JPH07124258A - Liquid supply nozzle for ultrasonic inhaler - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] (Modified) [Purpose] It is an object to provide a liquid supply nozzle of an ultrasonic inhaler that realizes sufficient sustainability of liquid supply effect and cost reduction. [Structure] An upper half portion 10 and a lower half portion 20 are formed.
23 is formed, a hole 15 and a through hole 16 are formed in the upper half portion 10, and bosses 25 and 26 are projectingly provided in the lower half portion 20 corresponding thereto, and a base portion 21 and a tip portion 22 of the lower half portion 20 are formed. On the inner surface of the ridge 28a, 28
b is provided.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a liquid supply nozzle for supplying a liquid in a bottle to an atomizing section in an ultrasonic inhaler.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 13 shows a cross-sectional view of a main part of an ultrasonic inhaler equipped with a vibrator, a horn, etc., for atomizing a liquid (chemical solution or the like) in a bottle. In the ultrasonic inhaler shown here, a bottle 70 containing a liquid (chemical solution) L is detachably attached to the upper portion thereof, and a liquid supply nozzle 71 is fitted to the bottle 70. The liquid supply nozzle 71 is supported by a nozzle guide 72, and the tip of the nozzle 71 is in contact with the horn 74. In such an inhaler, the liquid medicine L is supplied to the horn 74 through the liquid supply passage of the liquid supply nozzle 71 by its own weight and a capillary phenomenon, and atomized by the ultrasonic vibration of the vibrator 73.

The liquid supply nozzle 71 has a shape as shown in, for example, FIG. 11 (side view) and FIG. 12 (side view seen from another angle), and extends inside from the base to the tip along the central axis. Has a cylindrical cavity (not shown) extending along the side surface, and a liquid supply groove 7 having a width of about 0.5 mm or less from the base to the tip on the side surface.
1a is formed. Since the liquid supply groove 71a communicates with the cavity, the chemical liquid L reaches the horn 74 through the liquid supply groove 71a due to its own weight and the capillary phenomenon as described above.

[0004]

Conventional nozzles, such as the liquid supply nozzle 71, are generally manufactured by integral molding.
The material is basically hydrophobic plastic. Therefore, since the liquid is not supplied as it is, the surface is chemically treated to improve hydrophilicity. However, this treatment has a problem that it deteriorates after being left for a long time due to stock and the like, the hydrophilic effect becomes weak, and a liquid supply failure is likely to occur.

Further, since the liquid supply path of the liquid supply nozzle is a very small groove (particularly the liquid supply groove 71a), it is difficult to manufacture a mold in terms of molding, which is disadvantageous in terms of molding technology and cost. Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems,
An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid supply nozzle for an ultrasonic inhaler, which realizes sufficient sustainability of liquid supply effect and cost reduction.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, a liquid supply nozzle of an ultrasonic inhaler of the present invention comprises one half portion having a base portion and a tip portion, and the other half portion. Recesses are formed on the inner surface of the base portion of each of the half portions so as to extend from the end portion toward the tip portion, and the inner surface of one and / or the other half portion is provided with a raised portion slightly raised from the inner surface. To do.

[0007]

The liquid supply nozzle of the present invention is composed of half portions, and when the half portions are joined together, a cavity is formed in the base portion by both concave portions, and a slight gap is formed between the both half portions by the raised portion. The cavity and the gap form a liquid supply path. Therefore, the liquid medicine in the bottle reaches the atomizing portion of the ultrasonic inhaler through the liquid supply passage due to its own weight and the capillary phenomenon.

Here, in the liquid supply nozzle of the present invention, when two half portions are joined, a small gap serving as a liquid supply passage is formed between the two half portions, so that a small groove is formed as in the conventional case. It is not necessary to mold with a mold, and the mold manufacturing and molding techniques can be sufficiently realized by ordinary techniques, which is advantageous in cost from the past. Further, like the conventional nozzle, in order to enhance the liquid supply effect, it is desirable that at least the surface forming the liquid supply passage is subjected to a hydrophilic treatment. However, since the two semi-parts are molded and integrally joined together, the hydrophilic treatment can be performed inexpensively and reliably for each half-part, which facilitates the hydrophilic treatment. Specifically, it is possible to form a hydrophilic metal into a film by using an existing technique such as plating, vapor deposition, and sputtering, or to use a ceramic or the like as a material other than the metal. The thickness of the hydrophilic film is about 10 μm or less, though it depends on the material and size of the liquid supply nozzle. The hydrophilic film does not necessarily have to be provided on both of the half portions, and even if it is provided on only one of the half portions, there is not much difference in the liquid supply effect.

[0009]

EXAMPLES The liquid supply nozzle of the present invention will be described below based on examples. 1 is a side view of a liquid supply nozzle according to an embodiment.
2 shows a side view seen from another angle. 1 and 2
As can be seen from the above, the liquid supply nozzle 1 is not significantly different in appearance from the conventional liquid supply nozzle shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. The liquid supply nozzle 1 is composed of one half portion (for convenience, referred to as an upper half portion) 10 and the other half portion (also referred to as a lower half portion) 20. Upper half 10 and lower half 20
Are detachable from each other, and between the two halves 10 and 20,
There is a gap 30 having a width of about 0.5 mm or less.

