WO2016142522A1

WO2016142522A1 - A nebuliser

Info

Publication number: WO2016142522A1
Application number: PCT/EP2016/055315
Authority: WO
Inventors: Philip CANNER; David Harris; Ben WICKS
Original assignee: Linde Aktiengesellschaft
Priority date: 2015-03-11
Filing date: 2016-03-11
Publication date: 2016-09-15
Also published as: GB201504091D0; GB2536257A

Abstract

A device for nebulising a liquid comprising a reservoir (34) of liquid connected to a liquid chamber (26) which is connected to a nebulising chamber. The device also has a nebuliser comprising a resonator (18), a diaphragm (20), a gas inlet (17) fluidly connectable to a pressurised gas supply, and a fluid passage which connects the nebulising chamber (15) to the liquid chamber (26). The device is operates so that liquid from the reservoir (34) enters the liquid chamber (26), and pressurised gas from the gas inlet (17) enters the nebulising chamber and impinges on the resonator (18) to generate ultrasonic waves in the nebulising chamber which vibrates the diaphragm (20). The vibrations force liquid in the chamber through the fluid passage into the nebulising chamber to form an aerosol which passes out through an outlet.

Description

A NEBULISER

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a device for nebulising a liquid.

Nebulised liquids are used for many purposes. One such use is for therapy, for example, by application to the skin or by inhalation. One example is the nebulisation of sodium chloride for inhalation to assist with the removal of mucus and debris from the lungs. Another example is nebulisation of hyaluronic acid for skin beauty purposes. US 4408719 shows a particular type of nebuliser which uses sonic waves to nebulise liquid. It consists of a nozzle which supplies high velocity gas onto a resonator located within a nebulising chamber. When liquid is inserted into this chamber, the liquid is nebulised by the sonic

vibrations generated by the resonator.

In order to gain wider acceptance, there is a need for a more portable version of such a nebuliser. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention there is provided a device for nebulising a liquid, the device comprising a reservoir of liquid fluidly connectable to a liquid chamber which is fluidly connected to a nebulising chamber; a nebuliser comprising a resonator, a diaphragm, a gas inlet fluidly connectable to a pressurised gas supply, and a fluid passage which fluidly connects the nebulising chamber to the liquid chamber; wherein the device is operable in use such that liquid from the reservoir enters the liquid chamber, and pressurised gas from the gas inlet enters the nebulising chamber and impinges on the resonator to generate ultrasonic waves in the nebulising chamber which vibrate the diaphragm, wherein the vibrations of the diaphragm force liquid in the liquid chamber through the fluid passage into the nebulising chamber to form an aerosol which passes out through an outlet from the nebulising chamber.

To simplify the setup of the device, the fluid passage may be located on the diaphragm. To help assist with the formation of the aerosol, the fluid passage may comprise a plurality of perforations. Each perforation may be a conical opening which narrows in the direction towards the nebulising chamber. The reservoir may be moveable, or in particular

twistable, relative to the rest of the device from a first position where the liquid is isolated from the liquid chamber to a second position where the liquid is fluidly connected to the liquid chamber. This relative movement provides a simple mechanism for operating the device.

In one arrangement, the nebulising chamber is preferably substantially cylindrical, wherein the inlet is located on one end wall of the nebulising chamber and the outlet is located on the opposite end wall of the nebulising chamber. The outlet may preferably form an annular channel around the liquid chamber and the reservoir.

The resonator is preferably coaxial with the inlet.

So that the aerosol is easy to inhale, the device is preferably arranged to generate an aerosol which comprises droplets of a diameter of less than ΙΟμιη. The liquid inside the reservoir may be a saline

solution, for example a solution of sodium chloride. The device is then useable to assist with the removal of mucus and debris from the lungs. The liquid may instead contain hyaluronic acid so that the device can be used for skin beauty purposes.

The device may be provided as a single-use, disposable, cartridge. Alternatively, the reservoir may form part of a single-use, disposable, cartridge which is engageable with a base unit comprising the nebulising chamber.

The present invention thus provides a simple device for dispensing a liquid in aerosol form. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying Figures in which:

Figure 1A shows a cross section view of a nebuliser device;

Figure IB shows a cross section view of the device from Figure 1A taken about plane A-A; Figure 1C shows a plan view of the device from Figure 1A; and

Figure ID shows an enlarged view of a portion of the cross section shown in Figure IB.

Figure 2 shows a typical pressure distribution of fluid inside the device shown in Figures 1A-1D when it is in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION With reference to Figures 1A-1C, there is shown a nebuliser device 10 which comprises a cartridge 11 separable from a base unit 13. Both the cartridge 11 and the base unit 13 are substantially cylindrical about a central axis 14 extending through the device 10.

The base unit 13 is hollow and comprises a cylindrical chamber 15. A gas inlet 17 extends along a portion of the central axis 14, and provides an opening into the chamber 15.

Coaxial to the inlet 17 and the axis 14 is a Hartman resonator 18 which defines a hollow cavity 19 located above the inlet 17. The outer surface of the resonator 18 is substantially frusto-conical such that in the direction away from the inlet 17, the surface tapers radially outwardly.

