JPH05123401A - Ultrasonic nebulizer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To notify the end of atomization of a medicinal fluid for treatment automatically or stop the driving of an ultrasonic nebulizer automatically when the atomization ends by detecting the atomization of the medicinal liquid. CONSTITUTION:This apparatus is divided into an working tank (a) which houses a working liquid La to immerse the bottom of an atomizing tank (b) while covering an ultrasonic vibrator 4 for excitation and the atomizing tank (b) for housing a medicinal fluid for treatment. Ultrasonic energy form the ultrasonic vibrator 4 is made to propagate to the atomiing tank (b) through the working liquid La to atomize the medicinal fluid. An ultrasonic sensor 40 is provided at a location which is immersed by the working liquid La and actuates an annunciator 60 when the ultrasonic energy received exceeds a specified value or it actuates a control circuit 70 to stop the driving of an ultrasonic nebulizer including the driving of the ultrasonic vibrator 4.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention atomizes a therapeutic drug solution,
Among the nebulizers (medical inhalers) that inhale the atomized drug solution into the patients with bronchial disease through the mouth or nose, the present invention relates to an ultrasonic nebulizer that atomizes the drug solution with ultrasonic energy.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a conventional ultrasonic nebulizer of this type.

An ultrasonic transducer 4 for excitation is embedded in the base 2 in an upper exposed state. On the upper surface of the base 2, a lower casing 6 is placed, which forms an action tank a therein. An opening 8 communicating with the ultrasonic transducer 4 is formed on the bottom surface of the lower casing 6, and a drain 10 extending vertically through the base 2 is extended. The working liquid La for ultrasonic wave propagation is stored up to an appropriate height below the working tank a. The working liquid La covers the ultrasonic transducer 4. Pure water is generally used as the working liquid La, but physiological saline may be used.

A resin diaphragm 12 is detachably inserted into the lower casing 6. The diaphragm 12 is composed of an upper portion and a lower portion, and the upper portion is supported by the stepped portion on the upper portion of the lower casing 6. Diaphragm 12
Is located near the bottom of the lower casing 6 and is immersed in the working liquid La in the working tank a. Diaphragm 12
The container contains a required amount of the therapeutic drug solution Lb according to the condition of the bronchial disease part of the patient.

An upper casing 14 is detachably fitted in and supported by an inner upper portion of the diaphragm 12. The diaphragm 12 and the upper casing 14 form an atomization tank b for atomizing the chemical liquid Lb. An inlet 16 for air or oxygen is formed in the upper portion of the upper casing 14, and a cylindrical inlet 18 is integrally formed.

The inlet 16 is connected to an air source via an air tube (not shown). The air source is driven by a fan motor or the like. Further, a bellows-shaped hose (not shown) is connected to the intake port 18, and a mouthpiece or a mask is connected to the other end of the hose.

The operation of the ultrasonic nebulizer configured as above will be described below.

With the upper casing 14 removed, the doctor or the nurse injects the liquid medicine Lb in the atomization tank b (diaphragm 12) in an amount necessary for treating the patient, and sets the upper casing 14 again. The amount of the drug solution Lb is based on the doctor's prescription. Next, the atomization time is obtained from the amount of the chemical liquid and the standard atomization amount per unit time described in the instruction manual, and the atomization time is set in the timer of the ultrasonic nebulizer. The patient wears a mouthpiece or mask. Next, an air source (not shown) is driven to send air (or oxygen; the same applies below) from the inlet 16 into the atomization tank b, and at the same time, the ultrasonic transducer 4 is driven.

The ultrasonic energy generated by the vibration of the ultrasonic oscillator 4 propagates in the working liquid La, and most of it propagates through the diaphragm 12 to the chemical liquid Lb contained in the atomization tank b. To be done. The ultrasonic wave energy of the chemical liquid Lb causes the central portion to rise as shown by Lb _{1 in} the figure, and the chemical liquid is atomized at the raised portion Lb ₁ .

The atomized chemical ML generated in the atomization tank b is heavier than air because it is close to room temperature, but the inlet 1
It is exhausted from the intake port 18 by the air pressure introduced from 6. The patient inhales the atomized drug solution ML delivered through the bellows hose from the mouth or nose via the mouthpiece or mask. The atomized drug solution ML reaches the bronchial disease part of the patient and is treated.

