Inverted nozzle fixture and method
View Patent ↗The invention provides for device for clamping a fluidic component which is subjected to a fluctuating fluid pressure, said fluidic component having a downstream end, an opposite upstream end and an outer contour, said device comprising a holder, an elastomeric shaped part and a mating part, wherein the elastomeric shaped part comprises at least one compensating surface, and wherein the at least one compensating surface in the assembled state does not contact the mating part or the at least one projection of the mating part.
1 . A device for clamping a fluidic component which is subjected to a fluctuating fluid pressure, said fluidic component having a downstream end, an opposite upstream end and an outer contour, said device comprising
a holder having a downstream end and an opposite upstream end and an inner contour, wherein in a partially assembled state the fluidic component is arranged inside the holder and wherein the downstream end of the fluidic component is supported by the downstream end of the holder,
an elastomeric shaped part having a downstream end and an opposite upstream end and an inner contour and an outer contour, wherein the inner contour of the elastomeric shaped part is configured to enclose and contact the outer contour of the fluidic component, and
a mating part adapted to be secured to the upstream end of the holder, wherein the mating part has an downstream end and an opposite upstream end and an outer contour, wherein the outer contour of the mating part is adapted to the inner contour of the holder, and wherein the mating part comprises at least one projection, and wherein the at least one projection projects into the holder and contacts and deforms the elastomeric shaped part, wherein
the elastomeric shaped part comprises at least one compensating surface that, prior to the assembled state, defines a hollow space between the at least one compensating surface and at least the holder at the downstream end of the elastomeric shaped part or the at least one compensating surface comprises an internal compensating volume within the elastomeric shaped part into which the elastomeric shaped part expands in the assembled state, and wherein the at least one compensating surface in the assembled state does not contact the mating part or the at least one projection of the mating part.
2 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one compensating surface is located in an interior of the elastomeric shaped part.
3 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one compensating surface is a surface or surface area of the elastomeric shaped part that is configured to deform due to contact with the mating part or the at least one projection of the mating part in the assembled state.
4 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one compensating surface is not located at the upstream end of the elastomeric shaped part.
5 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one compensating surface is formed by at least a part of a surface of the downstream end of the elastomeric shaped part and is inclined or sloped towards the inner and/or the outer contour of the elastomeric shaped part.
6 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one compensating surface is formed by at least a part of a surface of the downstream end of the elastomeric shaped part and is inclined or sloped with regard to a plane perpendicular to a main axis of the device towards the inner contour of the elastomeric shaped part.
7 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the internal compensating volume is formed by a hollow annular space located in an interior of the elastomeric shaped part.
8 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the internal compensating volume is formed by a plurality of hollow annular spaces located in an interior of the elastomeric shaped part.
9 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one projection of the mating part has the form of at least one annular ring.
10 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one projection of the mating part is in the form of a plurality of projections.
11 . The device according to claim 10 , wherein the plurality of projections has an equal height and/or width.
12 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one projection has an overall volume Vp and wherein the hollow space defines a compensating volume or the internal compensating volume that has an overall volume Vc, and wherein the overall volume Vp of the at least one projection is based on to the overall volume Vc of the compensating volume or the internal compensating volume.
13 . The device according to claim 12 , wherein the overall volume Vp of the at least one projection amounts to from about 10% to about 50% of the overall compensating volume Vc.
14 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein a entire surface of the upstream end of the elastomeric shaped part in its entirety contacts a downstream surface of the mating part and/or of the at least one projection.
15 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the fluidic component is a nozzle for nebulization or aerosolization of a liquid.
16 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the fluidic component is a nozzle for nebulization or aerosolization of a medically active liquid to be administered to a subject in need thereof by inhalation.
17 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the fluidic component is an impingement nozzle.
18 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the fluidic component has a cylindrical or rectangular shape.
19 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the device is adapted for clamping a plurality of the fluidic components.
20 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric shaped part comprises or consists essentially of synthetic rubbers, fluoropolymeric materials, nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR), ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber (EPDM), polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE), silicone, or liquid silicone rubber (LSR).
21 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the holder and/or the mating part and/or the at least one protrusion comprises or consists essentially of stainless steel, polyethylene, polystyrene, polyether ether ketone (PEEK), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polycarbonate, or polyamide.
22 . A fluidic assembly comprising the device for clamping the fluidic component according to claim 1 and the fluidic component clamped by the device.
23 . The fluidic assembly of claim 22 , wherein the device for clamping the fluidic component is a nozzle holder and the fluidic component is a nozzle.
24 . An inhalation device for the inhalative administration of a medically active liquid in nebulized form, wherein the inhalation device comprises the device according to claim 1 .
25 . A method for clamping the fluidic component or for the manufacture of a fluidic assembly comprising the device for clamping the fluidic component according to claim 1 and the fluidic component clamped by the device, the method comprising the steps of:
a) providing components of the device for clamping the fluidic component according to claim 1 , comprising
the holder;
the elastomeric shaped part having the at least one compensating surface;
the fluidic component; and
the mating part comprising the at least one projection;
b) assembling the device by:
b1) introducing the elastomeric shaped part into the holder and, subsequently, introducing the fluidic component into the elastomeric shaped part, or
b2) introducing the fluidic component into the elastomeric shaped part and, subsequently, introducing the elastomeric shaped part holding the fluidic component into the holder; and
c) securing the mating part to the holder and thereby compressing the elastomeric shaped part by contacting the at least one protrusion of the mating part with an upstream surface of the elastomeric shaped part.