates to a receptacle or container for ultrasonically operated nebulizers. Specifically, it concerns a container which is molded integral with a supply of water which may be atomized therefrom by couplingthe container to a source of ultrasonic energy.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION form of discernible droplets. The particles or mist of water is dispersed in the ambient air or oxygen, if desired. The mixture is then provided to a patient for breathing purposes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The device of the present. invention comprises a sealed plastic container which is blow molded with a quantity of water included prior to completing the formation and sealing of the container. The bottom of the container is sufficiently thin whereby it is transparent to ultrasonic vibrations so that the ultrasonic energy may act on the water in the container. Sufficient head room above the water is provided. An ingress port and an egress port is provided so that air or oxygen may be introduced by means of one and may be removed by the other. While the gas is in the container it is charged with the mist formed of tiny particles of water expelled from. the surface of the water when the water is subjected to ultrasonic vibrations. In another embodiment, the container functions as a reservoir which is continuously filled as needed from a source.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the ensuing detailed description, reference is made to accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspectivev view of the device of the present invention exploded from an optional stand.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the device.

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the device andthe stand therefor.

FIG. 4' is aperspective view of the device positioned in means for. producing ultrasonic energy.

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the fragmentary portionof one of the ports and 90 elbow exploded therefrom.

FIG. 6 is across-section taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5. r

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention wherein a breachable port is provided. I I

FIG. 8 is across-section taken along line 8--8 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the other embodiment FIG. 10 is a partial vertical cross-sectional view of the mode of operation of the other embodiment, part of the cross-section being taken along line 10-10 of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 11-11 ofFIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS that it passes through somewhat tangentially extending first port means 15 and somewhat tangentially extending second port means 16. Both port means will be seen to include elongated tubular means.

In blow molding the same quantity of plasticmaterial is provided to both sides of the mold. As one side of the mold will have a considerably larger cavity the plastic when blown to fill the cavity will'have to be distributed over a much wider area, as a result it will be much thinner. This can be readily seen from the cross-section of FIG. 3. In the instant matter it will be observed that the bottom is the thinnest portion. When coupled to a source of ultrasonic energy, this thin quality with re spect to the bottom is an advantage as less ultrasonic energy is absorbedthan would be the case otherwise.

smaller diameter and 'isalso a degree thinner in wall structure. Such Figures as FIGS. 1, 4 and 7 reveal the use of axially disposed longitudinal ribs 21 to provide a modicum of additional strength characteristics not otherwise available. The third section 22 is directly below the second section. Being the furthest from the mold part lineit will be seen to comprise the thinnest section terminating in the bottom 23 which due to its thinness is highly flexible. The third section has a number of convoluted portions 24 to increase the rigidity to some extent of the rather thinthird section.

The water 13 level in the body 11 is preferably at or near the junction of the second and third sections. More water than this results in poor atomization of the water as the body of water absorbs and dissipates too much of the ultrasonic energy Without easily converting the water to fine particle form. The chamber. 12 is thus provided with considerable head room for adequate gas distribution.

The first and second port means terminate in hollow caps 25 which have, of course, been blow molded integral with the container 10. In order to provide access 'to the interior of the container, that is, to the chamber 12, each of the caps 25 may be broken off along relatively weak line 26, as seen from the cross-section of FIG. 3. Breaking off the left cap 25 on port means 15, as seen in FIG. 4 will display a bevelled tubular opening 27 designed to have mated thereon one end of a 90 elbow 28. The elbow 28, as seen from FIGS. and 6, possesses internally a small protuberance 29 which is designed to mate with notch 30 on the uppermost side of the bevelled portion 31 of the port means 15. The detent configuration thereby provided insures that the elbow 28 will always maintain an upwardly facing orientation, as shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 9, for instance. As port means will carry away the nebulized mist of gas and water, the orientation of the elbow will provide a tortuous path so that any liquid water in droplet form will be caught by the inner surfaces of the elbow and flowed back to the body 11 by gravity through the port means 15. The upwardly facing opening 32 is secured to a highly flexible tube (not shown) which distributes the nebulized water and gas to the patient.

The other port means 16 also has its cap removed.

-An air or oxygen supply conduit 33 is attached thereto as seen from FIG. 9 and 10.

. The container of the present invention is essentially designed to be utilized with a number of conventional commercially available ultrasonic devices. Usually the ultrasonic device has a piezoelectric crystal as the transducer to provide the desired ultrasonic vibrations. The transducer is usually positioned at the bottom of a cup to which is either added directly the liquid to be atomized or the liquid is used as a coupler between the transducer and the bottom and part of the sides of a container in which is the liquid, such as water which is to receive the full benefit of the ultrasonic vibrations. The coupling liquid should be relatively sealed between the container and the cup so that it is not atomized but merely acts as a carrying medium for the ultrasonic vibrations. Additionally, to accomplish efficient operation, no bubbles should be permitted to become lodged in the coupling medium at the interface of the medium and the bottom of the container. It will be noted that the bottom 23 is convex so that any bubbles will float away from the bottom.

