An automated nebulizer therapy device and method

Abstract

This invention relates to the field of medical nebulizer technology, and more particularly to an automated nebulization therapy device and method, comprising a housing, a control system, and a power system. The housing contains a drug preparation chamber, a first nebulization chamber, a second nebulization chamber, and a water chamber. Through the installation of a distilled water pump, a water level monitoring system, a first electric valve, a drug solution level detection system, a drug solution mixing system, a drug solution mixing monitoring system, a second electric valve, and the nebulization system, automated control and nebulization of drug preparation and administration are achieved. This eliminates the need for manual drug preparation by medical personnel, avoiding the problem of poor treatment effects caused by uneven drug preparation and reducing the workload of medical staff. Simultaneously, the device can automatically clean itself, avoiding the impact on the treatment effect of the next patient due to inconsistent cleaning standards during manual cleaning. This solves the problems of high workload for manual drug preparation, poor nebulization effect, and low efficiency caused by uneven drug mixing in existing technologies.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of medical nebulizer technology, specifically to an automated nebulization therapy device and method. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, nebulized inhalation therapy is a primary treatment for respiratory diseases. Medical nebulizers disperse medication into tiny particles or a mist, which patients inhale through their mouth and nose. This allows the medication to be effectively delivered to the respiratory tract and bronchioles, where it is absorbed and deposited in the alveoli, achieving excellent therapeutic effects. Because medical nebulizers efficiently generate large amounts of aerosols with large microparticle surface areas, they often create a larger contact area with the alveoli, resulting in higher treatment efficiency. Therefore, compared to oral, intramuscular, and intravenous administration, nebulized inhalation therapy delivers medication directly to the target organ, offering numerous advantages such as rapid onset of action, superior therapeutic effects, and fewer side effects, and has been widely adopted globally.

[0003] The nebulizers currently used in hospitals require medical staff to calculate the medication concentration each time, prepare the medication according to the concentration, and then administer the nebulization treatment. This process is labor-intensive and inefficient. Secondly, due to differences in the skills of medical staff, uneven medication mixing can occur, affecting the treatment effect. In addition, the concentration and type of nebulized medication vary for different patients, and the nebulizer needs to be cleaned after each patient's use. Traditional nebulizers are mostly cleaned manually, which is not only time-consuming and labor-intensive, but also results in inconsistent cleaning standards, which may affect the treatment outcome for the next patient. Summary of the Invention

[0004] To address the problems of high workload in manual drug preparation, poor nebulization effect, and low efficiency caused by uneven drug mixing in existing technologies, this invention provides an automated nebulization therapy device and method.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention employs the following technical solution:

[0006] An automated nebulizer therapy device includes a housing, a control system, and a power system;

[0007] The box is equipped with a raw drug chamber, a first atomization chamber, a second atomization chamber, and a water chamber.

[0008] The water chamber is equipped with a distilled water pump and a water level monitoring system. The output end of the distilled water pump is connected to the first atomization chamber. The output end of the distilled water pump is connected to a first electric valve.

[0009] The raw drug chamber is equipped with a liquid level detection system, a liquid mixing system, and a liquid mixing monitoring system. The raw drug chamber is connected to the first atomization chamber through a drug delivery channel, and a second electric valve is installed on the drug delivery channel.

[0010] The first atomizing chamber is equipped with an atomizing system;

[0011] The second atomizing chamber is located above the first atomizing chamber and is connected to the first atomizing chamber through a buffer hole on the bottom plate of the second atomizing chamber. The side wall of the second atomizing chamber is provided with a water outlet and a mist outlet, and the mist outlet is connected to an atomizing tube, an atomizing cup and an atomizing mask in sequence.

[0012] The distilled water pump, water level monitoring system, first electric valve, liquid level detection system, liquid mixing system, liquid mixing monitoring system, second electric valve, and atomization system are all electrically or communicatively connected to the power system and control system.

[0013] Preferably, both the water level monitoring system and the liquid level detection system are liquid level detection sensors.

[0014] Preferably, the atomization system is a piezoelectric ceramic oscillator.

[0015] Preferably, the drug solution mixing monitoring system includes a light emitter and a light receiver, which are respectively installed on the inner walls of the two sides of the original drug chamber.

[0016] Preferably, a dosing hole is provided on the side wall of the original drug chamber.

[0017] Preferably, the side wall of the water chamber is provided with a water injection hole.

[0018] Preferably, the bottom plate of the second atomizing chamber is a conical bottom plate.