Necessary amount of atomized drug solution ML for one patient
When the administration of is finished, the driving of the air source and the ultrasonic transducer 4 is stopped. Then, in order to prevent nosocomial infection, the upper casing 14 and the diaphragm 12 are removed, and after cleaning and disinfecting the whole of them including the action tank a, they are used for another patient.

The tank is divided into the working tank a and the atomization tank b for the following two reasons.

One is to enable the upper casing 14 and the diaphragm 12 to be removed for cleaning and disinfection for preventing infection as described above. The other is atomization tank b
This is because the amount of the drug solution Lb to be injected therein varies depending on the patient, and all of the required amount is atomized and inhaled by the patient, so that the drug solution Lb disappears at the end. If not divided into two tanks, the ultrasonic transducer 4 is exposed to the air when the chemical liquid Lb is exhausted, and the load on it is no load.
The ultrasonic transducer 4 is excessively driven and mechanically deteriorates.
However, in reality, even if the chemical liquid Lb is lost, the working liquid La
Since the ultrasonic transducer 4 covers the ultrasonic transducer 4, no unloaded state occurs and deterioration of the ultrasonic transducer 4 is suppressed.

The working liquid La has a function of protecting the ultrasonic vibrator 4 from mechanical deterioration by constantly applying a load of a certain level or more to the ultrasonic vibrator 4 as described above, and also the ultrasonic vibrator 4 It also has the function of suppressing the self-heating that occurs inside by cooling and preventing thermal deterioration.

[0015]

The atomization time set in the timer of the ultrasonic nebulizer is the amount of chemical liquid based on the prescription as described above and the standard atomization amount per unit time described in the instruction manual. And ask from.

However, the atomization amount of the liquid chemical Lb per unit time differs depending on the type and amount of the liquid chemical Lb, the machine difference of the ultrasonic nebulizer, and the like. Therefore, it is rare that the atomization ends just when the timer time ends. The timer is merely used as a measure of the atomization time.

The conventional ultrasonic nebulizer has no means for detecting the end of atomization,
Therefore, when the atomization is just finished, the ultrasonic transducer 4
It was not possible to automatically stop the driving of the. If the driving is stopped even after the atomization is completed, the working liquid La in the working tank a is heated by the continuously applied ultrasonic energy, and the ultrasonic vibrator 4 and the diaphragm 1
However, there is a problem in that 2 and the like are mechanically and thermally deteriorated, leading to a decrease in reliability and a shortened life.

As means for detecting the atomization state of the chemical solution,
For example, it is possible to detect optically, or to detect with temperature or humidity. However, since the detection part becomes cloudy or wet, it is not suitable for repeated use in a short time.

The present invention was devised in view of such circumstances, and when the atomization of the chemical liquid is completed, the atomization completion is automatically notified, and at the end of atomization. The purpose is to automatically stop the driving of the ultrasonic nebulizer.

[0020]

A first ultrasonic nebulizer according to the present invention covers an ultrasonic vibrator and an atomizing tank which contains a therapeutic drug solution and receives ultrasonic energy to atomize the drug solution. An ultrasonic nebulizer having a working tank for accommodating a working liquid for immersing a bottom portion of the atomization tank and propagating ultrasonic energy from the ultrasonic transducer to the atomization tank through the working liquid. , While providing an ultrasonic sensor in the portion of the working tank immersed in the working liquid,
The present invention is characterized in that an alarm device that operates when the ultrasonic energy received by the ultrasonic sensor exceeds a predetermined value is provided.

A second ultrasonic nebulizer according to the present invention is an atomization tank that contains a therapeutic drug solution and receives ultrasonic energy to atomize the drug solution, and the atomizer tank that covers the ultrasonic vibrator. An ultrasonic nebulizer having a working tank for accommodating a working liquid for immersing the bottom portion of the ultrasonic wave, and propagating ultrasonic energy from the ultrasonic vibrator to the atomizing tank through the working liquid, wherein the working tank In addition to providing an ultrasonic sensor at a location to be immersed in the working fluid, a control circuit that operates when the ultrasonic energy received by this ultrasonic sensor exceeds a predetermined value and stops the drive of the ultrasonic nebulizer is provided. It is characterized by that.

