IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,050,424
Granted Patent B2
US 9,050,424 · App. 13/521,283 · Granted Jun 9, 2015

Magnetic coupling for aerosol generating apparatus

Inventor: Martinus Bernardus Van Der Mark (Best, NL)
Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
A61M15/001A61M11/00A61M15/00A61M15/0001A61M15/0021A61M15/0005B05B17/06B05B17/0607B65D83/752B65D83/75A61M11/005A61M15/0085A61M2205/0272A61M2205/502A61M2205/52A61M2205/8206B05B17/0646
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,050,424
App. No.
13/521,283
Granted
Jun 9, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

An apparatus (e.g., nebulizer) for aerosol delivery of a substance (e.g., a drug to a patient) has a mouthpiece ( 36 ); a chamber ( 34 ) holding a substance; a flexible membrane ( 38 ) having a plurality of apertures; and a vibrator ( 44 ) for vibrating the flexible membrane to form a flow of aerosol droplets of the substance that are ejected through the apertures and to the mouthpiece. The vibrator may be a piezoelectric element. A magnetic member ( 54 ) is provided on the flexible membrane and is configured to magnetically couple the flexible membrane to the vibrator. The magnetic member allows replacement of the membrane, without wasting the piezoelectric element.

Claims (51)

1. An apparatus for aerosol delivery of a liquid substance, the apparatus comprising:

a mouthpiece;

a chamber for holding a liquid substance therein;

a flexible membrane comprising a plurality of apertures therethrough;

a vibrator for vibrating the flexible membrane; and

a magnetic member configured to magnetically couple the flexible membrane to the vibrator such that when the flexible membrane is vibrated by the vibrator a flow of aerosol droplets of the liquid substance are ejected through the plurality of apertures and to the mouthpiece for delivery therefrom, wherein the magnetic member is a spring.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the vibrator comprises a piezoelectric element.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible membrane comprises a non-magnetic material.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible membrane comprises a magnetic material.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the magnetic member is attached to the flexible membrane.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the magnetic member is attached to the flexible membrane via an adhesive.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the magnetic member is deposited on the flexible membrane.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the spring is circular.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the spring is attached to the vibrator.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the magnetic member is magnetically coupled to a spring attached to the vibrator.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the spring is formed of magnetic material.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the spring comprises stainless steel.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible membrane is attached to a removable insert that is configured to be removably inserted into the apparatus.

14. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein flexible membrane comprises a polyimide material.

15. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a second magnetic member positioned adjacent to the vibrator, the second magnetic member configured to magnetically couple with the magnetic member.

16. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the magnetic member comprises a magnetized material.

17. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the magnetic member comprises a non-magnetized material.

18. The apparatus according to claim 16 , further comprising a second magnetic member positioned adjacent to the vibrator, the second magnetic member configured to magnetically couple with the magnetic member.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18 , wherein the second magnetic member comprises a magnetized material.

20. The apparatus according to claim 17 , further comprising a second magnetic member positioned adjacent to the vibrator, the second magnetic member configured to magnetically couple with the magnetic member.

21. The apparatus according to claim 20 , wherein the second magnetic member comprises a magnetized material.

22. An apparatus for aerosol delivery of a substance comprising:

a mouthpiece for delivering a flow of aerosol;

a chamber holding a substance therein;

a flexible membrane comprising a first surface and a second surface, the flexible membrane having a plurality of apertures extending therethrough;

a vibrator for vibrating the flexible membrane;

a spring attached to the vibrator, wherein the spring is formed of magnetic material; and

a magnetic member configured to magnetically couple the flexible membrane to the vibrator, such that when the flexible membrane is vibrated by the vibrator a flow of aerosol droplets of the substance is ejected through the plurality of apertures and to the mouthpiece for delivery therefrom.

23. The apparatus according to claim 22 , wherein the vibrator comprises a piezoelectric element.

24. The apparatus according to claim 22 , wherein the flexible membrane comprises a non-magnetic material.

25. The apparatus according to claim 22 , wherein the flexible membrane comprises a magnetic material.

26. The apparatus according to claim 25 , wherein the magnetic material is attached to the flexible membrane.

27. The apparatus according to claim 26 , wherein the magnetic material is attached to the flexible membrane via an adhesive.

28. The apparatus according to claim 25 , wherein the magnetic material is deposited on the flexible membrane.

29. The apparatus according to claim 22 , wherein the magnetic member is magnetically coupled to the spring.

30. The apparatus according to claim 22 , wherein the spring is circular.

31. The apparatus according to claim 22 , wherein the flexible membrane is attached to a removable insert that is configured to be removably inserted into the apparatus.

32. The apparatus according to claim 22 , wherein flexible membrane comprises a polyimide material.

33. The apparatus according to claim 30 , wherein the spring comprises stainless steel.

34. The apparatus according to claim 22 , further comprising a second magnetic member positioned adjacent to the vibrator, the second magnetic member configured to magnetically couple with the magnetic member.

35. The apparatus according to claim 22 , wherein the magnetic member comprises a magnetized material.

36. The apparatus according to claim 22 , wherein the magnetic member comprises a non-magnetized material.

37. The apparatus according to claim 35 , further comprising a second magnetic member positioned adjacent to the vibrator, the second magnetic member configured to magnetically couple with the magnetic member.

38. The apparatus according to claim 37 , wherein the second magnetic member comprises a magnetized material.

39. The apparatus according to claim 36 , further comprising a second magnetic member positioned adjacent to the vibrator, the second magnetic member configured to magnetically couple with the magnetic member.

40. The apparatus according to claim 39 , wherein the second magnetic member comprises a magnetized material.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 10, 2012
From: VAN DER MARK, MARTINUS BERNARDUS
To: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N V
Reel/Frame 028520/0928 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61293747 · Jan 11, 2010
Related Publication 20120291776A1 · Nov 22, 2012