[0019] Preferably, the bottom of the housing is provided with several casters.

[0020] Preferably, handles are provided on both sides of the box.

[0021] A method for controlling the nebulization of a nebulizer using the aforementioned automated control includes the following steps:

[0022] According to the type of medicine, inject the medicine into the original medicine chamber and inject the water into the water chamber;

[0023] Turn on the medicine mixing system to mix the medicine in the original medicine chamber;

[0024] Acquire data from the liquid level detection system, the liquid mixing system, and the water level monitoring system;

[0025] Obtain the required drug concentration and dosage;

[0026] Obtain the bottom area data of the raw material chamber and the water chamber;

[0027] Based on the data from the liquid level detection system, the liquid mixing system, and the water level monitoring system, the required liquid concentration and dosage, and the bottom area data of the raw material chamber and the water chamber, calculate the required liquid height and the required water height.

[0028] Control the amount of medicine and water entering the first atomizing chamber according to the required height of the medicine and the required height of the water.

[0029] After the medicine and water are fed into the first atomization chamber, the atomization system is turned on to atomize the medicine and water in the first atomization chamber into atomized vapor.

[0030] The atomized vapor is introduced into the second atomization chamber, and then into the atomization mask through the atomization tube and atomization cup to complete the atomization control.

[0031] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0032] This invention discloses an automated nebulizer therapy device comprising a housing, a control system, and a power system. The housing contains a raw drug chamber, a first nebulization chamber, a second nebulization chamber, and a water chamber. A distilled water pump and a water level monitoring system are installed in the water chamber to pump water into the first nebulization chamber and to automatically monitor water level changes in the water chamber in real time. A first electric valve is connected to the control system to automatically control the opening and closing of a solenoid valve, thereby achieving automatic water volume control. A liquid level detection system, a liquid mixing system, and a liquid mixing monitoring system are installed in the raw drug chamber to achieve real-time monitoring of the liquid level. The device features automatic monitoring of drug mixing and preparation, eliminating the need for manual mixing and reducing the workload of medical staff. A second electric valve in the drug delivery channel enables automatic dosage control. The first nebulizer chamber's internal nebulization system atomizes the drug to the target concentration. Finally, nebulized vapor is supplied to the second nebulizer chamber through a buffer hole, ultimately entering the nebulizer mask. The device is simple, produces uniform mist, and achieves automatic mixing, preparation, and nebulization of the drug, eliminating the need for manual drug preparation and avoiding poor treatment effects caused by uneven drug distribution. Furthermore, the device can be configured with multiple sets of first, second, and water chambers within the same original drug storage room, or multiple sets can be combined to provide nebulization for multiple patients, alleviating the current shortage of medical equipment in hospitals. Meanwhile, the device automatically cleans the first and second nebulization chambers by closing the second electric valve of the original drug chamber and opening the first electric valve. This results in more thorough cleaning, saves time and labor, reduces labor costs, and avoids the problem of inconsistent cleaning standards affecting the treatment effect of the next patient in manual cleaning processes.

[0033] Both the water level monitoring system and the liquid level detection system are liquid level detection sensors. The liquid level detection sensors can realize real-time monitoring of the liquid level or water level and feed the monitoring information back to the control system.

[0034] The atomization system is a piezoelectric ceramic oscillator, which can both atomize the mixture of water and medicine through oscillation and control the oscillation frequency through the control system to achieve automatic control of atomization.

[0035] The drug solution mixing monitoring system includes a light emitter and a light receiver, which are respectively installed on the inner walls of the two sides of the original drug chamber. By setting the light emitter and the light receiver, the uniformity of the drug solution in the original drug chamber is detected by refraction method, which can effectively ensure the uniformity of the drug solution and avoid affecting the atomization effect due to uneven drug solution.

[0036] The addition of dosing ports allows for the addition of chemicals to the raw material chamber at any time.

[0037] The water inlet hole allows for the addition of water to the water chamber, ensuring a sufficient water supply.

[0038] The conical bottom plate of the second atomizing chamber allows the atomized vapor to enter the second atomizing chamber evenly, further improving the atomization effect.

[0039] The bottom of the housing is equipped with several casters, which facilitates the movement of the nebulizer by medical staff, reduces the time cost for patients to receive treatment, and improves the patient's medical experience.

[0040] The box is equipped with handles on both sides to facilitate the movement of the nebulizer by medical staff.

