Portable, handheld, pneumatic driven medicinal nebulizer
View Patent ↗A portable, handheld medicine delivery device capable producing atomized agents that are adapted to be inhaled through a nebulizer by a patient suffering from a respiratory condition. In addition, the present invention provides a means wherein the dose of the inhaled agent can be remotely monitored and, if required altered, by a physician or doctor. Finally, the present invention embodies an apparatus and method for reducing a high-pressure delivery gas into a lower pressure gas suitable for atomizing a medicinal agent and for inhalation.
1. A handheld portable gas storage and pressure regulator device, comprising:
a housing adapted for receiving a portable container of a high pressure gas;
a discharge means interconnected to said housing and in operable relationship with said high pressure container, wherein the high pressure gas may be selectively released from said portable container into a main gas passage positioned downstream from said housing;
a valve positioned downstream from said main gas passage and in operable communication with the high pressure gas to create a low pressure gas; and
a low pressure gas transfer chamber comprising a biasing means engaged to a piston communicated to a calibrated spool to reduce said pressure of said gas exiting the regulator.
2. The pressure regulator of claim 1 , wherein said piston is magnetized for retention in an upright position.
3. The pressure regulator device of claim 1 , further comprising an exhaust port to further reduce the pressure of said low-pressure gas.
4. The pressure regulator device of claim 1 , wherein said high-pressure gas is reduced in pressure at least about 500 psi.
5. The pressure regulator device of claim 1 , wherein said biasing means comprises a helical spring.
6. The pressure regulator of claim 1 , wherein said device has a total length no greater than about 6.0 inches.
7. The pressure regulator device of claim 1 , wherein said discharge means comprises a lever operably positioned for engagement by a user's hand.
8. The pressure regulator of claim 1 , wherein said device may be selectively operated in a non-continuous, interim mode of flow.
9. The pressure regulator device of claim 1 , wherein said high pressure gas is oxygen.
10. The pressure regulator device of claim 1 , further comprising a filtering means positioned downstream from said main gas passage for removing impurities from the high pressure gas.
11. The pressure regulator device of claim 1 , further comprising a monitoring means in communication with said valve.
12. The pressure regulator device of claim 1 , wherein said valve is a needle valve.
13. The pressure regulator device of claim 1 , further comprising a medicine receptacle and delivery means in communication with said low pressure gas transfer chamber adapted to receive a predetermined amount of medicine.
14. The pressure regulator device of claim 13 , further comprising a mouthpiece in communication with said medicine delivery means and said monitoring means, wherein said gas and said medicine combine to generate a plurality of aerosol sized particles that are adapted for inhalation by a patient.