[0022]

According to the first ultrasonic nebulizer, the ultrasonic energy radiated from the ultrasonic transducer into the working liquid is generated at the interface of the atomizing tank when the liquid medicine is present in the atomizing tank. The amount of reflection is small, and most of it is propagated to the chemical liquid in the atomization tank,
Atomize the chemical solution. Therefore, the ultrasonic energy received by the ultrasonic sensor is minute and the alarm does not operate.

When all of the chemical liquid in the atomization tank is atomized and disappears, the ultrasonic energy is largely reflected at the interface of the atomization tank, propagates in the working liquid, and enters the ultrasonic sensor. That is, since the ultrasonic energy received by the ultrasonic sensor exceeds a predetermined value, the alarm device operates to automatically notify the end of atomization of the chemical liquid.

Further, according to the second ultrasonic nebulizer, the control circuit operates when the atomization of the chemical liquid in the atomizing tank is completed, and the ultrasonic nebulizer is automatically driven including the irradiation of ultrasonic energy. The working liquid is not overheated by the ultrasonic energy reflected from the interface of the atomizing tank.

[0025]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT An embodiment of an ultrasonic nebulizer according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the whole ultrasonic nebulizer of the embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a main part.

In the figure, 2 is a base, 4 is an ultrasonic transducer for excitation embedded in the base 2 in an upper exposed state, and 6 is mounted and fixed on the base 2 to form a working tank a therein. A lower casing, 8 is an opening formed in the lower casing 6 so as to communicate with the ultrasonic transducer 4, La is a working liquid contained in the working tank a, and 12 is detachably charged in the lower casing 6. A diaphragm whose lower end is immersed in the working liquid La, Lb is a therapeutic drug solution contained in the diaphragm 12 (in FIG. 1, the drug solution Lb is lost because atomization is completed), and Lb ₁ is ultrasonic energy. The swelling portion of the chemical liquid Lb raised by ML, ML is an atomized chemical liquid, 14 is an upper casing which is detachably fitted and supported on the upper portion of the diaphragm 12 to form the atomization tank b together with the diaphragm 12, 16 The formed air or oxygen inlet into the upper casing 14, 18 is a suction port.

The above construction is similar to that of the conventional example, but in this embodiment, the ultrasonic sensor 40 is provided in the lower casing 6 while being immersed in the required amount of working liquid La, and the atomizing tank is provided. An alarm 60 is provided which operates when the ultrasonic energy reflected from the diaphragm 12 into the working liquid La and incident on the ultrasonic sensor 40 exceeds a predetermined value with the end of atomization of the liquid chemical Lb in b. Furthermore, a control circuit 70 that operates when the ultrasonic energy received by the ultrasonic sensor 40 exceeds a predetermined value to stop the driving of the ultrasonic nebulizer including the ultrasonic transducer 4 and the fan motor. It is provided. The alarm 60 may be a visible type such as a light emitting diode or an audible type such as a buzzer.

Incidentally, the height position of the ultrasonic sensor 40 may be any position as long as it is immersed in the working liquid La, but in the case of this embodiment, the working liquid La is regulated to a prescribed level Lth. In order to also detect whether or not there is the above, at the height position corresponding to the prescribed level Lth (minimum liquid level) of the working liquid La, on the side surface of the lower casing 6 forming the working tank a, from the outside thereof. The ultrasonic sensor 40 is mounted in a liquid tight state. Further, in order to facilitate cleaning and disinfection of the working tank a, a detection surface 40a of the ultrasonic sensor 40 is provided.
Is flush with the inner surface 6a of the lower casing 6 (action tank a).

FIG. 3A is a sectional view showing a portion of the ultrasonic sensor, and FIG. 3B is a front view of the ultrasonic sensor.
The ultrasonic sensor 40 has an ultrasonic vibrator 40b having a resonance frequency equal to or higher than the frequency of the ultrasonic vibrator 4 for excitation as a resonance frequency in the central portion thereof, and at the same time, the ultrasonic wave for excitation is excited. In order to prevent the ultrasonic energy from directly propagating from the vibrator 4 through the base 2 to the ultrasonic vibrator 40b, the entire surface of the ultrasonic vibrator 40b other than the detection surface is covered with the cork 40c. Further, the whole is molded with a water-resistant epoxy resin 40d. 42 is an O-ring for liquid-tightening.