[0041] This invention also provides a nebulization control method for the aforementioned automated nebulization therapy device. This method involves injecting the original drug chamber with the prescribed medication according to its type and injecting water into the water chamber; activating the medication mixing system to mix the medication in the original drug chamber; and calculating the required medication height and water height based on data from the medication level detection system, the medication mixing system, and the water level monitoring system, as well as the required medication concentration and dosage, and the bottom area data of the original drug chamber and the water chamber. This achieves automatic medication preparation and automatic nebulization, eliminating the need for manual medication preparation and mixing by medical personnel, thus improving their work efficiency and reducing their workload. Attached Figure Description

[0042] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the posterior strabismus view of an automated control nebulizer therapy device according to the present invention.

[0043] Figure 2 This is a perspective view of an automated control nebulizer therapy device according to the present invention.

[0044] Figure 3This is a rear view of an automated nebulizer therapy device according to the present invention.

[0045] Figure 4 This is a rear view (AA direction cross-sectional view) of an automated controlled nebulizer therapy device according to the present invention.

[0046] Figure 5 This is a front perspective view of an automated control nebulizer therapy device according to the present invention.

[0047] Figure 6 This is a front perspective view (BB direction cross-sectional view) of an automated controlled nebulizer therapy device according to the present invention.

[0048] Figure 7 This is a reverse perspective view of an automated control nebulizer therapy device according to the present invention.

[0049] Figure 8 This is a reverse perspective cross-sectional view (CC direction) of an automated controlled nebulizer therapy device according to the present invention.

[0050] Figure 9 This is a left perspective view of an automated control nebulizer therapy device according to the present invention.

[0051] Figure 10 This is a left perspective view and a cross-sectional view (DD direction) of an automated control nebulizer therapy device according to the present invention.

[0052] Figure 11 This is a right perspective view of an automated control nebulizer therapy device according to the present invention.

[0053] Figure 12 This is a right perspective view and cross-sectional view along the EE direction of an automated control nebulizer of the present invention.

[0054] Figure 13 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the operation of an automated nebulizer therapy device according to the present invention.

[0055] The components are as follows: 1-box body, 11-box cover, 2-raw material chamber, 21-liquid level detection system, 22-liquid mixing system, 23-liquid mixing monitoring system, 231-light emitter, 232-light receiver, 24-second electric valve, 25-dosing port, 3-water chamber, 31-distilled water pump, 32-water level monitoring system, 33-first electric valve, 34-water injection port, 4-first atomization chamber, 41-atomization system, 5-second atomization chamber, 51-buffer hole, 52-water outlet, 53-mist outlet, 6-power system, 61-charging interface, 7-control system, 71-signal interface, 8-caster wheel, 9-handle. Detailed Implementation

[0056] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. The components of the embodiments of the present invention described and shown in the accompanying drawings can generally be arranged and designed in various different configurations.

[0057] Therefore, the following detailed description of the embodiments of the invention provided in the accompanying drawings is not intended to limit the scope of the claimed invention, but merely to illustrate selected embodiments of the invention. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the invention without inventive effort are within the scope of protection of the invention.

[0058] It should be noted that similar labels and letters in the following figures indicate similar items. Therefore, once an item is defined in one figure, it does not need to be further defined and explained in subsequent figures.

[0059] In the description of the embodiments of the present invention, it should be noted that if terms such as "upper," "lower," "horizontal," or "inner" indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, or the orientation or positional relationship commonly used when the product of the invention is in use, they are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of the present invention. Furthermore, terms such as "first" and "second" are only used to distinguish descriptions and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0060] Furthermore, the use of the term "horizontal" does not imply that the component must be absolutely horizontal, but rather that it can be slightly tilted. For example, "horizontal" simply means that its direction is more horizontal than "vertical," and does not mean that the structure must be completely horizontal, but can be slightly tilted.

[0061] In the description of the embodiments of the present invention, it should also be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "set," "install," "connect," and "link" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in the present invention according to the specific circumstances.

[0062] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to specific embodiments. These descriptions are for explanation purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

[0063] See Figures 1 to 12 Taking the design of two automated control nebulizer devices as an example, but not limited to two combinations, this invention discloses an automated control nebulizer device, including a housing 1, a control system 7, and a power system 6; the control system 7 is provided with a signal interface 71 for connecting the control system 7 to a computer; the power system 6 is provided with a charging interface 61.

[0064] The box 1 has two raw drug chambers 2 arranged vertically inside, and each raw drug chamber 2 is equipped with a first atomization chamber 4, a second atomization chamber 5 and a water chamber 3; the bottom of the box 1 is equipped with several casters 8; and the two sides of the box 1 are equipped with handles 9.