A diaphragm 20 comprising a plurality of perforations 22 is connected to the base unit 13 above the resonator 18 to define an upper wall of the chamber 15. Each perforation 22 is a conical opening which narrows in the direction towards the chamber 15. As shown in Figure 1C, the perforations are equispaced radially around the resonator 18. The outer diameter of the diaphragm 20 is narrower than the diameter of the chamber 15 such that the upper wall of the chamber 15 comprises an annular opening 23 which acts as an outlet from the chamber as will be described.

A cylindrical block 24 is located on top of the

diaphragm 20 to define a liquid chamber 26. A top portion 27 of the cylindrical block comprises an inlet 28 to allow fluid to enter the liquid chamber 26 from its outside as will be described.

In use, the upper surface of the top portion 27 of the cylindrical block 24 receives a cartridge 11. A projection 30 is located on this upper surface which engages with a corresponding recess 32 in the bottom surface of the

cartridge 11 to align the two components together.

As well as the recess 32, the cartridge 11 comprises a reservoir 34 for nebulisable liquid. An outlet channel 36 extends through the bottom of the reservoir 34 for removing liquid therefrom. The top of the reservoir 34 is covered by a lid 38 which comprises a gripping handle 40. In use of the device 10, the cartridge 11 is placed in an initial position on the top portion 27 of the cylindrical block 24 inside the base unit 13. In this position, the outlet channel 36 from the cartridge is offset from the inlet 28 of the block 24 so that liquid cannot escape from the reservoir 16 of the cartridge 11. To operate the device 10, the cartridge 11 is twisted relative to the base unit 13 using the gripping handle 40 to the position shown in Figure 1C, where the outlet channel 36 from the cartridge is aligned with the inlet 28 of the block 24. This allows liquid from the cartridge 11 to enter into the liquid chamber 26 of the block 24 and into contact with the diaphragm 20.

To nebulise this liquid, pressurised gas is fed through the gas inlet 17 which impinges on the resonator 18. Due to the hollow cavity 19 and shape of the resonator 18, the impinging gas generates ultrasonic waves in the chamber 15 which vibrate the diaphragm 20. These vibrations cause the liquid in the liquid chamber 26 to pass through the

perforations 22 of the diaphragm 20, and nebulise to form an aerosol in the chamber 15 with droplets of a diameter of less than ΙΟμιη. The generated aerosol escapes the chamber through the annular opening 23 formed between the cartridge 11 and the base unit 13.

An indication of the typical flow patterns inside the chamber 15 when the device 10 is in use is shown in Figure 2. From this Figure, it can be seen that a vortex V of fluid is generated around the chamber 15. The vortex V is largely generated by the geometry and position of the Hartman resonator 18 in relation to the inlet 17. The vortex V helps form the aerosol in the chamber 15 with droplets of a diameter of less than ΙΟμιη and also helps to direct the aerosol from the area of the perforations 22 in the

diaphragm 20 to the annular opening 23 and thus out of the device 10. The liquid contained within the reservoir 16 is any liquid which can be nebulised. Exemplary liquids which can be used include a saline solution containing sodium chloride for when the device is used assisting with the removal of mucus and debris from the lungs, and hyaluronic acid for use in skin beauty purposes.

Claims

1. A device for nebulising a liquid, the device comprising a reservoir of liquid fluidly connectable to a liquid chamber which is fluidly connected to a nebulising chamber; a nebuliser comprising a resonator, a diaphragm, a gas inlet fluidly connectable to a pressurised gas supply, and a fluid passage which fluidly connects the nebulising chamber to the liquid chamber; wherein the device is operable in use such that liquid from the reservoir enters the liquid chamber, and pressurised gas from the gas inlet enters the nebulising chamber and impinges on the resonator to generate ultrasonic waves in the nebulising chamber which vibrate the diaphragm, wherein the vibrations of the diaphragm force liquid in the liquid chamber through the fluid passage into the nebulising chamber to form an aerosol which passes out through an outlet from the nebulising chamber.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the fluid passage is located on the diaphragm.

3. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the fluid passage comprises a plurality of perforations.

4. A device according to claim 3 wherein each perforation is a conical opening which narrows in the direction towards the nebulising chamber.

5. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the reservoir is moveable relative to the rest of the device from a first position where the liquid is isolated from the liquid chamber to a second position where the liquid is fluidly connected to the liquid chamber.

6. A device according to claim 5 wherein the reservoir is twistable relative to the rest of the device between the first and second positions.

7. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the nebulising chamber is substantially cylindrical, wherein the gas inlet is located on one end wall of the chamber and the outlet is located on the opposite end wall of the chamber.

8. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the outlet forms an annular channel around the liquid chamber and the reservoir.

9. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the device is arranged to generate an aerosol which comprises droplets of a diameter of less than ΙΟμιη.

10. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the liquid inside the reservoir is a saline solution.

11. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the resonator is coaxial with the inlet.

12. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the device is a single-use, disposable, cartridge.

13. A device according to claims 1-11 wherein the reservoir forms part of a single-use, disposable, cartridge which is engageable with a base unit comprising the nebulising chamber .

14. A device as substantially hereinbefore described reference to the accompanying drawings.