Piezoelectric Ejector Plate Contact Force for Consistent Aerosol Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing droplet delivery devices for respiratory systems face challenges in delivering accurate, consistent, and verifiable amounts of substances with suitable droplet sizes, often resulting in high momentum droplets that miss targeted locations and cause surface deposition and heating issues, leading to undesirable byproducts.
Innovation Solution
The aerosol delivery device incorporates a piezoelectric transducer coupled with an ejector plate and various spring mechanisms to control contact force, using a suspension gasket, compression springs, or constant force springs to optimize droplet ejection, along with a membrane design and desiccant to manage moisture and improve consistency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If high ejection velocity is used to deliver droplets, then droplet delivery speed is improved, but droplet size consistency deteriorates and targeted delivery accuracy worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a flexible membrane instead of a rigid ejector plate, allowing the membrane to dynamically adjust and flex during droplet ejection. This flexibility enables the system to maintain optimal contact force while accommodating variations in droplet formation, thereby improving droplet size consistency without sacrificing ejection velocity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state and properties of the ejector component by using a flexible membrane with specific material properties (viscoelasticity, surface energy) instead of a rigid plate. This parameter change allows for better control over droplet formation while maintaining high ejection velocities.
2Speed
If high ejection velocity is used to deliver droplets, then droplet delivery speed is improved, but droplet delivery accuracy to targeted location worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible membrane dynamically adjusts during operation to maintain optimal contact force, which stabilizes droplet ejection parameters and improves delivery accuracy even at high velocities. The membrane's ability to flex and return to its original position ensures consistent droplet formation and directional control.
3Manufacturing precision
If spring force is applied between ejector plate and transducer to control contact force, then droplet ejection consistency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the flexible membrane structure with the ejector plate function, integrating the contact force control mechanism directly into the ejector assembly. This consolidation reduces the number of separate spring components while maintaining consistent contact force through the membrane's inherent elasticity and the design of the mounting structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible membrane serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as the ejector surface, provides contact force control through its elasticity, and maintains sealing. This self-service approach eliminates the need for separate spring components, reducing device complexity while maintaining ejection consistency.
4Productivity
If heating is applied to inhaler fluids to improve aerosolization, then aerosol generation efficiency is improved, but formation of toxic byproducts increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces thermal heating mechanisms with a piezoelectric-driven mechanical vibration system. The piezoelectric transducer converts electrical signals into mechanical vibrations that directly agitate the liquid to form aerosols, eliminating the need for heating and thus preventing toxic byproduct formation while maintaining efficient aerosol generation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes phase transition through mechanical vibration rather than thermal heating. The piezoelectric vibrations create mechanical energy that facilitates liquid atomization and aerosol formation, achieving phase change from liquid to aerosol without temperature increase, thereby avoiding thermal degradation and toxic byproducts.
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 device achieves improved droplet delivery consistency and reproducibility, minimizing surface deposition and toxic byproduct formation by controlling contact force and maintaining optimal ejection efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a piezoelectric transducer indirectly coupled to an ejector plate
Implementation Method 2
a compression spring coupled to the piezoelectric transducer and configured to provide a spring force between the ejector plate and the transducer
Implementation Method 3
a membrane between the transducer and the plate, wherein the membrane includes folds configured to control contact force on the membrane
Implementation Method 4
a desiccant placed near the vibrating member that is configured to absorb unwanted moisture
Data Source
AI summary
An aerosol delivery device includes a piezoelectric transducer that is indirectly coupled to an ejector plate, such as by a membrane between the transducer and ejector plate. A spring force is applied between the ejector plate and transducer in different configurations by a suspension gasket, a compression spring, or flat spring. The spring force optimizes the production and ejection of droplets from fluid supplied to the ejector plate when the transducer vibrates to produce aerosol from the device.