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing the detection circuit. The amplifying circuit 44 is connected to the ultrasonic transducer 40b in the ultrasonic sensor 40, the smoothing circuit 46 is connected to the amplifying circuit 44, and the smoothing circuit 46 is connected to the first and second comparators 4.
It is connected to the inverting input terminals (-) of 8,50. First
Is directly related to the detection of the end of chemical liquid atomization according to the present invention, and its non-inverting input terminal (+) is a DC power source
together they are connected via a resistor R1 to the cc, via a parallel circuit of a Zener diode ZD1 and a capacitor C1 to produce a reference voltage Vref ₁ is grounded. The output terminal of the first comparator 48 is connected to the ground side terminals of the alarm device 60 and the control circuit 70. The control circuit 70 is connected to a drive circuit 72 of the ultrasonic transducer 4 for excitation and a drive circuit 74 of a fan motor of an air source.

The second comparator 50 relates to the judgment of the working liquid level, and its non-inverting input terminal (+) is connected to the DC power source Vcc through the resistor R2 and also the Zener for producing the reference voltage Vref _2. It is grounded via a parallel circuit of a diode ZD2 and a capacitor C2. The output terminal of the second comparator 50 has a control circuit 8 for controlling the ultrasonic transducer drive circuit 72 and the fan motor drive circuit 74.
0 is connected to the ground side terminal.

The reference voltage Vref ₂ of the second comparator 50 is set lower than the reference voltage Vref ₁ of the first comparator 48 (Vref ₁ > Vref ₂ ).

Next, the operation of the ultrasonic nebulizer configured as described above will be described.

In FIG. 2, the chemical liquid Lb is present in the atomization tank b,
The state where the chemical liquid Lb is atomized is shown. On the other hand, FIG. 1 shows a state in which the chemical liquid Lb is all atomized and ultrasonic energy is still being emitted from the ultrasonic transducer 4.

First, the atomized state of FIG. 2 will be described. The ultrasonic energy (see the thick line) generated by the ultrasonic transducer 4 for excitation located at the bottom of the working tank a is the working liquid L in the working tank a.
It is irradiated with a, passes through the diaphragm 12, propagates to the therapeutic drug solution Lb in the atomization tank b, and atomizes the drug solution Lb. The atomized drug solution ML is supplied from the air source by the drive of the fan motor drive circuit 74 and is exhausted from the intake port 18 by the air pressure introduced from the introduction port 16 to treat the bronchial disease part of the patient.

The oscillation frequency of ultrasonic waves that can be atomized is relatively high. The frequencies commonly used today are
It is about 1.68 MHz. The directivity of the ultrasonic energy becomes sharper as the oscillation frequency becomes higher, and most of the ultrasonic energy is propagated to the chemical liquid Lb in the atomization tank b through the diaphragm 12.

However, at the interface between the diaphragm 12 and the chemical liquid Lb, some ultrasonic energy is reflected into the working liquid La. This reflection is due to the fact that the diaphragm 12 is made of resin and the acoustic impedances of the resin and water are different. The reflectance is proportional to the ratio of the acoustic impedances of the two.

Since the reflection of ultrasonic energy to the working liquid La is minute, the level of ultrasonic energy received by the ultrasonic sensor 40 is sufficiently low. The ultrasonic transducer 40b built in the ultrasonic sensor 40 generates an electromotive voltage due to the piezo effect, and a high frequency signal is output to the output side of the ultrasonic transducer 40b, but the level thereof is minute. The amplitude of the high frequency signal is proportional to the received ultrasonic energy. The high frequency signal is amplified by the amplifier circuit 44, and is smoothed by the smoothing circuit 46.
To smooth DC. Since the frequency of the ultrasonic wave required to atomize the chemical liquid Lb is relatively high and the electromotive force also has a high frequency, the smoothing circuit 46 is used to convert this to a DC level.

Zener diode ZD1 and capacitor C
1 is generating the reference voltage Vref ₁ of the first comparator 48, but the chemical liquid Lb is present in the atomization tank b, and the reflection of ultrasonic energy from the interface of the atomization tank to the working liquid La is minute. Output voltage V of the smoothing circuit 46 when
Since it is lower than f ₁ and therefore the output of the first comparator 48 becomes “H” level, the alarm 60 does not operate. Further, since the control circuit 70 does not operate and the ultrasonic transducer drive circuit 72 and the fan motor drive circuit 74 are kept in the active state, the ultrasonic transducer 4 for excitation and the fan motor of the air source are driven. Drive continues.

