Portable Liquid Atomizer With Impact-Element Droplet Breakup for Lung Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional inhalers are unable to generate sufficiently small aerosol droplets for direct lung delivery in a portable and efficient manner, often requiring stationary compressed air sources or electrical operation, and e-cigarettes initiate undesirable chemical processes during heating.
Innovation Solution
A portable device with a container, pressurizing means, atomizer, and applicator, utilizing an impact element to break up liquid into droplets before striking, achieving droplet sizes suitable for lung delivery without the need for high gas throughputs or heating, and incorporating a collection device to manage excess liquid.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional inhalers use stationary compressed air sources or electrical operation to generate sufficiently small aerosol droplets, then droplet size is reduced to respirable range, but device portability and simplicity are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex electrical or stationary mechanical atomization systems with a simple portable pressurized gas system. By using compressed gas stored in a container to drive liquid through a nozzle and impactor assembly, the invention achieves respirable droplet sizes without requiring electrical power sources or complex mechanical components, thus resolving the contradiction between droplet size precision and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes changes in pressure parameters to control droplet formation. By adjusting the compressed gas pressure and flow rate, the system generates sufficient shear forces at the nozzle and impactor to break liquid into respirable droplets. This parameter-based control eliminates the need for complex electrical or mechanical atomization systems while maintaining droplet size requirements.
2Productivity
If e-cigarettes heat the liquid to generate aerosol, then aerosol is produced, but undesirable chemical processes and toxic compounds are generated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces thermal heating with mechanical atomization using compressed gas. The liquid is atomized through a nozzle and impactor assembly driven by pressurized gas flow, completely avoiding the heating process that generates toxic compounds in e-cigarettes. This mechanical substitution maintains aerosol generation productivity while eliminating harmful chemical processes.
3Manufacturing precision
If inhalers operate with high gas throughputs to achieve adequate atomization, then droplet formation is improved, but portability and duration of use are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes gas pressure parameters to achieve effective atomization at lower throughput levels. By using a pressurized container with controlled pressure release through a nozzle and impactor, the system maintains sufficient shear forces for droplet formation while reducing overall gas consumption. This allows portable operation with extended duration of use while preserving atomization quality.
4Volume of moving object
If the liquid reservoir volume is reduced for portability, then device size is minimized, but the duration of inhalation treatment is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses compressed gas pressure to enhance liquid ejection efficiency, allowing smaller liquid reservoir volumes to provide sufficient treatment duration. The pressurized system delivers liquid more effectively through the atomization process, maximizing the utility of limited liquid supply in a compact portable device.
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 maintains suitable atomization parameters for generating respirable droplets over its duration, ensuring efficient and controlled delivery of physiologically active substances, even at lower pressures, and avoids undesirable chemical reactions.
Implementation Method 1
pressurizing means for applying pressure to the liquid
Implementation Method 2
atomizer for atomizing the liquid and an applicator for administering atomized liquid
Implementation Method 3
Inhalers operating on the Venturi principle use a gas stream that entrains liquid in a dual flow nozzle
Implementation Method 4
an impact element (for example an impact plate) on the nozzle outlet side... liquid emerging from the nozzle breaks up into droplets prior to striking the impact element
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments herein describe a portable device for administering a physiologically active liquid that includes a container for holding the liquid, a pressure system for applying pressure to the liquid, an atomizer for atomizing the liquid, and an applicator for administering atomized liquid. The atomizer includes at least one nozzle through which liquid can be ejected from the container and an impact element on the nozzle outlet side that is functionally combined with the nozzle. Moreover, the atomizer is configured in such a way that, in a pressure range that can be generated with the pressurizing system, liquid emerging from the nozzle breaks up into droplets prior to striking the impact element.