Inhalation Pump Chamber Layout for High-Viscosity Aerosol Ejection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing inhalation devices face challenges in efficiently ejecting media of higher viscosities and achieving high reproducibility due to small diameters and high flow resistance, particularly in nebulizers with moveable pistons and narrow check valves.

Innovation Solution

The inhalation device features a riser pipe immobile to the housing, with a moveable pumping chamber, allowing for a larger check valve and reduced flow restrictions, coupled with a mechanism for energy storage and threshold-operated check valves to manage pressure differences, ensuring efficient ejection of higher viscosity media.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If a moveable piston with small diameter is used in the pumping chamber, then the device can be compact and suitable for low-viscosity liquids, but the flow resistance increases and ejection of higher viscosity media becomes inefficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepumping chamber volumeVSAvoidejection efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional design by making the pumping chamber moveable relative to the housing instead of moving the piston within a fixed chamber. This inversion allows the pumping chamber to be positioned optimally during operation, improving flow characteristics and ejection efficiency while maintaining compact dimensions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The pumping chamber is designed to be moveable relative to the housing, transitioning from a static to a dynamic configuration. This dynamic positioning optimizes the flow path and reduces flow resistance, enabling efficient ejection of higher viscosity media while maintaining a compact overall device volume.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Device complexity

If a narrow check valve is used inside the piston, then the device structure is simplified, but the flow resistance increases and manufacturing precision becomes more difficult to achieve

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevalve structure complexityVSAvoidcheck valve fabrication precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The check valve is extracted from the piston structure and repositioned within the moveable pumping chamber. This extraction allows for a larger, more easily manufactured valve design that reduces flow resistance, while the valve still performs its function of preventing backflow into the reservoir.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Volume of moving object

If the piston diameter is reduced to minimize device size, then the device becomes more compact, but the flow characteristics deteriorate and higher viscosity media cannot be ejected rapidly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice sizeVSAvoidejection speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The moveable pumping chamber design dynamically optimizes the flow path and chamber positioning during operation. This dynamic configuration compensates for the smaller overall device size by improving internal flow characteristics, enabling rapid ejection of higher viscosity media despite the compact external dimensions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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

Enables rapid and reproducible ejection of higher viscosity media with improved flow characteristics and reduced manufacturing complexity, while maintaining mechanical stability and design flexibility.

Implementation Method 1

a pumping device with a pumping chamber for generation of a pressure inside said pumping chamber... The interior volume of the pumping chamber is changeable by means of relative motion of the pumping chamber to the riser pipe

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure generation through volume change: Pressure Increase

Implementation Method 2

via a check valve which blocks in direction of the reservoir. Thus, the check valve allows a liquid flow from the reservoir into the pumping chamber, and blocks a flow in opposite direction

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCheck valve flow control: Valve

Implementation Method 3

the generation of an aerosol of medically active liquids... ejection of the liquid from the nozzle which is arranged at the downstream end of the pumping chamber

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectNebulization: Aerosol

Data Source

PatentUS20260061144A1Inhalation device and method

Publication Date: 2026.03.05 INVOX BELGIUM NV

AI summary

An inhalation device for medically active liquids for generation of an aerosol comprises a housing, inside this housing a reservoir for storing a liquid, a pumping device with a pumping chamber for generation of a pressure inside said pumping chamber, wherein the pumping chamber is fluidically connected with the reservoir via a check valve which blocks in direction of the reservoir, a riser pipe which can be received with at least one reservoir-facing, interior end in said pumping chamber, and a nozzle which is connected liquid-tight to an exterior end of the riser pipe, wherein the interior volume of the pumping chamber is changeable by means of relative motion to the riser pipe, and wherein the riser pipe is immobile and firmly attached to the housing or to the nozzle, and the pumping chamber is moveable relative to the housing or to the nozzle.