Nebulizer apparatus

1. A method of providing nebulizer therapy, the method comprising:

receiving a flow of pressurized gas through a pressurized gas outlet in a chamber of a nebulizer, the nebulizer having a liquid orifice located in the chamber adjacent the pressurized gas outlet and at least one liquid channel connecting a reservoir for holding a liquid to the liquid orifice;

diverting the flow of pressurized gas with a baffle having a diverter surface area of less than 5.0 mm 2 positioned over the liquid orifice in the chamber to generate a diverted flow of pressurized gas;

drawing the liquid through the at least one liquid channel with the diverted flow of pressurized gas, wherein the at least one liquid channel has a liquid volume between 250 mm 3 and 300 mm 3 ; and

nebulizing the liquid from the reservoir in the nebulizer during inhalation in a breathing cycle.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the diverter surface area of the baffle is at least 50% of a cross-sectional area of the liquid orifice.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving the pressurized gas at a pressure in a range of 15 to 30 pounds per square inch (psi).

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving the pressurized gas from a home care compressor.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising forming aerosolized particles having a diameter less than 4.7 micrometers (μm).

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving a second flow of pressurized gas into the chamber through the pressurized gas outlet at a flow rate of 4-10 liters per minute (lpm), the second flow of pressurized gas being received from a source different than an initial source of the flow of pressurized gas.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the source of the second flow of pressurized gas is a pressurized gas source in a medical treatment facility.

8. A nebulizer comprising:

a housing having a chamber for holding an aerosol;

an air outlet communicating with the chamber for permitting the aerosol to be withdrawn from the chamber;

a reservoir for holding a liquid to be aerosolized;

a liquid orifice located in the chamber;

at least one liquid channel defined between the reservoir and the liquid orifice, the at least one liquid channel having a liquid volume;

a pressurized gas outlet located in the chamber adjacent to the liquid orifice;

a baffle located in the chamber and positioned relative to the pressurized gas outlet and the liquid orifice so as to divert a flow of pressurized gas received from the pressurized gas outlet over the liquid orifice, the baffle having a diverter surface area;

wherein the at least one liquid channel has a liquid volume between 250 mm 3 and 300 mm 3 ;

wherein the diverter surface area is less than 5.0 mm 2 ; and

wherein the nebulizer is configured to only nebulize the liquid from the reservoir during inhalation in a breathing cycle.

9. The nebulizer of claim 8 , wherein the diverter surface area of the baffle is at least 50% of a cross-sectional area of the liquid orifice.

10. The nebulizer of claim 8 , wherein the pressurized gas is delivered at a pressure in a range of 15 to 30 pounds per square inch (psi).

11. The nebulizer of claim 8 , wherein the flow of pressurized gas is delivered from a home care compressor.

12. The nebulizer of claim 8 , wherein the nebulizer is configured to form aerosolized particles having a diameter less than 4.7 micrometers (μm).

13. The nebulizer of claim 8 , wherein the nebulizer is configured to receive a second flow of pressurized gas into the chamber through the pressurized gas outlet at a flow rate of 4-10 liters per minute (lpm), from a source different than an initial source of the flow of pressurized gas.

14. The nebulizer of claim 13 , wherein the nebulizer is configured to receive the source of the second flow of pressurized gas from a pressurized gas source in a medical treatment facility.