IP Library Granted Patent US 7,472,701
Granted Patent B2
US 7,472,701 · App. 11/094,561 · Granted Jan 6, 2009

Aerosol generation device and inhalation device therewith

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,472,701
App. No.
11/094,561
Granted
Jan 6, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

An aerosol generation device comprising an oscillatable membrane ( 1 ) for the nebulization of a liquid, having a first curved region ( 11 ), and an oscillation generating device ( 2, 3 ) by which the membrane can be caused to oscillate such that a liquid disposed on one side of the membrane is nebulized through the oscillating membrane and is present on the other side of the membrane as an aerosol. The membrane has at least a second region ( 12 ) which is surrounded by the first region ( 11 ). The first region ( 11 ) and the second region ( 12 ) have different curvatures ( 1 /r 1, 1 /r 2 ).

Claims (44)

1. An aerosol generation device comprising

an oscillatable membrane for nebulization of a liquid having a first curved nonplanar region and

an oscillation generating device having a support unit and an electromechanical conversion unit, being fixedly connected to the membrane such that the membrane is excitable into a desired oscillating condition such that a liquid disposed on one side of the membrane is nebulized by passing through holes in the oscillating membrane and is present on the other side of the membrane as an aerosol,

wherein

the membrane has at least a second region which is surrounded by the first region,

the first region and the second region have different curvatures, and

the first region and the second region are both convex outwardly in a single direction when the membrane is at rest.

2. The aerosol generation device according to claim 1 , wherein holes are only present in the membrane in the first region and in the second region.

3. An aerosol generation device comprising

an oscillatable membrane for nebulization of a liquid having a first curved nonplanar region and

an oscillation generating device having a support unit and an electromechanical conversion unit, being fixedly connected to the membrane such that the membrane is excitable into a desired oscillating condition such that a liquid disposed on one side of the membrane is nebulized by passing through holes in the oscillating membrane and is present on the other side of the membrane as an aerosol,

wherein

the membrane has at least a second region which is surrounded by the first region and

the first region and the second region have different curvatures, wherein the holes in the zones distant from the oscillation node lines of the first region have a greater density.

4. An aerosol generation device comprising

an oscillatable membrane for nebulization of a liquid having a first curved nonplanar region and

an oscillation generating device having a support unit and an electromechanical conversion unit, being fixedly connected to the membrane such that the membrane is excitable into a desired oscillating condition such that a liquid disposed on one side of the membrane is nebulized by passing through holes in the oscillating membrane and is present on the other side of the membrane as an aerosol,

wherein

the membrane has at least a second region which is surrounded by the first region and

the first region and the second region have different curvatures, wherein the holes have a greater density at a center line of the first region.

5. The aerosol generation device according to claim 1 , wherein holes are only present in the second region.

6. An aerosol generation device comprising

an oscillatable membrane for nebulization of a liquid having a first curved nonplanar region and

an oscillation generating device having a support unit and an electromechanical conversion unit, being fixedly connected to the membrane such that the membrane is excitable into a desired oscillating condition such that a liquid disposed on one side of the membrane is nebulized by passing through holes in the oscillating membrane and is present on the other side of the membrane as an aerosol,

wherein

the membrane has at least a second region which is surrounded by the first region and

the first region and the second region have different curvatures, wherein the holes in the zones distant from the oscillation node lines of the second region have a greater density.

7. An aerosol generation device comprising

an oscillatable membrane for nebulization of a liquid having a first curved nonplanar region and

an oscillation generating device having a support unit and an electromechanical conversion unit, being fixedly connected to the membrane such that the membrane is excitable into a desired oscillating condition such that a liquid disposed on one side of the membrane is nebulized by passing through holes in the oscillating membrane and is present on the other side of the membrane as an aerosol,

wherein

the membrane has at least a second region which is surrounded by the first region and

the first region and the second region have different curvatures, wherein the holes have a greater density in the middle of the second region.

8. The aerosol generation device according to claim 1 , wherein no holes are present in the membrane in the vicinity of transition edges between the regions.

9. The aerosol generation device according to claim 1 , wherein the first region is surrounded by a third region the curvature of which is Zero.

10. The aerosol generation device according to claim 1 , wherein the first region extends to the edge of an opening of the oscillation generating device.

11. The aerosol generation device according to claim 1 , wherein the oscillation generating device comprises a support unit and an electromechanical conversion unit, which are connected to each other.

12. The aerosol generation device according to claim 1 , wherein the oscillation generating device excites the membrane to bending oscillations.

13. The aerosol generation device according to claim 1 , wherein the membrane and the oscillation generating device are rotational-symmetrically designed.

14. An inhalation therapy device comprising

a liquid storing means for storing a liquid to be nebulized, and

an aerosol generation device according to claim 1 , wherein

the supply of the liquid is performed from the liquid storing means to the membrane at environmental pressure.

15. The aerosol generation device according to claim 11 , wherein the electromechanical conversion unit comprises a piezo-electric conversion unit.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 26, 2007
From: PARI GMBH SPEZIALISTEN FUER EFFEKTIVE INHALATION
To: PARI PHARMA GMBH
Reel/Frame 020023/0084 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 16, 2005
From: PFICHNER, ANDREAS; PUMM, GERHARD
To: PARI GMBH SPEZIALISTEN FUR EFFEKTIVE INHALATION
Reel/Frame 016695/0552 →