Nebulizer

Abstract

This product offers a compact, portable nebulizer that utilizes a compressor. [Solution] The nebulizer X comprises a housing 1 to which a medication cup C is attached, a pump unit 2 for supplying compressed air, and a drive unit 3 for driving the pump unit 2. The housing 1 is provided with a supply nozzle for guiding compressed air to the medication cup C. The drive unit 3 has a motor 31 for operating the pump unit 2 and a control circuit 32 for controlling the motor 31. The motor 31 is a DC motor, and the housing 1 integrally houses the pump unit 2 and the drive unit 3.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a compressor-type nebulizer.

Background Art

[0002] A nebulizer for administering a liquid medicine to the nasal cavity or airway is a device used to relieve respiratory symptoms by atomizing the liquid medicine and allowing it to be inhaled, and is widely used in medical institutions and households.

[0003] As nebulizers, ultrasonic, mesh, compressor types, etc. are known. The mesh type is small, lightweight, and excellent in portability, but may have limitations in atomization ability and the applicable range of liquid medicine.

[0004] On the other hand, the compressor type has a configuration that atomizes the liquid medicine using compressed air, has stable atomization performance, and can handle various liquid medicines. However, the device body tends to be large-sized, and it is generally configured as a stationary type.

[0005] As such a compressor-type nebulizer, for example, the technology described in Patent Document 1 is known. The nebulizer includes a case body including a compressed air introduction pipe, a suction path forming body that forms a suction path for sucking up the liquid upward to the upper tip portion, and forms an atomization portion in the outlet region of the nozzle hole, and a flow path forming body including an aerosol discharge port. [[ID=二十七]] The suction path has a structure including a first suction path extending upward along the outer peripheral surface of the compressed air introduction pipe, and a second suction path extending from the first suction path toward the nozzle hole side at the tip side of the compressed air introduction pipe and having a liquid suction port for discharging the liquid.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0006]

Patent Document 1

[0007] However, while such compressor-type nebulizers offer stable atomization performance and can handle a variety of medications, they are generally designed as stationary units and are not suitable for portability.

[0008] This invention was made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and aims to provide a small, portable nebulizer that is of the compressor type. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] To accomplish this objective, this disclosure provides a nebulizer [1].

[0010] [1] It comprises a housing to which a liquid medicine cup is attached, a pump unit for supplying compressed air, and a drive unit for driving the pump unit, The housing is provided with a supply nozzle that guides the compressed air to the chemical solution cup. The drive unit comprises a motor for operating the pump unit and a control circuit for controlling the motor. The motor is a DC motor, The aforementioned housing houses the pump unit and the drive unit as a single unit. Nebulizer.

[0011] Furthermore, as a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the present disclosure provides a nebulizer [2] to [5].

[0012] [2] The housing is provided with a vibration-suppressing member that fills the space between its internal structure and the pump section, thereby suppressing vibrations of the pump section. [1] The nebulizer described.

[0013] [3] The vibration suppression member is made of an elastic material. The nebulizer according to [2].

[0014] [4] The housing has an outer shape with the discharge direction of the supply nozzle portion as the longitudinal direction, and is configured to be self-standing with the longitudinal direction as the vertical direction. The nebulizer according to any one of [1] to [3].

[0015] [5] The motor is disposed below the pump portion. The nebulizer according to [4].

Advantages of the Invention

[0016] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a small-sized nebulizer that is of a compressor type and is easy to carry.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0017] [Figure 1] It is an exploded perspective view of a nebulizer according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] It is a sectional view taken along the line PP' of a nebulizer according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] It is an assembled perspective view of a nebulizer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0018] Hereinafter, a nebulizer according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The following embodiments are examples of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments. In these drawings, reference numeral X indicates the nebulizer according to the present embodiment.

[0019] <Configuration> As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the nebulizer X comprises a housing 1 to which a drug solution cup C is attached, a pump unit 2 for supplying compressed air, and a drive unit 3 for driving the pump unit 2. Note that in Figure 2, parts other than the drive unit 3 are shown in cross-sectional view.

[0020] The housing 1 is generally configured in a roughly rectangular parallelepiped shape and is provided with a supply nozzle section n that guides compressed air to the chemical solution cup C. More specifically, the housing 1 has an external shape with the discharge direction of the supply nozzle n as the longitudinal direction, and is configured to be self-supporting with the longitudinal direction as the vertical direction. Furthermore, the casing 1 is small enough for a user to hold in one hand.

[0021] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 2, the housing 1 is provided with a vibration suppression member K that fills the space between its internal structure and the pump unit 2, thereby suppressing vibrations of the pump unit 2. The vibration-damping member K is made of an elastic material such as silicone and is provided to fill the upper part of the internal space of the housing 1 and to cover the upper part of the pump section 2.

[0022] In addition, a recess g, which is a roughly cylindrical space, is formed around the supply nozzle n in the housing 1, and is arranged approximately concentrically with the supply nozzle n. Furthermore, the exterior of the housing 1 is provided with a power button b1 for switching the drive unit 3 ON / OFF, which is electrically connected to the control circuit 32 described later, and a charging terminal b2 for charging a battery (not shown). Furthermore, a non-slip rubber plate f is provided at the bottom of the housing 1 to stably maintain its upright position.

[0023] As shown in Figure 2, the pump unit 2 is generally configured as a roughly rectangular parallelepiped shape that is elongated in the vertical direction and is housed in the housing 1. Furthermore, the discharge nozzle section m, which protrudes from the upper end of the pump section 2, is in communication with the supply nozzle section n via a flow path section r, which is composed of a vibration suppression member K, described later. The internal structure of the pump unit 2 includes a compression mechanism that compresses and discharges air driven by the motor 31, which is realized by a known configuration such as a diaphragm mechanism or a piston mechanism.

