Atomizing Unit Sealed Ampoule Connection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional nebulizers face challenges in ensuring accurate dosing and hygiene due to potential liquid loss and contamination during ampoule handling, and their complex design makes them expensive and difficult to sterilize effectively.

Innovation Solution

A nebulizer unit with an ampoule that features a connection area allowing direct and sealed connection to the nebulizer unit, using a connection means such as external threads, bayonet locks, or plug-in closures, which creates the outflow opening only upon connection, ensuring minimal liquid loss and contamination, and a simplified design for easier cleaning and production.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If ampoule is opened before insertion into nebulizer, then liquid can be transferred, but contamination and liquid loss occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveampoule handlingVSAvoidcontamination and liquid loss

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The ampoule is pre-filled with the exact dosage of medication liquid before leaving the manufacturing site. The sealing means remains intact during transport and storage, and only opens automatically when the ampoule is correctly inserted into the nebulizer unit, eliminating the need for manual opening and transfer operations that cause contamination and loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The sealing means acts as an intermediary barrier between the medication liquid and the external environment. It maintains isolation during handling and transport, then transitions from a sealing state to an opening state automatically upon correct insertion into the nebulizer, preventing contamination and liquid loss while enabling liquid transfer.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If conventional nebulizer design is used, then ampoule can be inserted, but complex structure increases cost and sterilization difficulty

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveampoule compatibilityVSAvoidnebulizer structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing means is extracted as a separate, integrated component within the ampoule structure itself, rather than being part of the nebulizer unit. This allows the nebulizer to have a simpler overall structure while still providing ampoule compatibility and controlled opening functionality through the ampoule's own integrated sealing mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The ampoule with integrated sealing means is designed as a disposable component that is replaced after each use or after a short period. This eliminates the need for complex, expensive, and difficult-to-sterilize reusable mechanisms in the nebulizer unit, while ensuring hygiene and functionality for each usage cycle.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Ease of operation

If manual transfer of liquid from medication container to reservoir is used, then dosing can be performed, but dosing accuracy decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedosing processVSAvoiddosing accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The medication liquid is pre-measured and pre-filled into the ampoule at the manufacturing site with precise dosing control. This eliminates the need for manual measurement and transfer operations by the user, ensuring accurate dosing while simplifying the user's operation to merely inserting the pre-dosed ampoule into the nebulizer.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This design minimizes liquid loss and contamination, ensures accurate dosing, and reduces production costs, allowing for a longer usable period before replacement, while maintaining hygiene and simplifying sterilization.

Implementation Method 1

The membrane is set into rapid vibration by a vibration generator, usually a piezoelectric crystal, typically in the ultrasonic range.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPiezoelectric effect: Piezoelectric Effect

Implementation Method 2

The membrane is set into rapid vibration by a vibration generator, usually a piezoelectric crystal, typically in the ultrasonic range.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectUltrasonic vibration: Ultrasonic Vibration

Implementation Method 3

connection means such as external threads, bayonet locks, or plug-in closures

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical fastening: Mechanical Fastener

Data Source

PatentEP3548127B1Atomizing unit with directly connectable ampoule

Publication Date: 2023.09.13 KERN STEFAN

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Figure 2~3
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AI summary

The invention relates to an atomizing unit with an ampoule, comprising a housing (10) which encloses an aerosol generator (101) with a supply chamber (17) located on one side, an ampoule receiving area (19), an opening device (18) with at least one opening (180) which communicates with the supply chamber, and an ampoule (20) with a liquid (30), said ampoule having at least one opening (200) by means of which the ampoule is inserted or can be inserted into the ampoule receiving area. The ampoule (20) has a connection region (201) which interacts with connection means (191) of the ampoule receiving area (19) in order to hold the ampoule (20) in the ampoule receiving area (19) in a fixed manner and sealingly connect the openings (200) and (180). The invention also relates to a use and a method for producing the atomizing unit.