Pre-filled, small-volume nebulizer
The invention relates to a small-volume nebulizer that is pre-filled with at least one unit-dose of medicine and hermetically sealed until use. The nebulizer may be sealed at the top with a removable cap that may be detached at the time of use and replaced with a patient connector. Likewise, the nebulizer may be sealed at the bottom with a bottom cap that is replaced with a gas source at the beginning of a therapeutic aerosol treatment.
1. A pre-filled small-volume nebulizer ready for a patient to administer for respiratory care comprising:
a small-volume nebulizer body comprising a housing bottom, a housing top and a hermetic seal created between said housing bottom and said housing top, wherein contained within said small-volume nebulizer body is at least one of a siphon, a jet, and a baffle;
an outlet opening;
a first cap removably engaged with said outlet opening;
an inlet opening;
a second cap removably engaged with said inlet opening;
a unit-dose of medication contained within said small-volume nebulizer body.
2. The pre-filled, small-volume nebulizer according to claim 1 , further comprising a means for preventing egress of said unit-dose of medication through said inlet opening.
3. The pre-filled, small-volume nebulizer according to claim 1 , wherein said unit-dose of medication is a first component of a multi-component medication, and said apparatus further includes a first compartment containing a second component of said multi-component medication.
4. The pre-filled, small-volume nebulizer according to claim 1 , further comprising one or more labels identifying said unit dose of medication.
5. The pre-filled, small-volume nebulizer according to claim 1 , further comprising a means of preventing retrograde movement into said nebulizer housing.
6. The pre-filled, small-volume nebulizer according to claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of said unit-doses of medication.
7. The pre-filled, small-volume nebulizer according to claim 6 , further comprising unit-dose completion demarcation marks.
8. The pre-filled, small-volume nebulizer according to claim 1 , wherein said first cap is comprised of a piercable seal.
9. The pre-filled, small-volume nebulizer according to claim 1 , wherein said outlet-opening is cylindrical.
10. The pre-filled, small-volume nebulizer according to claim 1 , wherein said hermetic seal, said first cap and said second cap prevent said unit-dose of medication from spilling from said small-volume nebulizer body.
11. A small-volume, pre-filled nebulizer ready for a patient to administer for respiratory care comprising:
a small-volume nebulizer body, wherein contained within said small-volume nebulizer body is at least one of a siphon, a jet, and a baffle;
an outlet opening;
a first cap removably engaged with and sealing said outlet opening;
an inlet opening;
a second cap removably engaged with and sealing said inlet opening;
a plurality of unit-doses of medication sealed within said small-volume nebulizer body.
12. The small-volume, pre-filled nebulizer according to claim 11 , further including a means for preventing egress of said unit-dose of medication through said inlet opening.
13. The small-volume, pre-filled nebulizer according to claim 11 , wherein said plurality of unit-doses of medication are a plurality of first components of a multi-component medication, and said apparatus further includes a first compartment containing a plurality of unit-doses of a second component of said multi-component medication.
14. The small-volume, pre-filled nebulizer according to claim 11 , further comprising one or more labels identifying said plurality of unit-doses of medication.
15. The small-volume, pre-filled nebulizer according to claim 11 , further comprising a means of preventing retrograde movement into said small-volume nebulizer housing.
16. The small-volume, pre-filled nebulizer according to claim 11 , further comprising unit-dose completion demarcation marks.
17. The small-volume, pre-filled nebulizer according to claim 11 , wherein said first cap is comprised of a piercable seal.
18. The small-volume, pre-filled nebulizer according to claim 11 wherein said outlet opening is cylindrical.
19. The small-volume, pre-filled nebulizer according to claim 11 , wherein said small-volume nebulizer body comprises a housing bottom, a housing top and a hermetic seal created between said housing bottom and said housing top.
20. A method of administering aerosolized medicine utilizing a small-volume nebulizer pre-filled with medicine ready for a patient to administer comprising the steps of:
providing said small-volume nebulizer, pre-filled with at least one unit-dose of medicine sealed within said small-volume nebulizer, wherein contained within said small-volume nebulizer is at least one of a siphon, a jet, and a baffle;
removing an outlet cap removably engaged with said small-volume nebulizer;
replacing said outlet cap with a patient interface;
removing an inlet cap removably engaged with said small-volume nebulizer;
connecting a source of gas under pressure to said small-volume nebulizer;
delivering aerosolized medicine to a patient.
21. The method of claim 20 wherein said nebulizer further comprises pre-filled first and second compartments containing first and second components of a multi-component medicine, further comprising the step of breaking open at least said first compartment to cause mixing of said first and second components of a multi-component medicine.
22. The method of claim 20 wherein said small-volume nebulizer includes a medication label affixed to said small-volume nebulizer which identifies said at least one unit-dose of medicine contained within said small-volume nebulizer.
23. The method of claim 20 wherein said inlet cap is removably engaged with an inlet opening of said small-volume nebulizer and said source of gas under pressure is connected to said inlet opening of said small-volume nebulizer.