[0065] The water chamber 3 is equipped with a distilled water pump 31 and a water level monitoring system 32. The output end of the distilled water pump 31 is connected to the first atomizing chamber 4. The output end of the distilled water pump 31 is connected to a first electric valve 33. A water injection hole 34 is provided on the side wall of the water chamber 3. The water level monitoring system 32 is a liquid level detection sensor.

[0066] The raw drug chamber 2 is equipped with a liquid level detection system 21, a liquid mixing system 22, and a liquid mixing monitoring system 23. The raw drug chamber 2 is connected to the first nebulization chamber 4 through a drug delivery channel, on which a second electric valve 24 is provided. A drug addition hole 25 is provided on the side wall of the raw drug chamber 2. The liquid level detection system 21 is a liquid level detection sensor. The liquid mixing monitoring system 23 includes a light emitter 231 and a light receiver 232, which are respectively arranged on the inner walls of the two sides of the raw drug chamber 2.

[0067] The first atomization chamber 4 is equipped with an atomization system 41; the atomization system 41 is a piezoelectric ceramic oscillator.

[0068] The second atomizing chamber 5 is positioned above the first atomizing chamber 4, and connects the first atomizing chamber 4 and the second atomizing chamber 5 through a buffer hole 51 on the bottom plate of the second atomizing chamber 5. The side wall of the second atomizing chamber 5 is provided with a water outlet 52 and a mist outlet 53, the mist outlet 53 being connected sequentially to an atomizing tube, an atomizing cup, and an atomizing mask. Preferably, the bottom plate of the second atomizing chamber 5 is a conical bottom plate.

[0069] The distilled water pump 31, water level monitoring system 32, first electric valve 33, liquid level detection system 21, liquid mixing system 22, liquid mixing monitoring system 23, second electric valve 24, and atomization system 41 are all electrically or communicatively connected to the power system 6 and control system 7.

[0070] The present invention also provides a nebulization control method for a nebulization therapy device using the above-mentioned automated control, comprising the following steps:

[0071] S1: Inject the medicine into the original medicine chamber 2 according to the type of medicine, and inject the water into the water chamber 3;

[0072] S2: Turn on the medicine mixing system 22 to mix the medicine in the original medicine chamber 2;

[0073] S3: Acquire data information from the liquid level detection system 21, the liquid mixing system 22, and the water level monitoring system 32;

[0074] S4: Obtain the required drug concentration and dosage;

[0075] S5: Obtain the bottom area data of the original drug chamber 2 and the water chamber 3;

[0076] S6: Based on the data from the liquid level detection system 21, the liquid mixing system 22, and the water level monitoring system 32, the required liquid concentration and dosage, and the bottom area data of the original liquid chamber 2 and the water chamber 3, calculate the required liquid height and the required water height.

[0077] S7: Control the amount of medicine and water entering the first atomizing chamber 4 according to the required height of the medicine and the required height of the water.

[0078] S8: After the medicine and water are fed into the first atomization chamber 4, the atomization system 41 is turned on to atomize the medicine and water in the first atomization chamber 4 into atomized vapor.

[0079] S9: Introduce the atomized vapor into the second atomization chamber 5, and then through the atomization tube and atomization cup into the atomization mask to complete the atomization control.

[0080] See Figure 13Specifically, the process involves inputting data such as the type, concentration, and capacity of each chamber into the control system. Then, each original drug solution is injected into the original drug chamber 2 according to its type. The drug mixing system 22 is activated to mix the solutions. The drug mixing monitoring system 23, i.e., the light emitter 231, emits light. The light receiver 232 determines whether the solution is mixed by whether it receives the light. If not, the drug mixing system 22 continues mixing until the light receiver 232 receives the light. If yes, the first electric valve 33 and the second electric valve 24 are opened to mix the drug solution and water according to the calculated dosage. The first atomizing chamber 4 is introduced, and the amount of medicine and water introduced is monitored by the water level monitoring system 32 and the medicine liquid level detection system 21. After the target amount is reached, the control system controls the first electric valve 33 and the second electric valve 24 to close, and the atomizing system 41 works to atomize the liquid in the first atomizing chamber 4. The liquid then enters the second atomizing chamber through the buffer hole 51 to provide atomization. After atomization, the first electric valve 33 is opened to introduce distilled water into the first atomizing chamber 4 to clean the first atomizing chamber 4 and the second atomizing chamber 5. The water vapor after cleaning is discharged from the water outlet 52, completing the cleaning process.

