Airway Inhalant Nebulizer with Venturi Nozzle and Check Valves
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing nebulizer devices face issues with fluid leakage and inefficient nebulization, particularly when inverting or using non-volatile medications, and often require high-velocity air streams, which can cause discomfort and reduce bioavailability of medications.
Innovation Solution
The nebulizer device incorporates one-way check valves and a Venturi nozzle with a duckbill valve, along with discrete heating elements around the fluid flow path to maintain fluid containment and reduce vapor pressure, ensuring efficient nebulization and comfortable inhalation temperatures, and uses a cartridge system with thermal insulation and RFID/barcode tracking for safety and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If high-velocity air streams are used for nebulization, then aerosol generation is achieved, but patient comfort deteriorates and medication bioavailability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the nebulization process by using heated air streams instead of cold high-velocity air. The heating elements raise the air temperature to reduce the velocity required for effective nebulization, thereby maintaining productivity while reducing patient discomfort and improving medication bioavailability through warmer aerosol delivery
2Productivity
If heating elements are added to reduce vapor pressure and enhance nebulization, then nebulization efficiency improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heating system is segmented into multiple discrete heating elements positioned at different locations around the fluid flow path. This segmentation allows targeted heating where needed, improves nebulization efficiency through distributed thermal management, and maintains device complexity at acceptable levels by using simple, modular heating components rather than a complex centralized system
3Reliability
If one-way check valves are installed at key locations to prevent fluid leakage, then reliability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the check valve function with existing structural components of the device. One-way check valves are integrated at key locations such as the fluid flow path and air intake, combining leakage prevention with the device's structural framework. This approach improves reliability through comprehensive fluid containment while minimizing the increase in device complexity by utilizing integrated designs rather than adding separate, standalone valve components
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 solution effectively prevents fluid leakage, enhances nebulization efficiency, ensures comfortable inhalation temperatures, and improves bioavailability of medications by maintaining fluid containment and reducing vapor pressure, while ensuring safe and authorized use through thermal insulation and RFID/barcode tracking.
Implementation Method 1
an inlet port and check valve (15) leading into the nebulization chamber (11) to provide a flow of accelerated air, and a discharge port (19) leading from the chamber (11) through an air pathway into a user mask (21)
Implementation Method 2
multiple discrete heating elements (71) spaced around the core of the fluid pathway (54)
Implementation Method 3
thermal insulation may be provided both between and radially outward around the heating elements
Implementation Method 4
The check valve and Venturi nozzle together comprise a duckbill valve (96), which may be provided with ribs parallel to airflow within a throat of the valve/nozzle
Data Source
AI summary
A nebulizer device aerosolizes (or vaporizes) liquid drawn from a liquid reservoir via a fluid flow path into a nebulization chamber. An inlet port is coupled to an external air supply and leads through a check valve and Venturi nozzle (e.g. a duckbill valve) into the chamber to direct an air stream across an opening of the fluid flow path. A discharge port leads from the chamber to a user mask, mouthpiece or canula, where the aerosol or vapor mixture can be inhaled. A filtered outlet port isolates exhaled material from the external environment. Multiple discrete heating elements may be placed around the fluid flow path to preheat the liquid. If the liquid is sufficiently volatile, heating may vaporize the material which can condense back into an aerosol after mixing with the air stream. A set of check valves direct one-way fluid flow and prevent leakage or spillage of material from the device.