Next, the state of FIG. 1 will be described. In this case, all of the chemical liquid Lb in the atomization tank b has just been atomized, and the ultrasonic transducer 4 continues to emit ultrasonic energy. Since the liquid chemical Lb does not exist in the atomization tank b,
Most of the ultrasonic energy is reflected to the working liquid La side at the interface between the diaphragm 12 and the air in the atomization tank b (the atomization tank interface).

Since the reflection of the ultrasonic energy to the working liquid La is large, the level of the ultrasonic energy received by the ultrasonic sensor 40 is sufficiently large as compared with the case of FIG. The electromotive voltage generated by the ultrasonic oscillator 40b is also high, the output voltage V of the smoothing circuit 46 becomes higher than the reference voltage Vref _{1 of} the first comparator 48, and the output of the first comparator 48 is inverted to the “L” level. The alarm device 60 operates to notify the operator of the end of atomization, and the control circuit 70 operates to inactivate the ultrasonic transducer drive circuit 72 and the fan motor drive circuit 74 to activate the ultrasonic transducer 4 for excitation. And the drive of the fan motor of the air source are automatically stopped.

As a result, overheating of the working liquid La due to continued irradiation of ultrasonic energy after the atomization is prevented, and the ultrasonic transducer 4 can be protected from mechanical deterioration and thermal deterioration.

Next, although not directly related to the gist of the present invention, the operation relating to the level fluctuation of the working liquid La will be described.

When the working liquid La of the specified level Lth or more is present in the working tank a, the ultrasonic energy is satisfactorily propagated from the working liquid La to the chemical liquid Lb. Since it is covered with La, the ultrasonic transducer 4 is protected from mechanical deterioration and thermal deterioration.

At the same time, a part of the ultrasonic energy from the ultrasonic vibrator 4 is propagated to the ultrasonic sensor 40 provided on the side wall of the working tank a via the working liquid La having a prescribed level Lth or more, and the ultrasonic wave is transmitted. The vibrator 40b generates an electromotive voltage, although slightly. It is amplified by the amplifier circuit 44 and smoothed into a direct current by the smoothing circuit 46.

Reference voltage Vref ₂ of the second comparator 50
Is set to be lower than the output voltage V of the smoothing circuit 46 at this time, the output of the second comparator 50 becomes the “L” level. That is, in the above-described atomization action, even when the chemical liquid Lb is present in the atomization tank b,
Even if it does not exist, the output voltage V from the smoothing circuit 46
Is higher than the reference voltage Vref ₂ of the second comparator 50 (Vref ₂ is set sufficiently low). Therefore,
When the working liquid La is present at or above the specified level Lth, the output of the second comparator 50 is at "L" level. Since this is inverted by the inverter circuit INV and becomes "H" level, the control circuit 80 is maintained in the inactive state, and as a result, the drive states of the ultrasonic transducer drive circuit 72 and the fan motor drive circuit 74 are maintained. ..

When the level of the working liquid La is less than the specified level Lth, including the case where there is no working liquid La in the working tank a, the chemical liquid L of ultrasonic energy from the ultrasonic transducer 4 is used.
Insufficient propagation to b.

However, in such a case, part or all of the ultrasonic sensor 40 is exposed to the air,
The ultrasonic energy transmitted to the ultrasonic sensor 40 is also greatly reduced. Although part of the ultrasonic energy of the ultrasonic transducer 4 for excitation propagates through the base 2 and the lower casing 6, the ultrasonic transducer 40 inside the ultrasonic sensor 40
With respect to b, the propagation is prevented because the periphery thereof is covered with the cork 40c. The ultrasonic sensor 40 receives only the ultrasonic energy propagating through the working liquid La.

When the ultrasonic energy applied to the ultrasonic sensor 40 is significantly reduced, the electromotive voltage generated by the ultrasonic transducer 40b in the ultrasonic sensor 40 is also greatly reduced, and the smoothing circuit 46 is
Is lower than the reference voltage Vref ₂ of the second comparator 50. As a result, the output of the second comparator 50 becomes "H" level, which is inverted by the inverter circuit INV and becomes "L" level. Therefore, the control circuit 80 is activated, and the ultrasonic vibrator drive circuit 72 and the fan motor are activated. The drive of the drive circuit 74 is stopped, and the drive of the ultrasonic transducer 4 for excitation and the drive of the fan motor of the air source are automatically stopped.