In FIGS. 1 and 3, it can be seen that the container 10 is designed, to fit a support means 35. The support means has an upstanding converging. tubular Wall 36 with an internal diameter slightly larger than that found at the junction of the second section and. third section 22. The container 10 is thereby snugly fitted into the support means. The other end of the tubular wall 36 terminates in a squared off base portion 37 and an upturned outward folded portion 38. In use the container is properly set up and disposed in its support means, which has previously been positioned in the ultrasonic device containing a quantity of coupling liquid which may be water, for instance.

FIG. 4 depicts the concept of employing an ultrasonic device having a cup 39, shown in dotted lines,

which can accommodate the container 10. It will be noted that the container is supported at approximately the juncture of the second section and the third section as disclosed in the foregoing.

Attention is now directed tothe embodiment por-' trayed by FIGS. 9 and 10. As the container 10 does not contain a large quantity of water, due to the rather tics.

now here discussed embodiment is designed to off-set some of these disadvantages.

In the foregoing the container 10 acts as selfcontained as it is already filled with a requisite quantity of water. The present embodiment looks to the use of the container with some modifications so that it can be used as a continuously operated device wherein the water nebulized therefrom is continuously replenished.

The top 18 of the container is modestly modified in that a breachable port is positioned along the surface of the top. It will be noted from FIG. 7 that the port 50 is off-center. The port 50 comprises a raised annular ring 51 with a self-sealing disc 52 positioned concentrically therein. The port is designed to accept a sharpened double bored conduit 53 as in FIG. 9 which is attached to a double channeled tube 54 for continuous delivery of water. In FIG. 8, the breaching tubular means 55, shown in dotted lines, may be a conventional hypodermic needle so that medicament may be added to the supply of water.

The tube 53 may be of cylindrical construction or it may be rectangular. The tube has a flange means 56 secured to near one end.'The flange means 56 is designed to lie in abutmenton the top 18 so that the other end of the tube terminates above the bottom 23. The tube has two conduits 57 and 58. Conduit 57 is slightly longer than conduit 58. The former is for the delivery of water from a reservoir 59, the latter is for air to displace the delivered water in thesaid reservoir. The res ervoir is a sealed receptacle and is positioned to provide hydrostatic pressure.

In this embodiment the container 10 can be used for a prolonged period as the water therein is continuously replenished. By controlling the point of termination with regard to tube 53, the water level in the container may be setat a point where there is the most effecient occurrance of nebulization.

The material for fabrication of the container is either polypropylene or polyethylene. The fittings are of the same materials, but can be constructed of other plas- As many changes in the described construction could be conceived, and as many changes could be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims, it is intended that all matter contained in the specification shall be considered as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

l. A plastic container blow molded with a quantity of water included therein during the molding operation comprising a first section having a cylindrical configuration, said first section having'ingress port means and egress port means, both of said port means having break-away cap means, said first section having a top,

. a second section having a cylindrical configuration insmallness of ultrasonic devices commercially available 1 and due to inherent inefficiencies of such devices, the

tegral with said first section, said second section being of a diameter smaller than said first section, a third section having a cylindrical configuration, integral with said second section, said third section having a diameter less than said second section, the third section having a convex bottom, the third section being con-. structed of thinner plastic than the second section, the second section being constructed of thinner plastic than the first Section, at least the egress port means having a detent exposed when said break-away cap is removed whereby a conduit having a mating detent nate in a bevel when the break-away caps are broken away.

4. The container of claim 3 wherein the detent is a notch in the bevel.

5. The container of claim 1 wherein the said ingress port means and the said egress port means extend in the same direction.

6. The container of claim 1 wherein the top has a breachable membrane means off-center with respect thereto, the membrane means including means for selfsealing a breached opening.

Claims (6)

1. A plastic container blow molded with a quantity of water included therein during the molding operation comprising a first section having a cylindrical configuration, said first section having ingress port means and egress port means, both of said port means having break-away cap means, said first section having a top, a second section having a cylindrical configuration integral with said first section, said second section being of a diameter smaller than said first section, a third section having a cylindrical configuration, integral with said second section, said third section having a diameter less than said second section, the third section having a convex bottom, the third section being constructed of thinner plastic than the second section, the second section being constructed of thinner plastic than the first section, at least the egress port means having a detent exposed when said break-away cap is removed whereby a conduit having a mating detent when attached to the egress port means is prevented from rotating.

2. The container of claim 1 wherein the egress port means and the ingress port means include tubes radiating tangentially outwardly from said first section.

3. The container of claim 2 wherein the tubes terminate in a bevel when the break-away caps are broken away.

4. The container of claim 3 wherein the detent is a notch in the bevel.

5. The container of claim 1 wherein the said ingress port means and the said egress port means extend in the same direction.

6. The container of claim 1 wherein the top has a breachable membrane means off-center with respect thereto, the membrane means including means for self-sealing a breached opening.

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