[0081] It should be noted that the drug solution mixing system 22 can be a stirring mixing mechanism or a vibration mixing mechanism, and the specific mixing principle is not specifically limited; more than two first nebulization chambers and more than two second nebulization chambers can be set in the box, so that the nebulizer can be used by more than two patients, thereby improving treatment efficiency. The equipment is small in size and low in cost, which facilitates the application and promotion of the instrument, meets the needs of multiple people using it at the same time, and improves the current situation of insufficient supply of hospital instruments.

[0082] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the technical solution of the present invention in any way. Those skilled in the art should understand that, without departing from the spirit and principles of the present invention, the technical solution can be modified and replaced in several simple ways, and these modifications and replacements are all within the scope of protection covered by the claims.

Claims

1. An automatically controlled nebulized treatment device, characterized in that, Includes enclosure (1), control system (7) and power system (6); The box (1) is equipped with a raw drug chamber (2), a first atomization chamber (4), a second atomization chamber (5) and a water chamber (3); The water chamber (3) is equipped with a distilled water pump (31) and a water level monitoring system (32). The output end of the distilled water pump (31) is connected to the first atomizing chamber (4). The output end of the distilled water pump (31) is connected to the first electric valve (33). A water injection hole (34) is provided on the side wall of the water chamber (3). The original drug chamber (2) is equipped with a liquid level detection system (21), a liquid mixing system (22), and a liquid mixing monitoring system (23). The original drug chamber (2) and the first atomization chamber (4) are connected by a drug delivery channel, and a second electric valve (24) is provided on the drug delivery channel. The liquid mixing monitoring system (23) includes a light emitter (231) and a light receiver (232), which are respectively installed on the inner walls of both sides of the original drug chamber (2). The first atomizing chamber (4) is equipped with an atomizing system (41); The second atomizing chamber (5) is located above the first atomizing chamber (4), and the first atomizing chamber (4) and the second atomizing chamber (5) are connected through a buffer hole (51) on the bottom plate of the second atomizing chamber (5). The side wall of the second atomizing chamber (5) is provided with a water outlet (52) and a mist outlet (53). The mist outlet (53) is connected in sequence to an atomizing tube, an atomizing cup and an atomizing mask. The bottom plate of the second atomizing chamber (5) is a conical bottom plate. The distilled water pump (31), water level monitoring system (32), first electric valve (33), liquid level detection system (21), liquid mixing system (22), liquid mixing monitoring system (23), second electric valve (24) and atomization system (41) are all electrically or communicatively connected to the power system (6) and control system (7); The nebulizer includes the following steps: inputting the type, concentration, and capacity of each chamber into the control system (7), then injecting each original drug solution into the original drug chamber (2) according to its type, starting the drug mixing system (22) to mix the drug solution, and emitting light from the light emitter (231) in the drug mixing monitoring system (23). The drug solution is mixed based on whether the light receiver (232) receives the light. If not, the drug mixing system (22) is turned on to continue mixing until the light receiver (232) receives the light. If so, the first electric valve (33) and the second electric valve (24) are turned on to mix the drug solution according to the calculated drug solution concentration. The amount of medicine and water introduced into the first atomizing chamber (4) is monitored by the water level monitoring system (32) and the medicine liquid level detection system (21). After the target amount of introduction is reached, the control system (7) controls the first electric valve (33) and the second electric valve (24) to close. The atomizing system (41) works to atomize the liquid in the first atomizing chamber (4) and enters the second atomizing chamber through the buffer hole (51) to provide atomization. After the atomization is completed, the first electric valve (33) is opened to introduce distilled water into the first atomizing chamber (4) to clean the first atomizing chamber (4) and the second atomizing chamber (5). The water vapor after cleaning is discharged from the water outlet (52) to complete the cleaning.

2. The automatically controlled nebulized therapy device of claim 1, wherein, Both the water level monitoring system (32) and the liquid level detection system (21) are liquid level detection sensors.

3. The automatically controlled nebulized therapy device of claim 1, wherein, The atomization system (41) is a piezoelectric ceramic oscillator.

4. The automatically controlled nebulized therapy device of claim 1, wherein, The side wall of the original drug chamber (2) is provided with a drug addition hole (25).

5. The automatically controlled nebulized therapy device of claim 1, wherein, The bottom of the box (1) is provided with several casters (8).

6. The automatically controlled nebulized therapy device of claim 1, wherein, The box (1) is provided with handles (9) on both sides.

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