Nebulizer Double Valve System for Drug Wastage Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current nebulizers have complex architectures making them difficult to assemble/disassemble and suffer from significant drug wastage due to permanent openings for venting CO2-containing gases, allowing the drug-containing mist to escape into the atmosphere.
Innovation Solution
A portable nebulizer with a straightforward 4-part design and a double valve system on the detachable cover, featuring a one-way inspiration valve and a one-way expiration valve to prevent mist escape during expiration, ensuring easy assembly/disassembly and minimizing drug wastage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If a permanent opening is provided for venting CO2-containing gases, then gas venting function is improved, but drug-containing mist escapes through the opening causing significant drug waste
Solution Approach 1:
The cover is provided with different types of openings at different locations: a first opening (permanent) for CO2 venting and a second opening (controllable) for mist containment. This local differentiation allows each opening to serve its specific function - the permanent opening handles gas venting while the controllable opening prevents drug waste during expiration phases.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If the nebulizer architecture is made complex to improve functionality, then gas control capability is improved, but assembly and disassembly become difficult for users
Solution Approach 1:
The nebulizer is divided into separable components: a body portion and a detachable cover. This segmentation allows the complex gas control functionality (achieved through the double-opening system with different valve mechanisms) to be isolated in the cover, which can be easily attached and detached. Users can assemble/disassemble the device by simply connecting or separating the cover from the body, maintaining ease of operation despite the sophisticated internal gas control architecture.
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
The nebulizer is easy to use and maintains a high efficiency in aerosol delivery, significantly reducing drug wastage by controlling gas exit during exhalation and allowing ambient air entry during inhalation, enhancing the portability and usability for patients.
Implementation Method 1
the cover comprises a one-way inspiration valve allowing air entering into the nebulization chamber and a one-way expiration valve allowing gas exiting the nebulization chamber
Implementation Method 2
the one-way expiration valve is configured for allowing gas, especially CO2-containing gas, exiting the nebulization chamber during the expiration phases of the patient, but for preventing any entry of gas through said one-way expiration valve during the inspiration phases of the patient
Implementation Method 3
aerosolizing a liquid, which is made of 4 sub-units or sub-parts that are detachably secured together... for nebulizing a drug solution thereby obtaining a mist containing droplets
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention deals with a nebulizer (1) for aerosolizing a liquid, such as a drug-conatining solution, consisting in 4 sub-units (2, 3, 6, 7) detachably secured together, said 4 sub-units (2, 3, 6, 7) being a nebulizer body (2) comprising an aerosol-generating system (4; 23, 24) for generating an aerosol and a nebulization chamber (5) for containing the aerosol, a reservoir (3) for receiving a liquid to be aerosolized, the reservoir (3) being detachably fixed to the nebulizer body (2), a detachable cover (7) comprising at least two valves (8, 9), fixed to the nebulizer body (2) and forming the top of the nebulization chamber (5), and a respiratory interface (6) detachably fixed to and in fluid communication with the nebulization chamber (5). The nebulizer 1 of the present invention is usable in combination with a source of gas, such as compressed air, for nebulizing a drug-containing solution and thereby obtaining a mist containing droplets of medication having suitable sizes so as to be able to reach the lower airways of the patient that has to inhale said mist in the course of his/her aerosoltherapy.