[0024] The drive unit 3 includes a motor 31 that operates the pump unit 2 and a control circuit 32 that controls the motor 31.

[0025] Motor 31 is a DC motor. Furthermore, the motor 31 is housed in a space that constitutes the lower part of the pump unit 2, and is electrically connected to the control circuit 32, while also being physically connected to it in order to operate the internal components of the pump unit 2.

[0026] The control circuit 32 is provided so as to be stacked on the inner circumferential surface of the front side of the housing 1, and is a circuit for controlling the drive of the motor 31. It is implemented by a known circuit configuration that includes, for example, a control unit that controls the starting and stopping of the motor 31 in response to a switch input, and a power conversion unit that adjusts the power supply voltage.

[0027] The drug solution cup C is a container for holding the drug solution, which is detachably attached to the housing 1, and has a configuration similar to that of a known nebulizer cup.

[0028] More specifically, the drug solution cup C has a structure that can be divided into upper and lower parts (upper component and lower component), which are joined together, for example, by screwing together a male threaded portion and a female threaded portion. Furthermore, the inside of the liquid medicine cup C is provided with a storage section for storing the liquid medicine and a flow path structure for drawing up the liquid medicine with compressed air supplied from the supply nozzle section n and atomizing it. Furthermore, the lower end of the liquid medicine cup C is provided with substantially thin, plate-like legs t1 spaced apart along the circumferential direction, and a substantially cylindrical connecting part t2 that connects to the supply nozzle n and communicates with the inside of the liquid medicine cup C.

[0029] As shown in Figure 3, the nebulizer X configured as described above is used by attaching the medication cup C to the recess g formed in the upper part of the housing 1.

[0030] More specifically, the user brings each leg t1 of the liquid medicine cup C into contact with the bottom surface forming the recess g, and inserts the connecting part t2 into the supply nozzle part n (and the flow path part r covering its inner circumferential surface), thereby fluidly connecting the pump part 2 and the liquid medicine cup C. When the drive unit 3 is activated in this state, compressed air generated by the pump unit 2 is supplied into the chemical solution cup C, causing the atomized chemical solution to be discharged to the outside from the upper end of the chemical solution cup C. Furthermore, the user can easily remove the medication cup C from the nebulizer X and wash it.

[0031] <Effects> According to this embodiment, since the motor 31 is a DC motor and the pump unit 2 and drive unit 3 are integrally housed in the housing 1, the nebulizer X can be made into a compact, portable form while still being a compressor type.

[0032] Furthermore, the vibration suppression member K prevents vibrations from the pump section 2 from being transmitted to the housing 1, thereby reducing overall vibration and noise in the device. It also prevents misalignment of individual components and loosening of connections, thereby improving the reliability of the device.

[0033] Furthermore, because the vibration suppression member K is made of an elastic material, it can more effectively absorb vibrations from the pump section 2, further improving the vibration suppression effect and enhancing quietness during use.

[0034] Furthermore, since the housing 1 is configured to be self-supporting with the discharge direction of the supply nozzle n in the longitudinal direction and the longitudinal direction in the vertical direction, it can be installed stably while keeping the installation area small, and despite its small size, it can improve handling and installation during use.

[0035] Furthermore, by positioning the motor 31 below the pump unit 2, the center of gravity of the device can be lowered, improving the stability of the nebulizer X when it is standing upright.

[0036] <Example of changes> The shapes and dimensions of the components shown in the above embodiment are merely examples and can be modified in various ways based on design requirements, etc.

[0037] For example, the vibration suppression member K may be made of a porous material, and the vibration energy of the pump section 2 may be dissipated by the fluid resistance caused by the internal voids.

[0038] Alternatively, the motor 31 may be positioned to the side or above the pump unit 2.

[0039] Furthermore, the housing 1 may have a cylindrical or polygonal prism-shaped exterior.

[0040] Furthermore, the enclosure 1 may be configured to allow for stable installation not only in the vertical direction but also in a horizontal position.

[0041] Furthermore, the supply nozzle section n may be configured to have multiple nozzles, allowing compressed air to be supplied simultaneously to multiple liquid chemical cups C.

[0042] Alternatively, the housing 1 may be configured to include a power connection section for supplying power from an external power source instead of a rechargeable battery.

[0043] In the application documents, the term "abbreviated" is a concept that means the shape that follows has been chamfered or rounded, and that the elements constituting the shape have been modified or altered in length to the extent that it does not impede the purpose of the shape. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0044] X: Nebulizer 1: Cabinet K: Vibration suppression member n: Supply nozzle section 2: Pump section 3: Drive unit 31: Motor 32: Control circuit C: Medication cup

Claims

1. It comprises a housing to which a liquid medicine cup is attached, a pump unit for supplying compressed air, and a drive unit for driving the pump unit, The housing is provided with a supply nozzle that guides the compressed air to the chemical solution cup. The drive unit includes a motor that operates the pump unit and a control circuit that controls the motor. The motor is a DC motor, The aforementioned housing integrally houses the pump unit and the drive unit. Nebulizer.

2. The housing is provided with a vibration suppression member that fills the space between its internal dimensions and the pump section, thereby suppressing vibrations of the pump section. The nebulizer according to claim 1.

3. The vibration suppression member is made of an elastic material. The nebulizer according to claim 2.

4. The housing has an external shape with the discharge direction of the supply nozzle as the longitudinal direction, and is configured to be self-supporting with the longitudinal direction as the vertical direction. A nebulizer according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The motor is located below the pump section. The nebulizer according to claim 4.

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