The upper half portion 10 is shown in FIG. 3 (inside view) and FIG.
(Side view), FIG. 5 (view seen from the arrow A of FIG. 3) and FIG.
As shown in (viewed from the arrow B of FIG. 3), the base portion 11 has a semi-cylindrical shape, and the tip portion 12 has a flat plate shape. Base 1
A concave portion 13 extending from the end portion to the boundary with the tip portion 12 is formed on the inner surface of 1, and large and small ring portions 14 are circumferentially provided around the outer periphery of the base portion 11. Further, a hole 15 is formed on the inner surface of the base portion 11 for inserting a boss 25 provided in a base portion 21 of a lower half portion 20 described later, and the tip portion 12 also has a tip portion 22 of the lower half portion 20. The through hole 16 for fitting the boss 26 provided in the is opened. Furthermore, a notch 17 is formed at the end of the tip 12.

On the other hand, the lower half portion 20 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 8 (side view), FIG. 9 (view seen from arrow C in FIG. 7) and FIG. 10 (view seen from arrow D in FIG. 7), the same shape as the upper half portion 10 is formed. Have That is, the base portion 21 has a semi-cylindrical shape and the tip portion 22 has a flat plate shape. Base 2
A concave portion 23 corresponding to the concave portion 13 of the base portion 11 of the upper half portion 10 is formed on the inner surface of 1, and a ring portion 24 having the same shape as the above is provided around the outer periphery of the base portion 21.
Also, the inner surface of the base portion 21 has a boss 2 fitted into the hole 15.
5 is provided in a protruding manner, and the tip 22 is provided with a boss 26 that is fitted into the through hole 16. Further, a notch 27 is formed at the end of the tip 22.

In addition, on the inner surface of the lower half portion 20, a portion 28a of the base portion 21 and a portion 2 of the tip portion 22 thereof.
8b is a raised portion that is raised slightly more than the other inner surface. Then, a metal film (not shown) made of a good hydrophilic material is applied to the entire inner surfaces of the upper half portion 10 and the lower half portion 20 (surfaces shown in FIGS. 3 and 7) by plating or vapor deposition. The metal film surface is easily adapted to the chemical solution.

The upper half portion 10 and the lower half portion 20 are integrally connected by fitting the boss 25 into the hole 15 and the boss 26 into the through hole 16, respectively. Both halves 10, 20
When they are joined together, a cylindrical cavity is formed inside by the recesses 13 and 23. In addition, a gap 30 is formed between the two half portions 10 and 20 only by the raised portions 28a and 28b of the lower half portion 20.
(See FIG. 2) exists, and the gap 30 and the cavity form a liquid supply path.

The liquid supply nozzle 1 is used by attaching it to a predetermined position of an ultrasonic inhaler having a structure as shown in FIG.
Due to its own weight and the capillary phenomenon, the chemical liquid in the bottle is separated from the cylindrical cavity of the liquid supply nozzle 1 by the gap 3 between the half portions 10 and 20.
Through 0, it reaches the tip of the nozzle 1 and is supplied onto the horn.

[0015]

Since the liquid supply nozzle of the present invention is constructed as described above, it has the following effects. (1) Since it is composed of two halves, the nozzle shape can be simplified, and mold manufacturing and molding technology can be realized with ordinary technology, and the range of choice by the manufacturer side becomes wider, It is more advantageous in terms of cost than the integrally molded nozzle. (2) Since it is composed of two halves, the hydrophilic treatment can be achieved by providing a hydrophilic film on at least the surface forming the liquid supply path by plating, vapor deposition, etc., which facilitates the hydrophilic treatment. It is possible to select a treatment method that is cheaper and more reliable than the storm treatment used in. (3) Since the hydrophilic film is provided, the hydrophilicity is not deteriorated due to a change with time even when it is stored for a long time, the liquid supply effect is maintained for a long time, and reliable liquid supply can be performed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of a liquid supply nozzle according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the liquid supply nozzle shown in FIG. 1 viewed from another angle.

FIG. 3 is an internal view of the upper half of the liquid supply nozzle.

FIG. 4 is a side view of an upper half portion shown in FIG.

5 is a diagram viewed from an arrow A shown in FIG.

6 is a diagram viewed from the arrow B shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is an internal view of a lower half portion of the liquid supply nozzle.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the lower half portion shown in FIG.

9 is a view seen from the arrow C shown in FIG. 7.

10 is a diagram viewed from the arrow D shown in FIG.

FIG. 11 is a side view of a liquid supply nozzle according to a conventional example.

FIG. 12 is a side view of the liquid supply nozzle shown in FIG. 11 viewed from another angle.

FIG. 13 is a sectional view of a main part of a general ultrasonic inhaler.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Liquid supply nozzle 10 Upper half part 11,21 Base part 12,22 Tip part 13,23 Recessed part 20 Lower half part 30 Gap

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A liquid supply nozzle for supplying liquid to an atomizing portion of an ultrasonic inhaler, the liquid supply nozzle comprising one half portion and a second half portion each having a base portion and a tip portion, and a base portion of both half portions. Ultrasonic inhalation, characterized in that recesses are formed on the inner surface, the recesses extending from the end to the tip, respectively, and one and / or the other half of the inner surface is provided with a raised portion slightly raised from the inner surface. Supply nozzle of the vessel. 2. A liquid supply nozzle for an ultrasonic inhaler according to claim 1, wherein a hydrophilic film is provided on at least a surface of the one and / or the other half portion forming a liquid supply passage. . 3. The liquid supply nozzle for an ultrasonic inhaler according to claim 2, wherein the hydrophilic film is made of ceramic.