In the above embodiment, the alarm 60 is operated and the driving of the ultrasonic nebulizer is stopped at the end of atomization of the chemical solution, but the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. For example, the alarm 60 may be operated only and the ultrasonic nebulizer may be stopped manually by an operator who is notified of the end of atomization, or the alarm 60 is not operated and the control is performed. Circuit 70
Therefore, the driving of the ultrasonic nebulizer may be automatically stopped.

In the above embodiment, the ultrasonic sensor 40 is used.
In order to detect whether or not the working liquid La is at the specified level Lth by using the ultrasonic sensor 40, the ultrasonic sensor 40 is provided on the side surface of the working tank a at a height position corresponding to the specified level Lth. The present invention is not limited to this, and in the case where it is not necessary to perform such a combined use, the ultrasonic sensor 40 is located at any position where it is immersed in the working liquid La anyway.
Should be provided.

The alarm 60 may be a visible type such as a lamp or a light emitting diode, or an audible type such as a buzzer (electronic buzzer) or a bell. Further, both may be used.

[0054]

According to the first ultrasonic nebulizer of the present invention, when the chemical solution remains in the atomizing tank, the ultrasonic energy is hardly reflected at the interface of the atomizing tank and the ultrasonic sensor receives it. The alarm does not work because the ultrasonic energy that oscillates is minute, but when the chemical liquid is completely atomized and disappears, the amount of ultrasonic energy reflected at the interface of the atomization tank increases significantly, The alarm operates when the ultrasonic energy received by the ultrasonic sensor exceeds a predetermined value. That is, even if the atomization amount of the chemical liquid per unit time varies depending on the type, amount, or machine difference of the chemical liquid, it is not affected by them, and automatically when the atomization of the chemical liquid is just finished. Can be notified to the effect that the atomization of the chemical liquid is completed.

Further, according to the second ultrasonic nebulizer of the present invention, the control circuit operates when the atomization of the chemical liquid in the atomization tank is completed, and the ultrasonic nebulizer including the irradiation of ultrasonic energy is also included. Since the driving of the working fluid is automatically stopped, the working fluid is not overheated by the ultrasonic energy reflected from the interface of the atomizing tank. Therefore, even if the atomization amount of the chemical liquid per unit time varies depending on the type, amount, or machine difference of the chemical liquid, it is not affected by them, and the ultrasonic transducer and the diaphragm of the atomization tank are mechanically operated. It is possible to prevent mechanical deterioration and thermal deterioration, improve reliability, and prolong life.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an ultrasonic nebulizer (atomization completion state) according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the lower half of the ultrasonic nebulizer in the example (in the middle of atomization).

3A and 3B are a sectional view and a front view showing an ultrasonic sensor in an example.

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing a detection circuit in the example.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a conventional ultrasonic nebulizer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 a working tank b atomization tank La working liquid Lb therapeutic drug solution 4 ultrasonic transducer for excitation 40 ultrasonic sensor 60 alarm 70 control circuit

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A nebulizing tank for accommodating a therapeutic liquid medicine and receiving ultrasonic energy to atomize the liquid medicine; and a working liquid for covering the ultrasonic vibrator and immersing the bottom portion of the atomizing tank. An ultrasonic nebulizer having a working tank for propagating ultrasonic energy from an ultrasonic vibrator to the atomizing tank through the working liquid, wherein an ultrasonic sensor is provided at a portion of the working tank to be immersed in the working liquid. An ultrasonic nebulizer, which is provided with an alarm that operates when the ultrasonic energy received by the ultrasonic sensor exceeds a predetermined value. 2. An atomizing tank for containing a therapeutic drug solution and receiving ultrasonic energy to atomize the drug solution; and an actuating liquid for covering the ultrasonic vibrator and immersing the bottom part of the atomizer tank. An ultrasonic nebulizer having a working tank for propagating ultrasonic energy from an ultrasonic vibrator to the atomizing tank through the working liquid, wherein an ultrasonic sensor is provided at a portion of the working tank to be immersed in the working liquid. An ultrasonic nebulizer, which is provided with a control circuit that operates when the ultrasonic energy received by the ultrasonic sensor exceeds a predetermined value to stop driving of the ultrasonic nebulizer.